3 reasons to involve your kids in Small Business SaturdayGoldsmith family carries on craftingFour brothers run JB workshop started by their father and use hand-me-down equipment SHAHIDAHYU Bakri did not expect that her bad reaction to coffee while pregnant about 11 years ago would turn out to be a blessing in disguise. She had been working at a coffee factory in Johor Baru for a few years before being pregnant with her first child. “I experienced bad reactions to the smell of coffee and had to quit my job as the dizzy spells and nausea were too much for me to handle. ALSO READ: Entrepreneur’s museum shares lore on gold ore “I had no choice but to look for work elsewhere to help my husband, as we were about to start a family. “That was when I saw an advertisement on job vacancy at a jewellery workshop and decided to give it a try despite having no prior experience in the field,” Shahidahyu told StarMetro. The job involved producing handmade gold jewellery, which required her to handle tools such as pliers, tweezers, chisels and files. Shahidahyu inspecting various tiny parts before assembling them into gold jewellery. “Besides rings, my boss, who is also my mentor, taught me how to make movable fish pendants. “The pendant consists of several different parts assembled together to make it move as if it was swimming. “I never expected that I would one day become a goldsmith. “I like the fact that I get to learn new skills,” she said. She added that through her job, she has learnt about Chinese culture including why dragons and fish are symbols of good fortune in the community. Some of the handcrafted pieces produced at the shop. In turn, she would also share about her own culture with her colleagues. Shahidahyu is one of the oldest-serving employees at the workshop, and she also guides and trains newcomers who join the company. The mother-of-two said she hoped to see more young people joining the industry as they could bring fresh ideas and innovations. The workshop where Shahidahyu works is run by four brothers who took over the business from their late father. All in the family Owner Yuin Foo Seng said the family business was passed down to him about three decades ago. He recalled that he, too, was working in a different field before joining the business. “In my teenage years, I worked at my maternal grandfather’s restaurant. “One day, my father asked me to help out at his jewellery workshop as he was short of workers. And so began my journey in the gold business. “I learned from my father and eventually became a full-fledged goldsmith,” said Foo Seng. (From left) Brothers Foo Seng, Fook Kuan, Fock Heng and Fook Yung at the second-generation goldsmith business. He added that his father first opened a gold jewellery workshop in Penang, relocating several times before settling down in Johor Baru. Foo Seng, who is the eldest sibling, said he first ran the business with one brother, before his two other siblings switched fields to join them. “My brothers Fook Kuan, Fock Heng, Fook Yung and I each take on a different role – from producing gold jewellery to managing our 13 employees and quality control,” Foo Seng said. He recalled the industry’s peak in the 1990s before the 1997 Asian financial crisis. “At that time, we were getting a lot of orders even during non-festive periods. “Our workers had to work overtime and on weekends to cater to the orders. Soh: There is still a market for traditional and handmade gold jewellery. “During Chinese New Year, buyers who are jewellery shop owners would come to our workshop to buy whatever stock we had left. “The demand for gold jewellery is still there but it is lower now. “We also cannot take as many orders, as we have fewer workers now compared to before.” The goldsmith said their products were for local and overseas markets such as Singapore and India. Pick of the bunch Foo Seng said the shop also produced toothpicks and earpicks, which come in a slim container, all made entirely of gold. “It was in great demand back then. Now, I believe we are the only gold workshop that still produces the item upon order. “We make mostly gold pendants with elements such as carp, arowana and dragons that symbolise auspiciousness and good luck in Chinese culture.” Youths, he revealed, were not interested in being goldsmiths as it was labour-intensive. “They are required to sit for long hours and use their hands and eyes. “A lot of skill is required to produce jewellery with intricate details. Cheng: Young people are influenced by luxury brands and will look for similar gold products. “Previously, we had workers who left after a week as they could not stand the long hours,” he said, adding that his own children had pursued other interests after completing their tertiary education. Foo Seng is grateful that his niece and nephew had joined the family business and learned to become goldsmiths. He admitted that he was concerned about the future of the industry as many jewellery makers had adopted mechanisation. At his workshop, they still use apparatus that used to belong to his father to mould gold into fine wire to produce jewellery. “Our father had always wanted to pass down the craft to his children. He worked until he was 86. “I took over the family business not to become rich but to keep our father’s legacy alive. “We aim to continue offering traditionally-made jewellery pieces as I believe there is still value in them,” said Foo Seng. Updated with tech South Johor Golden Ornaments Trade Association chairman Soh Lip Sim said traditional and handmade gold jewellery still had a market in the 21st century. “Most of the gold jewellery makers in the state are small and medium-sized enterprises, while the major producers are in the Klang Valley and Penang. “There are only about 200 traditional gold jewellery makers left in Johor, which is much fewer than before as many have closed down due to the lack of successors,” he added. Soh said traditional methods might be phased out in the years to come as more jewellery producers move towards mechanisation and modern technology. “With machines, gold jewellery pieces can be made in a shorter period, involve less manpower and offer a huge variety of designs that are lighter in weight. Fine work: Goldsmith Yuin Foo Seng's holding up an intricate handmade gold dragon pendant produced at his family's workshop in Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star “This means consumers can purchase jewellery designs at cheaper price because of the weight and they will not be charged a high craftsmanship fee,” he said. Soh said current market trends were for lightweight jewellery pieces as well as trendy items such as the Labubu doll, with K-pop star Lisa’s social media post featuring it sparking mass interest across Asia. “Thanks to technology, gold jewellery such as pendants can weigh as light as 0.2g per piece, making them very affordable for the younger consumer. “People used to think that gold jewellery catered to the more mature market but these days, many young people prefer to buy gold probably because of the wide variety of designs,” said Soh. Sought-after items Cheng Ching Nian, who runs a 98-year-old gold jewellery shop in Pontian, said young customers could easily spend thousands during a visit to his shop. “I think they are influenced by luxury brands as they will usually come looking for similar designs for pendants and bracelet charms. “They spend between RM3,000 and RM5,000 on jewellery each time,” he said, adding that 3D designs featuring cartoon characters were also popular. With Chinese New Year coming at the end of January, Cheng said he was preparing to stock up on designs featuring Chinese zodiac signs. He added that his products were usually sourced from local jewellery makers but trendier designs would come from China and Hong Kong, where modern machines could produce intricate designs at an affordable price. Cheng, who is the shop’s third-generation owner, said it was tough for locals to compete with foreign gold jewellery producers in terms of cost.does zula casino pay real money 。

Players must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for females under new gender policies published Wednesday. The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who is resigning in January, said the new gender policy "is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach." By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan said the new policy will prevent anyone from having "a competitive advantage based on their gender." “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Sent weekly directly to your inbox!Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians

By Elizabeth Ayoola, NerdWallet The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. Kids are often pretty good at being consumers. If you’re a parent with a small business, you have the opportunity to show your kids firsthand what it means to be a producer. Small Business Saturday, which takes place on Nov. 30 this year, may be a great time to do just that. Small Business Saturday was established by American Express in 2010 and encourages consumers to patronize their local stores as a way to keep dollars circulating within their community. Here are three reasons you should consider getting your kids involved in Small Business Saturday, according to two mompreneurs. Ronne Brown is the owner of HERLISTIC, a plant-derived beauty and feminine care brand in Washington, D.C. She’s been participating in Small Business Saturday since she established her business in 2020. The entrepreneur gets her kids (ages 24, 18 and 12), plus her bonus daughter, 10, to help out on Small Business Saturday and beyond. Brown’s kids help with customer service, shipping and fulfillment tasks. That could include counting inventory, quality control or packaging boxes. Other times, help looks like Brown’s 12-year-old daughter keeping her up-to-date with TikTok trends and influencers in the beauty field. “I just want them to understand the price and the value of a dollar and what it actually costs to make it,” Brown says. The mompreneur also hopes her kids learn the benefits of commitment and hard work. “What I want to show them is that you have to work hard every day. And there are gonna be moments where you’re gonna be tired, you’re gonna be exhausted, and you’re not gonna want to do things, and you’re going to have to push through,” she says. Hiring your kids to do legitimate work during Small Business Saturday provides a chance for them to learn pillars needed for a strong financial foundation: earning money , saving money and investing. That said, before hiring kids, it’s critical to understand the child labor laws for your state in addition to the IRS’ rules around hiring kids. Brown says she pays all of her children, including her 24-year-old son who is on payroll. Additionally, she teaches them about investing in the stock market. “I want them to understand the importance of making money, but also investing the money that they’re making,” she says. “Because when I pay them, I always ask them, ‘so what are you gonna do to double this money?’” If you hire your minor kids, they could get a headstart on investing by putting some of their income into a custodial Roth IRA , which requires earned income to open. You could also open them a custodial brokerage account. Another perk of your kids earning income by working for you is that they may be exempt from paying federal income taxes if they earn less than the standard deduction . In 2024, that threshold is $14,600. Having your kids add helping hands, whether it be doing administrative tasks or helping customers, can ensure you keep up with a potential increase in sales. A 2024 NerdWallet holiday spending report found that 16% of 2024 holiday shoppers plan to shop on Small Business Saturday this year. Lisset Tresvant, owner of Glow Esthetics Spa in Hollywood, Florida, has been participating in Small Business Saturday since the genesis of her business in 2019. “I do tend to sell more because people are usually more inclined to purchase because of the sales, and it gives them a reason to support us,” she says. To help with the demand, Tresvant’s daughter, 12, and son, 9, fill her skincare products, add labels and help prep items for shipping. Tresvant says she decided to let her kids get involved in her business so they have a better understanding of what she does. Looking beyond Small Business Saturday, hiring your child can also help with succession planning , which is about planning for your departure from your business. Tresvant hopes to pass hers down to her kids one day. “They understand that I’m building this legacy just for not myself, but for them as well,” says Tresvant. More From NerdWallet Elizabeth Ayoola writes for NerdWallet. Email: eayoola@nerdwallet.com. The article 3 Reasons to Involve Your Kids in Small Business Saturday originally appeared on NerdWallet .None

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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim hailed Arsenal as one of the best set-piece teams he has ever faced following the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal. The Gunners took two points out of Liverpool’s lead at the summit of the Premier League after Jurrien Timber and William Saliba struck in the second half – both from corners – to condemn Amorim to his first defeat as United boss. The hosts’ second-half strikes took their goals-from-corners tally to 22 since the start of last season – a statistic that is unmatched by any other team in the division. Asked if Arsenal are one of the best teams he has come up against on corners, Amorim replied: “If you follow the Premier League for a long time you can see that. “They are also big players and you see every occasion when (Gabriel) Martinelli and (Bukayo) Saka have one-on-ones, a lot of times they go outside and they cross, and they know that if the cross goes well, they can score, and if it is a corner they can score, too, so we have to be better on that. “You have seen in all Arsenal games that every team have had problems with that (corners). And the difference today was the set-pieces. “You see a goal and then the momentum changed, and it is really hard for us to take the full control of the game after that.” Timber leaned into Rasmus Hojlund at the front post before diverting Declan Rice’s set-piece into the back of Andre Onana’s net after 54 minutes to send Arsenal into the lead. Thomas Partey’s header from Saka’s corner then deflected in off Saliba’s shoulder with 17 minutes left. Arteta and the club’s set-piece guru Nicolas Jover embraced on the touchline as Amorim was left with his head in his hands. The Arsenal supporters cheered raucously every time they won a corner – landing 13 in all without reply. However, Arteta moved to play down the significance of Arsenal’s set-piece threat. “We need that, but we want to be very dangerous and very effective from every angle and every phase of play,” said Arteta. “Today we could have scored from open play like we did against West Ham and Sporting. Last year we scored the most goals in the history of this football club. Arsenal have won four consecutive Premier League matches against Man Utd for the first time ever! 💫 pic.twitter.com/biv1kvsJEP — Premier League (@premierleague) December 4, 2024 “Not because of only set-pieces, but because of a lot of things that we have. We want to create individual and magic moments, too.” Arsenal’s win against United – the first time they have recorded four victories in a row against the Red Devils in the league – was their fourth in succession since the international break. They will head to Fulham on Sunday bidding to keep the momentum going. Arteta continued: “The will to win is there. We try our best to do that. We won four in a row, but it doesn’t matter. We have to go to Fulham now, try to be better than them and try win the game. “It’s every three days that we play. It’s a crazy schedule. We’re going to need everybody and to mentally be very strong.”

NoneMedia firm MONO threatens to sue over SET warningCLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in a Major League Baseball game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler's staff in 2020, becoming the majors' first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt — the AL Manager of the Year. With Cleveland, the 34-year-old Nakken will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Her exact duties are still being determined. "We thank Alyssa Nakken for her incredible contributions to the San Francisco Giants and for trailblazing a path for women in sports,” the Giants said in a statement on Friday. "Her leadership, dedication, and passion for the game have inspired countless individuals, and her impact has been truly transformative for the Giants organization and the baseball community. “As she embarks on this exciting new chapter in her career, we have no doubt that she’ll continue to inspire and achieve great things. We wish her and her family nothing but the best.” Nakken is the second on-field female coach hired by the Guardians. In 2023, the club brought in Amanda Kamekona as their hitting development coach for their year-round training academy in Goodyear, Arizona. Last season, she was an assistant hitting coach at Double-A Akron. Kamekona was twice a third-team All-American at UCLA after transferring from Cal State Fullerton. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Ryan Poles will remain the Chicago Bears general manager and serve as the "point person" in the search for a head coach to replace the fired Matt Eberflus, team president Kevin Warren said Monday. Warren said Poles would have the "final say" if the two had differing opinions on who should get the job. "I'm confident that we will work through it because the good thing about it is so long as we keep the center of our decisions what's in the best interest of the Chicago Bears, our players, as we go forward, it will become clear as far as who is the person to lead this franchise from a football standpoint, from a coaching standpoint." The Bears can sell potential candidates on the chance to work with No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams and coach in a potential new stadium, with the team trying to get one built in the city. It also owns a tract of land in suburban Arlington Heights that could be a site. Chicago (4-8) had never fired a coach during a season. But a six-game losing streak marked by questionable coaching decisions spurred the founding NFL franchise to change course. The Bears let Eberflus go Friday and replaced him on an interim basis with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. "When you look at the end-of-the-game situations, just some of the detailing to finish in those moments," Poles said. "We all know a lot of these games come down to those critical spots that we weren't able to get over the hump." Warren and Poles spoke during a news conference that lasted just under 21 minutes, including about an eight-minute opening statement from Warren. The tipping point with Eberflus came Thursday, with an excruciating 23-20 loss at Detroit. The Bears let the clock run down rather than call a timeout following a sack, resulting in incomplete pass from the Lions' 41-yard line as time expired when they could have run more than one play. The Bears decided to make the change the next day — but not before Eberflus conducted his usual day-after-the-game availability with reporters via Zoom. He was informed a few hours later. Warren said the Bears had not made the decision by the time Eberflus held his news conference. "In retrospect, could we have done it better?" he said. "Absolutely, and I'll be the first one to raise my hand, yes. But during his press conference and even a couple hours later, we had not reached a decision." The Bears probably had a case to fire Eberflus sooner, whether it was before this season or in the past few weeks. They opted to bring him back after winning five of seven late last season and finishing with a 7-10 record after going a league-worst 3-14 in 2022. The Bears appeared to be in decent shape with three straight wins and a 4-2 record at their bye. But they've been in a freefall ever since. Along the way, they fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and promoted Brown from passing game coordinator. Players were not shy in recent weeks about expressing how they felt about some of the coaching decisions, and the frustration following the game at Detroit was hard to miss. "We were all frustrated," Poles said. As for why the Bears didn't make a change sooner? "I want to make sure that we see a process through and not make a split decision," Poles said. Brown has five games to show that he is the right person to lead the Bears, starting with a trip to San Francisco. If he does not get the job, Williams will be on his third NFL head coach and third play-caller by the time his second season begins. Poles didn't rule out the Bears using a search committee or consultant, something they have done in the past. But this is different. The Bears were already interviewing coaching candidates to replace the fired Matt Nagy by the time they hired Poles out of Kansas City's front office in late January 2022 after letting Ryan Pace go. Warren, the former Big Ten commissioner, was hired a year later. Brown has been promoted twice in the past three weeks. He said he would continue to call plays, though wide receivers coach Chris Beatty is now offensive coordinator. Defensive coordinator Eric Washington assumes play-calling duties with Eberflus gone. Brown said his most immediate task was to "unify" the team and make sure there were "no more divisions." "It's easy for doubt to seep in," he said. "There's tons of negativity outside of these walls, which is why I tell them all the time I don't even see or hear anything that happens on purpose." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Elway: Remorse over passing on Allen mitigated by play of NixFeud between Mr Beautiful and Agya Koo is not just about politicsGREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — After losing to San Francisco in the playoffs three of the last five seasons, the Green Bay Packers wouldn’t mind seeing the 49ers get left out of the postseason entirely. The Packers (7-3) could damage San Francisco’s playoff hopes Sunday by beating the 49ers at Lambeau Field. San Francisco (5-5) dropped to .500 after losing at home to the Seattle Seahawks, though the 49ers remain just a game behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West. “I think we’re motivated to keep winning more than anything,” Packers center Josh Myers said. “Obviously, they have knocked us out quite a bit. There’s that extra motivation behind it, but at this point, we’re just trying to churn out wins.” The 49ers will be playing this game without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who injured his right shoulder in the Seahawks game. Although an MRI showed no structural damage, Purdy's shoulder didn't improve as the week wore on. Brandon Allen will start in Purdy's place. Green Bay is third in the NFC North and two games behind the Detroit Lions, but the Packers appear on track to at least earn a wild-card playoff berth. History suggests their path to a potential Super Bowl would get much clearer if the 49ers aren’t standing in their way. The 49ers trailed 21-14 in the fourth quarter before rallying to beat the Packers 24-21 in the divisional playoffs last year on Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run with 1:07 left. Now, it’s the 49ers who are struggling to protect late leads, as they’ve blown fourth-quarter advantages in three games against divisional opponents. “You could look at, ‘Hey, we’re three possessions away from being 8-2,’ but you can’t really live like that,” 49ers tight end George Kittle said. “Those are the mistakes that we’ve made to be 5-5. It’s not exactly where we want to be. It is frustrating. The nice thing is we have seven games left to go out there and play Niners football and take advantage of those opportunities.” Green Bay’s recent history of playoff frustration against the 49ers also includes a 13-10 loss at Lambeau Field in the 2021 divisional playoffs and a 37-20 road defeat in the 2019 NFC championship game. Even the Packers players who weren’t around for last season’s playoff loss realize what this game means. “I think one of the first meetings that I was in here, we had a conversation about the Niners beating us,” said Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney, who joined the Packers this season. “So I understand how important it is, and we all do.” Both teams must figure out how to convert red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. The 49ers are scoring touchdowns on just 48.8% of their drives inside an opponent’s 20-yard line to rank 27th in the NFL. The Packers are slightly worse in that regard, scoring touchdowns on 48.7% of their red-zone possessions to rank 28th. In their 20-19 victory at Chicago on Sunday, Green Bay drove to the Bears 5 without scoring on two separate series. Purdy isn't the only notable player who won't be participating in Sunday's game. San Francisco won't have four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa available after he hurt his left hip and oblique against the Seahawks. Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) also have been ruled out. Kittle expects to play for the 49ers on Sunday after missing the Seahawks game with a hamstring injury. 49ers left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) is questionable. Green Bay’s defense feasted on turnovers the first part of the season, but hasn’t been as effective in getting those takeaways lately. The Packers have 19 takeaways – already exceeding their 2023 total – but haven’t forced any turnovers in their last two games. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan hasn’t eased McCaffrey back into the lineup in his return after missing the first eight games with Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey has played 91% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps the past two weeks. Jordan Mason, who rushed for 685 yards during McCaffrey’s absence, has just five snaps on offense the last two games. Shanahan said he’d like to get Mason more opportunities, but it’s hard to take McCaffrey off the field. Green Bay nearly lost to the Bears because of its third-down struggles on both sides of the ball. The Packers were 1 of 5 on third-down opportunities, while the Bears went 9 of 16. The Packers’ defense could have a tough time correcting that problem against San Francisco, which has converted 45.4% of its third-down situations to rank fourth in the league. AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Chargers focused on avoiding a letdown and not a potential playoff berth in matchup with PatriotsNot for distribution to U.S. newswire services nor for dissemination to the United States. All amounts in Canadian dollars. BROOKFIELD NEWS, Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Office Properties Inc., a subsidiary of Brookfield Property Partners L.P., today announced the reset dividend rate on its Class AAA Preference Shares, Series AA ("Series AA Shares”) (TSX: BPO.PR.A). If declared, the fixed quarterly dividends on the Series AA Shares for the five years commencing January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2029 will be paid at an annual rate of 6.164% ($0.38525 per share per quarter). Holders of Series AA Shares have the right, at their option, exercisable not later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on December 16, 2024, to convert all or part of their Series AA Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Class AAA Preference Shares, Series BB (the "Series BB Shares”), effective December 31, 2024. The quarterly floating rate dividends on the Series BB Shares have an annual rate, calculated for each quarter, of 3.15% over the annual yield on three-month Government of Canada treasury bills. The actual quarterly dividend rate for the January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025 dividend period for the Series BB Shares will be 1.63479% (6.6% on an annualized basis) and the dividend, if declared, for such dividend period will be $0.408698 per share, payable on March 31, 2025. Holders of Series AA Shares are not required to elect to convert all or any part of their Series AA Shares into Series BB Shares. As provided in the share conditions of the Series AA Shares, (i) if Brookfield determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series AA Shares outstanding after December 31, 2024, all remaining Series AA Shares will be automatically converted into Series BB Shares on a one-for-one basis effective December 31, 2024; and (ii) if Brookfield determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series BB Shares outstanding after December 31, 2024, no Series AA Shares will be permitted to be converted into Series BB Shares. There are currently 11,845,858 Series AA Shares outstanding. The Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX”) has conditionally approved the listing of the Series BB Shares effective upon conversion. Listing of the Series BB Shares is subject to Brookfield fulfilling all the listing requirements of the TSX and, upon approval, the Series BB Shares will be listed on the TSX under the trading symbol "BPO.PR.B”. About Brookfield Office Properties Brookfield Office Properties Inc. is a subsidiary of Brookfield Property Partners L.P., one of the world's largest commercial real estate companies. For more information, please visit bpy.brookfield.com/bpo . Brookfield Contact: Keren Dubon Investor Relations Tel.: (212) 618-3440 Email: [email protected]

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Published 22:55 IST, November 23rd 2024 Pushpa 2 release is shadowed as it is being reported that several parts of the film are yet to be shot. However, it might finally be wrapped by Nov 27. Pushpa 2 Release Delay: Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna starrer is one of the most awaited movies of the year. A sequel to the 2021 actioner, the drama is scheduled to hit the big screens on December 5 after several changes made to the release date. However, the release is shadowed with uncertainty as it is being reported that several parts of the film are yet to be shot. However, new reports suggest that the film will finally be wrapped up in a few days. Pushpa 2 post-production is working on a clock Pushpa 2 makers have already commenced the promotions and pre-release events of the Allu Arjun starrer. A few days of release remain, a report by 123 Telegu suggests that the shoot will only be wrapped up just 7 days before the release. This leaves the team with just a week to complete the remaining post-production work by November 27. Although there is no official confirmation is out yet. Sukumar, known for his detailed and slow-paced filmmaking, faced delays partly due to Fahadh Faasil’s scheduling conflicts. Additional challenges further extended the shoot over several months. These delays have sparked speculation among social media users and industry insiders about the possibility of another postponement. In the meantime, Allu Arjun is actively participating in promotional planning, with a grand event planned in Hyderabad during the first week of December 2024. Fans making theories amid Pushpa 2 release After the release, Some fan theories have suggested that Pushpa will die at the hands of his rivals early on in the movie and his look-alike son will come back to avenge his death. Another speculation is that a pregnant Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna) will escape to Japan with the help of Pushpa's associates after her husband is killed by the mafia. Japan is where Pushpa Raj's son will grow up away from harm, and return to avenge his father's murder. Another theory claims that Srivalli will die in the movie as Pushpa is out of the country. When he learns of her death, devastated, he seeks revenge on her murderers. Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. 22:55 IST, November 23rd 2024Tech advancements in Africa have greatly advanced ESG, SDG imperatives – panel

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Trump taps Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law, as envoy to FranceTechnology advancements in Africa are helping to advance various environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals for companies and industries, and contribute to the efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In a panel discussion hosted by Creamer Media on November 28, experts from various industries agreed that technology has been absolutely essential in driving development on the African continent. Vitality Health International Africa chief strategy and commercial officer Jessica Chivinge cited the example of advancements in telemedicine, particularly in Kenya and Nigeria. "Telemedicine has allowed remotely-based communities to access healthcare professionals and mobile health applications, which affords them access to more information and understanding of their own health. Telemedicine is making healthcare in Africa more affordable and more accessible for rural communities." "Additionally, AI in healthcare has enabled more accurate diagnostics and for treatment plans for patients to be created, especially in areas without advanced healthcare facilities," she added. MTN sustainability and shared value group executive Marina Madale said the group had been leading digital solutions on the continent, including those aimed at financial inclusion. "We are seeing more technology in the consumer space being adopted, which unlocks broader socioeconomic development," she stated. She agreed with Chivinge that telemedicine was a significant advancement for ESG on the continent, with MTN working with other companies to have drones in Uganda and Rwanda delivering medication and blood to rural and remote areas. "We are seeing more rural technology that helps cover areas that are harder to reach, and through increasing forms of mobile technology," Madale noted. Injozi group CEO Nick Argyros cited the example of technology advancement in Africa having helped people to gain access to US development funding and grants, as well as learning... Marleny Arnoldi

Bamboo Technology's HereHear Virtual AI Therapist Joins Berkeley Skydeck IPP ProgramMany Americans don't understand the political relationship between China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Both Hong Kong and Macau are "special administrative regions" of China. That's not a designation much of the world uses, but it means that the two areas fall under the government of the People's Republic of China but are not part of mainland China. Typically these areas have enjoyed more autonomy than other parts of the country. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

WASHINGTON , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridge Defense, a defense-technology company, has made a strategic investment in Federated IT, a trusted provider of mission-critical services to the U.S. government. Founded in 2002, Federated IT has built a reputation as a trusted partner to the U.S. Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. With expertise optimizing cloud computing, data center operations and migration, enterprise architecture, scientific research and analyses, and cybersecurity solutions, Federated IT consistently delivers technically excellent, secure, and reliable solutions that empower national security clients to achieve their objectives. "This investment represents a pivotal step in Bridge Defense's mission to create the next-generation systems integrator," said Jack Kilcoyne , co-founder of Bridge Defense. "We will combine the critical services Federated IT provides with in-house software development capabilities to build a hybrid organization capable of delivering exceptional services and developing innovative solutions that address our customers' most pressing challenges." Kyle von Bucholz , CEO of Federated IT, added: "For over 20 years, Federated IT has focused on solving our clients' most complex challenges with integrity and technical excellence. Partnering with Bridge Defense will enable us to take that commitment to the next level by leveraging cutting-edge development capabilities and delivering an even greater impact for the federal agencies we serve." About Bridge Defense Bridge Defense is focused on delivering mission-critical services and innovative software solutions to national security customers. A hybrid systems integrator, Bridge Defense combines excellence in technical services with native development capabilities to deliver comprehensive and transformative solutions to address the rapidly evolving needs of national security customers. Bridge Defense is led by a team of Special Operations veterans with deep expertise in technology and government services. The company is headquartered in the Northeast, with a growing presence in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit Bridge-Defense.com . About Federated IT Federated IT is a leading provider of mission-critical IT and cybersecurity services to the U.S. government. Federated IT enables defense, national security, and federal law enforcement clients to expand, improve, and strengthen critical IT infrastructure and mission system capabilities within the Tier Ill - IV Enterprise IT Operations and Cyber Security domains. Federated IT's project portfolio includes the customization and delivery of optimized cloud computing, data center operations and migration, enterprise architecture, scientific research and analyses, and cybersecurity solutions. Federated IT is headquartered in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit FederatedIT.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bridge-defense-announces-strategic-investment-in-federated-it-302314581.html SOURCE Bridge DefenseCU Buffs seniors proud of legacy left behind and the standard set for future successIllinois stuns Rutgers on Pat Bryant's 40-yard TD reception with 4 seconds left

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Share Tweet Share Share Email The crypto world is always full of innovation, and the opportunities for early investors seem endless. Every now and then, a project redefines how we think about blockchain technology, creating a ripple effect across the industry. While projects like Tron and Cronos have made significant strides in building robust ecosystems, there’s a rising star in the blockchain world that’s turning heads— Qubetics ($TICS). With a visionary approach to interoperability and a presale that’s breaking records, Qubetics is setting itself apart as the best crypto to buy now for investors. This article dives into the game-changing potential of Qubetics alongside insights into Tron and Cronos, giving you a well-rounded perspective on the future of blockchain. Qubetics: Unlocking Blockchain’s Full Potential In today’s blockchain space, most networks feel like isolated islands. You’ve got Ethereum doing its thing, Binance Smart Chain over here, and other blockchains all operating separately. Sure, they’re powerful, but this fragmentation creates real issues—especially for developers and businesses trying to connect the dots. Cross-chain transactions? Painfully slow. Data sharing? Even worse. Qubetics changes the game by becoming a Web3-aggregated chain that unifies these siloed networks into one powerful, interoperable framework. Imagine a world where assets move seamlessly between blockchains, data flows without friction, and decentralised apps actually talk to each other. That’s what Qubetics is building—a system that enhances interoperability, fosters collaboration, and unlocks the true potential of decentralised technology. For developers, enterprises, and users alike, this is the bridge the blockchain world has been waiting for. Tron: The Blockchain for Decentralized Entertainment Tron has carved a niche for itself by focusing on the entertainment and content-sharing sectors of blockchain. Its high throughput and low fees make it a popular choice for developers building decentralised apps (dApps). Tron eliminates middlemen by enabling direct transactions between content creators and consumers, fostering a more equitable ecosystem. Tron stands out in the crowded crypto landscape with its scalable infrastructure and innovative features. Cronos: Bridging DeFi and Payments Cronos has positioned itself as a blockchain that seamlessly bridges the gap between decentralised finance (DeFi) and traditional payments. It’s built to support scalable, fast, and affordable transactions, making it a favourite for both developers and enterprises. With its unique integration with the Crypto.com ecosystem, Cronos brings the convenience of everyday crypto payments to life while also powering cutting-edge DeFi applications. Qubetics Presale: The Numbers Speak for Themselves Here’s where it gets exciting. Qubetics is currently in Presale Phase 10, and it’s nothing short of thrilling. Each phase brings a 10% price hike, culminating in a whopping 20% increase in the final stage. Right now, $TICS tokens are a steal at just $0.025. Over $3.8 million has already been raised, with 4600+ holders and 239 million tokens sold. The best part? The post-presale target price is $0.25 per token, meaning early adopters are looking at a jaw-dropping 900% ROI. But wait—it gets crazier. Analysts are buzzing with predictions: If $TICS hits $10, a modest $100 investment could explode to $40,000—that’s a 39,000% ROI. If the token climbs to $15, that same $100 could skyrocket to $60,000, delivering an incredible 59,900% ROI. Think about it. Could this be the best crypto to buy now? With presale momentum like this, it sure feels like a no-brainer. But time’s ticking, and with the next phase right around the corner, prices won’t stay this low for long. Don’t miss your chance to be part of a project that’s rewriting blockchain history. Conclusion As the crypto market continues to evolve, picking the best crypto to buy now becomes both an art and a science. Tron and Cronos have proven themselves as innovative platforms with strong use cases, but the buzz around Qubetics is impossible to ignore. Its visionary approach to interoperability, combined with an explosive presale offering unparalleled ROI potential, makes it a standout opportunity for early adopters. Analysts predict life-changing gains for Qubetics, with some envisioning a future where modest investments turn into fortunes. The presale momentum, groundbreaking technology, and sheer excitement surrounding $TICS tokens make it clear: Qubetics isn’t just another crypto—it’s the one everyone will be talking about. Don’t wait. Get in on the presale now and be part of something truly transformative. For More Information: Qubetics: https://qubetics.com Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics Twitter: https://x.com/qubetics Related Items: Blockchain , Qubetics Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Is Lightchain Protocol AI the Next PEPE Coin? How This New Blockchain Could Rival Meme Coins Like “Just a Chill Guy” Why BTFD Coin’s Presale Boom Is the Top Choice Among the Best Meme Coin Presales to Buy for 2025 With Popcat and Dogs BlockDAG (BDAG) or Flockerz (FLOCK): Find Your Top Presale Opportunity for Black Friday Gains CommentsTrump aims to appoint son-in-law’s father as US ambassador to France

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Far from disappearing, toys such as spinning tops, yo-yos, wooden carts, and the cup-and-ball, withstand the time. For many, they continue to be an appreciated gift, both for children and nostalgic adults, which is why they are another option to give as a gift this Christmas. In Mérida is La Ranita Feliz, a space that has become a space for those who seek to relive the magic of childhood through simple objects and full of history. These toys are not mere entertainment objects, but rather represent a link with the past, with cultural roots, with a more interactive and social form of play. In a time where technology isolates children, youth, and adults, traditional toys invite interaction, learning manual skills, and above all, sharing moments with family or friends. Diana, an employee of this traditional toy store, one meter from the main entrance to the Lucas de Gálvez market, assures that they are not going to go out of style and even commented that these are the dates when locals and foreigners ask for these traditional toys to give as gifts. She explained that visitors are drawn to these colorful objects, but at the same time, they admire the work of the artisans who make them. “On these dates like Christmas, we usually sell toys like spinning tops, yo-yos, magic boards, cup-and-ball, foreigners get a lot of attention, and locals keep asking for gifts,” he indicated. He explained that there are prices for all budgets ranging from 30 to 100 pesos. For Diana, it is a good excuse so that these creations are not forgotten. By Roberto García Hidalgo forfree online real money casino 。

Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa are not available for the San Francisco 49ers when they enter Green Bay with designs on finding their finishing kick on Sunday afternoon. Purdy is out with a right shoulder injury and won't leave the sideline at Lambeau Field, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, when he also declared Bosa out and confirmed journeyman Brandon Allen would make his 10th career start at quarterback. "Outside of here people haven't seen a lot of Brandon. But it's his second year (with the 49ers)," Shanahan said. "Obviously guys want Brock up, but guys are excited to see Brandon play." Shanahan said the 49ers are "a little surprised" Purdy experienced tightness and discomfort in his shoulder after an MRI exam on Monday that showed no long-term cause for concern. "The way it responded this week, it's really up in the air for next week," Shanahan said of Purdy's long-term prognosis. Allen's last NFL start on the road was with the Bengals at the Ravens in 2020. Allen completed 6 of 21 passes for 48 yards with two interceptions. He finished with a passer rating of 0.0 in a 38--3 loss. "It's definitely an opportunity for me to go out and play well and put our guys in a good position to win the game," Allen said Friday. "And obviously we want Brock back and healthy and all that, but for time being, it is an opportunity for me." Purdy took the practice field Thursday with the intent to participate. His shoulder tightened significantly, and the 49ers ushered him off the field to meet with trainers. Purdy beat the Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs at San Francisco in January, but Allen is familiar to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. LaFleur was an assistant coach with the Rams during Allen's two-year run in Los Angeles. Allen broke into the NFL in 2016 with the Jaguars and is 2-7 in nine career starts. He went 1-2 with the Broncos in 2019 and 1-5 in six starts over two years with the Bengals in 2020 and ‘21. A victory against the visiting 49ers on Sunday would bolster the Packers' playoff chances, send a conference rival below .500 and avenge a bitter playoff defeat. Those seemingly rank in no particular order for the Packers (8-3), although they don't shy from living at least partially in the past ahead of a Week 12 showdown. San Francisco eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs last season, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. "That's what you've got to sit with all offseason, is going back, watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. "What you could have done differently in that game. ... Just knowing that's the team that knocked us out, we're definitely hungry for this game." Ditto for San Francisco. The 49ers fell to 5-5 after last week's 20-17 home loss to Seattle, done in by Geno Smith's 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds to play. Still only a game behind NFC West-leading Arizona, the reigning conference champion 49ers are just 1-3 in division play and can ill afford to lose more ground. A visit to AFC East leader Buffalo awaits after the trip to Green Bay. While they're dealing with plenty of not-so-good news on the injury front, the 49ers do anticipate the return of other contributors. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the past two games following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, practiced Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle also is eager to play after a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him against the Seahawks. "Very excited," Kittle said. "Can't pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure." Allen was a three-year starter at Arkansas but has been a journeyman backup since entering the NFL in 2016 as the 201st overall pick of the Jaguars. Shanahan and LaFleur have been fierce competitors since twice working together, first as low-level assistants with the Texans in 2008, then on the so-called "dream team" staff in Washington that also included Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel and Raheem Morris; and two seasons with the Falcons (2015, 2016) where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays. Shanahan scored the most recent win over LaFleur in January. Green Bay has won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings between the franchises. But the familiarity and shared-brain approach to offense that has the coaches completed each other's play calls has led to some tight games. The past three at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points. Green Bay, which hosts a home game on Thanksgiving next Thursday, is starting a run of three games in 12 days. They'll play back-to-back Thursday games. Their Week 14 game is at Detroit. That might make it good news for LaFleur that surprising contributors have emerged of late. Packers wideout Christian Watson had a career-best 150 receiving yards on only four catches during last week's 20-19 road win against the Chicago Bears. His diving 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter put the Packers in position for Love's go-ahead, 1-yard scoring run with 2:59 to play. Watson entered the game with eight catches for 83 yards over his previous three contests, but LaFleur assured Watson remains a "big part" of the attack. "He's a guy who's got every measurable known to man in terms of the size, the speed, and it's not like those were easy plays he was making," LaFleur said. "He was making tough, contested catches." San Francisco will aim to generate more pressure against Love than the Bears, who sacked him just once. The 49ers collected four sacks against the Seahawks, with Bosa and Leonard Floyd contributing 1.5 apiece. Recent regular-season history between the Packers and 49ers at Lambeau Field has favored Green Bay. The Packers have won seven of their past eight home games against the 49ers and are 22-11 versus San Francisco at home all-time. Green Bay leads the series 34-28-1. --Field Level Media

Georgia's Dasha Vidmanova, Columbia's Michael Zheng win NCAA singles titlesAvior Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF ( NYSEARCA:BLV – Free Report ) by 3,166.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 1,862 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,805 shares during the quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF were worth $140,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF by 38.5% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 200,955 shares of the company’s stock valued at $14,535,000 after buying an additional 55,886 shares in the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF by 14.7% in the 1st quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 107,899 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,236,000 after purchasing an additional 13,801 shares during the period. Comerica Bank grew its position in Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF by 37.6% during the 1st quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 46,722 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,379,000 after purchasing an additional 12,757 shares in the last quarter. FSA Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF by 7.0% during the 1st quarter. FSA Advisors Inc. now owns 7,921 shares of the company’s stock valued at $573,000 after purchasing an additional 517 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in shares of Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF by 71.7% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 502,063 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,314,000 after buying an additional 209,608 shares during the period. Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA:BLV opened at $70.30 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $72.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $72.23. Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF has a 1-year low of $67.45 and a 1-year high of $76.87. About Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF Vanguard Bond Index Funds (the Fund), formerly Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF, seeks to track the performance of a market-weighted bond index with a long-term, dollar-weighted average maturity. It employs a passive management or indexing strategy designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S.Long Government/Credit Bond Index (the Index). Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF ( NYSEARCA:BLV – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Chris Kutz, a Boise State athletics spokesman, said in an email the university would not “comment on potential matchups at this time.” Doug Hoffman, an Aggies athletics spokesman, said in an email Utah State is reviewing the court’s order. “Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on,” Hoffman wrote. San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

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free real money casino games In an era of rapid technological advancement, one would assume that losing a mobile phone could be addressed swiftly and efficiently. However, for a close friend of mine, Anura (not his real name), a senior professional and well-connected individual, the ordeal of tracing his lost iPhone 15 exposed a web of systemic inefficiencies, poor communication, and hidden truths. Anura lost his phone on 15 Dec., 2024, while travelling in a Colombo suburb. What followed was a grueling process that highlighted the bureaucratic labyrinth ordinary citizens must navigate. Acting on the advice of two telecommunications veterans, he embarked on a quest to retrieve his phone only to encounter roadblocks at every turn. Ravi, a retired IT engineer with over four decades of experience, outlined a standard procedure: file a police report, present it to the mobile network provider, and let the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) handle the rest. Siri, a board member of a prominent telecom network, confirmed that bypassing the police was not an option due to legal requirements. Despite their expertise, neither expert was aware of a critical fact: the phone-tracking system had been compromised in 2022. Anura’s initial attempts at the police station were equally disheartening. Officers refused to provide him with a copy of his complaint, citing outdated practices, and he spent hours navigating red tape before finally obtaining a certified copy. With the police report in hand, Anura visited the TRC in Narahenpita. The experience was no less frustrating. Initially directed back to the police by security staff, Anura had to argue his way into the premises. Inside, a polite but unhelpful officer informed him that the system for tracing lost phones had not been operational since 2018. The officer defended the TRC’s actions, stating they had informed the Inspector General of Police of the changes, expecting the information to trickle down to individual stations. Anura, however, was unimpressed. “This top-down communication approach is ineffective,” he argued, highlighting the needless time, effort, and money wasted by citizens due to a lack of public awareness. During his discussions, Anura uncovered an unsettling truth: the phone-tracking system was compromised. “Your problem,” Anura told the TRC officer, “is sending people here and there without telling them the truth. If criminals know the system is down, they might exploit it—but hiding it isn’t the solution.” Frustrated but undeterred, Anura vowed to bring the issue to light. He criticised the TRC for its lack of accountability, calling for a more proactive approach to public communication. “If I were the minister or the PM, I would prioritise making citizens’ lives easier and saving public resources,” he said. On his way out, Anura ensured he had proof of his visit by photographing the TRC’s logbook, documenting yet another step in his relentless pursuit of accountability. Anura’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor communication and systemic inefficiencies. It underscores the urgent need for: Transparent Communication: Regulatory bodies like the TRC must ensure critical updates reach all stakeholders, including the public, in a clear and accessible manner. Streamlined Processes: Citizens should not have to endure unnecessary delays and expenses to resolve simple issues. Accountability: Authorities must take responsibility for addressing systemic failures instead of deflecting blame. As citizens, we must demand better. Until then, stories like Anura’s will remain a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done. The aforesaid incident highlights the need for transparent communication, streamlined processes, and greater accountability from regulatory bodies. Anura’s ordeal is a wake-up call for systemic reform to save citizens from unnecessary inconvenience and wasted resources. Eng. P. N. D. Abeysuriya Colombo

A stark warning from Booking.com (reported by the BBC) highlights a 900 percent increase in travel scams over the past 18 months, with artificial intelligence playing a key role in promoting such nefarious deeds. In 2023, victims of travel scams in the U.S. lost a total of $265,000 , with nearly 1 in 4 travellers (24 percent) losing $1,000 or more to a single scam. In relation to this, the company AIPRM has compiled a list of the top AI-driven threats travellers should watch out for. Fake airline and hotel booking websites Many criminals create convincing websites that mimic legitimate travel booking platforms. Often advertising irresistible prices for flights and accommodations, these sites lure travellers with offers that seem too good to miss. Fraudsters also often play on urgency, using phrases like “limited-time sale” or “only 1 left” to push consumers into making quick decisions. Once you input your details, scammers can steal your personal and financial information, leaving you with a ticket to nowhere and out of pocket. The best advice is to watch out for suspicious URLs, small spelling errors or anything that feels off about the website’s design or offers. Double-check through official channels and read verified reviews before submitting your personal information. AI chatbots offering fake travel deals AI-powered chatbots can be used by scammers to impersonate customer service representatives, offering huge discounts on flights, hotels, or holiday packages. These bots may ask for sensitive personal information or prompt users to pay upfront for non-existent trips. To avoid falling victim, verify any deals or offers you find online through official travel websites and avoid providing payment information through unfamiliar channels. If something feels too rushed, it’s a red flag. Double-check all details and confirm through official customer service numbers or emails before finalizing any travel booking. Phishing emails and text messages One in five people click on AI-generated phishing emails . Scammers are using AI to craft highly convincing phishing content disguised as legitimate companies. Imagine receiving a text or email claiming your flight is cancelled, and to avoid losing your reservation, you must click a link and enter your payment details immediately. The pressure to act quickly could lead you to inadvertently put your financial information into the hands of fraudsters. AI-generated holiday reviews Fake AI-generated airline reviews have skyrocketed by 189 percent, while Tripadvisor alone flagged a record 2 million reviews as fake on its platform last year. With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, scammers can now generate hundreds of seemingly genuine, glowing reviews in minutes, making it harder for travelers to distinguish between real and fraudulent content. Fake travel itineraries and AI-generated images While many travellers nowadays use AI to help plan their trips, scammers are also taking advantage of this technology to create professional-looking itineraries designed to deceive. These fake itineraries often feature attractive holiday packages that promise an unforgettable vacation at an unbeatable price, with AI-generated images used to promote false activities, making everything seem enticing. Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

revealed he told his players at half-time to “forget the shirt” they were playing as they beat at Anfield. in the Champions League after a fifth straight win, making it 17 victories in 19 matches under Slot in all competitions. opened the scoring just after half-time before Cody Gakpo doubled the lead and put the hosts in control, with Liverpool beating Real for the first time since 2009. The Reds were dominant in the early stages of the second-half before they deservedly took the lead, and Slot was asked about his half-time message to inspire the impressive performance. “I felt that we were a bit too impatient,” Slot said of his side’s display in the opening 45 minutes. Every time when they threatened us - which didn’t happen a lot - it was from us being sloppy in passing or forcing it too much. “So I said: ‘I think there’s more in you guys than you show at the moment. You can play with more intensity and better with the ball. Forget the shirt that you face, just do what you always do and hopefully we can create more chances than we did in the first half.’” In a dramatic ten-minute spell at Anfield after Mac Allister’s goal, Kylian Mbappe saw his penalty saved by before Mohamed Salah then smashed his own spot-kick off the outside of the post and wide. It was another impressive showing from Kelleher, who has consistently delivered since coming into the side with Alisson Becker out injured. “The same thing that went through my mind when Mo Salah stepped up,” Slot said when asked what he was thinking as Mbappe went to take the penalty. “In most situations you think it’s probably going to go in, because they have such a great record. But yeah, both missed. They showed us today that they are human beings. “In Mbappe’s situation, [Kelleher] saved it which made it more special for us. There was another situation where he was also outstanding. “He’s done remarkable for us, just like our other goalkeeper, but he did remarkable today.”In one form or another, College Football Playoff controversy touched the SEC, Big 12, ACC and Mountain West — all the relevant conferences except one. The Big Ten was essentially unscathed during the selection process for the inaugural 12-team event. Oregon, the undefeated conference champion, landed the No. 1 overall seed. Penn State, the runner up, received the No. 6 seed, followed by No. 8 Ohio State and No. 10 Indiana. The Hoosiers were closest to the fire but never seemed in danger of losing their spot — even after Clemson won the ACC championship and stole a bid. It was always Alabama vs. SMU for the seventh and final at-large berth. Why did Indiana stay above the fray? For that matter, why did Penn State, which had one victory over a ranked team (Illinois), receive the No. 6 seed? And why did Ohio State warrant the No. 8 spot ahead of Tennessee, giving the Buckeyes home-field advantage in their opening-round date with the Volunteers. “Ultimately as a committee and as we voted these teams, Ohio State was one ahead of Tennessee,” said Warde Manuel, the committee chair and Michigan’s athletic director. “But we didn’t look at it — as well, if we put Ohio State 6 and Tennessee 7, one is going to host and one is not. We never, I can assure you and everybody ... never even talked about it until after the Top 25 was ranked.” In each instance (Penn State, Ohio State and Indiana), there’s a case to be made for the placement of the Big Ten team. What strikes us is the conference seemed to get the benefit of the doubt despite underlying data that reflect weakness: — The Big Ten is No. 3 in the Sagarin computer ratings, far behind the SEC and even behind the Big 12. — The Big Ten was 1-3 head-to-head against the SEC. Add two losses to Notre Dame, and the conference was 1-5 against its true peer group. — The Big Ten’s overall non-conference performance was largely forgettable, with only two wins over teams that finished in the CFP rankings released Sunday: Oregon over No. 9 Boise State and Nebraska over No. 23 Colorado. — Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and Indiana all played substantially weaker schedules than two of the SEC teams, Alabama and South Carolina, that were left out of the CFP field, according to the Sagarin ratings. For all the focus on Alabama and SMU for the final at-large berth, we’d argue the Crimson Tide has a substantially stronger resume than Indiana (more quality wins, tougher schedule) except for the number of losses, which mattered dearly to the committee. (The Hoosiers played one game against a team in the final CFP rankings, Ohio State, and lost.) Exactly why the Big Ten received the benefit of the doubt time and time again — in our view, at least — we might never know. But the conference was, indisputably, one of the biggest winners Sunday. Our breakdown of the sport’s decisive day ... As a reward for losing the SEC title game, the Longhorns received what is arguably the most coveted seed in the event: No. 5. They will open at home against three-loss Clemson, then advance to Atlanta to face Arizona State. Meanwhile, top-seeded Oregon doesn’t play a home game and will face the Ohio State-Tennessee winner. The format needs to change to provide greater rewards for the conference champions. The Irish should have been seeded higher than No. 7. But in that position, they are bracketed with No. 2 Georgia in the quarterfinals. The committee was clearly reluctant to drop the losers of conference title games (Penn State and Texas) below a team that doesn’t have a conference. Never before has one loss provided as much rocket fuel as Boise State’s 37-34 defeat at Oregon in Week 2. That performance, along with a perfect run through the rest of their schedule, propelled the Broncos all the way to the No. 3 seed and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. What a victory for the Group of Five, the Mountain West and the rebuilt Pac-12, which will be Boise State’s home in 2026. Alabama lost the resume showdown with SMU for the final at-large berth and South Carolina watched the team it defeated last week, Clemson, roll into the playoff thanks to the ACC’s automatic bid. It could not have gone much worse for the kingpin, . The Mustangs agreed to join the ACC without any media revenue distributions, filled the hole in their budget (thanks to deep-pocketed donors) and reached the CFP in their first season in a power conference. The conference was poorly ranked for five weeks and stood zero chance of receiving an at-large berth, then watched as its champion, Arizona State, was seeded behind Boise State. All in all, the committee showed the Big 12 little respect. It’s an . The CFP’s opening round will feature December 20-21 kickoffs in Columbus, South Bend and State College. The Hotline is rooting for a snowstorm that weekend at the 40th parallel. The Hotline has hammered on this point in recent weeks and will reiterate for anyone who missed it: The Cougars should have been smack in the middle of the at-large conversation. They had a better strength-of-schedule than SMU and won the head-to-head matchup . Somehow, the Cougars were seven spots below the Mustangs. There isn’t much left to say about the Sun Devils’ rise from nowhere to the CFP in three remarkable months. And even better for ASU fans: Arizona imploded. Some years aren’t as bad as others. This one was terrible — not the end result so much as the month-long process, the flip-flops and contradictions, the missteps and poor communication of intent and priorities. Give the committee a C- for its performance. Related Articles The network should generate blockbuster ratings with the marquee matchup of the opening round, Tennessee at Ohio State, which is slotted for 5 p.m. (Pacific) on Saturday, Dec. 21. The other two games that day face competition from the NFL. But the Buckeyes and Vols will be unopposed. We aren’t knocking UW’s qualifications for the postseason or commenting on the Huskies performance over the past three month. This is more about the assignment itself: The Sun Bowl against Louisville is just, well, blah. The Granddaddy is one victory away from an Oregon-Ohio State collision in the quarterfinals — the most Pac-12 vs. Big Ten matchup it could have reasonably asked for. The more things change ... The extra week in the NCAA’s competition calendar pushed CFP selection day back to Dec. 8 and left us with less than one week until the first bowl games (Dec. 14). To be clear: We aren’t complaining, not for one second. We think the Ducks would have been better off as the No. 5 seed, with a home game and matchups against the No. 4 and No. 12 seeds. But the extra rest will be helpful — as long as it doesn’t bring rust — and the undefeated regular season and Big Ten title should be cherished. The season ends where it began, in Las Vegas against an SEC opponent. It’s just that when the Trojans left Sin City on Sept. 1, after beating LSU, they never expected to be back in December with a .500 record to face Texas A&M. With the first pick of the Pac-12 legacy schools, the Alamo matched Colorado against Brigham Young. Two ranked teams plus one Deion Sanders should equate to loads of interest and first-rate TV ratings. Any postseason berth is a victory for the Bears, but they drew a daunting opponent in the LA Bowl. We have watched both teams play numerous times, and the Rebels are better. That said, their coach, Barry Odom, just accepted the Purdue job, which could tip the balance to Cal. So let’s view the Bears as both winner and loser. Sure, the three-game losing streak was a massive disappointment given the state of play in early November. But had you told the Cougars prior to the season that their journey would end in the Holiday Bowl (against Syracuse), they assuredly would have jumped at the offer.Journal Junction - November 27, 2024

Emi Martinez began the night by walking onto the field with his children and parading a pair of trophies for being the world’s best goalkeeper for the last two years. He finished it by producing an astonishing save that vindicated those awards. The Argentina international illuminated a 0-0 draw between his Aston Villa team and Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday by plucking the ball from behind him and scooping it off the goal line to deny Francisco Conceição what could have been the winner. Replays showed the ball was almost entirely over the line before Martinez hooked it clear, and the goalkeeper was quickly congratulated by his teammates. No save by Martinez will ever beat the one he pulled off for Argentina in the last seconds of extra time in the 2022 World Cup final , denying France striker Randal Kolo Muani and keeping teammate Lionel Messi’s dream alive of finally winning soccer’s biggest prize. He might just have run it close. It was fitting he produced his wonder save against Juve on the night he showed off the two Yashin Trophies he claimed at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in each of the past two years. The most recent one came last month. As for Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, he finished the game relieved that what appeared to be a mistake in the final seconds of stoppage time didn't cost his team. Di Gregorio spilled a cross under pressure from Villa defender Diego Carlos and Morgan Rogers was there to poke the ball into the net. A goal was awarded by the on-field referee but after a two-minute check, it was ruled out for a foul on Di Gregorio by Carlos. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSHAREHOLDER ACTION REMINDER: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of Humacyte

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New York, Nov 23 (AP) Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs tried for a third time Friday to persuade a judge to let him leave jail while he awaits his sex trafficking trial, but a decision won't come until next week. Judge Arun Subramanian said at a hearing that he will release his decision on Combs' latest request for bail after Combs' lawyers and federal prosecutors file letters addressing outstanding issues. Those letters are due at noon on Monday, Subramanian said. Combs' lawyers pitched having him await trial under around-the-clock surveillance either his mansion on an island near Miami Beach or — after the judge scoffed at that location — an apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Their plan essentially amounts to putting Combs on house arrest, with strict limits on who he has contact with. But prosecutors argue that Combs has routinely flouted jail rules and can't be trusted not to interfere with witnesses or the judicial process. “The argument that he's a lawless person who doesn't follow instructions isn't factually accurate,” Combs lawyer Anthony Ricco argued. “The idea that he's an out-of-control individual who has to be detained isn't factually accurate.” Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with help from a network of associates and employees while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. His trial is slated to begin May 5. The Bad Boy Records founder remains locked up at a Brooklyn federal jail, where he spent his November 4 birthday. Two other judges previously concluded that Combs would be a danger to the community if he is released and an appeals court judge last month denied Combs' immediate release while a three-judge panel of the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals weighs his bail request. Friday's hearing was the second time Combs was in court this week. On Tuesday, a judge blocked prosecutors from using as evidence papers that were seized from his cell during jail-wide sweep for contraband and weapons at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. As he entered through a side door, Combs waved to relatives including his mother and several of his children in the courtroom gallery, tapping his hand to his heart and blowing kisses at them. He then hugged his lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, before taking a seat at the defense table. He was not handcuffed or shackled and wore a beige jail uniform, occasionally pulling a pair of reading glasses from his pocket as he peered at papers in front of him. Prosecutors maintain that no bail conditions will mitigate the “risk of obstruction and dangerousness to others” of releasing Combs from jail. Prosecutors contend that while locked up the “I'll Be Missing You” artist has orchestrated social media campaigns aimed at tainting the jury pool. They allege that he has also attempted to publicly leak materials he thinks would be helpful to his case and is contacting potential witnesses via third parties. “Simply put, the defendant cannot be trusted,” Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik argued. Combs' lawyer Teny Geragos countered that, given the strict release conditions proposed, “it would be impossible for him not to follow rules.” (AP) GRS GRS (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)The Southern African Development Community (SADC) must abandon its feeble approach to dealing with the destructive chaos orchestrated by opposition political parties and take an uncompromising stand against their blatant role in fuelling post-election violence. These opposition groups have exposed themselves as nothing more than power-hungry, self-serving entities willing to burn nations to the ground in pursuit of their selfish ambitions. From Zimbabwe in 2018 to the recent bloodshed in Mozambique, these anarchists have shown complete contempt for democracy, human decency, and the lives of innocent citizens. In Mozambique, opposition leader Venancio Mondlane's outright rejection of election results directly triggered violent protests, leading to over 30 deaths. This carnage is not an isolated incident but part of a sickening trend where opposition parties, unable to accept their failure, incite riots, destroy property, and spill innocent blood. The chaos that unfolded in Zimbabwe following the 2018 elections is yet another damning testament to the opposition's reckless and destructive nature. Their actions are nothing short of a premeditated attack on the democratic process and the stability of entire nations. The audacity of these opposition figures to dress up their violence as "resistance" to oppression is a grotesque mockery of justice and decency. This excuse has allowed them to evade responsibility for the lives they have destroyed and the havoc they have unleashed. Enough of this nonsense! SADC must take an unrelenting stance, punishing these agitators with the severest measures available. Those who incite violence, directly or indirectly, must face harsh sanctions that leave no room for impunity. It is high time the region put an end to the toxic exploitation of democracy by these rogue elements. But it doesn't stop with the opposition leaders alone. The enablers of this chaos - be they journalists, so-called activists, or organisations that parrot the opposition's divisive propaganda - must also be held accountable. Individuals like Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono and leaders of the opposition like Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti have been glorified by naïve supporters despite their roles in provoking unrest. These opportunists are nothing more than mercenaries and merchants of death, their ambitions steeped in the blood of the innocent. Their so-called activism is a cover for insidious agendas that prioritise political power over human life. As SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi rightly emphasised, there are legal and peaceful avenues to resolve electoral disputes. But instead of choosing law and order, these defeated opposition parties resort to violent tantrums. The region cannot afford to keep turning a blind eye. SADC's failure to take immediate and severe action against these anarchists will embolden them further, plunging nations into deeper chaos and destroying public confidence in democratic processes. SADC must act now - firmly, decisively, and without hesitation. No political party, no journalist, no organisation, and no so-called activist should be allowed to plunge nations into chaos and hold democracy hostage. The stability and survival of entire nations must not be sacrificed at the altar of political ambition. SADC must rise to its mandate and obliterate this cancer of opposition-driven violence. The time for diplomacy and soft words is over; it's time for unrelenting action to ensure peace, stability, and the protection of innocent lives. Anything less is tacit complicity.IYM: Materials Dashboard For December

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As we wrap up another eventful week in tech, the spotlight was on quantum computing, AI infrastructure, and antitrust probes. Conversations between tech giants, massive investments in AI, and regulatory scrutiny made headlines, painting a vivid picture of the dynamic tech landscape. Let’s dive into the top stories that caught our attention over the weekend. Quantum Computing Sparks Stellar Conversation Following the unveiling of Alphabet Inc.’s GOOG GOOGL latest quantum computing chip, Willow, an engaging dialogue ensued between CEO Sundar Pichai and Tesla Inc. and xAI’s Elon Musk . Pichai took to X , formerly Twitter , to highlight Willow’s impressive capabilities, which Musk responded to with enthusiasm. Read the full article here. Founders Fund Leads $600 Million AI Investment Crusoe , an AI infrastructure provider, secured a whopping $600 million in Series D funding led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, valuing the company at $2.8 billion. Thiel emphasized the importance of going big with AI, marking this investment as the latest significant technology bet by Founders Fund. Read the full article here. See Also: Micron Technology Stock Jumps In Pre-Market After Securing $6.1B Investment For US Chip Manufacturing Nvidia Faces Antitrust Probe in China China launched an antitrust investigation into Nvidia Corp. NVDA , focusing on the company’s acquisition of Mellanox Technologies and potential violations of China’s anti-monopoly laws. The case may remain unresolved in the near term, according to a top analyst. Read the full article here. Trump Shares Thoughts on Stocks, Bitcoin, AI, and Economy Donald Trump , after ringing the New York Stock Exchange opening bell, shared his insights on the stock market, crypto, AI, and more in an impromptu interview with CNBC host Jim Cramer. Trump’s appearance coincided with his being named Time Person of the Year for the second time. Read the full article here. Palantir Poised to Become ‘The Next’ Oracle Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR is set to become “the next” Oracle Corp. in 2025, according to Wedbush Securities’s Dan Ives . Ives highlighted Palantir’s artificial intelligence platform as a transformative force in enterprise operations. Read the full article here. Read Next: Meta And YouTube Remove Accounts Of Luigi Mangione, But X Reinstates Profile Photo courtesy: Shutterstock This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Rounak Jain © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.VANCOUVER — Global Affairs Canada is warning Canadians in South Korea to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution after the country's president imposed an hours-long period of martial law. The situation in South Korea arose after President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law on Tuesday, vowing to eliminate what he described as "anti-state" forces from the opposition that controls parliament. Yoon's declaration triggered tense political drama, as troops surrounded the parliament while 190 lawmakers gathered inside to vote to lift the martial law shortly after it was imposed. Global Affairs Canada has not raised the risk level for Canadians in South Korea but did ask those in the country to monitor local media for the latest information, while following authorities' instructions, such as curfew orders. A Vancouver-based travel agent says the chaos in Seoul is not likely to have a major effect on Canadian visitor numbers to South Korea. Glynnis Chan, owner of Happy Times Travel, says the martial law dissolved quickly and will likely have minimal impact on people's travel plans, which tend to be made at least two months in advance. "There's always some sort of impact, but it really depends on what happens with the situation over the long term," Chan says. "If nothing more happens, people forget after a week or so about what took place." Chan says she is not expecting any impact on her business, since Japan is a more popular destination among her customers. Several Korean-Canadian travel agencies in Metro Vancouver declined to comment on the political situation in Seoul. After Yoon's declaration of martial law, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the national assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s impeachment, while others scuffled with military troops. The South Korean parliamentary members eventually voted to lift the declaration, with national assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring it “invalid.” Police and military personnel were then seen leaving the assembly’s grounds after Woo's call for their withdrawal. Jae-Yeon Lim, vice-president of the Canada Korea Business Association, says seeing military personnel clash with protesters and lawmakers brought back "harrowing" memories of the 1980 student-led demonstrations in Gwangju that were violently suppressed. Yoon’s move was the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratization in 1987, and South Korea’s last previous martial law was in October 1979. "It has been a very difficult experience to see that," Lim says of the latest martial law declaration. "But that said, I'm really happy to see that ... the national assembly managed to get the majority vote to repeal this, and they managed to do that at the risk of their own lives, even though military was there. "This is a country that will stand up for democracy." Lim also says there would likely be little impact on bilateral relations or trade between the two countries stemming from the sudden onset of political drama, given how quickly martial law was lifted. "It's not going to stop business from seeking to expand in Canada," Lim says. "There's still a very strong interest to do so from many businesses (in South Korea). "We have yet to see what will happen next, but I think that I'm a little bit reassured in seeing what has transpired ... that people are ready to defend their country and democratic rule-of-law." — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024. Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press

Mackenzie Tulloch, 22, told the court that he came in from his home in Hamilton to attend the bush bash off of Pack Road in southwest London on July 30, 2021, with his girlfriend at the time Lina Latef. She was friends with Emily Altmann. He said when they got there, a verbal fight broke out with Altmann in the middle of it with others at the party. He said their group was being escorted out of the area, "She (Altmann) made a phone call on the way out." Tulloch said the call was to the accused, in this case Carlos Guerra Guerra, 23, who was described in court as Altmann’s boyfriend. Tulloch spoke with Guerra Guerra at the time, "I said there was an altercation between Emily, and we were planning to leave." However, minutes later, Tulloch said two masked men appeared at the gathering and one of them was Guerra Guerra, saying, "Obviously something being up to no good covering his face." He said he saw the accused with a firearm at the time saying, "I saw the butt of the gun in his pants...I'm confused, and a little bit concerned as to why there's a weapon." Tulloch said moments later, two males came out of the bushes and there was a wrestling match , "From what I saw it was just people on top of each other...I hear a loud bang." He said as people took off from the scene, he feared the accused, “I was scared, feared retribution, retaliation from snitching. I was terrified that I was going to get killed." Emergency crews would eventually arrive to the area to find 18-year-old Josue Silva suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach. He would later be pronounced dead in hospital. Days later, Guerra Guerra would be arrested and charged. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and assault with a weapon. Last week, the jury was told that Altmann had been excused from the trial and that they were not to speculate. Later, under cross-examination from defence lawyer Ricardo Golec, Tulloch was questioned about why he was not being completely honest and forthcoming with police in his first statement to them, and he replied, "I was an 18-year-old kid in a world of emotions. I was concerned for everybody." The trial resumes on Wednesday. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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It has been a year to forget for shareholders of some . The ( ) share price has dropped a painful 37% in 2024, as shown in the chart below. However, one bad year doesn't necessarily mean there's no hope for the . It's common for resources to go through cycles of high prices and low prices, depending on what's happening with . Lithium is an interesting commodity because global demand is increasing over time. However, supply has also increased, which is a major part of the problem for the ASX lithium shares. Considering the current low valuation, it's worthwhile asking whether the Pilbara Minerals share price can turn around next year. Before we get to the specifics of whether the ASX lithium share is an opportunity, I think it's worth noting other activity by other investors in the space. If we notice that other parties are making a move, it could be a useful signal. Readers may have seen global mining giant ( ) recently made a , which was accepted, for ( ). The offer of US$5.85 per share was a 90% premium to Arcadium's closing price on 4 October 2024. Rio Tinto made the move to create a lithium business alongside its aluminium and copper operations to supply materials needed for the energy transition. Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm said: This is a counter-cyclical expansion aligned with our disciplined capital allocation framework, increasing our exposure to a high-growth, attractive market at the right point in the cycle. ... Our team has deep conviction in the long-term value that combining our offerings will deliver to all stakeholders. Rio Tinto suggests that lithium demand could rise at a of more than 10% by 2040, leading to a supply deficit. With that in mind, let's consider what could happen next year. It may largely depend on the lithium price. If there are signs of a recovery, then the market may be more willing to pay a higher price for the miner, believing that profits could improve in the future. However, it was pleasing to see that Pilbar Minerals was, at least temporarily, putting its Ngungaju plant into care and maintenance to reduce costs, strengthen its financial position, and reduce its production output. This could play a part in increasing lithium prices. UBS expects the spodumene (lithium) price to be US$800 per tonne in 2025. Pilbara Minerals' realised price was US$682 per tonne in the three months to September 2024, so the broker is suggesting a possible 17% rise. The broker thinks if lithium miners delay their growth projects, it could bring forward a "market rebalance, but the prospect of a short-term price spike remains unlikely". The broker has a Pilbara Minerals share price target of $2.35, which is below the current value of $2.50. That implies UBS doesn't think the Pilbara Minerals share price will rise at all over the next 12 months. However, there is a price spike, I'd imagine the ASX lithium share's financials and would respond positively.

There’s never an offseason where the Rays don’t have multiple players circulating the rumor mill, and this winter is no exception. Tampa Bay already flipped center fielder Jose Siri to the Mets last month, and there’s been plenty of speculation about the possibility of trades of some of their veteran players earning notable salaries. Yandy Diaz has often been the focus, but he’s one of several players who could draw interest. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports that closer Pete Fairbanks and left-hander Jeffrey Springs are among the Rays who’ve been popular in trade talks recently. It’s not a huge surprise to see either player’s name pop up in trade rumblings. Fairbanks featured prominently on MLBTR’s list of top offseason trade candidates back in early November. Springs is the most expensive of at least six healthy rotation options for the Rays. Both players are signed for multiple seasons. Springs, 32, has two years and $21M remaining on a four-year, $31M extension he signed prior to the 2023 season. The contract contains a $15M club option for the 2027 season ($750K buyout). To this point, that contract hasn’t panned out as hoped, though not necessarily through any real fault of Springs. The journeyman southpaw broke out with the Rays in 2022, posting a sparkling 2.46 ERA with a strong 26.2% strikeout rate and terrific 5.6% walk rate in 135 2/3 innings. He looked like another late-blooming diamond in the rough unearthed by a Rays front office with a knack for just that type of discovery. Unfortunately, Springs hasn’t been healthy since. He made three dominant starts to open the 2023 season (16 innings, one run allowed, 24-to-4 K/BB ratio) and then suffered a UCL tear that required Tommy John surgery. He missed the remainder of the ’23 campaign and made it back to the mound for seven big league starts and 33 innings late last year. The results were good in that limited sample. Springs posted a sharp 3.27 earned run average, fanned 26.1% of opponents and held his walks to a 7.7% rate. His average four-seamer was down from 91.4 mph in 2022 to 89.8 mph in 2024, however, and he saw similar velocity drops on his slider and changeup. Springs’ 12.9% swinging-strike rate was still strong, but it’s down from the 14.2% clip he displayed in 2021-23. In addition to Springs, the Rays have Drew Rasmussen , Ryan Pepiot , Zack Littell , Taj Bradley , Shane Baz and a returning Shane McClanahan (2022 Tommy John surgery) all in the mix for starts next year. That’s in addition to yet-to-debut prospects like Joe Rock and Ian Seymour , who both excelled in the upper minors last year. Springs has looked the part of a high-end starter in the past but only for a fleeting span of about 150 innings across 2022-23. The Rays would be selling a bit low, but his $10.5M salary is steep for them under normal circumstances — let alone at a time when the club is facing likely revenue losses following Hurricane Milton’s decimation of Tropicana Field’s roof and the club’s subsequent agreement to play at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field — the spring training and Class-A home of the Yankees. Fairbanks, 30, has been terrific when healthy in five seasons with the Rays. “When healthy” is an unfortunately crucial caveat, however, as the flamethrowing 6=foot-6 righty has never reached 50 appearances or topped 45 1/3 innings in a big league season. Dating back to 2020, Fairbanks touts a 2.89 ERA. He fanned nearly 35% of his opponents from 2020-23 but saw that number slip to a roughly average 23.7% this past season. Fairbanks didn’t have a huge loss of velocity on his heater, but it dipped from an average of 98 mph from ’20-’23 to 97.3 mph in 2024. His slider saw a larger drop, going from an average of 86.4 mph to 85 mph over those same periods. The Rays signed Fairbanks to a three-year, $12M contract that bought out all three arbitration years (2023-25) and guaranteed them control over his first free-agent season in the form of a 2026 club option. He’s owed $3.666M this season with a $7M option ($1M buyout) on his ’26 campaign. Even for a partial season of a reliever with Fairbanks’ upside, it’s a pretty modest price to pay. As such, there’s no inherent urgency for the Rays to move him. They might feel a bit more motivated to move Springs and his weightier salary, but to this point it’s not clear the Rays are necessarily shopping either — just that they’ve drawn interest. The Rays’ lot in life, of course, is to constantly listen on all of their players as they progress through their arbitration years or the latter stages of any contract extensions. This year’s stadium troubles and the uncertainty surrounding their home in 2026 and beyond only add to that. At the same time, Tampa Bay already significantly culled payroll with their series of deadline trades and via the departures of some arb-eligible players (via trade and non-tender). RosterResource projects a bit less than $79M in payroll for the Rays this coming season — already a drop of more than $10M from their 2024 levels. Trading Springs, Fairbanks or other veterans like the aforementioned Diaz or Brandon Lowe could further reduce spending and free up the Rays to take on some money in other trades. With regard to free agency, they’re in a similar spot to the Athletics in that they’ll have to persuade players to sign on for at least one year (and likely more) playing their home games in a minor league facility. This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work and wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory claiming all birds are actually government surveillance drones. Peters said she and some other former employees are upset and think the relaunch was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, 74, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. But Sherron Watkins, Enron’s former vice president of corporate development and the main whistleblower who helped uncover the scandal, said she didn’t have a problem with the joke because comedy “usually helps us focus on an uncomfortable historical event that we’d rather ignore.” “I think we use prior scandals to try to teach new generations what can go wrong with big companies,” said Watkins, who still speaks at colleges and conferences about the Enron scandal. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70

Bhad Bhabie Reveals She Wants More Kids After Cancer Treatment, But Fans Feel Something’s Off

( MENAFN - GetNews) Logic's Dictate by Steve Gibson has been released worldwide. This gripping, 224-page novel is a must-read thriller that blends politics, romance, and science fiction into a compelling narrative unlike anything else on the market today. With the fast-paced action of Ender's Game and the philosophical depth of Dune, the story follows charismatic protagonist Andy Brock, a candidate for President of the United States with a fast wit and penchant for heroism akin to Marvel's iconic Iron Man. Brock soon encounters Rein, a representative from the advanced civilization of Merk, tasked with evaluating Earth's eligibility for joining their galactic continuum. On Earth, global strife has been all but resolved, but China's continued pursuit of domination threatens to disrupt the progress made – and the planet's acceptance into Merk society. As Rein studies Earth, particularly Brock's potential ascent to power, the nature of their relationship begins to change, and the new dynamic may have consequences that affect beings across the galaxy. Deftly moving between the large-scale issues of governance, international conflict, and interstellar societies to the minute nuances of personal relationships, Gibson crafts a narrative that connects macro and micro into a fascinating exploration of how important choices are made. Throughout the novel, detailed descriptions and moments of thrilling action support the unfolding intrigue. Tensions remain high, with unforeseen challenges and inner conflicts propelling the story forward page after page. Reminiscent of epic tales across history - but with a sci-fi twist - Andy and Rein are idyllic characters that represent the best of the best. Their individual arcs are inherently tied to the fates of countless others, and readers have a front-row seat to their struggles, desires, and triumphs. Against the backdrop of futuristic technology, impending war, and the“reputation management” necessary in politics, the story of their relationship is as unpredictable as Earth's place in the larger galactic society. A truly unique novel that draws from a range of styles and influences, at once a love story, a prescient examination of global politics, and a space-traveling adventure, Logic's Dictate is a thrilling, multifaceted story that keeps audiences engaged from the first sentence to the cliffhanger ending. Logic's Dictate (ISBN: 9781963844849 / 9781965340936) can be purchased through retailers worldwide, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The hardcover retails for $39.99, the paperback retails for $19.99, and the ebook retails for $2.99. Review copies and interviews are available upon request. About the book: In a world far away from Earth, the advanced civilization of Merk extends a rare invitation to join their peaceful galactic continuum to worlds demonstrating true maturity. With Earth on the bring of a monumental transformation, all eyes are on presidential candidate Andy Brock, whose visionary policies promise unity and progress. Earth has already made significant strides: the Koreas have united, NATO has dissolved following Russia's peaceful democratization, and the world stands on the cusp of unprecedented harmony. Yet, China remains a looming threat, with ambitions to seize Taiwan and a war with the U.S. on the horizon. Amidst this turmoil, Rein, the leader of the Merkian delegation studying Earth, must decide if humanity is ready to join the Merk galactic community. However, her complicated feelings for Andy could either symbolize a potential new era of interstellar cooperation with Earth, or bring the whole mission to a grinding halt. Through political trials, assassination attempts, and opposition from traditionalists, the path is fraught with challenges. Will the impending conflict with China derail Earth's chance at interstellar peace? Can Andy Brock ascend to the presidency and implement his transformative vision for a brighter future? About the author: Steve Gibson lives with his wife, Drizzle, and two cats, Dandelion and Mr. Sherlock Holmes, in New Lenox, Illinois – just outside Chicago. Steve is a lawyer and PoliSci grad. He was on the debate team in high school and college winning many honors. Steve and Drizzle are well-received on the karaoke circuit in Chicagoland. They love Southside Italian Beef and Pizza. They also adore the summer concerts at Ravinia and the Grant Park Symphony. Steve is also generally willing to challenge all comers to a racquetball game and might be willing to wager a bet on who the winner would be. About MindStir Media: MindStir Media LLC is an award-winning book publisher. To learn more about publishing a book with MindStir Media, visit or call 800-767-0531. MENAFN15122024003238003268ID1108995293 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is underscoring his intention to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp. , and he's pledging to use tax incentives and tariffs to strengthen the iconic American steelmaker. Trump had vowed early in the presidential campaign that he would “instantaneously” block the deal, and he reiterated that sentiment in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday night. “I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company” and will use tax incentives and tariffs to make U.S. Steel “Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST!” he wrote. “As President," he continued, "I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!” President Joe Biden , like Trump, also opposes Nippon Steel's purchase of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel. Biden’s White House in September said that it had yet to see a report from the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States , which was reviewing the transaction for national security concerns. The committee, which is chaired by the treasury secretary and includes other Cabinet members, can recommend that the president block a transaction, and federal law gives the president that power. Ahead of the November election, the proposed merger carried political importance in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state that Trump eventually won. Biden publicly sided with the United Steelworkers, the labor union, in seeking to reject the deal. When he announced his opposition in a March statement, Biden said: “U.S. Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.” Nippon Steel has said it is the only company that can make the necessary investment in U.S. Steel's factories and strengthen the American steel industry. Both Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel on Tuesday released statements in support of the acquisition. "This transaction should be approved on its merits. The benefits are overwhelmingly clear. Our communities, customers, investors, and employees strongly support this transaction, and we will continue to advocate for them and adherence to the rule of law," U.S. Steel said. The deal follows a long stretch of protectionist U.S. tariffs that analysts say has helped reinvigorate domestic steel, including U.S. Steel. U.S. Steel's shareholders have approved the deal, but the United Steelworkers oppose it. In a statement Tuesday, the union said the deal carries “serious long-term implications for U.S. economic and national security.” “It’s clear that President Trump understands the vital role a strong domestic steel industry plays in our national security, as well as the importance of the jobs and communities the industry supports," the union said. The deal has drawn bipartisan opposition in the U.S. Senate, including from the incoming vice president, Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, although the federal government's objections to the deal have drawn criticism that the opposition is political. Some U.S. Steel workers would prefer Nippon Steel acquire the company, given that it appears to have a better financial balance sheet than another potential buyer, Cleveland-Cliffs. U.S. Steel “provided a very, very good life for our families for a lot of years,” said Jack Maskil, a vice president at the Steelworkers local branch in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. “And we feel that with the Nippon deal that a lot more families for futures to come will be able to share the same.” West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly said he met with Nippon Steel executives and found himself satisfied by their commitments. Located southeast of Pittsburgh, West Mifflin is home to U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant. “There’s no question in my mind that it’s the best deal moving forward,” Kelly said at a panel hosted on Tuesday by the conservative think tank Hudson Institute, where Maskil was also speaking. The Biden administration committee vetting the merger is scheduled later this month to decide on the acquisition or possibly extend the ongoing review. William Chou, a deputy director at the Hudson Institute specializing in relations with Japan, said that "President-elect Trump's view on the deal are important." But given the upcoming deadline, “It's up to President Biden to recognize how this deal will advance the interests of future generations of U.S. Steel union steelworkers.” Trump’s statement came two weeks after Nippon Steel’s vice chairman, Takahiro Mori, visited Pittsburgh and Washington to meet with lawmakers, local officials and workers in an ongoing persuasion campaign. That campaign has included Nippon Steel's promises to boost its capital commitments beyond the original deal and, more recently, a pledge that it won’t import steel slabs that would compete with U.S. Steel’s blast furnaces. As part of its proposed $14.9 billion purchase of U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel also pledged to invest at least $1.4 billion in USW-represented facilities, not to conduct layoffs or plant closings during the term of the basic labor agreement, and to protect the best interests of U.S. Steel in trade matters. Boak reported from Washington.

MLB Star Colt Keith Gets Married, Parties with Detroit Tigers TeammatesWith more than half of the 16 teams still mathematically alive to make the conference championship game, the Big 12 will command a lot of attention in the final week of the regular season. No. 14 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State would play for the Big 12 title and likely College Football Playoff spot on Dec. 7 if they both win Saturday and there's a four-way tie for first place. There are seven other teams that begin this week with hopes, slim in most cases, of getting into the game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Last week it was No. 19 BYU and No. 23 Colorado that had the inside track to the championship game. Arizona State beat the Cougars and Kansas knocked off the Buffaloes, and here we are. "Everybody counted us out, I think, two weeks ago," Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said after his team beat Utah 31-28. "We didn't flinch. We didn't waver. And we just keep fighting." People are also reading... The Cyclones were national darlings the first half of the season as they won seven straight games to match the best start in program history. Back-to-back losses to Texas Tech and Kansas followed. Now they've won two straight heading into "Farmageddon," their rivalry game against Kansas State at home. "Right now they've got the pen and they continue to write the story," Campbell said of his players, "and I hope they will continue to write it the way they've got the ability to write it. Unwavering. Tough, mentally tough, physically tough. This group has stood for it every step of the way." Arizona State has been an even better story than the Cyclones. The Sun Devils have six more wins than they did last season, when they went 3-9. They were picked to finish last in their first year in the Big 12. They'll go for their fifth straight victory when they play at Arizona on Saturday. "These guys came off no momentum and everybody doubting them, and everybody is still doubting them. That's what makes this special," second-year coach Kenny Dillingham said. "Hopefully the expectations become higher. I don't know if there's a way we can exceed expectations more than we're exceeding them right now." Checking in on five of the Top 25: No. 1 Oregon The Ducks were idle Saturday after clinching a spot in the Big Ten championship game with their win at Wisconsin on Nov. 16. Oregon can go 12-0 in the regular season for the first time since 2010 if it beats Washington at home this week. Oregon's only two losses last season came against the Huskies, both decided by three points. The first was a top-10 matchup in the regular season and the second was a top-five matchup in the Pac-12 championship game. The Ducks are 19 1/2-point favorites this time, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. No. 2 Ohio State The Buckeyes' showdown with upstart Indiana combined with Michigan's dropoff after winning the national championship have lowered the volume on this week's meeting with the Wolverines at the Horseshoe. If Michigan beats Ohio State a fourth straight time and it keeps the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten championship game and playoff ... well, there'll be lots of noise in Columbus then. No. 3 Texas The Lone Star Showdown returns to the gridiron for the first time since 2011, when Texas and Texas A&M were in the Big 12. The Longhorns head to No. 20 Texas A&M on a four-game win streak. The Aggies have lost two of three after Saturday's four-overtime loss at Auburn. The winner advances to the Southeastern Conference championship game against Georgia. No. 11 Boise State The Broncos are tied with Notre Dame for the second-longest active win streak, at nine games, and they seem to have adopted a survive-and-advance mantra. They trailed 23-point underdog Wyoming in the fourth quarter before winning 17-13 and clinching a spot in the Mountain West championship game. They won their previous game, 42-21 against San Jose State, but didn't pull away until the fourth quarter. Two weeks ago they beat a three-win Nevada team 28-21. No. 22 Illinois Just when you think Illinois is about to cash in for the season, they do what they did against Rutgers. The Illini were down 31-30 when they lined up for a 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds left. Ethan Moczulski missed. But wait. Rutgers called timeout before the snap, and Bret Bielema thought better of trying another kick and sent his offense back on the field. Luke Altmyer passed to Pat Bryant for the winning 40-yard touchdown. The Illini won't play for the Big Ten title, but they have a chance for nine wins and a nice bowl. Extra Points Ohio State played in three of the five regular-season top-five matchups and won three of them. The Buckeyes lost to Oregon and beat Penn State and Indiana. ... Kansas' 37-21 win over Colorado made the Jayhawks the first FBS team with a losing record to beat three straight Top 25 opponents. The Jayhawks, who were 2-6 a month ago, will be bowl eligible if they win at Baylor. ... Nebraska ended the longest power conference bowl drought with its 44-25 win over Wisconsin. The Cornhuskers haven't played in a bowl since 2016. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Canada’s top sailor says he’s confident our navy can stop Russia or China if they send ships through the strategically vital Northwest Passage without asking for permission. “We wouldn’t need the allies to come to our aid. We could deal with it ourselves,” said Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee. “We have the capacity to deploy our ships up there right now to stop them.” The country’s new Arctic and offshore patrol ships only carry a 25-mm cannon, but Topshee said that could quickly be supplemented with other weapons. “They’re not intended to be front-line combatants,” Topshee said of the warships, dubbed AOPS (Arctic and offshore patrol ships). “They have everything they need for the missions that we anticipate that (they’ll) do. Were we to get into a wartime environment where we felt ... they could come directly under threat, then there’s the capacity to install other weapons in sort of an ad hoc manner — very similar to how you would defend an army forward operating base.” During an interview Sunday at the Halifax International Security Forum, which focused heavily on Arctic sovereignty, as well as Russia’s war in Ukraine, Topshee was quick to point out neither Russia nor China has gone through the Northwest Passage without first getting Canada’s blessing. “It would be really nice to believe that Russia would comply with international order, but their illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine tells us that they have no interest in complying with international law and I can’t trust anything Russia does until they withdraw from Ukraine and restore the full territorial integrity of Ukraine,” he said. “Until that changes, we’re not going to trust Russia with anything and we’re going to regard them with great suspicion and make sure we monitor everything they do.” But it’s not worth the expense of adding more weapons to the AOPS now because the threat doesn’t warrant it, he said. “On both coasts we’re experimenting to make sure that these ships would have legitimate wartime roles if they needed to.” On the east coast, the navy is focused on making sure the Arctic and offshore patrol ships have a full suite of mine counter-measures. “The ship itself will never go into a minefield — 7,000 tons is not the type of thing you put into a minefield. But is a perfect platform for all of the sensors and effectors that you would deploy into a minefield to find the mines and disable the mines, working in concert with our clearance divers.” On the west coast, the AOPS are more focused on anti-submarine warfare. The navy’s experimenting now with towed arrays that can detect submarines from thousands of kilometres away. “That way you’ve got a ship that’s not got the weapons to defend itself, but it’s looking for a submarine that’s so far away the submarine doesn’t even know it’s being hunted,” Topshee said, noting the ship could feed information to the Royal Canadian Air Force to help it attack the sub. While arrays can’t be towed in ice, he said the navy is eyeing sensors that could be rapidly deployed on the ocean floor and autonomous vessels that can patrol for submarines under the ice and report back quickly on what they find. While the navy’s keen to use the Harry DeWolf-class ships to hunt subs, they still can’t embark with Cyclone helicopters. “Right now, it’s got a hangar, it’s got a flight deck — that’s the easy part,” Topshee said. “The complicated piece is that, in order to be able to land that helicopter on the deck, secure it on the deck and then bring it into the hangar — there’s a couple of changes that have to be made.” Canada plans to purchase 12 modern, non-nuclear submarines to replace four diesel-electric subs acquired from Britain. Topshee hopes to see the first of the new sub fleet operating early in the next decade. Their mission: “leaving Esquimalt Harbour, sailing up through the Aleutians, the Bering Strait, into the Beaufort Sea, patrolling for 21 days and then returning home and doing the entire thing submerged and undetected.” The challenge will be finding crews willing to head north repeatedly. “Sailors love going to the Arctic the first time. They see Northern Lights, they see polar bears, they see ice. It’s fantastic,” Topshee said. “The unfortunate thing is, that’s all it is, all the time. And, so for many of them, it’s like ‘OK, this is getting old.’” That’s why the navy is sending its Arctic and offshore patrol ships south after spending summers up north. “The Margaret Brooke next year is going to circumnavigate South America and will likely be the first Canadian navy ship (to) visit Antarctica,” Topshee said. Because the Chinese go to both poles, we want to understand what’s happening in both polar environments Topshee was surprised when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mused recently that the new subs could be nuclear-powered. Canada explored the idea twice, in the 1960s and 1987, but cost and the U.S. refusal to share some technology made the scheme “not viable,” according to Topshee. The navy’s “already twenty per cent short of the personnel we require” and nuclear subs would require about six times as many people to sail and maintain as conventional subs, he said. “In a perfect world, where I’m unconstrained by resources and I have every sailor I required in the navy and a bigger navy, I would absolutely look to see whether or not nuclear submarines would make sense, but those are the preconditions to even be able to imagine considering it.” Canada’s navy is paying close attention to how Ukraine has successfully used drones to attack Russian warships. “Everything we see the Ukrainians doing in the Black Sea — we are taking a look at that and saying what of that is relevant to us? How do we make it work? And then, more importantly, at the same time, how do we counter it? So, if we can figure out a way to defeat a ship with a drone, we also want to be able to make sure that we ourselves can defeat that drone because we know our adversaries are going to use it against us,” Topshee said. The drones Ukrainians “have used very effectively to attack the Russian fleet in Sebastopol ... look a lot like the drones that we’ve been using for targets,” he said. The navy has employed Hammerhead drones for about 15 years to simulate incoming targets. “So, could we take that same thing and instead of using it to test our own ability to fire, load it full of explosives and send it in?” However, weather and communications problems can make it tough to operate drones in the Arctic, Topshee said. “Can it really manage down to –40 C?” he said. “Battery performance tends to go downhill quite quickly in all those environments.... A lot of our stuff is very, very brittle. How well can you manipulate this stuff wearing heavy mittens and gloves?” The navy has taken delivery of four of the Harry DeWolf-class warships, number five is in the process of being commissioned into service, and the sixth one will be launched in the coming weeks at Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax yard. The Canadian Coast Guard is also in line for two of the vessels. Topshee calls those icebreakers, though he concedes they’re not heavy icebreakers. “They break four-and-half feet of ice,” he said. “They operate across the Arctic (with) incredible capability that we use to make sure we have full control (and are) aware of everything that’s happening in the Arctic. We can execute sovereignty and security functions anywhere we go, and the threats are growing. China’s in our Arctic every year. Russia is routinely in the approaches to our Arctic. We are seeing an increase in shipping through the Arctic.” What we are lacking, Topshee said, is heavy icebreakers that can operate up north in the middle of winter. “That’s the capability that we really need to make sure that ... there’s never any challenge to our sovereignty or security — that we can go there even in the worst of weather conditions.” Topshee doubts the Northwest Passage will ever become a major shipping route. If anything, recent ice changes linked to climate change make it more unpredictable to navigate than ever before, he said. “The Arctic gyre works in a counterclockwise manner. It piles up old ice inclusions on the western approaches to the Arctic. And because the ... ice extent is quite low, it’s much more unpredictable where the old ice will wind up and it can wind up complicating passages.” Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. 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Donald Trump is considering creating a new White House position dedicated to overseeing cryptocurrency policy. According to Bloomberg , the president elect’s team is already vetting potential candidates. The post would be the White House ’s first crypto-specific job. Trump himself has several crypto businesses, having recently released his fourth collection of non-fungible tokens and helped launch the crypto venture World Liberty Financial. Throughout his campaign, the president-elect promised to cut back crypto regulations, establish a presidential crypto advisory council and fire current Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who has hammered the digital asset industry. In recent days, however, several crypto allies have visited Mar-a-Lago to discuss the White House crypto position. Ex-Coinbase and Binance executive Brian Brooks, also a potential candidate for SEC chair, met with Trump on Tuesday, sources familiar with the meeting told Bloomberg. Coinbase Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong reportedly also spoke with the president-elect this week. X , “the everything app ”, has it all, according to billionaire owner Elon Musk ’s preferred tagline. On offer today is a catty exchange between Musk, the world’s richest man, and the world’s second richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos . Musk, a rabid supporter of President-elect Donald Trump who denies he goes around offering acquaintances his semen, tweeted on his social network that he’d heard “Bezos was telling everyone [Trump] would lose for sure, so they should sell all their Tesla and SpaceX stock 🤭.” Musk is the CEO of both companies, while Bezos owns rival space firm Blue Origin. Bezos shot down the claim: “Nope. 100% not true.” The buff-bodied online retail magnate certainly didn’t exhibit any preference for Trump’s opponent , Vice President Kamala Harris , during this year’s presidential campaign. In fact, he kiboshed an editorial page endorsement of Harris at the Washington Post , which he’s owned since 2013, provoking ire from hundreds of thousands of subscribers who canceled their subscriptions en masse. so funny the second richest man is bothering to respond to this pic.twitter.com/Bi4gADndvQ Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Made In Cookware is known for quality kitchen tools that look as good as they perform. Its sleek, chef-approved kitchen essentials are for people who know that the plates matter as much as the food. That makes its full sets a great option for anyone looking for a little uniformity in their cabinets. To sweeten the deal, Made In is not only offering up to 30 percent off, but shoppers can also score freebies like Dutch ovens, frying pans, and wine glasses with select purchases. We’ve pulled a few of their best deals just in time for your turkey prep. 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The actress revealed on the SHE MD podcast Tuesday that she was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, which affect fertility. “I had a bit of a worry last summer and I just wanted to go and get things checked out and then we ended up finding out information that I probably wouldn’t have known until I started having kids in another five years,” Pugh said. Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, the host of the podcast, diagnosed Pugh, who said she made the appointment after “a few weird dreams.” “It was just so bizarre because my family are baby-making machines,” she said. “My mom had babies into her forties, my gran... she had so many kids as well. I just never assumed that I was going to be in any way different and that there was going to be an issue with it, or that I had to think about it before I needed to think about it.” A species of deep sea fish rarely seen at the ocean’s surface has been spotted numerous times on California beaches, and according to Japanese folklore it could be a bad omen. Three oarfish, which can grow over 30 feet long and are also known as “Doomsday Fish,” have been found dead on Southern California beaches over the past few months. Before that, researchers had only documented 19 beached oarfish in the state since 1901, reported The Sun . The most recent oarfish find was collected from Encinitas beach on Nov. 6, while the others were found on Huntington Beach in September and La Jolla in August. While researchers don’t know what’s behind the uptick, Ben Frable, a manager at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, told The Sun that it all could be due to a greater number of oarfish in the waters near California. Or it could be a shift in weather patterns. In Japanese folklore, oarfish are called the “messenger from the sea god’s palace” and their appearance is thought to be a precursor to earthquakes. Before Japan’s catastrophic 2011 quake, and following tsunami, dozens of oarfish were spotted on beaches. However, some scientific studies have cast doubt on the folklore. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. As any true audiophile already knows, Amazon Music Unlimited has long been a reliable destination for an elevated listening experience. 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Harris’ vacation comes as Democrats try to push through more of Joe Biden’s judicial nominees before they lose control of the Senate in January. As the president of the Senate, Harris is often the tie-breaking vote for the Democrats’ slim majority. A Harris aide told NBC News that Harris delayed her trip in case she was needed to vote on any nominees, but the team is now anticipating she’ll be needed in December. “She will definitely be available for any tie votes,” another senior aide said. Chris Cuomo is once again opening up about his firing from CNN. “You only live going forward, and CNN is part of my past,” the anchor told People . Cuomo was axed from the network in December 2021, after advising his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, on how to navigate sexual harassment allegations . (The elder Cuomo has continually denied any wrongdoing.) Chris was “livid” over his termination, and eventually sued CNN for $125 in damages. He resurfaced at News Nation , and while he told People that “living in the past is very poisonous because you can’t change it,” he did spend the bulk of the interview talking about the past and defending his decision to help his brother. (For whom, incidentally, he also voted as a write-in candidate for president.) “I never kept any secrets about what I was doing,” he said. “I’ll always help my family.” A New York lawmaker eager to cash in on a feud between Whoopi Goldberg and a Staten Island bakery showed up Wednesday at the Capitol with a box of the pastry shop’s signature sweet. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) set out boxes of Charlotte Russe cakes from Holtermann’s Bakery near the steps of the House of Representatives and demanded that The View host apologize for telling viewers the bakery had refused to serve her because of her politics. “This is a small business, and somebody going on national TV like that could break a business,” she told the New York Post . In fact, business has been booming ever since Goldberg accused an unnamed bakery last week of refusing to fill her birthday order. Her team managed to procure the desired dessert—a mini sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream—by calling back and not saying her name. “Perhaps they did not like my politics,” Goldberg said at the time. Fans quickly recognized Holtermann’s packaging, and the bakery disputed Goldberg’s version of events. They’ve arrived! All the way from #StatenIsland New York, Whoopi Goldberg’s FAVORITE Charlotte Russe cakes from our 146-year-old staple Holtermann’s Bakery. Everyone’s been asking me about them so we’ll be handing them out to members and staff on the House Steps at 4:30! pic.twitter.com/5eZhaRJEa1 Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are calling for an end to remote work for federal employees, labeling it a pandemic-era “privilege” that taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund anymore. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Wednesday, the two nominees to head Donald Trump ’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said requiring federal employees to return to the office full-time would lead to a wave of voluntary resignations, helping to shrink the government workforce. “If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them,” they wrote. The proposal could impact more than a million workers, although only about 10 percent of federal employees are working fully remote, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The proposed remote working ban is among the first actual policies laid out for DOGE—named after Musk’s favorite meme-based cryptocurrency. In their op-ed, the pair said they wanted to target the thousands of rules and regulations issued by “unelected bureaucrats” every year as part of their mission to help Trump “cut the federal government down to size.” As the Journal reported , however, there could be a hitch to the remote working ban: DOGE may not have the legal power to order federal employees back to the office. Are you an amateur photographer, a curious learner, or a budding entrepreneur? Adobe Creative Cloud can take your photos, skills, or business to the next level. This premium suite encompasses over 20 Adobe apps. Normally, a one-year subscription is $59.99 a month. For Black Friday, Adobe is lowering the cost of a year’s subscription to just $29.99 a month. Adobe Express and Lightroom are great for quickly editing photos–color adjustments, precise cropping, and removing unwanted background elements with generative AI. Use Photoshop and Illustrator to create gorgeous images and rich graphics for use online or in print. In addition to the apps, members also get access to over one million stock images, tens of thousands of fonts, and in-app tutorials to take their skills from novice to expert. Hurry, because this deal will expire on Friday (11/29). Jump in and let your imagination run wild today! If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. After months on the market, the Los Angeles estate belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs has finally attracted an interested buyer—but they’re offering half the asking price, the New York Post reports. Diddy listed the 17,000-square-foot home—which has 10 bedrooms, a 35-seat theater, and a sinister history—for $61.5 million in September, after purchasing it for $39 million in 2014. Real estate executive Bo Belmont is now offering $30 million ”to remove the stigma and focus on the charming elegance of this remarkable property,” he said in a press release . The Beverly Hills estate is one of the homes the feds raided in September, when they confiscated all that lube ; it’s also believed to be one of the sites where Diddy held his alleged “freak-offs.” An unnamed People source predicted earlier this month that finding a buyer who could “see beyond the headlines” would “definitely” be “an uphill battle.” Belmont, for what it’s worth, seems focused on the “beautiful, bucolic setting” and the “picturesque trees, foliage, and walkways‚” so at least that’s something. The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced in May that he was seeking warrants related to the Oct.7 Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military conduct in the Palestinian territory Gaza . Roughly 700 Israeli civilians, and 1,200 people overall, were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks, according to Israel social security data. Over 44,000 have died during Israel’s subsequent 13-month siege on Gaza, according to local health officials. Human rights officials with the United Nations estimate nearly 70 percent of the deaths in Gaza have been women and children. “No one is above the law,” said Agnès Callamard, the Secretary General of leading human rights organization Amnesty International, after the announcement. Several Israeli officials hastily condemned the ICC’s decision. “These arrest warrants are a reward for terrorism,” said Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid. The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected three resolutions that would have halted some weapons transfers to Israel on Wednesday. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has threatened the ICC with sanctions over its case against Israel. Israel’s military says it killed Deif in August though his death remains unconfirmed by Hamas.NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The vehicle leasing market in Europe size is estimated to grow by USD 12.17 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period. For comprehensive forecast and historic data on regions,market segments, customer landscape, and companies- Click for the snapshot of this report Report Attribute Details Base Year 2023 Forecast period 2024-2028 Historic Data for 2018 - 2022 Segments Covered Type (Passenger cars and Commercial vehicles), Mode Of Booking (Online and Offline), and Geography (Europe) Key Companies Covered ALD SA, Allane SE, Arval Service Lease, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Central Contract S.O.T Ltd., Central UK Vehicle Leasing Ltd., Deutsche Leasing AG, ExpatRide International Inc., Groupe BPCE, King and Mayr GmbH and Co. KG, LocautoRent S.p.A., Mercedes Benz Group AG, Millennium Leasing sp zoo, PKO Bank Polski, Porsche Automobil Holding SE, PSA Automobiles SA, Rivervale Cars Ltd., Sofina SA, and Stellantis NV Regions Covered Europe Region Outlook 1. Europe - Europe is estimated to contribute 100%. To the growth of the global market. The Vehicle Leasing Market in Europe report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels from 2017 to 2027. The UK vehicle leasing market is experiencing significant growth due to increased customer awareness and the high demand for passenger cars. This trend is driving the market forward, with car leasing becoming an increasingly popular choice for financing vehicles. The percentage share of car leasing is projected to increase during the forecast period. Additionally, the expansion of the e-commerce sector in the UK is contributing to the market's growth, as more businesses opt for leasing solutions to manage their fleet operations efficiently. For more insights on Europe's significant contribution along with the market share of rest of the regions and countries - Download a FREE Sample Segmentation Overview Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments - Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! 1.1 Fastest growing segment: The European vehicle leasing market is experiencing significant growth due to the cost-effective nature of leasing cars compared to buying them. Factors such as urbanization and increased Internet penetration are driving awareness about car leasing. Leasing offers customers the flexibility to upgrade to new models and purchase the vehicle at lease end. Car manufacturers, like AB Volvo with Care by Volvo, offer subscription-based leasing programs to boost revenue and brand penetration. The demand for SUVs, hatchbacks, and sedans in Europe is fueling growth in the passenger car segment. Customers' preference for convenience, safety, and modern technologies in vehicles is driving the adoption of advanced features and electrification. These trends, coupled with industry advancements, encourage customers to lease cars, leading to market expansion in Europe's passenger car segment during the forecast period. Research Analysis The European vehicle leasing market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the shift towards electric and hybrid electric vehicles. E-commerce platforms are increasingly becoming popular channels for buyers to lease new cars, enabling a seamless and convenient experience. Big data and blockchain technology are transforming the industry by providing insights into customer preferences and streamlining lease contracts. The tourism industry and smart cities are major sectors adopting vehicle leasing for their fleet needs. Automobile leasing companies offer a range of options from commuter cars to buses, recreational vehicles, and utility trailers. Car equipment rental is another growing segment, allowing lessees to customize their vehicles. The residual value of leased vehicles is a key consideration for both sellers and buyers, making the role of a leasing company crucial in determining fair market value. Rapid urbanization and the need for new vehicles continue to fuel the demand for leasing solutions. Market Overview The European vehicle leasing market is experiencing significant growth, driven by various factors including the rise of electric vehicles, e-commerce, and smart cities. Electric cars and hybrid electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular due to awareness among consumers about air pollution and emission norms. The tourism industry and commuters are embracing on-demand mobility solutions, leading to increased demand for lease cars. Big data, IoT technology, machine learning, and blockchain are transforming the industry by providing verified data in real-time, enabling predictive maintenance and efficient transportation systems. Leasing companies offer finance leasing, long-term leasing, and gap insurance to cater to the diverse needs of buyers. The market also includes utility trailers, buses, recreational vehicles, and car equipment rental. Rapid urbanization, busy lifestyles, and population demand have led to the adoption of efficient transportation systems and the reduction of traffic congestion. The used car industry is also benefiting from the growth of the leasing market. Additional fees, carbon emissions, and climate change are becoming important considerations for both sellers and buyers. Leasing companies are focusing on customer service, providing diagnostic services for vehicles, and leveraging technology to enhance the leasing experience. The future of the vehicle leasing market in Europe looks promising, with continued innovation and the integration of technology to meet the evolving needs of consumers. Start exploring market insights by Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Venodr Landscape 11 Vendor 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/vehicle-leasing-market-in-europe-100-growth-driven-by-europe-report-highlights-ais-impact-on-market-trends---technavio-302328863.html SOURCE TechnavioBello added eight assists for the Mastodons (4-2). Corey Hadnot II went 6 of 7 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range) to add 15 points. Jalen Jackson had 13 points and went 6 of 13 from the field. The Dragons (4-3) were led in scoring by Cole Hargrove, who finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. Kobe Magee added 15 points and three steals for Drexel. Shane Blakeney finished with 12 points. Jackson scored nine points in the first half and Purdue Fort Wayne went into halftime trailing 37-35. Bello scored 15 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Austin Ekeler was concussed late in the Commanders' loss and taken to hospital for evaluation

Last Four Years Cyber Policy Retrospective

•Award, which is based on GP recommendations is given to individuals driving investments into the Africa Continent • Kuramo Capital Management recognized for their investment in 2X Ignite Africa, TransCentury PLC and Moremi accelerator Program London, United Kingdom, November 20, 2024 – Adewale Adeosun has been named this year’s Limited Partner Person of the Year, Africa at the Private Equity Africa awards held in London, United Kingdom. Mr. Adeosun is the Founder and CEO of Kuramo Capital Management, an investment management firm driving catalytic private institutional capital to fast-growing African businesses to generate attractive returns and positively impact local communities. While receiving the award in London, which is based on GP recommendations, Mr. Adeosun expressed his delight terming the award as a testament to Kuramo’s commitment to investing in the continent. “I am honored and humbled to have received the LP Person of the year award. It is a testament of all the work we at Kuramo have been doing for the last over 10 years. It is a testament to the team at Kuramo Capital. We have helped catalyze over USD 3.5Billion for the continent and have transformed the private equity ecosystem by supporting first time fund managers and that is the recognition we have received today,” said Mr. Adeosun. Mr. Adeosun has been instrumental in the growth of Kuramo’s investment portfolio since inception. Kuramo has direct and indirect investments in 200 companies in 30 sub-Saharan African countries including Kenya and Nigeria in various sectors including Fast-Moving Consumer Goods, Infrastructure-Power, Agribusiness, Technology, and Financial Services. During the Private Equity Awards, Kuramo Capital Management received a special recognition award, Fund of funds Investor Award, for their investment in 2X Ignite Africa Investment Facility for Warehousing Capital; TransCentury Plc, an investment Holding Company, headquartered in Kenya, with a focus on infrastructure (energy, transport, water and agriculture); and Moremi accelerator Program, an initiative to empower the next generation of African women enterprises and promote gender-equitable fund management. As the pioneering fund-of-funds for sub-Saharan Africa, Kuramo Capital has had a tremendous impact in leading catalytic capital into the sub-Saharan Africa private equity ecosystem. “We started off as a Sub-Sahara private equity shop. We are now Pan African, and we do have a goal to continue investing in other countries that are growing really fast and we are finding great opportunities. We are looking at Southern African countries, North African countries and Central Africa. This is in addition to the work we have been doing in the DR Congo where we invested in Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC), turning it around by empowering Congolese to run the business,” added Mr. Adeosun Since 2017, Kuramo Capital Management has invested over $50million in Plantations et Huileries du Congo, the leading industrial palm oil producer in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while ncatalyzing nearly $200 million investments from other partners, including development finance institutions. PHC’s Director General, Ms. Monique Gieskes lauded Mr. Adeosun following the receipt of the award, calling on the spirit of Pan Africanism in the growth of investments not only in DRC but Africa as a whole. “We are deeply honored to see Mr. Wale Adeosun and Kuramo Capital Management recognized for their strategic commitment to Africa’s economy. Kuramo’s trust and confidence allow us to work in harmony with the local context and fully contribute to the prosperity of the DRC. When Africans come together, as Kuramo has done through investments that empower local initiatives in the DRC and beyond, we collectively build a strong foundation for the continent’s growth and a prosperous future “, said Ms Gieskes. According to Kuramo CEO, Kuramo will continue finding businesses such as PHC across the continent. “We believe the growth opportunities in the continent are immense and it’s our job to find them and support the businesses.” The Private Equity Africa (PEA) Awards celebrate excellence in private equity and venture capital investments across Africa. It aims to recognize outstanding firms, deals, and individuals that contribute to the growth and development of the African economy through impactful investments. “The people that have invested in private equity are in the room. These are the people that have put billions of dollars into the continent yet have done it quietly. They have built roads, they have built infrastructure, they have built consumer companies. They invest in schools, they invest in hospitals and without these investors, Africa would not be where it is today,” said Gail Mwamba, Managing Editor, Private Equity Africa. The awards are evaluated based on performance and success of investments; innovation and strategic approach; economic and social impact; Leadership and governance and return on investment. “For Wale’s personal award, it is the people in the industry that have voted for him to say that he is a cornerstone to the industry and an anchor to Africa,” added Ms. Mwamba. Mr. Adeosun serves on the Boards of several portfolio companies, and he was the Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee of the $280 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund. In 2014, he was appointed to serve on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Doing Business Africa. Prior to founding Kuramo Capital, Wale Adeosun was Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where he managed $1 billion in endowment and pension assets. Prior to RPI, he was a Managing Director in the Investments Group of the MacArthur Foundation in Chicago with oversight of $2 billion in U.S. equities and hedge fund investments. He also currently serves as the Chairman of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF), a foundation based in New York City created by the MacArthur Foundation in 2004 to assist Nigerian Universities in preparing the next generation of global leaders. About Kuramo Capital Management, LLC Kuramo Capital Management is an independent investment management firm founded in 2010, championing private commercial capital into Africa. We provide targeted global investment management services to institutional clients and ultra-high net worth individuals, focused on alternative assets in emerging and frontier markets. In almost 15 years, Kuramo has redefined the landscape of private equity in Africa, with nearly $500 million under management. Kuramo has helped catalyze nearly $3.5 billion to African private equity firms and businesses. We are the leading conduit for private institutional capital into Africa.

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Special counsel moves to abandon election interference and classified documents cases against Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors have moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. In court filings on Monday, the prosecutors cited longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had sought to hold Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president who firmly won election this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to a ceasefire with Hezbollah BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli airstrikes are hitting Lebanon with airstrikes as negotiations progress toward a ceasefire between the country and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants. Lebanon reported that at least 12 people were killed Monday as explosions lit up the sky and airstrikes hit targets in Beirut and Tyre, a southern port city. After about a year of exchanging low-level attacks across the Israel-Lebanon border with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, Israeli troops launched a ground invasion of Lebanon in October. More than 3,700 people have been killed and 1.2 million displaced since. The fighting has amplified worries about direct conflict between Israel and Iran. International mediators are seeking to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to end the fighting. What's blocking a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah? BEIRUT (AP) — Diplomats and other officials say there have been several sticking points in ceasefire talks in the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, even as conditions for an agreement appear to be ripe. Israel’s military has killed nearly all of the militant group’s top leaders. Tens of thousands of Israelis who were evacuated from the border months ago are pressuring their government to go home. And the world wants to stop regional conflict from spreading after more than a year of fighting. But there remain sticking points over how Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the border area will be monitored and whether Israel will have freedom to strike the militants. Thanksgiving Travel Latest: Airport strike, staff shortages and weather could impact holiday travel Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike. Scuffles in Serbian parliament as deadly station collapse sparks anger at the government BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Scuffles and fistfights broke out between ruling party and opposition lawmakers in Serbia’s parliament on Monday over a deadly rail station roof collapse that has ignited tensions in the Balkan state. The opposition wanted to discuss who is responsible for the crash that killed 15 people in the northern city of Novi Sad on Nov. 1. The collapse has fueled widespread anger toward the government and protests, becoming a flashpoint for broader dissatisfaction with Serbia’s authoritarian rule. Judge in LA pushes back decision on resentencing Menendez brothers until late January LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has pushed back to January his decision on whether to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion 35 years ago. The judge said he needed time to review 17 boxes of documents. Still he let the brothers' aunts take the stand. They both testified on their behalf as the brothers seek to have their 1989 convictions reexamined in the shotgun murders of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez. They argued the convictions should be reexamined because of new evidence of sex abuse by the brothers' father. The brothers were sentenced to life without parole. Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to graphic cigarette warning labels WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t hear a challenge to a federal requirement that cigarette packages and advertising include graphic images demonstrating the effects of smoking. The high court declined to hear the case in a brief written order handed down Monday. The warnings include pictures of smoke-damaged lungs and feet blackened by diminished blood flow. Nearly 120 countries around the world have already adopted graphic warning labels. It’s not clear when new labels might appear in the U.S., however. Some legal claims remain and the FDA has said it doesn’t plan to enforce any new requirements until December 2025. Russia reportedly captures a Briton fighting for Ukraine as Russian troops advance Reports say the Russian military has captured a Briton fighting with Ukrainian troops who have occupied part of Russia’s Kursk region. Russia also began launching daylight drone attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine and its ground forces accelerated gains along parts of the front line. Russian state news agency Tass says the captured fighter was in the British army for four years and then joined the International Legion of Ukraine, formed early on in the nearly 3-year-old war. On the battlefield, a think tank says Russian forces recently have gained ground at “a significantly quicker rate” than they did in the whole of last year. Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgender A judge has rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she’s transgender. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player to continue competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship in Las Vegas this week. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players who are suing the Mountain West Conference challenging the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. So you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidays NEW YORK (AP) — There’s no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the presidential election, the upcoming marking of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the holiday season could be a boon for some - a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones, hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives, another chapter in a lifetime of memories.For others, though, that same scenario, particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign, is something to dread, with the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words and raised voices looming large.

Justin Herbert avoiding interceptions at record rate as Chargers target BuccaneersAustin Ekeler was concussed late in the Commanders' loss and taken to hospital for evaluation

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. Declares Fourth Quarter 2024 Cash Dividend of $0.76 per ShareFOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The NFL removed New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers from the commissioner exempt list on Monday, making him eligible to participate in practice and play in the team’s games. Peppers missed seven games since being placed on the list on Oct. 9 after he was arrested and charged with shoving his girlfriend’s head into a wall and choking her. The league said its review is ongoing and is not affected by the change in Peppers’ roster status.

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gba 333 casino real money Gretchen McKay | (TNS) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Beans are kind of like the your best friend from high school — nearly forgotten but always ready to step back into the limelight and help out an old pal when needed. As gorgeously (and tantalizingly) demonstrated in Rancho Gordo’s new cookbook, “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans” (Ten Speed, $35), beans are indeed a magical fruit, though not in the way you heard as a kid. Classified as both a vegetable and a plant-based protein in the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, beans and other legumes can be the ingredient you build an entire vegetarian or veggie-forward meal around. Or, they can help an economical cook stretch a dish twice as far with nutritious calories. A healthful and shelf-staple plant food — they last for years when dried — beans have been among a home cook’s most reliable pantry items for a very long time. (Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are thought to have been grown in Mexico more than 7,000 years ago.) That’s why, for some, they’re often something of an afterthought, especially if the only time you ate them as a kid was when your mom tossed kidney beans into a pot of beef chili or made baked beans (with brown sugar and bacon, please!) for a family cookout. Related Articles Restaurants Food and Drink | 5 budget-friendly Thanksgiving dinner ideas Restaurants Food and Drink | Dine in Gingerbread Chalet at Ritz-Carlton Cleveland for holidays Restaurants Food and Drink | The future of Thanksgiving is takeout and hosts couldn’t be happier Restaurants Food and Drink | A starry Thanksgiving: Recipes beloved by Donna Kelce, Eric Stonestreet, Taylor Swift Restaurants Food and Drink | Pie crust 101: How tos from longtime instructor Vegetarians have always appreciated their versatility and nutritional punch, and because they’re cheap, they also were quite popular during the Great Depression and World War II as C rations. Sales also peaked during the coronavirus pandemic, when shoppers stockpiled long-lasting pantry essentials. It wasn’t until Rancho Gordo, a California-based bean company, trotted out its branded packages of colorful heirloom beans that the plant began to take on cult status among some shoppers. Unlike the bean varieties commonly found in even the smallest grocery stores, heirloom beans are mostly forgotten varieties that were developed on a small scale for certain characteristics, with seeds from the best crops passed down through the generations. The result is beans that are fresher and more colorful than mass-produced beans, and come in different shapes and sizes. They also have a more complex and intense flavor, fans say. “The Bean Book” dishes up dozens of different ways to cook Rancho Gordo’s 50 heirloom bean varieties, which include red-streaked cranberry beans, mint-green flageolets, black and classic garbanzos and (my favorite) vaquero — which wear the same black-and-white spots as a Holstein cow. Other gotta-try varieties (if just for the name) include eye of the goat, European Soldier, Jacob’s Cattle and Good Mother Stallard, a purple bean with cream-colored flecks. “The very good news is that you have to work extra hard to mess up a pot of beans, and it’s not difficult to make an excellent pot,” Steve Sando writes in the book’s foreword. “The even better news is that you become a better cook with each pot you make.” Not convinced? Here are five reasons to jump on the bean bandwagon: Even the smallest grocery store will have a selection of dried and canned beans. Common varieties include black, cannellini (white kidney), Great Northern, pinto, navy, kidney, Lima and garbanzo (chickpea) beans. Even when they’re not on sale, beans are a bargain at the supermarket. Many varieties cost less than $1 a can, and dried beans are an economical way to build a menu. I paid $1.25 for a one-pound bag of cranberry beans, a smooth and velvety bean with a slightly nutty flavor, at my local grocery store. Rancho Gordo’s heirloom beans cost substantially more. (They run $6.25-$7.50 for a one-pound bag, with free shipping on orders over $50.) But they are sold within a year of harvest, which makes them more flavorful and tender. A bag also comes with cooking instructions and recipe suggestions, and the quality is outstanding. Plus, after cooking their beans with aromatics, “you are left with essentially free soup,” Sando writes in the cookbook. “If you drain properly cooked and seasoned beans, the liquid you are left with is delicious.” Beans are a great source of plant-based protein and both soluble and insoluble fiber, and they include essential minerals like iron, magnesium and potassium. If you’re watching your weight or following a particular diet, beans are naturally free of fat, sodium and cholesterol and are rich in complex carbohydrates. They also contain antioxidants and folate. And if you’re vegan or vegetarian, most types of dry beans are rich sources of iron. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating 1-3 cups of legumes, including beans, per week Dry beans have to be soaked overnight, but cooking them is easy. They can be cooked on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, in the pressure cooker and in the oven. Canned beans are even easier — just rinse and drain, and they’re ready to go. Beans can be used in so many different dishes. They can be made into soup, salad or dips, top nachos, add some heft to a casserole or be mashed into the makings of a veggie burger. You also can add them to brownies and other baked goods, toss them with pasta, add them to chili or a rice bowl or stuff them into a taco or burrito. Check out these four recipes: PG tested This light and creamy vegetarian soup benefits from a surprising garnish, roasted shiitake mushrooms, which taste exactly like bacon. For soup 1/4 cup olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 1 medium carrot, scrubbed and chopped 6 garlic cloves, finely grated or pressed 2 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for garnish 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 4 cups vegetable broth 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed For bacon 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, caps cut into 1/8 -inch slices 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt To finish Plant-based milk Chili oil, for drizzling Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make soup: In large pot, heat oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add onion, celery, carrot, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are fragrant and tender, 8-10 minutes. Add vegetable stock and beans, increase heat to high and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened, 12-14 minutes. Meanwhile, make the bacon: Spread shiitake mushrooms into a single layer on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Bake until browned and crispy, 18-20 minutes, rotating pan front to back and tossing mushrooms with a spatula halfway through. Let cool in pan; mushrooms will continue to crisp as they cool. To finish, add some milk to the soup and use an immersion blender to puree it in the pot, or puree in a blender. (Cover lid with a clean kitchen towel.) Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Divide soup among bowls and top with shiitake bacon. Garnish with thyme sprigs and a drizzle of chili oil. Serves 4-6. — “Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking” by Joe Yonan PG tested Velvety cranberry beans simmered with tomato and the punch of red wine vinegar are a perfect match for a soft bed of cheesy polenta. This is a filling, stick-to-your-ribs dish perfect for fall. 1/4 cup olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups canned chopped tomatoes, juice reserved 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth 4 fresh sage leaves Salt and pepper 4 cups cooked Lamon or cranberry beans 2 cups uncooked polenta 6 ounces pancetta, diced Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving In large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and red wine vinegar. In a small bowl, dissolve tomato paste in the broth and add to pan. Stir in sage and season with salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened, 15-20 minutes. Add beans to tomato sauce. Cook, stirring frequently, until heated through, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare polenta according to package instructions. Place pancetta in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the pancetta is brown and crisp, about 15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pancetta to a paper towel to drain. To serve, spoon polenta into serving dishes. Ladle the beans over the polenta and top with the pancetta. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with grated Parmesan. Serves 6. — “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans” by Steve Sando PG tested Beans and seafood might seen like an unusual pairing, but in this recipe, mild white beans take on a lot of flavor from clams. Spanish chorizo adds a nice contrast. 4 cups cooked white beans, bean broth reserved 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 white onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1/2 cup finely chopped Spanish-style cured chorizo 2 plum tomatoes, chopped 1/2 cup dry white wine 2 pounds small clams, scrubbed well Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish Country-style bread and butter, for serving In large pot, heat beans in their broth over medium-low heat. In large lidded saucepan, warm olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onion, garlic and salt and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add chorizo and cook gently until some of the fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and wine and cook to allow the flavors to mingle, 5-6 minutes. Increase heat to medium and add clams. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally. Uncover the pan and cook until all of the clams open, another few minutes. Remove pan from heat, then remove and discard any clams that failed to open. Add clam mixture to the bean pot and stir very gently until well mixed. Simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to mingle but not get mushy. Ladle into large, shallow bowls and sprinkle with parsley. Set out a large bowl for discarded shells and encourage guests to eat with their fingers. Pass plenty of good bread and creamy butter at the table Serves 4-6. — “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans, from the Rancho Gordo Kitchen” by Steve Sando with Julia Newberry PG tested So easy to pull together for your next party! 1 1/2 cups cooked cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Juice and zest of 1 lemon 1 small garlic clove, minced Generous pinch of salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 or 3 tablespoons water, if needed 2 fresh basil leaves, chopped, optional 1 sprig fresh rosemary, leaves chopped, optional In a food processor, pulse cannellini beans, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, salt and several grinds of pepper until combined. If it’s too thick, slowly add the water with the food processor running until it is smooth and creamy. Blend in the basil and/or rosemary, if using Serve with veggies, pita or bruschetta. Makes 1 1/2 cups — Gretchen McKay, Post-Gazette ©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Stark Differences Between Pacers Offense This Season And LastFLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Inter Milan beat Como 2-0 to cement third place in Serie A and close the gap on top two Atalanta and Napoli on Monday. Carlos Augusto got the opener when he headed home a corner kick in the 48th minute. Marcus Thuram scored the second in stoppage time with a potent strike into the roof of the net. It was the first time these teams have played each other in the top division since 2003 and although Inter had lost only one league game all season it struggled to impose itself on 15th-placed Como. However, it won without exerting itself and the three points were enough to take Simone Inzaghi’s men within three points of leader Atalanta and within one of Napoli. Inter has a game in hand over both clubs. Fiorentina missed a chance to go fourth when it lost at home to Udinese 2-1. The Florence club won a record eight consecutive Serie A games before losing to Bologna 1-0 on Dec. 15, and it looked to be back on track when Moises Kean converted a penalty after eight minutes to become the first Fiorentina player to reach double figures in the league since Federico Chiesa in the 2019-20 season. However, Udinese was a different prospect after the break. Lorenzo Lucca equalized with the aid of sloppy defending four minutes into the second half and then Florian Thauvin found space on the edge of the box to curl in the second eight minutes later. The result left Udinese in ninth place and Fiorentina in fifth. The match was a special one for Edoardo Bove, the Fiorentina player whose collapse with a heart issue led to the suspension of its game with Inter Milan on Dec. 1. Bove was fitted with a defibrillator implant soon after and sat on the Fiorentina bench for the first time since his collapse. He is not allowed to play but his position on the sideline alongside coach Raffaele Palladino was seen as a step towards normality for the 22-year-old midfielder. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerGifted and ignored: The smart kids who can't afford to succeed

Cell-based immunotherapy shows promise in early clinical trial for breast cancerA child was tasered, and four police officers were injured after a wild vehicle pursuit from Sydney's west to Wollongong. or signup to continue reading Four teenagers, two aged 14 and two aged 13, are accused of leading police on a chase in a stolen Audi overnight on Sunday, November 24. Officers first spotted the Audi in Granville about 9.30pm, and when they put on their warning lights, the car allegedly sped away and a pursuit was initiated. "Police will allege the car continued onto the Hume Highway and Henry Lawson Drive, Georges Hall before the pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns," a NSW Police spokeswoman said. "POLAir assisted in monitoring the car before road spikes were deployed on the Princes Motorway, Mount Ousley." With a deflated tyre, the car allegedly left the M1 Princes Motorway and turned onto Mount Pleasant Road in Mount Pleasant. The vehicle eventually stopped on Hopewood Crescent, Fairy Meadow. "A 14-year-old male driver and 14-year-old male passenger allegedly fled on foot down Hopewood Crescent, before being arrested nearby on Garratt Avenue, Fairy Meadow, about 10.10pm," police said. Officers tasered one of the teenage boys who allegedly resisted arrest. "The other two male passengers, both aged 13, locked themselves in the vehicle," the police spokeswoman said. "Police forced entry into the car before arresting the two males." Officers seized hammers and knives from the vehicle, which they allege were stolen. The teens were taken to Wollongong Police Station, where the 14-year-old driver was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously; drive conveyance taken without consent of owner; and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. The other three males were charged with being carried in conveyance and resisting arrest. Four police officers sustained minor injuries during the arrest and did not require hospitalisation. Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement

Several times following New England’s 24-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said he wanted to review the game film before making a final assessment of his team’s performance. He did, and on Monday he said the overarching feeling he was left with was one of pride. Going toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the NFL is commendable. Mayo also remains confident this group has even more room for growth over its final two games this season. “To be frank, I don’t believe in good losses,” Mayo said. “I think there’s a lot to learn from the game. Look, we’re headed in the right direction, but it’s all about consistency, and we have to do that on a down-after-down, a game-after-game basis to be successful in this league.” What is also clear is that despite their 3-12 record, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye wants people to know that he and his teammates believe in their coach. No matter what conversations might be going on outside the Patriots locker room regarding shortcomings by the coaching staff, or Mayo’s job status. “We’ve got his back, and he’s coached us hard. He wants to win. We all want to win. We’re all frustrated,” Maye said. “We’re just plays away, and it’s basically me turning the ball over. I think it’s just a testament to these guys that keep fighting. We keep fighting. Shoot, we’re not going to make the playoffs; we’re out of the race, and these guys are coming in, frustrated when we don’t score. ... So, I think we’re building something good, building something that feels right here, and I’m proud to be a Patriot.” What’s working The Patriots entered the week scoring only 7.5 points per game in the first half this season, which ranked 29th in the NFL. The offense woke up with 14 points in the first half on Sunday, notching multiple offensive touchdowns in the first half for the first time in 2024. New England Patriots safety Marte Mapu (15) intercepts a pass against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y.. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar What needs help Stopping the run has been an issue for New England’s defense for most of the season and it was on display against the Bills. With Buffalo trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, running back James Cook sliced through the interior of the Patriots defense and broke free for a 46-yard TD run. It was a big chunk of Buffalo’s 172 yards on the ground for the game. Stock up CB Jonathan Jones. He was tasked with being the primary defender on Buffalo’s top receiver Khalil Shakir for most of the game. The veteran held his own, helping limit the Bills’ leader in catches and receiving yards to only two catches for 22 yards on six targets. Jones also forced a fumble by Shakir in the fourth quarter, though Shakir was able to recover it. Stock down Marte Mapu. The linebacker started at safety with Jabrill Peppers sidelined with a hamstring injury. Mapu was strong for most of the game and had a chance to set up the Patriots offense in the second quarter when he snagged his second career interception, picking off Josh Allen’s pass in the end zone. But Mapu decided to run the ball out of the end zone and was tackled on the New England 1-yard line. The poor starting field position eventually led to a punt and the Patriots couldn’t add to their 14-7 lead. Injuries The Patriots didn’t announce any injuries during the game. But along with Peppers, cornerback Marcus Jones also sat out with a hip injury. Key number 2-6 — The Patriots’ record in one-score games this season. Four of those have been by three or fewer points. Next steps The Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.Inter beats Como and closes gap at the top of Serie A while Bove back on Fiorentina sideline

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 3:59 p.m. ESTNoneJaylen Brown leads Celtics over Timberwolves