Taiwan President Lai Ching-te spoke by telephone with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson during Lai's visit to the Pacific, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Thursday, a move likely to infuriate Beijing. Taiwan's presidential office did not immediately answer calls seeking comment. Johnson's office also did not respond to an emailed request for comment. One of the sources said the call happened Wednesday afternoon U.S. time, adding this should not be a reason for China to increase its military intimidation of Taiwan. Sources familiar with the situation have previously told Reuters that China could launch a new round of war games in response to Lai's trip to the Pacific, where he has stopped over in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam. Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Data Analysis Animated Visualizations with Flourish Studio: Beginner to Pro By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Advanced Excel Course - Financial Calculations & Excel Made Easy By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By - Neil Patel, Co-Founder and Author at Neil Patel Digital Digital Marketing Guru View Program Web Development Intermediate C++ Skills: Master Pointers, Structures and File Stream By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass By - CA Himanshu Jain, Ex McKinsey, Moody's, and PwC, Co - founder, The WallStreet School View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Learn InVideo AI: Create Videos from Text Easily By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program RECOMMENDED STORIES FOR YOU China considers democratically governed Taiwan its own territory and has condemned the United States for allowing Lai to transit its territory. Lai rejects China's sovereignty claims. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Rexas Finance (RXS) Crypto Presale Becomes 2024’s Biggest Success As 6th Presale Stage Sells Out
Letter: Credentials not enough to lead America
NoneJACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Greg McGarity had reason to be concerned. The Gator Bowl president kept a watchful eye on College Football Playoff scenarios all season and understood the fallout might affect his postseason matchup in Jacksonville. What if the Southeastern Conference got five teams into the expanded CFP? What if the Atlantic Coast Conference landed three spots? It was a math problem that was impossible to truly answer, even into late November. Four first-round playoff games, which will end with four good teams going home without a bowl game, had the potential to shake up the system. The good news for McGarity and other bowl organizers: Adding quality teams to power leagues — Oregon to the Big Ten, Texas to the SEC and SMU to the ACC — managed to ease much of the handwringing. McGarity and the Gator Bowl ended up with their highest-ranked team, No. 16 Ole Miss, in nearly two decades. People are also reading... "It really didn't lessen our pool much at all," McGarity said. "The SEC bowl pool strengthened with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma. You knew they were going to push traditional SEC teams up or down. Texas ended up pushing just about everyone down." The long waiting game was the latest twist for non-CFP bowls that have become adept at dealing with change. Efforts to match the top teams came and went in the 1990s and first decade of this century before the CFP became the first actual tournament in major college football. It was a four-team invitational — until this year, when the 12-team expanded format meant that four quality teams would not be in the mix for bowl games after they lose next week in the first round. "There's been a lot of things that we've kind of had to roll with," said Scott Ramsey, president of the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. "I don't think the extra games changed our selection model to much degree. We used to look at the New York's Six before this, and that was 12 teams out of the bowl mix. The 12-team playoff is pretty much the same." Ramsey ended up with No. 23 Missouri against Iowa in his Dec. 30 bowl. A lot of so-called lesser bowl games do have high-profile teams — the ReliaQuest Bowl has No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan (a rematch of last year's CFP semifinal), Texas A&M and USC will play in the Las Vegas Bowl while No. 14 South Carolina and No. 15 Miami, two CFP bubble teams, ended up in separate bowls in Orlando. "The stress of it is just the fact that the CFP takes that opening weekend," Las Vegas Bowl executive director John Saccenti said. "It kind of condenses the calendar a little bit." Bowl season opens Saturday with the Cricket Celebration Bowl. The first round of the CFP runs Dec. 20-21. It remains to be seen whether non-CFP bowls will see an impact from the new dynamic. They will know more by 2026, with a planned bowl reset looming. It could include CFP expansion from 12 to 14 teams and significant tweaks to the bowl system. More on-campus matchups? More diversity among cities selected to host semifinal and championship games? And would there be a trickle-down effect for everyone else? Demand for non-playoff bowls remains high, according to ESPN, despite increased focus on the expanded CFP and more players choosing to skip season finales to either enter the NCAA transfer portal or begin preparations for the NFL draft. "There's a natural appetite around the holidays for football and bowl games," Kurt Dargis, ESPN's senior director of programming and acquisitions, said at Sports Business Journal's Intercollegiate Athletics Forum last week in Las Vegas. "People still want to watch bowl games, regardless of what's going on with the playoff. ... It's obviously an unknown now with the expanded playoff, but we really feel like it's going to continue." The current bowl format runs through 2025. What lies ahead is anyone's guess. Could sponsors start paying athletes to play in bowl games? Could schools include hefty name, image and likeness incentives for players participating in bowls? Would conferences be willing to dump bowl tie-ins to provide a wider range of potential matchups? Are bowls ready to lean into more edginess like Pop-Tarts has done with its edible mascot? The path forward will be determined primarily by revenue, title sponsors, TV demand and ticket sales. "The one thing I have learned is we're going to serve our partners," Saccenti said. "We're going to be a part of the system that's there, and we're going to try to remain flexible and make sure that we're adjusting to what's going on in the world of postseason college football." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Fabian Schär scored a dramatic late equaliser as Newcastle United held Premier League leaders Liverpool to a 3-3 draw in an exhilarating encounter at St James’ Park. The Reds appeared on course for a win that would have extended their nine-point lead at the top, having twice come from behind, but Schär’s volley in the final moments salvaged a deserved point for the hosts. Liverpool seemed set to claim all three points after Mohamed Salah put them 3-2 ahead with just seven minutes remaining. However, Schär capitalised on a failed attempt by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to claim a free-kick, volleying home to restore parity. The match came just days after Liverpool’s commanding victory over defending champions Manchester City, which had propelled them nine points clear at the summit. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side struggled to find their rhythm against a resolute Newcastle team that started with great intent. Jacob Murphy gave an early warning to Liverpool when his shot clipped the post, and shortly after, Alexander Isak stunned the visitors with a superb long-range strike to put Newcastle 1-0 ahead. Moments later, Anthony Gordon could have doubled the lead, but his effort was saved by Kelleher following a mistake by Joe Gomez. Liverpool fought back early in the second half, with Curtis Jones firing a clinical first-time strike from Salah’s cross to level the score. But just when it seemed Liverpool might take control, Gordon sent the home crowd into raptures with a brilliant solo effort, cutting inside before his strike squeezed past Kelleher. Salah was not done, however, as he first equalised with a delicate finish, then appeared to score the winner with a composed finish to give Liverpool the lead once again. But Schär’s dramatic intervention in the dying minutes ensured the game finished all square, leaving both teams with mixed feelings after a thrilling clash.NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy draws primary challenger citing Trump impeachment voteDallas plays Winnipeg after Marchment's 2-goal performance
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NoneToday's letter writer "Cabinet appointments" presents an open-and-shut case for what sounds like objectivity in vetting cabinet appointments: Credentials. If they've got them, they're in. So where does character fit in? Nowhere in the writer's analysis. But we all know that character matters more than job qualifications. That kind of common sense is hard-wired in all of us. History is full of "qualified" actors -- you name it, politics, sports, entertainment, education -- whose lack of character sorely and often gravely disappointed their supporters. For my money I'd take someone with little job experience and a whole lot of character over someone with great job experience and unquestionably questionable character. In their book "Becoming A Person of Influence" John Maxwell and Jim Dornan spell it out: "Credentials are transient. Character is permanent. Credentials turn the focus to rights. Character keeps the focus on responsibilities. Credentials add value to only one person. Character adds value to many." Rick Rappaport Oro Valley Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star. Follow these steps to easily submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion to the Arizona Daily Star. Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!
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Intech Investment Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated ( NYSE:MSA – Free Report ) by 39.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,508 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 2,977 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $799,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 198.8% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 245 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in MSA Safety by 486.0% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 252 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in MSA Safety by 985.1% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 803 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $143,000 after purchasing an additional 729 shares during the last quarter. Kowal Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MSA Safety during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $204,000. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of MSA Safety during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $206,000. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. MSA Safety Trading Down 0.3 % NYSE MSA opened at $173.80 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 2.68 and a quick ratio of 1.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.12 and a beta of 0.99. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $172.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $179.03. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 12 month low of $160.02 and a 12 month high of $200.60. MSA Safety Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 15th. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.48%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, B. Riley started coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Read Our Latest Report on MSA Safety MSA Safety Company Profile ( Free Report ) MSA Safety Incorporated develops, manufactures, and supplies safety products and technology solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures in the fire service, energy, utility, construction, and industrial manufacturing applications, as well as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industries worldwide. Further Reading Five stocks we like better than MSA Safety The Significance of Brokerage Rankings in Stock Selection The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing Best ESG Stocks: 11 Best Stocks for ESG Investing 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 The Significance of a Trillion-Dollar Market Cap Goes Beyond a Number FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for MSA Safety Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MSA Safety and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .SEOUL: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Seoul on Sunday (Nov 24) for a three-day official visit to South Korea to further strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and South Korea. Both countries will be celebrating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025. The special aircraft carrying Anwar touched down at Seoul Air Base at about 9.55pm (8.55pm Malaysian time), where he was received by South Korea's Public Affairs Ministry spokesman and Deputy Minister, Lee Jaewoong, Korean Ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung Bae and Malaysian Ambassador to South Korea Datuk Mohd Zamruni Khalid. Anwar was accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan; Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang; National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang and senior government officials. The Prime Minister was later accorded an official welcome at the air base. According to Mohd Zamruni, the visit is at the invitation of President Yoon Suk-yeol. "On Monday (Nov 25), the Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with President Yoon at the Yongsan Presidential Office. "Both leaders will take stock of Malaysia-Republic of Korea bilateral relations that have significantly progressed, both in scope and substance, since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1960. "They are also expected to discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern, and exchange views on Malaysia’s Chairmanship of Asean and the Republic of Korea’s Chairmanship of Apec, both in 2025,” he said. The two leaders will also witness the exchange of three memoranda of understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education, Cooperation in the Field of Carbon Capture and Storage and Cooperation in Cooperative Approaches Under Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the Paris Agreement. Another key highlight of the official visit is the Malaysia-Republic of Korea Business Forum and one-on-one meetings with Korean Conglomerates, in which the Prime Minister will engage with prominent business leaders to explore economic opportunities in Malaysia. The curated session will provide insights into Malaysia's strategic priorities and initiatives, focusing on economic and fiscal growth, as well as trade and investment opportunities. On Tuesday (Nov 26), the Prime Minister will also deliver a special address titled "Strategic Partners in a Complex World: Malaysia, Korea, and the Future of Asia” at Seoul National University. - BernamaIAG Chief Customer and Marketing Officer Michelle Klein discusses ‘doing the basics brilliantly’ in the insurance category
WASHINGTON – Sen. Kevin Cramer is among the authors of bipartisan legislation introduced Thursday, Nov. 21, to keep fixing aging infrastructure in national parks across the country. Joining the North Dakota Republican in introducing the America the Beautiful Act, which will extend critical park maintenance, were Sens. Steve Daines, R-Montana; Angus King, I-Maine; and Mark Warner, D-Virginia. ADVERTISEMENT The Great American Outdoors Act, originally signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2020, established the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund and included $1.9 billion over five years to address the maintenance backlog across public land agencies, including the National Parks Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and others. According to a news release from Cramer’s office, the America the Beautiful Act will reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund and provide $2 billion for maintenance projects. Since the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, North Dakota projects in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Dakota Prairie Grasslands received significant funding to complete restoration and expansion projects, Cramer said in the news release. In TRNP, the South Loop Road is slated to reopen next summer as a result of $47 million to repair the washed-out sections and will have expanded walkways, seating and wayside exhibits, as well as repaved roadside pull-outs. Cramer visited TRNP in August to view the construction progress on the loop. The Dakota Prairie Grasslands, located near TRNP, has received multiple awards to maintain campgrounds, update the Maah Daah Hey trailhead and resurface and repair roadways with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act. Additional projects in North Dakota include trail maintenance on the National North Country Scenic Trail. “The Great American Outdoors Act brought real results to North Dakota’s outdoor recreation opportunities,” Cramer said in a statement . “Visitors to Theodore Roosevelt National Park will be able to travel the South Loop road, which washed out several years ago, and recreationists can enjoy the updated trails and campsites in the nearby grasslands. Let’s keep this momentum going by passing the America the Beautiful Act, so we maintain our national treasures.” Congress now must work together to get the bill over the finish line, the National Parks Conservation Association said. “Millions of people flock to national parks every year to experience some of our nation’s best landscapes and most significant stories,” Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a statement. “National parks are icons of our country, and Americans love them. They also want to see them supported. And this bill is a promise that we will continue to take care of the places that mean so much to so many people.”
Proposed winter rate hikes ignite renewed debate over Connecticut’s high electricity costs11. SMU Mustangs 11-2 (8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season) What's next: at No. 6 Penn State, State College, Pa., Dec. 21, Noon ET Head coach: Rhett Lashlee (three seasons, 29-11 overall) About Lashlee: The 41-year-old is enjoying success in his first college head coaching gig and has guided the Mustangs to back-to-back 11-win seasons. He was offensive coordinator at SMU from 2018-19 before heading to Miami for two years and returning to take the head job. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year this season. Resume SMU notched ranked wins over then-No. 22 Louisville and then-No. 18 Pitt but really served notice while racking up 66 points in a win over TCU. The Mustangs lost two games by a total of six points: 34-31 to Clemson in the ACC title game and 18-15 to BYU. Postseason history This is SMU's first trip to the playoffs during the CFP era. The Mustangs have lost their past four bowl games, including two under Lashlee. The program had a memorable run in the early 1980s behind stars like Eric Dickerson and Craig James but numerous NCAA violations sank the Mustangs and they eventually served a two-year death penalty. The road to Atlanta SMU hits the road for the first-round matchup at No. 6 Penn State. The winner advances to play No. 3 Boise State (12-1) in the quarterfinals in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. Names to Know QB Kevin Jennings He threw for 304 yards and three TDs in the ACC title game, his fourth game over 300 yards passing this season. Jennings had a strong regular season with 2,746 yards and 19 TDs in the air and four scores on the ground. He can hurt teams with his feet, proven by a 113-yard outing against Louisville. "What is new now is the amount of criticism I receive from everyone. I get a lot of comments and messages from people on social media always criticizing everything after each game," Jennings said. RB Brashard Smith Stellar runner averaging 5.9 yards per carry to go with 1,270 yards and 14 TDs on the ground. LB Kobe Wilson Stands out against both the run and the pass, leading the team in tackles (110) and adding three sacks and two interceptions. S Isaiah Nwokobia He has enjoyed an outstanding season with 91 regular-season tackles and three interceptions while patrolling the back end. He has nine career interceptions. DT Jared Harrison-Hunte A force with 6.0 sacks, one interception and 38 tackles. He's in his first season with SMU after four at Miami. He has 15 career sacks. --Field Level Media