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GEORGIA 44, GA TECH 42 (8 overtimes) ATHENS, Ga. — Nate Frazier ran for a 2-point conversion in the eighth overtime of a marathon for the ages after No. 6 Georgia pulled off an improbable fourth-quarter comeback, giving the Bulldogs a 44-42 victory over Georgia Tech. After falling behind 17-0 at halftime and being dominated most of the game, the Bulldogs may have locked up a spot in the College Football Playoff — no matter how they fare in next weekend’s Southeastern Conference championship game. Carson Beck threw five touchdown passes, two of them in overtime, in a game the Bulldogs never led until after regulation. Georgia Tech was led by Haynes King, who ran for for three touchdowns and threw for two more. But the Yellow Jackets took their seventh straight loss to the Bulldogs. NASH.VILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns rallying No. 7 Tennessee from a 14-point deficit within the first five minutes to rout in-state rival Vanderbilt. The Volunteers (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference; No. 8 CFP) needed a big victory to impress the College Football Playoff committee enough to earn a home playoff game in December. They beat Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5) for a sixth straight season. Better yet, they rebounded from a nightmare start giving up the first 14 points by scoring 29 straight points. They led 24-17 at halftime on Iamaleava's first three TD passes. Junior Sherrill returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown for Vanderbilt to stun a mostly orange crowd. Dylan Sampson fumbled on the Vols' second play from scrimmage, and Sedrick Alexanader's 4-yard TD run on a 26-yard drive put Vandy up 14-0 quickly. OXFORD, Miss. — Ulysses Bentley rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown and No. 15 Mississippi defeated in-state rival Mississippi State 26-14 in the Egg Bowl, keeping its slim College Football Playoff hope alive. Jaxson Dart completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown for the Rebels (9-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference). Dart became the Ole Miss career passing yardage leader with a 17-yard strike to Jordan Watkins in the second quarter. Michael Van Buren completed 17 of 32 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown with an interception for Mississippi State, which closed out its first winless SEC campaign since 2002. WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Bryson Daily tied the American Athletic Conference record for single-season touchdowns and threw for a season-high 190 yards and a score to lift No. 25 Army to a 29-24 win over UTSA. Army (10-1) finished the regular season 8-0 in the AAC and earned the right to host the championship game on Friday. Army finished its regular-season home schedule with a perfect 6-0 record. UTSA fell to 0-6 away from the Alamodome. Coastal Carolina 48, Georgia State 27 Get local news delivered to your inbox!(The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, blasted U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur Jaddou for her agency approving illegal border crossers as sponsors for illegal border crossers. At a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee hearing , Biggs also pointed out that the sponsors were found to be committing Social Security and other fraud under her watch. Biggs addressed rampant fraud in a program created by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for inadmissible citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, who don’t qualify for admission into the U.S. Under Mayorkas, they were flown into the country through a CHNV parole program, used a CBP One phone app to apply for entry, and were released into the country. Part of the process requires having a “supporter” fill out an application on behalf of the CHNV parolee. While Mayorkas claimed app user parolees and supporters were thoroughly vetted, multiple Office of Inspector General reports disproved this claim, expressing security risks at airports. In August, flights of CHNV illegal border crossers were temporarily suspended after a USCIS internal review found that tens of thousands of CHNV fraudulent applications were processed. Supporters used fake Social Security numbers and phone numbers and listed the same physical address on nearly 20,000 applications, according to the report, The Center Square reported . Biggs asked Jaddou if she disputed the fact that supporters used the same Social Security Number on CHNV applications, which “happened at least 3,200 times. The same phone number used at least 3,300 times. The same supporter email address was used on applications nearly 2,000 times.” Jaddou said she didn’t have the report in front of her and didn’t dispute it. “You don’t really want to admit there’s this much rampant fraud,” he said. Biggs next cited examples of fraud that weren’t fixed. “The same exact 184-word response was used on more than 1,800 applications by nearly 194 CHNV supporters,” he said. “More than 460 nonexistent zip codes were used on supported applications on behalf of more than 2,800 CHV aliens. You can dance around and say you don't have the report in front of you, but these are the facts. This program is rife with fraud.” As of Aug. 6, DHS had approved more than 80,000 CHNV supporters for the program who were in the U.S. on a temporary basis. USCIS approved 224 CHNV parolees who were already in the country illegally as sponsors for CHNV parolees that came after them, meaning illegal foreign nationals were sponsoring illegal foreign nationals. USCIS also approved 28,322 illegal foreign nationals shielded from deportation through Temporary Protected Status as CHVN supporters; “19,865 SLEs approved as CHNV supporters, 311 DACA recipients approved as CHNV supporters, 1,300-plus aliens in the U.S. on temporary visas approved as CHNV supporters, 64 refugees approved as CHNV supporters, 19,112 conditional permanent residents approved this season as CHNV supporters,” he said. “That is the program that you are administering. I'm not talking the aliens. I'm not getting into the violation of law of the U.S. code 1182, which states that the use of parole is supposed to be a case-by-case basis.” Biggs said the supporter application process was so rampant with fraud that it was temporarily shut down but wasn’t fixed. The fraud is “still ongoing. We're waiting for the next report to confirm that these things are still going on,” he said. In addition to the USCIS report, a U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security investigation found that "as of mid-October 2023, there were 1.6 million inadmissible aliens awaiting travel authorizations through the CHNV program” and DHS was using 50 airports worldwide to fly them in, The Center Square reported . None flown into the country have a legal basis to enter the U.S. before being paroled through the CHNV program, DHS documents the committee obtained state. "All individuals paroled into the United States are, by definition, inadmissible, including those paroled under the CHNV processes," one of the DHS documents states. The CHNV parole program was among more than a dozen that House Republicans identified as illegal and cited as reasons to impeach Mayorkas. According to the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection data , more than 852,000 illegal foreign nationals were processed and released into the country through the CBP One App and more than 531,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans deemed inadmissible were released into the country through the CHNV parole program, as of October. Under the Biden administration, more than three million illegal border crossers were reported from CHNV countries, The Center Square reported . Many have been directly linked to violent crimes committed against Americans, The Center Square reported .
NEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with the AI impact on market trends - The global mechanical connectors market size is estimated to grow by USD 4.77 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for mechanical connectors in automotive industry is driving market growth, with a trend towards product launches. However, fluctuating raw material prices of mechanical connectors poses a challenge.Key market players include 3M Co., ABB Ltd., Axis Electrical Components India Pvt. Ltd., Birkett Electric Ltd., Componect AG, Conex Metals, Connector Subsea Solutions, Conway, Electrofocus Electricals, HellermannTyton GmbH, Hirpara Metal Industries, Hubbell Inc., Nexans SA, NILED, NSI Industries LLC, Panduit Corp., Prysmian Spa, Raychem RPG Pvt. Ltd., STATS Group, TE Connectivity Ltd., and Tempo Communications Inc.. AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View Free Sample Report PDF Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Type (Aluminum, Copper, Brass, and Others), Application (Automotive, Industrial, Aerospace and defense, and Others), and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled 3M Co., ABB Ltd., Axis Electrical Components India Pvt. Ltd., Birkett Electric Ltd., Componect AG, Conex Metals, Connector Subsea Solutions, Conway, Electrofocus Electricals, HellermannTyton GmbH, Hirpara Metal Industries, Hubbell Inc., Nexans SA, NILED, NSI Industries LLC, Panduit Corp., Prysmian Spa, Raychem RPG Pvt. Ltd., STATS Group, TE Connectivity Ltd., and Tempo Communications Inc. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The Mechanical Connectors market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for fixed broadband connections with higher bandwidth. Fiber optic connectors and coaxial cables are popular choices for high-speed data transfer in various sectors. Internal cables & connectors are essential for electronic systems integration in industries like Telecom, Defense, and Oil & Gas. External cables & connectors are crucial for power and signal transmission in Infrastructure Development and Data Centre Investments. Miniature connectors find applications in consumer electronics, automotive sector, and automation technology. Factors like urbanization, raw material prices, and governmental policies impact the market. Fiber optic connectors, copper, and high-speed connectors are key products driving the market. Emerging technologies like 5G, IoT, and autonomous vehicles also provide opportunities. Industries like Aerospace and Defense, Energy & Power, and Submarine Communication are significant consumers. The Mechanical Connectors Market is witnessing significant growth as key players are strategically expanding their product portfolios through new product launches. In February 2022 , Nexans introduced a new mechanical power connector to their GPH cable connectors and cable lugs range for medium-voltage cables. Likewise, HellermannTyton launched cast resin cable joints in May 2022 , featuring a cable connector and constant force springs with straight ends for effortless installation. These new offerings enable companies to cater to diverse end-user requirements and boost their market presence. International and local players dominate the market, with new product launches being a popular growth strategy. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! Market Challenges The Mechanical Connectors Market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for fixed broadband connections with higher bandwidth. Fiber optic connectors and coaxial cables are popular choices for high-speed data transfer in various sectors. These include Telecom, Military & Defense, Commercial, Civil, Oil & Gas, Energy & Power, Submarine Communication, Digital Data Storage, Automotive Sector, Electric Vehicles, Infrastructure Development, Data Centre Investments, and more. Challenges in this market include raw material prices, signal transmission, and power transmission in various applications such as electronic systems, electrical systems, urbanization, consumer electronics, automation technology, autonomous vehicles, and more. Additionally, the telecom sector's shift towards 5G technology and IoT technology requires miniature connectors, PCB connectors, and high-speed connectors. Industrialization, governmental policies, and aerospace and defense also impact the market. Copper's electrical conductivity continues to drive demand for mechanical connectors in various industries. The market's future looks promising with the ongoing infrastructure development, urbanization, and advancements in technology. The cost of raw materials significantly influences the pricing of mechanical connectors. Key materials used in their manufacturing include aluminum, copper, and brass. Fluctuations in demand from industries utilizing these materials can impact their prices negatively. Additionally, international political scenarios can cause imbalances in the supply and demand of these raw materials, leading to price fluctuations. For instance, in March 2022 , aluminum contracts reached record highs of USD3,820 /t. Producers must closely monitor these trends to maintain competitive pricing. Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report Segment Overview This mechanical connectors market report extensively covers market segmentation by Type 1.1 Aluminum 1.2 Copper 1.3 Brass 1.4 Others Application 2.1 Automotive 2.2 Industrial 2.3 Aerospace and defense 2.4 Others Geography 3.1 APAC 3.2 North America 3.3 Europe 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Aluminum- Aluminum connectors are cylindrical components used for terminating electrical wires in machines and electrical equipment, particularly in applications where vibration is a concern. These connectors are commonly found in military, automotive, industrial, and medical equipment. Military-grade aluminum connectors have metal outer shells for sealing. Commercial-grade aluminum connectors are also widely used in industries and automotive applications. TE Connectivity Ltd. And 3M are notable vendors offering aluminum connectors like the AMPLIMITE Ultra-Lite D-Subminiature connector and the metal D-SUB aluminum lightweight connector, respectively. The increasing demand for lightweight miniature connectors is driving market growth, making aluminum connectors a significant segment in the overall market. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) Research Analysis The Mechanical Connectors Market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing demand for Fixed Broadband Connections with higher bandwidth. Fiber Optic Connectors and Coaxial Cables are the primary types of mechanical connectors, finding extensive applications in various industries. Internal Cables & Connectors and External Cables & Connectors are essential components in numerous systems, including those used in Military & Defense, Commercial, Civil, Oil & Gas, Energy & Power, Electronic systems, and Electrical systems. Signal transmission and power transmission are the major applications for mechanical connectors. Urbanization, Consumer electronics, Automation technology, Automotive segment, Advanced safety features, Autonomous vehicles, and the Telecom sector are some key areas driving the market's growth. The market is also influenced by raw material prices and technological advancements such as 5G technology and IoT technology. Market Research Overview The Mechanical Connectors Market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing demand for Fixed Broadband Connections with higher bandwidth. Fiber Optic Connectors and Coaxial Cables are the primary types of mechanical connectors, with the former gaining popularity in telecommunications, data centers, and infrastructure development due to their superior signal transmission capabilities. Internal Cables & Connectors and External Cables & Connectors are essential components in various industries, including Military & Defense, Commercial, Civil, Oil & Gas, Energy & Power, Submarine Communication, Digital Data Storage, Automotive Sector, Electric Vehicles, and Infrastructure Development. The market is also driven by the growing demand for High-Speed Data Transfer, Urbanization, Consumer electronics, Automation technology, Autonomous vehicles, Telecom sector, 5G technology, IoT technology, Miniature connectors, PCB connectors, and Quick connectors. Raw material prices, Electronic systems integration, Copper's electrical conductivity, Industrialization, Governmental policies, High-speed connectors, and applications in Aerospace and defense are other factors influencing the market's growth. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Type Aluminum Copper Brass Others Application Automotive Industrial Aerospace And Defense Others Geography APAC North America Europe South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mechanical-connectors-market-to-grow-by-usd-4-77-billion-2024-2028-driven-by-rising-demand-in-automotive-industry-ai-transforming-the-market-landscape---technavio-302313566.html SOURCE Technavio © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Ludhiana: MC elections on December 21, parties swing into actionCOLLEGE FB NOTES
Furthermore, the new regulations also stress the importance of transparency and fairness in the evaluation process. To prevent any potential conflicts of interest or favoritism, the guidelines emphasize the need for clear and objective evaluation criteria that are communicated to all stakeholders involved in the procurement process. This transparency not only enhances the credibility of the evaluation results but also promotes a level playing field for all suppliers, regardless of their size or market share.Jarrod Bowen held Antonio’s number nine shirt aloft after scoring the winner in support of the Hammers striker, who is recovering after a horror car crash on Saturday. Boss Julen Lopetegui said: “He is not in his best moment but he kept his humour. It was a special moment for us. “I think we have a lot of reason to win matches but this was one reason more. He’s alive so we are happy.” West Ham players wore ‘Antonio 9′ shirts while warming up and walking out before kick-off. The shirts will be signed by the players, including Antonio, and auctioned off with the proceeds going to the NHS and Air Ambulances UK. Tomas Soucek headed West Ham into the lead and held up nine fingers to a TV camera. The Czech midfielder told Sky Sports: “He’s been here since I came here. He is really my favourite. I said it would be tough for me to play without him. “I was so scared what was going to happen. It was a really tough week for him, his family and us.” Matt Doherty equalised for Wolves, and boss Gary O’Neil felt they should have had two penalties for fouls on Goncalo Guedes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, both of which were checked by VAR. But Bowen’s winner – O’Neil believed there was a foul in the build-up – condemned Wolves to a 10th defeat of the season and a third in a row. While under-pressure Lopetegui may have earned a stay of execution, O’Neil’s future as Wolves manager is now in serious doubt. “A lot of things went against us but ultimately we have not found a way to turn the game in our favour,” he said. “But the players showed they are still fighting for me, for the fans and the group. “Where does this leave me? In the same place I was. I’m aware of the noise. But if anyone expected this to be easy – I’m happy to be judged on results but it should be done in context. “Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be proud of it.” There was an acrimonious end to the match as captains Bowen and Mario Lemina scuffled after the final whistle, with the Wolves midfielder angrily shoving people including one of his own coaches, Shaun Derry. “I just went to shake his hand after the game,” Bowen said. “He didn’t want to shake my hand, two captains together just to say ‘well done’ after the game. “I know it’s difficult when you lose. I’ve been on the end of that situation.” O’Neil added: “Mario is calm now. He’s a passionate guy and something was said that upset him. “The instinct of the staff was to make sure he didn’t get into trouble, but he took some calming down.”
Sat, 30 Nov 2024 (+353) 07491 25000 (+353) 086 60 25000 Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube News Sport Obituaries Playback Events Shows Bingo Jobs News Sport Obituaries Playback Events Shows Bingo Jobs Listen Live Watch Live News Sport Obituaries Playback Events Shows Bingo Jobs Menu News Sport Obituaries Playback Events Shows Bingo Jobs Listen Live Watch Live Colouring Competition Ballyglissane Car Draw 2024 General Elections 2024 Clar Sa Charr The Outlet Home / News & Sport / Fine Gael struggling in Donegal Fine Gael struggling in Donegal Audio , News , Top Stories November 30, 2024 Fine Gael look to be struggling in Donegal. Joe McHugh won a seat for the party in the last General Election. He announced previously that he was stepping away from politics at the end of this Dail term. The two candidates vying for the Fine Gael seat in Donegal are John McNulty and Senator Nikki Bradley. First tallies indicate it could be an uphill battle for the pair. Senator Nikki Bradley currently has a 5% share of the vote according to latest tallies while John McNulty is on 4.4%. Former Fine Gael Councillor Barry Sweeney is part of Senator Nikki Bradley’s campaign team. He says introducing two new candidates was a challenge: https://highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Barry-Sweeney.mp3 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Top Stories Audio , News , Top Stories Fine Gael struggling in Donegal 30 November 2024 News , Top Stories Driver arrested after caught doing 150kph in 80kph zone 30 November 2024 Audio , News , Top Stories Thomas Pringle increases his vote in parts of Donegal 30 November 2024 Audio , News , Top Stories 2024 General Election – LIVE 30 November 2024 Advertisement Related News Audio , News , Top Stories Fine Gael struggling in Donegal 30 November 2024 News , Top Stories Driver arrested after caught doing 150kph in 80kph zone 30 November 2024 Audio , News , Top Stories Thomas Pringle increases his vote in parts of Donegal 30 November 2024 Audio , News , Top Stories 2024 General Election – LIVE 30 November 2024 Audio , News , Top Stories Sinn Féin confident they can secure three seats in Donegal 30 November 2024 Audio , News , Top Stories ‘Inishowen vote crucial but manageable’ – Senator Blaney 30 November 2024 Highland Radio Pine Hill, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland enquiries@highlandradio.com Telephone: (+353) 07491 25000 Text: (+353) 086 60 25000 Fax: (+353) 07491 25344 News Sport Obituaries Playback Events Shows Bingo Jobs News Sport Obituaries Playback Events Shows Bingo Jobs Advertise Contact Us How to Listen Competition T&Cs Privacy Policy Advertise Contact Us How to Listen Competition T&Cs Privacy Policy Advertisement Copyright ©2024 Highland Radio - All Rights Reserved Designed by Manna | Developed by Purposemakers News Sport Obituaries Playback Events Shows Bingo Jobs News Sport Obituaries Playback Events Shows Bingo Jobs Advertise Contact Us How to Listen Competition T&Cs Privacy Policy Advertise Contact Us How to Listen Competition T&Cs Privacy Policy Highland Radio Pine Hill, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland (+353) 07491 25000 (+353) 086 60 25000 enquiries@highlandradio.com Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube
Furthermore, Lewandowski's relationship with Dembele, another player who has faced his fair share of criticism at Barcelona, has also been strained. The two forwards have reportedly clashed over playing time and responsibilities within the team, creating a tense atmosphere within the dressing room.
South Korea’s political crisis intensified after President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment vote on Saturday, with the prosecutors’ office reported to have opened an investigation into his role in last week’s brief imposition of martial law and arrested the former defense minister in connection with the declaration. Park Se-hyun, chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, opened the probe into Yoon after receiving several complaints, according to Yonhap News. The report followed the arrest hours earlier of ex-defense minister Kim Yong-hyun. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Sunderfolk , a four-player co-op turn-based RPG, is looking like the next game to encourage folks to experience the joy of tabletop games. It sees players fight together through a story where every NPC and player choice is narrated by a game master, allowing a group of friends to party up for weekly game nights to play through a campaign together. Sunderfolk doesn't offer the same level of narrative freedom as a game like Baldur's Gate 3 (or playing an actual tabletop game with a real person as the game master); instead, it honors binary choices in a curated narrative. Even if that means Sunderfolk's game master is technically always railroading the players (a major faux pas in the tabletop community), I still think this feature sounds incredibly cool, potentially doing enough to still emulate what it's like to play in a story-driven tabletop campaign with your friends. In Sunderfolk, each player can pick from six different classes: the spell-slinging Arcanist, support-focused Bard, frontline fighter Berserker, area-of-effect specialist Pyromancer, sharpshooter Ranger, and slippery Rogue. You play as the titular Sunderfolk, anthropomorphic animals who reside in the Sunderlands, which have come under attack by the corrupting influence of shadowstones. You can play Sunderfolk with everyone in person or virtually with some or all players in different locations. While the action happens on one TV or computer screen (meaning someone will have to stream the game if you're playing virtually), each player interacts with their phone (sort of like a Jackbox Party game), allowing you to dictate what your character does next from anywhere. Sunderfolk uses its own system, but it's built on the backbone of existing tabletop games. "The game that had the biggest inspiration on us, gameplay-wise--I think even some of the audience has kind of seen it in the way that the game plays out--is Gloomhaven, which is a board game. Gloomhaven and Frosthaven are kind of our biggest inspirations," game director Erin Marek told me. "We at the studio love tabletop RPGs, but we also love board gaming and especially tactics-turn-based board games, and we know they're not super accessible for a lot of folks. There are some challenges that board games can have around long setup times, lots of reading to understand what the rules are, but there's also something really magical about getting together in person and playing in-person that is kind of that synergy, like can we make something that's like this but is more accessible to either folks who aren't familiar or maybe have opted out in the past from that experience for whatever reason and create it as that entry point. So that was our early inspiration. We've diverged from it over time, but I still think you can see it in some of the design." One of those diversions is a relationship tracker, which allows each of the players to befriend and/or romance NPCs. "[We've made] some of the NPCs romanceable, and I think that that's a particularly exciting feature if you're somebody who loves dating sims and stuff," Marek said. "We have this cast of NPCs in town that you can engage with, learn about them, and then choose to either go down a more platonic path or choose to go down a more romantic path. And you get some really awesome rewards too if you get all the way to the end of their path." Like Gloomhaven, Sunderfolk is divided into two repeating phases. "You have the mission phase, which is high intensity, everybody's working together, taking turns, trying to beat monsters, etc.," Marek said. "That's where you might see things like cinematics or the game master voiceover. Kind of at the tail ends and beginning of those missions, you'll get the story content that Anjali [Bhimani] helped voice. And then once you're in town, it's a little bit more of a breathing moment. It's the opportunity where it's like, 'Oh, I've got [a chance to] take a break. I'm going to go grab a snack.' And you're not hindered by other people not being there to continue your experience. So in that [phase], you can go on your phone, you can talk to different characters, have your own stories happening. And one of the things that is my favorite feature of the game is--we call it Mad Libs--you can name things. [You name things] in the plot, in the game, and it'll pop up in other places. ...And so it provides this opportunity for each group to leave little surprises and gifts for the other players, create inside jokes or feel like they have some sense of agency over some of the pieces of the world." There is some semblance of choice beyond these Mad Libs, but Sunderfolk isn't a huge branching RPG, so the degree of agency that players have is curated by the game master's narration. "There are main story missions, which hit at certain points in the progression that you will always play," Marek said. "But in between those, you're provided with three to four different mission options and you'll get to pick which ones you want to play or don't want to play. So there's a little bit of agency [there]. ...And then once [a mission] is selected, the [game master] helps bridge the gap, [going] 'Okay, so you chose to go there and here's why you're choosing to go there.' So a little bit is reactive, a little bit is more railroad-y. There's a little bit on both of those sides, and I think it's a decent balance. We've also tried really hard on the writing side not to have the game master put actions into the players, not to enforce an action upon a player." To enforce how hands-off the game master is in dictating the player characters' motivations, those characters do not speak. The game essentially leaves it up to the players to roleplay their characters as they see fit. However, every other character is voiced by the same person, and that person is also the sole narrator of the action and the player characters' choices: the game master. Actor Anjali Bhimani (a game master in her own right, and the voice behind roles like Overwatch's Symmetra and Apex Legends' Rampart) is the narrator and game master in Sunderfolk. "What appealed to me the most about this job was the actual make of the game," Bhimani told me. "When Chris [Sigaty] from Dreamhaven hit me up, and we sat and talked about it, and he explained to me exactly what they were trying to do with the game, how they were trying to reinvent game night, essentially, for families, for people all over the globe, and bring the simplicity of turning on a video game to the collaborative nature of tabletop, combining those two parts, those really, really wonderful parts of gaming to each other, just made so much sense to me. And I, like them, have had a similarly difficult time getting some of my friends to play a TTRPG, because there's a lot of setup and there's a lot of learning. And convincing friends that you don't have to worry about all the rules, it's an open-book test--even sometimes that doesn't get them over the finish line." "We knew we wanted somebody who had experience in the tabletop RPG space," Marek said. "It's so hard to describe, but there's this nuance between when you're narrating something versus when you're talking to your friends at a table. And I feel like anybody who plays a tabletop RPG kind of intuitively knows that difference. They experience it enough to get it. And so when we were looking at our own script, there are these moments where the narrator is a narrator, but there are also moments where they're a game master at the table talking to their party, and that is so hard to parse through without really knowing the space." "Before we even started, I asked to sit down with them and see all of the characters that I was going to be voicing this whole time, so that we could plot out [voices], and I could plot out in my head, which voices I was going to use," Bhimani said. "And not even for each one of them, but just in a sense of where in my range certain ones would live, and make sure that I really was being distinct with each one's voice. You don't know if all five of them are going to be in the same scene at any given time, right? We want to make sure that they sound a little bit different. So, we can go through and take a look at all of those and see which ones we're going to be around a lot more, and which ones we're going to be doing scenes with each other more often, and stuff like that." If you can't bring a group of people together to play even over a Discord call, you can play Sunderfolk solo. "It's not really our intended experience. I wouldn't say it's the best experience [to play solo], but yeah, absolutely you can," Marek said. "So we know some folks also might struggle to get their groups together or maybe they don't have groups that they want to play with, and so we didn't want to prevent them from being able to experience this game as well. So the only caveat is they have to control at least two heroes. You can't play it as a solo hero. You have to play at least two heroes. And you can always, if you start solo, somebody else can join you, they can leave, you can pick up their character. So there's a lot of flexibility too in just making sure if something happens to you partway through the campaign or to your group partway through the campaign, there are lots of options to continue to play without that hindering." Sunderfolk is set to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC in 2025.None
DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Landcar Casualty Company (Landcar), a subsidiary of Asbury Automotive Group (Asbury), received AM Best’s upgraded Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent). AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher, and data analytics provider which completes an annual rating review of Landcar. This refined assessment from AM Best establishes Landcar to the classification from stable to positive. “We are pleased to receive this enhanced recognition from AM Best demonstrating the financial strength of the company,” says Kimberlee Reese, President of Landcar. “We continue to work hard to ensure we conduct all business with the utmost integrity and efficiency while providing best-in-class service to our guests.” “Landcar maintains its balance sheet strength at the very strong level, supported by AM Best’s strongest risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and solid balance sheet liquidity,” shared AM Best. “Landcar benefits from its niche business profile as a writer of auto-related insurance products through a network of affiliated automotive dealerships as a part of the Asbury group. Landcar’s expansion has diversified its geographic footprint and enhanced its growth opportunities.” About Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG), a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA, is one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S. In late 2020, Asbury embarked on a multi-year plan to increase revenue and profitability strategically through organic operations, acquisitive growth and innovative technologies, with its guest-centric approach as Asbury’s constant North Star. As of September 30, 2024, Asbury operated 153 new vehicle dealerships, consisting of 202 franchises and representing 31 domestic and foreign brands of vehicles. Asbury also operates Total Care Auto, Powered by Landcar, a leading provider of service contracts and other vehicle protection products, and 37 collision repair centers. Asbury offers an extensive range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; parts and service, which includes vehicle repair and maintenance services, replacement parts and collision repair services; and finance and insurance products, including arranging vehicle financing through third parties and aftermarket products, such as extended service contracts, guaranteed asset protection debt cancellation, and prepaid maintenance. Asbury is recognized as one of America’s Fastest Growing Companies 2024 by the Financial Times and the Company is listed in World’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2024 by Newsweek. For additional information, visit www.asburyauto.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical fact, and may include statements relating to goals, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations and assumptions, projections regarding Asbury's financial position, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows, leverage, market position, the timing and amount of any stock repurchases, and dealership portfolio, revenue enhancement strategies, operational improvements, projections regarding the expected benefits of Clicklane, management’s plans, projections and objectives for future operations, scale and performance, integration plans and expected synergies from acquisitions, capital allocation strategy, business strategy. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, adverse outcomes with respect to current and future litigation and other proceedings, including, without limitation, our inability to realize the benefits expected from recently completed transactions; information and cybersecurity, and other issues related to technology; our inability to promptly and effectively integrate completed transactions and the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business and regular business responsibilities; our inability to complete future acquisitions or divestitures and the risks resulting therefrom; any supply chain disruptions impacting our industry and business, market factors, Asbury's relationships with, and the financial and operational stability of, vehicle manufacturers and other suppliers, acts of God, natural disasters, acts of war or other incidents and the shortage of semiconductor chips and other components, which may adversely impact supply from vehicle manufacturers and/or present retail sales challenges; risks associated with Asbury's indebtedness and our ability to comply with applicable covenants in our various financing agreements, or to obtain waivers of these covenants as necessary; risks related to competition in the automotive retail and service industries, general economic conditions both nationally and locally, governmental regulations, legislation, including changes in automotive state franchise laws, and Asbury's ability to execute its strategic and operational strategies and initiatives, including its five-year strategic plan, Asbury's ability to leverage gains from its dealership portfolio, Asbury's ability to capitalize on opportunities to repurchase its debt and equity securities or purchase properties that it currently leases, and Asbury's ability to stay within its targeted range for capital expenditures. There can be no guarantees that Asbury's plans for future operations will be successfully implemented or that they will prove to be commercially successful. These and other risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements are and will be discussed in Asbury's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements and such risks, uncertainties and other factors speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For additional information, visit www.asburyauto.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209397997/en/ CONTACT: Morgan Irwin Head of Corporate Communications, Asbury Automotive Group mirwin@asburyauto.com | (678) 537-6593 KEYWORD: GEORGIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING INSURANCE SOURCE: Asbury Automotive Group Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 06:00 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 05:58 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209397997/en
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