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Stock market today: Dow hits another record as stocks rise

Some Dems are excited about Musk and Ramaswamy's DOGE. Their optimism feels naive.None

let it be known that has her support when he's in action on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as when he's off it. It comes after was nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the second time he is up for the honor in his career. While isn't one for sharing much about her relationship on social media, keen-eyed fans noticed a show of support by the singer. When the Kansas City Chiefs revealed was up for the award on Instagram, she liked the post. This got fans talking, with one fan writing: "Omg Taylor liked this!!" Another wrote: "Sobbing Taylor liked this aw." Importance of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award As mentioned, this is the second time is up for the award which goes to a player from one of the NFL's 32 teams for excellence on and off the field. He was nominate back in 2020, though took home the honor. "The presented by Nationwide recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field," the NFL's website reads. "The award was established in 1970 and was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame running back, "Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community, with one winner selected from the 32 nominees. "Each year, nominees are recognized beginning in Week 14 with a WPMOY trophy silhouette helmet decal applied through the end of the season. "In addition, all current players who have received this esteemed award are honored with a trophy silhouette patch on the front of their jerseys." The winner receives a $265,000 donation to a charity of their choice, while all nominees receive $55,000.The ongoing has reached the three-week mark as the two sides through a government-appointed mediator. The work stoppage centres around a variety of issues, including disputes over wages and weekend delivery. Here’s a snapshot of the issues underpinning the standoff between the Crown corporation and union. Wage increases The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which represents 55,000 Canada Post workers, said at the start of the strike that wage increases must be kept in line with inflation, with cost-of-living adjustment payments rolled into the basic wage rate. The union initially called for a cumulative wage hike of 24 per cent over four years. CUPW negotiator Jim Gallant said that figure has moved since the start of negotiations, but declined to comment on the union’s latest proposal. “We have just lived through the worst cost of living crisis in a generation,” the union’s national president Jan Simpson said in a post on Tuesday. Canada Post says it has offered what it calls “competitive” wage increases totalling 11.5 per cent over four years and more paid leave. It notes labour costs rose by $242 million in 2023, or about 6.5 per cent, compared with 2022. The organization declined to comment on Thursday. Weekend delivery One of the main snags in negotiations has been a push to expand delivery to the weekend, but the two sides are at odds over how to staff the expansion. Canada Post has pitched seven-day-a-week delivery as a way to boost revenue and “secure the future of the company” as it struggles to compete with other delivery companies. The Crown corporation says it would staff weekend delivery shifts with a mix of new permanent part-time positions and some full-time, which would “create flexibility while not adding significant long-term fixed costs.” But the union characterizes Canada Post’s proposals as “attacks on full-time work,” accusing the Crown corporation of wanting to increase the part-time mix to more than 50 per cent of the workforce. It says it is concerned some part-timers could be scheduled for as few as eight hours per week and wouldn’t be eligible for benefits until they reach 1,000 hours. “Canada Post has every ability today to deliver parcels on the weekend, inside our collective agreement at straight time,” Gallant said in an interview. “We think it can be done with full-timers ... We’re just saying, ‘Instead of hiring 10 part-timers, you can hire three full time.” Job security and retirement The union has highlighted a number of its demands for better job security, including a request for “improved protections against technological change.” Gallant said Canada Post is “always looking for new technology” that could threaten workers’ duties. “This loading and unloading of trucks by robots is one that they’re really, really looking at (and) forklifts that drive themselves through a plant,” he said. “We’re always afraid.” When it comes to retirement, CUPW says Canada Post wants new workers to accept a defined contribution pension plan, even though its defined benefit pension plan is overfunded by 140 per cent. “All workers deserve the right to retire with dignity, and for us, that means postal workers — present and future — maintain their defined benefit pension plan,” Simpson said. Canada Post says its proposals are “focused on protecting and enhancing what’s important to current employees ... while protecting the defined benefit pension and their job security.” Rural service The union has said it wants job security rights for rural and suburban mail carriers in line with those granted to urban postal workers. It has outlined a number of issues affecting its Rural Suburban Mail Carrier bargaining unit, saying it wants an hourly rate system with appropriate time values, union involvement and “safeguards against (Canada Post’s) unilateral change.” The union says Canada Post must maximize and maintain eight-hour routes for rural workers, grant improved rights for on-call relief employees, and uphold paid meal and rest period rights. It says the Crown corporation must also ensure the bargaining unit’s involvement in service expansion projects. Earlier this week, Simpson called on Canada Post to commit to working with the union “to expand services at the post office including postal banking and electric vehicle charging stations.” Safer working conditions The union has demanded the full elimination of Canada Post’s “separate sort from delivery” system, which entails certain employees spending the entirety of their shifts sorting mail for letter carriers to go out and deliver — as opposed to carriers performing both tasks. It says this system overburdens carriers, who as a result spend more time outdoors and potentially exposed to extreme weather events. “Postal workers suffer the second highest rate of disabling injury among workers under federal jurisdiction, behind only the road transportation sector,” Simpson said. “Growing neighbourhood mail volumes and changing work methods like separate sort-from-delivery are only making things worse.” The union has also proposed increases to short-term disability program payments and injury on duty payments, along with more paid medical days. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5,2024.

Tyrese Hunter tossed in a game-high 26 points to lead Memphis to a 99-97 upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hunter, who played at Iowa State and Texas before transferring to Memphis, made eight field goals with 7-of-10 3-point shooting. The Tigers (5-0) connected on 12 of their 22 3-point attempts in the win. UConn's Hassan Diarra made a free throw to cut the Memphis lead to 99-97 with 2.2 seconds left. He intentionally missed the second free throw and collected the loose ball, but his desperation shot was off the mark. It was 92-92 when UConn's Liam McNeeley was called for an offensive foul with 40.3 seconds left. UConn coach Dan Hurley received a technical for arguing the foul call, and PJ Carter made all four free throws to give the Tigers a four-point lead. Memphis, which squandered a 13-point lead with four minutes to play in regulation, received 22 points from PJ Haggerty, 19 from Colby Rogers and 14 from Dain Dainja. Memphis will play the winner of Monday night's game between Colorado and Michigan State in Tuesday's semifinals. UConn will face the loser of that contest. Tarris Reed Jr. had a team-high 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for UConn (4-1) before he fouled out with 3:18 to play. He made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts. Alex Karaban added 19 points for the Huskies. Jaylin Stewart scored a career-high 16 points, Diarra had 12 and McNeeley added 10. UConn trailed 82-79 after Diarra made two free throws with 24.2 seconds to play in regulation. The Huskies then forced a turnover and tied the game on a 3-pointer by Solo Ball with 1.2 on the clock. Although Memphis shot 56.5 percent from the field (13 for 23) and 50 percent from 3-point territory (5 for 10) in the first half, the game was tied 40-40 after 20 minutes. Neither team led by more than six points in the half. UConn received 29 points from its bench in the first half. Reed scored 15 of those points and Stewart supplied the other 14. --Field Level MediaA few decades ago, researchers discovered four small clay cylinders marked with strange symbols at an ancient tomb in Syria. They’ve now concluded that those symbols are letters—and they may be the world’s oldest known evidence of alphabetic writing. The tomb is located in Tell Umm-el Marra , an ancient city some 35 miles east of Aleppo. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Amsterdam found the marked cylinders in 2004, and Johns Hopkins archaeologist Glenn Schwartz described them in a paper in 2021. But according to Scientific American ’s Stephanie Pappas, the research didn’t attract widespread attention until this week, when Schwartz presented it at the annual meeting of the American Society of Overseas Research . Before the invention of alphabets, early writing systems—like hieroglyphs and cuneiform —used symbols representing objects or phonetic sounds. Eventually, Proto-Sinaitic script, which transformed some hieroglyphs into alphabetic letters, emerged in the Sinai Peninsula around 1900 B.C.E. Scholars have long thought that this was when the alphabet was invented, as Schwartz says in a statement . “But our artifacts are older and from a different area on the map, suggesting the alphabet may have an entirely different origin story than we thought.” Using radiocarbon dating, the researchers determined that the cylinders were made around 2400 B.C.E., which would make them about 500 years older than other known alphabetic scripts. If the cylinders’ markings are alphabetic letters, they represent a pivotal shift in humans’ development of language. As Schwartz tells McClatchy ’s Irene Wright, older writing systems could feature thousands of characters or symbols representing full words, syllables or combinations of phonemes—“the smallest sound segments that languages have.” Alphabetic systems are much simpler: They contain only 20 to 30 characters, “since that’s the usual maximum number of phonemes a language will use.” “Alphabets revolutionized writing by making it accessible to people beyond royalty and the socially elite,” says Schwartz in the statement. “Alphabetic writing changed the way people lived, how they thought, how they communicated.” The tomb in Tell Umm-el Marra contained six skeletons—likely members of a wealthy and powerful family. It also held cookware, jewelry, a spearhead and pottery vessels. The clay cylinders were found alongside these artifacts. Each cylinder sports a small hole, which may have been used to attach them to something. “I’m imagining a string tethering them to another object to act as a label,” says Schwartz in the statement. “Maybe they detail the contents of a vessel, or maybe where the vessel came from, or who it belonged to.” Schwartz tells Scientific American that one of the clay cylinders is marked with the word “Silanu,” which he thinks may be a name: Perhaps Silanu was the sender or recipient of the grave goods, and the clay cylinder might have been attached to a vessel like a gift tag. But without a way to translate the writing, researchers can only guess. Schwartz says that “several prominent scholars” have also agreed that the characters are part of an alphabet, according to Newsweek ’s Aristos Georgiou. However, this conclusion is not universally accepted. Some researchers say they’re still hoping for more evidence that the symbols aren’t from another kind of old writing system. “When you only have a few very short inscriptions, it can be difficult to tell how many signs the system has,” as Philippa Steele , a classicist at the University of Cambridge , tells Scientific American . She can’t be sure the engravings match Proto-Sinaitic writing rather than just resemble it. “I think we have to hope for more finds.” Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. Sonja Anderson | READ MORE Sonja Anderson is a writer and reporter based in New York City.

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s capital markets are undergoing significant transformation, with efforts to address low liquidity, regulatory hurdles, and economic instability paving the way for potential growth. The introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency and initiatives to engage international creditors have set the stage for stability and expansion. Market analysts believe that a strategic approach is necessary to stimulate the country’s capital markets in 2025. Business analyst Kudakwashe Mundowozi highlighted the importance of enhancing liquidity through new financial instruments, streamlining regulations, and implementing investor education programs. He also emphasised the need for sustainable investment promotion and a green financing framework to attract socially responsible investors in line with global trends. Fostering public-private partnerships and encouraging foreign direct investment through policy stability and tax incentives are considered critical for long-term growth. By addressing these issues, Zimbabwe can build a more vibrant and resilient capital market. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) are seen as key platforms for driving investment and contributing to the country’s economic development. Investment analyst Enock Rukarwa noted that the introduction of ZiG had brought relative stability, shifting stock market activity from flat to a bullish trend in late 2024. However, he pointed out challenges such as the discontinuation of foreign currency settlements, which had briefly improved liquidity. Liquidity, market depth, and size remain areas of concern, with analysts linking these variables to broader macroeconomic dynamics. Improved economic conditions, they argue, would boost confidence and activity in the stock market. Financial analyst Malone Gwadu observed that ZSE served as a haven for investors during periods of volatility, particularly in early 2024, as a hedge against exchange rate losses. However, he identified inflation and exchange rate volatility as systemic threats to market confidence and growth. To encourage market participation, Mr Mundowozi proposed tax incentives for companies listing on the ZSE, citing successful examples from Rwanda and Ireland. He also suggested adopting a fast-track listing process, similar to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, to attract foreign companies and diversify the investor base. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced plans to further incentivise market activity on the VFEX, which has been hindered by low trading volumes. As part of the 2025 national budget, the Government will reduce capital gains withholding tax on marketable securities on the ZSE, effective January 1, 2025. ZSE Chief Executive Justin Bgoni welcomed the tax reduction, stating it would increase liquidity, attract more investors, and enhance overall market efficiency. Lower taxes could also improve price discovery and make Zimbabwe’s investment landscape more appealing to foreign investors. As these measures take shape, Zimbabwe’s capital markets are expected to play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and attracting both domestic and international investors in the coming years.By Jack Phillips and Sam Dorman Contributing Writer President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday announced former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his nominee for U.S. attorney general, moving swiftly to replace former nominee Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from contention earlier in the day. “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on violent criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida families,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Bondi also served as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019. The president-elect said that as the state’s first female attorney general, Bondi “worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of fentanyl overdose deaths, which have destroyed many families across our country.” Bondi, at Trump’s request, served on his administration’s opioid and drug abuse commission. “Pam will refocus the (Department of Justice) to its intended purpose of fighting crime, and making America safe again,” Trump wrote. “I have known Pam for many years — she is smart and tough, and is an America first fighter, who will do a terrific job as attorney general!” In 2019, Bondi joined Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in the Senate, at the end of which he was acquitted. As a prosecutor, Bondi tried cases ranging from domestic violence to capital murder. During her tenure as Florida’s top lawyer, she advanced reforms targeting corruption with opioid prescriptions. Bondi is a well-known figure in Trump’s circle. She’s been a vocal critic of the criminal cases against Trump. In one radio appearance, she said Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith and other prosecutors were trying to make names for themselves by “going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system.” She has served as a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. In response to the announcement, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, described Bondi as “a brilliant attorney with a long career of fighting for the Constitution.” He added on social media platform X that he is looking forward to the Senate “QUICKLY confirming her to be our next attorney general.” Gaetz Withdraws Nomination Gaetz, who withdrew from contention earlier on Thursday, wrote on social media that Bondi is “a stellar selection.” In an earlier statement, Gaetz said, “It is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition.” Gaetz said he met with senators a day earlier and had “thoughtful feedback” and received “incredible support” from many of them. Gaetz faced congressional, federal and media scrutiny over allegations that would have complicated his path to confirmation as the nation’s top federal prosecutor. Trump responded to Gaetz’s announcement in a social media post, thanking Gaetz for his efforts in seeking approval from senators for the U.S. attorney general role. “He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump wrote. “Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” The House Ethics Committee announced on Wednesday that it will not release its final report involving an investigation into Gaetz — at least for the time being. Last year, the former Florida lawmaker said in a statement that the DOJ had ended a related sex trafficking investigation with no charges against him. He has also categorically denied claims related to the ethics panel’s investigation, noting that the DOJ ended that probe. “The Department of Justice has confirmed to congressman Gaetz’s attorneys that their investigation has concluded and that he will not be charged with any crimes,” a statement from his office said last year. In the meantime, several Senate Republicans expressed concern about the possibility that he would be nominated, and some had declined to publicly state whether they would confirm him. “He’s got an uphill climb,” Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said in response to a question from reporters earlier this week. “Does anybody honestly think that a lot of that [Ethics Committee] testimony is not going to be re-engineered?” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters on Tuesday. “I mean, we are creating a false crisis because the reality is all that information is going to be on display at the hearing. Think Brett Kavanaugh.” Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, told reporters, “We all know what Washington is like,” adding that it “leaks like a wet paper bag.” Gaetz resigned from his congressional seat on Nov. 13 after he was named as Trump’s choice for attorney general. However, he had won reelection for the upcoming Congress on Nov. 5. On Friday, he told podcaster and conservative activist Charlie Kirk that he would not be going back to the House of Representatives. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch,“ Gaetz said on Friday. “I do not intend to join the 119th Congress; there are a number of fantastic Floridians who’ve stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service.” Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.

Good, Bad and Ugly: 3 Keys To Classic and Clutch Cowboys WinUlster's young guns end losing streak with brilliant win in Galway