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CONWAY, Ark., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home BancShares, Inc. HOMB ("Home" or "the Company"), and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Centennial Bank ("Centennial"), announced it has established additional reserves for loan losses as a result of Hurricane Milton. On October 11, 2024, HOMB announced a $16.7 million reserve as a result of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall September 26, 2024. Upon announcement HOMB indicated the more recent and powerful Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on October 9, 2024, and caused the spin-off of more than two dozen tornados, would likely lead to an increase in this reserve amount. "Out of an abundance of caution, HOMB has decided to make an additional $16.7 million reserve following the second Florida hurricane, bringing our total hurricane reserve to $33.4 million for the year," said John Allison, Chairman of HOMB. "The two hurricanes spanned across the third and fourth quarter and the amount of time it takes for customers to settle with insurance will no doubt increase, with two back-to-back events," continued Allison. "We have approximately $110 million currently on deferral as a result of the two hurricanes and in keeping with our conservative nature, we feel as though this proactive move is a prudent and predictable course of action," added Allison. Branches The Company currently has 76 branches in Arkansas, 78 branches in Florida, 58 branches in Texas, 5 branches in Alabama and one branch in New York City. About Home BancShares Home BancShares, Inc. is a bank holding company, headquartered in Conway, Arkansas. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Centennial Bank, provides a broad range of commercial and retail banking plus related financial services to businesses, real estate developers, investors, individuals and municipalities. Centennial Bank has branch locations in Arkansas, Florida, Texas, South Alabama and New York City. The Company's common stock is traded through the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HOMB." The Company was founded in 1998. Visit www.homebancshares.com or www.my100bank.com for more information. General This release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's plans, expectations, goals and outlook for the future, including future financial results. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts should be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events, performance or results. When we use words or phrases like "may," "plan," "propose," "contemplate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "continue," "expect," "project," "predict," "estimate," "could," "should," "would," "on track" and similar expressions, you should consider them as identifying forward-looking statements, although we may use other phrasing. Forward-looking statements of this type speak only as of the date of this news release. By nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: economic conditions, credit quality, interest rates, loan demand, real estate values and unemployment, including the ongoing impacts of inflation; the ability to identify, complete and successfully integrate new acquisitions; the risk that expected cost savings and other benefits from acquisitions may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; diversion of management time on acquisition-related issues; the availability of and access to capital and liquidity on terms acceptable to us; legislative and regulatory changes and risks and expenses associated with current and future legislation and regulations; technological changes and cybersecurity risks and incidents; the effects of changes in accounting policies and practices; changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies; political instability, military conflicts and other major domestic or international events; the impact of recent or future adverse weather events, including hurricanes, and other natural disasters; disruptions, uncertainties and related effects on credit quality, liquidity and other aspects of our business and operations that may result from any future public health crises; competition from other financial institutions; potential claims, expenses and other adverse effects related to current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other government actions; potential increases in deposit insurance assessments, increased regulatory scrutiny or market disruptions resulting from financial challenges in the banking industry; changes in the assumptions used in making the forward-looking statements; and other factors described in reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including those factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2024. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Townsell Director of Investor Relations Home BancShares, Inc. (501) 328-4625 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.By Steven Petite on November 22, 2024 at 12:09PM PST GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links. Xbox Wireless Controllers are on sale for awesome prices for Black Friday 2024 . Retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy are offering steep discounts on a wide variety of colors, including the recently released Ghost Cipher and Sky Cipher Special Editions , which have retro-inspired transparent designs and are on sale for $20 off. Amazon also has an awesome Xbox controller bundle deal . We've rounded up the best Black Friday Xbox controller deals below. Walmart , Amazon , Best Buy , and Target are all offering discounts on select models alongside during their Black Friday promotions. Several colors are on sale for only $40, which is one of the lowest prices ever for official Xbox Wireless Controllers. Xbox Wireless Controller Deals at: Amazon Walmart Best Buy Target While you're picking up a new controller, you should check out Amazon's deals on official Xbox Expansion Cards from Western Digital and Seagate. The 1TB WD Black Expansion Card is discounted to only $100, which is its lowest price yet, and the Seagate 2TB Expansion Card is down to $200. WD Black C50 Xbox Expansion Card 1TB - $100 (was $150) | 512GB - $68 (was $80) If you're in the market for an Xbox console, Best Buy has the recently released 1TB All-Digital Xbox Series X for $400 (was $450) . Alternatively, you can get the Xbox Series S for only $249 , or the Series X with a disc drive for $449 . And while it's not discounted, the Special Edition 2TB Galaxy Black Series X is in stock at Best Buy. For more controller deals, check out our roundup of PS5 DualSense Controllers for $20 off. $50 ( $70 ) The Ghost Cipher is the newest Xbox Wireless Controller. It just released in October, but you can grab one for $20 off at Amazon and Walmart. $50 ( $70 ) $40 ($ 60 ) $40 ($ 60 ) $40 ($ 65 ) $40 ($ 65 ) $44 ($ 65 ) $45 ($ 65 ) $45 ( $65 ) $45 ($ 65 ) $75 ( $131-$136 ) This $75 bundle includes an Xbox Wireless Controller, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This is essentially an Xbox Cloud Gaming Starter Kit, as you don't even need a console or PC to stream hundreds of games in the Game Pass library, including the recently released Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Amazon's 4K Fire Sticks now support the Game Pass app. Keep in mind you need to be a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber to stream Game Pass games, but you get 30 days of access with this bundle. Choose your controller: Sky Cipher Special Edition Controller Astral Purple Controller Robot White Controller Shock Blue Controller Deep Pink Controller $80 ( $141-$147 ) For five extra bucks, you can upgrade to the 4K Fire Stick Max, a slightly more premium option with better overall performance. Choose your controller: Sky Cipher Special Edition Controller Astral Purple Controller Robot White Controller Shock Blue Controller Deep Pink Controller $54 ($ 70 ) $141 ($ 180 ) The Xbox Elite Series 2 is the best controller for Xbox and one of the best controllers for PC, too. This pro-style controller offers a more premium build and feel, four remappable back paddles, trigger locks, and swappable thumbstick caps and D-pads. The controller and its swappable components are packaged inside a hardshell case. Amazon sold out of the Elite Series 2 at this price, but Walmart still has the deal, for now at least. $96 ($ 140 ) Note: The best discount is at Target, though Walmart is also offering a discount $107 ($ 130 ) $116 ($ 140 ) $64 ($ 70 ) $62 ( $70 ) $64 ( $70 ) $60 ($ 70 ) Upvote (4) Leave BlankIdaho has 85 mountain ranges and subranges. Man with Pocatello roots summited the highest peak in each

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What happens in the ocean when two cyclones collide?Tributes are flowing in for former National Party Minister Nikki Kaye, who has died after a long battle with cancer at age 44. It's understood she died at the weekend. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 at 36 years old . Her former colleague, Maggie Barry, posted a photo of the pair on Facebook with the caption "farewell my friend". Others have also chimed in to praise Kaye, National's deputy leader under Todd Muller, for her "tireless dedication" to her work. "Nikki's contribution to our party, her community, and New Zealand has left an indelible mark," Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and deputy National Party leader Nicola Willis said in a joint statement. "Nikki was a remarkable person and a crusader for what she believed in, and her contribution has left our country in a better place." Willis said Kaye was one of the bravest Parliamentarians New Zealand had seen. "She was not only a colleague, but a brilliant friend to many of us. She was fiercely committed to her constituents and her values and she contributed so much of her soul to this country and our party. "Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time," Willis said. Meanwhile, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said today's news was incredibly sad. "Nikki Kaye and I were opposite numbers at Parliament in the Education portfolio, and I would describe us very fondly as frenemies," Hipkins said. "I had a lot of respect for her and how she went about her work. "I didn't agree with all of her decisions, but found her immensely reasonable. She poured her heart and soul into the electorate and she always pushed for better for children and young people." Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Kaye worked incredibly hard, cared passionately about her electorate, and was always willing to agree an idea was good, or bad, based on her values rather than just politics. "We laughed a lot over the years, and while we may have had some decent debates, nothing ever felt genuinely personal. I'm sorry that I never knew Nikki was unwell again, if I had, I'd liked to have talked with her just one more time." Others also posted to social media to pay tribute: Kaye had openly spoken about her health before retiring from Parliament. She was in Parliament for 12 years, entering in 2008 (aged 28), before announcing in July 2020 she wouldn't contest the upcoming election. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.Udhayam theatre Chennai: A beloved cinema hall’s journey ends

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More Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggestsTimberwolves win third straight game, again in dramatic fashionKamala Harris could of California. Weeks after being defeated by President-elect Donald Trump, the former Democratic presidential nominee has told her inner circle she will keep all options open, according to Politico. That could include California’s 2026 gubernatorial race. A University of California, Berkeley poll taken shortly before the election showed one in three Golden State voters said they’d be “ to vote for Harris and and another 13% consider themselves “somewhat likely” to support her. Outgoing Rep. Katie Porter, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are also considered potentially strong candidates for the job. Gov. Gavin Newsom has been elected twice and isn’t eligible to run again. Harris reportedly told associates she’s “staying in the fight” after leaving her job as Vice President in January. She got more than 74 million votes in her loss to Trump, despite having only 107 days to campaign after President Joe Biden, 82, ended his bid for reelection. Harris went to Hawaii to relax with family and senior aides after her defeat and is in reportedly no rush to decide on her next move. Former Harris aide Brian Brokaw said told Politico his ex-boss is known to sometimes take “a painfully long time to make decisions.” Prior to serving in the White House, the 60-year-old Oakland native spent four years representing California in the U.S. Senate. Harris was the 32nd Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017. She made that leap after spending seven years as San Francisco’s Attorney General. Biden tapped Harris as his Vice President after she competed against him for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2020. “I picked her because she is ,” Biden told Pennsylvania sheet metal workers in October. “But most of all, I picked her because she has character and she has integrity.” _____

Pete Hegseth continues work to shore up support ahead of confirmation hearingsLOS ANGELES (AP) — Right when the Los Angeles Rams' offense has dropped into a disconcerting slump, their defense has held three straight opponents under 10 points for the first time in decades. Although the Rams (10-6) are closing in on an NFC West title and another playoff berth with a five-game winning streak, the way they're doing it makes their postseason prospects quite unpredictable. The methodology has been strange, but the results are not: After holding off Arizona 13-9 on Saturday night, Los Angeles has won nine of 11 and is very close to claiming its fourth division title and sixth playoff berth in coach Sean McVay's eight seasons. “I’m proud of this group and the way they battled back,” Matthew Stafford said. “A lot of people doubted us, and a lot of people wrote us off at 1-4. To be able to sit here with our record what it is right now, I feel proud of this group.” The Rams hadn't held three straight opponents to single-digit scoring since 1975, but rookie coordinator Chris Shula's defense has done it with a strong front and a little luck on the back end, including the last-minute interception by Ahkello Witherspoon on a pass that deflected off star Arizona tight end Trey McBride's head at the goal line. Kyler Murray threw it before McBride was probably ready because Shula had called a zero blitz on first down at the Los Angeles 5. “I want to make more plays to make sure they don’t have to do as much as they did (against Arizona), but I’m proud of them,” Stafford said of the Rams' defense. "It’s awesome to watch where they were in training camp to where they are now. Shula is doing a hell of a job. We all knew he would. Those guys are playing hard for him.” But the Rams have scored more than 21 points just once during their five-game winning streak, their longest since their Super Bowl championship season in 2021. They’ve managed only three touchdowns in their last three games while scoring fewer than 20 points each time out, although that stretch includes games played in the rain (San Francisco) and in subfreezing temperatures (New York Jets). Against the Cardinals in Inglewood's ideal weather, the Rams’ offense still produced one TD, a season-worst 12 first downs and only 257 total yards — 139 fewer than Arizona. The running game struggled again, as it often does when all five starting offensive linemen aren't healthy, while the entire roster aside from Puka Nacua combined for just seven receptions for 60 yards — a surprising number for a McVay offense. “I don’t think there’s one thing I can point to,” McVay said Sunday. “I could go on and on about some of the things, starting with me, but then also about our execution in terms of getting connected in the run game, targeting the right way, making sure that the ball is going where it should go, and guys that I know are capable of playing the way that we’ve seen. If they do that, then I know that it’s not as far as sometimes it can feel like. But ultimately, we’ve got to do it.” What's working The young front four remains the strength of the defense. Jared Verse had a tremendous game on the edge against Murray and Arizona's running game, while fellow rookie Braden Fiske and second-year pros Kobie Turner and Byron Young all recorded sacks. What needs help The Rams again failed to establish the running game despite never trailing Arizona. Kyren Williams got his second-fewest carries of the season (13, with just five in the second half), while rookie Blake Corum was barely involved. Los Angeles' 3.9 yards per rush is the second-lowest mark in the NFL even though Williams began Sunday third in the league with 1,299 yards. Stock up Witherspoon not only made the game-saving interception, but the eight-year veteran who went unsigned until September also has seized the starting cornerback job from Cobie Durant, who didn't play on defense against the Cards despite being healthy again. McVay said Witherspoon's play during Durant's brief injury absence resulted in the change. Stock down Cooper Kupp had one catch against Arizona, and he has just 12 receptions in the past five games, matching the least productive five-game stretch of his eight-year career. Stafford has said the Rams need to get their Super Bowl 56 MVP more involved, and Kupp says he's healthy — yet it isn't happening. Injuries McVay believes the Rams stayed healthy outside of a stinger for rookie safety Kam Kinchens, but they felt the absence of RT Rob Havenstein, who injured his shoulder last week during an unpadded practice. Backup Joe Noteboom committed three holding penalties and got beaten repeatedly. Key number 4 — Stafford's consecutive games without taking a sack. That's the longest streak of his 16-year career, yet he has only one 200-yard passing game in that stretch. Next steps The Rams began Sunday preparing as if they'll play the Seahawks (9-7) next Saturday, although the game could happen a day later. McVay won't show his cards, but if the Rams have clinched, they seem likely to rest several regulars for the playoffs. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Greg Beacham, The Associated Press

The Israel Defense Forces hit military targets in Syria after the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in a move to prevent military capabilities from falling into the hands of extremist groups. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he wants to establish "relations" with the new regime in Syria after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, but he warned Israel will not hesitate to attack the Middle Eastern nation should it pose a threat. "We want relations with the new regime in Syria," Netanyahu said in a live address. "But if this regime allows Iran to return to establishing itself in Syria or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah or [if it] attack[s] us, we will respond strongly. And we will exact a heavy price. "What happened to the previous regime will also happen to this regime." People pick up metal and unexploded ammunition from the site of the previous evening's Israeli airstrike that targeted shipments of weapons that belonged to Syrian government forces in Qamishli in mainly Kurdish northeastern Syria Dec. 10, 2024. (Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images) ISRAEL DEPLOYS PARATROOPERS TO SYRIA IN 'DEFENSE ACTIVITIES' AFTER FALL OF ASSAD It remains unclear who exactly will take over the leadership of Syria or what that government will look like now that rebel forces control Damascus. Overnight on Monday, Israel launched massive strikes against Syrian military targets, including two Syrian naval sites, the Al-Bayda port and the Latakia port, where 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Tuesday afternoon. "Manned aircraft flew hundreds of hours over Syrian airspace, conducting over 350 aerial strikes together with fighter jets," the IDF reported. Israel said a "wide range of targets were struck" including anti-aircraft batteries, Syrian Air Force airfields and dozens of weapons depot sites in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia and Palmyr that housed sophisticated weaponry like ballistic and cruise missiles, UAVs, fighter jets, attack helicopters and tanks. A man walks past a burnt vehicle with destroyed ammunition at the site of the previous evening's Israeli airstrike that targeted shipments of weapons that belonged to Syrian government forces in Qamishli in mainly Kurdish northeastern Syria Dec. 10, 2024. (Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images) Netanyahu appeared to claim the strikes were similar to actions taken by Britain during World War II when it bombed a French fleet at the Algerian port of Mers-el-Kébir to prevent the ships from falling into the hands of the Nazis. NETANYAHU HAILS 'HISTORIC' FALL OF BASHAR ASSAD IN SYRIA, CREDITS ISRAELI ATTACKS ON HEZBOLLAH, IRAN It is unclear if any casualties were inflicted in Israel’s overnight strikes, though the United Nations on Tuesday condemned the attacks as well as Israel’s military encroachment beyond the Golan Heights and into a demilitarized buffer zone . "We are continuing to see Israeli movements and bombardments into Syrian territory. This needs to stop," U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said, calling Israel’s developments "troubling." "This is extremely important," he added. "We need to see a stop to the Israeli attacks, and we need to make sure that the conflict in the northeast stops. And we need to make sure that there are no conflicts developing between the different armed groups." Israel received some international criticism after it sent a military contingent this week beyond the Golan Heights, a contested area that Jerusalem seized in 1967 and which is still internationally recognized as a part of Syria, though the U.S. recognizes Israeli sovereignty over the area. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Israeli soldiers operate in a location given as southern Syria in this image from a video obtained by Reuters Dec. 9, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Reuters) "We're against these types of attacks. I think this is a turning point for Syria. It should not be used by its neighbors to encroach on the territory of Syria," U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reportedly said Tuesday. In his address, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s position and said, "We have no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of Syria, but we clearly have the intention of doing what is necessary to ensure our security." Caitlin McFall is a Reporter at Fox News Digital covering Politics, U.S. and World news.Arguments about past presidents shape the nation’s understanding of itself and hence its unfolding future. In recent years, biographies by nonacademics have rescued some presidents from progressive academia’s indifference or condescension: John Adams (rescued by David McCullough), Ulysses S. Grant (by Ron Chernow), Calvin Coolidge (by Amity Shlaes). The rehabilitation of those presidents’ reputations have been acts of justice, as is Christopher Cox’s destruction of Woodrow Wilson’s place in progressivism’s pantheon. In “Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn,” Cox, former congressman and former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, demonstrates that the 28th president was the nation’s nastiest. Without belaboring the point, Cox presents an Everest of evidence that Wilson’s progressivism smoothly melded with his authoritarianism and oceanic capacity for contempt. His books featured ostentatious initials: “Woodrow Wilson Ph.D., LL.D.” But he wrote no doctoral dissertation for his 18-month Ph.D. He dropped out of law school. His doctorate of law was honorary. But because of those initials, and because he vaulted in three years from Princeton University’s presidency to New Jersey’s governorship to the U.S. presidency, and because he authored books, he is remembered as a scholar in politics. Actually, he was an intellectual manque using academia as a springboard into politics. His books were thin gruel, often laced with scabrous racism. His first, “Congressional Government,” contained only 52 citations, but he got it counted as a doctoral dissertation. He wrote it while a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, yet he only once visited the U.S. Capitol 37 miles away. “I have no patience for the tedious toil of ‘research,’” he said. “I hate the place,” he said of Bryn Mawr, a women’s college that provided his first faculty job. He thought teaching women was pointless. Cox ignores the well-plowed ground of Wilson’s domestic achievements — the progressive income tax, the Federal Reserve. Instead, Cox braids Wilson’s aggressive white-male supremacy and hostility toward women’s suffrage. His was a life defined by disdaining. For postgraduate education, Johns Hopkins recruited German-trained faculty steeped in that nation’s statism and belief in the racial superiority of Teutonic people. Wilson’s Johns Hopkins classmate and lifelong friend Thomas Dixon wrote the novel that became the silent movie “The Birth of a Nation.” Wilson made this celebration of the Ku Klux Klan the first movie shown in the White House. During the movie, the screen showed quotes from Wilson’s “History of the American People,” such as: “In the villages the negroes were the office holders, men who knew none of the uses of authority, except its insolences.” And: “At last there had sprung into existence a great Ku Klux Klan ... to protect the Southern country” and Southerners’ “Aryan birthright.” Wilson’s White House gala — guests in evening dress — gave “The Birth of a Nation” a presidential imprimatur. The movie, which became a national sensation, normalized the Klan and helped to revive lynching. Though the term “fascism” is more frequently bandied than defined, it fits Wilson’s amalgam of racism (he meticulously resegregated the federal workforce), statism, and wartime censorship and prosecutions. Dissent was “disloyalty” deserving “a firm hand of stern repression.” Benito Mussolini: “All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.” Wilson: “I am perfectly sure that the state has got to control everything that everybody needs and uses.” Wilson created the Committee on Public Information to “mobilize the mind of America.” The committee soon had more than 150,000 employees disseminating propaganda, monitoring publications and providing them with government-written content. The committee was echoed in the Biden administration’s pressuring of social media to suppress what it considered dis- or misinformation. Cox provides a stunning chronicle of Wilson’s complacent, even gleeful, acceptance of police and mob brutality, often in front of the White House, against suffragists. And of the torture — no milder word will suffice — of the women incarcerated in stomach-turning squalor, at the mercy of sadists. “Appropriate,” Wilson said. An appropriate judgment from the man who dismissed as empty verbiage the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. Historian C. Vann Woodward, author of “The Strange Career of Jim Crow,” said white-male supremacy was the crux of Southern progressivism. Wilson’s political career demonstrated that it was not discordant with national progressivism’s belief that a superior few should control the benighted many. John Greenleaf Whittier, disillusioned by Daniel Webster’s support of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, wrote of Webster: “So fallen! so lost! the light withdrawn / Which once he wore!” True, too, of Wilson. Will writes for The Washington Post. Get local news delivered to your inbox!By Steven Petite on November 25, 2024 at 1:51PM PST GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links. Xbox Wireless Controllers are on sale for awesome prices for Black Friday 2024 . Retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy are offering steep discounts on a wide variety of colors, including the recently released Ghost Cipher and Sky Cipher Special Editions , which have retro-inspired transparent designs and are on sale for up to $25 off. If you simply want the cheapest official Xbox controller, Robot White and Carbon Black models are on sale for $40 each. Amazon also has an awesome Xbox controller bundle deal . Special Edition Xbox Controllers for $25 off Sky Cipher Special Edition (Amazon) -- $45 ( $70 ) | Also at Walmart Ghost Cipher Special Edition (Walmart) -- $45 ( $70 ) Arctic Camo Special Edition (Walmart) -- $45 ( $70 ) Mineral Camo Special Edition (Walmart) -- $45 ( $70 ) Daystrike Camo Special Edition (Walmart) -- $45 ( $70 ) Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition (Walmart) -- $45 ( $70 ) We've rounded up the best Black Friday Xbox controller deals below. Walmart , Amazon , Best Buy , and Target are all offering discounts on select models during their Black Friday promotions. While you're picking up a new controller, you should check out Amazon's deals on official Xbox Expansion Cards from Western Digital and Seagate. The 1TB WD Black Expansion Card is discounted to only $99, which is its lowest price yet, and the Seagate 2TB Expansion Card is down to $200. WD Black C50 Xbox Expansion Card 1TB - $99 (was $150) | 512GB - $67.49 (was $80) If you're in the market for an Xbox console, Best Buy has the recently released 1TB All-Digital Xbox Series X for $400 (was $450) . Alternatively, you can get the Xbox Series S for only $249 , or the Series X with a disc drive for $449 . And while it's not discounted, the Special Edition 2TB Galaxy Black Series X is in stock at Best Buy. For more controller deals, check out our roundup of PS5 DualSense Controllers for $20 off. Xbox Wireless Controller Deals at: Amazon Walmart Best Buy Target $45-$50 ( $70 ) The Ghost Cipher is the newest Xbox Wireless Controller. It just released in October, but you can grab one for $25 off at Walmart or $20 off at Amazon. $45 ( $70 ) $45 ($ 70 ) $45 ($ 70 ) $45 ( $70 ) $45 ( $70 ) $75 ( $131-$136 ) This $75 bundle includes an Xbox Wireless Controller, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This is essentially an Xbox Cloud Gaming Starter Kit, as you don't even need a console or PC to stream hundreds of games in the Game Pass library, including the recently released Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Amazon's 4K Fire Sticks now support the Game Pass app. Keep in mind you need to be a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber to stream Game Pass games, but you get 30 days of access with this bundle. Choose your controller: Sky Cipher Special Edition Controller Astral Purple Controller Robot White Controller Shock Blue Controller Deep Pink Controller $80 ( $141-$147 ) For five extra bucks, you can upgrade to the 4K Fire Stick Max, a slightly more premium option with better overall performance. Choose your controller: Sky Cipher Special Edition Controller Astral Purple Controller Robot White Controller Shock Blue Controller Deep Pink Controller $40 ($ 60 ) at Best Buy | $45 at Walmart $40 ($ 60 ) See at Best Buy See at Walmart $45 ($ 65 ) See at Walmart See at Best Buy $45 ($ 65 ) See at Walmart See at Best Buy $44 ($ 65 ) See at Walmart See at Best Buy $45 ($ 65 ) See at Walmart See at Best Buy $45 ( $65 ) See at Walmart See at Best Buy $45 ($ 65 ) See at Walmart See at Best Buy $141 ($ 180 ) The Xbox Elite Series 2 is the best controller for Xbox and one of the best controllers for PC, too. This pro-style controller offers a more premium build and feel, four remappable back paddles, trigger locks, and swappable thumbstick caps and D-pads. The controller and its swappable components are packaged inside a hardshell case. Amazon sold out of the Elite Series 2 at this price, but Walmart still has the deal, for now at least. $96 ($ 140 ) Note: The best discount is at Target, though Walmart is also offering a discount $107 ($ 130 ) $116 ($ 140 ) $60 ($ 70 ) Upvote (4) Leave Blank

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Ten years after Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared, when people ask me what happened, my answer remains, “I don’t know, and it’s a sign of strength to admit you don’t know.” Assumptions and speculation create unrealistic expectations and needless anguish. A single, accurate data point can dismantle the most elaborate theories, underscoring the importance of patience and evidence. So it is with Jeju Air Flight 2216, which tragically crashed in South Korea on Sunday, claiming 179 lives. I do not know what happened inside the aircraft. Firefighters carry the body of a passenger from the wreckage of a passenger plane at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday. Credit: Getty Images Only two flight attendants, seated at the rear of the Boeing 737-800, survived. These seats are the safest in a head-on collision, which is why we can expect the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR), located at the back of the aircraft, to be intact and reveal facts about what happened during this crisis. I was piloting Qantas Flight 32 in 2010 when an engine failed soon after take-off from Singapore. We landed safely with none of the 469 passengers and crew injured. However, The world immediately erupted with misinformation and flawed analysis and false deductions. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau made the courageous decision to publish the facts immediately, quelling conspiracy theories and inaccurate deductions. While the US National Transportation Safety Board initially criticised this approach, it eventually adopted a similar strategy following the Asiana Airlines 214 crash in San Francisco, which killed three and injured about 200 people. Transparency builds teamwork and trust and enables constructive learning from tragedy. I expect the investigators on the Jeju Air tragedy to answer the following questions: Was there a bird strike? Videos show a right engine event. If a bird strike occurred, to what extent was that engine and its associated systems compromised. Why did the transponder fail? The aircraft’s ADS-B transponder, which broadcasts data including location, speed, and altitude twice per second, ceased transmissions shortly after the engine event. What caused this failure? Why were the landing gear and flaps not deployed? The aircraft turned northward before attempting a reciprocal approach to land. However, it landed with both the landing gear and flaps up. Did the ground proximity warning system (GPWS) issue the “too low gear” warning? Why did the aircraft touch down so late along the runway? It touched down in the latter half of the 2900-meter runway, leaving insufficient distance to stop. I think this approach suggests the pilot may have assumed the landing gear to be down. However, the landing gear was up, and so the aircraft “floated”, decelerating slowly in what’s called “ground-effect”, which acts like a cushion close to the ground and led to a late touchdown. Did the pilots attempt to take off again before reaching the end of the runway? Videos show the left engine airborne before the runway’s end. Perhaps they did attempt to take off. Fear Response? Were the pilots affected by the fear response – fight, flight or freeze? The amygdala in our brain triggers this response within 20 milliseconds of sensing threats, releasing adrenaline and cortisol, which supercharge our cells, increase our breathing and heart rates, and tense our muscles to be ready to fight – all of which impair precise actions. To avoid the disastrous effects of the fear response, pilots are trained to “aviate, navigate, communicate”. This is critical in the first 30 seconds. Aviate – fly the aircraft (and keep it in the air), stay alive. Navigate – find a safe place in the air to consider your next steps. Then communicate – tell others the situation, your plans and requirements. Those actions keep you safe from the fear response while waiting those 30 seconds for the brain’s slow cortex (with its habits, intuitions and reasoning) to slowly come online. Did the pilots hear critical warnings? The human brain monitors 4 million senses using just 20 watts of power. It runs five times faster than the latest Nvidia Blackwell processor using just 1 per cent of the chip’s power. It achieves this monumental feat by load-shedding unnecessary senses. The brain sheds non-essential sensory input when overloaded, with sound being the first to shed. Why is this important? Did the pilots fail to hear and respond to the “too low gear” warning or other GPWS alerts. Was the cockpit crew an effective team? Team dynamics play a crucial role in aviation safety. No individual is infallible – mistakes are part of the human condition. This is why effective teams have pilots accomplishing their tasks while monitoring the tasks of others. It is essential that all pilots have the responsibility, authority and psychological safety, to challenge one another, regardless of rank. In cultures with high “power distance” – a measure of hierarchical deference identified by Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede – subordinates may hesitate to correct their superiors. This dynamic contributed to accidents such as Korean Air 801 (1997) and Asiana Airlines 214 (2013). Did a similar dynamic affect Jeju Air Flight 2216? The aircraft exploded when it crashed into a concrete barrier beyond the end of the runway. Was that barrier necessary? The 2900m runway at Muan airport is long enough for continuous 737 operations. The instrument landing system localiser radio transmitters sit atop a high concrete-earth mound, 290-metre after the end of the runway. While it is not ideal to have a hard antenna structure, this is clear of the 240-metre runway safety area required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s runway specifications. Were proper procedures followed? Did the crew adhere to established procedures, and were those procedures fit for purpose? Learning from tragedy: We will have to wait for the investigative authorities to release facts before drawing conclusions about this heartbreaking event. Until then, speculation serves no one. Instead, we must focus on asking the right questions, identify all contributing factors and then learning and adjusting from the findings, so that this type of disaster never happens again. Boeing 737-800: This aircraft is a safe and successful aircraft. Over 7100 have been built since 1996, for commercial aviation (till 2020) and still for the military today. The 737-800 has no links connecting it to the problems beset by the newer 737 Max derivatives. Aviation remains the safest form of transport: Aviation is the safest form of transportation. Not a single person died in a commercial jet accident in 2023. And no one goes to work intending to have an accident. We will learn from Jeju Air Flight 2216, identifying all contributing factors, and implement changes to prevent a recurrence. This relentless pursuit of continuous improvement is why flying remains the safest way to travel. Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny was an A380 captain and the pilot in command of Qantas flight QF32 that suffered an engine failure over Singapore on November 4, 2010. He is the author of two books, QF32 and FLY! – The Elements of Resilience.For decades, ring girls like Sydney Thomas have been iconic figures in boxing , walking the ring with confidence and flair. Recently, influencers have stepped into the spotlight, joining the ranks of models at major fights. But now, their biggest competition might not even be human. AI influencers are coming for their crown, and the creator of Lily Hayes —the breakout AI star of Instagram—believes it’s only a matter of time before they crash the ring. Speaking to The Daily Star, Lily’s creator shared their vision for the future: “ Technology is moving so fast and sports organisations, who are inherently innovative, are beginning to embrace AI Influencers.” “Lily has built an incredible fanbase over the past 12 months, and boxing is a really exciting opportunity for her to break into the mainstream.” Lily Hayes' creator “ Ring Girls have always been a massive part of boxing, but the interesting thing about AI Influencers becoming Ring Girls is fans can actually connect with them online, 24/7 , and in multiple languages in the lead up to, during, and after the event.” “There's some big fights touted for 2025, including Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua at Wembley or in Riyadh so we'd love to get Lily on that card.”

Raiders confirm QB Gardner Minshew out for season, look to Aidan O'ConnellSUGAR LAND, Texas, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAOI) (“ AOI ,” “ we ,” “ us ” or “ our ”) announced today that it has closed its exchange with holders (the “ Noteholders ”) of its 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “ 2026 Notes ”) of approximately $76.7 million principal amount of the 2026 Notes for (i) $125 million aggregate principal amount of 2.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030 (the “ 2030 Notes ”), (ii) 1,487,874 shares of our common stock (the “ Exchange Shares ”) and (iii) approximately $89.6 thousand in cash representing accrued interest on the 2026 Notes and the value of fractional shares (such transactions, collectively, the “ Exchanges ”). The 2030 Notes are our senior, unsecured obligations and are equal in right of payment with our existing and future senior, unsecured indebtedness, senior in right of payment to our existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the 2030 Notes and effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness. The 2030 Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.75% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2025. The 2030 Notes will mature on January 15, 2030, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. The 2030 Notes are convertible at the option of holders of the 2030 Notes under certain specified circumstances, as set forth in the indenture governing the 2030 Notes. We will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, based on the applicable conversion rate. The initial conversion rate is approximately 23.0884 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2030 Notes, representing an initial conversion price of approximately $43.31 per share of our common stock, an approximately 27.50% premium to the closing price of our common stock on December 18, 2024. If a Make-Whole Fundamental Change (as defined in the indenture governing the 2030 Notes) occurs, and in connection with certain other conversions, we will in certain circumstances increase the conversion rate for a specified period of time. Except in connection with the completion of the Specified Divestiture (as described below), we may not redeem the 2030 Notes prior to January 15, 2027. On or after January 15, 2027, and on or before the 40 th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, we may redeem all or part of the 2030 Notes for cash if the last reported sale price per share of our common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price on (i) each of at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date we send the related redemption notice; and (ii) the trading day immediately before the date we send such redemption notice, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the 2030 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. Holders may require us to repurchase their 2030 Notes upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change (as defined in the indenture governing the 2030 Notes) at a cash purchase price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. In addition, the 2030 Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option at any time, and from time to time, on or before the 40 th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the 2030 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, if the “Specified Divestiture” (as defined in the indenture governing the 2030 Notes) is completed. If the Specified Divestiture is completed, each holder will have the right to require us to repurchase its 2030 Notes for cash at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such 2030 Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date. The issuance of the 2030 Notes, the Exchange Shares and the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the 2030 Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and the 2030 Notes, the Exchange Shares and such shares issuable upon conversion of the 2030 Notes may not be offered or sold without registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state or other jurisdictions’ securities laws, or in transactions not subject to those registration requirements. Concurrently with the Exchanges, AOI issued an aggregate of 1,036,458 shares of common stock, at a purchase price of $33.97 per share, in a registered direct offering (the “ Registered Direct Offering ”). Estimated net proceeds from the Registered Direct Offering are approximately $33.7 million after deducting placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses incurred by us. We intend to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, capital expenditures and working capital. We may also use such proceeds to fund acquisitions of businesses, technologies or product lines that complement our current business; however, we have no present plans, agreements or commitments with respect to any potential acquisition. Stefan Murry, AOI’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, stated that “AOI expects to benefit from the convertible debt exchange transactions and the concurrent registered direct offering by, among other things, extending our convertible debt from 2026 to 2030, reducing our existing interest expense and strengthening the cash position of our balance sheet by approximately $30.2 million through the registered direct offering. In addition, the convertible debt exchange transactions increase our financial flexibility by removing certain existing restrictive covenants in our 2026 Notes. We were able to execute these transactions with minimal additional dilution of approximately 0.5%, compared to the implied dilution of the shares underlying the 2026 Notes.” The Registered Direct Offering was made pursuant to an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration File No. 333-283905), which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) on December 18, 2024, and became effective immediately upon filing, including the prospectus contained therein, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated December 18, 2024 filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on December 20, 2024. The prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the Registered Direct Offering are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. acted as AOI’s exclusive financial advisor in connection with the Exchanges and acted as the sole placement agent in connection with the Registered Direct Offering. Haynes Boone LLP acted as legal advisor to AOI and Mayer Brown LLP acted as legal advisor to Raymond James & Associates, Inc., in connection with the Exchanges and the Registered Direct Offering. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “target,” “seek,” “aim,” “predicts,” “think,” “objectives,” “optimistic,” “new,” “goal,” “strategy,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect,” “plan” “project,” “permit” or by other similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Such forward-looking statements reflect the views of management at the time such statements are made. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions and current expectations, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: reduction in the size or quantity of customer orders; change in demand for our products due to industry conditions; changes in manufacturing operations; volatility in manufacturing costs; delays in shipments of products; disruptions in the supply chain; change in the rate of design wins or the rate of customer acceptance of new products; our reliance on a small number of customers for a substantial portion of its revenues; potential pricing pressure; a decline in demand for our customers’ products or their rate of deployment of their products; general conditions in the internet datacenter, cable television (CATV) broadband, telecom, or fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) markets; changes in the world economy (particularly in the United States and China); changes in the regulation and taxation of international trade, including the imposition of tariffs; changes in currency exchange rates; the negative effects of seasonality; the impact of any pandemics or similar events on our business and financial results; and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in our documents filed with or furnished to the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024. More information about these and other risks that may impact our business are set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of our quarterly and annual reports on file with the SEC. You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to us as of the date hereof, and qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations. About Applied Optoelectronics Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical products, including components, modules and equipment. AOI’s products are the building blocks for broadband fiber access networks around the world, where they are used in the CATV broadband, internet datacenter, telecom and FTTH markets. AOI supplies optical networking lasers, components and equipment to tier-1 customers in all four of these markets. In addition to its corporate headquarters, wafer fab and advanced engineering and production facilities in Sugar Land, TX, AOI has engineering and manufacturing facilities in Taipei, Taiwan and Ningbo, China. Investor Relations Contacts: The Blueshirt Group, Investor Relations Monica Gould +1-212-871-3927 ir@ao-inc.com Cassidy Fuller +1-415-217-4968 ir@ao-inc.com

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — First it was , then the . Now, again wants . The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with which he's picking fights even before taking office on Jan. 20. In a Sunday announcement naming his ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote that, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." Trump again having designs on Greenland comes after the president-elect suggested over the weekend that the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal if something isn't done to ease rising shipping costs required for using the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He's also been suggesting that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and referred to Canadian Prime Minister as “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.” Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., said Trump tweaking friendly countries harkens back to an aggressive style he used during his days in business. “You ask something unreasonable and it’s more likely you can get something less unreasonable,” said Farnsworth, who is also author of the book “Presidential Communication and Character.” Greenland, the world’s largest island, sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is 80% covered by an ice sheet and is home to a large U.S. military base. It gained home rule from Denmark in 1979 and its head of government, Múte Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump’s latest calls for U.S. control would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” he said in a statement. “We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.” The Danish Prime Minister’s Office said in its own statement that the government is “looking forward to welcoming the new American ambassador. And the Government is looking forward to working with the new administration.” “In a complex security political situation as the one we currently experience, transatlantic cooperation is crucial,” the statement said. It noted that it had no comment on Greenland except for it “not being for sale, but open for cooperation.” Trump after his was rejected by Copenhagen, and ultimately . He also suggested Sunday that the U.S. is getting “ripped off” at the Panama Canal. “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question,” he said. Panama President responded in a video that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to,” but Trump fired back on his social media site, “We’ll see about that!” The president-elect also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!” The United States built the canal in the early 1900s but relinquished control to on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President . The canal depends on reservoirs that were hit by 2023 droughts that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships, administrators also increased the fees that shippers are charged to reserve slots to use the canal. The Greenland and Panama flareups followed Trump recently posting that “Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State" and offering an image of himself superimposed on a mountaintop surveying surrounding territory next to a Canadian flag. Trudeau about annexing his country, but the pair met recently at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida to discuss Trump's threats to impose on all Canadian goods. “Canada is not going to become part of the United States, but Trump’s comments are more about leveraging what he says to get concessions from Canada by putting Canada off balance, particularly given the precarious current political environment in Canada,” Farnsworth said. “Maybe claim a win on trade concessions, a tighter border or other things.” He said the situation is similar with Greenland. “What Trump wants is a win," Farnsworth said. "And even if the American flag doesn’t raise over Greenland, Europeans may be more willing to say yes to something else because of the pressure.”