wild casino free spins bonus codes Watchdog finds FBI missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were presentRECAP: Asian stocks nudged higher yesterday while the dollar was firm, keeping the yen rooted near five-month lows in thin year-end trading. China's plans for massive bond issuance in 2025 also bolstered investor sentiment. The SET index moved in a range of 1,366.71 and 1,410.02 points this week, before closing yesterday at 1,401.46, up 2.7% from the previous week, with daily turnover averaging 30.83 billion baht. Institutional investors were net buyers of 3.1 billion baht, followed by foreign investors at 1.5 billion. Retail investors were net sellers of 3.4 billion baht, followed by brokerage firms at 1.2 billion. NEWSMAKERS: Chinese policymakers plan to sell a record 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) worth of special treasury bonds in 2025, triple the 2024 figure, in a move aimed at bolstering the slowing economy. Policy support late this year has put the Chinese economy on track to hit a growth target of around 5%, officials said on Thursday. They also announced a 2.7% upward revision in 2023 GDP to 129.4 trillion yuan ($17.7 trillion). The World Bank has raised its forecast for China's economic growth in 2025 to 4.5%, from 4.1% predicted earlier, but warned that subdued household and business confidence, along with headwinds in the property sector, would keep weighing it down. US consumer confidence unexpectedly sank in December for the first time in three months, falling to 104.7, on concerns about the outlook for the economy amid uncertainty about the policies of the incoming Donald Trump administration. US retail sales rose 3.8% between Nov 1 and Dec 24, as last-minute shopping was brisk amid intense holiday season promotions, a Mastercard report showed on Thursday. The jump was well above the 3.1% increase seen in the same period last year. The Bank of Japan could see a net loss of up to 2 trillion yen ($12.7 billion) in fiscal 2027 or 2028 if it raises its short-term policy rate, now 0.25%, to 2%, according to an estimate published by the central bank. India expects the economy to grow at around 6.5% in the fiscal year through March, against 8.2% a year before, after the economy slowed unexpectedly in the July-September quarter. Average housing rents in Chinese cities slid to a four-year low last month due to supply gluts and job market weakness. In 100 major cities in China, rents averaged 2,636 yuan ($361) per 100 square metres, the lowest since 2020, data from the research firm Wind shows. Nippon Steel of Japan says there is public support for its proposal to acquire US Steel in the regions where the steel mills are located. A US foreign investment committee has referred the decision on the $15-billion deal to President Joe Biden, who has until Jan 10 to decide. He and successor Donald Trump have both expressed opposition to the purchase. Honda Motor and Nissan Motor on Monday signed a basic agreement to pursue merger talks, envisioning a new entity being listed by August 2026. Mitsubishi Motors, 24.5% owned by Nissan, also signed the agreement and will likely be part of the group. Toyota Motor said global sales were down 0.2% to 984,348 units in November on lacklustre demand and a pause in production at two plants. Production declined 9.4% year-on-year to 966,921 units. Toyota plans to build an EV factory in Shanghai for its luxury Lexus brand, Nikkei reports, at a time when many foreign automakers are struggling in China. The factory is expected to open in 2027. Alibaba has agreed to merge its South Korean operations with the online platform of Seoul-based E-Mart. Meanwhile, AliExpress International and the Korean platform Gmarket are creating a 50-50 joint venture that will own 100% of Gmarket. The new entity could be valued at $4 billion. Russian companies have begun using Bitcoin and other digital currencies in international payments following legislative changes that allowed such use in order to counter Western sanctions, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said. Turkey's central bank on Thursday lowered interest rates for the first time in almost two years after consumer inflation showed signs of easing. The one-week repo rate was cut to 47.5% from 50%, the first change in eight months. Uber Technologies said it remained committed to Taiwan after the island's antitrust regulator rejected its plan to buy the local Foodpanda business of Delivery Hero for $950 million. China Eastern Airlines will launch the first commercial cross-border service operated by the China-built C919 passenger jet between Shanghai and Hong Kong on Jan 1. The Ministry of Finance needs to propose a new candidate for Bank of Thailand chairman, after the Council of State found Kittiratt Na-Ranong ineligible. The government's legal adviser said he was disqualified because he recently held a political post as an adviser to ex-premier Srettha Thavisin. The Thai banking sector is expected to experience its first loan contraction in 15 years in 2024, driven by higher repayments by borrowers and tighter lending rules, according to Kasikorn Research Center. The Association of Investment Management Companies has placed CP Axtra (CPAXT) shares on a watch list for Thai ESG and Thai CG mutual funds, given concerns over governance following its recent multibillion-baht investment in an affiliate's property venture. The cabinet on Tuesday endorsed an agreement between the central bank and the Ministry of Finance to keep the inflation target in a range of 1% to 3% for 2025. Car production in Thailand fell 28.2% in November to 117,251 units due to weak sales and exports, the Federation of Thai Industries said on Tuesday. The year-on-year drop was the 16th straight month that production had declined. Thailand's manufacturing production index dropped 3.58% in November from a year earlier, the industry ministry said on Friday, missing analysts' forecasts. Thai exports are on track to achieve a historic high of US$300 billion this year, up 5.2% from 2023, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday. Shipments reached $25.6 billion in November, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth with an 8.2% year-on-year gain. The Thai Food Processors Association expects the ready-made food market in 2025 to continue to grow by 5-7%, especially in competitively priced products that can compete globally, but warned of unclear US tax increases and their potential impact on Asean. The Excise Department is studying a tax on salt, initially planning to impose it on snack foods, after success in modifying sugar consumption behaviour through a sugar tax. The cabinet this week approved economic stimulus measures, including a second phase of the 10,000-baht handouts to senior citizens in January, and the Easy e-Receipt 2.0 programme running from Jan 16 to Feb 28. The latter allows consumers to deduct up to 50,000 baht in approved spending from taxable income. The national wage committee approved minimum wage increases to 400 baht a day in Phuket, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong and Koh Samui, and to 372 baht in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Other provinces will see a 2% increase from the current range of 330 to 370 baht. The government had pushed for a 400-baht rate nationwide, but the committee said that was unrealistic. The Tourism Authority of Thailand estimates tourism revenue over the year-end holiday period from Dec 28 to Jan 1 at 62 billion baht, with 4.41 million domestic tourist trips and 1.56 million foreign visitors. The Thai General Insurance Association expects total insurance premiums in 2025 to grow between 1.5% and 2.5%, better than this year, supported by increased vehicle registrations, e-commerce logistics growth, the ageing society and tourism recovery. PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR) will allocate 60.4 billion baht for new investments between 2025 and 2029, aiming to maintain its status as a top oil retailer, support non-oil businesses and embark on more investment overseas. COMING UP: On Monday, the US releases monthly pending home sales and China reports manufacturing and composite purchasing managers' index (PMI). On Tuesday, the US reports and the monthly house price index and the American Petroleum Institute reports US crude oil inventories. On Thursday, the US reports manufacturing PMI and price updates. On Friday, Germany releases unemployment data and the US reports the weekly Baker Hughes oil rig count, a leading indicator oil production and demand. STOCKS TO WATCH: Bualuang Securities says tourism-related stocks have strong growth opportunities for 2025. AOT will see increased flight activity, driven by the opening of a new terminal and runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport. CENTEL is a top pick in the hotel sector. Its share price is down 19% this year, reflecting temporary impacts from hotel renovations and startup costs for a new Maldives resort. The company is projected to achieve 11% profit growth in 2025. Among other hotel players, AWC is expected to post 17% profit growth in 2025, driven by a hotel revenue recovery. Earnings for MINT are projected to grow 8%, with potential upside if debt restructuring progresses faster than anticipated. Krungthai XSpring recommends stocks in the services, retail and financial sectors for 2025. CPN and CPALL are well-positioned to capitalise on robust consumer spending and favourable economic conditions. BDMS is recommended in healthcare for strong fundamentals and a resilient performance. Recommended finance plays are KBANK, SCB, TTB and KKP as they are poised for growth, benefiting from rising US bond yields. BLA has strong potential to capitalise on favourable economic and financial trends. Both securities firms emphasise the importance of strong fundamentals and the potential for growth in sectors aligned with global economic recovery and consumer demand in 2025. TECHNICAL VIEW: Trinity Securities sees support at 1,390 points and resistance at 1,455. CGS International Securities (Thailand) sees support at 1,385 points and resistance at 1,420.

WASHINGTON — The FBI should have done more to gather intelligence before the Capitol riot, according to a watchdog report Thursday that also said no undercover FBI employees were on the scene on Jan. 6, 2021, and that none of the bureau's informants was authorized to participate. The report from the Justice Department inspector general's office knocks down a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events that day, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump's 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the building in a violent clash with police. The review, released nearly four years after a dark chapter in history that shook the bedrock of American democracy, was narrow in scope, but aimed to shed light on gnawing questions that have dominated public discourse, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Rioters loyal to Donald Trump gather Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. The report offers a mixed assessment of the FBI's performance in the run-up to the riot, crediting the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known "domestic terrorism subjects" who planned to come to Washington that day. But it said the FBI, in an action the now-deputy director described as a "basic step that was missed," failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence. That was a step, the report concluded, "that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6." The report found 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who were tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the day's events. While four informants entered the Capitol, none were authorized to do so by the bureau or to break the law, the report said. Rioters storm the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Many of the 26 informants provided the FBI with information before the riot, but it "was no more specific than, and was consistent with, other sources of information" that the FBI acquired. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general's recommendation "regarding potential process improvements for future events." The lengthy review was launched days after the riot as the FBI faced questions over whether it had missed warning signs or adequately disseminated intelligence it received, including a Jan. 5, 2021, bulletin prepared by the FBI's Norfolk, Virginia, field office that warned of the potential for "war" at the Capitol. The inspector general found the information in that bulletin was broadly shared. FBI Director Chris Wray, who announced this week his plans to resign at the end of Biden's term in January, defended his agency's handing of the intelligence report. He told lawmakers in 2021 that the report was disseminated though the joint terrorism task force, discussed at a command post in Washington and posted on an internet portal available to other law enforcement agencies. "We did communicate that information in a timely fashion to the Capitol Police and (Metropolitan Police Department) in not one, not two, but three different ways," Wray said at the time. FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks March 11 during a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Separately, the report said the FBI's New Orleans field office was told by a source between November 2020 and early January 2021 that protesters were planning to station a "quick reaction force" in northern Virginia "to be armed and prepared to respond to violence that day in DC, if necessary." That information was shared with the FBI's Washington Field Office, members of intelligence agencies and some federal law enforcement agencies the day before the riot, the inspector general found. But there was no indication the FBI told northern Virginia police about the information, the report said. An FBI official told the inspector general there was "nothing actionable or immediately concerning about it." A cache of weapons at a Virginia hotel as part of a "quick reaction force" was a central piece of the Justice Department's seditious conspiracy case against Oath Keeper leader Stewart Rhodes and other members of the far-right extremist group. Trump supporters, including Douglas Jensen, center, confront U.S. Capitol Police on Jan. 6, 2021, in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington. The conspiracy theory that federal law enforcement officers entrapped members of the mob has been spread in conservative circles, including by some Republican lawmakers. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., recently suggested on a podcast that agents pretending to be Trump supporters were responsible for instigating the violence. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who withdrew as Trump's pick as attorney general amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations, sent a letter to Wray in 2021 asking how many undercover agents or informants were at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and if they were "merely passive informants or active instigators." Wray said the "notion that somehow the violence at the Capitol on January 6 was part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources and agents is ludicrous." Rioters scale a wall at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Supporters loyal to then-President Donald Trump attend a rally on the Ellipse near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Trump supporters participate in a rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Trump supporters participate in a rally Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Then-President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to speak at a rally in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) People listen as then-President Donald Trump speaks during a rally Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Supporters of then-President Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) A supporter of then-President Donald Trump is injured during clashes with police at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. A rioter pours water on herself at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) A Trump supporter holds a Bible as he gathers with others outside the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) A demonstrator supporting then-President Donald Trump, is sprayed by police, Jan. 6, 2021, during a day of rioting at the Capitol.(AP Photo/John Minchillo) Rioters try to enter the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) U.S. Capitol Police try to hold back rioters outside the east doors to the House side of the U.S. Capitol, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Rioters gather outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Protesters gather outside the U.S. Capitol, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Jacob Anthony Chansley, center, with other insurrectionists who supported then-President Donald Trump, are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber in the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Chansley, was among the first group of insurrectionists who entered the hallway outside the Senate chamber. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) U.S. Capitol Police hold rioters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Lawmakers evacuate the floor as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Police with guns drawn watch as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Congressmen shelter in the House gallery as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Members of Congress wear emergency gas masks as they are evacuated from the House gallery as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) The House gallery is empty after it was evacuated as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Jan. 7, 2021, after rioters stormed the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Members of the DC National Guard surround the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., read the final certification of Electoral College votes cast in November's presidential election during a joint session of Congress after working through the night, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool) A flag hangs between broken windows after then-President Donald Trump supporters tried to break through police barriers outside the U.S. Capitol, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) A flag that reads "Treason" is visible on the ground in the early morning hours of Jan. 7, 2021, after rioters stormed the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) An ATF police officer cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Jan. 7, 2021, after rioters stormed the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella changed his cleats just 12 minutes into the game after his slips contributed to both of Tottenham's early goals in the teams' London derby in the Premier League on Sunday. The Spain international ceded possession by slipping on the turf at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the fifth and 11th minutes — and from the ensuing attacks, Spurs scored through Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski. Immediately after Kulusevski's shot hit the net to make it 2-0, Cucurella sprinted to the sideline while shrugging his shoulders and pointed to his cleats. He took them off and threw them away in disgust before putting on new ones. It seemed to work. Within six minutes, he provided the pass that led to Jadon Sancho scoring for Chelsea to make it 2-1. Chelsea went on to win 4-3 — and Cucurella posted a photo on social media after the match, showing the first cleats he wore nestled in a bin. “It almost slipped away,” Cucurella wrote on Instagram Stories, “but proud of the amazing team effort to turn things around.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerMayor Olivia Chow’s city hall inconsistently addresses antisemitism in Toronto, according to complaintsJapan’s record deal-making activity this year isn’t giving foreign firms much holiday cheer: For now, the field remains mostly dominated by the local mega banks and law firms with deep ties to the corporate world. At roughly $200bn, the volume of transactions including mergers and acquisitions in the country is up 48% this year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That compares with a 17% increase across Asia Pacific and a 19% slump for China, which remains the biggest market in the region with $271bn in volume. The sheer amount of activity is reshaping the battleground for investment bankers seeking to earn the often lucrative fees that come with these transactions. Just as the year winds down, one deal has left bankers scrambling to take part in: Honda Motor Co’s acquisition talks with Nissan Motor Co. The tie up could potentially form the world’s third-largest carmaker. But while the big international investment banks win advisory roles on some deals, Japanese firms historically have a big hometown advantage, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. And among law firms, the preference for Japanese involvement is even more stark with local firms taking the top five spots. “While some foreign banks have been relatively successful in Japan and they continuously pitch and work on many deals, the reality is the Japanese megabanks have much more access to companies due to their lending and underwriting relationship,” said Akio Katsuragi, co-founder and chief executive officer of investment banking boutique Crosspoint Advisors. Partly, this reflects the industries prominent in some recent deals in strategically important sectors such as technology, which makes it even harder for foreign buyers, where global investment banks may have an edge over their local rivals. One such example is Japan Industrial Partners’ $15bn takeover of conglomerate Toshiba Corp, in which Katsuragi’s firm was a lead adviser. Other banks that worked on the deal included Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc, Mizuho Financial Group Inc, Nomura Holdings Inc, as well as overseas banks such as JPMorgan Chase & Co and UBS Group AG. The planned union of Honda and Nissan is one of those evergreen deals that has been talked about for years, according to Katsuragi, who was previously CEO of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc’s Japan office. The time is right for the deal to happen, he added, otherwise they might struggle to survive in a very competitive global market. The two companies earlier this week reached a tentative agreement to set up a joint holding company that will aim to list shares in August 2026. While their executives have been careful to paint the transaction as a merger of equals, Honda will take the lead in forming the new entity and nominate a majority of its directors. “There is still a preference to find a Japanese solution when it comes to big deals, especially if there is a possibility of combining two national champions or finding local investors as a way to preserve some of the national-trophy assets,” said Takeshi Nakao, managing partner at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in Tokyo. Other deals receiving foreign interest but facing local resistance in Japan include Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc’s pursuit of the owner of 7-Eleven convenience stores. Banks working on the potential cross-border deal include Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Morgan Stanley and Nomura. After the operator of Circle K stores made its intentions known, Seven & i Holdings Co considered a management buyout to take itself private with funding from banks, Itochu Corp and the founding Ito family in a transaction that could be worth around $58bn, Bloomberg News reported. Banks that may provide financing for what could be the largest-ever such deal in Japan include Sumitomo Mitsui, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc and Mizuho. “If Seven & i is possible, then anything could get done, other than certain assets in strategic and sensitive industries,” said Nakao of Freshfields. Nippon Life Insurance Co has done more than $12bn in deals this month alone, and Japan’s biggest insurer isn’t finished yet. There’s also Bain Capital’s ongoing plans to buy shares of software developer Fuji Soft Inc without the support of the Japanese company’s board, setting the stage for a rare hostile bid in its battle with KKR & Co for the Yokohama-based firm. “This is the busiest ever we have seen in Japan dealmaking,” Nakao said. “Deals in Japan are going to get even bigger, both inbound and outbound.” The deal bonanza has also been buoyed by a strong stock market, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 index reaching an all-time high in July. It has gained more than 20% this year. Outside of Japan, India was the other hot spot for deals this year, with a record $20bn raised in initial public offerings and $97bn in other transactions including M&A. Investment bankers in Japan have also been busy on equity capital markets transactions as global investors continue to pile into Japanese stocks. About $6.3bn was raised via IPOs in Japan since January, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Pittsburgh 74, LSU 63PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller sat for a long interview with the NCAA as it looked into concerns about unusual gambling activity, his lawyer said Friday amid reports a federal probe is now under way. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller sat for a long interview with the NCAA as it looked into concerns about unusual gambling activity, his lawyer said Friday amid reports a federal probe is now under way. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller sat for a long interview with the NCAA as it looked into concerns about unusual gambling activity, his lawyer said Friday amid reports a federal probe is now under way. “Hysier Miller fully cooperated with the NCAA’s investigation. He sat for a five-hour interview and answered every question the NCAA asked. He also produced every document the NCAA requested,” lawyer Jason Bologna said in a statement. “Hysier did these things because he wanted to play basketball this season, and he is devastated that he cannot.” Miller, a three-year starter from South Philadelphia, transferred to Virginia Tech this spring. However, the Hokies released him last month due to what the program called “circumstances prior to his enrollment at Virginia Tech.” Bologna declined to confirm that a federal investigation had been opened, as did spokespeople for both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that authorities were investigating whether Miller bet on games he played in at Temple, and whether he adjusted his performance accordingly. “Hysier Miller has overcome more adversity in his 22 years than most people face in their lifetime. He will meet and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead,” Bologna said. Miller scored eight points — about half his season average of 15.9 — in a 100-72 loss to UAB on March 7 that was later flagged for unusual betting activity. Temple said it has been aware of those allegations since they became public in March, and has been cooperative. “We have been fully responsive and cooperative with the NCAA since the moment we learned of the investigation,” Temple President John Fry said in a letter Thursday to the school community. However, Fry said Temple had not received any requests for information from state or federal law enforcement agencies. He vowed to cooperate fully if they did. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “Coaches, student-athletes and staff members receive mandatory training on NCAA rules and regulations, including prohibitions on involvement in sports wagering,” Fry said in the letter. The same week the Temple-UAB game raised concerns, Loyola (Maryland) said it had removed a person from its basketball program after it became aware of a gambling violation. Temple played UAB again on March 17, losing 85-69 in the finals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. League spokesman Tom Fenstermaker also declined comment on Friday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball Advertisement Advertisement

With two days left before Nova Scotians elect their next government, polls suggest Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston’s decision to call an early vote will pay off and the real battle will be between the Liberals and NDP for second place. The Progressive Conservatives are seeking a second consecutive mandate Tuesday after sweeping the Liberals from power in August 2021. Tory Leader Tim Houston called the snap election on Oct. 27 citing the need for a fresh mandate and ignoring his government’s election law, which for the first time in Nova Scotia set a fixed election date—July 15, 2025. In a recent interview, Alex Marland, a political scientist at Acadia University, said the final result is shaping up to be what Houston hoped for when he called the election. Marland said several factors were at play in Houston’s political calculus to go early. “He was ahead in the polls and there was the lack of public attention or excitement or enthusiasm for an election coming against the backdrop of all the attention paid to the U.S. election, and of course there were (Nova Scotia) municipal elections,” said Marland. “The fact it was a snap election caught the other parties off guard and made it harder for them to organize.” He said the result has been an absence of “interest, anger or motivation” on the part of the electorate. “I think that ultimately benefits the Progressive Conservatives,” said Marland. A Narrative Research poll released Wednesday put the Tories comfortably ahead with 44 percent support. The NDP were second at 28 percent and the Liberals third with 24 percent. The survey of 800 adult Nova Scotians between Nov. 4 and 17 is considered accurate within 3.5 percentage points, 95 times out of 100. Tom Urbaniak, of Cape Breton University, said the campaign has been “maybe the quietest I’ve seen in Nova Scotia.” “It just feels less intense on the ground,“ Urbaniak said. “There are fewer signs and less literature going to doors, and there appears to be less conversation in coffee shops.” He said the lack of a longer ramp-up to the fixed date has also contributed to a general lack of attention, and the 30-day campaign is the shortest allowed by law. “So that was also a factor.” Issues such as the cost of living, a lack of affordable housing and the province’s ailing health-care system were prominent in the campaign, but no single issue dominated in the way the Progressive Conservatives managed to make health care the main issue in 2021. Marland said what the polls suggest is that the Progressive Conservatives should “steamroll” through many rural areas outside of Halifax. “Within the Halifax area they are in much tighter competition with the NDP and that’s a real problem for the Liberals because it suggests that the Liberals aren’t competitive anywhere,” he said. “So the real issue here ... is how much of the Liberal vote will hold?” Urbaniak said NDP Leader Claudia Chender has emerged as a solid campaigner with strong debate performances that have helped to boost her profile in her first election as leader. With advance polling numbers pointing toward a possible low voter turnout on Tuesday, Urbaniak believes the battle between the Liberals and NDP will hinge on who can get out the most voters in ridings where they are competitive. “It (the result) will favour whoever has strong mobilization on the ground,” he said. Liberal Leader Zach Churchill agrees. “We’ve got to get people out to vote,” Churchill said, while pointing out that Elections Nova Scotia have not sent out voter information cards because of the postal strike. “A lot of people do not know where they are voting, so it puts a lot more pressure on candidates, on their volunteers and the central campaign team to inform people,” he said Friday. Churchill said he’s proud of the campaign his party has run. “You only control what you can control. We put a lot of effort into building the right plan for this province ... and we are running a campaign that’s built around ideas,” he said. Chender believes her party’s message has been getting through as the result of hard work on the ground. “We’ve criss-crossed the province in the last 24 hours and we are going to keep visiting as many candidates in communities as we can until election day,” she said Friday. She also believes getting out the vote will be critical at a time of year when people are not necessarily focused on politics. “For us as New Democrats, it’s one door at a time, giving people that information about where to go vote,” she said. Houston, meanwhile, expressed confidence that his campaign has reached enough Nova Scotians to deliver his party a second term in government. “There’s work to be done, but on balance I think Nova Scotians recognize the effort,” he said Friday. “I’m optimistic for sure, but we’ll spend the next few days continuing to work hard and getting around the province.” At dissolution, the Progressive Conservatives held 34 seats in the 55-seat legislature and the Liberals held 14 seats, while the NDP had six and there was one Independent.Chuck Woolery, former host of 'Wheel of Fortune' and more, diesOKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank7 Corp. (NASDAQ: BSVN), the parent company of Oklahoma City-based Bank7, today announced the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share on its outstanding common stock. The dividend will be paid on January 8, 2025, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 20, 2024. About Bank7 Corp. We are Bank7 Corp., a bank holding company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Bank7, we operate twelve full-service branches in Oklahoma, the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas metropolitan area, and Kansas. We are focused on serving business owners and entrepreneurs by delivering fast, consistent, and well-designed loan and deposit products to meet their financing needs. We intend to grow organically by selectively opening additional branches in our target markets as well as pursuing strategic acquisitions. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This communication contains a number of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Bank7 Corp.'s current views with respect to, among other things, future events and Bank7 Corp.'s financial performance. Any statements about Bank7 Corp.'s expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believes," "can," "could," "may," "predicts," "potential," "should," "will," "estimate," "plans," "projects," "continuing," "ongoing," "expects," "intends" and similar words or phrases. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in (or conveyed orally regarding) this presentation may turn out to be inaccurate. The inclusion of or reference to forward-looking information in this presentation should not be regarded as a representation by Bank7 Corp. or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by Bank7 Corp. will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant uncertainties because they are based upon: the amount and timing of future changes in interest rates, market behavior, and other economic conditions; future laws, regulations, and accounting principles; changes in regulatory standards and examination policies, and a variety of other matters. These other matters include, among other things, the direct and indirect effect of economic conditions on interest rates, credit quality, loan demand, liquidity, and monetary and supervisory policies of banking regulators. Bank7 Corp. has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that Bank7 Corp. believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Bank7 Corp.'s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Bank7 Corp.'s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what Bank7 Corp. anticipates. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and Bank7 Corp. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required by law. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by these cautionary statements. Contact: Thomas Travis President & CEO (405) 810-8600 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bank7-corp-declares-quarterly-cash-dividend-on-common-stock-302322134.html SOURCE Bank7 Corp.AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:51 p.m. EST

Five Key Takeaways From the Proposed PTEP Regulations(Reuters) -President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has invited five major tech companies, including Google, Microsoft and Meta Platforms to a meeting in mid-December about dealing with online sales of drugs, The Information reported on Sunday. A representative for Jim Carroll, the drug czar during Trump's first term, and Trump's transition team emailed staffers from the three tech giants on Thursday, as well as those from Snap and TikTok, to invite them to a call, the report added, citing a person with direct knowledge of the correspondence. The transition officials want to hear from the companies about their priorities and any barriers to addressing issues around the sales of drugs online, the person told the Information. Google, Microsoft, Meta, Snap, TikTok and the Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. Trump has vowed to get Mexico to do more to stop the flow of fentanyl to the U.S., which has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans and threatened to impose steep tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada unless those countries curb fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration. In November, Trump also said in a post on Truth Social that he "will be working on a large scale United States Advertising Campaign, explaining how bad fentanyl is for people to use." In March, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. prosecutors were investigating Meta's role and whether it profited from the sale and distribution of drugs on Facebook and Instagram. In January, eBay agreed to pay $59 million and upgrade compliance measures to resolve U.S. Department of Justice allegations that it didn't do enough to stop criminals from buying devices for making counterfeit drugs, including pills laced with fentanyl. (Reporting by Urvi Dugar; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Diane Craft) Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, AKD in short, in his address to Parliament on 21 November 2024, announced two strategies to make Sri Lanka a thriving nation and a beautiful country under the rule of his political alliance1. One is immediate, picking the low hanging fruits in common parlance, and the other is medium to long-term that will create a turning point in the economy. This requires investment of funds for providing working capital to maintain the existing level of output, known commonly as GDP, and for investment capital for expanding the size of the economy. The necessary funds for investment should be provided by domestic savings generated by the Government and the people by consuming less than the income. If there is a paucity of such savings, funds should be acquired from external sources – use of the savings made by foreigners – by way of grants, direct investments, investment in the share market or Government securities or loans from friendly countries or commercial markets. This last source is not immediately available to Sri Lanka since it will take time for the country to create conditions conducive for attracting such funds. Hence, the major emphasis should be placed in the current period on domestic savings. Financial institutions will supply domestically generated funds by mobilising savings from the public and making the same available to prospective fund users by way of loans. They will also expand their supply base by creating multiple deposits and credit using the reserve money being supplied by the Central Bank. Hence, the main responsibility for funding the economy rests on financial institutions. According to the financial results released by commercial banks for the first nine months, they have made after tax thumping profits. While there is no objection to their making profits – because they are profit making institutions – they should also help the economy to come out of the present low growth scenario. The economy has just come out of a prolonged recession2 till the second quarter of 20233. The period ahead is also not promising since the average annual economic growth is projected to be at around 3% during 2024 to 2026,4 much lower than the average annual growth rate of 4.5% maintained by the country in the post-independence period.5 Any major internal or external economic shock disrupting economic activities could push this positive low growth to the negative region making matters more complicated for banks as well as for people. In this background, banks are expected to adopt conservative strategies to protect their balance sheets and consequentially, the funds supplied by depositors. To attain this goal, they should be selective in lending, shun borrowers devoid of potential to repay, increase interest rates to mitigate the risks and uncertainties, and consolidate existing good borrowers to keep the non-performing loan portfolios at a level that will not dent the net worth. The country is presently going through a deflationary situation with the inflation rate moving to the negative region at 2.1%% by end November 20246. This is an underperformance in relation to the flexible inflation target of the Central Bank under which the annual inflation should be maintained at least at 3% per annum. Hence, the central bank has space to cut the interest rates further and expand the credit levels. Commercial banks and other financial institutions should align themselves to this new development. For that, they should come up with innovative loan products to help the borrowers. This is a conflicting choice because attaining one goal will necessarily mean sacrificing the other. Following either goal exclusively is disastrous for banks as well as for the national economy. If banks end up with toxic balance sheets due to following the national goal of expanding inclusive lending, the stressed financial system will be a burden to the taxpayers. This is because, in terms of the new Central Bank Act, it is the responsibility of the Government to bailout problem financial institutions by providing solvency financing, known as long-term capital, to them. For that purpose, the Central Bank’s money printing power cannot be used except for liquidity financing in the form of short-term funds which is only supplementary to the major bailout packages being offered.7 Hence, the full burden of rescuing a sick financial system devolves on the taxpayers who are also stressed by the high levels of taxes they must pay as individuals. With the limited capacity within the Treasury, it is unlikely that the Government could provide the needed funding for rescuing a sickened financial system. But if banks follow an exclusive strategy of protecting their balance sheets, the timeline of the needed economic recovery will be shifted to the future making it difficult for banks to prosper in a slow-recovering economic system. Banks being creators of financial assets can prosper in the long run only if the real economic activities are doing well. If the real economy does not perform well, assets of banks which are solid in good times will start melting down leading to a severely disastrous financial crisis in the long run. This was the main cause of the global financial crisis of 2007-9 in which aggressive housing loans of US banks granted without due diligence became non-performing due to the slowdown of economic activities.8 Hence, in a recession-hit economy, the job of a banker is like that of an acrobat walking on a tight rope. In the circumstances, how should the banks strike a compromising balance between these two conflicting objectives? They cannot go against the national policy individually or as a system jointly. Any quick recovery will benefit them more than any other economic agent within the system. Hence, it is in the interest of the banks to help the government achieve a quick economic recovery and banks can do so by expanding the lending base. But this does not mean that banks should relax their loan assessment criteria to accommodate the increased demand for loans which may have failed to pass the test of prudence in terms of viability or purpose. Viability will ensure that the borrowers have the potential to service the loans as agreed. The purpose will ensure that they will make the highest contribution to the national product so that they will help the economy to attain a quick recovery. Complying with both requirements will help banks as well as the national economy since both are connected to each other like the bark to the trunk of a tree. Hence, banks should make a fair number of internal adjustments to gain capability for playing the game safely. These adjustments are strenuous, and pain-stricken but necessary if both the national economy and the individual banks are to succeed in a low-performing economy. The following, while not being exhaustive, are some of those adjustments that should be made forthwith. Capacity development of the staff by retraining them to assess the loan applications of the stressed-out borrowers: In a recession-hit economy, like the bankers, the borrowers are also stressed-out due to the struggle which now they must make first to survive and then to succeed in a secured livelihood. Hence, any loan being granted is a measure to take that stress out of him. That requires a banker to extend a supportive hand to the borrower. If he does not do so, the prospective borrowers will be driven to the informal money lenders who will supply the needed funds more conveniently but at rates and under conditions that will not help them to sustain their businesses. Informal money lenders deliver loan funds within hours of agreeing to the borrowing arrangements.9 It is a convenience to the borrowers. However, the borrower should pay interest at about 10% per month and repay the full amount within 100 days in which instalments are recovered daily.10 It is this last condition which puts the borrower in a tight jacket because it is unlikely that he will be able to earn enough liquid cash daily to service the loan. Consequently, many borrowers have been driven to eternal indebtedness from which they can never escape. Therefore, the supportive hand which a banker should extend to a stressed-out borrower should necessarily involve a loan product that is delivered conveniently, on one hand, and helps the borrower resuscitate his business and make a positive contribution to the growth of both the lender and the national economy, on the other. This also requires the banks to change their lending policy. Building a risk reserve to accommodate failing loans: Lending by adopting a relaxed loan assessment strategy to help the stressed-out borrowers is a risky affair. Many loans can become non-performing because the economic environment faced by these borrowers may suddenly change due to unfriendly man-made as well as natural external shocks. Of the man-made shocks, the change in the government policy to the disadvantage of the borrower concerned is prominent. For instance, the Government which is bent on raising its revenue base irrespective of its adverse impact on the recovery or the sustenance of the economy may impose new taxes that will completely derail the business line of the borrower concerned. For instance, take the case of a borrower who is in the handloom fabric weaving business. If a new value added tax is imposed on the locally made fabric, the borrower concerned is unable to sell his product in the market according to his previous sales projections. If his cash flow is disrupted due to the declined sales, he is unable to service his loan. Similarly, external economic shocks may also disrupt his cash flow projections. If the borrower’s project fails due to these factors beyond his control, the loan can become non-performing. To cover the risks arising from such non-deliberate loan defaults, there should be a risk covering reserve funds within the bank. This is in addition to the provisions made under Basel accords.11 This fund can be established by transferring a portion of the profits of a bank. If a bank follows this policy, it need not depend on the Government’s support to prevent its balance sheet from becoming toxic. Effective supervision of loans granted to stressed-out borrowers: Loans can become non-performing when the project for which the bank has granted a loan is not effectively supervised by the banker. This happens specifically in the case of micro and small and medium enterprise loans. This MSME sector is the backbone of the economy since it is responsible for more than a half of the total employment and the output in the economy.12 Close supervision by the banker will allow him to identify in advance the problems brewing in a business of a borrower and take effective preventive action to avoid loan losses. Introducing a venture capital type financing for start-up businesses:13 In an economy which is recovering from recession, the new entrants to business will provide an additional impetus to its recovery process. The way to accommodate such start-ups is through venture capital financing, in which the banker and the start-up entrepreneur get together to make the business dream of the borrower a reality. The technical knowhow and the business acumen are possessed by the prospective new entrepreneur. The banker supports him by providing the necessary capital and managerial cum business wisdom to him. In this case, the banker is not a lender, but a part owner. If the business fails, the bank is also required to assume losses. Because of this risk factor, the banker has all the reasons to effectively participate in the management of the business. But to do so, the bank’s staff should be retrained to provide the necessary managerial inputs to a start-up business. It is also necessary that the bank should employ workers with multiple disciplines, like finance, management, science, technology, or engineering. They should be provided with tailor-made training to make them effective participants in a business venture. In summary, the role of a banker in a recession-hit economy is different from his role in a well performing economy. He is required to protect his balance sheet from becoming toxic because he has the prime responsibility to protect the funds of the depositors. But at the same time, he cannot ignore the role that he should play in helping the economy to attain a quick economic recovery. Such a recovery is essential for him to succeed in the long run as a banker. The asset base of a banker is solid if the economy is solid. If the economy does not perform well or below its potential, the asset base will begin to melt down, forcing him to close doors. Such an eventuality can be avoided if the banker adopts strategies to make a difficult but necessary internal adjustment. This is like walking on a tight rope balancing the conflicting personal interests and the needs of the national economy. It is those banks which can strike the right balance that will succeed in a recession-hit economy. 1 An English translation is available at: https://pmd.gov.lk/news/the-full-speech-delivered-by-president-anura-kumara-dissanayake-at-the-inauguration-of-the-first-session-of-the-tenth-parliament/ 2 A practical definition of an economic recession is recording a negative economic growth for two consecutive quarters; an economic depression is a severe recession with a negative annual growth of more than 10%; see: https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2009/03/pdf/basics.pdf . 3 Department of Census and Statistics, Growth of Quarterly GDP at Constant Prices 2016-2023. 4 IMF, Sri Lanka Country Report 23/116. 5 Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Annual Report 2022, Special Statistical Appendix, Table 2. 6 https://www.statistics.gov.lk/InflationAndPrices/StaticalInformation/MonthlyCCPI/CCPI_20241129E 7 Section 36 of the Central Bank Act provides for the grant of such liquidity financing only to ‘solvent’ financial institutions. Hence, insolvent financial institutions cannot get even the liquidity financing from the central bank. Liquidity financing to insolvent financial institutions can be made by the central bank in exceptional circumstances on an ‘unconditional and irrevocable’ guarantee given by the government. 8 See: https://www.rba.gov.au/education/resources/explainers/the-global-financial-crisis.html#:~:text=The%20catalysts%20for%20the%20GFC,built%20houses%20in%20some%20areas. . 9 For details of Sri Lanka’s informal money market, see, Berensmann, Kathrin et.al , 2002, Informal Financing of Small Scale Enterprises in Sri Lanka, Working Paper 10/2002, German Development Institute, Bonn. 10 Wijewardena, W.A., 2019, “Fixing Lending Rates and Waving Farmer Loans: Two Policies That Do Not Augur Well For Borrowers” Colombo Telegraph, https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/fixing-lending-rates-waiving-farmer-loans-two-policies-that-do-not-augur-well-for-borrowers/ . 11 For details, see: Majnoni, Giovanni at.al., 2004, Bank Capital and Loan Loss Reserves Under Basel II: Implications for Emerging Countries”, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, 3437; https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/426261468765318403/310436360_20050014104409/additional/WPS3437.pdf . 12 Wijewardena, W.A., 2023, Misconceived resilient economy needs fixing by restoring broken supply chains, Daily FT; https://www.ft.lk/columns/Misconceived-resilient-economy-needs-fixing-by-restoring-broken-supply-chains/4-753818 . 13 For details, see: Davila, Antonio, Foster, George and Gupta, Mahendra, 2000, Venture Capital Financing and the Growth of Startup Firms, Research Paper No 1667, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University.

The Sacramento Kings have fired coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his third season with the team mired in a five-game losing streak, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the firing hadn't been announced by the team. ESPN first reported the firing. Brown won NBA Coach of the Year in his first season in 2022-23, when he helped Sacramento end the longest playoff drought in NBA history at 16 seasons. But Sacramento lost in the play-in tournament last year and was off to a 13-18 start this season, leading to the move to fire Brown about six months after he agreed to a contract extension through the 2026-27 season. The Kings have lost an NBA-worst nine games this season after leading in the fourth quarter with the worst one coming in Brown's final game as coach Thursday night against Detroit. Sacramento led by 10 points with less than three minutes to play only to collapse down the stretch. Jaden Ivey converted a four-point play with 3 seconds left when he made a 3-pointer in the right corner and was fouled by De’Aaron Fox. That gave the Pistons a 114-113 win, leaving the Kings in 12th place in the Western Conference. The Kings came into the season with hopes of finishing in the top six in the West and avoiding the play-in tournament after acquiring DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal over the summer to add to a core that featured Fox, Domanta Sabonis and Keegan Murray. Fox, who is in the second-to-last year of his five-year, $163 million contract, declined to sign an extension in the offseason. He said on a podcast with Draymond Green earlier this month that he wanted to be on a team that could “compete at a high level.” Sacramento has been far from that this season, thanks in large part to an NBA-worst 3-11 record in games decided by five points or fewer. Brown publicly criticized Fox for his role in the game-winning play Thursday night, saying he should have been closer to Ivey instead of committing a foul on a close out. "You should be hugged up to your man at the 3-point line,” Brown said. “Everybody should, and why there was a closeout by Fox, I’m not sure. I got to go back and watch the tape. But for sure 100% we told our guys, can’t give up a 3, can’t give up a 3, can’t give up a 3, stay on the high side, stay on the high side.” Brown has a 107-88 record in two-plus seasons in Sacramento with a winning record in both of his full seasons. Rick Adelman is the only other coach to post a winning record in a full season since the Kings moved to Sacramento Brown previously had two stints as coach in Cleveland and spent one-plus season as Lakers coach. He has a 455-304 record and has made the playoffs in seven of his nine full seasons. He won Coach of the Year twice, also getting the award in Cleveland in 2008-09. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBAItaly working 'tirelessly' to free journalist in Iran

Al-Assad’s private fleet of luxury cars revealed as Syrians loot his palaces after he fled the countryThe 2024 Snowball Derby is set to go live this Sunday. As drivers prepare for the 57th edition of the prestigious 300-lap Late Model race, one particular story from 1977 pops up in distinction. The field for that year’s event was stacked with iconic names like Dale Earnhardt and Mark Martin. But it was two, Ronnie Sanders and Darrell Waltrip, that made the day memorable. Waltrip was declared as the winner at the end of the race and given the trophy. But a deeper analysis of the race found the scoring tower spotting him an extra lap and that the real winner was Sanders. By the time officials realized their mistake, Waltrip had exited the track and gone back to his hotel. He later refused to return the trophy and asked for the prize money that he was due according to the earlier decision. The track management informed him that he would get his money if he gave the trophy back, but Waltrip decided to keep the silverware and forsake the money. And so, he still has the trophy safely secure in his possession. He told Racing America in 2022, “I won this trophy but it’s not mine. If you run into Ronnie Sanders, you can tell him that I still have my trophy. Or he may think it’s his.” Sanders was given a duplicate trophy the following March along with the winner’s check. It was the only Snowball Derby that he won over his racing career. Sanders is known for his legacy in the short-track racing scene. Remarkably, he was handcuffed and taken away from the Five Flags Speedway in 1975 for trying to demolish Bobby Allison’s windshield with an axle. Why Sanders was angry at Bobby Allison in 1975 Bobby Allison and Donnie Allison were among the biggest names in the field during the 1975 Snowball Derby. They put all their stock car racing skills to the test in the finale and led 200 laps between them. The rest of the drivers had no choice but to be a victim of this bullying from the Alabama Gang and race for third place. Sanders was running seventh in the final laps of the race and feeling great about obtaining a good result. This was when Bobby Allison drove up to him and shoved him instead of passing by him. Even worse, Sanders claimed that the driver stayed on the gas after crashing into him. He narrated to the Five Flags Speedway media, “ I had an axle in the back of the truck and I picked it up and I was going out on the track to bust his windshield out. Security got to me before I could pull it off.” He was handcuffed and taken off the property, but the moment became derby history. Donnie Allison went on to become the eventual race winner.

Just in Time for the Holidays: Tesla Mezcal Re-Releases a Limited Edition Collaboration with Nosotros Mezcal

Lea Miller-Tooley hopped off a call to welcome the Baylor women’s basketball team to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, where 80-degree temperatures made it easy for the Bears to settle in on Paradise Island a week before Thanksgiving. About 5,000 miles east of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men’s teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley , the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men’s and women’s tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville, 72-66, for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time – and staff and families – that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four’s most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event’s relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence – they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina . It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn , No. 4 Auburn , No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo’s Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021 . “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii.

NoneI know everyone’s supposed to be super enthusiastic about Christmas. Not sure if it reflects my age, but I’m finding the relentless excess hype pretty unbearable. So much pressure to buy everyone a gift and then the desperation to find something, anything, to fit the bill. Occasionally, one does find the perfect present, but it takes time and lots of thought, something many of us don’t have much of these days. If truth be known, many presents are useless and may well be allocated to the regifting drawer, yet one really does want it to be a true token of friendship and love. So, this year, how about we have fun? And it can be fun making some edible presents that folks will really be thrilled to get. Something that will save them time, something they might not get around to making themselves, something they will really enjoy and that will remind them of you when they eat or drink it. So, this week, a few suggestions for the many edible treats one could choose. When I say treats, they don’t necessarily need to be sweet. Last Christmas, some busy young friends were absolutely thrilled to get a little selection of frozen homemade soups, a loaf of brown yeast bread and a stick of cultured Jersey butter. Wouldn’t you too be delighted to get a pot of delicious fish and shellfish chowder or a fish pie, with a mashed potato topping or a chunky chicken and ham pie with a puff pastry crust? It could be a few sweet sauces to drizzle over an ice cream or pancakes for an instant pudding. Kumquats will be in season, so how about some kumquat marmalade, the most delicious of all things to slather on your breakfast toast . As some foods become progressively less tasty, condiments of all kinds, spicy, fiery or just plain tasty become ‘must-haves’ in your pantry so a little hamper of Christmas relishes and sweet and savoury jams become even more essential. Every bite will remind your friend of the meaningful present that you really put your heart into. Could be just a little cellophane pack of their favourite ‘cookies’ and now I’m back to my favourite theme... Gather the family around for ‘Bake Up Sunday’, if they don’t seem enthusiastic about cooking, maybe they can wrap, make pretty labels, tie bows, maybe make packs of mulled wine spices. I’m on the lookout for all kinds of recycled jars, pots and baskets during the year in charity shops. I pick up all manner of glass, pottery, and clay containers and save them for Christmas. They can be made super-cool, even with newspaper or parchment lids and fancy twine, ribbon or tinsel and a sprig of rosemary or holly. Here are some suggestions. The Chocolate Florentines come from Jane Lovett’s ‘The Get-Ahead Christmas Cook’, a new book to look out for published by Headline Publishing Group. There are lots and lots of ideas in my ‘A Simply Delicious Christmas’, published by Gill Books, which some of you may already have. No introduction needed really, other than to say these are far easier than you may think and make lovely (and impressive!) presents – who doesn’t love a florentine? Servings Course Ingredients 50g butter 60g demerara sugar 60g flaked almonds 30g unsalted, shelled pistachios, roughly chopped 50g dried (pitted) dates or figs, roughly chopped 50g dried cherries or cranberries (or a mixture of the two), roughly chopped 50g mixed candied peel 1 piece of stem ginger in syrup, drained and chopped (optional) 15g plain flour 1 tbsp double cream 150-200g dark chocolate (minimum 70 per cent cocoa solids), broken into pieces icing sugar, for dusting (optional) Method Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan)/Gas Mark 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment or silicone paper. Melt the butter and demerara sugar together in a pan on a gentle heat. Set aside. Mix all the nuts, fruit, candied peel and stem ginger (if using) together in a mixing bowl, then add the flour and stir to coat. Stir in the cream into the butter mixture, then pour this over the dry ingredient and mix well to combine. Dot heaped teaspoons of the mixture onto the lined baking sheets, leaving a little space for spreading during cooking. Flatten each one with the back of a teaspoon, trying to avoid holes as best you can, then bake for 8-12 minutes or until golden brown. Leave on the baking sheets for 3-5 minutes or until firmed up, then transfer to a wire rack using a palette knife and leave to cool. Repeat to make the remainder, if necessary. Melt the chocolate in a small, heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, or in a microwave on high in 30-second bursts. Put a sheet of baking parchment or silicone paper under the wire rack to catch any drips of chocolate. When cold, turn the florentines over with their flat underside now uppermost. With a teaspoon, a small palette knife or brush, spread a layer of melted chocolate over each florentine and leave until the chocolate is cold and set hard, around an hour or so, or chill. If you like, just before the chocolate fully sets, mark a swirly, wavy pattern with a fork. (Scrape up the excess dripped chocolate and use for something else). Arrange the florentines overlapping on a plate, alternating the chocolate and fruit and nut sides uppermost, or store in an airtight container until required. A light dusting of icing sugar just before serving looks pretty too. Recipe from Jane Lovett’s The Get-Ahead Christmas Cook published by Headline Publishing Group recipe by: Darina Allen A perfect stocking-filler for a foodie friend who likes to add a little extra oomph to everything - carry it in your handbag to perk up bland dishes... Course Ingredients 110g flaky sea salt 2 tbsp crushed dried chilli pepper (Jalapeno or Habanero) 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper Method Mix the salt and chilli together and whizz for a couple of seconds in a food processor or a molcajete with a pestle and mortar. Fill into little airtight glass containers. recipe by: Darina Allen Once again, salted caramel sauce is irresistible drizzled over crêpes, ice cream or bananas and keeps for weeks in a jar in the fridge. Makes three jars. Course Ingredients 600ml (3x 200g jars) 450g caster sugar 125g unsalted whole butter (diced) 250ml double cream 10g Achill or Dingle sea salt (literally flower of the salt, the very mineral and not too salty top layer) or Maldon Sea salt. Method Put the caster sugar into a large pan over a medium heat and stir continuously until it turns into a rich caramel. You need to do this by eye but aim for a dark mahogany colour. If it is too light, the butter and cream will dilute any caramel flavour, and it will lack that slightly burnt sugar taste that makes this sauce so good. When you are happy with the caramel, very carefully whisk in the cream to stop the cooking. Be really careful not to do it too quickly as the caramel has a tendency to spit. When you have whisked in the cream, add the butter bit by bit until it’s all incorporated and you have a smooth rich caramel. Allow to cool to 37°C and then stir in the sea salt and mix so you get an even distribution. It is very important to allow the caramel to cool before doing this so that the salt crystals do not dissolve, and you then get that lovely crunch. December at Ballymaloe Cookery School Just Cook It Christmas at Ballymaloe Cookery School on December 17 Treat yourself or gift this half day course which will give a tantalising taste of the Ballymaloe Cookery School and provides inspiration for anyone eager to cook a variety of seasonal dishes with greater confidence. Great recipes to expand your repertoire with lots of Christmas themed bread, starters, salads, dressings, mains and puddings A variety of essential techniques you’ll use again and again Tips for forward planning and saving time Course elements: Heartwarming Christmas Meals at Ballymaloe Cookery School from December 17 Come and join us for two-and-a-half days of delicious Christmas cooking. Join us and make new friends in our demonstration and hands-on kitchens. Learn how to make irresistible Christmas dishes that will become new family traditions. Discover recipes that you can cook ahead of time so that you can enjoy time with your family, entertain friends and bring new flavours to the festive table. A convivial lunch and copies of all recipes are included.

Tesco online customers have been expressing their frustration as they've encountered difficulties in locating a key kitchen ingredient, with the retail giant confirming "supply issues" are to blame. The sought-after item in question is tomato puree, which has become scarce amidst problematic European tomato harvests. Patrons have taken to social media platforms to air their grievances. On November 20, one customer queried: "How come there's been no tomato puree on your online shopping app for weeks? " In response, Tesco acknowledged: "We are aware of a current supply issue with some tomato puree products. This is being looked into." Yet, they were unable to offer a timeframe for resolution, adding: "We have no ETA as to when they will be available again". Another shopper expressed their surprise on the same date, posting: "Shopping online and am shocked that you have no tomato puree in tubes available for delivery, unless I get a whoosh delivery - what gives? " Accompanying their post was a screenshot from the Tesco app displaying out-of-stock items such as Tesco Tomato Puree 200g and Heinz Double Concentrated Tomato Puree 130g. Despite this, it appears other brands like Mutti and Napolina are still available, as well as a selection of jarred tomato pastes. Tesco has been solicited for additional remarks regarding the situation, reports the Manchester Evening News . Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter Recent reports suggest that climate change and other factors are impacting the tomato harvest in Italy, potentially contributing to the shortage. Francesco Mutti, CEO of the Mutti group, warned in Tomato News in September: "Water shortages have affected and are still affecting the fields. If not dealt with as a matter of great urgency, this could become a major problem in the next few years and lead to a significant economic weakening of one of the pillars of our southern Italian economy." However, he did not anticipate any immediate price hikes on supermarket shelves. Meanwhile, the Daily Express reports that changes to inheritance tax could result in further shortages for Tesco shoppers, as it may impact UK food production. From 2026, farmers will receive less generous tax relief, which could force them to sell land, potentially affecting product availability in supermarkets. Tom Amery, managing director at The Watercress Company, cautioned: "If we start selling of any of our farms, the reality is that we wouldn't be able to keep up with the supply. That would then definitely lead to shortages and intermittence in supply." He mentioned Tesco as one retailer that could be impacted, adding: "It could actually affect some of the contracts we have. We have contracts with MandS, Tesco, Asda - we've supplied Waitrose in the past, we could be supplying Waitrose in a couple of years' time." "All of those retailers need this consistent production process. If you don't supply these contracts consistently and you're not producing the crop every day of the year, that's when they get wobbly and they can withdraw products off the shelves." ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice . Join the ChronicleLive Breaking News and Top Stories community Join our Court & Crime community Join the Things to do in Newcastle and the North East community Join our Northumberland community Join our County Durham community Join our Sunderland community Join our NUFC community Join our SAFC community Join our Great North Run community