State Papers: Taoiseach doubted Sinn Féin and SDLP accurately represented nationalists in the NorthRenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR) Stake Increased by Citigroup Inc.winph vip 。

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McGill runs for 2TDs and North Texas becomes bowl eligible by beating Temple 24-17Is AMD Stock a Buy Now?

winph7. com We’re now into the final month of what has been a crazy, volatile 2024. This has seasoned and new investors alike wondering about Canadian stock picks for 2025. Here’s a look at some of the options to consider buying now and into 2025. Most investors are aware of ( ) as one of the largest of Canada’s big telecoms. BCE operates a nationwide network of subscription-based services, which includes wireline, wireless, internet and TV segments. Those segments, which also boast some defensive appeal, provide a recurring revenue stream that helps BCE to pay out a very generous quarterly dividend with a yield of 10.5%. Why is BCE one of the Canadian stock picks for 2025? The telecom has come under increasing pressure in the past few years, particularly as rising interest rates have made borrowing more expensive. Rising costs have also pushed BCE to limit capital investments and turn to cost-cutting. Those cost-cutting efforts include staffing reductions, selling off parts of its media arm, and even its interest in MLSE. In the most recent quarter, the company posted a net loss of $1.2 billion. This led the company to announce it was halting dividend increases. Ouch. So then, why is BCE one of the Canadian stock picks for 2025? The stock is trading down significantly, despite its long-term defensive appeal. BCE is also expanding into the U.S. market through its Ziply acquisition, which should provide long-term growth. While waiting for that growth to come, investors can enjoy that juicy dividend. Canada’s are often regarded as great long-term investment options. And if investors are looking for Canadian stock picks for 2025, the big banks are always near the top of that list. So then, what big bank should investors turn to in 2025? That would be Canada’s third-largest lender, ( ). Coincidentally, the bank just announced results for the fourth fiscal, which were below expectations. This led to the stock taking a dip. As of the time of writing, Scotiabank is trading down nearly 3%, but that doesn’t paint the picture Scotiabank should be one of the Canadian stock picks for 2025. Scotiabank is Canada’s most international bank. That includes a presence in developing markets of Latin America as well as a growing presence in the U.S. and Mexico. That presence provides higher growth potential over the saturated and mature domestic market in Canada. And apart from that stellar growth potential, Scotiabank also pays out a handsome dividend. As of the time of writing, the dividend works out to a tasty 5.3%, making it one of the better-paying among the big banks. It would be hard to compile a list of Canadian stock picks for 2025 (or any year for that manner) and not mention ( ). For those unfamiliar with the stock, Fortis is one of the largest utility stocks on the market. Utilities like Fortis are great long-term investment options for any portfolio thanks to their reliable business models. In short, utilities are tasked with providing a utility service, for which they are compensated. That compensation is set out in long-term regulated contracts that can span decades. This means that utilities generate a recurring revenue stream that leaves room for both investing in growth as well as paying out a . As of the time of writing, Fortis’ dividend works out to a respectable 3.9% yield. Adding to that appeal is Fortis’ status as a Dividend King. This means Fortis has provided investors with annual bumps to that dividend going back at least 50 consecutive years. This easily makes Fortis one of the Canadian stock picks for 2025 and beyond No stock is without some risk, including the trio of options mentioned above. Fortunately, all three of the stocks above provide some defensive appeal and juicy yields. In my opinion, one or all of the above should be a core holding in any well-diversified portfolio.

Ken Sugiura: Georgia Tech’s 8-overtime defeat reveals a new reality in rivalry with GeorgiaCruise into this holiday season with a non-traditional vacation

There's been no shortage of great this year, but a certain model comes to mind when we think of those that stand out in a crowded market of brilliant offerings. This is, of course, the which served up an absolute treat in our testing room, ensuring it a five-star review. Panasonic tends to impress with its TVs, offering a delightful "as the director intended" experience, and that is certainly the case with its flagship 2024 model. This TV is also notable for spearheading Panasonic's triumphant return to the US; there's just one problem with it that we identified. The 65-inch Z95A carried a wallet-shattering launch price of £3899 / $3200, which quite understandably ruled it out for many who simply couldn't justify paying that much for a TV. However, we have to thank as of now, as the 65-inch Z95A can currently be found at – that's a colossal saving of £1300 on a brand new OLED TV. For our US readers. you'll be pleased to hear that this deal has been mirrored on your side of the pond, with a deal on Amazon that knocks the price – saving you $901. The Panasonic Z95A picks up where the equally impressive left off, delivering a stunning picture performance with enhanced brightness thanks to the . This panel has been spotted in the and too, but Panasonic's implementation is simply the best of the trio. We praised this TV's "authentic and natural picture" in our full review, and while it likes to keep things balanced and immersive, it's not afraid to reach for punchier colours and bolder brightness when necessary. Most notably, we were huge fans of how this TV handles contrast, as three-dimensional depth is simply marvellous on this set. Where this TV changes most from its predecessor is in its feature set. It still has just two sockets (for with and ) and HDR support for all of the major formats (HDR10, , and HLG), but the operating system has been switched from Panasonic's underwhelming My Home Screen interface, for the much more popular and universal Amazon Fire TV OS. This means that the Z95A operates like a in many ways, meaning navigation is simple, app support is plentiful and updates will (most likely) be frequent. It is a little ad-heavy for our liking, but it's a huge improvement over Panasonic's previous effort. Rounding things out with audio, the Z95A sports an impressive 5.1.2 sound system with a dedicated up-firing channel. It's been tuned by legendary hi-fi brand Technics, which Pansonic owns, and it delivers an impressive 160W of power output. It's still outperformed by a dedicated sound system, but it's an impressive-sounding package by built-in TV speaker standards. If you're after a premium TV that delivers a class-leading cinematic picture experience, then this TV is tough to beat, especially with a Black Friday saving of £1300/$901. And if 65 inches is too big for your living room, then you can find a .None

Cruise into this holiday season with a non-traditional vacationFootball fans, pull out your jerseys and paint your faces – the VRBO Fiesta Bowl is gearing up for an explosive showdown on Tuesday. The city of Glendale is buzzing as the big game approaches, promising a spectacular sporting event to close out the year. According to the official Glendale website , guests attending the event should be prepared for heightened security measures: pack light and arrive early to avoid delays at security checkpoints. Tickets for the Fiesta Bowl can be quite the hot commodity, so those planning to cheer from the stands should act fast. For anyone still scrambling to secure a spot, you might want to hit the resale market or lean on that friend who knows a guy. The Glendale, AZ news suggests, "Getting to the stadium early is always a good idea." They're not wrong—traffic on game day is as predictable as a Hail Mary pass. The Fiesta Bowl isn't just a gridiron battle; it's also a beacon of innovation in sports entertainment. In addition to the live-action, fans will get a taste of cutting-edge presentations and activities around the stadium, making the event a blend of traditional sports viewing and a futuristic fan experience. No wonder the anticipation is as high as an end-zone bound football spiraling through the air. According to the City of Glendale , early arrivals can partake in pre-game festivities, which include food, games, and merchandise vendors ready to get visitors into the team spirit. And remember, in the heat of all the excitement, stay hydrated. The December sun can be surprisingly crisp, even if we're not tackling summer temperatures. Whether you're there for the love of the game, the halftime spectacle, or simply to be part of the vibrant atmosphere, the VRBO Fiesta Bowl is an event that promises to deliver thrills galore. For additional information on transportation, parking, and stadium policies, fans are directed to visit www.glendaleaz.com . With the year winding down and the excitement cranking up, the Fiesta Bowl proves to be the ultimate capstone to 2024's sporting calendar.DETROIT (AP) — For most of a century, the Detroit Lions making the playoffs was a banner day. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * DETROIT (AP) — For most of a century, the Detroit Lions making the playoffs was a banner day. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? DETROIT (AP) — For most of a century, the Detroit Lions making the playoffs was a banner day. Suddenly, it has become old hat. After winning their last NFL championship in 1957, the Lions only played 13 playoff games in the next 75 seasons. They only won one of them — a 38-6 rout of the Dallas Cowboys in 1991. That all changed last season. The Lions beat the Rams 24-23 on Jan. 14 and then defeated Tampa Bay 31-23 a week later. They led the NFC championship game 24-7 at halftime, but the San Francisco 49ers rallied to win 34-31. This year, things have been even better. A week after a Thanksgiving win over the Chicago Bears, the Lions beat Green Bay 34-31 to move to 12-1 and clinch a second straight postseason berth — the first time they’ve done that since going three years in a row from 1993-95. Coach Dan Campbell didn’t even notice his team had secured a playoff spot after beating the Packers. “I just found that out — I didn’t even realize,” he said after the game. “It’s good. It’s good, but it’s like, man, we’ve got four (games) left and we want to get in a different way. We want to go in on our terms and find a way to get this one seed. That’s the priority.” Campbell was so oblivious to locking up a spot that he didn’t even mention it to the team after the game — although they might have seen “Playoffs Clinched” plastered all over the scoreboards. “I wish I had told the team, but I had no idea,” he said. “Honestly, I think they know. They feel like I feel. We can do the old golf clap, but we know what we want to do.” Jared Goff, who followed Campbell into the interview room, agreed with his coach. “I just heard that,” he said. “It’s pretty cool, but it is certainly not what our ultimate goal is. We want to win this division, and we’ve still got some work to do.” What’s working At 12-1 and on an 11-game winning streak, it is hard to find something that isn’t working. The Lions offense, though, has been remarkable. They have scored at least 23 points in 10 straight games, including six games over 30, four over 40 and two over 50. They are leading the league in scoring at 32.1 points per game and are fourth in both passing touchdowns (27) and rushing touchdowns (22). What needs help The Lions are second in the league in scoring defense (18.0 ppg), but injuries are starting to catch up to them. Jordan Love averaged 10.3 yards per attempt and 17.2 yards per completion on Thursday — both season-worsts for Detroit’s defense — and the Packers were the first team this season to score 30 points against them. Stock up Seven Lions defenders registered a quarterback hit on Thursday night. Linebacker Jack Campbell was a first-round pick in 2023 and has been a fixture on the Detroit defense, but the other six — Al-Quadin Muhammad, Myles Adams, Trevor Nowaske, Za’Darius Smith, Ezekiel Turner and Jonah Williams — have joined the team during the regular season to replace injured players. Stock down Rookie CB Terrion Arnold had a rough day, including yet another pass-interference penalty in the end zone, this one wiping out a Lions interception. He hasn’t recorded an interception in his 12-game career and is averaging 0.6 passes defended per game. Injuries The Lions were missing 11 defensive linemen and linebackers against the Packers, then lost key defensive tackle Alim McNeill to a head injury. Most of those players are on injured reserve, but it isn’t clear if McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring), Josh Paschal (knee) or D.J. Reader (shoulder) will be available to face Buffalo on Dec. 15. Key number Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 18 — the number of Lions on injured reserve, more than any other team in the NFL. If anything can derail them between now and the Super Bowl, it is going to be running out of healthy players in places other than the defensive front seven. Next steps Get as much rest and healing as possible with a long week ahead. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Advertisement AdvertisementManchester City boss Pep Guardiola has slammed rumours that he has fallen out with playmaker Kevin De Bruyne . The Belgium international has had to settle for substitute appearances in Man City's last five competitive matches after returning from injury last month. De Bruyne was not brought on until the 78th minute of Sunday's 2-0 away defeat against Premier League leaders Liverpool . The Belgian's substitute role has led to talk about whether his lack of playing time is a result of a rift between him and his manager. Speaking after Sunday's game, Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports : "Something is going on with De Bruyne. Something isn't right between those two." Carragher's fellow pundit Gary Neville also described the current situation with De Bruyne as "unusual, bizarre, strange". Guardiola did not mention Carragher and Neville specifically, but he hit back at rumours of falling out in his press conference ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Nottingham Forest. "People say I've got a problem with Kevin," Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday. "Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? That I don't want Kevin to play? "The guy who has the most talent in the final third? I don't want it? That I have a personal problem with him after nine years together? He's delivered to me the biggest success for this club. But he's been injured for five months and two months. "He's 33-years-old. He needs time to find his best, like last season, step by step. He'll try to do it and feel better. I'd love to have Kevin in his prime, at 26 or 27. He would love it, too. But he's not 26 or 27 anymore. "He's had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He's a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy." De Bruyne has not started a Premier League game since he played the full duration of a 2-1 home victory over Brentford on September 14. Guardiola hinted in his press conference that he could be in contention to start against Forest, with the Man City boss admitting that De Bruyne is "closer and even better in the last few days" . De Bruyne has a previous history of enjoying success against Forest after providing two assists in a 2-0 victory when the two sides last faced off in April. Having lost their last four Premier League matches, Man City will head into the midweek fixture in fifth position and 11 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

Why Did South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Declare The 6-Hour Emergency Martial Law?

YouTube’s reigning king, MrBeast, just dropped his latest banger, "Beat Ronaldo, Win $1,000,000," and it’s packed with star power. The video features Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady, Olympic sprinter Noah Lyles, MLB slugger Bryce Harper, golf champ Bryson DeChambeau, and even IShowSpeed. But here’s the kicker: Ronaldo and IShowSpeed didn’t actually meet, leaving fans of both creators absolutely crushed. In classic MrBeast style, the stakes are sky-high. Everyday contestants went head-to-head with these sports legends, trying to win up to $100,000 per challenge—or in Ronaldo’s case, a jaw-dropping $1 million. If they lost? The cash went to the athlete’s chosen charity, so either way, it’s a win-win. The video opens with high school quarterback Jake taking on Tom Brady in a wild balloon-popping contest, aiming for precision and speed. Then, MrBeast’s buddy Jonah races Noah Lyles in a brutal 200-meter sprint. Even IShowSpeed jumps into the action, blazing through a 50-meter race against Lyles in a clip that had fans hyped. Next up, social media star Big Justice faced Bryce Harper in a home run derby, while amateur golfer Aaron took a swing at beating Bryson DeChambeau in a one-hole showdown. Each challenge was as intense as it was unpredictable. The grand finale? Cristiano Ronaldo himself went head-to-head with Khalid, a football superfan, in a high-pressure target shootout with $1 million on the line. It was the perfect cap to a video that delivered on drama, laughs, and epic sports moments. While fans loved the action, the missed chance for IShowSpeed and Ronaldo to finally meet has become the ultimate "what if?" moment. Still, with MrBeast bringing together this level of star power, it’s safe to say no one’s leaving disappointed.

Ohio State, Michigan players involved in postgame scuffleWinnipeggers could learn the name of the city’s next police chief in about a week. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Winnipeggers could learn the name of the city’s next police chief in about a week. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Winnipeggers could learn the name of the city’s next police chief in about a week. On Friday, the chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board said two rounds of interviews for chief of the Winnipeg Police Service have wrapped up. “The decision has been made. (Now) it’s just the process that’s undertaken... to confirm the decision ... and then we can make our announcement within the next week or so,” said Coun. Markus Chambers. Winnipeg Police Service headquarters (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files) The St. Norbert-Seine River councillor said some reference checks and final steps are still being completed but the hiring committee has selected a preferred candidate to recommend to city council for a ratification vote. “Hopefully, we’ll have a decision... or recommendation (to city) council next week,” said Chambers. If the process isn’t completed in time for council’s Dec. 12 meeting, the last scheduled one of the year, Chambers said he will ask for a special meeting prior to the holiday break. “We definitely want to have somebody in place with an announcement before the end of the year,” he said. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The position has been open since Danny Smyth retired in early September. Art Stannard has been interim chief in recent months. Smyth officially announced his retirement date in December 2023. When asked why it took this long to find a replacement, Chambers said the hiring committee needed time to “hire the right person for these times.” Coun. Markus Chambers, chair of the Winnipeg police board (Nic Adam / Free Press files) “We recognize, in terms of the consultation process that we undertook, that people are looking for transformational change and looking for a leader that works (well both) internally and externally. So, we were quite diligent in terms of the questions that we asked during the interview process... We want to be clear and precise on the person that we’re hiring,” said Chambers. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the before joining the in early 2020. . Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the before joining the in early 2020. . Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement

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Suddenly Reform is starting to look plausible

MONTREAL — Laurentian Bank of Canada reported fourth-quarter profits that were up from a year ago, while it reported a loss for 2024 as a whole. The Montreal-based bank said Friday its quarterly profits amounted to $40.7 million, up from $30.6 million a year ago. For the fiscal year, it reported a loss of $5.5 million, compared with a net income of $181 million the year before, as it took charges related to its turnaround efforts. Impairment charges for the year totalled $228.4 million, including a $155.9 million writedown on the value of its personal and commercial banking segment, and $72.5 million in restructuring charges. In the fourth quarter, the bank reported $7.8 million in severance charges and a $5.7 million writedown in the value of its software and licences, plus impairments on its office space and leases. The efforts are part of a turnaround that chief executive Éric Provost said in a statement was going well. "Six months after presenting our strategic plan, I am pleased with the progress we’ve made." Profits in the fourth quarter amounted to 88 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Oct. 31, up from a profit of 67 cents per diluted share in the same quarter last year. Revenue for the quarter totalled $250.8 million, up from $247.4 million a year earlier. The bank's provision for credit losses for the quarter amounted to $10.4 million compared with $16.7 million a year ago. On an adjusted basis, Laurentian says it earned 89 cents per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from an adjusted profit of $1 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. The average analyst estimate had been for an adjusted profit of 87 cents per share, according to data provided by LSEG Data & Analytics. Scotiabank analyst Meny Grauman said the bank's low provisions for credit loss were impressive, especially given its commercial-heavy loan book as businesses face pressure. "It should highlight for investors the underlying quality of this bank’s commercial franchise at least from an underwriting perspective," he said in a note. Laurentian shares were up nine per cent in early trading Friday on the Toronto Stock Exchange while they were up around 4.6 per cent by late afternoon. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:LB) The Canadian PressNoneSteep price hikes could be on the way if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his pledge to impose sweeping new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China. He threatened to implement the tariffs on the country’s top three trading partners on his first day back in office, including a 10% tariff on products from China. In a pair of social media posts, he explained the decision as a way to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States,” he said. “It is time for them to pay a very big price!” Ultimately, consumers could end up absorbing the brunt of those costs. When tariffs are levied on imports, American companies have to pay taxes to the U.S. government on their purchases from other countries; the companies often pass on those extra costs to customers. “This is a bully effort to put everybody on notice,” said economist Chris Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics in Los Angeles. “One of the reasons he uses tariffs is because it’s one of the few places that he actually has some leverage.” Though Thornberg noted it’s still a “giant remains-to-be seen” whether and how Trump’s proposed tariffs are implemented, consumer goods across the board could be dramatically affected. Here are a few top categories: Mexico was the U.S.’s top goods trading partner last year, surpassing China. Mexico is a major manufacturer of passenger vehicles, light vehicles, trucks, auto parts, supplies and electric-vehicle technologies. Eighty-eight percent of vehicles produced there are exported, with 76% headed for the U.S., the International Trade Administration says. Automakers with manufacturing operations in Mexico include General Motors, Ford, Tesla, Audi, BMW, Honda, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. “If we get tariffs, we will pass those tariff costs back to the consumer,” Phil Daniele, chief executive of AutoZone, said in the company’s most recent earnings call. “We’ll generally raise prices ahead of ... what the tariffs will be.” Last year, China accounted for 77% of toy imports — about 25 times greater than the total value of toy imports from Mexico, the next largest foreign source of supply, according to the National Retail Federation. U.S. producers account for less than 1% of the toy market. The federation recently released a study that found the tariffs Trump proposed during his campaign — a universal 10% to 20% tariff on imports from all foreign countries and an additional 60% to 100% tariff on imports specifically from China — would apply to a wide range of toys imported into the U.S., including dolls, games and tricycles. “Prices of toys would increase by 36% to 56%,” the study concluded. The National Retail Federation study also analyzed more than 500 items of clothing and found prices “would rise significantly” — as much as 20.6%. That would force consumers to pare spending on apparel. Low-income households would be hit especially hard, the group said, because they spend three times as much of their after-tax income on apparel compared with high-income households. “U.S. apparel manufacturers would benefit from the tariffs, but at a high cost to families,” the study said. “Even after accounting for domestic manufacturing gains and new tariff revenue, the result is a net $16 billion to $18 billion loss for the U.S. economy, with the burden carried by U.S. consumers.” Imported footwear products already face high U.S. duties, particularly those made in China. The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America expressed concern that new tariffs would make it more difficult for consumers to afford shoes and other everyday essentials. Trump’s proposed tariffs would increase the costs of several imported fruits and vegetables, said Jerry Nickelsburg, faculty director of UCLA Anderson Forecast, an economic forecasting organization. The vast majority of U.S. produce imports come from Mexico and Canada, including avocados, cucumbers, potatoes and mushrooms. The U.S. spent $88 billion on agricultural imports from the two countries in fiscal year 2024. Big-ticket electronic products such as televisions, laptops, smartphones, dishwashers and washing machines — many of which are manufactured in Mexico and China, or made with parts imported from those countries — likely would become more expensive. The U.S. imported $76 billion worth of computers and other electronics from Mexico in 2023, and more than a quarter of U.S. imports from China consist of electronic equipment.

By Noam N. Levey, KFF Health News Worried that President-elect Donald Trump will curtail federal efforts to take on the nation’s medical debt problem, patient and consumer advocates are looking to states to help people who can’t afford their medical bills or pay down their debts. “The election simply shifts our focus,” said Eva Stahl, who oversees public policy at Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has worked closely with the Biden administration and state leaders on medical debt. “States are going to be the epicenter of policy change to mitigate the harms of medical debt.” New state initiatives may not be enough to protect Americans from medical debt if the incoming Trump administration and congressional Republicans move forward with plans to scale back federal aid that has helped millions gain health insurance or reduce the cost of their plans in recent years. Comprehensive health coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs remains the best defense against medical debt. But in the face of federal retrenchment, advocates are eyeing new initiatives in state legislatures to keep medical bills off people’s credit reports, a consumer protection that can boost credit scores and make it easier to buy a car, rent an apartment, or even get a job. Several states are looking to strengthen oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products that can leave patients paying high interest rates on top of their medical debt. Some states are also exploring new ways to compel hospitals to bolster financial aid programs to help their patients avoid sinking into debt. “There’s an enormous amount that states can do,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, who leads health care initiatives at the nonprofit Community Service Society of New York. “Look at what’s happened here.” New York state has enacted several laws in recent years to rein in hospital debt collections and to expand financial aid for patients, often with support from both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature. “It doesn’t matter the party. No one likes medical debt,” Benjamin said. Other states that have enacted protections in recent years include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Many measures picked up bipartisan support. President Joe Biden’s administration has proved to be an ally in state efforts to control health care debt. Such debt burdens 100 million people in the United States, a KFF Health News investigation found . Led by Biden appointee Rohit Chopra, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made medical debt a priority , going after aggressive collectors and exposing problematic practices across the medical debt industry. Earlier this year, the agency proposed landmark regulations to remove medical bills from consumer credit scores. The White House also championed legislation to boost access to government-subsidized health insurance and to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, both key bulwarks against medical debt. Trump hasn’t indicated whether his administration will move ahead with the CFPB credit reporting rule, which was slated to be finalized early next year. Congressional Republicans, who will control the House and Senate next year, have blasted the proposal as regulatory overreach that will compromise the value of credit reports. And Elon Musk, the billionaire whom Trump has tapped to lead his initiative to shrink government, last week called for the elimination of the watchdog agency . “Delete CFPB,” Musk posted on X. If the CFPB withdraws the proposed regulation, states could enact their own rules, following the lead of Colorado, New York, and other states that have passed credit reporting bans since 2023. Advocates in Massachusetts are pushing the legislature there to take up a ban when it reconvenes in January. “There are a lot of different levers that states have to take on medical debt,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, which has helped lead national efforts to expand debt protections for patients. Kuehnhoff said she expects more states to crack down on medical credit card providers and other companies that lend money to patients to pay off medical bills, sometimes at double-digit interest rates. Under the Biden administration, the CFPB has been investigating patient financing companies amid warnings that many people may not understand that signing up for a medical credit card such as CareCredit or enrolling in a payment plan through a financial services company can pile on more debt. If the CFPB efforts stall under Trump, states could follow the lead of California, New York, and Illinois, which have all tightened rules governing patient lending in recent years. Consumer advocates say states are also likely to continue expanding efforts to get hospitals to provide more financial assistance to reduce or eliminate bills for low- and middle-income patients, a key protection that can keep people from slipping into debt. Hospitals historically have not made this aid readily available, prompting states such as California, Colorado, and Washington to set stronger standards to ensure more patients get help with bills they can’t afford. This year, North Carolina also won approval from the Biden administration to withhold federal funding from hospitals in the state unless they agreed to expand financial assistance. In Georgia, where state government is entirely in Republican control, officials have been discussing new measures to get hospitals to provide more assistance to patients. “When we talk about hospitals putting profits over patients, we get lots of nodding in the legislature from Democrats and Republicans,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy nonprofit. Many advocates caution, however, that state efforts to bolster patient protections will be critically undermined if the Trump administration cuts federal funding for health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the insurance marketplaces established through the Affordable Care Act. Trump and congressional Republicans have signaled their intent to roll back federal subsidies passed under Biden that make health plans purchased on ACA marketplaces more affordable. That could hike annual premiums by hundreds or even thousands of dollars for many enrollees, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank. And during Trump’s first term, he backed efforts in Republican-led states to restrict enrollment in their Medicaid safety net programs through rules that would require people to work in order to receive benefits. GOP state leaders in Idaho, Louisiana, and other states have expressed a desire to renew such efforts. “That’s all a recipe for more medical debt,” said Stahl, of Undue Medical Debt. Jessica Altman, who heads the Covered California insurance marketplace, warned that federal cuts will imperil initiatives in her state that have limited copays and deductibles and curtailed debt for many state residents. “States like California that have invested in critical affordable programs for our residents will face tough decisions,” she said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.The No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) will not be at full strength for the College Football Playoff, according to a school statement on Monday. While the SEC Championship Game win over No. 5 Texas on Saturday rewarded the Kirby Smart's Bulldogs with an automatic bid and a first-round bye in the playoff, it also featured two key injuries that will likely limit the team in the postseason. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.A melee broke out at midfield of Ohio Stadium after Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday. After the Wolverines' fourth straight win in the series, players converged at the block "O" to plant its flag. The Ohio State players were in the south end zone singing their alma mater in front of the student section. When the Buckeyes saw the Wolverines' flag, they rushed toward the 50-yard line. Social media posts showed Michigan offensive lineman Raheem Anderson carrying the flag on a long pole to midfield, where the Wolverines were met by dozens of Ohio State players and fights broke out. Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer was seen ripping the flag off the pole and taking the flag as he scuffled with several people trying to recover the flag. A statement from the Ohio State Police Department read: "Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games and will continue to investigate." Michigan running back Kalel Mullings on FOX said: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's bad for the sport, bad for college football. At the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose, man. "You can't be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes and four quarters to do all that fighting. Now people want to talk and fight. That's wrong. It's bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People got to be better." Once order was restored, officers cordoned the 50-yard line, using bicycles as barriers. Ohio State coach Ryan Day in his postgame press conference said he wasn't sure what happened. "I don't know all the details of it. But I know that these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen," he said. "I'll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field and certainly we're embarrassed at the fact we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys on our team that weren't just going to let that happen." The Big Ten has not yet released a statement on the incident. --Field Level Media

With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fight

Britain's leader Keir Starmer makes his first trip to the Gulf as prime minister from Sunday, seeking to attract investment from the region's oil-rich states, Downing Street announced. Starmer will first visit the United Arab Emirates and then travel to Saudi Arabia, before stopping off in Cyprus on his way back to London on Tuesday in a bid "to build closer ties and drive long term UK growth". The trip to Abu Dhabi and Riyadh comes as his Labour government pursues a free-trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council's six nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. "There is huge untapped potential in this region, which is why, while here, I will be making the case to accelerate progress on the Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement," Starmer said in a statement released Saturday. The meetings will also aim to "deepen our research and development collaboration" and partner on projects in areas including defence and artificial intelligence, Starmer added. The British leader will land in the UAE on Sunday evening, ahead of Monday morning talks with its president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Later Monday, Starmer will fly to Saudi Arabia to meet Riyadh's de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who last week hosted French President Emmanuel Macron. A Downing Street press release called the UAE and Saudi "some of the UK's most vital modern-day partners". The regional tour will end on Tuesday with Starmer meeting President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia, the first bilateral talks between the leaders of Britain and Cyprus in over five decades. Starmer is also due to address British troops stationed in Cyprus. Labour has staked its credibility on a promise to get Britain's sluggish economy firing again. It says a GCC agreement could boost bilateral trade, currently accounting for £55 billion ($70 bn) of UK trade, by 16 percent, "potentially adding an extra £8.6 billion a year in the long run". It hopes a deal would see Gulf sovereign wealth funds invest in a range of sectors, including energy and infrastructure, while also opening up lucrative markets to British firms. Starmer's trip comes after Britain last week rolled out the diplomatic red carpet for Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani who enjoyed a state visit to the UK. Starmer discussed trade with the royal during talks in Downing Street that coincided with Qatar announcing it will invest £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in British climate technologies. Discussing regional conflicts is expected to be "high up the agenda", including the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and renewed unrest in Syria. Starmer will also be looking to repair relations between the UK and UAE that soured under the previous Conservative government after an Abu Dhabi-backed bid to buy the Telegraph newspaper failed. The Gulf visit will be Starmer's 15th international trip since he entered Number 10 on July 5. Opponents have criticised the amount of time he has spent out of the country but allies insist the trips have been vital to get to know other world leaders. Starmer, 61, has been insisting in capitals that "Britain is back on the world stage" following rancour over its departure from the European Union. pdh/aks/jjq-win 。

AP Business SummaryBrief at 3:50 p.m. EST

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Landin Hacker scored 21 points as Bellarmine beat NAIA-member Brescia 94-66 on Saturday. Hacker finished 7 of 11 from 3-point range for the Knights (3-7). Ben Johnson scored 17 points while going 6 of 13 (5 for 12 from 3-point range) and added six assists. Dylan Branson shot 5 of 7 from the field and 2 for 3 from the line to finish with 12 points, while adding 10 rebounds. Damian Garcia led the way for the Bearcats with 27 points. Gonzalo Luque added nine points, eight rebounds and five assists for Brescia. John Seanz also had eight points and two steals. Both teams next play Saturday. Bellarmine hosts Ball State and Brescia goes on the road to play Cleveland State. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated Press

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) will present at Citi's 2024 Global Healthcare Conference at 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday , Dec. 5, 2024. Peter Griffith , executive vice president and chief financial officer at Amgen, Jay Bradner , executive vice president of Research and Development and chief scientific officer at Amgen, and Susan Sweeney , executive vice president of Obesity and Related Conditions at Amgen, will participate in a fireside chat at the conference. The webcast will be broadcast over the internet simultaneously and will be available to members of the news media, investors and the general public. The webcast, as with other selected presentations regarding developments in Amgen's business given by management at certain investor and medical conferences, can be found on Amgen's website, www.amgen.com , under Investors. Information regarding presentation times, webcast availability and webcast links are noted on Amgen's Investor Relations Events Calendar. The webcast will be archived and available for replay for at least 90 days after the event. About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative medicines to help millions of patients in their fight against some of the world's toughest diseases. More than 40 years ago, Amgen helped to establish the biotechnology industry and remains on the cutting-edge of innovation, using technology and human genetic data to push beyond what's known today. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline that builds on its existing portfolio of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases and rare diseases. In 2024, Amgen was named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company and one of "America's Best Large Employers" by Forbes, among other external recognitions . Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average ® , and it is also part of the Nasdaq-100 Index ® , which includes the largest and most innovative non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also part of the Nasdaq-100 index. In 2023, Amgen was named one of "America's Greatest Workplaces" by Newsweek, one of "America's Climate Leaders" by USA Today and one of the "World's Best Companies" by TIME. For more information, visit Amgen.com and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube and Threads . Amgen Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements on the outcome, benefits and synergies of collaborations, or potential collaborations, with any other company (including BeiGene, Ltd. or Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.), the performance of Otezla ® (apremilast) (including anticipated Otezla sales growth and the timing of non-GAAP EPS accretion), our acquisitions of Teneobio, Inc., ChemoCentryx, Inc., or Horizon Therapeutics plc (including the prospective performance and outlook of Horizon's business, performance and opportunities, any potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected as a result of such acquisition, and any projected impacts from the Horizon acquisition on our acquisition-related expenses going forward), as well as estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes, effects of pandemics or other widespread health problems on our business, outcomes, progress, and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Our results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of our products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products, including our devices, after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, our business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, or we may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. We perform a substantial amount of our commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities, including in Puerto Rico , and also depend on third parties for a portion of our manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as COVID-19, and the public and governmental effort to mitigate against the spread of such disease, could have a significant adverse effect on the supply of materials for our manufacturing activities, the distribution of our products, the commercialization of our product candidates, and our clinical trial operations, and any such events may have a material adverse effect on our product development, product sales, business and results of operations. We rely on collaborations with third parties for the development of some of our product candidates and for the commercialization and sales of some of our commercial products. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to many of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of our distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with us. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of our products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on our business and results of operations. Our efforts to collaborate with or acquire other companies, products or technology, and to integrate the operations of companies or to support the products or technology we have acquired, may not be successful. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to realize any of the strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities arising from the Horizon acquisition, and such benefits, synergies or opportunities may take longer to realize than expected. We may not be able to successfully integrate Horizon, and such integration may take longer, be more difficult or cost more than expected. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach of our information technology systems could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems and our data. Our stock price is volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Our business and operations may be negatively affected by the failure, or perceived failure, of achieving our environmental, social and governance objectives. The effects of global climate change and related natural disasters could negatively affect our business and operations. Global economic conditions may magnify certain risks that affect our business. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock. We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Elissa Snook , 609-251-1407 (media) Justin Claeys , 805-313-9775 (investors) View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amgen-to-present-at-citis-2024-global-healthcare-conference-302319891.html SOURCE Amgen Best trending stories from the week. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. You may occasionally receive promotions exclusive discounted subscription offers from the Roswell Daily Record. Feel free to cancel any time via the unsubscribe link in the newsletter you received. You can also control your newsletter options via your user dashboard by signing in.Chefs' warehouse general counsel sells $225,000 in stockPopular Gen Z term voted word of the year – have you heard of it?

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More than 20,000 customers remain without power across Northern Ireland following Storm Darragh. NIE Networks have warned it may take days for power to be restored to all customers in the region following damage caused by gusts of up to 70mph. At the peak, some 48,000 were without power. NIE Networks said by 9pm on Saturday, about 22,000 remained without power. A spokesperson said it is anticipated that a small number will have power restored overnight. “At this stage, NIE Networks estimate that it may be a number of days before they can reconnect all those customers impacted,” they said. Trains and some bus services and flights were cancelled across Saturday as the storm battered Northern Ireland. A bus was involved in a road crash in Co Antrim in the early hours of Saturday while Stena Line ferry services from Belfast to Cairnryan in Scotland were cancelled. A ferry remained off the coast of Co Antrim on Saturday, believed to have been sheltering from the weather conditions. A major power station reported damage to a chimney from the storm, adding it had halted electricity generation temporarily while the damage was assessed and addressed. EP Ballylumford station manager Tim McCullough said: “We are fully committed to ensuring the safe restoration of operations. “The safety of our staff and the integrity of our equipment are our top priorities, and we are working closely with all necessary parties to minimise any disruption to electricity supply.” The Department for Infrastructure said multi-agency partners have been meeting in response to the Met Office’s amber weather warning for wind which remained in place until 9pm. In a statement, the Stormont department urged people to make only essential travel because road conditions were challenging. They said disruption to bus and train services as well as some flights was continuing and the Strangford ferry has been suspended until further notice. “Translink have taken steps to mitigate against the effects of Storm Darragh. Additional buses are on standby. Additional support and teams are also on standby, including chainsaw crews, to assist with any fallen debris blocking the railway,” a department spokesman said. “If roads are blocked, it may be necessary to divert Ulsterbus or Goldliner services. “Safety is Translink’s number one priority. All passengers should check the Translink Journey Planner or social media channels in advance of travel and to allow extra time for their journeys. “Department for Infrastructure staff have been working through the night to respond to approximately 900 incidents which are mainly debris on the roads, fallen trees and branches and flooding.” A Translink spokesperson said a driver on the bus involved in the collision in Co Antrim had been the only person on board at the time and was taken to hospital for treatment. “We can confirm that the driver has since been discharged from hospital,” they said. “Our immediate priority is the welfare of our colleague, and we are providing support to them and their family. An internal investigation is under way, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to establish the circumstances of the incident.” A number of roads, including Castle Street in Belfast city centre, were closed on Saturday morning while clean-up work was carried out. Some events in Northern Ireland, including three Irish League football clashes and a planned vigil in Belfast for the women of Afghanistan have been called off, while the Apprentice Boys of Derry shutting of the gates event in Londonderry was set to go ahead. The Belfast Christmas Market was not expected to open, with organisers saying they need to ensure visitors and traders are kept safe. In the Republic of Ireland, almost 400,000 customers are without power. A spokesperson for NIE Networks said community assistance centres will be opened across Northern Ireland on Sunday to offer assistance to those still without power. A number of leisure centres in Craigavon, Lisburn, Newtownards, Ballymena, Cookstown, Kilkeel and Fermanagh will be open from 2-4pm on Sunday. Edel Creery, NIE Networks Customer and Market Services Director, said: “With the amber weather warning in place until 9pm tonight outages have continued to be reported throughout the day. “Due to the widespread damage we anticipate it could be a number of days before power is successfully restored to all customers impacted. We would ask customers to bear with us as our teams work to restore power. “Additionally, we would ask members of the public to check in on relatives, friends and neighbours who may require further support and also ensure that their power cut has been reported.” NIE Networks is also reminding the public to stay clear of any damaged electricity equipment, keep children and animals away and to report any incidents of damage immediately to the NIE Networks Customer Helpline on 03457 643 643. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Digging themselves out: With Santa Claus parade cancelled, Londoners make best of snowy situationJimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, and his wife Rosalynn shared an extraordinary love story that spanned nearly eight decades. Their journey together began in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where their lives intertwined long before romance blossomed. Their enduring partnership, which weathered personal challenges, political triumphs, and a lifetime of public service, stands as a testament to their unwavering devotion. The couple's story started when Jimmy and Rosalynn were children. Rosalynn Smith was born in 1927, two years after Jimmy. Their families were neighbours, and Rosalynn became close friends with Jimmy's sister, Ruth. Remarkably, Jimmy's mother, Lillian, assisted in Rosalynn's birth, further cementing the connection between the two families. It wasn't until 1945, during Jimmy's summer leave from the U.S. Naval Academy, that romance sparked between them. A 20-year-old Jimmy invited 17-year-old Rosalynn on a date to the movies, where he stole a kiss. The very next morning, he confidently told his mother: 'She's the one I'm going to marry.' Despite initially rejecting his first proposal to honour a promise to her father to finish college, Rosalynn eventually accepted Jimmy's proposal, and they married on 7 July 1946. Their wedding, held in their hometown, marked the beginning of what would become the longest marriage in U.S. presidential history. The Carters quickly settled into life as a military family, moving between assignments in Virginia, California, Hawaii, and Connecticut. Rosalynn's resilience and adaptability became evident early in their marriage, traits that would later define her role as a political partner. In 1953, following the death of Jimmy's father, the Carters returned to Plains to take over the family peanut farm. Although Rosalynn initially resented uprooting their lives, she soon found herself playing a vital role in the farm's operations. This collaboration laid the foundation for their enduring partnership, which extended to Jimmy's burgeoning political career. Jimmy's rise in politics saw him serve as a Georgia State Senator, Governor, and ultimately President of the United States. Rosalynn was instrumental in these successes, tirelessly campaigning for her husband and advocating for mental health awareness and women's rights. Following Jimmy's presidency, the couple dedicated their lives to humanitarian efforts. They co-founded The Carter Center, an organisation focused on global human rights and disease eradication. Their work with Habitat for Humanity saw them build and renovate over 4,300 affordable homes worldwide, cementing their reputation as champions of public service. Jimmy credited Rosalynn as his greatest partner, often writing poetry about her and highlighting her critical role in his accomplishments. Their ability to balance individual interests with shared goals strengthened their bond over the decades. In their later years, the Carters remained committed to one another despite health challenges. Rosalynn passed away peacefully on 19 November 2023, at the age of 96. Jimmy followed just over a year later, on 29 December 2024, at the age of 100.

Cash Kings: 3 Dividend Stocks That Pay Monthly CashNEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen’s stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday’s showdown. RELATED COVERAGE Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen quits a tournament in a dispute over jeans After 20 years at the top of chess, Magnus Carlsen is making his next move Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen quits a tournament in a dispute over jeans “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn’t paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”I’m A Celebrity fans threaten to 'boycott' ITV show as favourite axed hours before final

Sirikanya Tansakul, deputy leader of the People's Party (PP), criticised the government on social media for failing to clarify its position regarding reports of a proposed value-added tax ( VAT ) hike. On Saturday she was responding to Suksit Srijomkwan, the prime minister's deputy secretary-general for political affairs, who defended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra amid growing speculation about the VAT increase. Mr Suksit claimed the prime minister was working to dispel misunderstandings about the issue and accused Ms Sirikanya, whose party advocates for a welfare state, of obstructing tax reform. Ms Sirikanya countered in a post on X, saying she had appeared in multiple forums over the past week to discuss the VAT issue. Despite this, she was accused of hindering reforms. She acknowledged that VAT, a significant source of government revenue set at 7% since 1999 despite a legal ceiling of 10%, might require an increase. However, she argued any hike should be gradual, capped below 15%, and accompanied by measures to mitigate economic impacts. Prime Minister Paetongtarn, she said, failed to adequately address the issue when questioned by the media on Thursday. Instead, the prime minister posted on X the following day, asserting there were no plans to raise VAT to 15%. Earlier, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira faced backlash after proposing at a forum to increase VAT to 15% while simultaneously reducing corporate and personal income taxes to enhance state revenues, improve competitiveness, and reduce economic disparities. Ms Paetongtarn later dismissed the proposal, saying no such VAT adjustment was under consideration. Ms Sirikanya criticised the government's poor communication, warning that it undermines efforts to reform the tax structure. Separately, Charnnarong Buristrakul, chairman of the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce, said the government might consider raising VAT to address urgent issues such as flood rehabilitation. However, he cautioned that any increase should be limited to 10% due to the economy's vulnerability. Sirikanya Tansakul

NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global TV and Movie merchandise market size is estimated to grow by USD 103.5 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.45% during the forecast period. Growth of e-commerce platforms is driving market growth, with a trend towards entertainment companies capitalizing on merchandise sales. However, uncertain economic conditions poses a challenge.Key market players include 41 Entertainment LLC, Aardman Animations Ltd., Amazon.com Inc., AT and T, Banijay Group, Charter Communications Inc., Comcast Corp., Grindstore Ltd., Hasbro Inc., iMPACTFUL Group Inc., LEGO System AS, Mattel Inc., Netflix Inc., Paramount Global, RTL Group SA, Sony Group Corp., Striker Entertainment LLC, The Walt Disney Co., WildBrain Ltd., and World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.. AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View Free Sample Report PDF The TV and movie merchandise market is booming, with trends including toys, apparel, collectibles, comic books, action figures, artwork, home décor, accessories, video games, and more. Both kids and adults are driving demand for these products, fueled by streaming services, social media, and ecommerce. Nostalgia-driven merchandise is a significant trend, with collectibles leading the way. However, challenges such as counterfeiting, high marketing costs, and oversaturation persist. Costumes, movie scripts, and licensed sellers are also part of the mix. Consumers prefer online shopping for convenience, but offline retailers still hold appeal for fan interaction and celebrity endorsement. Purchasing habits vary, with community engagement and viral sensations influencing sales. Product quality, health, and environmental concerns are also important factors. E-commerce expansion continues, with fast delivery options and smart home products gaining popularity. Entertainment companies have shifted their focus from relying solely on ticket sales to generating revenue through merchandise. With declining DVD sales and a stagnant global box office, studios like Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe are turning to merchandise as an alternative revenue stream. Consumer products now significantly impact moviemaking decisions, leading to sequels and franchises. Notably, some films have earned more revenue from merchandise sales than box office collections. This trend underscores the importance of merchandise in the entertainment industry. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! • The TV and movie merchandise market is a thriving industry, catering to the demands of kids and adults alike. Toys, apparel, collectibles, comic books, action figures, artwork, home décor, accessories, video games, and more, all generate significant revenue. However, challenges abound. Counterfeiting is a major concern, leading to high marketing costs to ensure authenticity. Nostalgia-driven merchandise continues to be popular, but oversaturation and storage constraints can limit growth. Purchasing habits vary between online shopping websites and offline retailers, with fan interaction and celebrity endorsement driving sales. E-commerce expansion is crucial, but product quality, health, and environmental concerns must be addressed. Smart home products, wearables, and fast delivery options are key trends. Collectors seek authenticity, while cultural phenomena and viral sensations create sudden demand. Overall, the market requires careful management to navigate these challenges and capitalize on opportunities. • The economic instability in various countries could negatively impact the TV and movie merchandise market. Vendors, advertisers, affiliates, suppliers, retailers, insurers, and theater operators may experience reduced sales due to weak or uncertain economic conditions in key markets like China , India , and Brazil . Volatility in the global economy, caused by governmental actions in countries such as Russia and Venezuela , further complicates the situation. These economic uncertainties could potentially hinder the growth and profitability of businesses in this sector. Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report This tv and movie merchandise market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Offline retail 1.2 Online retail 2.1 Apparel 2.2 Toys 2.3 Accessories 2.4 Video games 2.5 Others 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 APAC 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Offline retail- The offline retail sector continues to be a significant player in the global TV and movie merchandise market. Consumers preferring a tactile shopping experience account for a substantial portion of sales. Offline retail formats such as specialty stores, hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, clubhouse stores, and department stores dominate merchandise sales. The benefits of offline retail include immediate product customization and inspection. Despite the revenue decline due to online shopping trends, retailers are expanding their physical stores in local and regional markets to boost customer participation. Additionally, the rise of personalized gift outlets in shopping malls and hypermarkets is fueling sales of photo products and merchandise. The supply chain network enhancements enable offline retail to act as a catalyst for market growth. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) The TV and movie merchandise market is a vibrant and expansive industry, encompassing a wide range of products that cater to fans of all ages. From toys and action figures to apparel, collectibles, comic books, and artwork, there's something for every fan. Home décor and accessories are also popular choices, allowing fans to bring the magic of their favorite shows and movies into their homes. Kids can enjoy dressed up in costumes or playing with video games, while licensed sellers offer official merchandise on both online shopping websites and offline retailers. The market is constantly expanding with e-commerce growth, ensuring fans have easy access to their desired products. Product quality, health, and environmental protection are increasingly important considerations, with some companies offering plant-based products and eco-friendly packaging. Movie/show scripts are also available for fans who want to delve deeper into their favorite stories. The TV and movie merchandise market is a dynamic and expansive industry encompassing various product categories such as Toys, Apparel, Collectibles, Comic books, Action figures, Artwork, Home décor, Accessories, Video games, and more. Catering to both Kids and Adults, this marketplace thrives on the popularity of streaming services, social media, and ecommerce platforms. Nostalgia-driven merchandise continues to be in high demand, fueled by the collectibles market and fans' desire for authenticity. Counterfeiting poses a challenge, while marketing costs remain high. Costumes, movie/show scripts, and licensed sellers are integral components, with online shopping websites and offline retailers catering to diverse purchasing habits. Fan interaction, celebrity endorsement, and community engagement drive sales, but oversaturation, storage constraints, and preservation requirements are challenges. Authenticity skepticism, viral sensations, and cultural phenomena influence buying trends, with collectors embracing e-commerce expansion and prioritizing product quality, health, and environmental protection. Smart home products, wearables, and fast delivery options further enhance the shopping experience. 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Application Offline Retail Online Retail Product Apparel Toys Accessories Video Games Others Geography North America Europe APAC South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE TechnavioBank of South Carolina Co. (BKSC) to Issue Quarterly Dividend of $0.19 on January 31st

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Royce Global Trust, Inc. (NYSE-RGT) declares Year-end Common Stock Distribution of $0.47 Per ShareA woman has been urged not to co-sign her sister's mortgage application. In a viral Reddit post with 13,000 upvotes at the time of writing, user fancyapanda explained that she has been saving for years for her own house. "I work in software, so I make decent money, but it still takes forever to build up a good down payment," said the 28-year-old. "Meanwhile, my younger sister (25F) is in grad school with barely any credit." According to data firm Statista , obtaining a mortgage loan in the United States has become increasingly difficult. Young adults are the most affected, with about 25 percent of respondents aged 18 to 34 saying it would be easy to get a mortgage as of August 2024. "Except for the oldest generation, respondents of all age groups were overall more positive about their chances of being approved for home financing before the second half of 2021, when the monetary policy started tightening and interest rates rising," wrote Statista. In some cases, lenders may require a guarantor to co-sign a loan, taking on legal responsibility if the borrower can't repay it. This means that if the homeowner fails to make a payment, the co-signer will be responsible for the debt. For people with bad credit, like the younger sister, co-signing may be the only way to get mortgage approval. The user wrote: "Our parents (both mid-50s) found a house near them and decided she needs it. They made an offer— without telling me —and now the deal only goes through if I co-sign. "The problem? I had no clue they'd do this. My parents basically dropped a bomb: 'You have the best credit score—co-sign so your sister can get the house!' They also hinted I should chip in for the down payment because 'you've got the money.' "If I co-sign, I'll be on the hook if my sister can't pay. She's still in school, has debt, and zero backup plan. The bank might also reject my future mortgage application since they'll see I'm already tied to another loan. But my parents say I'm 'selfish' and 'forgetting family values.' My sister's calling me a monster for leaving her 'stranded,' and my mom threatened to cut off any future financial help (like wedding money) if I don't help right now." She concluded the post by stating that she feels guilty. She later updated the December 26 post to reveal that she was adopted as her parents were struggling to conceive, but a few years later, they had a "miracle baby." "Ever since, it's felt like my role in the family became 'the older, adopted one,' while she was the golden child who could do no wrong. Growing up, I was expected to pitch in more, be more responsible, and generally look out for my sister," she wrote. Expert Insight Newsweek previously spoke to Jennifer Kelman , a family therapist, licensed clinical social worker, and parenting expert at JustAnswer, an online Q&A service connecting users with experts. She said: "Money conflicts with family members are a common experience and can cause a lot of tension if not addressed properly or in advance. Often, if one family member has a better financial situation, it may be seen that they should be responsible for the bulk of the cost of activities, vacations, etc. "This alone can cause tension because the family members that may have a better financial situation may feel taken advantage of, while the other family members may feel that since they can afford more, they should help out." To resolve money arguments, Kelman suggests sitting in a quiet moment and communicating your own feelings around the issue. Reddit Reacts So far, the popular post has over 4,000 comments. "Absolutely do NOT co-sign. NTA if you refuse. Let your mom not pay for the wedding. If she's threatening now, she will again. In the end, she probably won't. But that's not the main reason not to co-sign. The main reason is there is a huge chance you will be in debt for a house that is not yours," said one comment with 10,000 upvotes. "If they can't co-sign on the house themselves, they have already blown their retirement. There is no wedding money; this is just more emotional manipulation," said another user. A third commenter wrote: "Never ever co-sign for anything for anyone. I don't care who they are. NTA for following basic common sense. Your parents' demands are ridiculously unreasonable." Newsweek reached out to u/fancyapanda for comment. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have a monetary dilemma? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek .

Franklin Resources Inc. Sells 73,864 Shares of Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (NASDAQ:ROIC)Penn State's polarizing QB Drew Allar puts critics on mute and keeps winning gameswinph.6 。

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin public worker and teachers unions scored a major legal victory Monday with a ruling that restores collective bargaining rights they lost under a 2011 state law that sparked weeks of protests and made the state the center of the national battle over union rights. That law, known as Act 10, effectively ended the ability of most public employees to bargain for wage increases and other issues, and forced them to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. Under the ruling by Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost, all public sector workers who lost their collective bargaining power would have it restored to what was in place prior to 2011. They would be treated the same as the police, firefighter and other public safety unions that were exempted under the law. Republicans vowed to immediately appeal the ruling, which ultimately is likely to go before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. That only amplifies the importance of the April election that will determine whether the court remains controlled 4-3 by liberal justices. Former Gov. Scott Walker, who proposed the law that catapulted him onto the national political stage, decried the ruling in a post on the social media platform X as “brazen political activism.” He said it makes the state Supreme Court election “that much more important.” Supporters of the law have said it provided local governments more control over workers and the powers they needed to cut costs. Repealing the law, which allowed schools and local governments to raise money through higher employee contributions for benefits, would bankrupt those entities, backers of Act 10 have argued. Democratic opponents argue that the law has hurt schools and other government agencies by taking away the ability of employees to collectively bargain for their pay and working conditions. The law was proposed by Walker and enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature in spite of massive protests that went on for weeks and drew as many as 100,000 people to the Capitol. The law has withstood numerous legal challenges over the years, but this was the first brought since the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped to liberal control in 2023. The seven unions and three union leaders that brought the lawsuit argued that the law should be struck down because it creates unconstitutional exemptions for firefighters and other public safety workers. Attorneys for the Legislature and state agencies countered that the exemptions are legal, have already been upheld by other courts, and that the case should be dismissed. But Frost sided with the unions in July, saying the law violates equal protection guarantees in the Wisconsin Constitution by dividing public employees into “general” and “public safety” employees. He ruled that general employee unions, like those representing teachers, can not be treated differently from public safety unions that were exempt from the law. His ruling Monday delineated the dozens of specific provisions in the law that must be struck. Wisconsin Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he looked forward to appealing the ruling. “This lawsuit came more than a decade after Act 10 became law and after many courts rejected the same meritless legal challenges,” Vos said in a statement. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business lobbying organization, also decried the ruling. WMC President Kurt Bauer called Act 10 “a critical tool for policymakers and elected officials to balance budgets and find taxpayer savings." The Legislature said in court filings that arguments made in the current case were rejected in 2014 by the state Supreme Court. The only change since that ruling is the makeup of Wisconsin Supreme Court, attorneys for the Legislature argued. The Act 10 law effectively ended collective bargaining for most public unions by allowing them to bargain solely over base wage increases no greater than inflation. It also disallowed the automatic withdrawal of union dues, required annual recertification votes for unions, and forced public workers to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. The law was the signature legislative achievement of Walker, who was targeted for a recall election he won. Walker used his fights with unions to mount an unsuccessful presidential run in 2016. Frost, the judge who issued Monday's ruling, appeared to have signed the petition to recall Walker from office. None of the attorneys sought his removal from the case and he did not step down. Frost was appointed to the bench by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who signed the Walker recall petition. The law has also led to a dramatic decrease in union membership across the state. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum said in a 2022 analysis that since 2000, Wisconsin had the largest decline in the proportion of its workforce that is unionized. In 2015, the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature approved a right-to-work law that limited the power of private-sector unions. Public sector unions that brought the lawsuit are the Abbotsford Education Association; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Locals 47 and 1215; the Beaver Dam Education Association; SEIU Wisconsin; the Teaching Assistants’ Association Local 3220 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 695.Uber Technologies, Inc. ( NYSE:UBER – Get Free Report )’s share price dropped 1.6% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $60.02 and last traded at $60.60. Approximately 3,973,309 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 79% from the average daily volume of 19,188,752 shares. The stock had previously closed at $61.56. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have weighed in on UBER shares. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $90.00 price objective on shares of Uber Technologies in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Evercore ISI increased their price target on Uber Technologies from $90.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. JMP Securities restated a “market outperform” rating and set a $95.00 price objective on shares of Uber Technologies in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Uber Technologies from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Uber Technologies from $99.00 to $95.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 1st. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirty-two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Uber Technologies presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $90.51. Read Our Latest Analysis on Uber Technologies Uber Technologies Stock Performance Uber Technologies ( NYSE:UBER – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The ride-sharing company reported $1.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.79. The firm had revenue of $11.19 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.99 billion. Uber Technologies had a return on equity of 33.46% and a net margin of 10.49%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 20.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.10 EPS. Analysts expect that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 1.89 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at Uber Technologies In related news, insider Jill Hazelbaker sold 27,780 shares of Uber Technologies stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.90, for a total transaction of $2,025,162.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 107,289 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,821,368.10. This trade represents a 20.57 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Company insiders own 3.80% of the company’s stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Uber Technologies Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in Uber Technologies during the third quarter valued at approximately $2,087,000. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its stake in shares of Uber Technologies by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 321,726 shares of the ride-sharing company’s stock valued at $24,180,000 after purchasing an additional 13,433 shares during the last quarter. Aviso Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Uber Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at $2,302,000. Brophy Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Uber Technologies during the third quarter worth $1,041,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. raised its holdings in Uber Technologies by 9.8% during the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 5,752,471 shares of the ride-sharing company’s stock valued at $432,356,000 after buying an additional 512,591 shares in the last quarter. 80.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Uber Technologies Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Uber Technologies, Inc develops and operates proprietary technology applications in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia excluding China and Southeast Asia. It operates through three segments: Mobility, Delivery, and Freight. The Mobility segment connects consumers with a range of transportation modalities, such as ridesharing, carsharing, micromobility, rentals, public transit, taxis, and other modalities; and offers riders in a variety of vehicle types, as well as financial partnerships products and advertising services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Uber Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Uber Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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With 36 first-year players, Lehigh University’s football team was expected to use the 2024 season as a first step toward a bright future. As it turned out, it’s a bright present as well. Completing one of the most remarkable one-year turnarounds in school history, Lehigh beat rival Lafayette 38-14 Saturday before a sellout crowd of 15,097 at Goodman Stadium to win take the 160th edition of college football’s most-played rivalry, and perhaps, more importantly, win the Patriot League title. First-year quarterback Hayden Johnnson was voted game MVP after he threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and another first-year player, Palmerton grad Matt Machalik, ran for a score as Lehigh put the finishing touches on an 8-3 regular season one year after going 2-9. They went 5-1 in the league to take their 13th Patriot League championship and first since 2017. The Mountain Hawks will advance to the FCS playoffs and will find out who and where they are playing Sunday afternoon on the FCS playoff selections show. Second-year coach Kevin Cahill enjoyed a lot of success as an assistant coach at Yale but wanted to come to Lehigh for moments like he, his team, and the Lehigh community experienced on Saturday. “This is Lehigh football,” Cahill said. “You come here for the rivalry. You come here to win a championship. You come here to do things the right way and we’ve taken a big, big step in year No. 2 to get Lehigh football back where Lehigh football should be and we’re going to enjoy. I don’t care who we play in the playoffs. We’re in the playoffs and that’s all that matters.” Johnson completed 10 of 13 passes for 115 yards and hit Mason Humphrey for a 23-yard touchdown that was part of a 21-point second quarter for the Mountain Hawks. He capped the quarter and the half with a 5-yard TD run that ended with just one second left before halftime. It was 28-7 at intermission and while Lehigh’s offense only produced a field goal by Notre Dame-Green Pond product Nick Garrido in the second half, a pick-six by Mason Moore that covered 41 yards with 7:30 left sealed the Mountain Hawks’ 37th win in their last 60 meetings with Lafayette and closed the Leopards’ lead in the all-time series to 82-73-5. Lafayette, the defending league champion, finished 6-6, 2-4 Patriot League. The next two games in the series will be played at Fisher Stadium in Easton.Peering Into Intellia Therapeutics's Recent Short Interest

Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the US illegally, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court. He appeared briefly before a judge and wore a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt. He did not speak. He will remain jailed ahead of his next court date on Friday. The apparently random attack occurred on Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Police said on Tuesday that identification of the victim was still “pending at this time”. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who was sitting motionless in the train car and may have been sleeping, and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire. The woman quickly became engulfed in flames, while the suspect then sat at a bench on the subway platform and watched, according to police. Video posted to social media appeared to show the woman standing inside the train ablaze as some people look on from the platform, and at least one officer walks by. NYPD chief of transit Joseph Gulotta said that several officers had responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be” while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. They were eventually able to douse the fire, but “unfortunately, it was too late”, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said — the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. During Zapeta’s court hearing on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said Zapeta at one point fanned the flames on the woman using his shirt. He said a 911 call from a subway rider helped identify Zapeta. Mr Rottenberg added that under interrogation Zapeta claimed he did not know what happened, noting that he consumes alcohol. But he alleged that Zapeta identified himself to interrogators in images related to the attack. Zapeta was taken into custody on Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after police got a tip from some teenagers who recognised him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta had been previously deported in 2018 but at some point reentered the US illegally. The crime — and the graphic video of it that ricocheted across social media — deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system in a city where many residents take the subway multiple times each day.

Wounded Bangladesh protesters receive robotic helping handAn Iranian singer was hailed as a hero by supporters on Thursday but faced prosecution after giving an online concert not wearing the hijab in defiance of the Islamic dress code. Parastoo Ahmadi streamed the concert on her YouTube channel late on Wednesday. She wears no headscarf and is bare-shouldered in a long, flowing black dress. The concert, with no audience present, was shot inside Iran with Ahmadi and her four-man backing band on keyboard, percussion and guitars, playing outside on a stage in the grounds of a traditional caravanserai complex. Under rules imposed after the 1979 Islamic revolution, women must cover their hair in public and are also not allowed to sing alone in public. Ahmadi has built a wide following among Iranians for songs posted on her Instagram page, including audio clips and videos of ballads sung indoors without a headscarf supporting the 2022-2023 mass protests against the authorities. The protests were sparked by the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, after her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for women. Wednesday’s video stream appears to be the first time that Ahmadi has recorded a full concert outside, as opposed to the more intimate recitals filmed indoors. A written message on the YouTube video before the concert starts says: “I am Parastoo, the girl who cannot remain silent and refuses to stop singing for the country she loves.” She tells viewers to “listen to my voice in this imaginary concert and dream of a free and beautiful nation”. In one the songs, she sings in apparent reference to deadly crackdowns in 2022-2023 and on other protests in Iran: “From the blood of the youth of the homeland, tulips have grown.” Social media users praised the striking quality of the almost half-hour video, which was streamed live from an unspecified location. - ‘Shook a nation’ - Without naming Ahmadi, the Mizan Online news website of the Iranian judiciary said Thursday “a group led by a female singer” had performed “music without observing legal and religious standards”. The judiciary has “intervened and taken appropriate action, with a legal case filed against the singer and the production staff,” it added. US-based dissident campaigner Masih Alinejad hailed the concert as “historic”, saying on social media that “her voice is a weapon against tyranny, her courage a song of defiance”. Prominent commentator Karim Sadjadpour, a fellow with the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, described the concert as an “act of extraordinary courage” that marked “another crack in the foundations of Iran’s rotting theocracy”. “Parastoo Ahmadi shook an entire nation,” said the France-based Iranian women’s rights collective Association Femme Azadi. “Iranian women are the greatest resistance fighters of our time.” The streaming of the concert took place ahead of a new law expected to come into force on Friday that rights groups have warned will drastically increase the penalties on women deemed to have flouted the dress code. Amnesty International said in a report Tuesday that women could even face the death penalty if convicted under the “Promotion of the Culture of Chastity and Hijab” law. “This shameful law intensifies the persecution of women and girls for daring to stand up for their rights,” said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa.

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The Philippines’ stock of US dollars declined to $108.465 billion at the end of November, down $2.618 billion from the previous month’s $111.083 billion after the government settled its maturing foreign currency loans. The end-November gross international reserves (GIR) level is higher than the same period last year’s $102.72 billion by $5.745 billion. The country’s foreign currency and foreign asset reserves remain adequate by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) standards. The latest GIR level continues to be a “more than adequate external liquidity buffer” equivalent to 7.8 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments for services and primary income, noted the BSP. “It is also about 4.3 times the country’s short-term external debt based on residual maturity,” it added. The BSP said the GIR declined after the government withdrew some of its net foreign currency deposits with the BSP to pay its foreign currency debt and for expenses. The lower GIR was also due to the central bank’s net foreign exchange operations and the lower valuation of the BSP’s gold holdings because of a drop in the price of gold in the global market. Meanwhile, the country’s net international reserves (NIR) decreased by $2.6 billion to $108.4 billion during the period. The NIR is the difference between the BSP’s reserve assets (GIR) and reserve liabilities, or short-term foreign debt, credit, and loans from the IMF. The BSP’s reserve assets consist of foreign investments, gold, foreign exchange, reserve position in the IMF, and special drawing rights (SDRs), sometimes referred to as IMF currency. As of the end of November, the BSP’s foreign investments amounted to $91.206 billion, down from end-October’s $93.103 billion but higher than the same time last year’s $85.42 billion. The country’s gold reserves stood at $11.026 billion as of the end of November, lower than the previous month’s $11.353 billion but more than last year’s $10.816 billion. Foreign exchange holdings totaled $1.745 billion during the period, lower than end-October’s $2.139 billion and the same time in 2023’s $1.909 billion. The reserve position in the IMF as of the end of November was $668.2 million, while SDRs stood at $3.81 billion. The BSP forecasts GIR will be around $104 billion by the end of 2024 and $105 billion by next year. The current level has surpassed the BSP’s projections for both years. In September of this year, the GIR hit its record high of $112.706 billion. The GIR is supported by foreign exchange inflows from remittances, earnings from the business process outsourcing sector, and foreign direct investments. Tourism revenue is also a steady source of US dollars for the Philippines.Jaylon Johnson isn't interested in bright spots with the Bears' skid at 5 games

Minutes of an Executive meeting from June of that year state further action would be considered “as appropriate” if the DUP went ahead with a threat to rotate its ministers. The minutes are within files which have been declassified at the Public Record Office in Belfast. Devolved powersharing had been restored to Northern Ireland in May 2000 when Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble had received the backing of his party to go back into the Assembly, despite there having been no decommissioning of IRA arms at that point. Then DUP deputy leader Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds took up the offices as ministers for regional development and social development, but refused to attend Executive meetings due to the presence of Sinn Fein ministers. The party also said it would rotate its ministerial posts to prevent other parties from taking them. A minute of an Executive meeting on June 8 said Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds had refused a request from First Minister Mr Trimble and deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon to meet with them “to discuss recent public comments by the DUP concerning their positions as ministers”. The minute records that the Executive endorsed a proposal from the First and deputy First Ministers to write again to the two DUP ministers setting out sanctions against them. It says: “The First Minister and and Deputy First Minister would assume responsibility for representing the Executive Committee on transport matters at the British-Irish Council in place of the Minister for Regional Development. “The Minister for Social Development and the Minister for Regional Development would not be nominated to attend meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee. “Pending the receipt of satisfactory assurances from DUP Ministers regarding the confidentiality and integrity of Executive Committee business, the Minister for Social Development and Minister for Regional Development would not receive Executive Committee papers as of right. “The First Minister and Deputy First Minister would seek briefing, as appropriate, from officials in the Department for Regional Development and Department for Social Development.” The minute continues: “If the DUP carried out their threat to change the holders of the two Ministerial offices on a frequent basis, the Executive Committee would consider other action as appropriate.” Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds resigned as ministers on June 27 and were replaced by party colleagues Gregory Campbell and Maurice Morrow. A minute from an Executive meeting that day says: “The Executive Committee noted that the Minister for Social Development and Minister for Regional Development would be resigning their posts that afternoon, and expressed concern at the proposed rotation of the ministries held by their Party Members.”

Judge rejects request to sideline SJSU volleyball player

Neely scores 16 as Albany (NY) beats Stony Brook 77-70BTTR Stock Alert: Halper Sadeh LLC is Investigating Whether the Merger of Better Choice Company Inc. is Fair to ShareholdersIndiana aims to limit turnovers vs. MinnesotaArticle content Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are fiddling while Canada burns. And Jagmeet Singh’s New Democrats are performing as their backup musicians. Recommended Videos The Liberals are obsessed with getting their gimmicky GST holiday passed. At the same time, on Nov. 29, Statistics Canada announced that for the sixth consecutive quarter (and the eighth quarter in the last nine), Canada’s per-capita Gross Domestic Product declined. The GDP decline is the far bigger problem. It’s the national fire. A country that is in economic decline cannot afford all its fancy social programs such as health care and pensions. So what are the Liberals doing about that? Nothing. Are they cutting spending so the public sector doesn’t suck as much energy out of the economy? Don’t be silly. Are they lowering taxes, such as the income tax or carbon tax, in a meaningful way so public spending doesn’t crowd out personal spending? Nope. In the spring budget, the Liberals projected this year’s deficit would be in the neighbourhood of $40 billion. Now it’s almost certainly at $50 billion, with four more months to go in the budget year. On top of which they’re thinking of adding $6 billion to pay for their two-month GST hiatus and their $250 cheques to working Canadians (but likely not seniors, the self-employed or small businesspeople). The Liberals’ backup fiddlers – the New Democrats – are demanding even more spending. So, by the end of March, expect this year’s deficit to be nearer $60 billion. That kind of out-of-control spending puts huge upward pressure on inflation — more pressure than the GST forgiveness can relieve. There’s an excellent chance the Liberals’ scheme to give Canadians temporary relief from the high cost of living will end up raising the cost. Borrowing less money might help the Liberals put out the fire threatening our economy. Will they borrow less so the Bank of Canada can continue to bring down interest rates? Not a hope. If you have to refinance your mortgage in the coming months and the interest rate goes up, blame it on the inflationary pressure caused by Trudeau’s GST gimmick. I’m sure as you’ve laid awake nights, wondering how you were going to afford food for your family AND activities for the kids AND repairs to your car AND a new mortgage, the thought never once came to your head, “Gee, I sure wish the federal Liberals would remove the GST on beer until the middle of February. That would be a big help.” Using 1995 as a base, Canada’s per-capita GDP is now only 35% higher than it was 30 years ago; the Americans’ is 63% higher. And since the Trudeau Liberals came to office in 2015, our per-capita wealth has barely budged. It’s up under five percentage points, while the Americans’ has risen 25 points. Over the past nine years, America’s per-capita GDP has risen five times faster than ours, largely for two reasons. Their federal governments during that period have not been as anti-business, anti-investment as the Trudeau Liberals. And they have allowed in nowhere near as many legal immigrants as we have – immigrants who need housing, jobs, health care and other benefits. They have a bigger pie but have grown the number competing for a slice more slowly. A side effect of the GST gimmick will be a huge cost to businesses; it will be felt especially by small businesses. They will have to recalculate every item on which they must still collect GST and every item on which they no longer do. Then at the end of 60 days, they’ll have to go right back to collecting GST on the things they do now. That will eat away any increased business income they might have earned from Canadians spending their GST savings. Fiddle, Mr. Trudeau. Fiddle.

Declassified files show the note to former MP John Spellar also said the republican party had ignored the “visceral component of sectarianism” in responding to a new government good relations strategy. Mr Spellar, then a Northern Ireland Office minister, had launched a consultation on the “A Shared Future” document, an attempt to address community divisions, segregation and sectarianism in the region at a time when the devolved powersharing institutions were suspended. A file at the Public Record Office in Belfast shows that OFMDFM official Chris Stewart wrote to the minister in July about a response to the document from Sinn Fein representative Bairbre de Brun. Mr Stewart told Mr Spellar that Ms de Brun’s letter had been critical of the document and was clearly intended to “mark your card”. He said among a number of points raised by de Brun was that “the promotion of equality is the key to improving community relations”. His memo adds: “Sinn Fein is clearly seeking to position or align the issue of community relations within its equality and human rights agenda. “This general Sinn Fein position has resulted in a simplistic analysis of community relations, which is flawed in its description of the causes and necessary policy response. “There is of course, no doubt that a lack of equality has been a contributing factor to poor community relations. “However, Sinn Fein ignores the many other factors, not least the violent conflict that resulted in over 3,000 deaths. “Sinn Fein also portrays poor community relations (for nationalists) as being a purely rational response to the political situation. “This ignores the more visceral component of sectarianism, which is all too prevalent in both communities.” Mr Stewart continues: “To suggest, as Sinn Fein does, that the promotion of equality should be the key component of good relations policy is to ignore the key message in A Shared Future, that indirect approaches alone are insufficient to deal with sectarianism and the abnormal relationship between sections of the Northern Ireland community.” The official recommended the minister invite representatives of Sinn Fein to a meeting to discuss the policy. The file also contains a note about Mr Spellar’s meeting with DUP representatives Maurice Morrow and Peter Weir the following month to discuss the document. The note says: “Morrow said he had no problem with sharing the future and suggested that the first step to that would be an election to decide who spoke for whom – though he was quick to say he didn’t want politics to dominate the meeting.” It adds: “Weir said that the biggest step towards improving community relations would be the creation of a political environment that had the broad support of both unionism and nationalism, and the GFA (Good Friday Agreement) could not create that environment.”Mexico stocks higher at close of trade; S&P/BMV IPC up 0.90%

San Francisco's 18-story Federal Building will be formally dedicated as the Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building on Monday. U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi will unveil new signage for the tower located a block south of Market Street on 7th Street, across from the U.S. Court of Appeals building. Opened in 2007, the building houses offices for Pelosi along with the Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Transportation. Pelosi has represented California's 11th Congressional District for 37 years. In 2007, she was elected the first woman to serve as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.Unconvincing Canada tops Germany 3-0 in world junior hockey clash

Edo Election Petition: Tribunal Begins Pre-Hearing MondayI wanted to hate SKIMS, I did. But I just could not. The hype is very, very real. When the brainchild of Kim Kardashian-West first launched in 2019 – consequently selling out in minutes - I revered its inclusivity in both its use of models, its sizing (XS to 5X) and its shade range but pooh-poohed its basics and loungewear as just another fad. Come on, I reasoned with myself, you don’t need more loungewear or more comfort. Let’s look towards life returning! And the more is more mantra we’ll be adopting! But the re-stocks kept selling out, and then Selfridges exclusively launched it onto British soil last year and the range, once again, sold out in minutes. Now look, I’m only human, there is only so much immunity I have to hyperbole. At some point, I have to surrender and find out for myself just what all the fuss is about. So that’s what I’ve done, I’ve held my hands up and said okay, come on then, let’s give SKIMS a go. First things first, all SKIMS pieces are delivered in muted, matte and 100 per cent recyclable packaging which deserves to be praised because, frankly, not enough brands consider the excess waste that derives from their packaging. SKIMS is throbbing with Kardashian’s own minimalist DNA and makes the case for well-made basics that stand the test of time and form the backbone of even the most outré of outfits. We will always need underwear, t-shirts, pyjamas et al, especially when they’re this durable and wearable. The brand is on sale this Black Friday at stockists from Selfridges to Harrods. Find out the best pieces to shop below.Another Big Ten top-5 showdown, plus plenty of Big 12 fun in Week 13

It was a fine first win for Ruud van Nistelrooy , and perhaps one final defeat for Julen Lopetegui. Leicester marked Van Nistelrooy’s first match in charge of the team by surging to a 3-1 win over Lopetegui's West Ham in the Premier League on Tuesday. Van Nistelrooy, the former Manchester United striker, is back in English soccer this time as a manager, with Leicester taking something of a gamble on the Dutchman after his brief and impressive spell as interim coach at United this season following Erik ten Hag's departure. He faces the tough task of keeping Leicester, one of the top candidates for relegation, in the top division. For that to happen, he’s likely to need goals from Jamie Vardy — and the 37-year-old former England international delivered immediately. Nine years after breaking Van Nistelrooy’s record for scoring in consecutive games, Vardy scored the first goal of the Dutchman’s tenure at Leicester by beating the offside trap and slotting home a finish with less than two minutes gone. Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss supplied the pass for Vardy’s goal and scored himself with a low shot in the 61st minute to make it 2-0. Patson Daka added a third for Leicester in the 90th minute, before a stoppage-time consolation by West Ham substitute Niclas Füllkrug. “We are very happy with the new manager," El Khannouss said of Van Nistelrooy. “He arrived two days ago, and there’s a new dynamic in the group.” Van Nistelrooy praised the “spirit and energy” in his team. “The foundation for us going forward is everyone working their socks off, fighting for every inch and defending together,” he said. “We can look further then, and they did that in an unbelievable way.” This dismal result for West Ham came three days after its 5-2 thrashing at home by Arsenal , which piled more pressure of Lopetegui early in the former Spain and Real Madrid coach's first season with the London club. West Ham's disgruntled traveling fans chanted "You’re getting sacked in the morning” toward Lopetegui during the second half — even if his team dominated large parts of the game but only had one goal to show from 31 shots on goal. “We're very frustrated but in the same way I can say nothing about the players — they fight until the end,” Lopetegui said. "It’s not easy to explain football some days.” West Ham has lost seven of its 14 games so far and is in 14th place in the 20-team league, one spot above Leicester. Crystal Palace won for just the second time in the league this season, beating relegation rival Ipswich 1-0 to pull clear of the bottom three. Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the goal in the 59th minute. Palace’s only other league victory was against Tottenham in October. While Ipswich stayed in next-to-last place, Palace moved three points above the relegation zone. Much of the focus ahead of the game was on the teams’ captains , Sam Morsy of Ipswich and Marc Guehi of Palace, during another round when the Premier League was celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion in its campaign to promote equality and diversity. For the second straight game, Morsy chose against wearing a rainbow armband issued to the captain of each of the 20 teams in the league. He has made the decision “due to his religious beliefs,” Ipswich says. Guehi did wear the rainbow armband but defied Football Association rules by writing a religious message on the item. The message read “Jesus loves you” — using a heart sign instead of the word “loves.” During the match against Newcastle on Saturday, Guehi wrote “I love Jesus” — and was later contacted by the FA for acting in contravention of its regulations. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerHAMDEN, Conn. (AP) — Amarri Tice scored 20 points and Paul Otieno added six in the overtime as Quinnipiac defeated Hofstra 75-69 on Sunday. Tice added 11 rebounds and three blocks for the Bobcats (6-7). Otieno scored 17 points and added 14 rebounds. Jaden Zimmerman shot 4 of 8 from the field, including 1 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 1 for 5 from the free-throw line to finish with 10 points. Jean Aranguren led the Pride (8-5) in scoring, finishing with 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. Cruz Davis added 14 points and two steals for Hofstra. Michael Graham had eight points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Quinnipiac entered halftime up 36-32. Tice paced the team in scoring in the first half with 10 points. Quinnipiac was outscored by four points in the second half and the teams finished regulation tied 63-63 after two free throws by Aranguren with 38 seconds remaining. Otieno shot 2 of 3 from the field on the way to their six points in the overtime. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — Robbie Avila's 19 points helped Saint Louis defeat winless Chicago State 85-62 on Sunday. Avila also had seven rebounds for the Billikens (6-3). Gibson Jimerson added 18 points and seven rebounds. Kalu Anya had 14 points. The Cougars (0-11) were led in scoring by Noble Crawford, who finished with 18 points. Jalen Forrest added 13 points and seven rebounds. Troy McCoy finished with 11 points. Saint Louis took the lead with 13:38 remaining in the first half and never looked back. Avila led their team in scoring with 12 points in the first half to help put them up 41-33 at the break. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Trump taps Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law, as envoy to France

North-east residents have been left puzzled by a “fireball” falling through the sky. The unusual object was spotted by locals from various areas across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire this evening, with countless people saying they saw the ‘burning’ spectacle. One person on social media said her son – who saw it in person – described it as a “fireball”, like a “fire in the sky”. Many have offered their suggestions on what it could be including a weather balloon, meteorite shower, flying latern or nacreous clouds. Other suggestions are too controversial to print, while many said they saw jets flying overhead shortly before, and believe it might be a “missile”. We approached the to ask if they could explain what it is. A forecaster replied that it “doesn’t look meteorological to me”. “Fireball” stumps north-east onlookers Ron MacDonald, who took the video, said the object appeared with a “loud bang”. “I was photographing starling murmuration over when I heard a loud bang to the south towards Aberdeen,” he said. “Then I took the photo shown. I also took a shaky (it was very cold!) slow motion video showing the bright orange flames unfurl from the plume of dark smoke. “They seemed to get brighter as they unfurled.” He said he was told “Eurofighters were training in the area” so it was “possibly part of an exercise”. “On reflection, this is the contrail of a Eurofighter jet catching the rays of the setting sun,” he concluded.

Bernie Sanders says ‘Elon Musk is right’ about needing ‘change’ in military spendingThe man tasked with running the under-administration Queensland construction division of the CFMEU has called on the new state government to engage with him to ensure the safety of workers while hitting out at recent LNP attacks. In his first public comments in the role, Travis O’Brien called a media conference outside the union’s Bowen Hills state headquarters late yesterday to express “deep disappointment” in statements made by Police Minister Dan Purdie a day earlier. Purdie had accused the state union of being in “lockstep” with outlaw motorcycle gangs after its national administrator arranged security for the Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne offices in response to threats from bikies and others ostracised from it. “The minister’s comments have jeopardised the safety not only of organisers and staff, they are just plain wrong,” O’Brien said, confirming threats had been made against Queensland officials, but noting it would be “irresponsible” to go into detail. “I have to be responsible enough to not look for column-inches in the gossip column, and I ask the police minister to take the same approach,” he said. “To be clear, and I want to be as clear as I can be, the CFMEU [in Queensland] is not in lockstep with bikies. That is just wrong. If the new government is opposed to organised crime in the construction industry, I suggest they have a look at some of the building companies currently engaged on government-funded projects.” O’Brien criticised the LNP’s dumping of the former Labor government’s Best Practice Industry Conditions procurement policy as a way to ensure projects were kept on time and budget – noting some under such conditions were. With the LNP making clear they would refuse to deal with the union, despite it still operating under administration for its more than 20,000 members in the state after allegations of organised crime links and corruption against Victorian and NSW figures, O’Brien called on the government to “stop playing politics”. “Stop looking for clickbait, and instead sit down with me to talk about how we can ensure that construction workers in Queensland are staying safe,” he said. “I am convinced that the actions of this government are going to lead to increased risks on site that will include workers being killed.” It was only a matter of time before billionaire X owner Elon Musk weighed in on Australia’s bid to ban social media for children under 16. Last night, Musk reposted a statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the introduction of the ban to the parliament, writing that the move “seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians”. The ban is being fast-tracked through parliament, with Albanese saying the government wanted this “action to happen as soon as possible”, as the opposition confirmed it would work constructively to see the bill passed next week. A teenage girl has been reported missing in Ipswich. The 14-year-old was last seen on Thursday at a property in Bell Street about 8am. The teenager was last seen in Bell Street, Ipswich. Credit: QPS The girl is about 160 centimetres tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and was wearing a black hoodie and tracksuit pants when she was last seen. She is known to frequently visit Collingwood Park and Redbank. Police are calling for anyone with relevant information to come forward. Townsville City Mayor Troy Thompson had been suspended from his position. Thompson had been the subject of investigation for almost 250 days, following allegations of suspected voter fraud during his March 2024 mayoral election campaign, including a claim he served five years in the army. In an interview on Nine’s A Current Affair* earlier this year he acknowledged misleading voters about his military record, blaming “100-plus” concussions. Minister for Local Government Ann Leahy said in a statement yesterday that she had signed off on regulation to suspend Thompson for 12 months on full pay. “During his suspension Mr Thompson cannot perform any of the duties of a councillor or mayor,” Leahy said. “This result is a win for the residents of Townsville who deserve stability and a functioning local government.” In a statement released on October 21, when Thompson was required to submit evidence for the ongoing investigation, Thompson said he would not step down of his own accord. “Should I be suspended by the minister, I will respect her decision at this time, but I will challenge this and look to a high court injunction, if required,” his statement read. During Thompson’s suspension, Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob was expected to assume the role of acting mayor. *Nine also owns this masthead. As the government continues to delay its gambling ad policy announcement, opposition communications spokesperson David Coleman said it was “remarkable” that Communications Minister Michelle Rowland conceded no decision had been made. It’s now been well over a year since a parliamentary inquiry chaired by late Labor MP Peta Murphy recommended a ban on all gambling ads across television, radio, newspapers and online within three years. “The prime minister is scared that whatever he announces on gambling advertising is going to upset people, so he’s taking the weak option and basically doing nothing,” Coleman told ABC’s RN Breakfast . “So the position he’s taken is do nothing, and that has very real consequences. And it’s well past time that action was taken.” Coleman was pushed repeatedly on whether the Coalition would go one step further and commit to a full ban on gambling ads. Coleman avoided the question, deferring to a promised response to any policy the government announces. “We’ve got a policy that we put in place already... The next step is for the government of Australia to have an opinion on this issue.” Foreign Minister Penny Wong has responded to the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defence chief Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. “Australia respects the independence of the ICC and its important role in upholding international law,” Wong wrote in a statement posted to X. “Australia is focused on working with countries that want peace to press for an urgently needed ceasefire.” The man tasked with running the under-administration Queensland construction division of the CFMEU has called on the new state government to engage with him to ensure the safety of workers while hitting out at recent LNP attacks. In his first public comments in the role, Travis O’Brien called a media conference outside the union’s Bowen Hills state headquarters late yesterday to express “deep disappointment” in statements made by Police Minister Dan Purdie a day earlier. Purdie had accused the state union of being in “lockstep” with outlaw motorcycle gangs after its national administrator arranged security for the Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne offices in response to threats from bikies and others ostracised from it. “The minister’s comments have jeopardised the safety not only of organisers and staff, they are just plain wrong,” O’Brien said, confirming threats had been made against Queensland officials, but noting it would be “irresponsible” to go into detail. “I have to be responsible enough to not look for column-inches in the gossip column, and I ask the police minister to take the same approach,” he said. “To be clear, and I want to be as clear as I can be, the CFMEU [in Queensland] is not in lockstep with bikies. That is just wrong. If the new government is opposed to organised crime in the construction industry, I suggest they have a look at some of the building companies currently engaged on government-funded projects.” O’Brien criticised the LNP’s dumping of the former Labor government’s Best Practice Industry Conditions procurement policy as a way to ensure projects were kept on time and budget – noting some under such conditions were. With the LNP making clear they would refuse to deal with the union, despite it still operating under administration for its more than 20,000 members in the state after allegations of organised crime links and corruption against Victorian and NSW figures, O’Brien called on the government to “stop playing politics”. “Stop looking for clickbait, and instead sit down with me to talk about how we can ensure that construction workers in Queensland are staying safe,” he said. “I am convinced that the actions of this government are going to lead to increased risks on site that will include workers being killed.” Another wet one is forecast for Brisbane today, so don’t forget your umbrella. The bureau predicts a high chance of showers, both in the morning and in the afternoon. It should be a clearer weekend, however, with the chance of showers much lower on both days. And today the maximum temperature should top out at a cool 25 degrees, before higher daily maximums for much of next week. Here’s the outlook into the weekend and beyond: Here’s what’s happening beyond Brisbane this morning: Simone White, the 28-year British lawyer who died in the suspected methanol poisoning incident in Laos. Credit: Facebook A British woman who fell ill after drinking contaminated alcohol in Laos has died, the fifth foreign national now suspected to have died in the incident. Four other tourists – including Australian Bianca Jones , two Danes and an American – have died in the incident. Some households face spending more than their entire income to keep a roof over their head. Far-right Republican Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his bid to become Donald Trump’s attorney-general amid ongoing revelations of alleged sexual misconduct involving an underage girl. Black Friday can be both tempting and overwhelming, so here are a few ways to get the most out of any bargain . And in sport, the WA premier and $500m went to Sydney . The Perth Bears dream is alive and well. The mood in India: Complacency and anxiety, but this Test battle will decide the series. Good morning, thanks for joining us for Brisbane Times’ live news blog. It’s Friday, November 22, and we’re expecting showers today and a top temperature of 24 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: A busy Riverside Expressway off-ramp has closed to traffic at least four times this week because debris from the Queen’s Wharf development caused the road to flood. The off-ramp may need to close again today, for a more extensive investigation into the blockages. Transport workers clear the Margaret Street off-ramp debris. Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt A report has found households in the four outer urban councils forming Greater Brisbane have less than half the access to frequent public transport than their more central city neighbours. As Brisbane-born Nathan McSweeney prepares to take on India as Australia’s new opening batsman, his old junior teammate and Brisbane Heat paceman Xavier Bartlett says McSweeney has the makings of a Test star. And are you strong on current affairs, or just good at guessing? Try out the weekly Brisbane Times Quiz.By JESSICA DAMIANO Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. A pepper grinder, really? Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. To build a fire Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. The place for a ladle is on the pot The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. Up your birdwatching with this feeder The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. Printing old-fashioned photos via Bluetooth Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. Houseplants don’t get much easier than this The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. Making your own (plant-based) milk Related Articles Things To Do | US airports with worst weather delays during holiday season Things To Do | The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Things To Do | Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status tote Things To Do | ‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained? Things To Do | Beer pairings for your holiday feasts If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. The perfect temperature for 350,000-plus wines For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. Casting light on the grill after dark Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40.

Chance of direct attack by Russia ‘remote’, says UK armed forces chiefPercentages: FG .449, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 5-10, .500 (Benjamin 2-5, Martinez 1-1, N.Krass 1-1, Harrison 1-2, Miles 0-1). Team Rebounds: 2. Team Turnovers: 3. Blocked Shots: 2 (Benjamin, Mpaka). Turnovers: 11 (Harrison 4, Benjamin 2, Martinez 2, N.Krass 2, Miles). Steals: 5 (Harrison 3, Miles 2). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .320, FT .750. 3-Point Goals: 9-28, .321 (Aranguren 4-10, Robinson 2-4, Gadsden 1-1, Farmer 1-2, Sanders 1-6, Davis 0-5). Team Rebounds: 0. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 7 (Sunday 3, Aranguren, Davis, Graham, Sanders). Turnovers: 9 (Davis 4, Sunday 2, Aranguren, Farmer, Sanders). Steals: 5 (Aranguren 3, Davis 2). Technical Fouls: None. A_362 (4,000).winph99 com login philippines 。

Topline France’s government was fractured Wednesday when a coalition of far-right and far-left lawmakers led a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister of France Michel Barnier, leaving the wobbly ruling coalition of President Emmanuel Macron in disarray. Key Facts This story is breaking and will be updated. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here . Key Background Barnier was named prime minister in September, months after Prime Minister Gabriel Attal resigned in July, though Attal stayed on in a caretaker capacity until Macron picked a new prime minister. France has been in political turmoil since June, when Macron called snap elections in an effort to “clarify” the country’s political makeup after his party lost to the far-right in European Parliament elections—but the results left the country with a deeply divided Parliament, with no party having a majority. The leftist New Popular Front party won the most seats (182), but was far short of the 289 seats needed for a majority. The far-right National Rally party and its allies won 143 seats, and Macron’s more centrist party, the Ensemble alliance, won 163 seats. Although the New Popular Front won the most seats, Macron did not appoint a member of the party as prime minister, opting for Barnier instead out of concern that the NPF’s candidate was “not in a position to govern with stability," Politico reported. When Macron named Barnier, who had been a cabinet minister four times and a European commissioner twice, the Elysée Palace said in a statement Macron “made sure that the prime minister and its government will have the most stable conditions possible.” What Does This Mean For The French Economy? France is reportedly the second-biggest economic power in the European Union, and Barnier’s resignation will likely throw the country into greater disarray while trying to manage its budget. Reuters reported that with Barnier out of power, France risks ending the year without a budget for 2025 or a prime minister in power, both of which could weaken its standing worldwide. The Wall Street Journal reported French stocks have fallen in recent weeks as the country’s debt has risen to its highest level since 2012. France’s deficit is currently projected at 6.1% of its GDP—which is more than double the EU’s limit —leading investors to deem France a “risky investment,” Politico reported. What To Watch For How Macron responds. He could allow Barnier to stay on in a caretaker capacity, the Journal reported, and try to pass measures to extend this year’s budget and avoid a government shutdown in 2025. He could also appoint a new prime minister to address the budget. Further ReadingNo. 17 Cincinnati kicks off Big 12 play vs. struggling Kansas State

Keep patient and 'pray': Experts rule out pre-Christmas interest rates cut

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Whether they’re hung on fireplace mantles, stair banisters or at the foot of the bed, Christmas stockings are a beloved holiday tradition for many. While the origins are a bit murky (some credit the story of Saint Nicholas leaving behind gold in the drying stockings of a poor family as the source), stockings continue to be a fun way to gift small items like toys and sweets at Christmas. Technically, anything that fits inside a stocking could be considered a stocking stuffer. However, I always find practical yet inexpensive or edible gifts to be the best choice. With that in mind, here are 10 of our favourite under-$25 stocking stuffers to delight your friends and family this Christmas. Much like vinyl pressings in recent years, film photography is having a resurgence. The holidays are the ideal time to get started on capturing family memories, and this disposable Fujifilm camera is the perfect gift for anyone looking to dip their toes into the trend. Price: $24 Where to buy: Amazon With winter in full swing, you can never have too many accessories on hand to beat the chill. This unisex headband is reversible for two looks in one, plus it comes in three colours: red, purple and black. Price: $18 Where to buy: Roots What’s better than finding sweets inside your Christmas stocking? Finding a whole variety of them. This tasting pack of Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate contains a mix of six flavours: milk chocolate, milk chocolate caramel sea salt, dark milk chocolate pretzel toffee, dark chocolate almond sea salt, milk chocolate honey almond nougat and dark chocolate. Price: $10 Where to buy: Natura Market We could all use a little extra pampering throughout the busy holiday season. These Sephora sheet masks are an affordable luxury that help to refresh and restore tired skin. They hydrate, boost radiance, mattify and soothe skin with hyaluronic acid and plant-powered ingredients like coconut, lychee and watermelon. Price: $8 Where to buy: Sephora Eatable is a Canadian company that makes artisan small-batch popcorn in a range of flavours that make the season merry and bright. This flavour contains Belgian white chocolate-covered kettle corn sprinkled with candy cane and popping peppermint-infused sugar crystals – perfect for snacking. Price: $10 Where to buy: Eatable For the ultimate astrology fan in your life, this pair of zodiac socks is a winning gift idea. They are made from an eco-friendly fabric blend (54 per cent viscose from bamboo, 22 per cent recycled polyester, 22 per cent cotton, 2 per cent elastane) that’s naturally antibacterial and antifungal due to the bamboo. Price: $18 Where to buy: Uncommon Goods By now, most of us already have one of lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bags (or a similar version from another brand). This tiny bag charm version is a fun alternative to hold small essentials like change, headphones or lip balm. Pro tip: reviewers say it’s just the right size to attach to a water bottle like the viral Stanley Quencher. Price: $24 Where to buy: lululemon A sweet and indulgent black tea that’s perfect for the holiday season. This tea blend is made with a combination of Chinese black tea, peppermint leaves and spices – plus adorable candy cane sprinkles for an extra festive touch. Each serving is pre-portioned into 15 sachets to steep on the go. Price: $12 Where to buy: David’s Tea A reusable bag might not seem like an exciting gift, but Baggu’s huge selection of colourful prints might just convert any doubters. From kitschy pet prints to graphic illustrations and bold checkers, there’s a Baggu bag for every personality. Each bag holds up to 50lbs and folds up into its own flat 5′′ × 5′′ pouch for easy storage. Price: $20 ($14 USD) Where to buy: Baggu | Urban Outfitters Handcrafted in small batches in Thunder Bay Ont., Heartbeat Hot Sauce adds a dose of spice to any dish. The Pineapple Habanero flavour is a favourite in my household due to its bright and tangy mix of sweet heat. Add it to pizza, wings, noodles and more. Price: $12 Where to buy: Heartbeat Hot Sauce | Amazon Shopping Essentials is a category written by research-obsessed shopping experts. Explore product reviews, recommendations and launches — plus behind-the-scenes info on your favourite brands and hidden gems — learn more here or sign up for our newsletter . kmendonca@postmedia.com instagram.com/kate.mendonca Love a deal? Us too. Explore Postmedia’s latest coupon codes from top brands we know and love.

NDTV Profit’s special research section collates quality and in-depth equity and economy research reports from across India’s top brokerages, asset managers and research agencies. These reports offer NDTV Profit’s subscribers an opportunity to expand their understanding of companies, sectors and the economy.Iceland set for change of government as polls close

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winph99 com m home sign up Many households across Ireland are feeling the pinch from the ongoing cost of living crisis and are trying to save money where possible. With energy costs skyrocketing, some people have been However, Ireland's unpredictable often makes outdoor drying impossible, leaving indoor drying as the only alternative. While this may seem like an easy solution, it comes with a significant downside: the risk of mould. This can not only harm the health of both humans and pets but also lead to costly damage to walls, ceilings and window sills. Experts in air quality have shared some insights on how mould forms and how to combat it. Mould thrives in damp, poorly ventilated environments, where fungal spores can settle and grow. While most adults can tolerate these spores without issue, they can pose serious risks to babies, young children and individuals with respiratory conditions or weakened immune systems. The presence of mould can lead to a variety of health problems, including allergies, skin irritation, chronic colds and worsening conditions like asthma and eczema. To prevent mould from taking hold, it's essential to reduce the humidity in your home. Simple actions like opening windows and doors can help air circulation, while extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchens can mitigate steam from showers or cooking. Additionally, using a dehumidifier in moderation can be an effective way to combat excess moisture. Jenny Turner, Property Manager at Insulation Express, warns that drying wet clothes indoors can worsen existing mould problems, She advises always keeping a window open in the room to allow moisture to escape. She also recommends using a dehumidifier, which can remove up to seven litres of moisture from the air each day in damp conditions. While this might seem counterintuitive, investing in a dehumidifier can save money in the long run by preventing costly mould damage. For those looking for a more advanced option, the comes with an app which allows you to monitor the current moisture level in your home, set a target humidity level, 24 hour on/off timer or select from three operating modes including auto, continuous dehumidification and internal drying. Over 500 of these have been bought on Amazon in the last month and they are rated an impressive 4.4 out of 5 stars from almost 7,000 reviews. For a more budget-friendly solution, there are simpler, non-electric dehumidifying options available. Home supply stores offer plastic dehumidifier pots for as little as £1.24. These pots trap moisture in the air and reduce condensation on windows, which is common when drying clothes indoors. Another affordable option is placing bowls of rock salt on window sills, as salt absorbs moisture and helps keep the air dry. Jenny explained: "For a dehumidifying effect without the use of electricity, try a combination of open windows and plastic window dehumidifier pots which can trap and collect moisture in the air. These inexpensive plastic pots can help to eliminate the risk of condensation on windows which can occur from drying wet clothes inside, adding to the damp atmosphere. Another cheap trick to draw moisture away from walls and windows is to place bowls of rock salt on the window sill when drying clothes, as this will help to absorb excess moisture in the air." Meanwhile, Francesca Brady, CEO and co-founder of AirRated, has highlighted the growing issue of mould in homes as part of a larger conversation about the condition of buildings. She said: "It's important that this is covered in the media, everyone needs a basic level of understanding of what sort of environments are unhealthy spaces for us to live and work in. That being said, there is a much larger issue surrounding building stock that is not-fit-for-purpose, where it will take more than changing behaviours to improve these settings." To remove this article -

Both Oklahoma and Providence are hoping they'll have key pieces back in place when the two undefeated teams square off in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Friars (5-0) are expected to have Bryce Hopkins available, according to a report from Field of 68. Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 3. He returned to full-go practices last week, and Tuesday, Providence coach Kim English said Hopkins would be a "game-time decision" against the Sooners. "It's been a process," English said. "We're not rushing it." But English praised Hopkins' progress since the Friars' last game, Nov. 19, when Hopkins went through pregame warmups. "I thought he looked better than I remembered," English said. "He's been in our system for the past year. His patience, his understanding, his versatility on offense and defense ... it's been great to see him in practice." The Sooners (4-0) are hopeful that they'll get Brycen Goodine back. Goodine played for the Friars for two seasons from 2020-22 before transferring to Fairfield for two seasons and then to Oklahoma this offseason. Goodine suffered an ankle injury in the Sooners' opener Nov. 4 and has not played since. "He's a really tough kid and trying to push through it," Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. "It will truly be one of those game-time decisions. He hasn't gone a full practice yet, just been pieces of practices." Playing with Goodine and Jadon Jones, expected to be two of the Sooners' top outside shooters, Moser said he's learned plenty about his team's offense. "When you're down those shooters, it's really a great weapon to know that a lot of other guys can knock down the open shot," Moser said. "It's been a huge takeaway." The Sooners have been led by Jalon Moore, who is averaging 18.8 points per game, and freshman Jeremiah Fears, who is averaging 15.5. Providence has been led by senior guard Bensley Joseph, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. Oklahoma has not played a game closer than 16 points yet this season, with an average margin of victory of 24 points. Providence has won its five games by an average of nearly 17 points per game. The teams will square off against either Davidson or No. 24 Arizona in the second round Thursday, with the winners playing each other in one semifinal while the losers play in a consolation semifinal. --Field Level MediaJon M. Chu Embraced the Politics of ‘Wicked’ and Audiences Seeing It Through a Post-Election LensHoliday Mix & Match Deal puts tech and accessories under your tree for $200 or less! DETROIT , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This holiday season, Human-I-T, a nonprofit dedicated to providing equitable access to technology, is making it easier than ever for holiday shoppers to access affordable tech while giving back to their community. The "Mix and Match Deal," allows individuals to purchase devices and accessories at prices that fit any budget—all while supporting efforts to close the digital divide. "For the past 12 years, Human-I-T has been laser-focused on three things: making technology accessible and affordable, offering digital navigation support to those who need it most, and saving our planet by keeping e-waste out of landfills," said Graeme Jackson , Marketing and Content Manager at Human-I-T. "The 'Holiday Mix & Match Deal' helps us achieve all three goals, and the best part is that everyone benefits." Available from Friday, November 29th , through Monday, December 30th , the deal offers customers the chance to bundle one device—a tablet, Chromebook, or 2-in-1 device—with one accessory of their choice, including JBL speakers, headphones, a protective laptop sleeve, or a wireless keyboard for $200 or less. For families, students, or job seekers who may struggle to afford essential technology, this initiative is more than a sale—it's a lifeline. Human-I-T believes that in today's digital world, access to reliable technology isn't a luxury; it's a basic human right. "This isn't just about shopping," added Jackson. "It's about providing hope, opportunity, and connection to those who need it most. When you shop with us, you're not only getting a great deal—you're helping to change lives." The Mix & Match Deal is only available for a limited time. By shopping at Human-I-T's online store customers can brighten their holiday while directly supporting underserved communities. Don't wait—login to the Human-I-T store today and give the gift of technology that gives back! View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sleighing-the-digital-divide-with-black-friday-tech-deals-302314632.html SOURCE Human-I-T

PALISADES TAHOE SKI RESORT — At midnight, a slender moon hangs above the snowy Sierra Nevada, casting only a faint glow on a sheer cliff and the dark canyon below. But snowcat operator “Bandit” Ferrante has laser-guided vision, measuring snow depth 150 feet ahead and to each side to sculpt the slopes with precision. By dawn, crowds will start arriving to ski and ride the weekend’s fresh powder. “These advancements are changing the way we do things,” said Ferrante, 36, who drives a new $400,000 German-made PistenBully rig with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to prepare the trails. “I see exactly where we’re going, and what’s going on.” After two winters of heavy snow, the snowfall so far this winter has been sporadic. While Mother Nature is always fickle, climate change could create less reliable snow, spelling hardship for the businesses and mountain communities that depend on storms for their economic survival. So resorts seek to make and protect each precious flake. Big corporations running Palisades, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Mammoth Mountain have made major investments, worth many millions of dollars, in what’s dubbed “snow management.” With some daily lift tickets exceeding $250, the resorts seek to deliver a dependable high-end experience. Initially just farm tractors on tracks, snowcats have evolved into machines of design, detailed craftsmanship and computer-driven tools. Inside the warmth of his cab, with a chatty podcast for company, Ferrante monitors a computer screen with color-coded snow depths, guiding him on where to push and pull snow for the best coverage. Its SNOWsat LiDAR remote sensing technology uses laser pulses to measure snow depth. With accuracy to within an inch, it can construct perfect snowboard half-pipes or World Cup ski race terrain. The joystick that directs the 12-ton machine is smooth, responsive and comfortable to grasp. The blade shifts in 17 different directions, with wings to shovel the snow. With a sensor that detects incline, the powerful tiller automatically rises and falls when routes get steep. It’s turned a once lonely and tedious task into a skill-driven profession. “You keep learning new things,” said Ferrante, a South Lake Tahoe native with nearly 20 years of resort experience. A tidy tattoo — a snowcat control stick — adorns his neck. At competitive “Groomer Games” every spring, representatives of all California ski resorts gather to test their expertise by pushing a golf ball through a maze. Innovations in snow-making tools — such as the $40,000 Super PoleCat — perform alchemy, mixing massive drafts of water, air and electricity to cover miles of runs. Some have built-in automated weather stations. Snowcats maximize the efficiency of snowmaking. Some are simple utility vehicles, hauling things around the mountain. Others are “trooper carriers,” moving ski patrollers. “Dig rigs” have backhoes to excavate buried equipment. A few have forks, for installing fences and seats on race days. The smallest cats are adroit at digging out chairlifts and clearing sidewalks. “You use the right tool for the right job,” said Brendan Gibbons, director of snow surface at Palisades Tahoe. The most prized snowcats at Palisades are the new LiDAR-equipped machines. They are leading the fleets that are racing across the resort this weekend to groom freshly fallen powder, sending information by cell signal to the less well-equipped machines. Until recently, snowcats relied on GPS to measure snow depth; the technology knows how high the machine is sitting above the ground. But this tool offers a limited view of what’s directly under the rig and front blade, not what lies ahead. “It was a great start to this technology, but it only allowed us to see how deep the snow is where we’ve been, and where we are,” said Gibbons. “LIDAR shows us what the snow is before we get to it.” LiDAR also measures the volume of piles of manmade snow, helping guide its use. The tool is already in use in research and government agencies to study snow from the air. It helps water districts measure future water reserves. It can identify avalanche danger. Related Articles France rushes aid to Mayotte after Cyclone Chido leaves hundreds feared dead Despite year of extreme weather, here’s why CT’s climate risk remains lower than other states This winter, don’t forget CT’s birds. Here’s how you can support feathered friends in the cold US hikes tariffs on imports of Chinese solar wafers, polysilicon and tungsten products Central CT health agency considers seeking injunction against noisy trash-to-energy plant It works by sending out up to 200,000 laser pulses per second. Then it measures the time of flight — how long it takes the laser to hit the snow and bounce back to the instrument. It calculates distance by using the known speed of light and the time it takes the laser to travel. In the summer, LiDAR builds a digital model of the bare terrain. In the winter, Bandit and other “night crawlers” creep along the mountain’s cold contours, taking snow measurements. Managers study the freshly updated maps on their phones, then strategize a nighttime plan based on weather, wind, melting and skier traffic. After a long day of wear and tear, LiDAR helps “clean up the holes, remove the moguls and return the slope back to a nice, perfect skiing surface,” said Brian Demarest, SNOWsat manager for Kassbohrer All Terrain Vehicles in Reno, which sells PistenBully (“trail worker,” loosely translated, in German). Snowcats no longer lurch and rock. An eight-hour shift “is like driving to L.A.,” said Gibbons. The snowcat’s taco-shaped blade can turn in 17 different directions. On each side of the blade is a wing that shoves the snow left or right. Its weight compresses the snow as it rolls, squeezing out dangerous air pockets and creating a more firm surface. Each track works independently, so the rig can pivot. Cleats add traction. In the back is a spinning barrel with teeth, which chews up the snow. The barrel’s spin speed is adjustable, influencing how much the flakes heat up and bind to each other. A comb, also adjustable, drags behind to deposit rows of perfect corduroy. Grooming is still dangerous, with peril on slippery and avalanche-prone slopes. One recent winter, when winds hit 192 mph gusts, machines skidded on ice. Ferrante arrives at Palisades in mid-afternoon from his home in Garnerville, Nevada, to get his assignment for the night’s “swing shift.” When he’s done, he’ll hand it off to a colleague on the graveyard shift that grooms until the lifts open. By 5 a.m., he’s in bed. “I don’t get lonely,” said Ferrante, who drinks a thermos of black tea to stay alert. Food can be heated by the exhaust pipe. Throughout the long night hours, operators coordinate with each other, traveling together when there’s avalanche danger. A winch can help secure a machine, allowing it to work on steep slopes. Ferrante sees coyotes, deer, porcupines, and occasional bear. One crew saw migrating ducks fall from the sky, lost in a storm. His crew started the season with “track packing” to compress November’s snow. Now, with the arrival of a new storm, he’ll push snow into rigid “wind rows,” like fences, to catch blowing drifts; later teams will smooth them out. Post-storm priorities are roads, then ramps, then runs. His discipline, largely unrecognized by resort visitors, is building the foundation for a whole season of sport. “There is a ‘skill ceiling’ that’s infinite,” said Ferrante. “You’re never going to be the very best. You’re never going to figure it all out.”A stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her moveWASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi, 84, was in Europe with a bipartisan congressional delegation to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II . Her spokesman, Ian Krager, said in a statement that she is “currently receiving excellent treatment from doctors and medical professionals” and is unable to attend the remainder of events on her trip. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

By KELVIN CHAN LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France . Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.Net sales increased 2% versus last year with comparable sales up 1% Operating margin of 9.3% improved 270 basis points versus last year Market share gains across all brands in the quarter Raises outlook for fiscal 2024 net sales, gross margin and operating income growth SAN FRANCISCO , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP ), the largest specialty apparel company in the U.S. and a house of iconic brands including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended November 2, 2024. "I'm proud that Gap Inc. delivered another successful quarter, growing net sales for the 4 th consecutive quarter and gaining market share across all brands while meaningfully expanding operating margin," said President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard Dickson . "Consistent execution of our strategic priorities, including the rigor and repetition we're applying to our brand reinvigoration playbook, is making us a stronger company and demonstrates our continued progress in unlocking Gap Inc.'s full potential." Dickson continued: "Holiday is off to a strong start and we remain focused on executing with excellence in the fourth quarter. Our performance year-to-date gives us the confidence to raise our full year outlook for sales, gross margin and operating income growth." Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 – Financial Results Net sales of $3.8 billion were up 2% compared to last year. Comparable sales were up 1% year-over-year. Due to the 53 rd week in fiscal 2023, in order to maintain consistency, comparable sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 are compared to the 13 weeks ended November 4, 2023 . Store sales decreased 2% compared to last year. The company ended the quarter with 3,603 store locations in about 40 countries, of which 2,544 were company operated. Online sales increased 7% compared to last year and represented 40% of total net sales. Gross margin of 42.7% increased 140 basis points versus last year's gross margin. Merchandise margin increased 90 basis points versus last year primarily driven by improved inventory management. Rent, occupancy, and depreciation (ROD) as a percent of sales leveraged 50 basis points versus last year. Operating expense was $1.3 billion . Operating income was $355 million ; operating margin of 9.3%. The effective tax rate was 24%. Net income of $274 million ; diluted earnings per share of $0.72 . Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights Ended the quarter with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2.2 billion , an increase of 64% from the prior year. Year-to-date net cash from operating activities was $870 million . Year-to-date free cash flow , defined as net cash from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, was $540 million . Ending inventory of $2.33 billion was down 2% compared to last year. Capital expenditures were $330 million . Paid a third quarter dividend of $0.15 per share, totaling $57 million. The company's Board of Directors approved a fourth quarter fiscal 2024 dividend of $0.15 per share. Additional information regarding free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, is provided at the end of this press release along with a reconciliation of this measure from the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the applicable period. Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 – Global Brand Results Comparable Sales Old Navy: Third quarter net sales of $2.2 billion were up 1% compared to last year. Comparable sales were flat. The brand's continued focus on operational rigor and brand reinvigoration drove solid performance in the quarter, despite lapping tougher compares and facing weather-related headwinds. Gap: Third quarter net sales of $899 million were up 1% compared to last year. Comparable sales were up 3% representing the fourth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales at the brand. Gap's strong product and marketing execution have helped drive continued momentum and consistent results at the brand. Banana Republic: Third quarter net sales of $469 million were up 2% compared to last year. Comparable sales were down 1%. The brand saw strength in its men's business during the quarter and remains focused on fixing the fundamentals. Athleta: Third quarter net sales of $290 million were up 4% compared to last year. Comparable sales were up 5%. As expected, the brand returned to positive comparable sales in the quarter as its new product and marketing are resonating with customers. Fiscal 2024 Outlook As a result of its strong third quarter results, the company is raising its full year outlook for net sales, gross margin and operating income growth compared to prior expectations. Please note that the company's projected full year fiscal 2024 operating income growth below is provided in comparison to its full year fiscal 2023 adjusted operating income, which excludes $93 million in restructuring costs and a $47 million gain on sale of a building. Full Year Fiscal 2024 Webcast and Conference Call Information Whitney Notaro , Head of Investor Relations at Gap Inc., will host a conference call to review the company's third quarter fiscal 2024 results beginning at approximately 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time today. Ms. Notaro will be joined by President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard Dickson and Chief Financial Officer, Katrina O'Connell . A live webcast of the conference call and accompanying materials will be available online at investors.gapinc.com . A replay of the webcast will be available at the same location. Non-GAAP Disclosure This press release and related conference call include financial measures that have not been calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and are therefore referred to as non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP measures described below are intended to provide investors with additional useful information about the company's financial performance, to enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects, and to allow for greater transparency with respect to important metrics used by management for financial and operating decision-making. The company presents these non-GAAP financial measures to assist investors in seeing its financial performance from management's view and because it believes they provide an additional tool for investors to use in computing the company's core financial performance over multiple periods with other companies in its industry. Additional information regarding the intended use of non-GAAP measures included in this press release and related conference call is provided in the tables to this press release. The non-GAAP measures included in this press release and related conference call are adjusted operating expense/adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, and free cash flow. These non-GAAP measures exclude the impact of certain items that are set forth in the tables to this press release. In addition, the company's outlook includes projected full year fiscal 2024 operating income growth compared to its full year fiscal 2023 adjusted operating income. The non-GAAP measures used by the company should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies due to possible differences in method and in items or events being adjusted. The company urges investors to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures included in the tables to this press release below, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate its business. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the company have limitations in their usefulness to investors because they have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Forward-Looking Statements This press release and related conference call and accompanying materials contain forward-looking statements within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than those that are purely historical are forward-looking statements. Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "project," and similar expressions also identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the following: becoming a high performing company; unlocking Gap Inc.'s potential; our four strategic priorities, including maintaining and delivering financial and operational rigor, the reinvigoration of our brands, strengthening our operating platform, and energizing our culture; driving relevance and revenue by executing on our brand reinvigoration playbook; expectations for Old Navy for the holiday season; accelerating Old Navy's presence in the Active category; Old Navy's holiday activations and product; reigniting Gap brand's leadership in trend-right products and creative expression through big ideas and culturally relevant messaging; reestablishing Banana Republic to thrive in the premium lifestyle space; evolving Banana Republic's assortment and fit; continuing to fix the fundamentals at Banana Republic; Banana Republic's holiday product; Athleta's trajectory; Athleta's holiday product; enhancing Athleta's in-store and online experiences; driving high-performance across our teams; executing with excellence; Gap Inc.'s positioning going into the holiday season; expectations for our full year performance; expected year-end inventory levels; expected full year fiscal 2024 net sales; the expected impact of the loss of the 53rd week on full year fiscal 2024 net sales; expected fourth quarter fiscal 2024 net sales; the expected impacts of the loss of the 53rd week and the weekly calendar shift on fourth quarter fiscal 2024 net sales; expected full year fiscal 2024 gross margin; the expected impacts of commodity costs and better inventory management on full year fiscal 2024 gross margin; expected full year fiscal 2024 ROD; expected fourth quarter fiscal 2024 gross margin; the expected impact of the loss of the 53rd week on fourth quarter fiscal 2024 gross margin; expected full year fiscal 2024 SG&A/operating expense; continuing cost discipline and unlocking more efficiencies in the business; expected full year fiscal 2024 operating income; expected full year fiscal 2024 effective tax rate; expected full year fiscal 2024 capital expenditures; generating sustainable, profitable growth and delivering long-term shareholder value; and our dividend policy. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the following risks, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or reputation: the overall global economic and geopolitical environment, including the ongoing Russia - Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts and recent elections in the United States , and impacts on consumer spending patterns; social and political unrest in our sourcing countries, including Bangladesh , and disruptions to global trade and shipping capacity, including in the Red Sea; the risk that we or our franchisees may be unsuccessful in gauging apparel trends and changing consumer preferences or responding with sufficient lead time; the highly competitive nature of our business in the United States and internationally; the risk that we may be unable to manage our inventory effectively and the resulting impact on our gross margins and sales; the risk that our investments in customer, digital, and omni-channel shopping initiatives may not deliver the results we anticipate; the risk that we fail to maintain, enhance, and protect our brand image and reputation; the risk of loss or theft of assets, including inventory shortage; the risk that we fail to manage key executive succession and retention or continue to attract qualified personnel; reductions in income and cash flow from our credit card arrangement related to our private label and co-branded credit cards; the risk that changes in our business strategy or restructuring our operations may not generate the intended benefits or projected cost savings; the risk that trade matters could increase the cost or reduce the supply of apparel available to us; the risks to our business, including our costs and global supply chain, associated with global sourcing and manufacturing; the risks to our reputation or operations associated with importing merchandise from foreign countries, including failure of our vendors to adhere to our Code of Vendor Conduct; the risk that we or our franchisees may be unsuccessful in identifying, negotiating, and securing new store locations and renewing, modifying, or terminating leases for existing store locations effectively; engaging in or seeking to engage in strategic transactions that are subject to various risks and uncertainties; the risk that our efforts to expand internationally may not be successful; the risk that our franchisees and licensees could impair the value of our brands; the risk of data or other security breaches or vulnerabilities that may result in increased costs, violations of law, significant legal and financial exposure, and a loss of confidence in our security measures; the risk that failures of, or updates or changes to, our IT systems may disrupt our operations; the risk that our comparable sales and margins may experience fluctuations, that we may fail to meet financial market expectations, or that the seasonality of our business may experience fluctuations; the risk of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; the risk that our level of indebtedness may impact our ability to operate and expand our business; the risk that we and our subsidiaries may be unable to meet our obligations under our indebtedness agreements; the risk that changes in our credit profile or deterioration in market conditions may limit our access to the capital markets; natural disasters, public health crises (such as pandemics and epidemics), political crises (such as the ongoing Russia - Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts), negative global climate patterns, or other catastrophic events; evolving regulations and expectations with respect to ESG matters, including climate reporting; the adverse effects of climate change on our operations and those of our franchisees, vendors, and other business partners; our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations and changes in the regulatory or administrative landscape; the risk that we will not be successful in defending various proceedings, lawsuits, disputes, and claims; the risk that our estimates and assumptions used when preparing our financial information are inaccurate or may change; the risk that changes in the geographic mix and level of income or losses, the expected or actual outcome of audits, changes in deferred tax valuation allowances, and new legislation could impact our effective tax rate, or that we may be required to pay amounts in excess of established tax liabilities; the risk that changes in our business structure, our performance or our industry could result in reductions in our pre-tax income or utilization of existing tax carryforwards in future periods, and require additional deferred tax valuation allowances; the risk that the adoption of new accounting pronouncements will impact future results; and the risk that additional information may arise during our close process or as a result of subsequent events that would require us to make adjustments to our financial information. Additional information regarding factors that could cause results to differ can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2024 , as well as our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on information as of November 21, 2024 . We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. About Gap Inc. Gap Inc., a house of iconic brands, is the largest specialty apparel company in America. Its Old Navy , Gap , Banana Republic , and Athleta brands offer clothing, accessories, and lifestyle products for men, women and children. Since 1969, Gap Inc. has created products and experiences that shape culture, while doing right by employees, communities and the planet. Gap Inc. products are available worldwide through company-operated stores, franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. Fiscal year 2023 net sales were $14.9 billion . For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com . Investor Relations Contact: Nina Bari [email protected] Media Relations Contact: Megan Foote [email protected] Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. We believe free cash flow is an important metric because it represents a measure of how much cash a company has available for discretionary and non-discretionary items after the deduction of capital expenditures. We require regular capital expenditures including technology improvements as well as building and maintaining our stores and distribution centers. We use this metric internally, as we believe our sustained ability to generate free cash flow is an important driver of value creation. However, this non-GAAP financial measure is not intended to supersede or replace our GAAP results. The following adjusted statement of operations metrics are non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are provided to enhance visibility into the Company's underlying results for the period excluding the impact of restructuring costs. Management believes the adjusted metrics are useful for the assessment of ongoing operations as we believe the adjusted items are not indicative of our ongoing operations, and provide additional information to investors to facilitate the comparison of results, on an annualized basis, against past and future years. However, these non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to supersede or replace the GAAP measures. SOURCE Gap Inc.

As “ ” gets ready to take theaters by storm this weekend, many online are pointing to the Hollywood adaptation of the hit broadway musical as having an added political significance just 18 days after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the Presidential election. While he was a guest on an upcoming episode of IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast, “Wicked” director acknowledged the politics of the story of the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West ( ), joking, “A charismatic leader who gaslights a community that this woman is wicked just because she’s standing up for a marginalized group of people in the society, how could that be [political]?” Chu embraces that his movie will take on a new layer of meaning for many audience members after the re-election of Trump, but noted that impact is in part because politics has been baked into “Wicked” since its inception. Gregory Maguire’s 1995 book “Wicked” is a meditation on resisting fascist movements, a not-so-subtle theme that carried into its musical adaptation by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. A major underlying storyline of “Wicked” is how leaders, who claim to have the people’s best interest at heart, attack the educated — represented by professor Dr. Dillamond, a talking goat voiced by Peter Dinklage — as they try to rewrite the history of animals and humans co-existence in an effort to strip the animals of their rights, and demonize them as the source of the people’s problems. Through this lens, Chu acknowledged his film is prophetic, but only because the underlying IP is prophetic. Chu argued the original “ ” movie — released on the heels of the 1930s Dust Bowl (the drought-stricken storms of the Depression), during the rise of fascism, and on the eve of World War II — has always spoken to America in a time of transition. He personally experienced it at two very different political moments that “Wicked” entered his life. “When I saw it in 2002, I was in college, so I was still growing up,” said Chu while on the podcast. “I was seeing the world for the first time a year after 9/11, we’re going into war, America’s in transition, and everything is scary all around. And when in scary situations, people go towards strongmen who just take the reins.” Chu first saw the original staged musical in the Bay Area, where he grew up, before it hit Broadway to become a $6 billion global sensation. It would come back around to him 18 years later, now a successful Hollywood director being approached about helming its big screen adaptation. “I got this movie when we were in [COVID] lockdown,” said Chu. “So at that moment, those words ‘Defying Gravity,’ [Elphaba’s gravity-defying musical number after learning the truth about the Wizard], when she says, ‘Something has changed within me, something’s not the same, I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game,’ to me, I felt like the whole world feels like this.” Chu does see “Wicked” through the eyes of being the son of immigrants. Chu’s mother was born in Taiwan, his father in Sichuan, China. He brings this perspective to all of his projects, and it’s a big reason Lin-Manuel Miranda selected the “ ” director to adapt “ ,” a musical about Miranda’s Dominican and Puerto Rican immigrant neighborhood of Washington Heights. “The American fairy tale, they always say it’s put together with American parts: Resilience, self-reliance, and optimism, and I love that as the starting point [for ‘Wicked’],” said Chu, who personally draws inspiration from Elphaba’s “Defying Gravity” musical and metaphysical response to learning the truth about the Wizard at the end of the first movie, but part of what he finds moving about it is the underlying hard question of that moment. “The storyteller has been unveiled and now the story we’re sitting in, we’re wondering, ‘Was this ever true?’ Is the yellow brick road that my parents talked to us plenty times about in the ‘Wizard of Oz,’ when I was growing up as immigrants, was that a real thing? Or maybe it was never made for us?” For Chu, Elphaba’s discovery that there is no wizard who is going to fix all our problems naturally leads to an important realization: “We’ll have to fix them ourselves.” Chu went on to explain, “It’s not even about the truth... It’s when you find out the truth, when you wake up, what are you going to do? What’s your decision? Are you an Elphaba, or are you a Glinda (Ariana Grande)?” That that’s where the first of two “Wicked” movies leaves off will feel eerily prescient for many in the audience, who Chu knows will feel as if we are politically at the same crossroads as the two best friends just days after the election. “I’ve thought a lot about this, the timeless thing about it, that never ends, is the resilience of human beings and what we can do, and what we can get through. Because when the path doesn’t seem like ours, we always rise above and sometimes we even find that we could fly,” said Chu. “That is what we need now more than ever. I didn’t know that that’s what was happening, but that is kind of the process and tradition of freedom.” In acknowledging the film will play differently for many after the election — and likely knowing the film will need both red and blue state audiences to embrace its universal messages to — Chu said he thinks Glinda and Elphaba, the two roommates who hate each other before forming a sisterly bond, only to be forced apart by the politics of Oz — could serve as a model. “Technology has brought us all into the same dorm room,” Chu said, drawing an analogy. “We’re suddenly all roommates, and we are not alike, and that person’s messy, and that person smells, and that person does this, and ‘holy shit, we have to get along.’ And now it’s like college, the only way to actually find peace between us is maybe yell at each other, maybe say the things that we need to say, and actually forgive each other and give some grace, because the only way out is through, and so this has so many ties to where we’re at right now. 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A high-speed passenger train collided with a fire truck at a crossing Saturday morning in Florida , injuring three firefighters and at least a dozen train passengers, authorities said. The crash happened at 10:45 a.m. in crowded downtown Delray Beach, multiple news outlets reported. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks, its front destroyed, about a block away from the Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck, its ladder ripped off and strewn in the grass several yards away, The Sun-Sentinel reported. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue said in a social media post that three Delray Beach firefighters were in stable condition at a hospital. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue took 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries. Emmanuel Amaral rushed to the scene on his golf cart after hearing a loud crash and screeching train brakes from where he was having breakfast a couple of blocks away. He saw firefighters climbing out of the window of their damaged truck and pulling injured colleagues away from the tracks. One of their helmets came to rest several hundred feet away from the crash. “The front of that train is completely smashed, and there was even some of the parts to the fire truck stuck in the front of the train, but it split the car right in half. It split the fire truck right in half, and the debris was everywhere,” Amaral said. Brightline officials did not immediately comment on the crash. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said it was still gathering information about the crash and had not decided yet whether it will investigate. The NTSB is already investigating two crashes involving Brightline’s high-speed trains that killed three people early this year at the same crossing along the railroad’s route between Miami and Orlando . More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 — giving the railroad the worst death rate in the nation. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline has not been found to be at fault in those previous deaths. Railroad safety has been a concern since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023, spilling toxic chemicals that caught fire. Regulators urged the industry to improve safety and members of Congress proposed a package of reforms, but railroads have not made many major changes to their operations and the bill has stalled. Earlier this month the two operators of a Union Pacific train were killed after it collided with a semitrailer truck that was blocking a crossing in the small West Texas town of Pecos. Three other people were injured, and the local Chamber of Commerce building was damaged. ___ Associated Press writers Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, Chevel Johnson in New Orleans and Julie Walker in New York contributed.

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Johnson has 25, FGCU downs CSU Bakersfield 74-54The Night Agent is such a big hit for Netflix that it scored an early renewal before Season 2 even premiered! The action-thriller is set to return for its second season on January 23, 2025, but before that date was even announced (on November 13), the streaming service renewed it for a third (on October 8)! Read on for everything we know about Season 3, from a potential premiere window to the cast and more. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Cardlytics reports that card-linked cash-back offers represent a strategic stocking stuffer for smart shoppers navigating the expensive holiday landscape. Click for more. Holiday spending hacks: How to unwrap savings without sacrificing festive cheerReal Madrid might look to push to the top position in the La Liga 2024-25 standings after Barcelona’s recent slipups. They will face Leganes next at Estadio Municipal de Butarque. The Leganes vs Real Madrid game starts at 11:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) on November 24. Sadly, there is no official broadcaster in India for the La Liga 2024-25 season. But the Leganes vs Real Madrid Live streaming will be available on the GXR World app and website. La Liga 2023–24: Real Madrid Will Be My Last Dugout, Says Coach Carlo Ancelotti . Are you ready @realmadriden ?🫣⚔️ #LeganesRealMadrid #Leganes pic.twitter.com/4tO6ITo9Fr — C.D. Leganés 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@CDLeganes_en) November 23, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

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President of theRepublic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree amendingthe "Rules for the Storage, Placement, and Management of CurrencyFunds of the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan" (SOFAZ),originally approved by the President's decree on June 19, 2001, reports. The new decree outlines significant changes regarding SOFAZ'sinvestment portfolio. The portfolio, divided according to thefund's investment policy, may now include various assets, suchas: - money market instruments with an investment-grade creditrating (from Standard & Poor's, Fitch, or Moody's) and deposits incentral (national) banks; - debt obligations with an investment-grade credit rating; - stocks; - real estate, including infrastructure; - equity interests in alternative investment funds; - gold bars (gold) meeting the standards set by the LondonBullion Market Association; - debt instruments with non-investment-grade ratings or moneymarket instruments, provided that the total value of the investmentportfolio does not exceed five percent, including up to one percentrated at least "B-" (Standard & Poor's, Fitch) or "B3" (Moody's),with the remaining portion rated at least "BB-" (Standard & Poor's,Fitch) or "Ba3" (Moody's).A high-speed passenger train collided with a fire truck at a crossing Saturday morning in Florida , injuring three firefighters and at least a dozen train passengers, authorities said. The crash happened at 10:45 a.m. in crowded downtown Delray Beach, multiple news outlets reported. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks, its front destroyed, about a block away from the Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck, its ladder ripped off and strewn in the grass several yards away, The Sun-Sentinel reported. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue said in a social media post that three Delray Beach firefighters were in stable condition at a hospital. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue took 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries. Emmanuel Amaral rushed to the scene on his golf cart after hearing a loud crash and screeching train brakes from where he was having breakfast a couple of blocks away. He saw firefighters climbing out of the window of their damaged truck and pulling injured colleagues away from the tracks. One of their helmets came to rest several hundred feet away from the crash. “The front of that train is completely smashed, and there was even some of the parts to the fire truck stuck in the front of the train, but it split the car right in half. It split the fire truck right in half, and the debris was everywhere,” Amaral said. Brightline officials did not immediately comment on the crash. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said it was still gathering information about the crash and had not decided yet whether it will investigate. The NTSB is already investigating two crashes involving Brightline’s high-speed trains that killed three people early this year at the same crossing along the railroad’s route between Miami and Orlando . More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 — giving the railroad the worst death rate in the nation. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline has not been found to be at fault in those previous deaths. Railroad safety has been a concern since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023, spilling toxic chemicals that caught fire. Regulators urged the industry to improve safety and members of Congress proposed a package of reforms, but railroads have not made many major changes to their operations and the bill has stalled. Earlier this month the two operators of a Union Pacific train were killed after it collided with a semitrailer truck that was blocking a crossing in the small West Texas town of Pecos. Three other people were injured, and the local Chamber of Commerce building was damaged. ___ Associated Press writers Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, Chevel Johnson in New Orleans and Julie Walker in New York contributed.

Rudenko Andrey Yurevich / Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1976, Russian-Philippine friendship has gone through a test of endurance, including changes in the domestic and international political and economic spheres following the collapse of the USSR. Amid the ongoing global transformation associated with the changing balance of power in the international arena, primarily due to the increasing role of the Global South and Eastern countries, the Philippines remains an important and promising partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific region. We believe that realizing the significant potential of our bilateral cooperation lies in the context of a multipolar world order, to which Russia and the Philippines, as an influential member of ASEAN, are making their tangible contributions. The convergence or proximity of the two countries’ approaches to the key challenges of our times, their adherence to international law, first and foremost to the principle of the sovereign equality of states, and their recognition of cultural and civilizational diversity and traditional values form the basis for bilateral cooperation. Throughout their history, Russian-Philippine relations have been an example of mutually beneficial cooperation and mutual respect. As early as 1817, the first Russian consulate was opened in Manila on the initiative of Peter Dobel, subject of the Russian Empire, with the aim of expanding trade. Throughout the 21st century, the Filipinos welcomed Russian travellers and sailors, including Vasily Golovnin, Fiodor Litke, Nikolay Miklukho-Maklaiand Ivan Goncharov, who were keen to study the traditions, culture and customs of the locals and then introduced “Perlas ng Silangan” to the Russian public. At the height of the Russo-Japanese War, Manila became a refuge for the Russian cruiser “Aurora” and its crew, who had been badly injured in the Battle of Tsushima. The stay of almost 6,000 Russian refugees from China on the archipelago in 1949-1951 is a little-known chapter in the history of the two countries. Tubabao Island became their home for several years. Local people have kept memories of the stay of “White Russians,” as they used to call them, including Archbishop John of Shanghai (declared a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church). In the second half of the twentieth century, cooperation between our countries took a new turn. In 1975, the USSR was visited by A. Melchor Jr., Executive Secretary of the President of the Philippines. This was the starting point for the establishment of diplomatic relations on June 2, 1976. It is noteworthy that this landmark political decision was taken by the father of the current President of the country, Ferdinand Marcos. Even back then, the Philippine leadership acknowledged that differences in socio-political systems were not an obstacle to successful and effective cooperation. The two countries signed their first trade agreement, which gave a new impetus to economic ties, cultural cooperation, tourism and scientific exchanges. Such an independent approach to bilateral relations, where mutual interests come to the fore, is still very much in demand today. Regrettably, nowadays some countries are striving hard to maintain global geopolitical dominance through the so-called “rules-based order” and artificially “cancel” those parts of the world that do not support such a unipolar vision. Attempts are being made to isolate Russia, punish it for its sovereign political decisions aimed at ensuring its own security, and blame it for all the problems of the world. We therefore appreciate the constructive attitude of the present administration, headed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which demonstrates the continuity of the policy of maintaining friendly relations with our country. Russian and Philippine lawmakers fruitfully cooperate at international parliamentary forums. In November 2023, the leaders of the two countries’ parliaments met on the sidelines of the 31st session of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Manila. Parliamentary friendship groups operate within the legislative bodies of both countries. Trade and economic cooperation is of great importance, although it faces serious challenges, mainly related to the illegal economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the US and its allies, which is hampering bank settlements and disrupting supply chains. However, as practice shows, obstacles in trade and economic relations are surmountable. On October 4-5, 2023, the 3rd meeting of the Russia-Philippines Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was successfully held in Manila. We consider transport, space, information and communication technologies, etc. to be promising areas. As of 2023, bilateral trade turnover reached US$633.4 million. It is worth recalling that earlier our countries had joined efforts in the fight against Covid-19, during the difficult period of the pandemic. In 2021, 20 million doses of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V were delivered to the Philippines under a signed contract. Russian companies are interested in establishing cooperation with Philippine partners in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, including its non-energy applications. Agricultural cooperation is intensifying. Since 2021, the office of the agricultural attaché has been functioning within the Russian Embassy in the Philippines. In June 2023, a Russian delegation headed by Sergey Levin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, visited Manila as part of a business mission of Russian companies exporting agricultural products. The establishment of direct flights between Russia and the Philippines would have a positive impact on the development of mutual business and tourist exchanges. This is evidenced by the existing direct flights to Southeast Asian nations, i.e. Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. The conditions are in place for the Philippines to engage with the Eurasian Economic Union, a single market of 180 million consumers. Recent years have seen an active development of interregional contacts. The city of Cebu maintains twinning relations with Vladimir, in 2022 an agreement on cooperation with Vladivostok was signed. In 2024 the province of Cebu concluded an agreement on cooperation in trade and economy, science and technology, and the humanitarian area with St. Petersburg. Moscow has cooperation programs in place with Manila and Cebu. The rich cultural heritage of the two countries provides a basis for expanding humanitarian exchanges, including increasing cooperation in the fields of education and tourism. Russian universities that hold leading positions in the world rankings offer Filipino students training, including free of charge, in such areas as Information Systems and Technologies, Applied Computer Science, Nuclear Energy, Medicine, Linguistics, etc. Russian audiences have repeatedly had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Philippine ballet thanks to Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, founder and CEO of Ballet Manila, who is a graduate of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. In turn, in 2023, as part of the Days of Moscow in Manila, the Filipino audience warmly welcomed a gala concert by artists of the Moscow State Academic Dance Theatre Gzhel at the Aliw Theatre. Friendly visits by Russian ships of the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet to Philippine harbors contribute to maintaining defense contacts. From 2021 to 2024, six such visits have been organized. Philippine officials annually participate in international meetings of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters held by the Security Council of the Russian Federation. The importance of the Asia-Pacific region cannot be overestimated. We note with regret that the security and cooperation architecture, created around ASEAN over recent decades, is under threat. Under the slogan of a “free and open Indo-Pacific region,” the United States and their allies are pursuing a confrontational course aimed at “bloc containment.” The Euro-Atlanticists deliberately heat up the situation around Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula, aggravate territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and use heightened tensions in the region to pump it up with arms, including strategic weapons. Russia opposes the militarization of the region and the “creeping expansion” of NATO into Southeast Asia. Such narrow-bloc organizations as the Indo-Pacific Four (Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand), the AUKUS military alliance with a nuclear component (the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia) are fully involved in this scenario. We note attempts to pull other ASEAN countries into similar narrow-bloc entities, with the aim of forming new “trios” and “quartets.” We are convinced that the future of the Asia-Pacific region can be based only on a constructive agenda, the main items of which include maintaining peace and stability, developing mutually beneficial and multifaceted cooperation, and creating a regional architecture on a collective basis that would ensure equal and indivisible security for all. In cooperating with its regional partners, Russia is guided by long-term national interests and contemporary realities. To this end, we are actively using the potential of the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership and the opportunities of our participation in the EAS and ARF, the SCO, BRICS, APEC and other multilateral organizations and forums. Moscow highly appreciates that the current Philippine leadership, in a difficult geopolitical situation, adheres to a balanced, pragmatic line in international affairs and strives to develop pragmatic relations with Russia. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that Russian-Philippine cooperation has great potential for further successful development and translation into mutually beneficial projects. Together we can make a significant contribution to overcoming global challenges and ensuring stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region. Rudenko Andrey Yurevich was born in Moscow in 1962. 1985: Graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (now MGIMO University). Diplomatic rank: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary since October 2020. 1985: Joined the diplomatic service and held various posts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the ministry’s missions abroad. 2011-2016: Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the OSCE, Austria. March 2016: Director of the Second CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Department of the Ministry, member of the Foreign Ministry Collegium. September 2019—present: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. He is fluent in English and Chinese.

Mumbai: The BJP logged the highest vote share of 26.77 per cent in the Maharashtra assembly elections, winning 132 out of 149 seats it had contested and garnering 17,293,650 votes, as per ECI data. The BJP’s 132-seat haul marked a hat-trick of crossing the 100-seat mark in assembly elections. The saffron party had bagged 122 seats in the 2014 elections, which it contested solo without undivided Shiv Sena, and 105 seats in 2019 polls which it faced with the former ally Shiv Sena on its side. The BJP’s stellar performance at Maharashtra hustings, results of which were declared on Saturday, saw the party reaping a rich harvest of 132 seats in the 288-member House. Its Mahayuti partners Shiv Sena and NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The Congress, which won only 16 out of 101 seats it had contested, came a distant second with a 12.42 per cent vote share. The Grand Old Party polled 8,020,921 votes. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s tally of 57 seats out of 81 it had contested saw a vote share of 12.38 per cent and 7,996,930 votes. Interestingly, the vote share of NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the quantum of votes polled for the party surpassed the rival NCP faction despite the former’s rout in the elections. The NCP (SP) contested 86 seats but won only 10 with an 11.28 per cent vote share and 7,287,797 votes. In contrast, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP registered a 9.01% vote share despite winning 41 of the 59 seats it had contested and polling 5,816,566 votes. The rival Shiv Sena (UBT), which won 20 seats, logged a vote share of 9.96 per cent and polled 6,433,013 votes. At 4,61,886, NOTA votes dropped to 0.72 per cent in Maharashtra. A voter turnout of 66.05 per cent was recorded for the state assembly elections held on November 20, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019, according to Election Commission officials.