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Tests keep coming for Auburn and Duke, who collide at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a typical prove-it game in a rare environment on Wednesday night. No. 2 Auburn and No. 9 Duke square off less than one month into the season as two of the most battle-tested teams in basketball. They're matched as one of the marquee games in the crossover showcase known as the ACC-SEC Challenge. Auburn (7-0) jumped two spots in the latest Top 25 poll propelled by its Maui Invitational championship. In one of Feast Week's toughest brackets, the Tigers rallied from 18 points down to beat then-No. 4 Iowa State, handled then-No. 12 North Carolina 85-72 and rolled past Memphis 90-76 in the title game. With a week off to shed any remnants of jet lag returning from the islands, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl is pointing to another potential resume-building win. "The confidence that we're going to get from (Maui) is that we know we can play with anybody," Pearl said. "I promise you this, we'll stay humble and hungry. We will not begin to think too much of ourselves." Helping lead Auburn in Maui was fifth-year power forward Johni Broome. The tournament's MVP, Broome averaged 21.7 points, 15 rebounds, 4.3 assists and three blocks in the three-game sweep. Spearheading a veteran Tigers roster, Broome couldn't care less about individual honors. "I wanted to come to a place where the foundation was already built, and that's why I came to Auburn," Broome said. "Winning player of the year doesn't matter to me. I care about winning games, and making sure I can help my team in any way." Broome's 20.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game lead the Tigers, while Chad Baker-Mazara adds 12.6 ppg and Denver Jones chips in 11.1. Auburn's next roadblock is earning its first-ever win against Duke. The Tigers are 0-3 all-time against the Blue Devils, including a six-point loss in the 2018 Maui Invitational. Duke (5-2) has already been through three games against ranked opponents. The Blue Devils had a 77-72 loss against then-No. 19 Kentucky, a 14-point win at then-No. 17 Arizona and a 75-72 defeat against No. 1 Kansas last week in Las Vegas. "Best team we've played so far," Pearl said of Duke. Bouncing back on Friday, the Blue Devils took down Seattle 70-48, holding the Redhawks to just 10 made field goals on 47 attempts (21.3 percent). Despite the suffocating defensive effort, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer knows his team has a long way to go. "I wasn't really happy with much tonight, to be honest," Scheyer said on Friday. "I thought we rushed some shots, had too many turnovers. We need to finish stronger, drive stronger, make extra passes, there were a whole bunch of things. ... We just need to get back to practice. In fairness to our guys, we've been traveling a lot and we just need practice time." Pacing the Blue Devils in scoring is five-star freshman Cooper Flagg. He's averaging 15.9 points per game to go along with 8.3 rebounds. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel adds 13.4 points per contest. Far less seasoned raw freshman, big man Khaman Maluach has given Duke's interior defense an edge it was lacking last season. A projected lottery pick who can be overshadowed by the Flagg publicity train, Maluach (7-2, 248) is averaging 8.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and has two three-block games. In last year's inaugural ACC-SEC Challenge, Duke lost at Arkansas 80-75 and Auburn topped Virginia Tech 74-57. --Field Level MediaBEIJING, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 17 Education & Technology Group Inc. (NASDAQ: YQ) ("17EdTech” or the "Company”), a leading education technology company in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2024. Third Quarter 2024 Highlights 1 Mr. Andy Liu, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company commented, "In the third quarter of 2024, we have continued our business progress and have seen consistent growth in school subscribing to our teaching and learning SaaS offerings under subscription model. This is a strong testimony in the value of our offerings and creates a clear growth path into the future.” "We continue to evolve our teaching and learning SaaS solutions and expand customer base to improve efficiency through digital means, ensuring high-quality development and fostering growth in the school-based procurement,” he added. Mr. Michael Du, Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Company commented, "During the quarter, our teaching and learning SaaS business saw revenue growth compared to the same quarter last year. As we enhance operating efficiency, net loss on a GAAP basis continued to narrow for the past three consecutive quarters. As our SaaS billing model is maturing, we achieved significant progress with a remarkable growth rate that outpaces the overall revenue growth.” Third Quarter 2024 Unaudited Financial Results Net Revenues Net revenues for the third quarter of 2024 were RMB59.6 million (US$8.5 million), representing a year-over-year increase of 32.2% from RMB 45.1 million in the third quarter of 2023. This was mainly due to the increased number of teaching and learning SaaS contracts and the recurring revenue generated from on-going projects. Cost of Revenues Cost of revenues for the third quarter of 2024 was RMB23.3 million (US$3.3 million), representing a year-over-year increase of 12.5% from RMB20.7 million in the third quarter of 2023, which was mainly due to the increase in project deliveries for our teaching and learning SaaS offerings during the quarter. Gross Profit and Gross Margin Gross profit for the third quarter of 2024 was RMB36.3 million (US$5.2 million), compared with RMB24.4 million in the third quarter of 2023. Gross margin for the third quarter of 2024 was 60.9%, compared with 54.1% in the third quarter of 2023. Total Operating Expenses The following table sets forth a breakdown of operating expenses by amounts and percentages of revenue during the periods indicated (in thousands, except for percentages): Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2024 were RMB58.0 million (US$8.3 million), including RMB11.7 million (US$1.7 million) of share-based compensation expenses, representing a year-over-year decrease of 43.7% from RMB103.1 million in the third quarter of 2023. Sales and marketing expenses for the third quarter of 2024 were RMB20.2 million (US$2.9 million), including RMB1.9 million (US$0.3 million) of share-based compensation expenses, representing a year-over-year decrease of 27.6% from RMB27.9 million in the third quarter of 2023. This was mainly due to the decrease in the share-based compensation and efficiency improvements in marketing and sales work force and expenses compared with the same period last year. Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2024 were RMB12.8 million (US$1.8 million), including RMB3.5 million (US$0.5 million) of share-based compensation expenses, representing a year-over-year decrease of 72.2% from RMB45.9 million in the third quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the share-based compensation and efficiency improvements in our research and development work force and expenses. General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2024 were RMB25.0 million (US$3.6 million), including RMB6.4 million (US$0.9 million) of share-based compensation expenses, compared with RMB29.2 million in the third quarter of 2023. This was mainly due to the decrease in the office and professional service fees compared with the same period last year. Loss from Operations Loss from operations for the third quarter of 2024 was RMB21.6 million (US$3.1 million), compared with RMB78.7 million in the third quarter of 2023. Loss from operations as a percentage of net revenues for the third quarter of 2024 was negative 36.3%, compared with negative 174.4% in the third quarter of 2023. Net Loss Net loss for the third quarter of 2024 was RMB17.4 million (US$2.5 million), compared with net loss of RMB72.9 million in the third quarter of 2023. Net loss as a percentage of net revenues was negative 29.2% in the third quarter of 2024, compared with negative 161.6% in the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted Net Loss (non-GAAP) Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) for the third quarter of 2024 was RMB5.7 million (US$0.8 million), compared with adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) of RMB53.7 million in the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) as a percentage of net revenues was negative 9.5% in the third quarter of 2024, compared with negative 119.1% of adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) as a percentage of net revenues in the third quarter of 2023. Please refer to the table captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures” at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of net loss under U.S. GAAP to adjusted net loss (non-GAAP). Cash and Cash Equivalents and Term Deposit Cash and cash equivalents and term deposit were RMB339.7 million (US$48.4 million) as of September 30, 2024, compared with RMB476.7 million as of December 31, 2023. Conference Call Information The Company will hold a conference call on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time (Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Beijing time) to discuss the financial results for the third quarter of 2024. Please note that all participants will need to preregister for the conference call participation by navigating to https://register.vevent.com/register/BIcb0cb8cc902d426b9cbd52d075f15685 . Upon registration, you will receive an email containing participant dial-in numbers, and PIN number. To join the conference call, please dial the number you receive, enter the PIN number, and you will be joined to the conference call instantly. Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at https://ir.17zuoye.com/ . Non-GAAP Financial Measures 17EdTech's management uses adjusted net income (loss) as a non-GAAP financial measure to gain an understanding of 17EdTech's comparative operating performance and future prospects. Adjusted net income (loss) represents net loss excluding share-based compensation expenses and such adjustment has no impact on income tax. Adjusted net income (loss) is used by 17EdTech's management in their financial and operating decision-making as a non-GAAP financial measure; because management believes it reflects 17EdTech's ongoing business and operating performance in a manner that allows meaningful period-to-period comparisons. 17EdTech's management believes that such non-GAAP measure provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating 17EdTech's operating performance in the same manner as management does, if they so choose. Specifically, 17EdTech believes the non-GAAP measure provides useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain charges that the Company believes are not indicative of its core operating results. The non-GAAP financial measure has limitations. It does not include all items of income and expense that affect 17EdTech's income from operations. Specifically, the non-GAAP financial measure is not prepared in accordance with GAAP, may not be comparable to non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and, with respect to the non-GAAP financial measure that excludes certain items under GAAP, does not reflect any benefit that such items may confer to 17EdTech. Management compensates for these limitations by also considering 17EdTech's financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered superior to, in isolation from or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with US GAAP. Exchange Rate Information The Company's business is primarily conducted in China and all of the revenues are denominated in Renminbi ("RMB”). However, periodic reports made to shareholders will include current period amounts translated into U.S. dollars ("USD” or "US$”) using the exchange rate as of balance sheet date, for the convenience of the readers. Translations of balances in the consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, change in shareholders' deficit and cash flows from RMB into USD as of and for the three months ended September 30, 2024 are solely for the convenience of the readers and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00=RMB7.0176 representing the noon buying rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board on September 30, 2024. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on September 30, 2024, or at any other rate. About 17 Education & Technology Group Inc. 17 Education & Technology Group Inc. is a leading education technology company in China, offering smart in-school classroom solution that delivers data-driven teaching, learning and assessment products to teachers, students and parents. Leveraging its extensive knowledge and expertise obtained from in-school business over the past decade, the Company provides teaching and learning SaaS offerings to facilitate the digital transformation and upgrade at Chinese schools, with a focus on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of core teaching and learning scenarios such as homework assignments and in-class teaching. The product utilizes the Company's technology and data insights to provide personalized and targeted learning and exercise content that is aimed at improving students' learning efficiency. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will,” "expects,” "anticipates,” "future,” "intends,” "plans,” "believes,” "estimates” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about 17EdTech's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. 17EdTech may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: 17EdTech's growth strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to attract and retain users; its ability to carry out its business and organization transformation, its ability to implement and grow its new business initiatives; the trends in, and size of, China's online education market; competition in and relevant government policies and regulations relating to China's online education market; its expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; its expectations regarding its relationships with business partners; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in 17EdTech's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and 17EdTech does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: 17 Education & Technology Group Inc. Ms. Lara Zhao Investor Relations Manager E-mail: [email protected] December 31, December 31,

HOD HASHARON, Israel , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Valens Semiconductor (NYSE: VLN ), a leader in high-performance connectivity, announced today that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has approved a "distribution", as defined in the Israeli Companies Law, 1999 (the "Companies Law"), by way of a share repurchase program, pursuant to which the Company may repurchase (buyback) an aggregate amount of up to $10 million of the Company's ordinary shares (the "Distribution"), subject to the completion of required Israeli regulatory procedures. According to Section 7C.(C) of the Companies Regulations (Relief for Companies Whose Securities Are Listed for Trading on Foreign Stock Exchanges) 2000, the Company's creditors may apply to the Company and object to the Distribution, within 30 days following its publication. Following, and subject to, completion of the required Israeli regulatory procedures, share repurchases under the program will be made from time to time in open market purchases, private transactions or other transactions as permitted by securities laws and other legal requirements, including Rule 10b5-1 and Rule 10b -18, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The timing and amounts of any purchases will be based on market conditions and other factors including but not limited to price and capital availability. The program does not require the purchase of any minimum dollar amount or number of shares and the program may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time. This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. About Valens Semiconductor Valens Semiconductor (NYSE: VLN ) is a leader in high-performance connectivity, enabling customers to transform the digital experiences of people worldwide. Valens' chipsets are integrated into countless devices from leading customers, powering state-of-the-art audio-video installations, next-generation videoconferencing, and enabling the evolution of ADAS and autonomous driving. Pushing the boundaries of connectivity, Valens sets the standard everywhere it operates, and its technology forms the basis for the leading industry standards such as HDBaseT® and MIPI A-PHY. For more information, visit https://www.valens.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our share repurchase program. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Valens Semiconductor's ("Valens") management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Valens Semiconductor. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the cyclicality of the semiconductor industry; the effect of inflation and a rising interest rate environment on our customers and industry; the ability of our customers to absorb inventory; competition in the semiconductor industry, and the failure to introduce new technologies and products in a timely manner to compete successfully against competitors; if Valens fails to adjust its supply chain volume due to changing market conditions or fails to estimate its customers' demand; disruptions in relationships with any one of Valens' key customers; any difficulty selling Valens' products if customers do not design its products into their product offerings; Valens' dependence on winning selection processes; even if Valens succeeds in winning selection processes for its products, Valens may not generate timely or sufficient net sales or margins from those wins; sustained yield problems or other delays or quality events in the manufacturing process of products; our ability to effectively manage, invest in, grow, and retain our sales force, research and development capabilities, marketing team and other key personnel; our ability to timely adjust product prices to customers following price increase by the supply chain; our ability to adjust our inventory level due to reduction in demand due to inventory buffers accrued by customers; our expectations regarding the outcome of any future litigation in which we are named as a party; our ability to adequately protect and defend our intellectual property and other proprietary rights; our ability to successfully integrate or otherwise achieve anticipated benefits from acquired businesses; the market price and trading volume of the Valens ordinary shares may be volatile and could decline significantly; political, economic, governmental and tax consequences associated with our incorporation and location in Israel ; and those factors discussed in Valens' Form 20-F filed with the SEC on February 28, 2024 under the heading "Risk Factors," and other documents of Valens filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Valens does not presently know or that Valens currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Valens' expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Valens anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause Valens' assessments to change. However, while Valens may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Valens specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Valens' assessment as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2309625/4474760/Valens_Semiconductor_Logo.jpg Investor Contacts: Michal Ben Ari Investor Relations Manager Valens Semiconductor Ltd. [email protected] Lisa Fortuna Senior Vice President Financial Profiles, Inc. [email protected] SOURCE Valens SemiconductorAlbanese must lead like Labor heroes Evatt and Hawke on antisemitism

Network Digital Office Systems Inc. Earns Prestigious Spot as a 2024 ENX Magazine Elite DealerWhat Black Friday's history tells us about holiday shopping in 2024

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose in afternoon trading on Wall Street Friday, keeping the market on track for its fifth gain in a row. The S&P 500 was up 0.4% and is solidly on track for a weekly gain that will erase most of last week's loss. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 351 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2% as of 1:03 p.m. Eastern. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump's victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 10.6% after handily beating analysts' third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 3.1% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 3.4% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.7%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 were gaining ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 4.1%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.4% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. European markets were mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, Bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts' expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It's still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers' inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank's meeting in December.

Firmable Hits 1500 Users, Gaining Momentum in the Australian MarketTests keep coming for Auburn and Duke, who collide at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a typical prove-it game in a rare environment on Wednesday night. No. 2 Auburn and No. 9 Duke square off less than one month into the season as two of the most battle-tested teams in basketball. They're matched as one of the marquee games in the crossover showcase known as the ACC-SEC Challenge. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Clubs Casino compiled a ranking of the 10 biggest tournament cash prizes in poker history (adjusted for inflation) using data from The Hendon Mob. Click for more. The 10 biggest tournament cash prizes recorded in poker history

fortune ox m pg nmga com (The Center Square) – National Governors Association (NGA) Chair and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colorado, joined Governors Joe Lombardo, R-Nev., Spencer Cox, R-Utah, and Mark Gordon, R-Wyo., alongside education experts to support an NGA initiative this week, according to a press release from the organization. The initiative is called Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success . It aims to improve public education in the following areas, according to the initiative’s website: early literacy, numeracy, and high-quality curriculum; after-school, summer, and expanded learning; work-based learning and apprenticeships; dual and concurrent enrollment; skills-based learning and non-degree credentials; technology and artificial intelligence in the classroom; educator development and support; and data systems and roles of state agencies. “Launched in July 2024, Let’s Get Ready is a yearlong initiative designed to support the nation’s Governors drive innovative education policies,” the release said. “Let’s Get Ready aims to help Governors form policies that better evaluate outcomes for state investments in education and improve outcomes for learners at all stages of their education journey. The initiative also focuses on the ways states can meet the future needs of the workforce by preparing students for success in and outside of the classroom. Last month, Governor Polis held the first Let’s Get Ready convening in Denver.” On Wednesday, Polis and Lombardo plan to tour Southeast Career Technical Academy where they will “highlight the innovative work the school is leading to empower students with the tools needed to succeed with professional career paths,” the release said. Southeast Career Technical Academy is the first career and technical education high school in Las Vegas. More from this section “I started the Let’s Get Ready initiative because I’m committed to advancing the American principle that all students should have access to education that prepares them for success in life,” Polis said in the release. “We know that education is the key to prosperity and success for individuals, our communities, and our economy. That’s why we’re encouraged that Governors from both sides of the aisles are working with our country’s top education experts to find innovative solutions to improve education policies and outcomes. We can ensure all learners have access to quality education by implementing policies that look to the current and future needs of students and our workforce.” Lombardo said the academy meshes well with his educational goals as governor. “Better preparing students for college and career paths is one of my top priorities,” Lombardo said in the release. “Nevada is taking action on a variety of fronts – expanding early childhood education, hiring more teachers, increasing per-pupil funding, supporting innovative charter schools, and increasing accountability to ensure schools deliver results for students. Establishing better education to workforce pathways takes coordination with teachers, students, and business leaders. I appreciate the opportunity to host Governors and education leaders in Nevada to spur a national conversation on education.” The Las Vegas-based event will feature panel discussions with education experts on both sides of the political aisle. Some education experts participating include : David Coleman, CEO of College Board; Dr. Shanika Hope, Education for Social Impact Director at Google; Dr. Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy; and Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, the release said. Additional information about the Let’s Get Ready initiative and upcoming bipartisan events are available on the NGA website .A nine-year-old child who was the subject of an Amber Alert on Wednesday afternoon was found safe and sound. Sûreté du Québec (SQ) posted the update to social media about 40 minutes after the alert was issued. The child was missing from Marieville, in the Montérégie region about 30 kilometres southeast of Montreal, and was found in Montreal. The SQ says the investigation continues and thanks the public for their cooperation. They did not provide further details.

Walmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victorySubscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris reopened on Saturday, December 7, for the first time since flames consumed part of the structure’s roof and its spire in April 2019. World leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron, Catholic clergymen, and donors to the €700 million (~$739.2 million) restoration project attended a 2,000-guest reopening ceremony inside the cathedral led by Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich. During the Saturday evening service, clergymen ceremoniously banged on the doors of the cathedral and attendees responded with a psalm recitation before an awakening of the 8,000-pipe organ that was removed and restored following the fire. Conservators and other workers restored Notre Dame’s hallmark Gothic stained-glass windows and largely focused on repairing the damaged roof, where the fire broke out. Reports about the restored cathedral characterized it as appearing “lighter” and more colorful due to the removal of smoke damage and dust , which also cleared build-up from centuries of use. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities For the opening weekend, celebrity fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac — the designer behind Lady Gaga’s iconic 2009 outfit made entirely out of Kermit the Frog stuffed animals — was tasked with outfitting 700 clergymen, deciding upon a white robe featuring a shiny gold cross with pops of green, yellow, blue, and red. In 1991, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the Notre Dame Cathedral as a World Heritage site because of its influential Gothic architecture and links to French history contained in its “eight centuries of technical or artistic innovations.” Significant French historical events have unfolded inside, including Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation as emperor in 1804 by Pope Pius VII. In the wake of the 2019 fire, some 340,000 donors offered up around €900 million (~$950.3 million) towards the restoration of the 12th-century church, Le Monde reported. Around 45,000 of those donors were American, according to the New York Times . To date, the cause of the fire has not been identified, but the lead prosecutor in the investigation believed it to be accidental . During his remarks for the opening ceremony, Macron noted that 2,000 oak beams were restored in the church and the new spire was recreated in an identical fashion to the one felled in the blaze. Firefighters prevented 16 bells from toppling during the fire, Macron said. The president expressed gratitude for donors’ support and commended the “unprecedented fraternity” around the world in 2019 in response to the news of the burning Catholic cathedral. He also praised the approximately 2,000 workers who contributed to the repair of the church, including woodworkers, stonemasons, electricians, lumberjacks, locksmiths, polishers, sculptors, archaeologists, conservators, and art historians. This weekend’s opulent reception marked the delivery of Macron’s five-year restoration promise in a moment of fleeting unity for a faltering French government. Last week, the French government under Macron-appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier fell in a no-confidence vote, the first such ousting since 1962. Meanwhile, Macron’s approval ratings have fallen to all-time lows. Ahead of the ceremony, Zelensky, United States President-elect Donald Trump, and Macron stood for a photo op and engaged in a private meeting, purportedly to discuss the war in Ukraine. On Sunday, December 8, the church opened to the public in a mass requiring a reservation that was attended by 2,500 people. An octave — or eight days of celebration, according to Christian custom — will take place through December 15, including a special ceremony for merchants and locals, after which the cathedral will open to the public for 12 hours a day. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn Facebook

-- Reduces total emissions by approximately 14 percent since base year -- -- Decreases water withdrawal by approximately 17 percent since base year -- -- Achieves lost-time injury rate of 0.28, representing an approximate 32 percent reduction from prior year -- MORRISVILLE, N.C. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pyxus International, Inc. (OTC Pink: PYYX), a global value-added agricultural company, today published its Fiscal Year 2024 Sustainability Report detailing the measurable impacts of the Company's sustainability initiatives as it progresses toward achieving its global targets. "Fiscal year 2024 was an exceptional year for Pyxus and this report highlights the positive impacts of our environmental and social initiatives, including collaboration with our contracted growers to reduce scope 3 emissions, improvement of our employee health and safety practices, and providing support to those in need," said Pyxus President and CEO Pieter Sikkel . "We remain committed to viewing all aspects of our business through a sustainable lens, helping us progress against our targets while delivering value to our stakeholders, the environment and the communities in which we operate." Notable fiscal year 2024 sustainability achievements include: Minimal Environmental Impact Support for People and Communities Ethical and Responsible Business In preparation of this year's report, Pyxus externally verified 11 global key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with its targets, up from three KPIs in the prior year. The report was prepared with reference to Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and discloses the Company's sustainability performance from April 1, 2023 , to March 31, 2024 . About Pyxus International, Inc. Pyxus International, Inc. is a global agricultural company with more than 150 years of experience delivering value-added products and services to businesses and customers. Driven by a united purpose—to transform people's lives, so that together we can grow a better world—Pyxus International, its subsidiaries and affiliates, are trusted providers of responsibly sourced, independently verified, sustainable, and traceable products and ingredients. For more information, visit www.pyxus.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pyxus-releases-fiscal-year-2024-sustainability-report-302329534.html SOURCE Pyxus International, Inc.Google-parent Alphabet hits record high after Trump taps Andrew Ferguson as FTC chair

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Two New Hampshire fathers who were barred from school district events for wearing pink wristbands marked “XX” to represent female chromosomes insisted at a federal court hearing Thursday that they didn't set out to harass or otherwise target a transgender soccer player at the game they attended. But a judge hearing the case suggested the message the parents sent may matter more than their intentions. Kyle Fellers and Anthony Foote after being banned from school grounds for wearing the wristbands at their daughters' soccer game in September. The no-trespass orders have since expired, but a judge is deciding whether the plaintiffs should be allowed to wear the wristbands and carry signs at upcoming school events, including basketball games, swim meets and a music concert, while the case proceeds. Testifying at Thursday's hearing, both men said that they did not view the wristbands as a protest against Parker Tirrell, a transgender girl on the opposing team, but rather as a show of support for their daughters and their teammates. U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe questioned whether there is a meaningful distinction and whether their intentions matter. “Sometimes the message you think you’re sending might not be the message that is being sent,” he said. McAuliffe asked Foote whether it occurred to him that a transgender person might interpret the pink XX wristbands as an attempt to invalidate their existence. “If he’s a trans female, pink might be a color he likes,” Foote said. McAuliffe also noted that while both plaintiffs said they had no problem with transgender people outside the issue of sports, they repeatedly referred to the athlete in question as a boy. “You seem to go out of your way to suggest there’s no such thing as a trans girl,” McAuliffe said. Foote disagreed, saying it was “like learning a new language” to refer to transgender people. In a separate courtroom earlier Thursday, another judge held a hearing on a lawsuit brought by Parker Tirrell and another student challenging the state law that in grades 5 to 12 from teams that align with their gender identity. It requires schools to designate all teams as either girls, boys or coed, with eligibility determined based on students’ birth certificates “or other evidence.” U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya McCafferty that the teens can try out for and play on girls school sports teams. The order only applies to those two individuals for now as they seek to overturn the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act on behalf of all transgender girl students in New Hampshire. Lawyers for the teens said in court Thursday they hoped the matter could go to trial and be resolved before the start of the next school year in September. They said the teens’ school districts and others in the state have asked for guidance regarding the statute. Lawyers for the state said they needed more time to prepare. Judge Talesha Saint-Marc suggested the timing of the trial was ambitious and asked that both sides talk further about scheduling. Gov. Chris Sununu, who signed the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act into law in July, has said it “ensures fairness and safety in women’s sports by maintaining integrity and competitive balance in athletic competitions.” About half of states have adopted In the Bow case, school district officials have said they acted appropriately in sanctioning the parents for conduct they knew violated school policy at athletic events. They'll explain their evidence on Friday. On Thursday, the plaintiff's lawyer, Endel Kolde, accused the district of “breathtaking” overreach by asserting that the wristbands target transgender students in general, regardless of whether such students were present at the events. “This is viewpoint discrimination, and it’s very clear they’re proud of it,” Kolde said. Kolde initially conceded that a school district can limit speech “to some degree” to protect children from harassment, but he stopped short of agreeing with the judge’s claim that yelling “transgender students out” at a particular player would be subject to such regulation. “It might be,” he said. “I’m trying to get you to concede the obvious,” McAuliffe said. “It’s less than obvious to me,” Kolde said. Feller, the first witness in the case involving the wristbands, said he purchased them thinking his daughter and her teammates would wear them, but ended up wearing one himself after they declined. After being told to leave the game, he stood in the parking lot with a sign that said “Protect women’s sports for female athletes.” “I wanted to support women’s sports and I believed what was going on was a travesty,” he said. Kathy Mccormack And Holly Ramer, The Associated PressStock market today: Wall Street gets back to climbing, and the Nasdaq tops 20,000

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York businessman to become a celebrity, a reality television star and eventually the president. Now he will get to revel in one of the most visible symbols of success in the city when he rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday as he's also named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Trump is expected to be on Wall Street to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. He will also be announced Thursday as Time's 2024 Person of the Year , according to a person familiar with the selection. The people who confirmed the stock exchange appearance and Time award were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who at times has treated the stock market as a measure of public approval and has long-prized signifiers of his success in New York's business world and his appearances on the covers of magazines — especially Time. Trump was named the magazine's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He had already been listed as a finalist for this year's award alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales. Time declined to confirm the selection ahead of Thursday morning's announcement. “Time does not comment on its annual choice for Person of the Year prior to publication,” a spokesperson for the magazine said Wednesday. The ringing of the bell is a powerful symbol of U.S. capitalism — and a good New York photo opportunity at that. Despite his decades as a New York businessman, Trump has never done it before. It was unclear whether Trump, a Republican, would meet with New York's embattled mayor, Democrat Eric Adams , who has warmed to Trump and has not ruled out changing his political party. Adams has been charged with federal corruption crimes and accused of selling influence to foreign nationals; he has denied wrongdoing. Trump himself was once a symbol of New York, but he gave up living full-time in his namesake Trump Tower in Manhattan and moved to Florida after leaving the White House. CNN first reported Wednesday Trump’s visit to the stock exchange and Politico reported that Trump was expected to be unveiled as Time's Person of the Year. The stock exchange regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the ceremonial opening and closing of trading. During Trump’s first term, his wife, Melania Trump, rang the bell to promote her “Be Best” initiative on children’s well-being. Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the opening bell to unveil the magazine's 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift . After the Nov. 5 election, the S&P 500 rallied 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,508 points, or 3.6%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 3%. All three indexes topped records they had set in recent weeks. The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise regardless of which party wins the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation that Trump favors will mean. Trump has long courted the business community based on his own status as a wealthy real estate developer who gained additional fame as the star of the TV show “The Apprentice” in which competitors tried to impress him with their business skills. He won the election in part by tapping into Americans' deep anxieties about an economy that seemed unable to meet the needs of the middle class. The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests. Trump spends the bulk of his time at his Florida home but was in New York for weeks this spring during his hush money trial there. He was convicted, but his lawyers are pushing for the case to be thrown out in light of his election. While he spent hours in a Manhattan courthouse every day during his criminal trial, Trump took his presidential campaign to the streets of the heavily Democratic city, holding a rally in the Bronx and popping up at settings for working-class New Yorkers: a bodega, a construction site and a firehouse. Trump returned to the city in September to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Manhattan tower and again in the final stretch of the presidential campaign when he held a rally at Madison Square Garden that drew immediate blowback as speakers made rude and racist insults and incendiary remarks . At the stock exchange, the ringing of the bell has been a tradition since the 1800s. The first guest to do it was a 10-year-old boy named Leonard Ross, in 1956, who won a quiz show answering questions about the stock market. Many times, companies listing on the exchange would ring the bell at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate their initial offerings as trading began. But the appearances have become an important marker of culture and politics -- something that Trump hopes to seize as he’s promised historic levels of economic growth. The anti-apartheid advocate and South African President Nelson Mandela rang the bell, as has Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone with his castmates from the film “The Expendables.” So, too, have the actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner for an “Avengers” movie and the Olympians Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. In 1985, Ronald Reagan became the first sitting U.S. president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said at the time. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The crowd of traders on the floor chanted, “Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie!” The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed in 1985 and 1986, but it suffered a decline in October 1987 in an event known as “Black Monday.” Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

A new study compiled a list of countries best for early-age entrepreneurs , and Canada ranks first having the youngest entrepreneurs, fast business setup time of 2 days, and highest ease of doing business index of 98. The survey also indicates that Portugal and South Africa stand out for having incredibly low costs to start a business—$0 and $13, respectively—making them financially accessible for new entrepreneurs. Furthermore, Israel ranks the highest in terms of the ‘Country Startup Friendliness Index’, making it a very favourable location for new businesses. These findings are based on research by Hostinger . The company analysed the best countries for early-age entrepreneurs by examining multiple factors. First, data on the average age of startup founders in each country was collected to identify which nations have younger entrepreneurs. The countries were then ranked from youngest to oldest based on founder age. To further assess startup friendliness, the researchers gathered data on additional factors, including the cost to start a business, the ease of doing business index, the time required to start a business, and the Country Startup Friendliness Index. Finally, the countries were ranked based on their overall startup environment, focusing on those offering the most supportive conditions for young entrepreneurs. This produced the following ranking: Canada tops the list and its strong business environment offers both ease of entry and moderate startup costs, making it an ideal destination for young entrepreneurs. Israel ranks second, offering a highly supportive environment for startups, particularly in the technology and innovation sectors. With an average age of 25 for startup founders, Israel combines youthful energy with strong business networks, fostering a dynamic startup culture. India ranks third with a composite score of 94. It boasts the fastest time required to start a business at just 1.5 days, though the cost to start a business is moderate at $1,036. Germany secures fourth place and has numerous business hubs like Berlin and Munich. Nigeria comes in fifth and Singapore ranks sixth. Portugal ranks seventh, positioning as one of the most financially accessible countries for entrepreneurs. The United Arab Emirates ranks eighth and The Netherlands secures ninth place offering one of the lowest costs to start a business at just $51. South Africa rounds up the ranking list. 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.Nominees for The Columbian 2024-25 Week 10 prep athlete of the week

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DENVER — Amid renewed interest in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey triggered in part by a new Netflix documentary, police in Boulder, Colorado, refuted assertions this week that there is viable evidence and leads about the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old girl that they are not pursuing. JonBenet Ramsey, who competed in beauty pageants, was found dead in the basement of her family's home in the college town of Boulder the day after Christmas in 1996. Her body was found several hours after her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note was left behind. The gravesite of JonBenet Ramsey is covered with flowers Jan. 8, 1997, at St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Marietta, Ga. JonBenet was bludgeoned and strangled. Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever prosecuted. The details of the crime and video footage of JonBenet competing in pageants propelled the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States. The police comments came as part of their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet's killing. Police said they released it a little earlier due to the increased attention on the case, apparently referring to the three-part Netflix series "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey." In a video statement, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the department welcomes news coverage and documentaries about the killing of JonBenet, who would have been 34 this year, as a way to generate possible new leads. He said the department is committed to solving the case but needs to be careful about what it shares about the investigation to protect a possible future prosecution. "What I can tell you though, is we have thoroughly investigated multiple people as suspects throughout the years and we continue to be open-minded about what occurred as we investigate the tips that come in to detectives," he said. The Netflix documentary focuses on the mistakes made by police and the "media circus" surrounding the case. A police officer sits in her cruiser Jan. 3, 1997, outside the home in which 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered Dec. 26, 1996, in Boulder, Colo. Police were widely criticized for mishandling the early investigation into her death amid speculation that her family was responsible. However, a prosecutor cleared her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and brother Burke in 2008 based on new DNA evidence from JonBenet's clothing that pointed to the involvement of an "unexplained third party" in her slaying. The announcement by former district attorney Mary Lacy came two years after Patsy Ramsey died of cancer. Lacy called the Ramseys "victims of this crime." John Ramsey continued to speak out for the case to be solved. In 2022, he supported an online petition asking Colorado's governor to intervene in the investigation by putting an outside agency in charge of DNA testing in the case. In the Netflix documentary, he said he advocated for several items that were not prepared for DNA testing to be tested and for other items to be retested. He said the results should be put through a genealogy database. In recent years, investigators identified suspects in unsolved cases by comparing DNA profiles from crime scenes and to DNA testing results shared online by people researching their family trees. In 2021, police said in their annual update that DNA hadn't been ruled out to help solve the case, and in 2022 noted that some evidence could be "consumed" if DNA testing is done on it. Last year, police said they convened a panel of outside experts to review the investigation to give recommendations and determine if updated technologies or forensic testing might produce new leads. In the latest update, Redfearn said that review ended but police continue to work through and evaluate a "lengthy list of recommendations" from the panel. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!by C. Narayanasuwami (A member of the former Ceylon Civil Service and Retired Senior Professional of the Asian Development Bank, Manila, Philippines) The unparalleled victory of JVP/NPP in the national elections of November 14, 2024 has created an unprecedented sense of euphoria among Sri Lankans. This was no ordinary achievement as a lot of hard work went into changing the mindset of communities that had hitherto blindly followed the elitist policies of the major political parties. What led to this transformation? An analysis of the voting pattern clearly illustrates that many factors were at play in seeking a complete overhaul of the policy and administrative structure in the country – there has been a low turnout of voters (around 65 percent) compared to previous elections but this is a subject that is outside the scope of this paper. Obviously, the cry for a systems change was heard and the people were prepared to listen and digest the causes and consequences of a weakening economy that was overwhelmed by disjointed policies, corruption and waste, and administrative structures that did not provide flexibility and freedom to change approaches. Factors that contributed to a sweeping change It is important to analyse more critically the factors that were at play in achieving this incredible victory that included several firsts: becoming the first single party two-thirds majority in the Parliament after the proportional representation (PR) system was introduced; winning in 21 out of 22 electoral districts thereby obtaining the participation of all ethnic communities, including the estate communities who had been accustomed to vote based on trade union affiliations; and above all, changing the collective psyche and traditional mindsets of the northern and eastern Tamils who for the first time opted to vote for national parties than to parochial regional parties. JVP/NPP led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, more popularly known as AKD, was closely engaged for over a decade in reconstructing the rural base, building significant ties with the urban middle class and the trade union movements, and establishing links with the public sector and the Sri Lankan diaspora. The leadership factor here should not be underestimated as the form, structure and presentational characteristics of AKD’s messages were forceful, eclectic and quickly absorbed. Simultaneously, social media and digital marketing were used as catalytic modes of communication. The culmination point came with the ‘Aragalaya’ movement which opened-up new opportunities that were seized with vigour and enthusiasm. In fact, the beginnings of the tremendous successes achieved on September 21 and November 14, 2024 respectively, must be traced to the Aragalaya which was taken too lightly by the established political parties. The organisational skills that went into village level campaigning and canvassing were undervalued by the JVP/NPP”s opponents. There was a determined effort to address the crying needs of people at all levels and make them understand the nuances of the NPP manifesto, which combined with the oratorical skills of AKD, had the magical result of spreading the message in a clear, concise and convincing manner. The writer listened to a few speeches of AKD’s via ‘You Tube’ to understand the thrust of his campaign. What he eloquently said at his Jaffna rally created a lasting impact on the minds of listeners. He raised issues, asked questions and provided convincing answers that mesmerised the public-I could see the smiling faces clapping with all their might appreciating both the innuendos and the practical insights offered for solving the problems of the dispossessed landowners and the missing peoples’ relatives. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and needless to add the convinced listeners decided to vote for NPP resulting in significant electoral successes in Jaffna. The campaign strategies adopted by NPP cut into the failures of past socio-economic policies and were aimed at capturing the essence of livelihood issues. Cost of living, mismanaged economy, corruption, social inequities, inequitable justice system and law and order issues, along with the colossal waste of public resources, including by those in power, formed the core of the issues advanced urging system change Critically reviewing the NPP manifesto, one is struck by the scope, scale and versatility of the major socio-economic, governance, institutional and policy reform issues identified and assessed for review, reform and reconstruction. The comprehensive coverage of developmental issues from economy and social transformation to framing a new constitution; public service reform, improved health, education, and transport; and a myriad of other institutional reforms- from investment promotion to digitalization provided a platform for the people to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a new political dispensation. The concept of one nation embracing the north, south, east, central highlands and the west with equal opportunities for the Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and the plantation communities sank well into the minds of the people from Dondra head to Point Pedro yearning for change and social liberation. Interestingly, race and religion were excluded in the dialogues. The outcome was evident in the composition of the elected representatives who clearly vindicated that social transformation has indeed begun. Another factor that contributed to the expansion of the vote base was the role played by the expatriate community and the social media – they served to provide incentives for knowledge transfer and logistical support. The visit of the NPP leader of the NPP to a few western countries and Japan generated both funding and substantial enthusiasm and support from the Sri Lankan diaspora which in turn helped to provide promising feedback and advice to their kith and kin living in Sri Lanka. This was confirmed in discussions with expatriates in the U.K and Canada, among others. The battle has been won but the war is yet to begin The people have spoken decisively and unambiguously. The Cabinet, the focal point of the decision-making process of government, is now in place. What follows next is the question that is in the minds of the millions who voted for change. Expectations are running high. Election promises as well as the key challenges outlined in the 130 page Election Manifesto have now to be dissected, analysed and prioritised for action through projects and programs. Promises that need to be translated into intputs and outcomes cover a wide array of subjects from poverty alleviation, social restructuring, new investment strategies, eradication of corruption and waste, framing of a new constitution, building trust and reconciliation among divided communities for improved power sharing, and several other interrelated priority areas such as transport, health and education sector improvements. These are no ordinary list of ‘to-do’ things. The government’s approach to governance AKD and the Prime Minister have the vision, ability and power to design and execute a program befitting the varied developmental interventions necessary to implement the promises given to the people of the country. They will have to carry the cabinet of ministers and the public officials along with them to deliver. How would this be done and what kind of strategies and official structure will be initiated -obviously these are issues which would have been thought of, debated and decided upon and would likely be placed before the country shortly. The writer, based on his experience in the development sector both in-country and overseas, thought it relevant to highlight some experiences that may be relevant here. In his book, ‘Managing Development: People, Policies and Institutions’ he touches on some of the more important areas in Governance, Institution Building, Agricultural Development and Monitoring and Evaluation. The book deals extensively with public sector reform in Sri Lanka and this was well received at all levels. But since its publication in 2019, despite all efforts, little has been done to revamp the public administration. The public service suffers from lethargy and inefficiencies that have been hardly touched upon for a couple of decades. A strong will to reform the public service must be present to execute the diverse programs encapsulated in the Election Manifesto. Similarly, there is copious data available on poverty alleviation strategies experimented and successfully executed in several countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), among others, have documented some of the success stories. There is an urgent need to undertake targeted interventions to deal with extreme poverty- 26 percent of the people in Sri Lanka live in poverty and need intensive support mechanisms to rise above poverty. Restrictive regulatory policies and practices have hindered the development process considerably in the recent past. It is presumed that a committee of experts will be chosen to address shortcomings and map a path to facilitate expeditious despatch of business, including a suitable mechanism to provide easy access to foreign investment. In short, Sri Lanka has to set up a special overarching institution that will cut red tape, ease restrictions inimical to investment, and provide easy access to investment opportunities. Determining Priorities There are competing demands, including the promise to frame a new constitution, that would engage the attention of the government. But the determination of priorities is based on emerging demands, including a full assessment of the current economic and social needs. At present, debt restructuring and economic sustainability in the context of the IMF Agreement precedes others. A follow-on exercise will be to itemise and determine priority areas of intervention with framing of the new constitution given a lower priority. The question that is being raised now is how the long-standing issue of ethnic discontent, power devolution and language disparities will be resolved along with the existentialist issues of the average Sri Lankan who is plagued by cost of living, transport, education and health issues. These are matters that the government needs to resolve through short, medium and long term interventions. Several expert panels and advisory committees may have to be enlisted to look at ways and means of making good the promises given to the people. None of the long-standing issues can be resolved quickly and this is something that the government should reiterate at all times to dispel adverse publicity by elements waiting to undermine the new government. Looking ahead Formidable challenges lie ahead. Obstacles are many and the entrenched public service along with political opponents can make matters difficult. Prioritised interventions should make things happen irrespective of hidden sabotage and non-cooperation. The shortage of rice being experienced now, for instance, may be the artificial effect of non-cooperation by the millers who have formed an oligopoly to stifle competition. More such instances may arise and a watchful eye is what is required to resolve issues as they surface. There is overall commitment and dedication and a significant knowledge base present in the current cabinet. However, with few exceptions, experience in the art of governance is lacking among many. This may adversely affect policy formulation and implementation in the short term. But as long as the will to succeed prevails, short term inadequacies could be overcome through proper training, guidance and supervision. A standard monitoring and evaluation system has to be established to monitor implementation of projects and programs and assess performance periodically so that appropriate corrective actions could be taken promptly. The government and especially AKD is aware that the country is watching with cautious optimism the realisation of the promised land. .

Texas A&M-CC takes down Prairie View A&M 109-74

Donald Trump to ring New York Stock Exchange bell as Time names him Person of the Year

FBC GlanceNone

Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State's Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke and Cal's Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men's basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday. People are also reading... Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal. Van Buren started eight games as a true freshmen for the Bulldogs. He threw for 1,886 yards on 55% passing with 16 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8 Southeastern Conference). He took over as the starter when Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Sept. 21. Shapen has said he plans to return next season. Van Buren, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, had two 300-yard performances for the Bulldogs, including 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a 41-31 road loss against Georgia. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 TDs, six interceptions and a 68.7 completion percentage. "For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached," he posted. Locke passed for 1,936 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Wisconsin this season. He said he will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. Michigan duo enters draft ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has joined defensive tackle Mason Graham in the NFL draft. Johnson declared for the draft on Wednesday, one day after Graham decided he would also skip his senior season with the Wolverines. Both preseason All-America players are expected to be first-round picks. Johnson was limited to six games this year due to an injury. He had two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns to set a school record with three scores off interceptions. Johnson picked off nine passes in three seasons. Graham played in all 12 games this season, finishing with 3 1/2 sacks and seven tackles for losses. He had 18 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, in his three-year career. AP announces All-SEC team Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is The Associated Press offensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference and South Carolina defensive lineman Kyle Kennard is the top defensive player. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was voted the top newcomer on Wednesday while the Gamecocks' Shane Beamer is coach of the year in voting by the panel of 17 media members who cover the league. Sampson led the SEC and set school records by rushing for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is tied for third nationally in rushing touchdowns, recording the league's fifth-most in a season. Sampson was chosen on all but two ballots. Mississippi wide receiver Tre Harris and his quarterback, Jaxson Dart, each got a vote. Kennard led the SEC with 11-1/2 sacks and 15-1/2 tackles for loss. He also had 10 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles. Beamer led the Gamecocks to just their fifth nine-win season, including a school-record four wins over Top 25 opponents. They've won their last six games and ended the regular season with a win over eventual ACC champion Clemson. South Carolina plays Illinois on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Pavia helped lead Vandy to its first bowl game since 2018 after transferring from New Mexico State. He passed for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He ran for another 716 yards and six touchdowns, directing an upset of Alabama. Campbell gets new deal with ISU AMES, Iowa — Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to its first 10-win season and became the program's all-time leader in coaching victories, has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him with the Cyclones through 2032. University president Wendy Wintersteen and athletic director Jamie Pollard made the announcement Wednesday, four days after the Cyclones lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game. “Given all the uncertainty currently facing college athletics, it was critical that we moved quickly to solidify the future of our football program,” Pollard said. “Matt is the perfect fit for Iowa State University and I am thrilled he wants to continue to lead our program. Leadership continuity is essential to any organization’s long-term success." The Cyclones won their first seven games for their best start since 1938 and are 10-3 heading into their game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 28. BRIEFLY FLAG PLANT: Ohio Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. MALZAHN: Gus Malzahn, who resigned as UCF’s coach last month to become Mike Norvell’s offensive coordinator at Florida State, said he chose to return to his coaching roots rather than remain a head coach distracted by a myriad of responsibilities. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden kicked off his final holiday season at the White House on Monday by issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in southern Minnesota. Biden welcomed 2,500 guests to the South Lawn under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom” and sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency after a half-century in Washington power circles. “It’s been the honor of my life. I’m forever grateful,” Biden said, taking note of his impending departure on Jan. 20, 2025. That’s when power will transfer to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, the man Biden defeated four years ago and was battling again until he was pressured to bow out of the race amid concerns about his age and viability. Biden is 82. Until Inauguration Day, the president and first lady Jill Biden will continue a busy run of festivities that will double as their long goodbye. The White House schedule in December is replete with holiday parties for various constituencies, from West Wing staff to members of Congress and the White House press corps. Biden relished the brief ceremony with the pardoned turkeys, named for the official flower of the president’s home state of Delaware. “The peach pie in my state is one of my favorites,” he said during remarks that were occasionally interrupted by Peach gobbling atop the table to Biden’s right. “Peach is making a last-minute plea,” Biden said at one point, drawing laughter from an overflow crowd that included Cabinet members, White House staff and their families, and students from 4H programs and Future Farmers of America chapters. Biden introduced Peach as a bird who “lives by the motto, ‘Keep calm and gobble on.’” Blossom, the president said, has a different motto: “No fowl play. Just Minnesota nice.” Peach and Blossom came from the farm of John Zimmerman, near the southern Minnesota city of Northfield. Zimmerman, who has raised about 4 million turkeys, is president of the National Turkey Federation, the group that has gifted U.S. presidents Thanksgiving turkeys since the Truman administration after World War II. President Harry Truman, however, preferred to eat the birds. Official pardon ceremonies did not become an annual White House tradition until the administration of President George H.W. Bush in 1989. With their presidential reprieve, Peach and Blossom will live out their days at Farmamerica, an agriculture interpretative center near Waseca in southern Minnesota. The center’s aim is to promote agriculture and educate future farmers and others about agriculture in America. Separately Monday, first lady Jill Biden received the official White House Christmas tree that will be decorated and put on display in the Blue Room. The 18.5 foot (5.64 meters) Fraser fir came from a farm in an area of western North Carolina that recently was devastated by Hurricane Helene. Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm lost thousands of trees in the storm “but this one remained standing and they named it ‘Tremendous’ for the extraordinary hope that it represents,” Jill Biden said at the event. The Bidens were also traveling to New York City on Monday for an evening “Friendsgiving” event at a Coast Guard station on Staten Island. Biden began his valedictory calendar Friday night with a gala for hundreds of his friends, supporters and staff members who gathered in a pavilion erected on the South Lawn, with a view out to the Lincoln Memorial. Cabinet secretaries, Democratic donors and his longest-serving staff members came together to hear from the president and pay tribute, with no evidence that Biden was effectively forced from the Democratic ticket this summer and watched Vice President Kamala Harris suffer defeat on Nov. 5. “I’m so proud that we’ve done all of this with a deep belief in the core values of America,” said Biden, sporting a tuxedo for the black-tie event. Setting aside his criticisms of Trump as a fundamental threat to democracy, Biden added his characteristic national cheerleading: “I fully believe that America is better positioned to lead the world today than at any point in my 50 years of public service.” The first lady toasted her husband with a nod to his 2020 campaign promise to “restore the soul of the nation,” in Trump’s aftermath. With the results on Election Day, however, Biden’s four years now become sandwiched in the middle of an era dominated by Trump’s presence on the national stage and in the White House. Even as the first couple avoided the context surrounding the president’s coming exit, those political realities were nonetheless apparent, as younger Democrats like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore , Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Biden’s Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg not only raised their glasses to the president but held forth with many attendees who could remain in the party’s power circles in the 2028 election cycle and beyond. Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. General Motors under the Cadillac brand and participate in the FIA Formula One World Championship for the 2026 season, the automaker announced on Monday. Formula 1 says it has and will move GM and Cadillac's application forward to become the 11th team on the grid — making it the first new team to join since 2016. Formula 1 says it’s been in talks with GM and its partners at motorsport company TWG Global about “the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision” the organization made in January. The announcement mentions that GM will come on as an engine supplier later, and while it will join initially as a Ferrari customer, that has not been officially announced. In a statement, the CEO of Liberty Media (owner of Formula One Group), Greg Maffei, said that GM as a future power unit supplier “could bring additional value and interest to the sport.” Maffei additionally called GM and Cadillac an “impressive US brand.” The last US F1 champion, Mario Andretti, is joining the team’s board as director. /

ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Sydney Shaw scored 20 points and made four 3-pointers, JJ Quinerly added 14 points and No. 12 West Virginia handed Boise State its first loss, 82-47 on Saturday in the Gulf Coast Showcase. West Virginia advances to the championship game on Sunday, while Boise State plays for third place. The Mountaineers have started 8-0 in back-to-back seasons after last year's 11-0 beginning. Quinerly also had three steals to help West Virginia reach double figures in that category in every game this season. The Mountaineers also forced 20-plus turnovers for the eighth straight game. Boise State was held to just six points in the first and third quarters. West Virginia went on two 10-0 runs in the first quarter to build a 16-point lead. The Mountaineers led by double figures the rest of the way. It was 45-23 at halftime then Quinerly scored four straight points to begin a 9-0 run that ended in a 32-point lead. Freshman Jordan Thomas, coming off her first career double-double, had 10 points and six rebounds for West Virginia. Elodie Lalotte scored 11 points for Boise State (7-1). Teryn Gardner addd 10. West Virginia was coming off an 89-54 victory over High Point on Friday to begin the tournament. The Mountaineers led by as many as 39 points and forced 22 turnovers in that one. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballThe New York Giants benched quarterback Daniel Jones last week, and he was expected to remain a backup until the team moved on from him this offseason. However, the Giants instead parted ways with their former No. 6 overall pick immediately. On Friday, the Giants announced that Jones had asked for his release, and that the team would grant Jones his request. Jones officially headed to waivers Saturday , and cleared waivers on Monday. He is officially an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team. Giants president John Mara released a statement on his former quarterback: "Daniel came to see me this morning and asked if we would release him. We mutually agreed that would be best for him and for the team. Daniel has been a great representative of our organization, first class in every way. His handling of this situation yesterday exemplifies just that. We are all disappointed in how things have worked out. We hold Daniel in high regard and have a great appreciation for him. We wish him nothing but the best in the future." Jones broke his silence on his benching less than 24 hours before his release, saying it was an honor to play for this franchise, while taking responsibility for the fact that there were more lows than highs over the past six years. "The opportunity to play for the New York Giants was truly a dream come true and I am extremely grateful ... for the chance to play here," Jones said. "The Giants are truly a first class organization and I have nothing but genuine respect and appreciation for the people who built it and who help carry on the tradition. I met so many specialty people and created relationships that will truly last a lifetime. Thank you all my teammates, coaches and staff that have done so much for me these past six years. There have been some great times, but of course we all wish there had been more of those." The reason the Giants were keeping Jones on roster until this offseason (and why they benched him in the first place) had to do with money. As Spotrac points out , this decision to part ways with Jones now and put this entire saga behind them leaves the Giants with dead cap hits of $47.1 million in 2024 and $22.1 million in 2025. But the Giants do free up $19.4 million in cap space for next year. Overall, there was not much difference in releasing Jones now compared to releasing him the day after the Super Bowl . But if Jones was released with a post-June 1 designation, NFL Media reported that the Giants would carry $11.1 million dead cap hits in 2025 and 2026 and save $30.5 million in 2025. Prior to Friday, that was the expected outcome -- since the Giants could spread the dead money over two years. From a business standpoint, releasing Jones right now is not the ideal move as it pertains to the 2025 salary cap, but the organization wanted to do right by Jones. Jones' fall over the past five days was a dramatic one. He went 2-8 as the starter this year, and completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. It was clear the Giants made the decision to bench Jones to protect themselves from the $23 million injury guarantee in his contract, but general manager Joe Schoen maintained it was a "football decision." Jones was demoted from QB1 to QB3/QB4 to ensure he wouldn't see the field, which was a storyline in itself, and then he was spotted playing scout team safety at practice, which led to criticisms on social media. The Giants may have had enough of the negative headlines, but this decision also allows Jones to move on with his career. After he clears waivers, Jones will be free to sign with any team.

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HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Ashlon Jackson scored a career-high 30 points and No. 14 Duke defeated No. 10 Kansas State, 73-62 on Monday, in the semifinals of the Ball Dawgs Classic. The Blue Devils (6-1) overcame an early 11-point deficit behind Jackon’s shooting hand to advance to Wednesday’s championship game against the winner of the game between No. 9 Oklahoma and DePaul. Jackson, who has scored in double figures in all six of Duke’s games, shot 12 of 19 (63.1%) from the floor, including 6 of 9 (66.7%) from 3-point range. Reigan Richardson added 16 points for the Blue Devils. Kansas State (5-1) was led by Ayoka Lee, who had 16 points. Serena Sundell scored 15 and Kennedy Taylor came off the bench to add 11 for the Wildcats. Kansas State: With her 16-point performance, Lee needs 48 points to pass Kendra Wecker (2001-05) for the Kansas State career scoring record. Wecker scored 2,333 points. Lee, the 2024-25 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, is averaging 15.3 points. Duke: Jackson hit her season average of 13.3 points by the 3:54 mark of the second quarter when her pull-up jumper gave her 14. The junior guard was 8 of 11 from the floor, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and had 20 points by halftime. With the Blue Devils trailing by six midway through the second quarter, Jackson triggered a 15-0 run with 13 of the team’s points to help Duke take a lead they’d never relinquish. Duke will face the winner of No. 9 Oklahoma-DePaul on Wednesday in the championship game, while Kansas State will face the loser in the consolation game. Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: andLuke Humphries defeats Luke Littler to retain Players Championship Finals title

fortune ox mega ganho For a politician whose career has been remarkably scandal-free, Education Minister Ben Carroll has found himself facing unexpected pressure lately, with this year’s VCE exams marred by scandal with questions released weeks before student sat their tests. Carroll, who is also deputy premier, was forced to admit that 56 tests – nearly half of the total number of 116 VCE exams – had been hit by the breach where questions were inadvertently published online. “It went from disappointment to anger, [just] the scale of it,” Carroll told The Age . Education Minister and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll. Credit: Eddie Jim “You can’t upload cover sheets with embedded questions in them. It is simply unacceptable.” In the fallout, the chief executive of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority resigned. Carroll has also ordered a full root-and-branch review, which he says will look at every part of the authority, including the culture, following other exam bungles across three separate years. Unusually for a politician, he also took accountability for the blunder. As for whether he has confidence in the authority? “It is a good question,” Carroll says at a cafe in Aberfeldie, in what was meant to be a broad-ranging interview with the state’s deputy premier. “You always lose a bit of confidence when something like this happens ... this should not have occurred.” Such candour from a minister is rare in a political crisis. But Carroll isn’t one to shy away from issues facing the state government. A year after the departure of Daniel Andrews from the top job, Labor’s primary vote has tumbled. It has coincided with a series of government backflips, including a retreat from raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 and its promise to set up a second supervised drug injecting room . Pill testing will be trialled this summer , in contrast to their longstanding position under Andrews, and forced health mergers, which were recommended by an expert panel, were abandoned. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll with wife Fiona and daughter Madeleine. “We’ve made some tough decisions over the past 12 months. Next year you’ll see really important delivery,” Carroll said when asked about the government’s slide in support. “I think you’ll see a turnaround, and that will require lots of hard work, and we are committed to doing that.” In a political climate where the government, and premier, are on the nose, the role of deputy can be a tricky one. Media and MPs have been on high alert for any tensions between Jacinta Allan and her deputy, who are factional foes, particularly after Carroll’s bold and somewhat surprising push for the leadership job last year. Considered a political cleanskin, Carroll surprised colleagues when he marched into the Labor Party room in September 2023, with MPs from the Right faction in tow, to mount a bid for the top job following Andrews’ departure. Incensed the Left was seeking to hold both positions, Carroll’s move is still described by colleagues as either brave, treacherous or both. “This opportunity came up, I thought it was time to make a stand, and I made a stand on that day,” Carroll says. “I would not change one minute at that meeting, or one minute of that day. I knew my true north, and I was committed to getting the right outcome.” While Carroll stands by his move, it angered Andrews who scolded his minster, and he eventually withdrew his candidacy and accepted the deputy premier position, avoiding a messy vote. “I’d been thinking about it for a long time. I [had previously] supported Jacinta to be the deputy leader ... I have always been a team player,” Carroll insists. Ben Carroll surprised many in his party when he made a push for the leadership. Credit: Eddie Jim While most of his colleagues have now agreed to let bygones be bygones, the move publicly signalled Carroll’s determination and displayed rare courage that saw him stand up to Andrews. Former premier Steve Bracks, who gave Carroll one of his first jobs in politics when he employed him as a junior staffer in his office, told The Age Carroll’s leadership bid should not be interpreted as disloyal. “He put his hand up in order to become deputy, and it was the mechanism to achieve the job he’s got,” Bracks said. “From your deputy, you want loyalty, you want someone who will always back up the leader, and someone who can take the heavy lifting, that’s what Ben has done.” Friend and former colleague Wade Noonan, who resigned from the ministry in 2017 for family reasons, believes Carroll had learnt that “leadership is rarely gifted” and said his friend was not one to miss an opportunity. “Politics is not a place for retreaters. Ben will stand up for the things that matter, in life, and in politics,” Noonan said. “There is courage in his approach. His ambition should not be confused – he is all about creating opportunity for Victorians, rather than seeking power for the sake of it.” Carroll, 49, was born in Coburg in July 1975, the first of three children. Borrowing a line from the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has repeatedly said he was raised with three great faiths – the Catholic Church, the Labor Party and South Sydney Football Club, – Carroll says his parents raised him with three great passions: the Catholic Church, the Labor Party and the North Melbourne Football Club. That year, 1975, was a big year for North Melbourne, with the team winning its first VFL/AFL premiership. It was also a defining year for the ALP with the dismissal of Gough Whitlam. “Politics has always been in the house,” Carroll said. “Dad was always about the underdog.” Carroll’s father Greg was an electrician and ran his own business which went under during the 1990s recession. “I learned a lot from dad – despite losing his business in the Keating recession, he, to this day, says Paul Keating was our greatest prime minister,” he said. Ben Carroll grew up with a love for football. “We saw the recession very closely in our family, but he was always thinking about those who were less fortunate.” Carroll’s mum, Kay, was born in Fort Worth Texas before immigrating to Australia in her early teens. Carroll says his mother’s US links also spurned his love of politics, including an admiration for former president Bill Clinton. After graduating with an arts degree, Carroll spent a few years working in insurance before Bracks’ unexpected victory in 1999 saw him take the first step in his political career. By 2012, Carroll was working in Canberra for senator Stephen Conroy, when he was preselected to stand in Niddrie, edging out his current cabinet colleague , Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes. “When a seat comes up ... where you went to kinder, where you went to primary, where you went to secondary, where you got your first job, where your family have been part of the community ... you have a crack.” He lives in his electorate with wife Fiona, a lawyer, and their daughter Madeleine. Carroll says he seeks political counsel from his wife, but it was parents at his daughter’s school gate that inspired him to make another bold call as education minister – mandating that public schools introduce structured phonics as part of an explicit teaching approach. “I was on the WhatsApps with mothers and parents and fathers being stopped in the street ...[asking] are we teaching phonics?” he said. The move was particularly controversial for a Labor MP, with the Australian Education Union’s primary and secondary councils uniting to criticise the government’s decision to roll out a systematic synthetic phonics approach for all prep to grade 2 students. “I went outside the department and did my own research. I think there’s no more fundamental reform than how we teach kids to read. “I’m happy to make a stance,” he said. “That is what should drive me as minister.” Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. 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TensorFlow vs. PyTorch: Which is Better for Your Project?An eight-year-old boy from Charters Towers has become the first child in Queensland to undergo robotic-assisted surgery. Kruze Bott suffered from stomach pain for weeks that would come and go, before an ultrasound revealed one kidney was twice the size of the other. Doctors then discovered he had two ureteropelvic junction obstructions, which stopped urine flowing to his bladder. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today “Kruze had a blockage of the plumbing system of his kidney,” Mater Private Hospital urologist, Dr Janani Krishnan told 7NEWS. “He had blood vessels crossing the plumbing system, which caused a blockage from the outside, plus he had a blockage on the inside.” She said without intervention the blockages could lead to urinary tract infections and irreversible kidney damage. Kruze was originally due to undergo open surgery, which would have meant a long recovery and a big scar for an active little boy, which his mother, Jade Bott, wasn’t keen on. After being referred to Dr Krishnan, the family was excited to learn the eight-year-old was the perfect candidate for a robotic-assisted pyeloplasty. “She rang and said, ‘Hey there’s a new surgery, can we give it a go on Kruze?” Bott said. “We were thrilled for the opportunity for him to have it.” But while his mother was excited, Kruze admits he was nervous. Paediatric robotic-assisted surgery is performed all over the world in large numbers, but only one had been performed in Australia before this and none in Queensland. The $3.3 million da Vinci XI surgical system was purchased in 2021 by the Mater Foundation, using funds donated by Queenslanders. While almost 1,000 public and private adult patients have undergone surgery using the technology, in a partnership between Mater and Townsville University Hospital, extensive approvals were needed before children could undergo robotic surgery. With support from Cairns Urologist Dr Stefan Antoniou, Dr Krishnan removed the blockage and fixed the ‘plumbing’ of Kruze’s kidneys by taking healthy parts of the ureters and putting them together. She said the robot has better magnification than a laparoscope and she was able to perform the fine suturing required for a pyeloplasty with extreme precision. “He had minimal scarring,” Bott said. “He was up and out of hospital the next day, and a couple of days later you couldn’t even tell he had surgery.” Now fully recovered, Kruze has four small scars and said he was thankful to the doctors and the game-changing surgical technology. “I definitely wouldn’t be able to ride a bike, climb a tree, or swing on rope (if I’d had open surgery).” Dr Krishnan is now eager to set up a curriculum for paediatric robotics across Australia, as a blueprint for other centres to follow. “He was the perfect case and what made it even more so perfect was Jade, his mum, was extremely keen, extremely supportive of this,” she said. “To see him come this far, I’m very grateful that his body has done magic to heal himself well.”

The United States, in particular, has expressed strong support for Taiwan's defense and security. American officials have reaffirmed their commitment to Taiwan's self-defense and have warned against any attempts to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through force. The US Navy has also increased its presence in the region, conducting freedom of navigation operations and joint exercises with Taiwan's military forces as a show of solidarity and deterrence against potential aggression.In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the simple things that can make a big difference in our well-being. One such thing is the act of opening your window and letting in the fresh air and natural light. Today, I invite you to make a conscious effort to adjust your window and open up to a brighter day.Speaking at the Doha Forum on Saturday, Jaishankar reflected on the positive relationship India had with the first Trump administration, highlighting the restart of the QUAD under Trump's presidency. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday reacted to President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose 100 per cent tariffs on BRICS nations, stating that India has “no interest” in weakening the US dollar. Speaking at the Doha Forum on Saturday, Jaishankar reflected on the positive relationship India had with the first Trump administration, highlighting the restart of the QUAD under Trump’s presidency. “We had a good relationship, a very solid relationship with the first Trump administration, yes there were some issues mostly trade-related issues, but there were a whole lot of issues on which Trump was very international, and I remind people that it was actually under Trump that the QUAD was restarted,” he said. He also noted the personal connection between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President-elect Trump, which has contributed to the strong bilateral ties between the two countries. “There a personal relation between PM Modi and Trump...Where the BRICS remarks were concerned. We’ve always said that India has never been for de-polarisation, but right now there is no proposal to have a BRICS currency. The BRICS do discuss financial transactions...US is our largest trade partner, we have no interest in weakening the dollar at all,” he added. Jaishankar was addressing the 22nd edition of the Doha Forum panel on ‘Conflict Resolution in a New Era’ where Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Norway Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide were also present. EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to Qatar and Bahrain from December 6-9. In Bahrain, he will co-chair the 4th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission (HJC) with the Foreign Minister of Bahrain; Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. EAM will also participate in the 20th edition of the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on December 8. Earlier on September 9, EAM Jaishankar held a meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Saudi Arabia. The two leaders discussed taking forward bilateral ties. Sharing details regarding his meeting with Qatar PM, Jaishankar stated, “Began the day with a good meeting with PM & FM of Qatar @MBA_AlThani_. Discussed taking India-Qatar bilateral ties forward. Appreciated his insights and assessments on regional developments.” The two leaders had earlier held a meeting in Doha in June. The two leaders had held talks on strengthening bilateral ties across various sectors and addressing key regional challenges. Jaishankar conveyed warm greetings and wishes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Qatar Amir Amir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Qatar PM. Further, he underscored the robust nature of the India-Qatar relationship, emphasising cooperation in political, trade, investment, energy, technology, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. (This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — For a pair of lower-level downhill events, this sure had plenty of Olympic medal-capturing and World Cup-winning ski racers. The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn, the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X. “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Lindsey Vonn reacts after her run at a downhill skiing race at Copper Mountain Ski Resort on Saturday in Copper Mountain, Colo. Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. Lindsey Vonn competes in a downhill skiing race at Copper Mountain Ski Resort on Saturday in Copper Mountain, Colo. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont, last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’" 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — A political party in North Macedonia on Saturday demanded authorities ban social networks whose content incites violence and self-destructive behavior after several young people were seriously injured in connection with the popular “Superman challenge” on TikTok. Health authorities said at least 17 students, ages 10 to 17, were brought to hospitals in the capital Skopje and other towns over the past week with broken bones, contusions and bruises. The children were injured after being thrown into the air by their friends to fly like superheroes and get applause on the internet. The Liberal-Democratic Party, which was part of the left-led coalition that ruled the country from 2016 to earlier in 2024, issued a press statement Saturday strongly condemning “the irresponsible spread of dangerous content on social media, such as the latest TikTok ‘challenge’ known as ‘Superman,’ which has injured six children across (the country) in the past 24 hours.” “The lack of adequate control over the content of social media allows such ‘games’ to reach the most vulnerable users,” the party statement said. It demanded the “immediate introduction of measures to ban content that incites violence and self-destructive behavior, increase surveillance, and sanction platforms that enable dangerous trends.” North Macedonia’s education minister Vesna Janevska said students should focus on education, not TikTok challenges. “The ban on mobile phones in schools will not have an effect. Phones will be available to children in their homes, neighborhoods and other environments,” she said. Psychologists have warned that the desire to be “in” with the trends on social networks, combined with excessive use of mobile phones, is the main reason for the rise in risky behaviors among children. They urged parents and schools to talk with students. Konstantin Testorides, The Associated PressTrump promises a 25% tariff on products from Mexico, Canada

Initial findings from the investigation revealed discrepancies and inconsistencies in the information provided by the villagers, casting doubt on the credibility of their assertions. Further scrutiny of the agricultural practices and conditions in the village uncovered irregularities that suggested the possibility of fraudulent activities aimed at exploiting government subsidies and financial support schemes.COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — For a pair of lower-level downhill events, this sure had plenty of Olympic medal-capturing and World Cup-winning ski racers. The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn, the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X. “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Lindsey Vonn reacts after her run at a downhill skiing race at Copper Mountain Ski Resort on Saturday in Copper Mountain, Colo. Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. Lindsey Vonn competes in a downhill skiing race at Copper Mountain Ski Resort on Saturday in Copper Mountain, Colo. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont, last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’" 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) Get local news delivered to your inbox!

BGC's Howard W. Lutnick Nominated for U.S. Secretary of CommerceIn conclusion, the history between Real Madrid and Atalanta has been marked by thrilling encounters and memorable moments. As they prepare to renew their rivalry, football fans around the world can look forward to another chapter in this ongoing saga of competition and excellence. Will Real Madrid maintain their dominance, or will Atalanta stage a comeback and claim victory? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain - this upcoming match is not to be missed.

PM urged to raise human rights on Gulf trip after Boris Johnson 'dictator' comment

fortune ox modo demo Why NVIDIA’s Stock Dip is a Golden Opportunity! Analysts Are All InIowa quarterback Cade McNamara released a statement Friday slamming the "100% false" media reports that suggested he had thrown his final pass for the Hawkeyes. McNamara has been sidelined since sustaining a concussion during the Oct. 26 win against Northwestern. Backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan has started the last two games for the Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) but is out with an ankle injury for Saturday's game at Maryland (4-6, 1-6). Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said earlier this week that Jackson Stratton will be the likely starter against the Terrapins if McNamara is unavailable. McNamara's cloudy status prompted speculation on a podcast this week that he was "not mentally ready to play." The podcast hosts from the Des Moines Register and The Athletic also suggested that McNamara -- who played three years at Michigan (2020-22) before transferring to Iowa -- is not "fit to play quarterback in the Big Ten right now." "We don't want to bury his career yet, but it does seem like that interception against Northwestern was his last snap as a Hawkeye," Leistikow said. McNamara, who passed for 1,017 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games this season, released a statement updating his current status. "My status is the same as it's always been -- a proud member of this football team," he said. McNamara said he has not yet been cleared to play. He said he was cleared to practice on Sunday but suffered an "adverse reaction" and was unable to practice this week and therefore unable to travel with the team to Maryland. "I have been working with the University of Iowa doctors and trainers, a concussion specialist focused on vision training, as well as engaging in hyperbaric treatments as frequently as possible," McNamara said. "I have every intention to play versus Nebraska next Friday night and I am confident that my teammates will return from Maryland with a win." Including his time with the Wolverines, McNamara has completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 4,703 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 34 games. --Field Level Media

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ross Bjork made the first of two important decisions a year ago. While serving as the athletic director for Texas A&M, Bjork elected to fire football coach Jimbo Fisher. The decision sent a message across the sport, with the Aggies paying a buyout worth more than $75 million. Who are The 40 Most Influential People in Cleveland Sports when it comes to fan happiness? See our list and how we ranked them.

Rice 35, South Florida 28Germany has pledged to tighten its law to make it easier to prosecute people-smugglers enabling small-boat crossings to Britain, as the two countries signed a new deal aimed at tackling immigration crime. Berlin confirmed plans to reform its legal framework make it a clear criminal offence to “facilitate the smuggling of migrants to the UK” as part of the agreement, the Home Office said. The Home Office said the move would give German prosecutors more tools to tackle the supply and storage of dangerous small boats. Both countries will also commit to exchange information that may help to remove migrant-smuggling content from social media platforms and tackle end-to-end routes of criminal smuggling networks as part of the deal. It comes ahead of the UK and Germany hosting the so-called Calais Group in London , which sees ministers and police from the two countries, alongside France, Belgium and the Netherlands, gather to discuss migration in Europe. Delegates are expected to agree a detailed plan to tackle people-smuggling gangs in 2025 at the meeting on Tuesday. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “For too long organised criminal gangs have been exploiting vulnerable people, undermining border security in the UK and across Europe while putting thousands of lives at risk. “We are clear that this cannot go on. “Germany is already a key partner in our efforts to crack down on migrant smuggling, but there is always more we can do together. “Our new joint action plan with deliver a strengthened partnership with Germany, boosting our respective border security as we work to fix the foundations, and ultimately saving lives.” Nancy Faeser, German federal minister of the interior said: “We are now stepping up our joint action to fight the brutal activities of international smugglers. “This is at the core of our joint action plan that we have agreed in London. “I am very grateful to my British counterpart Yvette Cooper that we were able to reach this important agreement. “It will help us end the inhumane activities of criminal migrant smuggling organisations. “By cramming people into inflatable boats under threats of violence and sending them across the Channel, these organisations put human lives at risk. “Many of these crimes are planned in Germany. “Together, we are now countering this unscrupulous business with even more resolve. “This includes maintaining a high investigative pressure, exchanging information between our security authorities as best as possible, and persistently investigating financial flows to identify the criminals operating behind the scenes.”

A season of protests, forfeits and lawsuits ended quietly Saturday on the volleyball court with San José State losing the Mountain West Conference women's tournament final to Colorado State. The loss deprived San José State from claiming the conference's automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA tournament, which could have extended the controversy centered on the team's transgender player. Instead, top-seeded Colorado State earned the automatic bid by winning in four sets. Fewer than 200 spectators attended the match at UNLV, and the fans were respectful, cheering every player during pregame introductions and during the action. Players encouraged one another throughout the match and exchanged hugs when it was over. The only bit of political activity came when Colorado State star player Malaya Jones and teammates Kennedy Stanford and Naeemah Weathers knelt during the national anthem. Colorado State coach Emily Kohan told reporters the players have knelt before matches since 2020. "They've knelt since their freshman year, when the Black Lives Matter movement was going on, and, in this program, we raise critical thinkers to make decisions for what's important to them," Kohan said. "And, for those three, they're Black players, and it's been important to them for five years. And they've stood their ground for saying that this is something that they believe in, and we've all supported them." The focus on volleyball and sportsmanship was a welcome departure from a roller-coaster season in which four Mountain West teams — Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada-Reno — each chose to forfeit or cancel two conference matches to San José State. Boise State also forfeited its conference tournament semifinal match to the second-seeded Spartans, who had a first-round bye and only played one match in the tournament. The transgender player has been on the San José State roster for three seasons after transferring from a college on the East Coast, although this is the first season opponents have protested the player's participation. The player is not being named by The Los Angeles Times because they haven't publicly identified as transgender. The issue became public when San José State co-captain Brooke Slusser joined a lawsuit in September against the NCAA filed by former All-American swimmer and anti-trans-athlete activist Riley Gaines. The suit alleges that NCAA transgender eligibility policies violate Title IX and the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Slusser alleges in the lawsuit that the inclusion of a transgender player poses an unfair advantage and safety hazards. The NCAA adopted new rules a year ago pertaining to transgender athletes, who must document sport-specific testosterone levels at the beginning of their season and again six months later. They also must document testosterone levels four weeks before championship selections. "We are steadfast in our support of transgender student-athletes and the fostering of fairness across college sports," said John DeGioia, chair of the NCAA board of governors and Georgetown president. "It is important that NCAA member schools, conferences and college athletes compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment and can move forward with a clear understanding of the new policy." Nevertheless, the schools that forfeited volleyball matches have the backing of politicians in their states. Idaho's Republican Gov. Brad Little recently signed an executive order barring sports teams at Boise State and other public schools in the state from playing against teams with transgender athletes. San José State was left to piece together its season against opponents willing to play. Colorado State was one of those. "Our team played their hearts out today, the way they have done all season," San José State coach Todd Kress said in a statement after the conference tournament loss. "This has been one of the most difficult seasons I've ever experienced and I know this is true as well for many of our players and the staff who have been supporting us all along. Maintaining our focus on the court and ensuring the overall safety and well-being of my players amid the external noise have been my priorities." Slusser, San José State associate head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose and 10 other current and former players filed another lawsuit Nov. 13 aimed at having the transgender player removed ahead of the conference tournament, stating that her inclusion violated Title IX rights for gender equity in federally funded institutions. But a federal judge last Monday rejected the lawsuit, and a day later, another judge rejected Slusser's appeal. The transgender player took the court along with Slusser and San José State was defeated, ending a turbulent season that Kress said included attacks on social media. "Our team prepared and was ready to play each match according to established Mountain West and NCAA rules of play," Kress said in his statement. "We did not take away anyone's participation opportunities. Sadly, others who for years have played this same team without incident chose not to play us this season. "To be clear, we did not celebrate a single win by forfeiture. Instead, we braced for the fallout. Each forfeiture announcement unleashed appalling, hateful messages individuals chose to send directly to our student-athletes, our coaching staff, and many associated with our program." ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Tonje, Winter pace No. 15 Wisconsin past winless Chicago StatePolice arrested a 26-year-old man on Monday in the Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after they say a Pennsylvania McDonald's worker alerted authorities to a customer who resembled the suspected gunman. The suspect, identified by police as Luigi Nicholas Mangione, had a gun believed to be the one used in Wednesday’s attack on Brian Thompson , as well as writings expressing anger at corporate America, police said. Here are some of the latest developments in the ongoing investigation: Mangione was taken into custody at around 9:15 a.m. after police received a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh, police said. Mangione was being held in Pennsylvania on gun charges and will eventually be extradited to New York to face charges in connection with Thompson’s death, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” Kenny said Mangione also had a ghost gun , a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Officers also found a suppressor, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” the commissioner said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, Tisch said. Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and that his last known address is in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mangione, who was valedictorian of his Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts also suggest that he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. Some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent people, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have had children attend the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things,” according to a post on the school website. He praised their collective inventiveness and pioneering mindset. Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. A swarm of reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. Luigi Mangione is one of 37 grandchildren of Nick Mangione, according to his obituary. Luigi Mangione's grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes ranging from Catholic organizations to colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione. A spokesman for the lawmaker's office confirmed the relationship Monday. Police said the person who killed Thompson left a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5:41 a.m. on Wednesday. Just 11 minutes later, he was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, wearing a distinctive backpack. At 6:44 a.m., he shot Thompson at a side entrance to the hotel, fled on foot, then climbed aboard a bicycle and within four minutes had entered Central Park. Another security camera recorded the gunman leaving the park near the American Museum of Natural History at 6:56 a.m. still on the bicycle but without the backpack. After getting in a taxi, he headed north to a bus terminal near the George Washington Bridge, arriving at around 7:30 a.m. From there, the trail of video evidence runs cold. Police have not located video of the suspected shooter exiting the building, leading them to believe he likely took a bus out of town. Police said they are still investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania. “This just happened this morning," Kenny said. "We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore and Cedar Attanasio in New York contributed to this report.

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.None

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Atkore Inc. ( NYSE:ATKR – Get Free Report ) rose 7.8% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $91.76 and last traded at $91.74. Approximately 176,404 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 72% from the average daily volume of 627,716 shares. The stock had previously closed at $85.14. Analysts Set New Price Targets ATKR has been the subject of a number of research reports. B. Riley downgraded Atkore from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $135.00 to $84.00 in a report on Friday. KeyCorp lowered their price target on shares of Atkore from $125.00 to $105.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 13th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Atkore from $99.00 to $93.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Finally, Loop Capital dropped their price target on Atkore from $130.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Atkore presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $117.00. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Atkore Atkore Stock Performance Atkore Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 6th will be paid a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 6th. Atkore’s dividend payout ratio is currently 10.13%. Insider Activity at Atkore In other news, insider Mark F. Lamps sold 500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.55, for a total value of $48,275.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 27,626 shares in the company, valued at $2,667,290.30. This trade represents a 1.78 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . 2.56% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Boston Partners grew its stake in shares of Atkore by 12.0% during the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,340,146 shares of the company’s stock valued at $254,733,000 after purchasing an additional 143,121 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in Atkore by 26.8% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,234,350 shares of the company’s stock valued at $104,599,000 after buying an additional 261,234 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in Atkore by 22.9% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 773,697 shares of the company’s stock valued at $104,395,000 after buying an additional 144,283 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in Atkore by 1.1% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 449,323 shares of the company’s stock worth $85,535,000 after acquiring an additional 4,852 shares during the period. Finally, Royce & Associates LP grew its position in shares of Atkore by 20.2% during the 3rd quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 396,054 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,562,000 after acquiring an additional 66,533 shares during the period. About Atkore ( Get Free Report ) Atkore Inc engages in the manufacture and sale of electrical, mechanical, safety, and infrastructure products and solutions in the United States and internationally. The company offers conduits, cables, and installation accessories. It also designs and manufactures protection and reliability solutions for critical infrastructure, such as metal framing, mechanical pipe, perimeter security, and cable management. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Atkore Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Atkore and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Robots Taking Over? The Future of Jobs in the Age of Humanoids

Automobiles have long been more than a means of mobility, and how a car looks greatly affects how the public perceives both the car and the owner. Some cars leave factories as coveted mechanical works of art. However, the converse is true, and all too often, cars leave factories with styling choices that boggle one's mind. Sometimes, the proper description for a car — put plainly — is ugly, and sadly, there are far too many ugly cars in this world. For most regular production cars of the modern era, the time from the new model idea to delivery at the dealer runs about five to six years, although some automakers are implementing processes to shorten that to as little as three. Designs are sketched out early on and eventually approved for the production line. This process requires multiple teams of people working to manufacture each model, and sometimes, a car comes out, making you question how it ever got approved. It is baffling how dozens of people can go through with a truly bad design and subject it to the buying public, but it still happens today. Bearing in mind that heavy trucks and other specialty vehicles are built for purpose over style and that small production and experimental cars may be overseen by only a few people, these vehicles get an ugly pass. But for mass-produced vehicles built by established corporations with no excuses, these are 10 of the worst-looking cars. For decades now, the Pontiac Aztek has been the punching bag of bad design, lambasted by the public and press for having uniquely ungainly features and questionable styling. But long before being the butt of jokes, the Aztek was a budding concept known in the office as Bearclaw, existing only in two dimensions. However, being a part of a bloated corporation requiring cost-cutting to coexist with all designs, the powers that be offered the Pontiac design team an underwhelming U-body minivan platform on which to build a new crossover SUV, although the term crossover had yet to be coined. Bob Lutz, vice chairman of GM after the Aztek, told Car and Driver that bad vehicles "happen in stages." GM management mandated that 40% of vehicles would be innovative and started setting goals to that end. This ignores the reality that innovation comes from creative thinking that cannot be forced. Thus, the project team for the Aztek put together a model to achieve goals set by management instead of stepping back to ask if they were building something anyone might actually want. Instead, GM management ignored market research, insisting they knew what people wanted, only to be told flatly that the Aztek was not it. The Aztek offered many features ahead of its time and offered some inventive accessories, such as a trunk-mounted tent . But no amount of innovative features could overcome its hideous design-by-committee aesthetic. And that is why it regularly gets included on lists of the ugliest cars. While its presence in the United States has always been on the fringes, Fiat is a major automaker in Europe, and its small cars of the post-war period gave it success in multiple markets by providing consumers small and capable packages at affordable prices. By the '90s, consumers in Europe wanted vehicles a bit larger with capacity for full-size families. In 1998, Fiat revived a name previously applied to a tiny five-seater and introduced its new small people carrier, the Multipla. Based on the relatively small platform shared by the Bravo and Brava, the Multipla squeezes seating for six into a space ordinarily reserved for four. To do this, decisions were made. It required stretching the corners of the cabin out in all directions, giving it a large and tall greenhouse sitting on the body of a small hatchback. The taillights look like an afterthought, but they pale in comparison to the headlights. Placed in pairs, with one up front in the typical place and another on a bulge sitting at the bottom of the windshield, the top ones receive the most ire from the public. Specifically, the windshield bulge just looks odd and out of place. Even before he had joined Top Gear, Richard Hammond on Men and Motors said, "It's got to be beautiful to somebody." He struggled to offer any more on its appearance. At least it's practical. We are all familiar with an actor or musician who once had all the fame and fortune while living in the spotlight and riding high, only to see their fortunes fade along with their talent and looks. It is a familiar tale, and it also happens to automobiles. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Buick released a production version of its XP-300 concept, a stunning limited-production convertible loaded with options as part of GM's "dream cars for the public." That ended in 1955, and Buick revived the name in 1962 as a trim for the Special and kept it going for a few more decades. The pinnacle of its development came with the 1970 Buick Skylark Gran Sport 455, a powerful and attractive muscle car coupe and the pinnacle of the muscle car era. The Skylark's decline began in the '70s, hitting what many thought was its low point around 1980 with the X-body compact Skylark that helped sully GM's already lousy reputation. But when Buick released the 6th-gen Skylark in 1992, it hit a new low. The compact Skylark's most striking feature is also its least appealing, the bird beak grille. Its wraparound body cladding does little to help, and its partial rear wheel arch harkens back to a time when Buicks were classy and elegant, everything this is not. MotorWeek called its design controversial and divisive back then, but they probably held back so GM would let them film another car. Americans' first contact with Korean automobiles happened in 1986 with the Hyundai Excel. And while Kia later arrived, other Korean automakers stayed away. SsangYong is a Korean automaker that dates back to the end of the Korean War, first building an American vehicle under license, the Jeep CJ. SsangYong continued building off-road vehicles both for the domestic market and export, but the styling department seems to have lost its way. The attractive Jeep design gave way to more dubious styling with the later Korando, Musso, and Actyon. Hideous as those cars may be, SsangYong debatably saved the worst for the Rodius in 2005. SsangYong entered into a partnership with Mercedes-Benz in 1991, gaining access to well-developed platforms and technology — SsangYong even produced its own version of the successful and reliable Mercedes W124 called the Chairman. This may have meant the Rodius received a Mercedes engine, but it appears the styling department provided nothing, leaving it to suffer from multiple design flaws. Overall, the styling is bland, with little to set it apart, but more egregious are its proportions. To make it large enough for three-row seating comfortably accommodating 7 passengers, the roof line to the rear is high and looks like the cargo area is grafted onto a sedan as an afterthought. The front looks similar to a contemporary Mercedes sedan that's been a bit inflated like a balloon to remove what makes a Mercedes distinctive. Something about it is just wrong, and it's a wonder anyone bought one at all. When considering a car's aesthetics, one must really consider it as a whole package, including its name. Car names like Jaguar, Barracuda, and Mustang all evoke images of quick and agile creatures, while Challenger and Charger sound ready to fight. So, what exactly does Juke evoke? What exactly is a Juke? Mostly, why did Nissan choose Juke? Perhaps nobody knows. Nissan's Juke has been in production for many years across two generations now, and people keep buying it for some reason. Perhaps the name doesn't matter, but its styling should. Here's a pretty good indicator that something was wrong: back when it was first introduced, a writer for The Guardian compared it to a "pug-hog hybrid." Is that what a Juke is? The Juke is a compact crossover, sometimes called a city SUV, that sits taller than most hatchbacks while offering no more space or comfort. The front fenders are fat and swoopy, while the curvy exterior slopes heavily at the rear, rendering cargo space nearly useless. With bulbous lights high on the fenders and circular ones lower in the bumpers, it is difficult to discern which are the headlights and why it has the other ones. The round headlights do evoke "bugeye" cars of the past, such as the Austin-Healey Sprite or Subaru WRX , but without the charm. It also says something that Richard Hammond of The Grand Tour has openly shared his visceral hatred of this car. But according to The Autopian , at least it's "different." So yeah, there's that. Sometimes, a car can be ugly yet endearing. A car coming up short on looks can be overcome by being a curiosity. Rarity also sometimes can boost a car's street cred, and in the United States, cars built by Communists are like hen's teeth. In continuous operation since 1851, Tatra is the oldest of Europe's automakers. While it began as a capitalist company like any other, it fell under the control of the Communist Party after WWII. To its credit, before the war's end, Nazi officers liked driving the T87 but overestimated its handling, resulting in the death of hundreds of officers. After its Nazi-killing spree, Tatra produced the 603, a large executive car. Because Russian cars were of such poor quality, Tatra was given authorization to build it. The Tatra 603 is a large sedan driven by an engine in the rear, a setup usually reserved for small cars. Also unusual is that its 2.5-liter overhead-valve Hemi head V8 used air-cooling, a genuine anomaly. Each car was hand-built and provided sumptuous accommodations with large and plush bench seats offering a supple ride. Only about 20,000 of these were built as they were only for party leaders and others who were "more equal than others" in the Orwellian communist society — Fidel Castro owned one. And while some love it for being so awesomely weird, it really is kind of an odd bird. Although it may be ugly, that is part of its appeal. The '70s were a tough time for automakers. New governmental regulations, fluctuating energy prices, and evolving consumer tastes presented constant challenges for American automakers that were further compounded by emerging foreign competition. Automakers also catered to luxury buyers, building larger and larger cars throughout the decade. But when Cadillac released its downsized 1976 Seville to compete with imported cars from Germany, Lincoln was caught out in the cold. In response, it quickly came up with the Versailles and subjected it to buyers in 1977. While the Seville was Cadillac's attempt to woo buyers with a smaller car specifically designed to compete with imported luxury cars, the Lincoln was a rushed job. To quickly get a smaller car to market, Lincoln went to Ford and picked out its midsize Granada, and gussied it up with some leather, an optional sunroof, and a new grille and dumped it onto dealers. To be fair, Lincoln added a bunch of insulation to reduce vibration and quiet the cabin, along with thicker door seals, while it installed accessories like clocks and climate control inside. It received a luxury treatment, but underneath everything, it was still a Ford Granada with little discernible difference outside. The Ford was not a particularly attractive car, and the Lincoln grille may have made it worse. Moreover, the faux spare wheel hump on the trunk was always tacky and out of place. Sales never took off, and its ugliness and rareness are now its most endearing features. It seems that automakers were once more daring. This can be partially attributed to modern regulations and technology, but also in part to the attitude and risk aversion. Modern Nissans seem to follow a script, but in the late '80s, a few of them went completely off of it. Nissan announced a four-car series in 1985 coming from its Pike Factory. However, this factory was mythical and just part of a marketing push for cars debuting in 1987, including the Be-1, Pao, Figaro, and S-Cargo. All of these were retro-inspired designs created about a decade before the 1997 Volkswagen New Beetle kicked off the retro car trend . They were also only available in Japan. The Pike cars all paid tribute to historic models to varying degrees of success. The one practical model of the bunch became the S-Cargo, a small cargo van sitting on a March platform with a 2.5-liter engine. Its name and its shape evoke that of the French delicacy escargot, and its design pays tribute to the French Citroën 2CV Fourgonnette, a cargo version of the iconic 2CV that gave mobility to the French after WWII. The bugeye headlights, curved hood, and modest cargo area strike an uncanny resemblance to the historic French car. Regardless of its historic ties, the S-Cargo is a bit unsightly and weird. And while some may think it cute, even YouTuber Doug DeMuro bought one, proclaiming it to be the "ugliest car ever made." That just about makes it official. Most Americans have little experience or even knowledge regarding French vehicles. Citroën last sold in the States in 1974, followed by Renault in 1988, and finally Peugeot in 1991. Regardless, classic French cars are quirky and often have styling you might only call unique. They have also created some genuine gems. The hydro-pneumatic suspension of the Citroën DS is a marvel of post-war engineering , while the Renault 5 Turbo is a rally beast . However, the 1961 Citroën Ami 6 falls a bit short. Wanting something to fit in the lineup between the luxurious DS and the 2CV peoples' car, Citroën came up with the Ami 6. Using the architecture of the 2CV as a base, designer Flaminio Bertoni crafted its design. Once he had an initial design prepared, management made changes to muck things up. An engine change raised the height of the hood, while Citroën management wanted different headlights placed higher up. Therefore, instead of having a raked hood, it ended up with a weird dip up front. Perhaps the worst of things is the rear glass raked rearward in an attempt to make the car look bigger with a longer roofline. Bigger looking or not, it is a questionable choice and makes the car just look plain weird. Inside, the Ami 6 is as basic as it gets, and not even the rear windows opened at first. Today, it is the perfect kind of weird for some classic car buyers, but a beauty it is not. Introducing the Tesla Cybertruck today is likely a waste of time. Anyone spending five minutes on the interwebs has surely come across it if they haven't come across one in real life. Furthermore, the company's founder seems to relish being in the spotlight, but there's no need to feed his ego here. Furthermore, calling the Cybertruck ugly will undoubtedly catch some feelings. It seems that people either love it or hate it. There is no denying its styling is bold, and that can definitely be a draw for some buyers. However, for most people's tastes, it takes bold about three steps too far, looking a bit like what you might get if asking a seven-year-old to draw a truck with crayons. Vehicle design that pushes boundaries and breaks the mold is generally a good thing that is well-received by the public. But cutting-edge design is something displayed by the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or the Lotus Emira , not something designed with a yardstick. Although the Cybertruck is full of cool features , it has already received six recalls in its first year. Only in person can you realize how huge it is, making it feel bigger and more pointless than on a screen. And for nearly $100,000, there are a dozen or more better choices. Perhaps if you want everyone to gawk at you while you drive, this is your truck. Ultimately, it is what it is. That just happens to be ugly.Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season is nearly behind us and we are getting into the games that will really make or break teams' playoff chances and seeding order. We're starting to see who is for real and whose early-season success may have been a fluke. This week kicked off with a "Thursday Night Football" matchup between the Steelers and Browns , with Cleveland defeating Pittsburgh in our first snowy game of the year. There were a lot of wild finishes this week and many close divisional matchups. The Tennessee Titans narrowly beat the Houston Texans , the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears in overtime, the Dallas Cowboys got an upset win over the Washington Commanders and a late field goal helped the Kansas City Chiefs avoid a potential shocking loss to the Carolina Panthers . The Detroit Lions are continuing to make their case for the best team in the league, defeating the Indianapolis Colts easily, while players around the league are making their case for end-of-season awards. With so much going on this week, it can be hard to keep up with it all, so we gathered some of the biggest moments from the weekend and some plays you may have missed. Wild endings The Texans had the chance to tie the game, but couldn't put it through the uprights. "THE KICK IS NO GOOD. OH MY" Texans miss a 28-yard field goal that would've tied the game 😱 pic.twitter.com/i8vmmzkTmn Once again, Jayden Daniels found a way to get the Commanders in the end zone on a long field at the end of the day. Down seven in the NFC East matchup, it looked like they were about to tie it up at home. All they needed ... JAYDEN DANIELS TO TERRY MCLAURIN NO WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!! 86 YARDS! pic.twitter.com/T3ITuxRk0c ... was the extra point, but the kick sailed to the left and the Commanders were down one with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game. NO GOOD. 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX 📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/FDg7wGy8KF It took until overtime, but the Vikings won a divisional matchup against the Bears with a walk-off field goal. . @Romo_HKA gives us the walk-off win! 📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/7wIYWyUcl2 Non-offensive TDs Remember the wild ending from above? Well, that wasn't quite the end of the game . The Commanders attempted an onside kick and not only did Washington not recover the ball, the Cowboys recovered and brought it to the house. 🚨 Juanyeh onside kick return TD 🚨 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX 📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/ZB9obI6QsA The Patriots ' struggles continue, but they have a bright spot on their defense in Christian Gonzalez . He recovered a fumble and ran 62 yards to the end zone. GONE-zo went 62 yards for the TD! 📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/3ipg1qHazL Fumble?! What fumble?! Knowing where the ball is is a crucial part of the game, but it's harder than it seems. The Buccaneers were about a yard out from the goal line when running back Sean Tucker dropped the ball. Luckily for him, no one noticed except his quarterback. Baker Mayfield leaped on the ball to save the possession. Baker was the only one to see the fumble 😅 📺: #TBvsNYG on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/PKbNRsDqRH Lions running backs continue to make history Once again, the Lions are putting themselves in the history books. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have each scored a rushing touchdown in the same game for the ninth time, which is tied for third-most by teammates in league history. They are also the first RB duo in NFL history to each record 10-plus touchdowns on the ground in consecutive seasons. David Montgomery & Jahmyr Gibbs have each scored a rush TD in the same game for the 9th time. That's tied for the 3rd most by teammates in NFL history. 🔥 @Lions | @FedEx pic.twitter.com/QwIxTTt0Uk Saquon's career night Giants fans look away. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is having a career year and is making a convincing case not just for Offensive Player of the Year, but for Most Valuable Player. The last time a running back took home the MVP award was Adrian Peterson in 2012, but Barkley leads the league in rushing yards and is making an impact in each game. On Sunday night, Barkley set Eagles franchise single-game records in rushing yards with 255 and scrimmage yards with 302. He has over 500 scrimmage yards in the last two games, becoming just the third player in NFL history with 500 scrimmage yards over a two-game span. Like this if you love Saquon Barkley. RT this if you love Saquon Barkley. Reply that you love Saquon Barkley. @saquon | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/0h0Whzyn49

Atria Investments Inc acquired a new position in shares of CarGurus, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CARG – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 8,226 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $247,000. A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Signaturefd LLC lifted its stake in CarGurus by 81.3% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 959 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 430 shares during the last quarter. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of CarGurus during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. CWM LLC lifted its position in shares of CarGurus by 54.1% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,381 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of CarGurus by 43.5% in the 2nd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,579 shares of the company’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 479 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of CarGurus by 25.9% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,066 shares of the company’s stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 425 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.90% of the company’s stock. Insider Transactions at CarGurus In related news, CEO Jason Trevisan sold 10,000 shares of CarGurus stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.41, for a total transaction of $354,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 779,606 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,605,848.46. This trade represents a 1.27 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, COO Samuel Zales sold 25,168 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.43, for a total transaction of $891,702.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 442,321 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,671,433.03. This represents a 5.38 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 71,065 shares of company stock valued at $2,356,336 in the last ninety days. 17.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. CarGurus Price Performance Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on CARG shares. JMP Securities boosted their price target on shares of CarGurus from $41.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on CarGurus from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Oppenheimer raised their price target on CarGurus from $32.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of CarGurus from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, BTIG Research increased their target price on shares of CarGurus from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $37.86. Read Our Latest Stock Report on CARG CarGurus Profile ( Free Report ) CarGurus, Inc operates an online automotive platform for buying and selling vehicles in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, U.S. Marketplace and Digital Wholesale. The company provides an online automotive marketplace where customers can search for new and used car listings from its dealers and sell their car to dealers and other consumers; and paid listings subscriptions for enhanced access to its marketplace that connects dealers to a large audience of informed and engaged consumers. Read More Five stocks we like better than CarGurus The How And Why of Investing in Oil Stocks Vertiv’s Cool Tech Makes Its Stock Red-Hot How to Know if a Stock Pays Dividends and When They Are Paid Out MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/18 – 11/22 2 Fintech Stocks to Buy Now and 1 to Avoid 2 Finance Stocks With Competitive Advantages You Can’t Ignore Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CARG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CarGurus, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CARG – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for CarGurus Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CarGurus and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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A snowball fight at Kidd Brewer Stadium ? There were elements of that Saturday in Boone, North Carolina, when JMU football stood in the tunnel waiting to enter the field in its game against Appalachian State . In a snowy stadium, fans standing by the visitors tunnel hurled snowballs and other objects at the Dukes while they stood in the tunnel. The players had pads and helmets on, but not everyone in the tunnel did. JMU football coach Bob Chesney said even after coming out of the tunnel before the game, snowballs kept falling. He thought there were a few instances during the game. @SunBelt when do your officials plan on stopping the snowballs being thrown on the field at JMU players lined up for the snap? The warning should have been made at the beginning of the game with a penalty for this. pic.twitter.com/4vPADFgAf9 "I thought at one point on the PAT, a snowball hit our long snapper," Chesney said. "It's just what they're doing and who they are and it's exciting." JMU and Appalachian State have developed a rivalry since the Dukes moved to the Sun Belt. In 2022 — during the Dukes' transition year before they were officially part of FBS — JMU came back to win after being down 28-3. In 2023, the Mountaineers beat the Dukes at home in overtime with College GameDay in town. It was JMU's first game at Kidd Brewer Stadium since that comeback win two years ago. The Dukes were greeted with snowballs, among other projectiles. Chesney said he appreciated the fanfare, but was concerned for his staff members who had to go back and forth through the tunnel without protection. "You didn't love going up and down the ramp with ice (thrown) at you," Chesney said. "Especially with coaches and everybody else in there without helmets on. "I think they need to do a little bit of a better job of making sure they protected those people." Those staff members included JMU coaches, support staff and athletic trainers among others. At one point, Chesney's son was out there as well. I mean ... is this not a penalty? Kind of insane the Sun Belt threatened JMU fans for throwing streamers with penalties yet this goes unnoticed https://t.co/w3A1D744Uq As of Monday, Chesney hadn't received official word from the Sun Belt about what happened. He has not heard anything from JMU athletic director Mark Roan, either. "It was interesting coming up through that tunnel," Chesney said, "the unprotected areas with the ice being thrown over, that was an interesting moment, especially with the coaches and our trainers and everybody else. "It was not the greatest situation, but I think we all survived. I thought they could have done a better job, especially with the security people watching them. I think there could have been a little more done to protect those people, especially without the helmets on." Savannah Reger (804) 649-6772 [email protected] @SavannahReger17 on X Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Farrakhan leads Hampton past Duquesne 64-59Stock market today: Asian shares are mostly lower, with most world markets closed for Christmas BANGKOK (AP) — Shares are lower in Tokyo and Shanghai, two of only a handful of world markets open on Christmas day. Oil prices rose. On Tuesday, stocks closed higher on Wall Street in a shortened holiday session. Gains in Big Tech stocks helped the S&P 500 to a 1.1% gain, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%. The Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended mostly higher after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields held steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was little changed at 4.59% Undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia hit by outage, prompting investigation FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finland’s prime minister says authorities are investigating an interruption in a power cable under the Baltic Sea between his country and Estonia. Petteri Orpo said on X that power transmission through the Estlink-2 cable suffered an outage Wednesday. Authorities have been on edge about undersea infrastructure in the Baltic after two international data cables were severed in November and the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany were blown up in September 2022. Japan to maximize nuclear power in clean-energy push as electricity demand grows TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese government panel has largely supported a draft energy policy calling for bolstering renewables up to half of Japanese electricity needs by 2040. It also recommends maximizing the use of nuclear power to accommodate the growing demand for power in the era of AI while meeting decarbonization targets. Cabinet is expected to formally approve the plan by March following a period of public consultation. The policy says nuclear energy should account for 20% of Japan’s energy supply in 2040, with renewables expanded to 40-50% and coal-fired power reduced to 30-40%. Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus WASHINGTON (AP) — A powerful government panel has failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of a nearly $15 billion proposed deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. Steel. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on Monday sent its long-awaited report to President Joe Biden, a longtime opponent of the deal. Some federal agencies represented on the panel were skeptical that allowing a Japanese company to buy an American-owned steelmaker would create national security risks. That's according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. Both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump opposed the merger and vowed to block it. Nippon Steel says it is confident the deal will go ahead. Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Survey: Small businesses are feeling more optimistic about the economy after the election A survey shows small business owners are feeling more optimistic about the economy following the election. The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Small Business Optimism Index rose by eight points in November to 101.7, its highest reading since June 2021. The Uncertainty Index declined 12 points in November to 98, following October’s pre-election record high of 110. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said small business owners became more certain about future business conditions following the presidential election, breaking a nearly three-year streak of record high uncertainty. The survey also showed that more owners are also hoping 2025 will be a good time to grow. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. Stock market today: Wall Street rallies ahead of Christmas Stocks closed higher on Wall Street ahead of the Christmas holiday, led by gains in Big Tech stocks. The S&P 500 added 1.1% Tuesday. Trading closed early ahead of the holiday. Tech companies including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom helped pull the market higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended mostly higher after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was little changed at 4.59%

In addition to regulatory measures and affordable housing initiatives, the meeting underscored the significance of enhancing financial supervision and risk management in the real estate sector. By strengthening oversight mechanisms and monitoring financial activities more closely, the government seeks to prevent systemic risks and ensure the stability of the financial system. This proactive approach is essential for safeguarding the overall economy against potential shocks from the real estate market.Parliamentary Productivityfortune ox onde jogar 。

By Anna Helhoski, NerdWallet The battle to get here was certainly an uphill one, but people are generally feeling better about the economy and their finances than they once did. On top of that, the economy has been easing into an ideal, Goldilocks-like position — not running too hot or cooling too quickly. Throughout 2024, consumer sentiment data showed people were fairly positive about the economy and their own finances, even if there’s remaining frustration over elevated prices compared to four years ago. Looking ahead, households are feeling more optimistic about their personal finances in the next year, as the share of those expecting to be in a better financial situation a year from now hit its highest level since February 2020. Combine positive personal vibes with a strong economic picture and it looks like 2024 wasn’t so bad for consumers, after all. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t bumps in the road or potential roadblocks ahead. To cap off the year, NerdWallet writers reflect on the top trends in personal finance and the economy this year — and what they think might be ahead in 2025. Elizabeth Renter, NerdWallet’s economist What happened: In 2024, U.S. consumers have proven resilient following a period of high inflation and ongoing high interest rates. Wage growth has been strong, owing in part to rising productivity. This has driven robust spending throughout the year, which has kept the economy growing at a healthy pace. The labor market has remained steady, though cooler than 2023, and price growth continues to moderate towards the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation goal. What’s ahead: Barring significant changes to economic policy and significant shocks, the U.S. economy is expected to grow at a moderate rate in the coming year. Inflation will continue to moderate and the labor market will remain relatively healthy, all due in part to continued slow and deliberate rate cuts from the Fed. However, there are risks to this path. Higher tariffs and tighter immigration policies are likely, but the extent of these changes are yet unclear. The potential policy scenarios are many, and the economic outcomes complex. Increased tariffs are generally inflationary, and stricter immigration policies could impact the labor supply and economic growth. Consumers and small business owners with their eyes to the new year should focus on the things within their control. Margarette Burnette, consumer banking and savings writer What happened: High-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit offered elevated rates in 2024, rewarding savers with strong returns. Following the Federal Reserve rate cuts in the second half of the year, high-yield accounts had modest rate decreases, but they continued to outperform traditional savings accounts and CDs. What’s ahead: We’re watching for further Federal Reserve rate cuts, which could lead to more decreases in savings rates. Sara Rathner, credit cards writer What happened: Credit card debt levels hit record highs, with consumers turning to credit cards to pay for necessities. While the economy is doing well, many individuals have struggled to make ends meet, as incomes haven’t kept up with certain costs. What’s ahead: We may see some policy and regulation changes with the incoming administration that could affect folks when it comes to credit cards, debt and consumer protections. Ryan Brady, small business writer What happened : New businesses continued to blossom in 2024 as business applications remained well above pre-pandemic levels. Confidence in the future state of the U.S. economy also spiked after the presidential election, but that optimism was tempered by concerns over rising costs and labor quality. What’s ahead: All eyes are on the incoming administration as small-business owners brace for turbulence resulting from potential tariffs, tax policy changes and dismantled government regulations. We’re also watching the possibility of interest rate cuts in 2025 and small-business owners’ growing reliance on new technologies, such as AI. Holden Lewis, mortgages writer What happened: Home buyers struggled with elevated mortgage rates, rising house prices and a shortage of homes for sale. On top of that, a new rule required buyers to negotiate their agents’ commissions. What’s ahead: The Federal Reserve is expected to cut short-term interest rates, but mortgage rates might not necessarily fall by a similar amount. Buyers will probably have more properties to choose from, and the greater supply should keep prices from rising a lot. Interest rates on home equity loans and lines of credit should fall, making it less expensive to borrow to fix up homes — either to sell, or to make the home more comfortable and efficient. Sam Taube, investing writer What happened: The stock market had a great year. The S&P 500 is up more than 25% due to falling interest rates, fading recession fears, AI hype, and the possibility of lighter taxes and regulations under the new administration. Cryptocurrency also saw big gains in 2024; the price of Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time in December. What’s ahead: A lot depends on how fast the Fed reduces rates in 2025. Another key unknown is Trump’s second term. Regulatory rollbacks, such as those he has proposed for the banking industry, could juice stock prices — but they also could create systemic risks in the economy. His proposed tariffs could also hurt economic growth (and therefore stock prices). Finally, it remains to be seen whether trendy AI stocks, such as NVIDIA, can continue their momentum into next year. It’s the same story with crypto: How long will this bull market last? Caitlin Constantine, assistant assigning editor, insurance What happened: Many people saw their home and auto insurance premiums skyrocket in 2024. In some states, homeowners are finding it harder to even find policies in the first place. Meanwhile, life insurance rates have started to decrease post-pandemic. We also saw more insurers offering online-only policies that don’t require a medical exam. What’s ahead: Auto and home insurance costs will likely continue to rise, although auto premiums may not rise as dramatically as they have over the past few years. And if you’re in the market for life insurance, expect to see competitive life insurance quotes and more customizable policies. Eliza Haverstock, student loans writer What happened: Borrowers received historic student loan relief, but lawsuits derailed an income-driven repayment plan used by 8 million whose payments are indefinitely paused. Uncertainty will carry into 2025 as a result of the presidential administration change. What’s ahead: Trump has pledged to overhaul higher education and rein in student loan relief. The fate of the SAVE repayment plan, student loan forgiveness options, FAFSA processing and more remain in the balance. Meghan Coyle, assistant assigning editor, travel What happened: People are willing to pay more for big and small luxuries while traveling, and airlines and hotels are taking note. Many airlines raised checked bag fees early in 2024, credit card issuers and airlines invested in renovated airport lounges, and major hotel companies continued to add luxury properties and brands to their loyalty programs. What’s ahead: Southwest will say goodbye to its open seating policy and introduce new extra-legroom seats, a major departure for the airline. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will unveil a unified loyalty program in 2025. Spirit Airlines may attempt to merge with another airline again after its 2024 bankruptcy filing and two failed mergers under President Biden’s administration. Travelers will find that they’ll have to pay a premium to enjoy most of the upgrades airlines and hotels are making. Laura McMullen, assistant assigning editor, personal finance What happened: This year, dynamic pricing expanded beyond concerts and travel to online retailers and even fast-food restaurants. This practice of prices changing based on real-time supply and demand received plenty of backlash from consumers and prompted the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how companies use consumers’ data to set prices. What’s ahead: Beyond an expansion of dynamic pricing — perhaps with added oversight — expect subscription models to become more prevalent and demand for sustainable products to grow. Shannon Bradley, autos writer What happened: New-car prices held steady in 2024 but remained high after a few years of sharp increases — the average new car now sells for about $48,000, and for the first time ever the price gap between new and used cars surpassed $20,000 (average used-car prices are now slightly more than $25,000). Overall, the car market returned to being in the buyer’s favor, as new-car inventories reached pre-pandemic levels, manufacturer incentives began making a comeback and auto loan interest rates started to decline. What’s ahead: The future of the car market is uncertain and depends on policies implemented by the incoming administration. Questions surround the impact of possible tariffs on car prices, whether auto loan rates will continue to drop, and if federal tax credits will still be available for electric vehicle buyers. Jackie Veling, personal loans writer What happened: Buy now, pay later continued to be a popular payment choice for U.S. shoppers, even while facing headwinds, like an interpretive ruling from the CFPB (which determined BNPL should be regulated the same as credit cards) and Apple’s discontinuation of its popular Apple Pay Later product. Large players like Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay continued to offer interest-free, pay-in-four plans at most major retailers, along with long-term plans for larger purchases. What’s ahead: Though more regulation had been widely anticipated in 2025, the change in administration suggests the CFPB will play a less active role in regulating BNPL products. For this reason, and its continued strength in the market, BNPL will likely keep growing. Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Easing inflation was a bright spot in 2024. In June, the consumer price index fell below 3% for the first time in three years. Consumers saw prices level off or decline for many goods, including for groceries, gas and new and used vehicles. But prices haven’t fallen far enough or broadly enough to relieve the pinch many households feel. What’s ahead: The new and higher tariffs proposed by the Trump administration could reignite inflation on a wide range of goods. Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Rent prices remain high, but annual rent inflation slowed significantly compared to recent years, staying around 3.5% for much of 2024, according to Zillow, a real estate website that tracks rents. A wave of newly constructed rental units on the market seems to be helping ease competition among renters and forcing landlords to offer better incentives for signing a lease. What’s ahead: If it continues, a softening rental market could work in renters’ favor. But construction is one of several industries that could see a shortage of workers if the Trump administration follows through on its promise to deport undocumented immigrants. A shortage of workers would mean fewer houses and apartments could be built. Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: After a contentious presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump declared victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. While on the campaign trail, Trump promised to lower inflation, cut taxes, enact tariffs, weaken the power of the Federal Reserve, deport undocumented immigrants and more. Many economists have said Trump’s proposals, if enacted, would likely be inflationary. In Congress, Republicans earned enough seats to control both houses. What’s ahead: It’s unclear which campaign promises Trump will fulfill on his own and with the support of the new Congress. He has promised a slew of “day one” actions that could lead to higher prices, including across-the-board tariffs and mass deportations. Most recently, Trump pledged to enact 20% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on China. He has also promised to extend or make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; many of its provisions expire by the end of 2025. Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: Fiscal year 2023-2024’s funding saga finally came to an end in March, then six months later, the battle to fund the fiscal year 2024-2025 began. The Biden Administration waged its own war against junk fees . Antitrust enforcers pushed back against tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta; prevented the Kroger-Albertsons merger; nixed the Jet Blue-Spirit Airlines merger; and moved to ban noncompete agreements. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as well as a challenge to abortion pill access. SCOTUS also overruled its landmark Chevron case, which means every federal regulatory agency’s power to set and enforce its own rules are now weaker. What’s ahead: The election’s red sweep means the GOP will control the executive and legislative branches of government. They’ll face the threat of at least one more potential government shutdown; a debt ceiling drama comeback; and the beginning of the debate over extending or making permanent provisions of the expiring 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Anna Helhoski writes for NerdWallet. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @AnnaHelhoski. The article What Trended in Personal Finance in 2024? originally appeared on NerdWallet .

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## Week 4:The case came to light after an extensive investigation by the intelligence agencies, revealing that the individual had been involved in passing on sensitive information to foreign entities in exchange for financial gain. This act of betrayal not only undermined the trust and confidence placed in them by their country, but also put the safety and well-being of the nation at risk.

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Bad Axe: Wisconsin wary of rival Minnesota with bowl bid in perilSonic the Hedgehog 3 Movie Scheduled for Mainland China Release on January 10 Next YearCounterfeiting is a serious crime that undermines the stability of a country's economy and tarnishes the integrity of its financial system. The act of creating fake money not only deceives individuals and businesses, but also threatens the overall trust and confidence in a nation's currency.

MILWAUKEE , Nov. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) Board of Directors has approved a cash dividend of $0.1725 per share for the fourth quarter of 2024. The dividend is payable December 23, 2024 to the shareholders of record of the Company's common stock as of December 10, 2024 . Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. ### (HOG-DIVIDEND) View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/harley-davidson-inc-declares-dividend-302317850.html SOURCE Harley-Davidson, Inc.Bad Axe: Wisconsin wary of rival Minnesota with bowl bid in peril

BOARDWALKTECH REPORTS SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Receiver Demarcus Robinson will not be suspended by the Los Angeles Rams this week after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Robinson will be available to play when the Rams (5-6) visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Rams coach Sean McVay said Wednesday. “I think he does understand the severity of this, and how lucky we were that nobody was injured,” McVay said. “I do believe that he's remorseful. We are going to let the legal process take place. The league has a process as well.” Robinson was arrested early Monday morning after California Highway Patrol officers observed a white Dodge sedan driving over 100 mph on the 101 freeway in the western San Fernando Valley, a few miles from the Rams’ training complex in Woodland Hills. The driver, who identified himself as Robinson, had “objective signs and symptoms of alcohol impairment,” the CHP said in a statement released to The Associated Press. Robinson spoke to the team and expressed remorse about his arrest, McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “I think it was a bad decision he made,” McVay said. “I don't think that makes him a bad person, and I do believe this is something that, with the words that he said, our guys will learn from it, and hopefully nobody is ever going to repeat something like this. Let it be a learning opportunity, and a fortunate outcome that nobody was injured.” Robinson has 26 receptions for 384 yards and a team-leading six touchdown catches while starting all 11 games in his second season with the Rams . He caught a TD pass in the Rams' 37-20 loss to Philadelphia several hours before his arrest. The nine-year NFL veteran has served as a capable No. 3 option for Stafford behind star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Robinson spent his first six NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Super Bowl ring in February 2020, and spent one year with Baltimore before joining the Rams last year. “Let this be a lesson to all of us,” Stafford said. “We're lucky with the result that came of it, to be honest with you, that nobody was hurt or injured. I know that D-Rob is a great person. I love being around him. Love him as a teammate. ... I'm just trying to support him, help him out any way I can.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLThe concept of moderate loosening denotes a cautious and measured approach to adjusting monetary policy to stimulate economic growth while also guarding against the risks of inflation and financial instability. This balanced strategy involves keeping interest rates low, facilitating credit availability, and injecting liquidity into the financial system to support businesses and households.

El Salvador Congress votes to end ban on metal mining

fortune ox pg png In conclusion, the consultation on Arsenal's left side reveals a glaring weakness that is hindering the team's progress and impacting the performance of key players like Bukayo Saka. Urgent action is needed to address this issue and provide the necessary support and quality to fully utilize the talents of Saka and improve the overall effectiveness of the team. Arsenal must act swiftly and decisively to rectify the left-sided deficiencies and ensure a brighter future for the club.A New Cold Air Mass is Shipping Out: Cooling Temperatures Set to Reach Southern China

Overall, the recent Political Bureau meeting has provided valuable insights into the government's economic policy direction and priorities. The emphasis on unconventional approaches, moderate stimulus, and a comprehensive strategy for growth sets a positive tone for the country's economic outlook. By staying vigilant, proactive, and adaptive in the face of challenges, China is well-positioned to navigate the current uncertainties and emerge stronger in the post-pandemic era.

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Wenkers Wright ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns and No. 13 Illinois State knocked off North Dakota for the first time, 35-13 in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday. The Redbirds are 9-2 (6-2 Missouri Valley Conference) and are looking to reach the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2019 and sixth time in Brock Spack's 16 seasons as head coach. Illinois State opened the game with some trickery. Eddie Kasper pulled up on a fleaflicker and launched a 30-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Loyd to cap a seven-play, 70-yard opening drive. Simon Romfo tied it on North Dakota's only touchdown of the day, throwing 20 yards to Nate DeMontagnac. Wright scored from the 10 to make it 14-7 after a quarter, and after C.J. Elrichs kicked a 20-yard field goal midway through the second to make it 14-10 at intermission, Wright powered in from the 18 and Mitch Bartol caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Rittenhouse to make it 28-10 after three. Seth Glatz added a 13-yard touchdown run to make it 35-10 before Elrichs added a 37-yard field goal to get the Fighting Hawks on the board to set the final margin. Rittenhouse finished 21 of 33 passing for 187 yards for Illinois State. Loyd caught eight passes for 121 yards. Romfo completed 11 of 26 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown with an interception for North Dakota (5-7, 2-6). Illinois State faced North Dakota for just the fourth time and third time as Missouri Valley Conference opponents. The Redbirds lost the previous three meetings. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThe launch of Sora has sparked a wave of excitement in the tech community, with experts praising its capabilities and potential applications. From natural language processing to image recognition, Sora is poised to set new benchmarks for AI performance and efficiency.The TCL QM8 (2024) features rich colors and searing brightness. It has enhanced audio over last year's model, while still being easy to set up and navigate. I wish the viewing angles weren't somewhat limited, and you'll want to wait for a deal to buy one. The TCL QM8 (2024) is selling at a $600 discount (and more depending on screen size) at Best Buy As this year's top-of-the-line offering, TCL's latest flagship TV, the QM8 , promised to be a notable upgrade from the 2023 version. I spent some time with it over the past month to see what the hype was about. The first pleasant surprise I encountered was how TCL made it very easy to unbox the 65-inch model we had sent to the ZDNET lab. With a single slice of the cardboard on the bottom of one side of the box, the top lifted off to liberate the TV for setup. Also: The best Cyber Monday deals still live While this is super convenient, handling the TV and attaching its base stand -- as with any other large TV -- is best executed with a two-person job. (By the way, the 65-inch is the smallest of the QM851G series, with 98 inches at the high end of the scale.) TCL QM8 (2024) Starting at $899 with this deal, the QM8 offers crazy value for its size and assortment of features. One notable change compared to last year's model is that the QM8 now has a single central platform for its base instead of two separate feet. This assemblage equates to a sturdy unit with plenty of stability and allows the TV to sit on a coffee table or media stand that is less than the screen's total width. Powered off, the QM8 looks like a sleek, black rectangle with virtually no bezel surrounding its 57 x 32.5-inch frame. The slim sides of the unit have a brushed gunmetal finish -- giving it a subtle and elegant appearance. You'd normally have to pay a fraction more of the price to get something of a similar definition. The unit's remote feels comfortable to hold at a rather narrow 1.25 inches wide. The keys are fully backlit and include a mic button for voice commands via Google. It also features shortcut buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV, Pluto, and, of course, TCL+tv. Naturally, these are the default apps appearing on the home page of the TV's interface. I found it curious that the TCL+tv app appeared twice in the list of available apps (instead of Apple TV or Pluto) -- but it is a TCL television, after all. Knowing very few people read the instructions for using a TV, I grabbed the remote and gave it an "intuition test" to see how quickly I could connect to the internet and get started. The QM8's user interface is clean and straightforward, and it runs on the Google TV platform, an operating system that leans more minimal than feature-rich -- a good thing, in my book. Overall, getting started was a fairly breezy process. Also: Changing these 6 TV settings can drastically speed up its performance Okay, I'll get to the part about performance and picture quality. The QM8 is a QLED TV with mini-LED backlighting, meaning it's even brighter than most OLED models . In fact, the QM8 boasts up to 5,000 nits peak brightness, which is significantly higher than most of TCL's competitors in the same price range. Many high-end TVs, including other mini-LED models, typically max out at around 2,000 nits. Mini-LED TVs use an array of LEDs to create precise dimming zones, and with up to 5,000 local dimming zones, the QM8 offers superior contrast control. This high number of zones allows for more precise backlight modulation and deeper blacks. The QM8's other advanced technologies, like Quantum Dot color enhancement and Dolby Vision IQ, result in exceptional image quality, high contrast, and vivid colors. Ultra-high definition 4K resolution helps, as does its HDR10+ support, which yields a wider range of colors and brightness levels than the standard dynamic range. As a boost over last year's model, the QM8 comes with an upgraded processor (the AiPQ Pro), which leverages machine learning to activate AI-based enhancements such as AI Clarity and AI Motion. Positioning myself off-center, however, I found the TV's viewing angles to be relatively narrow, degrading the picture quality in terms of color accuracy and contrast. This is a minor complaint, but something to consider in setting up your seating arrangement. Also: Can't hear TV dialogue? 3 ways to improve your audio - and 2 are completely free The QM8's panel has a variety of connection options, including four HDMI 2.1 ports, two of which support 4K 120Hz pass-through, FreeSync Premium Pro, and 144Hz VRR. Additionally, there are three USB ports and a 3.5mm audio output for connecting headphones. Other 3.5mm port options include a composite video and stereo audio input, plus an optical digital audio output. It has an ATSC 3.0 tuner jack (in case the grid collapses?), but you'll mostly be relying on its Wi-Fi 6 for zippy connectivity. The QM8 also has an Ethernet port, covering the bases for those who prefer wired internet . For gamers, the QM8 has some attractive features. It supports up to 144Hz variable refresh rate at 4K resolution, which I've found very enjoyable. But it also has a "Game Accelerator 240" feature that can make gameplay seamless at 240Hz VRR -- at the cost of gaming at half resolution 1080p. No less, combined with the inherent brightness and contrast in this model, the gaming experience is secretly one of the QM8's best assets. Also: OLED vs. QLED TV: Which panel type is best suited for your home? The QM8's Onkyo-designed speaker system has an 80-watt, 2.1.2-channel configuration -- a notable improvement from the 2023 model, which had relatively puny 20-watt, 2.1-channel speakers. The new model includes two up-firing Dolby Atmos speakers positioned on the left and right sides of the frame. In addition to Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, the audio quality is certified as IMAX Enhanced. Watching old episodes of Lost, I found the QM8's sound crisp and bold. What I appreciate most is the TV's auto volume control, which levels out sudden decibel boosts like explosions -- and especially pesky commercials. ZDNET's buying advice Going for less than $900 on Best Buy at the time of this writing, the TCL QM8 offers crazy value for its size and assortment of features. Comparable models from the likes of Sony could be priced for twice as much. If you want to go larger, sizes like the 75-inch QM8 are on sale for $700 off, starting at $1,299. You can even supersize it to the 98-inch for $3,923 -- a whopping $2,076 off. If you prioritize brightness, contrast, and high-level gaming, the QM8, at any size, is a solid investment for the cost. Just make sure you're able to position the TV (and yourself) well enough to get the best, centered viewing angle and, hopefully, have a helping hand when first unboxing the set. Best Cyber Monday deals Best Cyber Monday TV deals Best Cyber Monday streaming deals Best Cyber Monday AirPods deals

One of the key factors that sets TSMC apart from its competitors is its unwavering commitment to research and development. The company's world-class team of engineers and scientists have worked tirelessly to push the boundaries of semiconductor technology, resulting in the successful development of the 3nm process node. This technological breakthrough has not only bolstered TSMC's reputation as a pioneer in the industry but has also positioned the company at the forefront of the next wave of innovation.FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team said Thursday that additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday at Philadelphia and in the final game at home against Washington. The team said surgery was not expected to be required. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before last weekend's 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay . The decision on Lamb means the Cowboys will finish the regular season with at least five former Pro Bowlers on injured reserve. Among the others are quarterback Dak Prescott, who was limited to eight games before a season-ending hamstring tear, and right guard Zack Martin. The seven-time All-Pro made it through 10 games before deciding on season-ending ankle surgery. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence didn't playing after Week 4 because of a foot injury, and cornerback Trevon Diggs battled a variety of injuries while playing 11 games before a knee injury ended his season. Lamb initially injured his right shoulder when it hit the turf hard twice in a 27-21 loss at Atlanta on Nov. 3. He kept playing and had at least 100 yards in each of his last two games — both victories — before getting shut down. The 25-year-old Lamb sat out the entire offseason and preseason in a contract dispute after getting career highs in catches (an NFL-best 135), yards receiving (club-record 1,749) and touchdowns (12) in 2023. The holdout finally ended with a $136 million, four-year extension in late August, but neither the Cowboys nor their star receiver could get that production going again this season. Dallas (7-8) is missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020, Lamb's rookie year. Lamb finishes the season with 101 catches for 1,194 yards and six TDs. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL The Associated Press