When filmmaker Chris Sanders began to imagine what his fifth animated film, might look like on the big screen, he was stuck on one crucial idea: how to turn Peter Brown’s deep-feeling and beautifully rendered YA novel about a caring robot and the baby goose she adopts into a movie for everyone. “One of the things we talked about a lot, was for a broad audience?” Sanders said in a recent interview with IndieWire. “We’ve talked a lot about who you work to not , but you also don’t try to target anybody specifically. Anytime I’ve been near that, when you try to deliberately target any particular group of people, I think inevitably you miss and it throws things into a very strange place.” That meant crafting a film that could appeal to all ages, not just the built-in audience of kiddos who would naturally gravitate toward a colorful world mostly populated by chatty forest animals and the charming robot ( ) who brings them together. “One of my most critical concerns from the very beginning was making a movie for adults,” the filmmaker said. “I absolutely knew by nature of the story that kids were going to be interested. A robot in the wilderness and these really adorable animals? It’s naturally going to be interesting to kids, very kid-friendly. I was really concerned that the style of the movie and the storytelling be something that adults would really engage with in a big way, and that’s where the whole style of the island came from.” For Sanders, the recipient of this year’s , dedicated to honoring those who advance and delight in the craft of animation, that meant a combination of both the look and the feel of his lauded film. “Visually, I think that was the biggest challenge: to find an artistic and aesthetic altitude that was worthy of the story,” Sanders said. “It’s just natural for me to operate in those kinds of zones because I came from ‘Mulan,’ ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ ‘How to Train Your Dragon,’ where I love to attend to the big emotional wavelengths of these things and to not shy away from it.” Sanders, who has directed animated hits like “Lilo & Stitch” (he even voices the cuddly blue alien) and “How to Train Your Dragon,” pointed to a wide variety of other animated classics as his creative waypoints: everything from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” to “My Neighbor Totoro” and the “always inspiring” classic “Bambi.” Even during production on a new film, Sanders said he likes to watch other movies to keep his brain fresh and his imagination bold. “You get so busy on your particular film, you get so into the details, sometimes you just need to remind yourself what a movie is,” he said. “I’ll go to see a movie, it can have nothing to do tonally with the thing I’m working on, it can be a drama, it can be a comedy, it can be almost a near documentary. It could even be a horror film. It just reminds you of what a movie is, the audacity of it, the boldness of it.” Mostly, Sanders and his team — as you can see, the filmmaker nearly always says “we” when chatting about his creative choices, rarely just “I” — wanted to tell a story they would all enjoy. Perhaps that was the ticket. “We were just so busy making a movie that entertained ourselves, because I think we’re very representative of the core audience,” he said. “All of the things that people were feeling when they watched it, we felt when we were making it. ... Our wish was that, when the movie was over, people would walk out of the theater and just have a moment of, ‘Oh, I’m back,’ to really try to immerse people and beguile them with the environment.” Sanders, who also adapted the script for the film from the first book in Brown’s beloved trilogy about the wondrous robot Roz and the lush forest (and all its furry friends) she eventually makes her home, was so struck by Brown’s book that he could instantly “see” some of the key scenes he wanted to bring to the big screen while reading. “It absolutely happens,” he said when asked about those “lightbulb moments.” “As I’m reading a book, if I see [even one moment] very clearly in my head, I get very anxious that other people will see what I just saw. In ‘The Wild Robot,’ there were several places like that. One of the most notable would be in the very middle, the migration. It isn’t the climactic finish of the movie, it’s just the midpoint, and yet it’s one of the most compelling things I’d ever worked on.” In the film, Roz is unexpectedly shipwrecked on an uninhabited island while she’s out for delivery to the wider, decidedly human world. While the animals that live on the island — foxes (like one voiced by Pedro Pascal), squirrels, bears, beavers, falcons — are initially scared of their new mechanical citizen, Roz finds sanctuary when she adopts young Canadian goose Brightbill (voiced by Kit Connor) after she (oops) accidentally kills his entire family. Ever driven by her programmed directives, Roz makes it her job to get Brightbill ready for an upcoming migration. “I liked the complexity of it, the spectacle, the scale,” he said. “I always work to music and immediately as I was reading this, music was going through my head, visuals were going through my head. What an incredible moment.” Of course, Roz and Brightbill (plus Pascal’s fox Fink) eventually come to love each other, seeing each other as their own chosen, slightly weird but deeply adorable family. And while Brightbill is, at first, angry at Roz for forcing him to migrate (and thus, take him away from his new clan), his goose mentor Longneck (voiced by Bill Nighy) offers him some key context to her choices as his surrogate mom, just as they — and hundreds of other geese — finally take to the skies. “At that moment of truth, when Longneck lays this big last piece of information on him to consider, there’s no longer time for him to apologize, there’s no time left to make things right,” the filmmaker said. “This is something that I have experienced in my life, that I’ve waited too long to say something, and the regret that I carry is huge. So I love the complexity of the moment and these two characters are doing their best to navigate that moment while this really huge thing is going on and time has run out and the train is leaving the station and Brightbill has to be on that train.” What was thrilling for Sanders was “not only these big, magnificent events that were visually compelling, but the incredible complexity and power of the emotional wavelengths that were flowing” through them. And, yes, those first sparks of an idea, those lightbulb moments, are very close to what we see onscreen. “In the case of the migration, pretty close, because I actually [story] boarded it,” he said when asked about how closely his vision and the final product align. “I thought, ‘I know exactly what I want, let me just jump in there, I’ll board it, and I’ll get it up there.’ I had a very specific series of shots that I really wanted to get up on screen, some of those high angles with all the birds and Roz running with her arms out and stuff like that. I usually have a pretty clear thought for what I want, and in that particular case, I took the extra step of, I’ll just board it. That one didn’t shift very much at all, it pretty much stuck.” That look is essential, because while “The Wild Robot” was computer-animated, it also comes with a distinctly painterly look. A combination of technological advancements and old-school attention to details, which included hand-painted elements (artists used styluses, not brushes, in a 3D environment, but the look and feel are wonderfully familiar), made it possible. “I hadn’t been on a film that did that since ‘Lilo & Stitch,'” Sanders said of the hand-painted elements. “The idea that we had matte painters painting the sky, painting the trees, . It made such a gigantic contribution to the emotional resonance of that film. It cannot be understated. We are so at the verge of another Renaissance, as far as seeing new styles of things now. I’m really thrilled by it.” Given the tremendous success of the film — it has so far made nearly $320 million at the global box office, with glowing reviews from both critics and audiences to boot — talk of a sequel is only natural. After all, “The Wild Robot” part of a trilogy of novels. We have not yet begun to do anything on a sequel yet,” Sanders said. “I think we’re very hopeful. I’ve definitely read the second book, and I plan to actually re-read it because his books have many, many chapters. When I read it the first time, I just it. I just needed to digest it. And the second time through, I’m actually going to make some notes to myself that, perhaps, may come in handy.” Whatever the filmmaker tackles next, Sanders believes animation is returning to “more handmade-looking things.” “I am not somebody who is lamenting the disappearance of traditional animation,” he said. “I love traditional animation and I know it’ll always be there. I was just watching ‘Robot Dreams,’ and it’s hand-drawn and it’s the perfect style for that story, but the fact that we have now finally broken away from that gravitational hold that we were under technologically is the thing that’s so thrilling to me about where we are right now. I feel like we’ve come through a tunnel and we are looking at a big open field and mountains, and we can finally see the sky, and now we can finally go back to more broad, stylistic choices.” He credits “with a Sherman tank.” “That was such a revelation, that film worked so well because of it, it got the Oscar,” Sanders said. “It so deserved it. That just let everybody know, ‘Oh, we are open and free to maneuver, should we be able to get our software to the point where we can do it.'” While audiences might not be too fussed about the mechanics that make this all possible, they do it in the final product. That’s what really gets Sanders going. “People noticed the difference on ‘The Wild Robot,'” Sanders said. “I was wondering, well, we are so attuned to it within the studio, saw it as looking like a radically different thing, and I actually wasn’t sure, when we show this to a general audience, are they going to see the same things that we are? And they sure did, people would comment on it, and , that made me happy.” Sign up for . For the latest news, follow us on , , and .
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was a unanimous pick to win his second American League Most Valuable Player Award in three seasons on Thursday, easily outdistancing Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Shohei Ohtani was expected to win the National League honor later Thursday, his third MVP and first in the NL. Judge received all 30 first-place votes in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Witt got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting . He didn’t pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title , playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder . Ohtani would become the first primary DH to win an MVP. He would join Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. Ohtani would become the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte also were among the top three finishers in the NL. Lindor batted .273 with 33 homers, 91 RBIs and 29 steals, while Marte hit .292 with 36 homers and 95 RBIs. Balloting was conducted before the postseason. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB Ronald Blum, The Associated PressHancock Whitney Renews Share Repurchase AuthorizationWomen will make up a majority in Alaska House for first time in state history
Britain should follow Australia’s lead and ban young people from social media, according to a leading campaigner for the protection of childhood. The Australian Parliament last week backed the world’s toughest measures to stop under-16s using social media – and tech companies could fines of nearly £26million if they do not enforce new rules. Former Conservative MP Miriam Cates, a senior fellow at the Centre for Social Justice and GB News presenter, hopes Australia will blaze a trail for Britain to follow. She wants children denied access to “dreadful” content which encourages suicide, self-harm and misogyny and exposes them to pornography – and she is concerned they can be “contacted by people they don’t know” and “bullied by people they do know”. Ms Cates is also alarmed that algorithms encourage young people to spend hours staring at screens. “They are not being outside, they are not making face to face contact, they are not reading, they are not studying they are not doing sport – all those things that children really need to grow into competent adults,” she said. A further goal is encouraging smartphone manufacturers to produce phones which allow children to make calls, send texts, use digital train tickets and access maps – but not download apps. “I think that’s the answer really but Government will have to incentivise that to make it happen,” she said. Her call comes as Labour MP Josh MacAlister works to change the law so headteachers will have a legal requirement to make schools “mobile-free zones”. His draft law would raise the age of “internet adulthood” from 13 to 16 – making it harder for companies to use children’s data to “push addictive content”. Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza said: “Too many children are still routinely exposed to significant and damaging online harms including violence, pornography and other material that promotes harmful behaviour. We have heard too many stories of children causing harm to themselves, or others, on the back of material they have been exposed to online.” Dame Rachel said she was “really impressed” by the action in Australia, adding that “we need to start here with holding the social media companies properly to account for their laissez faire approach to children’s safety”. Sir Peter Wanless, the chief executive of the NSPCC children’s charity, did not favour a “blanket ban”, saying this would “penalise children for the failures of tech companies to make their sites properly safe for young users”. A Government spokeswoman said there are “no current plans to implement a smartphone or social media ban for children,” adding: “We are focused on finding the best way of ensuring young people are kept safe while also benefiting from the latest technology. By next summer, the Online Safety Act will bring in protections for children to make sure their experiences online are appropriate for their age. “We have recently set out new priorities on online safety, including ensuring safety is baked into platforms from the start, and launched a research project looking at the links between social media and children’s wellbeing. This will help build the evidence base to inform future action.”NEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to: AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV)'s merger with BlueHalo LLC. Per the terms of the proposed transaction, AeroVironment will issue approximately 18.5 million shares of AeroVironment common stock to BlueHalo. Upon closing of the proposed transaction, AeroVironment shareholders will own approximately 60.5% of the combined company. If you are an AeroVironment shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options . Innovid Corp. (NYSE: CTV)'s sale to Mediaocean for $3.15 per share. If you are an Innovid shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options . Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. (NYSE: AE)'s sale to an affiliate of Tres Energy LLC for $38.00 per share in cash. If you are an Adams shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ: PLL)'s merger with Sayona Mining Limited. If you are a Piedmont shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders. We would handle the action on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses. Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com . Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Halper Sadeh LLC Daniel Sadeh, Esq. Zachary Halper, Esq. One World Trade Center 85th Floor New York, NY 10007 (212) 763-0060 sadeh@halpersadeh.com zhalper@halpersadeh.com https://www.halpersadeh.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-investigation-halper-sadeh-llc-investigates-avav-ctv-ae-pll-on-behalf-of-shareholders-302314337.html SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLPStock market today: Wall Street slips as technology stocks drag on the market
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LaLiga: Ancelotti hints at new positions for Vinicius Jr, MbappeKUWAIT CITY, Nov 30: On World Diabetes Awareness Day, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) launched a health campaign to raise awareness during the month of November focusing on increasing awareness of diabetes and prostate cancer. This Health Campaign is a part of NBK’s Staff Wellbeing program that aims to improve employees’ health and lifestyle. The campaign included several health-focused activities and events at NBK’s headquarters. The building was lit in blue to mark World Diabetes Day and promote awareness of the importance of early detection for prostate cancer. The NBK clinic offered specialized screenings for male employees and host two separate consultations with an endocrinologist specializing in diabetes and a specialist in prostate health. Yaqoub Al Baqer, NBK Public Relations Senior Manager, commented on this occasion: "This initiative is part of a series of awareness campaigns regularly held under NBK’s Employee Wellness Program, which aims to provide comprehensive support and care for our staff”. “NBK takes a holistic approach to employee wellness, going beyond professional development to also prioritize mental and physical health, ultimately contributing to long-term sustainable performance,” He added. “This awareness campaign reflects NBK’s commitment towards our employees who represent a completely foundational priority at NBK, and is one of our six main sustainability focus areas,” he noted. In partnership with Al Hajery Pharmacy, a booth was set at NBK Headquarters, where employees can purchase the latest blood glucose monitors or exchange their older models for new ones. This provided employees with convenient access to the latest technology to help them monitor and manage their health. The campaign also featured a special seminar with Dr. Ibrahim Al Rashdan, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, to provide guidance on maintaining heart health and share lifestyle tips for disease prevention. This campaign reflects NBK’s role as a leader in social responsibility and its dedication to the wellbeing of the Kuwaiti community. NBK strives to highlight its support to its employees as part of this commitment through health and well-being activities and events. NBK remains committed to supporting the health sector through a variety of initiatives, including blood donation drives and ongoing support for hospitals and healthcare organizations.
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Then-President Donald Trump looks to Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as she speaks during a Jan. 11, 2018, prison reform roundtable in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack , President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as his former domestic policy chief. She is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. People are also reading... Rollins, 52, previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Brooke Rollins, assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council at the time, speaks during a May 18, 2020, meeting with restaurant industry executives about the coronavirus response in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Trump taps Bessent for Treasury, Chavez-DeRemer for labor, Turner for housing Rollins’ pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Brooke Rollins speaks at an Oct. 27 campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. ___ Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report. Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Pete Hoekstra, Ambassador to Canada A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Additional selections to the incoming White House Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.SEC Chair to Step Down Upon Trump Administration’s ReturnCONWAY, S.C. (AP) — AJ Clayton scored 34 points as Ohio beat Portland 85-73 on Friday. Clayton added 12 rebounds for the Bobcats (2-4). Aidan Hadaway scored 13 points while going 5 of 12 from the floor, including 1 for 6 from 3-point range, and 2 for 3 from the line and added eight rebounds. Victor Searls had 11 points and finished 5 of 8 from the field. The Pilots (2-4) were led by Vukasin Masic, who posted 17 points. Portland also got 13 points and seven rebounds from A.Rapp. Max Mackinnon also recorded 10 points and seven rebounds. Clayton scored 14 points in the first half to help Ohio up 46-30 at the break. Ohio pulled away with a 7-0 run in the second half to extend its lead to 19 points. Clayton led the way with a team-high 20 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Trump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretariesMacron calls Haitian officials 'total morons' over PM sackingWASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack , President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Then-President Donald Trump looks to Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as she speaks during a Jan. 11, 2018, prison reform roundtable in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Brooke Rollins, assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council at the time, speaks during a May 18, 2020, meeting with restaurant industry executives about the coronavirus response in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk" earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign, that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field. “I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. Brooke Rollins speaks at an Oct. 27 campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Aerospace Testing Market worth $6.68 Billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 4.8% 11-22-2024 08:12 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Aerospace Testing Market The global Aerospace Testing Market in terms of revenue is estimated to be worth $5.29 billion in 2024 and is poised to reach $6.68 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. The report "Aerospace Testing Market [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/certificate-testing-market-32924426.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aerospacetestingmarket ] by Material Testing, Environmental Testing, Structural/Component Testing, Avionics/Flight & Electronics Testing, Propulsion System Testing, In-house, Commercial, Military & Defence, Space Exploration - Global Forecast to 2029" The global Aerospace testing market was valued at USD 5.29 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 6.68 billion by 2029; it is expected to register a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. Download PDF Brochure @ [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=32924426&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aerospacetestingmarket ] Browse 150 market data Tables and 70 Figures spread through 260 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Aerospace Testing Market" View detailed Table of Content here - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/certificate-testing-market-32924426.html [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/certificate-testing-market-32924426.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aerospacetestingmarket ] Image: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Images/certificate-testing-market_oveview.webp [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/certificate-testing-market-32924426.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aerospacetestingmarket ] Aviation technology advancements, such as lightweight composites, new avionics components, and autonomous and electric aircraft, are the primary drivers of aerospace testing industry . As regulatory and safety standards grow, so does the need for intensive testing throughout all phases of product design and manufacture, as well as periodic maintenance, to validate reliability and safety. In addition, the growing frequency of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities due to increasing international commercial and defense fleets aggravates the demand for testing services. Along with environmental concerns and meeting sustainability goals, manufacturers are developing fuel efficient, low emission systems and therefore testing services are necessary to meet industry standards and ensure safety in next generation aerospace systems. Avionics/Flight & Electronics Testing services segment to account for the largest market share in the forecasted year. Avionics/flight & electronic testing services are becoming more in demand with modern aeronautical electronics becoming more complex and more integrated into modern aircraft. As the technology of aerospace develops, so would similarly the technology of avionics systems become more sophisticated, and more dependent on a higher level of sophisticated technology (navigation, communication, flight control, safety features) which themselves are already subject to rigorous tests to meet high levels of safety, reliability and regulatory safety. Moreover, as other next generation technologies are being developed such as autonomous flight systems, electric propulsion, and advanced sensors, avionics and electronics testing will be even more crucial. Moreover, this segment requires specialized testing services because these systems must run reliably at different altitudes, temperatures, and emissions. Commercial end-user accounted for the largest market share of in the forecasted year. Commercial aviation takes the largest share of the aerospace testing industry due to the need to test new aircraft models and the strict safety regulations that must be followed in order to maintain operational reliability. As air travel demand continues to rise around the globe, and these markets continue to grow, there is an ever-increasing demand for the testing and certification of commercial aircraft components and systems such as engines, avionics and the airframe structural integrity. Despite this, commercial aviation remains ahead as a result of high safety, efficiency, and regulatory standards requirements, making it the largest segment of the aerospace testing market. North America is expected to hold the largest share of the Aerospace testing market during the forecast period. North America dominates the aerospace testing industry with state-of-the-art testing facilities and a strong presence of aerospace manufacturers and defense contractors. In particular, the U.S. hosts global leaders in companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman which demand severe testing for commercial, military and space applications. Due to strong government support, large defense budgets, and stringent regulations in North America, aerospace testing thrives. The aerospace testing industry relies heavily on government funding for research and development. As a result, safety standards can be maintained, and innovation can flourish in the industry. Government regulations also mandate that all aerospace products meet strict safety and performance specifications, and in turn, the demand for testing aerospace products is extremely comprehensive. Key Players- The key companies that offer aerospace testing industry include Element Materials Technology (UK), SGS SA (Switzerland), Intertek Group plc (UK), Applus+ (Spain), TUV SUD (Germany), TUV Rheinland (Germany), TUV NORD Group (Germany), Rohde & Schwarz (Germany), Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg), The Boeing Company (US), Airbus (Netherlands), MISTRAS Group (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Bureau Veritas (France), and DEKRA (Germany). Media Contact Company Name: MarketsandMarkets Trademark Research Private Ltd. Contact Person: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=aerospace-testing-market-worth-668-billion-by-2029-at-a-cagr-of-48 ] Phone: 18886006441 Address:1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 City: Delray Beach State: Florida Country: United States Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/certificate-testing-market-32924426.html This release was published on openPR.
Nebraska football defeats Wisconsin 44-25, securing program’s first bowl game since 2016
Forteza kicks six field goals to lift Laval to 22-17 win over Laurier in Vanier Cup KINGSTON, Ont. — Felipe Forteza went from delivering hits to making kicks for the Laval Rouge et Or this season. Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press Nov 23, 2024 3:47 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Laval University Rouge et Or's Arnaud Desjardins (12) is slacked by Laurier Golden Hawks' Geri Theodore (90) during U Sports Vanier Cup second half football action in Kingston, Ontario on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn KINGSTON, Ont. — Felipe Forteza went from delivering hits to making kicks for the Laval Rouge et Or this season. The linebacker-turned-kicker showed a veteran's poise with his boot on Saturday, kicking a Vanier Cup record six field goals to lift Laval to a 22-17 win over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks at Richardson Stadium. "The defence did its job and the offence put me in the right position to do it," said Forteza, who was named game MVP. "So I'm stoked." Quarterback Arnaud Desjardins was 34 of 42 for 320 passing yards to help the Rouge et Or win their second Vanier Cup in three years and record 12th overall. It was the first loss of the year for the Golden Hawks, who last won a Canadian university football title in 2005. Laval set the early tone with some big defensive plays and Desjardins was in fine early form, completing his first 22 pass attempts. Forteza split the uprights five times in the first half as Laval took a 17-7 lead into the intermission. Forteza broke the record with his sixth field goal with 2:31 remaining. His only miss was a 32-yard attempt in the final minute. The Golden Hawks ran the ball out of the end zone but didn't threaten again. "We didn't score touchdowns but we moved the ball very well," said Laval coach Glen Constantin. "We flipped the field on these guys." Forteza did some part-time kicking in high school but this was his first season kicking field goals on a regular basis. The Rouge et Or coaching staff liked his powerful leg and helped him with the transition. "It was a bit heartbreaking for me because I like hitting people," Forteza said. "I like being intense and that job is really about being calm and trying to stay healthy." "I like the position," he added. "I like the pressure of it and I like the preparation. I like the hard work and being able to kick that (well) during a game." Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma, who won the Hec Crighton Trophy as most outstanding player this season, had a quiet opening quarter before settling in and throwing touchdown passes to Ryan Hughes and Jaxon Stebbings. Elgersma was 23 of 34 for 246 yards but was sacked five times. "Our game plan was just to be us and execute," he said. "Obviously we didn't do that well enough today." Laurier had an 8-0 record in the regular season and outscored its opposition 128-76 over its first three playoff wins. Laval entered at 10-1 overall (7-1, 3-0) and was coming off two close victories over the last two weeks. A near-capacity crowd at the 8,000-seat Queen's University venue had an even split of Laurier and Laval supporters. The weather co-operated after two days of showers in the area. It was cloudy and 8 C at kickoff. Desjardins marched the Rouge et Or deep into Laurier territory on Laval's first possession before settling for an 18-yard field goal by Forteza. Laval used a no-huddle offence in the early going with Desjardins frequently using dump passes to great effect. A 15-yarder from Forteza with 2:54 left in the first quarter made it 6-0. The potent Rouge et Or defence, which led U Sports with just 106 points allowed in the regular season, showed its form as Jordan Lessard forced a fumble from Elgersma that the Golden Hawks recovered. On the next play, Ndeki Garant-Doumambila walloped the Laurier pivot with a ferocious sack. "We know what it takes to get here and what it takes to win these games," he said. Laurier didn't record a first down until late in the first quarter. Laval's special-teams play was also on point. Forteza booted a 65-yard punt and the Rouge et Or coverage swarmed returner Tayshaun Jackson, forcing him down at the Laurier one-yard line. The Golden Hawks would concede a safety to make it 8-0. Forteza added to the lead at 7:01 with a 35-yard field goal. Jackson gave Laurier some life when he broke for a 51-yard run to the Laval five-yard line. Hughes took a shovel pass from Elgersma and sprinted for the corner of the end zone to put Laurier on the scoreboard with 4:57 left in the half. Forteza made a 32-yard field goal with 2:33 remaining. After a Jackson fumble, he added a 42-yard kick 24 seconds later to make it 17-7. The Golden Hawks came out with more jump in the third quarter. Elgersma found Ethan Jordan for a 45-yard reception to highlight a 93-yard drive capped by Stebbings' three-yard TD catch and a Dawson Hodge conversion. Laval took a 19-14 lead when Laurier conceded a safety to open the fourth quarter. Hodge made it a two-point game when he hit a 34-yard field goal with 8:26 left. A pivotal play came with 4:57 remaining when Laval's Loic Brodeur forced a fumble at midfield. He knocked the ball out of Elgersma's hands and Garant-Doumambila recovered. "We focused, we believed in it, and experience," Garant-Doumambila said. "That's what did it for us." The Golden Hawks fell to 2-4 in national championship game appearances while Laval improved to 12-2. The 2025 Vanier Cup will be played in Regina. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 23, 2024. Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X. Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (CFL) Football preparation for Vanier Cup a labour of love for Queen's equipment manager Nov 23, 2024 3:00 AM O’Shea stands by decision to keep playing Collaros after QB was hurt in Grey Cup Nov 22, 2024 2:23 PM High-powered Laurier side puts unbeaten record on line against Laval in Vanier Cup Nov 22, 2024 1:03 PMNoneShoppers praise Dollar Tree’s top-rated Christmas door decoration for just $1.25 – and it comes in three options
PHILADELPHIA — On Thursday, the Eagles had 53 players practice for the first time since Week 6. Some players are dealing with minor injuries, but nobody seems to be dealing with a major injury before their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. After missing Wednesday’s practice for personal reasons, offensive tackle Lane Johnson returned to practice on Thursday. Safety Sydney Brown , who missed yesterday’s practice with a knee injury, was the only limited participant. BUY EAGLES TICKETS: STUBHUB , VIVID SEATS , TICKETMASTER Safety Reed Blankenship , defensive tackle Jalen Carter , wide receiver Britain Covey and cornerback Cooper DeJean were upgraded to full participants on Thursday. Throughout the season, the Eagles have dealt with a bunch of injuries. Offensive tackle Jordan Mailata , tight end Dallas Goedert and wide receiver A.J. Brown , among other key contributors, have missed games. The Eagles have three players on injured reserve: veteran defensive end Brandon Graham , edge rusher Bryce Huff and Goedert. Huff and Goedert are expected to return before the playoffs. If the Eagles can avoid serious injuries over the next four weeks, they will enter the playoffs with one of the NFL’s best rosters. The Eagles have impressive wins on their resume this season, including a Week 13 win over the Baltimore Ravens. A win over the Steelers would prove they’re a top Super Bowl contender. MORE EAGLES COVERAGE Inside Eagles' locker room after latest drama: ‘Brothers are going to fight’ Eagles’ Jalen Hurts claims dispute with A.J. Brown is overblown: ‘I have a lot of love for him’ Eagles’ star receiver throws some water on brush fire, but still not happy with passing game * UPDATE * Eagles injury report: Updates on Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown, Britain Covey and C.J. Gardner-Johnson Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Cayden Steele may be reached at CSteele@njadvancemedia.comTime and again I hear the same complaints. “Why is the government doing so badly?” “What is the story Keir Starmer is trying to tell?” “Why are they making so many errors?” The people asking these questions are not opponents of the Government. They are despairing Labour supporters. This week Keir Starmer tried to reassure the doubters. Downing Street insisted his big speech on Thursday was not a relaunch or a reboot or a reset but, whatever you wish to call it, it was clearly an acknowledgement that the ship needed to be steadied. There are now six clear goals by which the Government will be judged: improving living standards, cutting NHS waiting lists, building more homes, making streets safer, boosting green energy and supporting young children. As his opponents were quick to notice, immigration was omitted from this list of milestones. Downing Street may have decided that Labour is never going to outflank Reform when it comes to migration and including it among the targets would be to allow Nigel Farage to dictate the political conversation. Starmer will also have noted how the Conservatives came undone on migration by failing to meet their pledges to stop the Channel crossings or cut the number legally entering the country to the tens of thousands. Setting a target would only have given the populists another potential failure on which to feed. The thinking in No 10 is that the best way to address concerns about immigration is to tackle the problems which stoke the sense of grievance. If you improve communities, build more homes and fix the NHS then you reduce the opportunities to sow division and resentment. But Starmer knows better than anyone that if he fails to deliver on his promises then the populists stand ready to pounce. It is a reflection of how the political map is changing that Starmer chose to address the threat posed by Farage rather than take the fight to Kemi Badenoch ’s Conservatives. Labour MPs in traditional heartland seats have been telling No 10 that Reform now poses more of a danger than the Tories - a concern which was born out by a poll this week which had the Conservatives on 26 per cent, Reform on 24 per cent and Labour on 23 per cent. Starmer is betting everything on being able to show voters at the next election that their lives have got better. Not everyone is convinced that hitting a series of targets will be enough to keep the populists at bay. You only have to look at the United States where the Democrats presided over a booming economy and still got a kicking. Politics is not just a transactional process where votes are exchanged for delivery. It is also about telling a national story which people want to follow. Successful left-of-centre parties combine the retail side of government with a crusade to deliver social justice - this is what gives them identity and purpose. Starmer has his missions but he has yet to show he is a missionary.
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Anxiety about money, gun violence and hate crimes ranked high on list of American's concerns Limiting your news consumption may help ease stress and anxiety More than before, Americans surveyed say they'll make mental health resolutions for 2025 FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Should you cut back on doom scrolling in 2025? Worries about money, gun violence and hate crimes ranked high among many people's lists of worries at the end of 2024, according to a poll that is part of American Psychiatric Association (APA) Healthy Minds Monthly opinion poll series. The survey included 2200 U.S. adults. Reducing news consumption may be beneficial for your mental health , experts say. "If current events seem overwhelming it may be time to limit your news consumption,” Dr. Marketa Wills , medical director of the APA, said. “While we like to stay informed, the news can also impact our mental health, and being mindful of that impact is important," Wells said in a news release. According to the APA's research, American adults have remained most anxious about the economy and gun violence throughout 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, more than 1/3 of Americans surveyed (33%) say they will make mental health-related New Year’s resolutions, which is a 5% increase from last year. In fact, the increase is the highest result the APA has collected since it began asking the question in 2021. As usual, many people report that they will pledge to be more physically active in 2025; other resolutions focus on participating in mentally healthy activities. Spend more time in nature (46%) Meditation (44%) Focus on spirituality (37%) Take a social media break (30%) Journaling (29%) “A new year brings with it new opportunities but also renewed concerns about the very important issues that impact our lives,” Wills said, adding that “any time of the year, mental health matters. Staying mindful of how we’re doing while taking active steps to care for ourselves is a terrific resolution.” More information The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has more on stress and anxiety management. SOURCE: American Psychiatric Association (APA), news release, Dec. 13, 2024; APA, press release, Dec. 18, 2024 If you make resolutions, consider starting or re-starting a practice that will nurture your mental health, such as meditating or taking a break from social media.
Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left leg
The data centers powering the AI industry are fueling higher levels of dangerous air pollution, according to new research. In a paper titled The Unpaid Toll: Quantifying the Public Health Impact of AI , scientists say this pollution could lead to up to 1,300 premature deaths each year by 2030. On top of that, the public health costs—ranging from treating cancer and asthma to covering missed work and school days—are estimated to be hitting around $20 billion annually. When we talk about the costs of AI, it’s often discussed in terms of electricity consumed, carbon released into the atmosphere, and water needed to operate massive data centers. “While those costs are really important, they are not what’s going to impact the local communities where data centers are being built,” coauthor Adam Wierman, director of Information Science and Technology at Caltech, said in a statement . As AI becomes more deeply embedded in daily life, the resulting air pollution in the form of lung-penetrating fine particles and other federally regulated pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, is only expected to increase. By 2030 the public health burden is expected to be double that of the U.S. steelmaking industry, and could rival that of all the cars, buses, and trucks in California, the study projects. Recent Department of Energy estimates found that data center energy use is expected to either double or triple by 2028 . Last year alone, data centers produced at least 106 million metric tons of emissions —rivaling those of the domestic commercial airline industry, which produces around 131 million metric tons of CO2 annually, according to MIT Technology Review. | Take, for example, generating the electricity needed to train a large language model at the scale of Meta’s Llama-3.1, released in July this year. The air pollution produced would be equivalent to more than 10,000 round trips by car between Los Angeles and New York City, the report said. While AI isn’t going anywhere, it’s important that the industry is held accountable for both environmental and public health impacts. The authors recommend that standards and methods be adopted that require tech companies to report the air pollution caused by their power consumption and backup generators, so that hidden costs can be counted for.Mam accepts nine-game NRL ban, fined additional $90,000 by Broncos
Treace Appoints Guy Guglielmino as Chief Commercial OfficerBanque Cantonale Vaudoise reduced its stake in ASML Holding ( NASDAQ:ASML – Free Report ) by 54.3% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 42 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after selling 50 shares during the quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise’s holdings in ASML were worth $35,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of ASML. Taurus Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in ASML in the third quarter valued at about $16,994,000. Stockman Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of ASML by 7.2% in the 3rd quarter. Stockman Wealth Management Inc. now owns 15,361 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $12,800,000 after acquiring an additional 1,032 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE grew its position in ASML by 7.5% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 47,601 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $39,664,000 after acquiring an additional 3,321 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in ASML by 104.4% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 7,009 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $5,840,000 after purchasing an additional 3,580 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vantage Investment Partners LLC raised its position in ASML by 8.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vantage Investment Partners LLC now owns 34,767 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $28,970,000 after purchasing an additional 2,736 shares during the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In ASML has been the subject of a number of research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their target price on ASML from $1,052.00 to $815.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of ASML from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Susquehanna decreased their price target on shares of ASML from $1,300.00 to $1,100.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 11th. Berenberg Bank upgraded shares of ASML to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, UBS Group cut ASML from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, ASML has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $970.60. ASML Trading Up 0.1 % NASDAQ:ASML opened at $672.88 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. ASML Holding has a 1-year low of $645.45 and a 1-year high of $1,110.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $264.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.23, a PEG ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.51. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $744.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $873.81. ASML ( NASDAQ:ASML – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 15th. The semiconductor company reported $5.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.24 by $0.56. ASML had a net margin of 26.40% and a return on equity of 47.61%. The business had revenue of $8.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.66 billion. On average, equities analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 20.68 earnings per share for the current year. ASML Cuts Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 7th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 29th were issued a $1.407 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 29th. This represents a $5.63 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.84%. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.21%. About ASML ( Free Report ) ASML Holding N.V. develops, produces, markets, sells, and services advanced semiconductor equipment systems for chipmakers. It offers advanced semiconductor equipment systems, including lithography, metrology, and inspection systems. The company also provides extreme ultraviolet lithography systems; and deep ultraviolet lithography systems comprising immersion and dry lithography solutions to manufacture various range of semiconductor nodes and technologies. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ASML? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ASML Holding ( NASDAQ:ASML – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for ASML Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ASML and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Wesco Declares Quarterly Dividend on Common Stock and Preferred StockBlackRock Enhanced Capital and Income Fund, Inc. Approves Name and Investment Policy ChangesCan I earn superannuation income in Australia and still get a pension?Quest Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Central Garden & Pet ( NASDAQ:CENTA – Free Report ) by 1,240.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,977 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 13,860 shares during the quarter. Quest Partners LLC’s holdings in Central Garden & Pet were worth $470,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its position in Central Garden & Pet by 1,038.2% during the first quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 129,744 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,789,000 after buying an additional 118,345 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 30.2% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,636,319 shares of the company’s stock valued at $208,093,000 after purchasing an additional 1,306,309 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 0.8% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,653,753 shares of the company’s stock valued at $120,682,000 after purchasing an additional 29,780 shares in the last quarter. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC lifted its position in Central Garden & Pet by 7.2% in the first quarter. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC now owns 1,112,400 shares of the company’s stock worth $41,070,000 after purchasing an additional 74,256 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Central Garden & Pet by 31.0% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 76,262 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,817,000 after buying an additional 18,047 shares in the last quarter. 50.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Central Garden & Pet Stock Up 0.9 % Shares of NASDAQ:CENTA opened at $33.18 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 3.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market cap of $2.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.30 and a beta of 0.73. Central Garden & Pet has a 12 month low of $27.70 and a 12 month high of $41.03. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $30.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.34. Analyst Ratings Changes View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Central Garden & Pet Insider Transactions at Central Garden & Pet In related news, Chairman William E. Brown sold 60,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.54, for a total transaction of $2,012,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 1,125,773 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $37,758,426.42. The trade was a 5.06 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . 20.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Central Garden & Pet Company Profile ( Free Report ) Central Garden & Pet Company produces and distributes various products for the lawn and garden, and pet supplies markets in the United States. It operates through two segments: Pet and Garden. The Pet segment provides dog and cat supplies, such as dog treats and chews, toys, pet beds and containment, grooming products, waste management, and training pads; supplies for aquatics, small animals, reptiles, and pet birds, including toys, cages and habitats, bedding, and food and supplements; products for equine and livestock; animal and household health and insect control products; aquariums and terrariums, including fixtures and stands, water conditioners and supplements, water pumps and filters, and lighting systems and accessories; and live fish and small animals, as well as outdoor cushions. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Central Garden & Pet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Central Garden & Pet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
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Lexus brings its latest electrified innovations to Cebu, the Queen City of the South, this November, offering car enthusiasts and luxury seekers a chance to explore its cutting-edge models. From November 22 to 28, visitors can view Lexus vehicles up close at The Mall at NuStar Resort & Casino, while a specially curated display will be hosted at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu from November 25 to 27. The Lexus showcase offers a blend of elegance, craftsmanship and sustainability, inviting guests to experience the brand's dedication to luxury and innovation. Visitors will also have the opportunity to get behind the wheel with scheduled test drives, experiencing firsthand the seamless performance, eco-conscious engineering, and refined design that define Lexus. Among the vehicles on display is the RX 350h, a midsize luxury SUV that exemplifies Lexus's mastery of hybrid technology. With its sophisticated design and remarkable efficiency, the RX 350h delivers smooth, quiet performance for discerning drivers. The lineup also includes the NX 350h, a hybrid SUV celebrated for its effortless power and exceptional fuel economy, perfectly suited for journeys both long and short. For those looking toward the future of electrification, Lexus will showcase the RZ 450e, a fully electric SUV that represents the brand's bold vision of sustainability and performance. This state-of-the-art vehicle combines a modern, innovative design with an unparalleled electric driving experience, reflecting Lexus's commitment to leading the way in electrified luxury. The event also includes test drives of Lexus's hybrid models. Guests can take the LBX, a subcompact luxury SUV, for a spin. Designed for agility and hybrid efficiency, the LBX redefines expectations with meticulous attention to detail and urban-friendly performance. Also available for test drives is the UX F Sport, which blends sporty handling with hybrid efficiency, making it the perfect choice for those who crave dynamic city driving. Lexus invites Cebuanos and visitors alike to "Experience Amazing" through this unique showcase, where electrified luxury meets groundbreaking innovation. This is a rare opportunity to witness and drive the future of mobility as Lexus continues to redefine the standard for sustainable luxury.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer’s comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks, whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government, weighed in, defending the tech industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump’s world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world’s richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect, was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump’s movement but his stance on the tech industry’s hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent,” he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump’s own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration, including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order, which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump’s businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club, and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country” and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he told the “All-In” podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump’s budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes. Advertisement Advertisement
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LIZ Kendall today promises to cut the number of Brits on benefits - as she warns the jobless epidemic is “terrible” for the country. People stuck on welfare are poorer, sicker and less happy, the Work and Pensions Secretary said. She staked her reputation on slashing the welfare bill and getting people back to work. Speaking to The Sun on Sunday at a job centre in Stratford, East London, Ms Kendall said: “I’ve never been swayed from my belief in the value of work. “I believe that the benefits of work go way beyond a pay slip; that work can bring pride, self respect and dignity. “Work is good for your mental health . And as a woman, I believe work can bring you independence and equality.” READ MORE IN POLITICS 'In politics to succeed' Asked if she is staking her reputation on cutting the number of people languishing on welfare, Ms Kendall said: “Yes. “I’m not in politics to fail. I am in politics to succeed. “And this will be one of the biggest reforms this government does.” Ms Kendall will this week unveil plans for a radical shake-up of Britain’s broken benefits system to get people into work. Most read in Politics At the heart of it is a tough new ultimatum to get young adults off welfare and in jobs. She will promise every Brit aged 21 and under work or training. Those who refuse will have their benefits withdrawn. Plans to cut £3 billion a year from welfare by reassessing people on long term sick and disability benefits more often will also be set out. Ministers are increasingly worried that the UK is once again turning into the sick man of Europe. Britain spent a staggering £150 billion on non pensioner benefits last year - and the number is predicted to carry on ballooning. Four million people will be claiming long-term sickness benefits by 2030, according to forecasts. This is 60 per cent higher than pre Covid levels. Shocking stats show nearly one million adults aged 24 and under are not in education , employment or training - known as NEETs. Hitting out at the welfare epidemic blighting Britain’s youth, Ms Kendall said: “That is terrible for them. It can have a long term effect on your job prospects, your ability to earn, and your health, because we know the longer you’re out of work that can be bad for your health too, which increases costs on the taxpayer “It’s terrible for businesses , many of whom are desperate to recruit, and it’s terrible for taxpayers seeing an ever higher benefits bill. “And I am determined to bring that down through more and better opportunities for young people to work, to get training and to get skills. “And in return for that, young people will have to take up those offers. “If you’re out of work when you’re young... the consequences can be lifelong. “It can have a long term effect on your job prospects, your ability to earn, and your health, because we know the longer you’re out of work that can be bad for your health too, which increases costs on the taxpayer. “So my commitment to young people is this: I value you. I believe in you. I will offer you the chances and choices you deserve. Social media impact “But in return for that, you have a responsibility to take them up.” She added: “I’ve always believed, if you can work, you must.” Ms Kendall is “extremely concerned” about the growing number of young adults in their 20s off work because of mental health problems. And she is “worried about the impact of social media on young people”. Her concerns were echoed by the staff at the busy job centre Liz is visiting in East London. They are seeing more and more young adults off work with things like depression and anxiety . The current system of sickness and disability benefits “isn’t working at the moment”, Ms Kendall said. “It’s not working for the people who rely on them, and we are seeing the costs rise”, she warned. Plans to carry out more checks on people on sickness benefits are expected to be set out in the New Year. Brits will also be given more mental health support in schools and via job centres to keep them in training or work. The UK has no choice but to get people back to work - the mission to kickstart economic growth depends on it, Ms Kendall said. “We are the HR department of the growth mission”, she said. But Ms Kendall has come under fire for other welfare cuts announced. This is not a decision that any of us wanted or expected to make Earlier this week, she admitted cuts to winter fuel allowance could force another 100,000 pensioners in England and Wales into poverty . The decision to strip the £300 payments from around 10 million pensioners is hugely unpopular. Britain stagnating It will only save the government about £1.4 billion. So, is the cut worth it? “This is not a decision that any of us wanted or expected to make”, Ms Kendall said. “The need to get the public finances sorted, though, is not something we’re going to duck. “I understand how concerned people have been about it, but when money is tight, we took the decision to focus on pensioners in the greatest need.” Britain’s economy is stagnating and business confidence is plummeting. The Labour government says getting people into work and growth going again is their number one mission. READ MORE SUN STORIES They will be judged on the results. Ms Kendall may have the fate of her party in her hands.
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HC notice to PU, Centre on plea seeking senate pollsRichardson Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in shares of NVIDIA Co. ( NASDAQ:NVDA – Free Report ) by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 21,606 shares of the computer hardware maker’s stock after acquiring an additional 307 shares during the period. NVIDIA makes up about 1.7% of Richardson Financial Services Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th largest holding. Richardson Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in NVIDIA were worth $2,669,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. New World Advisors LLC lifted its stake in NVIDIA by 21.9% in the third quarter. New World Advisors LLC now owns 7,290 shares of the computer hardware maker’s stock valued at $885,000 after acquiring an additional 1,310 shares during the last quarter. Graham Capital Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NVIDIA during the 3rd quarter worth about $230,000. Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of NVIDIA by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd. now owns 75,062 shares of the computer hardware maker’s stock worth $9,115,000 after buying an additional 2,419 shares during the last quarter. OMNI 360 Wealth Inc. lifted its stake in shares of NVIDIA by 125.1% during the 3rd quarter. OMNI 360 Wealth Inc. now owns 16,170 shares of the computer hardware maker’s stock worth $1,964,000 after buying an additional 8,988 shares during the last quarter. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of NVIDIA by 12.8% during the 3rd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 446,461 shares of the computer hardware maker’s stock worth $54,218,000 after buying an additional 50,829 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.27% of the company’s stock. NVIDIA Stock Performance NVDA opened at $142.44 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 4.10, a quick ratio of 3.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $138.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $125.58. NVIDIA Co. has a 1-year low of $45.60 and a 1-year high of $152.89. The company has a market cap of $3.49 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 56.06, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.63. NVIDIA declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, August 28th that permits the company to buyback $50.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the computer hardware maker to purchase up to 1.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. NVIDIA Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.01 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 5th. This represents a $0.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.03%. NVIDIA’s payout ratio is 1.57%. Insider Activity In related news, insider Donald F. Robertson, Jr. sold 4,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.51, for a total transaction of $524,295.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 492,409 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $57,370,572.59. This trade represents a 0.91 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . Also, CEO Jen Hsun Huang sold 120,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.33, for a total transaction of $12,639,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 75,895,836 shares in the company, valued at $7,994,108,405.88. The trade was a 0.16 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 1,796,986 shares of company stock worth $214,418,399 over the last quarter. Insiders own 4.23% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have weighed in on NVDA shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of NVIDIA from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of NVIDIA from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of NVIDIA from $148.00 to $167.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of NVIDIA from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of NVIDIA from $160.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirty-nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $164.15. Get Our Latest Stock Report on NVIDIA NVIDIA Company Profile ( Free Report ) NVIDIA Corporation provides graphics and compute and networking solutions in the United States, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and internationally. The Graphics segment offers GeForce GPUs for gaming and PCs, the GeForce NOW game streaming service and related infrastructure, and solutions for gaming platforms; Quadro/NVIDIA RTX GPUs for enterprise workstation graphics; virtual GPU or vGPU software for cloud-based visual and virtual computing; automotive platforms for infotainment systems; and Omniverse software for building and operating metaverse and 3D internet applications. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than NVIDIA 3 Best Fintech Stocks for a Portfolio Boost Fast-Growing Companies That Are Still Undervalued Transportation Stocks Investing Top Cybersecurity Stock Picks for 2025 Airline Stocks – Top Airline Stocks to Buy Now Archer or Joby: Which Aviation Company Might Rise Fastest? Receive News & Ratings for NVIDIA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NVIDIA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .When it comes to the stock market, it can be a bit like a hurricane at sea: powerful, unpredictable, and capable of turning calm waters into chaos in an instant. Sure, stocks have been faring well all year long. In fact, the S&P 500 is up more than 27% so far in 2024 – making it the index’s best year since 2019. But while the market waters have been quite calm for a while, that certainly isn’t always the case. You see; historically speaking, the stock market averages about one bear market every five or six years. But in the past six years, we’ve had not one... not two... but three different bear markets . There was the flash crash of late 2018, which saw stocks briefly fall into a bear market right before the holidays. There was also the COVID crash of 2020, wherein stocks plunged in the fastest market crash in history. And then there was the inflation crash of 2022, when tech stocks were obliterated by sky-high interest rates. Three unforeseen bear markets in the past six years – that is wild. But, of course, on the other hand, we’ve also seen some huge stock market successes, too. Navigating Both Flash Crashes & Fast Recoveries On average, the stock market rises about 10% per year. But this year, stocks are up about 27% so far. They rose about the same in 2021 as well. And in 2019, stocks rallied about 29%. In other words, over the past six years, the S&P 500 has achieved three different years with nearly 30% returns. As a matter of fact, of the stock market’s 10 best years since 1950, three have occurred since 2018. Three different bear markets and three of the best years ever for stocks – all within the past six years. So, if the stock market has felt wild to you lately, that’s because it has been. But this wildness could be the new norm for Wall Street going forward. We can thank technology for that – at least, that’s my opinion. Why? Because algorithms run the market now. These days, algorithmic trading accounts for approximately 60- to 75% of total trading volume in the U.S. stock market. That means most trades are automatic, executed by bots adhering to pre-set parameters. And, unlike humans, robots don’t really ask why. They just do what they are programmed to. So, when something bad happens, all the algorithmic-driven systems rush toward an exit. And when something good happens, they race to get involved. That’s why, in my view, algorithmic trading creates crowding. As a result, we get wild swings in the market – both up and down. The algorithms drive momentum one way or the other, and the market follows. We get flash crashes and fast recoveries; big bear markets and massive bull runs; major meltdowns and momentous melt-ups. We get stock market volatility. The Final Word on Stock Market Volatility Such unpredictability can be scary. But since that turbulence drives stocks both ways, you can’t really afford to be crippled by fear, sitting on the sidelines. You need to be in the game. But to play well, you also need to craft an investment strategy that can handle the volatility – one that can mitigate the downside while also maximizing the upside. And we think we’ve created a strategy that could help you do just that. That is, we’ve developed a stock screening system – dubbed Auspex – that leverages fundamental, technical, and sentimental data to find the strongest stocks in the market at any given time, all according to our strict criteria. The strategy therein? Use Auspex to find the best stocks in a given month. Buy and hold those stocks, then cash out at month’s end. Lather, rinse, repeat. With Auspex at our side, we aim to take the guesswork out of investing, replacing stock market volatility with certainty and stability. And next week... on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. EST ... we’ll be debuting this new system for the very first time. Join us for that upcoming broadcast. We’re confident it’s one you won’t want to miss. Reserve your seat now! On the date of publication, Luke Lango did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. P.S. You can stay up to speed with Luke’s latest market analysis by reading our Daily Notes! Check out the latest issue on your Innovation Investor or Early Stage Investor subscriber site.
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Enzo Maresca savoured chants of ‘we’ve got our Chelsea back’ from travelling fans following a 5-1 Premier League thrashing of 10-man Southampton at St Mary’s. Blues supporters also sang the name of head coach Maresca during the closing stages of an emphatic success sealed by goals from Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and substitute Jadon Sancho. Bottom club Southampton briefly levelled through Joe Aribo but were a man down from the 39th minute after captain Jack Stephens was sent off for pulling the hair of Marc Cucurella. Chelsea, who have endured an underwhelming period since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the club in 2022, climbed above Arsenal and into second place on goal difference, seven points behind leaders Liverpool. “It was a very good feeling, especially because you can see that they are happy, that is our target,” Maresca said of the atmosphere in the away end. “We work every day to keep them happy and tonight was a very good feeling, especially the one that they can see that Chelsea’s back. This is an important thing.” Maresca rotated his squad in Hampshire, making seven changes following Sunday’s impressive 3-0 win over Aston Villa. Following a sloppy start, his side, who stretched their unbeaten run to six top-flight games, could easily have won by more as they hit the woodwork three times, in addition to squandering a host of chances. “I’m very happy with the five we scored,” said the Italian. “I’m not happy with the first 15, 20 minutes, where we struggled. The reason why we struggled is because we prepared the game to press them man to man and the first 15, 20 minutes we were not pressing them man to man. “After 15, 20 minutes we adjust that and the game was much better. For sure we could score more but five goals they are enough.” Southampton manager Russell Martin rued a costly “moment of madness” from skipper Stephens. The defender’s ridiculous red card was the headline mistake of a catalogue of errors from the beleaguered south-coast club as they slipped seven points from safety following an 11th defeat of a dismal season. “I don’t think anyone will be as disappointed as Jack,” Martin said of Stephens, who was sent off for the second time this term after tugging the curls of Cucurella as Saints prepared to take a corner. “I haven’t got to sit down and talk with him about that at all. He will be hurt more than anyone and it’s changed the game for us tonight, which is disappointing. “I think they have to describe it as violent conduct; it’s not violent really but there’s no other explanation for that really. It’s a moment of madness that’s really cost us and Jack.” Southampton repeatedly invited pressure with their risky attempts to play out from defence, with goalkeeper Joe Lumley gifting Chelsea their second goal, scored by Nkunku. While Saints were booed off at full-time, Martin, who was missing a host of key players due to injuries and suspensions, praised the effort of his depleted team. “When they see such a big scoreline and a couple of the goals we concede, I understand it (the jeers),” he said. “It’s football, it’s emotive, people feel so much about it, it’s why it’s such a special sport in this country and so big. “I understand it but I feel really proud of the players tonight, some of the football we played at 11 v 11 was amazing. “For an hour with 10 men we’ve dug in so deep, there were some big performances. I’m proud of them for that and I’m grateful for that because that’s not easy in that circumstance.”Leaders in Alberta’s energy sector say they aren’t panicking after Donald Trump threatened to slap a 25-per-cent tariff on Canadian goods, but they’re still urging Ottawa to take the United States president-elect’s threat as a wake-up call. “As Canadians, we need to be eyes-wide-open on the President-elect’s promise for across-the-board tariffs,” said Lisa Baiton, president and CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. “It is time to stop dithering around with domestic policy that kills our biggest GDP generators and job creators, like the emissions cap, and move with alacrity to support our most productive industries,” she said. Trump said in a Monday social media post that he’ll issue an executive order as one of his first orders of business imposing a 25-per-cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican products, adding that the levy will stay in place until both countries crack down on the cross-border flow of migrants and drugs into the U.S. This ups the ante considerably from the 10-per-cent global tariff that Trump campaigned on. Trump vowed during the campaign to renegotiate America’s existing free-trade deal with Canada and Mexico, which is up for review in 2026. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Monday evening that Trump’s concerns about vulnerabilities at the Canada-U.S. borders were “valid” and urged Ottawa to meet the president-elect halfway. “We are calling on the federal government to work with the incoming administration to resolve these issues immediately, thereby avoiding any unnecessary tariffs on Canadian exports to the U.S.,” Smith said in a post on X. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that he’d agreed to a request from Smith and her fellow premiers to a first ministers’ meeting to talk trade strategy. The meeting will take place virtually on Wednesday afternoon. Heather Exner-Pirot, head of energy studies at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said the tariff threat is a prime example of the dictum, “take Trump seriously but not literally.” “Canadian crude oil is a very hard import for the U.S. to replace,” said Exner-Pirot. “Their refineries are optimized for our oil.” Exner-Pirot added that any action seen as hurting Americans at the pump would be damaging for Trump in highly competitive swing states. “The silver lining of this situation is that the American public has never been more aware of how much Canadian oil goes to the U.S.,” said Exner-Pirot. Canada is the top supplier of petroleum to the U.S. accounting for 52 per cent of its gross oil imports in 2023, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data. rmohamed@postmedia.com Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here . Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here .
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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has spoken out after being placed on injured reserve with yet another injury, potentially ending his 2024 season. McCaffrey released a message on his social media. "Football is the greatest game on the planet to me," McCaffrey's Instagram post began . "I love that you can find out exactly who you are without ever saying a word. It lifts you up and breaks you down and it can happen fast. It's humbling in the best ways. You can do everything right and still fail. That's life and that's football. It's a constant test of wills and those who just keep going tend to reap the benefits of their perseverance. "This wasn't my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours. You can feel sorry for yourself and listen to the birds, or you can hold the line. I'm grateful for the support of everyone in my corner and promise I'll work smarter and harder than ever to come back better from this. I love my teammates, I love the 9ers, and I love football. God doesn't miss. Onward." More news: 49ers Sign Former Jets RB to Replace Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason McCaffrey's 2024 season was one to forget. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year award winner suffered a calf strain in training camp that turned into Achilles tendinitis in both legs. McCaffrey was expected to be ready for the beginning of the regular season but was instead ruled out right before the team's Week 1 Monday night opener. He was then placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 2. McCaffrey would miss the next two months, before finally returning to play after the 49ers' bye week in Week 10. He played in three full games, before getting hurt in his fourth game back in the second quarter of the 49ers' Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills. McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury that will sideline him for at least six weeks . While McCaffrey could technically return for the playoffs, the 49ers are currently 5-7 and would need a late-season turnaround to even make that a potential reality. The 2024 season is officially looking like a lost one for both the 49ers and McCaffrey. The 28-year-old signed a two-year extension with the 49ers in June, maintaining his status as the highest-paid running back in the league. More news: Ravens Suspend WR Diontae Johnson Without Pay as Wild Saga Since Trade Continues For more NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Brian Daboll on "fix this dumpster fire" banner: I'm not happy eitherLast December, Rep. Michael Guest (R-Mississippi) walked down the House steps to explain why he went the extra mile to lead the expulsion of the disgraced George Santos from the House. The House Ethics Committee issued a report showing the New York Republican’s history of lies and financial deception but stopped short of recommending specific punishment. “That almost would have been a dereliction of my duty if I did not support this — if all we did was issue this report and then, you know, the Ethics Committee stays in the background,” the committee chair told reporters on Dec. 1.Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street
Donald Trump’s Attorneys Cite Hunter Biden’s Pardon In Latest Motion To Dismiss New York Hush Money Conviction
Analysis: Getting benched may have been best thing that happened to Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson
CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 3, 2024-- Torrid Holdings Inc. (“Torrid” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CURV), a direct-to-consumer apparel, intimates, and accessories brand in North America for women sizes 10 to 30, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended November 2, 2024. Lisa Harper, Chief Executive Officer of Torrid, stated, “Our third quarter results were below our expectations as our fall assortments did not offer enough newness and novelty. We also saw the environment change meaningfully from the end of September and into October. Despite the weaker top line sales, we delivered a positive full-price comp, 285 basis points of gross profit expansion, and modest Adjusted EBITDA (1) growth. We ended the quarter with clean inventory levels, down 19% to last year, and $44 million in cash.” Ms. Harper continued, “While we are encouraged by our customers’ response to the newness in our assortments, given the volatility we have seen in our business, and recognizing that there is still considerable amount of the quarter ahead of us, we are taking a prudent approach to our fourth quarter outlook. As we move into fiscal 2025, we are confident that we have put in place the necessary changes and strategies to position us for growth.” Financial Highlights for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter of Fiscal 2024 Financial and Operating Metrics November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Number of stores (as of end of period) 655 643 Three Months Ended (in thousands, except percentages) November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Comparable sales (A) (7 )% (8 )% Net loss $ (1,194 ) $ (2,748 ) Adjusted EBITDA (B) $ 19,584 $ 19,379 (A) Comparable sales (2) for the three-month period ended November 2, 2024 compares sales for the 13-week period ended November 2, 2024, with sales for the 13-week period ended November 4, 2023. (B) Please refer to “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” below for a reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA (1). Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the third quarter of 2024 totaled $44.0 million. Total liquidity at the end of the quarter, including available borrowing capacity under our revolving credit agreement, was $151.8 million. Cash flow from operations for the nine-month period ended November 2, 2024, was $65.4 million, compared to $33.7 million for the nine-month period ended October 28, 2023. Outlook For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 the Company expects: For the full year 2024, which has 52 weeks compared to 53 weeks in full year 2023, the Company expects: The above outlook is based on several assumptions, including, but not limited to, the macroeconomic challenges in the industry in fiscal 2024 as well as higher labor costs. The above outlook does not take into consideration the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ruling which mandates, among other things, decreases in credit card late fees, and could alter the profitability of our agreements with our private label credit card financing company. See “Forward-Looking Statements” for additional information. Conference Call Details A conference call to discuss the Company’s third quarter 2024 results is scheduled for December 3, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. ET. Those who wish to participate in the call may do so by dialing (877) 407-9208 or (201) 493-6784 for international callers. The conference call will also be webcast live at https://investors.torrid.com . For those unable to participate, a replay of the conference call will be available approximately three hours after the conclusion of the call until December 10, 2024. Notes Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” for additional information on non-GAAP financial measures and the accompanying table for a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure. The Company does not provide reconciliations of the forward-looking non-GAAP measures of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measure because the timing and amount of excluded items are unreasonably difficult to fully and accurately estimate. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results. Comparable sales for any given period are defined as the sales of our e-Commerce operations and stores that we have included in our comparable sales base during that period. We include a store in our comparable sales base after it has been open for 15 full fiscal months. If a store is closed during a fiscal year, it is only included in the computation of comparable sales for the full fiscal months in which it was open. Comparable sales for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 compares sales for the 13-week period ended November 2, 2024, with sales for the 13-week period ended November 4, 2023. Partial fiscal months are excluded from the computation of comparable sales. We apply current year foreign currency exchange rates to both current year and prior year comparable sales to remove the impact of foreign currency fluctuation and achieve a consistent basis for comparison. Comparable sales allow us to evaluate how our unified commerce business is performing exclusive of the effects of non-comparable sales and new store openings. About Torrid TORRID is a direct-to-consumer brand in North America dedicated to offering a diverse assortment of stylish apparel, intimates, and accessories skillfully designed for curvy women. Specializing in sizes 10 to 30, TORRID’s primary focus is on providing fashionable, comfortable, and affordable options that meet the unique needs of its customers. TORRID’s extensive collection features high quality merchandise, including tops, bottoms, denim, dresses, intimates, activewear, footwear, and accessories. Revenues are generated primarily through its e-Commerce platform www.torrid.com and its stores in the United States of America, Puerto Rico and Canada. Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to results determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), management utilizes certain non-GAAP performance measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA, for purposes of evaluating ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We believe that these non-GAAP operating measures, when reviewed collectively with our GAAP financial information, provide useful supplemental information to investors in assessing our operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental measure of our operating performance that is neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP and our calculations thereof may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA represents GAAP net income (loss) plus interest expense less interest income, net of other expense (income), plus provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), and share-based compensation, non-cash deductions and charges, and other expenses We believe Adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparisons from period to period by isolating the effects of certain items that vary from period to period without any correlation to ongoing operating performance. We also use Adjusted EBITDA as one of the primary methods for planning and forecasting the overall expected performance of our business and for evaluating on a quarterly and annual basis, actual results against such expectations. Further, we recognize Adjusted EBITDA as a commonly used measure in determining business value and, as such, use it internally to report and analyze our results and as a benchmark to determine certain non-equity incentive payments made to executives. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool. This measure is not a measurement of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to or substitute for net income (loss), income (loss) from operations, earnings (loss) per share or any other performance measures determined in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this earnings release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this earnings release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning (including their negative counterparts or other various or comparable terminology). For example, all statements we make relating to our estimated and projected costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates and financial results, our plans and objectives for future operations, growth or initiatives, strategies or the expected outcome or impact of pending or threatened litigation are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected, including: • the adverse impact of rulemaking changes implemented by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on our income streams, profitability and results of operations; • changes in consumer spending and general economic conditions; • the negative impact on interest expense as a result of steep interest rates; • inflationary pressures with respect to labor and raw materials and global supply chain constraints that could increase our expenses; • our ability to identify and respond to new and changing product trends, customer preferences and other related factors; • our dependence on a strong brand image; • increased competition from other brands and retailers; • our reliance on third parties to drive traffic to our website; • the success of the shopping centers in which our stores are located; • our ability to adapt to consumer shopping preferences and develop and maintain a relevant and reliable omni-channel experience for our customers; • our dependence upon independent third parties for the manufacture of all of our merchandise; • availability constraints and price volatility in the raw materials used to manufacture our products; • interruptions of the flow of our merchandise from international manufacturers causing disruptions in our supply chain; • our sourcing a significant amount of our products from China; • shortages of inventory, delayed shipments to our e-Commerce customers and harm to our reputation due to difficulties or shut-down of our distribution facility; • our reliance upon independent third-party transportation providers for substantially all of our product shipments; • our growth strategy; • our failure to attract and retain employees that reflect our brand image, embody our culture and possess the appropriate skill set; • damage to our reputation arising from our use of social media, email and text messages; • our reliance on third-parties for the provision of certain services, including real estate management; • our dependence upon key members of our executive management team; • our reliance on information systems; • system security risk issues that could disrupt our internal operations or information technology services; • unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential information, whether through a breach of our computer system, third-party computer systems we rely on, or otherwise; • our failure to comply with federal and state laws and regulations and industry standards relating to privacy, data protection, advertising and consumer protection; • payment-related risks that could increase our operating costs or subject us to potential liability; • claims made against us resulting in litigation; • changes in laws and regulations applicable to our business; • regulatory actions or recalls arising from issues with product safety; • our inability to protect our trademarks or other intellectual property rights; • our substantial indebtedness and lease obligations; • restrictions imposed by our indebtedness on our current and future operations; • changes in tax laws or regulations or in our operations that may impact our effective tax rate; • the possibility that we may recognize impairments of long-lived assets; • our failure to maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting; and • the threat of war, terrorism or other catastrophes, including natural disasters, that could negatively impact our business. The outcome of the events described in any of our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 2, 2024 and in our other filings with the SEC and public communications. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this earnings release in the context of these risks and uncertainties. We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not include all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the outcomes or affect us or our operations in the way we expect. The forward-looking statements included in this earnings release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except to the extent required by law. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments. Investors and others should note that we may announce material information to our investors using our investor relations website ( https://investors.torrid.com ), SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. We use these channels, as well as social media, to communicate with our investors and the public about our company, our business and other issues. It is possible that the information that we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. We therefore encourage investors to visit these websites from time to time. The information contained on such websites and social media posts is not incorporated by reference into this filing. Further, our references to website URLs in this filing are intended to be inactive textual references only. TORRID HOLDINGS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net sales $ 263,766 $ 275,408 Cost of goods sold 168,609 183,906 Gross profit 95,157 91,502 Selling, general and administrative expenses 74,899 71,881 Marketing expenses 13,056 12,739 Income from operations 7,202 6,882 Interest expense 8,784 9,757 Other income, net of other expense (362 ) 267 Loss before benefit from income taxes (1,220 ) (3,142 ) Benefit from income taxes (26 ) (394 ) Net loss $ (1,194 ) $ (2,748 ) Comprehensive loss: Net loss $ (1,194 ) $ (2,748 ) Other comprehensive loss: Foreign currency translation adjustment (86 ) (271 ) Total other comprehensive loss (86 ) (271 ) Comprehensive loss $ (1,280 ) $ (3,019 ) Net loss per share: Basic $ (0.01 ) $ (0.03 ) Diluted $ (0.01 ) $ (0.03 ) Weighted average number of shares: Basic 104,698 104,081 Diluted 104,698 104,081 TORRID HOLDINGS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)(In thousands, except share and per share data) November 2, 2024 February 3, 2024 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 43,953 $ 11,735 Restricted cash 399 399 Inventory 138,261 142,199 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 33,343 22,229 Prepaid income taxes 6,617 2,561 Total current assets 222,573 179,123 Property and equipment, net 85,569 103,516 Operating lease right-of-use assets 149,732 162,444 Deposits and other noncurrent assets 18,027 14,783 Deferred tax assets 8,681 8,681 Intangible asset 8,400 8,400 Total assets $ 492,982 $ 476,947 Liabilities and stockholders' deficit Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 77,478 $ 46,183 Accrued and other current liabilities 116,650 107,750 Operating lease liabilities 36,312 42,760 Borrowings under credit facility — 7,270 Current portion of term loan 16,144 16,144 Due to related parties 4,330 9,329 Income taxes payable 62 2,671 Total current liabilities 250,976 232,107 Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 145,126 155,825 Term loan 276,445 288,553 Deferred compensation 3,735 5,474 Other noncurrent liabilities 5,986 6,705 Total liabilities 682,268 688,664 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' deficit Preferred shares: $0.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding at November 2, 2024 and February 3, 2024 — — Common shares: $0.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 104,732,148 shares issued and outstanding at November 2, 2024; 104,204,554 shares issued and outstanding at February 3, 2024 1,049 1,043 Additional paid-in capital 138,532 135,140 Accumulated deficit (328,281 ) (347,587 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (586 ) (313 ) Total stockholders' deficit (189,286 ) (211,717 ) Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $ 492,982 $ 476,947 TORRID HOLDINGS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands) Nine Months Ended N ovember 2, 2024 Nine Months Ended October 28, 2023 OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income $ 19,306 $ 15,689 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Write down of inventory 1,519 3,767 Operating right-of-use assets amortization 30,429 30,494 Depreciation and other amortization 27,842 28,242 Share-based compensation 4,531 5,981 Other (957 ) (1,351 ) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Inventory 2,052 4,969 Prepaid expenses and other current assets (11,114 ) (4,578 ) Prepaid income taxes (4,056 ) (2,564 ) Deposits and other noncurrent assets (3,375 ) (6,433 ) Accounts payable 31,876 2,969 Accrued and other current liabilities 10,775 (5,954 ) Operating lease liabilities (33,527 ) (31,565 ) Other noncurrent liabilities (588 ) (468 ) Deferred compensation (1,739 ) 507 Due to related parties (4,999 ) (5,975 ) Income taxes payable (2,609 ) — Net cash provided by operating activities 65,366 33,730 INVESTING ACTIVITIES Purchases of property and equipment (12,617 ) (15,228 ) Net cash used in investing activities (12,617 ) (15,228 ) FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from revolving credit facility 62,780 455,110 Principal payments on revolving credit facility (70,050 ) (458,390 ) Principal payments on term loan (13,125 ) (13,125 ) Proceeds from issuances under share-based compensation plans 704 320 Withholding tax payments related to vesting of restricted stock units and awards (675 ) (249 ) Net cash used in financing activities (20,366 ) (16,334 ) Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (165 ) (141 ) Increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 32,218 2,027 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 12,134 13,935 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 44,352 $ 15,962 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Cash paid during the period for interest related to the revolving credit facility and term loan $ 27,080 $ 24,852 Cash paid during the period for income taxes $ 14,200 $ 10,976 SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES Property and equipment purchases included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,450 $ 3,360 Non-GAAP Reconciliation The following table provides a reconciliation of Net loss to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented (dollars in thousands): Three Months Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net loss $ (1,194 ) $ (2,748 ) Interest expense 8,784 9,757 Other income, net of other expense (362 ) 267 Benefit from income taxes (26 ) (394 ) Depreciation and amortization (A) 8,523 8,785 Share-based compensation (B) 685 1,585 Non-cash deductions and charges (C) 112 409 Other expenses (D) 3,062 1,718 Adjusted EBITDA $ 19,584 $ 19,379 (A) Depreciation and amortization excludes amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount that are reflected in interest expense. (B) During the three months ended November 2, 2024 and October 28, 2023, share-based compensation includes $(0.3) million and $0.1 million, respectively, for awards that will be settled in cash as they are accounted for as share-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation , similar to awards settled in shares. (C) Non-cash deductions and charges includes non-cash losses on property and equipment disposals and the net impact of non-cash rent expense. (D) Other expenses include certain transaction and litigation fees (including certain settlement costs) and severance costs for certain key management positions. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203834068/en/ CONTACT: Investors Lyn Walther IR@torrid.com Media Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher Michael Freitag / Arielle Rothstein / Lyle Weston Media@torrid.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL ONLINE RETAIL DEPARTMENT STORES FASHION SOURCE: Torrid Holdings Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/03/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/03/2024 04:06 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203834068/en
ELDER: Biden breaks promise and pardons son — Yeah, but Trump!Gophers coach P.J. Fleck explains trick play call on game-defining drive in Penn State loss
TNT Sports, in Collaboration with NBA 2K and Genius Sports, to Present NBA 2K25 DataCast Alternative Telecast on truTV & Max for 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round CoverageIowa QB Cade McNamara slams 'ridiculous' rumorsPresident Biden provides remarks during a presser on the situation in Syria after rebels topple the regime of Bashar al-Assad. President Biden said during a Sunday afternoon press conference that the U.S. will support Syria's neighboring nations and help bolster stability in the region after dictator Bashar al-Assad fled the country amid an ongoing civil war. "At long last, the Assad regime has fallen. This regime brutalized and tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians. A fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice. It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country. It's also a moment of risk and uncertainty," Biden said Sunday during a press conference from the White House. Biden detailed that following Assad's departure in the face of rebel forces, the U.S. will support Syria's neighboring countries – such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Israel – "should any threat arise from Syria during this period of transition." Biden said this effort will include senior administration officials meeting with world leaders, and the president also speaking directly with leaders in the neighboring nations. "Second, we will help stability, ensure stability in eastern Syria. Protecting any personnel, our personnel, against any threats, and will remain our mission against ISIS will be maintained, including security of detention facilities where ISIS fighters are being held as prisoners," Biden continued of the U.S. plan of action after the collapse of the Assad regime. ".... Third, we will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward an independent sovereign" Syria. ASSAD ARRIVES IN MOSCOW, IS GRANTED ASYLUM BY RUSSIA President Biden speaks about the situation in Syria in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Dec. 8, 2024. (Chris Kleponis/AFP via Getty Images) Bashar al-Assad fled Syria after rebels stormed the capital city of Damascus on Saturday. Assad, whose government used chemical weapons repeatedly on its residents, reportedly fled with his wife and children. Biden said the U.S. did not have confirmation on Assad's whereabouts, noting that "there's word that he's in Moscow." Syria has been in the midst of a nearly 14-year civil war as Islamist rebels attempted to overthrow Assad and his family's dynasty, which had ruled the country for the last 50 years. "The United States will do whatever we can to support [Syrians], including through humanitarian relief, to help restore Syria after more than a decade of war and generations of brutality by the Assad family," Biden said. "And finally, we will remain vigilant. Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses. We've taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days. And they're saying the right things now, but as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions," Biden continued Sunday. Trump and Assad (Getty Images) The president noted that the U.S. will also continue efforts to secure American journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing in Syria for more than a decade. "We are mindful that there are Americans in Syria, including those who reside there, as well as Austin Tice, who was taken captive more than 12 years ago. We remain committed to returning him to his family," Biden said. Ahead of reports of Assad fleeing, President-elect Trump warned that the U.S. should not get involved in the civil war. TRUMP RESPONDS AFTER REBELS OVERTAKE SYRIA, OUSTING LONGTIME DICTATOR: ‘ASSAD IS GONE’ "Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!" he wrote. Trump added on Truth Social early Sunday morning: "Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever." President-elect Trump warned that the U.S. should not get involved in the Syrian civil war. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) "Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success," his post continued. "Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin." SYRIAN INSURGENTS REACH GATES OF DAMASCUS, THREATENING DECADES-LONG ASSAD REGIME President Bashar al-Assad on May 3, 2023, in Damascus, Syria. (Borna News/Matin Ghasemi/Aksonline ATPImages/Getty Images) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touted the fall of Assad's regime on Sunday, saying it was a "direct result" of Israel's attacks on Iran and Hezbollah, while noting the situation overall is "fraught with significant dangers." Israel is in the midst of a more than year-long war after Hamas launched attacks on the nation on Oct. 7, 2023. TRUMP URGES US TO STAY OUT OF SYRIAN CIVIL WAR, BLAMING OBAMA FOR FAILURE AS ISLAMISTS CLOSE IN ON CAPITAL "This is a historic day for the Middle East. The collapse of the Assad regime, the tyranny in Damascus, offers great opportunity but also is fraught with significant dangers. This collapse is the direct result of our forceful action against Hezbollah and Iran, Assad's main supporters. It set off a chain reaction of all those who want to free themselves from this tyranny and its oppression," Netanyahu said Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement on Nov. 26 in Jerusalem. (Israeli Government Press Office via AP) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "We send a hand of peace to all those beyond our border in Syria: to the Druze, to the Kurds, to the Christians, and to the Muslims who want to live in peace with Israel. We're going to follow events very carefully. If we can establish neighborly relations and peaceful relations with the new forces emerging in Syria, that's our desire. But if we do not, we will do whatever it takes to defend the State of Israel and the border of Israel," Netanyahu added. Fox News Digital's Michael Lee and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
The world needs another Beatles documentary like it needs a live-action remake of “Moana,” but Disney has never met a well it didn’t want to suck dry. And so, not long after Peter Jackson’s “The Beatles: Get Back” became the must-stream event of Thanksgiving 2021 — a second hyper-restored look back at the band will hit Disney+. This one is called “Beatles ’64,” it’s directed by frequent Martin Scorsese collaborator and “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” editor David Tedeschi (with a technological assist from Jackson’s WingNut Films), and though it’s much shorter than the three-episode miniseries everyone gorged on three years ago, Tedeschi’s 106-minute film operates on much the same principle: It never feels the least bit new or necessary, and yet almost every second of it sparks the joy of a genuine revelation. Similar to “ Get Back, ” “Beatles ’64” puts a formative moment from the band’s history under the most extreme of microscopes, effectively slowing a chapter from music history until it seems to be unfolding in real-time right before our eyes (and inside our ears). In this case, that moment is February 1964, when four skinny lads from Liverpool came to America and — during a quick trip to New York City and Washington D.C. — inflamed a concentrated outbreak of Beatlemania into a global pandemic. And yet, for all the attention Tedeschi pays to the hordes of screaming teenage girls who go completely feral at the mere thought of seeing John, Paul, George, and/or Ringo in the flesh, perhaps the most interesting aspect of his documentary is that it doesn’t frame that madness as a disease so much as the cure for America’s pre-existing condition: the melancholy that followed the assassination of John F. Kennedy. “Beatles ’64” counters that the Beatles were the first TV rock band — starting with an upbeat montage where a news report declares JFK “the first TV president” (a label later immortalized by the coverage of his death). Tedeschi essentially contextualizes their performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” — an event watched by 70 million people, and one that has since been suffused with biblical import — as the night that shook a nation of Boomers out of their shell shock and galvanized them into creating a culture of their own, for better or worse. Television broadcast tragedy into their lives, and only television could replace it with something better. Ominous as an overly broad film about that particular vibe shift might sound, “Beatles ’64” does what it can to emphasize the positive — and downplay its sociopolitical theorizing — by seeing the British Invasion through the eye of the storm. Reworking the vérité footage that Albert and David Maysles shot while embedded with the band (first cut together into their “What’s Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A.,” and now restored in shimmering 4K by Park Road Post), Tedeschi accentuates how the Beatles’ preternatural calmness only made the chaos around them more compelling and vice-versa. These Beatles aren’t mop-topped gods alighting upon the mortal world, they’re a bunch of working-class twentysomethings who can’t help but have a laugh at the hysteria they’re causing on their first trip to Manhattan. (Clips from the band’s legendary press conference prove that their sense of humor made almost the same impression as their music.) We see them play the hell out of early hits like “Please Please Me” and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” a dozen times over, but just as much of the film is devoted to footage of the band goofing around in hotel rooms and having fun with — or at the expense of — local interviewers. When a reporter asks a young McCartney about his potential impact on Western culture, the frontman’s head-shaking response goes well beyond humility. Were these talented young musicians the heralds of a new moment of the 20th century, or were they the actual moment itself? Television’s reach made the question impossible for anyone to avoid, just as its flatness made the question impossible for anyone to answer conclusively at the time. Tedeschi’s film has a tendency to feel like a rerun, but that friction creates enough unique energy of its own. It’s a friction that “Beatles ’64” continues into the current day, as the film is sprinkled with a messy but welcome array of talking head interviews that fall into one of two categories. The first: Beatles fans — some famous, some not — speaking to the band’s seismic impact. The second: Members of the Beatles being like “lol we played a show on a rotating stage in Washington D.C. and Ringo’s little area started spinning the wrong way” (McCartney and Starr are both credited producers on this project). David Lynch was at that show, and when he pops up in this doc to talk about it, he sounds as awed and mystified as the rest of us do when we try to talk about the magic of “Twin Peaks.” One minute author Joe Queenan is reflecting on the first time he heard “She Loves You” (“it was like a light coming on amid total darkness”), and the next, Ringo is showing executive producer Martin Scorsese a collection of the wildest suits he used to wear. One minute, a woman is reminiscing about how she and her friends paid the concierge at the Plaza Hotel for cut-up shreds of bathroom towels from the Beatles’ suite, and the next, Ronnie Spector is on hand to laugh about how she snuck the band up to Harlem so they could enjoy a meal without being recognized. Far too much of the other interview footage feels like filler, especially since Tedeschi includes enough Lennon and Harrison outtakes to remind us that everything that needs to be said has already been said better. But it’s fun to watch the film’s cast grapple with the reality of something that most people only experience through a screen. For every scene that includes some of the most unguarded and revealing footage of the Beatles that has ever been captured on camera, there’s another, even more compelling scene wher regular people — delirious stans and random passers-by alike — try to make sense of a phenomenon that’s just out of reach. Up the stairs. Down the street. On the TV set a tween girl convinced her parents to let her wheel into the living room during dinner. For all the build-up to the Beatles’ performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” nothing in “Beatles ’64” hits quite as hard as the clip of some enraptured kids watching it at home. Tedeschi cuts to media theorist Marshall McLuhan to explain the power of television, even though few events have made it more obvious that a medium can be inextricable from the message that it sends. As you happily watch another Beatles doc just because it’s available to stream on Disney+ the day after Thanksgiving, that idea will likely feel as true as it’s ever felt before. “Beatles ’64” will be available to stream on Disney+ starting Friday, November 29. Want to stay up to date on IndieWire’s film reviews and critical thoughts? Subscribe here to our newly launched newsletter, In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best new reviews and streaming picks along with some exclusive musings — all only available to subscribers.FAAS stock touches 52-week low at $0.5 amid market challenges
Guest Opinion: Minnesota is about to give a crash course in bipartisanshipSaints QB Derek Carr injures left hand on dive in 4th quarter of win over Giants
A couple of red hot squads meet up on Monday, Nov. 25 when the Boston Celtics welcome the LA Clippers to TD Garden in Boston. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Boston . Fans looking to watch this NBA game can do so for free by using FuboTV and DirecTV Stream, which both offer a free trial or with SlingTV, which doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available . The Clippers are playing the second night of a back-to-back that started with a 26-point win over the Philadelphia 76ers to move their record to 11-7 and extend their winning streak to five. The Celtics are 14-3 and getting a major addition to their lineup with Kristaps Porzingis likely returning from injury. Boston is also riding a five-game win streak entering this matchup. Who: LA Clippers vs. Boston Celtics When: Monday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. EST Where: TD Garden in Boston Stream: FuboTV (free trial) ; Sling ; DirecTV Stream (free trial) Betting: Check out our MA sports betting guide , where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts. More College Football What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME . From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial, and $20 off the first month for new costumers. What is DirecTV Stream? DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX , Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz. What is SlingTV? SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation. RELATED CONTENT: Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis could make season debut on Monday night vs LA Clippers By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is on track to make his season debut Monday night against the Los Angeles Clippers following offseason ankle surgery. The team announced the 7-foot-2 Latvian center has been upgraded to probable for Monday’s game. He had surgery to fix a tear in the tissue that holds the ankle tendons in place. The issue limited him to seven playoff games during the Celtics NBA championship run last season. The original window for his return following surgery was 5-to-6 months. But Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said before the season that they didn’t want to hold to specific timeline because of the uniqueness of the injury. Now it’s looking like a return before Thanksgiving. Porzingis injured his ankle in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks and missed the next two games. He returned for Game 5, contributing five points and one rebound in 16 minutes as the Celtics beat Dallas 106-88 to clinch their record 18th title. Porzingis averaged 20 points and seven rebounds in 57 games for the Celtics last season. Boston is 14-3 this season, but has missed his presence on the inside, with teams routinely outscoring the defending champions in the paint. He signed a $60 million, two-year extension with Boston in the summer of 2023 after the Celtics acquired him in a trade with Washington. The Associated Press contributed to this article
RUCKUS: Forsyth’s Jem Custom Designs offers laser-engraved wood décor
When choosing a family car, you should first of all pay attention to the reliability of the model, and the capacity and volume of the trunk. A car should be not only comfortable, but also safe, roomy, and economical. The modern market offers a wide range of models that will satisfy the needs of even the most demanding families. The availability of modern safety systems, such as ABS, ESP, will create an additional level of protection. And to save fuel, you should pay attention to hybrid or electric models. The details are provided by TopGear . Skoda Superb Estate Experts recommend the new Skoda Superb Estate as an ideal alternative to more premium station wagons thanks to its excellent combination of build quality, practicality, and space. It now has a huge 690 liters of boot space, 30 liters more than its predecessor, or a whopping 1920 liters with the seats down. A 1.5-liter mild hybrid gasoline engine with 148 hp is available. However experts advise choosing a 2-liter engine, especially if you regularly intend to pull cargo in a regular car. In the gasoline version, you can have 204 or 265 hp, and in the diesel version – 150 or 193 hp. More powerful versions have all-wheel drive. All are mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission as standard, except for the 1.5-liter hybrid, which works with a six-speed transmission. VW ID.Buzz Two versions will be available – the five-seat ID. Buzz and ID. Auto using the same MEB platform as ID. 3, ID. 4, and ID. 5. There are sliding doors on both sides. The drivetrain has also been relocated: a 77 kWh battery powers a 204 hp/228 lb-ft engine that drives the rear axle. The VW ID.Buzz is light and easy to drive and creates a sense of comfort that no other SUV can match (except maybe the Range Rover). Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 10.2 seconds. In the city, it is nimble, but since only the rear wheels are driven, the turning radius is impressively small. BMW i5 Touring This is the all-electric BMW 5 Series Touring and the first all-electric executive-size wagon on the market. BMW has offered a choice of rear- or twin-engine electric suites with a 570-liter boot and more technology. The entry-level version is the eDrive40, which transmits 335 hp to the rear wheels only. The claimed range is more than 537 km from a battery with a capacity of 81.2 kWh. The BMW i5 Touring is currently the best car in its class. Hyundai Santa Fe The Hyundai Santa Fe is a family SUV that has seven seats with cargo space. Hyundai notes that it is priced against the five-seat BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Volvo XC60, but has the space of a seven-seat X5, Q7, or XC90. In this generation, the Santa Fe runs exclusively on gasoline and electricity with a four-cylinder hybrid with front or all-wheel drive or a PHEV version of the same engine with all-wheel drive only. In both cases, the base engine is the same: A 1.6-liter direct injection and turbocharged engine developing 158 hp. The regular hybrid complements this with a 64 hp electric motor and develops a maximum power of 212 hp, the standard version has a larger engine with 93 hp and 250 hp. Dacia Jogger Now there's a completely revamped Dacia lineup on the market (the Sandero and Duster look great) and even a new model, a seven-seat MPV/utility vehicle. Sure, the Jogger doesn't look like a premium car - there's a lot of hard plastic and exposed metal - but the Jogger doesn't pretend to be anything more. In fact, it's quite decent to drive. The gasoline version has a 1-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged engine with 109 hp and a six-speed manual transmission. The hybrid uses a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a small electric motor producing 138 hp to offer a combination of a gasoline engine with an electric drive and driving only on an electric car. Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events .
CEAT, an RPG company and Michelin, the global leader in tyres, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for CEAT to acquire Camso brand’s Off-Highway construction equipment bias tyre and tracks business from Michelin in an all-cash deal valued at about $225 Mn (SLR 65 Bn). The transaction will include the business with revenues of around $213 Mn (SLR 62 Bn) in CY 2023 and global ownership of the Camso brand along with two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. Camso is a premium brand in construction equipment tyre and tracks with strong equity in EU and North American aftermarket and OE segments. The Camso brand will be permanently assigned to CEAT across categories after a 3-year licensing period. This will expand CEAT’s product portfolio in the high margin Off-Highway Tyres (OHT) and tracks segments, which includes agriculture tyres and tracks, harvester tyres and tracks, power sports tyres and material handling tyres. Michelin will thus exit from the activities related to Compact Line bias tyres and Construction tracks. CEAT has been investing in Sri Lanka for more than three decades and manufactures over half of the country’s tyre requirements after its joint venture in Sri Lanka with Kelani Tyres PLC, since 1998, is the market leader in many segments. The acquisition is also a significant milestone for CEAT in its ambition to become a leading global player in the high margin OHT segment. Both CEAT and Michelin are committed to a coordinated and smooth transition for customers, suppliers and all employees. Arnab Banerjee, MD & CEO, CEAT, said: “The Camso brand is an excellent fit with the growth strategy of CEAT’s Off-Highway Tyre business, thereby improving our margin profile. Access to the most premium customers, a high-quality brand and a qualified global workforce is what excites us the most about this acquisition.’’ ‘’The track segment is a technologically superior segment with a limited number of global players. We also found high synergies between the two brands.”
Vanquishing Bears, Thanksgiving losing streak tops Lions' holiday listEditor’s note: If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — When Lilly Goyah struggled with mental health, she found comfort in Christian music. Now, as a 22-year-old senior at the College of St. Benedict, Goyah is pursuing an individualized major that blends music and business. She’s part of the university’s Entrepreneur Scholars program, a selective course designed to help students launch business ventures. For Goyah, the program became a launchpad for her idea: ANP Streaming, a Christian-based music platform tailored to users’ emotional needs. Her vision stems from her personal experiences. Born to Liberian immigrants, Goyah’s childhood was marked by frequent moves between shelters, government and transitional housing on the East Coast and, later, in Minnesota. She had a brief hope of housing stability when she was in eighth grade, when she and her brother moved to live with her father in Champlin, a northwest suburb in the Twin Cities. That hope shattered when the family returned one day to find the locks changed and their belongings gone. “We had been through a lot of instability, obviously and homelessness before that. But I had a lot of hope once we were able to move into that house,” Goyah said. “When we were put back in that shelter, I had this feeling of we were never going to get past that part of life.” The upheaval, combined with school struggles and a falling out with her father, plunged Goyah into depression and suicidal thoughts. By the end of her freshman year at Anoka High School, Goyah had made the decision to end her life. “For me, that was one of the worst moments ever. Because while I was also struggling with mental health, I didn’t relate to or feel a genuine feeling when it came to religion, Christianity, or God ... I had this disconnection from religion as a whole,” she said. Before she could act, her mother sent Goyah on a life-changing youth retreat in Olney, Maryland. On the first night, Goyah watched a skit depicting a child grappling with depression and suicidal thoughts. “That kind of changed my mind and my thoughts toward Christianity,” she said. Her views on Christian music, the only genre she was allowed to listen to growing up, also changed on the trip. At one point, she viewed the genre as “corny” and “not a real representation of life.” Those views quickly shifted during the retreat after she heard the song “My World Needs You” by Kirk Franklin for the first time. He quickly became her favorite artist, and still is to this day. The retreat sparked a new hope for Goya, who graduated from Anoka High School in 2020. “Music was really pivotal in helping me get through those moments and have a healthy coping mechanism,” said Goyah, who was also part of her high school choir. After graduation, Goyah followed her friends to Augsburg University in Minneapolis. However, she quickly found herself isolated and again struggling with her mental health. She realized a need for change and, on the advice of her high school counselor, transferred to the College of St. Benedict in the fall of 2021. When she hit campus, Goyah took up her individualized major and discovered the Entrepreneur Scholars program. That program is a cohort of about a dozen students, according to academic director Paul Marsnik. He noted the program’s selectivity, which usually sees about 30 to 35 applicants a year. “We’re looking for students with what we call an entrepreneurial mindset, young people who see opportunities and get things done,” Marsnik said. The program launched 20 years ago. One day, Goyah appeared in his office, eager to learn more about the program, which includes trips to Silicon Valley and Vietnam. Those trips allow cohort students to talk and network with companies. “I could see her face light up; she was like, ‘Oh, this is exactly what I’m looking for,” Marsnik said. Despite a full cohort, there was a last-minute opening that allowed Goyah to join. Marsnik said the program has featured many talented students, but he thinks Goyah is one of the best. “She’s an inspiration to a lot of people and could be to a lot more, I think,” Marsnik said. Goyah's original idea was a record label, but she pivoted toward ANP Streaming, a platform that she said would fill a unique need in Christian music. ANP — which stands for "A New Psalm — Streaming will offer Christian music tailored to emotional needs, filling a gap in the market, Goyah said. “I’m really excited to put this in the space for people,” said Goyah. “If you’re not talking niche, then obviously it would be like Spotify or YouTube Music or Apple Music." She envisions ANP as a way for users to connect with faith and find solace through music, just as she did. “The No. 1 mission with the application, of course, with it being Christian-based, is kind of helping people to discover individual relationships with God, which can be fostered through music,” Goyah said. During her time in Vietnam, she secured a partnership with Saigon Technology to develop the app for an estimated $50,000. Goyah has opened a crowdfunding campaign to support development costs. She is securing licensing and catalog agreements to make the platform a reality. ANP Streaming will launch a “freemium” model, Goyah said. That will include a free version with advertisements and a premium version with no ads and additional features. The application will be available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Development for the application is underway and will launch in middle to late 2025. As music remains vital to Goyah, she has also recently started to write original songs, including "Freedom," which she performed last year on the Johnnie Bennie Media YouTube channel. While unsure if she’ll remain in the area or head somewhere like Nashville, Goyah is eager to see where her vision can have the most significant impact as the app is developed. “I’ve just been so overwhelmed with how amazing this community is and how resourceful it is,” Goyah said. “So part of me really wants to stay, but I think wherever this journey takes me and where I can have the most impact is really, ultimately, where I’m looking to go.” Lilly Goyah has launched a campaign on Indiegogo to help fund her Christian music mobile app, ANP Streaming. To donate to the campaign, visit tinyurl.com/ANPStreaming-donate. For more about ANP Streaming, visit anpstreaminginfo.com.
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By Nia Williams Nov 27 - Canada's environment minister warned on Wednesday that oil and gas companies would be breaking federal laws if they withheld emissions data, after Alberta's premier said the province was considering measures to block a proposed emissions cap. Alberta premier Danielle Smith on Tuesday said her government intends to put forward a motion in the provincial legislature that would allow it to launch a legal challenge to Ottawa's proposed oil and gas emissions cap. Canada's main oil and gas province is also considering looking at other steps to undermine the cap if it becomes law, such as restricting entry into oil and gas facilities in Alberta and access to emissions data. "If companies stop reporting to the federal government they would be in violation of federal laws, something I certainly wouldn't advise to any large companies," federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault told reporters in Ottawa. The latest spat between Smith's conservative government in Alberta and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals highlights the province's staunch opposition to a policy aimed at cutting emissions from Canada's highest-polluting industry. It also shows how even if Trudeau's government manages to win a federal election next year, the oil and gas emissions cap will face further opposition. Polls currently show the Liberals are on track to lose badly and the opposition Conservative Party has said it would scrap the policy if elected. The proposed cap would force producers to cut oil and gas emissions 35% below 2019 levels by 2030, and Ottawa says the target can be met using existing technology. But Alberta argues the cap would force companies to cut production by at least 1 million barrels per day, nearly a quarter of the province's total oil output. While Alberta is entitled to challenge federal legislation through the courts, the other measures proposed by the province would be unconstitutional if the oil and gas emissions cap becomes law, said Emmett Macfarlane, a professor of political science at the University of Waterloo. "Banning federal officials from entering facilities or trying to block disclosure of information regarding emissions ... that is unconstitutional nonsense if the federal government is acting within its authority," Macfarlane said. "In any conflict between federal and provincial law, federal law wins out." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. A senior Biden administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private consultations, said Wednesday that the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18 from the current age of 25 to expand the pool of fighting-age men available to help a badly outnumbered Ukraine in its nearly three-year-old war with Russia. The official said “the pure math” of Ukraine's situation now is that it needs more troops in the fight. Currently Ukraine is not mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replace its battlefield losses while keeping pace with Russia's growing military, the official added. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. But with time running out, the Biden White House is also sharpening its viewpoint that Ukraine has the weaponry it needs and now must dramatically increase its troop levels if it's going to stay in the fight with Russia. White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett in a statement said the administration will continue sending Ukraine weaponry but believes “manpower is the most vital need" Ukraine has at the moment. “So, we’re also ready to ramp up our training capacity if they take appropriate steps to fill out their ranks,” Savett said. The Ukrainians have said they need about 160,000 additional troops to keep up with its battlefield needs, but the U.S. administration believes they probably will need more than that. More than 1 million Ukrainians are now in uniform, including the National Guard and other units. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been hearing concerns from allies in other Western capitals as well that Ukraine has a troop level problem and not an arms problem, according to European officials who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic conversations. The European allies have stressed that the lack of depth means that it may soon become untenable for Ukraine to continue to operate in Russia’s Kursk border region . The situation in Kursk has become further complicated by the arrival of thousands of North Korean troops , who have come to help Moscow try to claw back the land seized in a Ukrainian incursion this year. The stepped-up push on Ukraine to strengthen its fighting ranks comes as Ukraine braces for President-elect Donald Trump to take office on Jan. 20. The Republican said he would bring about a swift end to the war and has raised uncertainty about whether his administration would continue the vital U.S. military support for Ukraine. “There are no easy answers to Ukraine’s serious manpower shortage, but lowering the draft age would help,” said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "These are obviously difficult decisions for a government and society that has already endured so much due to Russia’s invasion.” Ukraine has taken steps to broaden the pool of draft-eligible men, but the efforts have only scratched the surface against a much larger Russian military. In April, Ukraine’s parliament passed a series of laws, including one lowering its draft-eligible age for men from 27 to 25, aimed at broadening the universe of men who could be called on to join the grinding war. Those laws also did away with some draft exemptions and created an online registry for recruits. They were expected to add about 50,000 troops, far short of what Zelenskyy said at the time was needed. Zelenskyy has consistently stated that he has no plans to lower the mobilization age. A senior Ukrainian official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ukraine does not have enough equipment to match the scale of its ongoing mobilization efforts. The official said Ukrainian officials see the push to the lower the draft age as part of an effort by some Western partners to deflect attention from their own delays in providing equipment or belated decisions. The official cited as an example the delay in giving Ukraine permission to use longer-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory. The Ukrainians do not see lowering the draft age to recruit more soldiers as a substitute for countering Russia’s advantage in equipment and weaponry, the official said. Conscription has been a sensitive matter in Ukraine throughout the war. Russia’s own problems with adequate troop levels and planning early in the war prevented Moscow from taking full advantage of its edge. But the tide has shifted and the U.S. says the Ukrainian shortage can no longer be overlooked. Some Ukrainians have expressed worry that further lowering the minimum conscription age and taking more young adults out of the workforce could backfire by further harming the war-ravaged economy. The senior Biden administration official added that the administration believes that Ukraine can also optimize its current force by more aggressively dealing with soldiers who desert or go absent without leave. AP White House correspondent Zeke Miller and AP writer Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed to this report.
Maupay also had a dig at Everton when he departed on loan to Marseille in the summer and his latest taunt has further angered the Premier League club’s supporters. The 28-year-old said on X after Sean Dyche’s side had lost 2-0 to Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday: “Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile.” Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile 🙂 — Neal Maupay (@nealmaupay_) December 29, 2024 Former boxer Tony Bellew was among the Toffees’ supporters who responded to Maupay, with the ex-world cruiserweight champion replying on X with: “P****!” Maupay endured a miserable spell at Everton, scoring just one league goal in 29 appearances after being signed by the Merseysiders for an undisclosed fee in 2022. He departed on a season-long loan to his former club Brentford for the 2023-24 season and left Goodison for a second time in August when Marseille signed him on loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent. After leaving Everton in the summer, Maupay outraged their fans by posting on social media a scene from the film Shawshank Redemption, famous for depicting the main character’s long fight for freedom.
With 25 percent of the vote according to two exit polls, Ciolacu appeared to be well ahead of far-right challengers looking to capitalise on this EU member's concerns about inflation and the war in neighbouring Ukraine. The same exit polls gave second place to centre-right former journalist turned small-town mayor Elena Lasconi at 18 percent, with two far-right candidates scoring 15 and 16 percent. In the absence of an outright winner in the first round -- scoring more than 50 percent -- the top two candidates go through to a second-round run-off in the poor NATO member on December 8. Ciolacu, a Social Democrat, is leading a field of 13 contenders in the race to take over from President Klaus Iohannis in the largely ceremonial post. He welcomed the exit polls putting him in the lead, but said all the votes would have to be counted before he knew who he would face in the second round. Lasconi too, was cautious. "The scores are very tight, it's not yet time to celebrate," said the 52-year-old politician. Far-right leader George Simion, 38, who some had forecast might take second place, is for the moment in fourth. Exit polls put him just behind the 62-year-old pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu. But Simion said Sunday evening: "We'll see the results of the ballot boxes at 11:00 pm (2100 GMT)." Ciolacu's party has shaped Romania's politics for more than three decades, and as he voted Sunday he promised stability and a "decent" standard of living. But political analyst Cristian Parvulescu told AFP: "The far right is by far the big winner of this election." Simion saw his popularity surge by tapping into voter anger over record inflation while promising more affordable housing. Looking for a new election breakthrough for European far-right parties, Simion warned of possible "fraud" and "foreign interference" when voting. But he added: "I am happy that we are giving Romanians hope and the prospect of a better future." The stakes are high for Romania, which has a 650-kilometre (400-mile) border with Ukraine and has become more important since Russia invaded its neighbour in 2022. The Black Sea nation now plays a "vital strategic role" for NATO -- as it is a base for more than 5,000 soldiers -- and the transit of Ukrainian grain, the New Strategy Center think tank said. Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election has further "complicated" Romania's choice, political analyst Cristian Pirvulescu told AFP. Known for his fiery speeches, Simion is a Trump fan who sometimes dons a red cap in appreciation of his idol. Simion opposes sending military aid to Ukraine, wants a "more patriotic Romania" and frequently lashes out against what he calls the "greedy corrupt bubble" running the European Union. Having campaigned hard to win over Romania's large diaspora working abroad, he said the country had only "minions and cowards as leaders". Pirvulescu predicted that if Simion reached the second round his AUR party would get a boost in the December parliamentary election. "Romanian democracy is in danger for the first time since the fall of communism in 1989," he said. "I'm really afraid we'll end up with Simion in the second round," 36-year-old IT worker Oana Diaconu told AFP, expressing concern about the far-right leader's unpredictable nature and attacks on the European Union. The campaign was marked by controversy and personal attacks, with Simion facing accusations of meeting with Russian spies -- a claim he has denied. Ciolacu has been criticised for his use of private jets. Some observers had tipped Lasconi, now mayor of the small town of Campulung and head of a centre-right opposition party, as a surprise package. Sunday's exit polls appeared to suggest they were right. During campaigning, she had said she wanted a future "where no one has to pack their suitcases and leave" the country and for "institutions that work". bur/js-jj/House sets up vote to prevent government shutdown, dropping Trump's demand for debt limit
Geopolitical conflict and global instability, climate change, rising inequality, misinformation and disinformation, increasing social division and cyber insecurity have become some of the defining trends of 2024. In January, The World Economic Forum ranked misinformation and disinformation the most severe short-term risk factors the world is facing, with extreme weather and societal polarisation coming in second and third, respectively. Globally, 65 per cent of people agree that 2024 was a bad year for their country, according to polling by market research company IPSOS. Source: SBS News Despite these concerning trends, researchers say there are some positive trends that will likely continue through 2025 and beyond. Social researcher and futurist Mark McCrindle told SBS News people have a lot of uncertainty about the future and are also experiencing "change fatigue", having lived through so many large global changes recently, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of living crisis and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI). However, McCrindle said it is still possible for people to adapt and increase their confidence about the years ahead. 'Anger and resentment': World's 'super election' year results capture voters' mood "There are challenges ahead, but we can respond proactively and face the future with a degree of innovation," McCrindle said. Emergence of AI transforming work and wellbeing McCrindle said while workforce participation is at an all-time high, many people are reassessing the role of work in their lives and are increasingly seeking ways to improve their quality of life. In July this year, workforce participation reached a record high of 67.1 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). "People already are feeling a bit strained, they’re looking for more work-life balance, not more work. They're looking to manage their well-being, not just spend longer and longer in a workplace." Source: Getty / Jacob Wackerhausen McCrindle said the emergence of more AI technologies may be starting to help with this pursuit. McCrindle Research found one in five workers in their 20s uses AI to assist with their tasks at work at least on a daily basis. "In a period of just two years, that has emerged to become mainstream for particularly young workers, knowledge economy workers and is an example of where it can assist with productivity," he said. McCrindle said other applications of technology, such as online grocery ordering, preprogramming home devices, or using apps to organise schedules, have all helped people add more time to their days. 'Worried for their future': The biggest issue on young Australians' minds "There's a productivity paradox that we need more productivity, and yet we don't want to work longer and harder; we want to try to balance our lives. There is a solution that we're already seeing through technology and innovation," McCrindle said. He said technology and the pandemic have driven dramatic changes to the structure of workplaces to benefit workers in recent years, such as increased flexibility and working from home arrangements. "We've got a lot more freedom in our week to work from home or anywhere on some of those days, and that's changed not just where we work but when we work. The hours have become more adaptable to suit individual family or individual needs and responsibilities." Global consensus grows on need for climate action Global polling from IPSOS published in September showed broad agreement that more needs to be done to mitigate the effects of climate change, with 80 per cent agreeing the world is heading for environmental disaster without rapid climate action. In Australia, 77 per cent of people agree the world is heading for environmental disaster without rapid climate action. Source: SBS News While the report found health and wealth inequality concerns tend to take priority, it also found worldwide investment in climate resilience and mitigation is rising as the effects of climate change are becoming clearer. IPSOS said attitudes towards climate and the environment have been one of the strongest shifts recorded by its decade-long reporting on global trends. "Between 2014 and 2024, the world has moved from questioning whether climate change is really happening to debating how best we meet our binding global targets for carbon emissions." Source: Getty / Byronsdad Germany, Great Britain and the United States have all experienced a significant shift since 2023 towards an agreement that the world is headed for environmental disaster unless we change habits quickly. Brad Hyde, a director at IPSOS, told SBS News it’s "not just Nordic countries" who are expressing interest in tackling climate change. "It's all around the world, including Australia," Hyde said. "The real question is how quickly can we all change our daily lives and our daily habits, and are we expecting businesses and organisations to do the same if climate change is an issue?" Increased scepticism of social media McCrindle said his recent surveys have shown dramatic changes to social media usage and a rising scepticism towards social media and the time lost to social media apps is another positive trend. According to McCrindle Research's 2025 trends report, 57 per cent of gen Z wish social media had never been created, and 86 per cent have taken steps to try and reduce social media usage. He said there is increasing awareness that social media is not what was necessarily promised and people are increasingly setting boundaries in their lives to prevent themselves from spending too much time on it. 30/11/2024 03:37 Play In late November, the Australian government passed a landmark legislation to ban children under 16 from social media platforms . The law was part of a series of proposed legislations and changes aimed at addressing challenges posed by big tech, such as misinformation, AI, and anti-competitive conduct. McCrindle said the research around social media attitudes and behaviours among young people shows a shift in public opinion. "Now we talk about big tech in the same way people talked about big tobacco of the past: that they’re predatory, that they’re disseminating misinformation, that they are toxic, that they’re addictive in the way they’re structured and harming society." Source: Getty / ljubaphoto "There's a real sense of optimism that we are getting control back in our lives, so that’s a positive," McCrindle said. Increasing rates of higher education Education rates are on the rise across generations, with formal and post-school education becoming increasingly common for school leavers. According to 2021 ABS data, a higher percentage of millennials are obtaining postgraduate degrees compared to gen X (11 per cent vs 8 per cent), and more than twice as many millennials hold a bachelor's degree compared to baby boomers (27 per cent vs 13 per cent). Source: SBS News McCrindle said these trends in education are likely to continue growing for gen Z and gen alpha (people born after 2010). "We know that education can lead to empowerment, employment and better health outcomes, and that's this generation — and that's true globally. There's an increase in the education and retention rate of students right around the world," he said. "We've got a generation that has size , education, technology and global connection and even longer years of life, which means that they can utilise those incredible opportunities to bring about solutions too and to change things in this world." Excitement and relief for school leavers as ATAR results released across Australia Evolving significance of mental health IPSOS polling shows more people are becoming aware of health decisions and want more power over their health choices. More people are also placing increased importance on mental wellbeing. Hyde said people between 16 and 44 years old are particularly expressing a desire to improve their mental wellbeing. Source: Getty / FG Trade Latin According to IPSOS, 75 per cent of Australians feel as though they need to do more to care for their mental wellbeing, with 72 per cent of men and 77 per cent of women agreeing. In addition to this, 69 per cent of Australians believe their mental health will be better in 2025 than in 2024. "For the first time globally, we've seen the importance that people place on their mental health has risen to the same level as the importance people place on their physical health," Hyde said. "The majority of us agree that we need to do more for our own mental wellbeing."Ruling may further delay count of Puerto Rico's still-uncertified votes in Nov. 5 electionsAFP – Romanians voted yesterday in the first round of a presidential election amid a surge in inflation that could favour far-right leader George Simion. The vote kicks off two weeks of elections in the poor North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member country, including a parliamentary vote and a December 8 presidential run-off. Social democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is leading a field of 13 contenders in the race to take over from President Klaus Iohannis in the largely ceremonial post. Ciolacu has about 25 per cent support in opinion polls, followed by AUR leader Simion on 15 to 19 per cent. Ciolacu, whose Social Democratic Party (PSD) has shaped the country’s politics for more than three decades, promised stability and a “decent” standard of living as he voted Sunday. Simion, 38, has seen his popularity surge by tapping into voter anger over record inflation – 10 per cent last year and 5.5 per cent predicted for 2024 – while promising more affordable housing. Looking for a new election breakthrough for European far-right parties, he warned of possible “fraud” and “foreign interference” when voting. But he added: “I am happy that we are giving Romanians hope and the prospect of a better future.” Simion is targeting people like Rodica, a 69-year-old who was among the first to vote in Bucharest’s chilly sunshine. The pensioner, who would not give a family name, was afraid of the neighbouring war and wanted “better living conditions and peace”. The Black Sea nation now plays a “vital strategic role” for NATO – as it is a base for more than 5,000 soldiers – and the transit of Ukrainian grain, the New Strategy Center think tank said. Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election has further “complicated” Romania’s choice, political analyst Cristian Pirvulescu told AFP . Known for his fiery speeches, Simion is a Trump fan who sometimes dons a red cap in appreciation of his idol.
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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Thousands of revelers gathered alongside Copacabana beach for Rio de Janeiro’s annual pride parade on Sunday, many scantily dressed and covered in glitter. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Thousands of revelers gathered alongside Copacabana beach for Rio de Janeiro’s annual pride parade on Sunday, many scantily dressed and covered in glitter. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Thousands of revelers gathered alongside Copacabana beach for Rio de Janeiro’s annual pride parade on Sunday, many scantily dressed and covered in glitter. Rainbow-colored flags, towels and fans abounded among the crowd mostly made up of young people who danced and sang along to music blaring from speakers. While the atmosphere was festive, some spoke of the threat of violence LGBTQ+ people face in Brazil. “As the sister of a trans woman, I’m scared to death,” said Helen Karajá, a 32-year-old bisexual artist. At least 230 LGBTQ+ Brazilians were victims of violent deaths in 2023, according to the umbrella watchdog group Observatory of LGBTI+ deaths and violence in Brazil. And more trans people — 100 — were murdered in Brazil last year than in any other country, according to Transgender Europe, a network of global non-profits that tracks the data. 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. To be sure, life for gay people is safer now than it used to be, said Carlos da Cunha, a 71-year-old hairdresser. “In the past, people had to go to ghettos to meet people, because you couldn’t just be anywhere,” said da Cunha. “Now, we can walk down the street without being attacked, without being insulted or humiliated.” One of the themes of this year’s pride march was sustainability. “Environmental justice will only be possible with racial and social justice, gender equality and sexual diversity” read one banner attached to a truck. Brazil has faced a series of environmental catastrophes this year, including record drought in the Amazon rainforest, floods in the southern Rio Grande do Sul state, and wildfires across the country. “If we can’t respect the environment, how can we respect others?” said Alexia Soutinho, a 23-year-old student who identifies as pansexual and lives in the Cidade de Deus favela. Advertisement Advertisement
Trump invited China's Xi to his inauguration even as he threatened massive tariffs on BeijingChargers will be without top RB Dobbins and could lean on QB Herbert against Falcons
Texas probes tech platforms over safety and privacy of minors
NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global stock music market size is estimated to grow by USD 650.4 million from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.09% during the forecast period. The report provides a comprehensive forecast of key segments below- Segmentation Overview License Model 1.1 Royalty-free 1.2 Rights managed End-user 2.1 Television 2.2 Film 2.3 Radio 2.4 Advertising 2.5 Others Geography 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 APAC 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments - Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! 1.1 Fastest growing segment: Royalty-free (RF) music refers to the permission to use copyrighted materials without paying recurring royalties or license fees. RF music allows for one-time payment, regardless of usage frequency, number of copies sold, or timeframe. Traditionally, RF music was popular for TV productions due to its ease of use and elimination of complex licensing processes. With the rise of digital distribution, RF music adoption, benefiting both composers and buyers. Numerous websites offer a vast selection of RF music across various genres, making it a convenient choice for producers. RF music's affordability fuels the growth of the global stock music market, as it offers legal access to a wide range of musical content without the need for copyright infringement. Analyst Review The Stock Music Market is a dynamic and evolving industry that caters to the diverse audio needs of various sectors, from Millennials to corporations. Technology and social media have revolutionized the way we consume and create music, making music libraries an essential resource for content creators in the entertainment business. From TV and films to advertisements, video games, and corporate production, the demand for authentic and high-quality music is at an all-time high. The gig economy has given rise to a new generation of multimedia artists, providing them with an opportunity to monetize their creations through stock music platforms. Genres and styles vary widely, catering to the unique needs of different industries and audiences. The user base of streaming services and digital advertising continues to grow, making online marketing and podcasting increasingly important channels for reaching consumers. The Stock Music Market is a thriving business that is here to stay. Market Overview The Stock Music Market is a dynamic and evolving industry that caters to the growing demand for authentic and high-quality music in various sectors. With millennials leading the charge, technology and social media have revolutionized the way music is consumed and shared. Music libraries have become essential resources for content creators in TV, films, advertisements, video games, corporate production, and the entertainment business. Stock music producers offer licenses, attribution, and exploitable rights to market participants, enabling a diverse range of businesses to access original music for their brand assets. Affluent consumers, cultural change agents, touring musicians, and local musicians all contribute to this vibrant ecosystem. Brands like Coca-Cola and Budweiser have embraced music as a powerful branding tool, creating iconic brand anthems and sponsoring music festivals. The digital element has transformed the industry, with streaming services, podcasting, and online marketing leading the charge. Editing tools and platforms have made it easier for professionals to integrate music into their multimedia content, from magazines and newspapers to instore activations and digital efforts. The market continues to grow, fueled by media spending and the unified approach to platform integration. To understand more about this market- Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Venodr Landscape 11 Vendor Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stock-music-market-to-grow-by-usd-650-4-million-from-2023-2028--report-on-ai-redefining-market-landscape---technavio-302328795.html SOURCE Technavio © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.The controversial Australian has played only one match in more than two years because of injury but that has not stopped him being an outspoken presence on social media during a difficult few months for the sport. First it was announced in August that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March but was cleared of fault, while in November Swiatek was handed a one-month ban for a failed test caused by contaminated medication. Feels good getting these consecutive days training in the bank man.... Wrist re construction and back out here... blessed..................Without failing any drug tests 🙂↕️🙏🏽 be proud kygs doing it the right way 😩😂 pic.twitter.com/J8l21lnTdI — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 5, 2024 Kyrgios has been particularly vociferous in his criticism of Sinner, who could yet face a ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the finding of no fault or negligence in his case. At a press conference ahead of the Brisbane International, Kyrgios told reporters: “I have to be outspoken about it because I don’t think there’s enough people that are speaking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug. “I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport. Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look. “The tennis integrity right now – and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it – it’s awful. It’s actually awful. And it’s not OK.” Kyrgios initially underwent knee surgery in January 2023, returning to action in June of that year, but he played only one match before pulling out of Wimbledon due to a torn ligament in his right wrist. He has not played a competitive match since, and it appeared doubtful that he would be able to return, but the 29-year-old will make his comeback in Brisbane this week. Kyrgios will take on France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in singles, while he will also team up with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster doubles pairing. “It’s good to be back,” said Kyrgios. “I honestly never thought I’d be back playing at this level. Even entering an event like this, preparing, doing all the right things. A post shared by Nick Kyrgios (@k1ngkyrg1os) “I’m really excited to just go out there and play, just play tennis. I saw Novak in the gym, playing doubles with him, a lot to be excited about that I’m able to get out there and compete again.” Asked whether he could get back to the same level that saw him reach the Wimbledon final in 2022, Kyrgios said: “I still believe I can, whether or not that’s factual or not. There was another player who was like, ‘You have to be realistic’. That’s not how I am. I always back my ability.” The new tennis season is already under way, with the United Cup team event beginning on Friday. Great Britain, who are weakened by the absence of Jack Draper through injury, begin their campaign against Argentina in Sydney on Monday before facing hosts Australia on Wednesday. That could pit Katie Boulter against fiance Alex De Minaur, with the pair having announced their engagement last week. A post shared by Katie Boulter (@katiecboulter) “Obviously some incredible news from our side, but I think we kind of wanted it to die down a little bit before matches started,” said Boulter of the timing. “My private life is out in the public a little bit at the moment. But, in terms of the stuff that I’m doing on the court, I’ll be doing the best I can every single day to stay in my own little bubble.” Billy Harris has taken Draper’s place, with the British number one facing a race against time to be fit for the Australian Open because of a hip problem. Emma Raducanu is the sixth seed at the ASB Classic in Auckland and will begin her season with a match against Robin Montgomery, while Cameron Norrie takes on another American, Learner Tien, at the Hong Kong Open.Miami Dolphins' Alec Ingold used to dream about playing on Lambeau Field
MEXICO CITY — In recent days, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has touted her country's largest-ever seizure of fentanyl and highlighted multiple crackdowns on migrants headed toward to the United States. She was speaking to the press, but her most important audience is U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Her campaign is widely seen as a desperate effort to head off his pledge to impose a 25 percent tariff on Mexican goods when he takes office next month. "The timing is no coincidence," said Eduardo Guerrero, a security analyst in Mexico City. "President Sheinbaum's agenda has changed radically with the triumph of Trump and with the threats he directed at Mexico." There is deep anxiety here about the potentially devastating impacts of tariffs on an already sluggish economy that is heavily dependent on trade. The United States accounts for more than 80 percent of Mexico's exports. "They were clearly not prepared for Trump winning the way he won, and Trump saying the things he has said since the election," said Jorge Castañeda, a former foreign secretary. "So they are doing what they can to catch up, a little on the fly. To make Trump and the Americans in general feel like she is trying to do things to make Trump happy." A telephone conversation between the two leaders didn't seem to help. An elated Trump reported after the call on social media that Sheinbaum had "agreed to stop Migration through Mexico" and had committed to "effectively closing our Southern Border." Sheinbaum disputed that, saying that Mexico's position was not to close borders, but "to build bridges between governments and communities." Mexican officials have been enlisting U.S. corporations, politicians and others to help dissuade Trump from imposing tariffs. "It's better for Mexico to know about the tariff threat beforehand," said Sofía Ramírez, who heads the economic think tank México, ¿cómo vamos? "This way they can at least formulate a response." Officials even launched a highly publicized offensive against contraband goods from Asia, raiding a shopping center in downtown Mexico City and seizing thousands of toys and other products — an operation widely seen as a preemptive strike to discourage Trump from trying to punish Mexico for serving as a conduit for Chinese merchandise headed to the United States. Sheinbaum "realized that China is a big deal for Trump, and if she wants to stay on his good side, Mexico has to do more to prevent China from using Mexico as a back door to get into the U.S. market," said Denise Dresser, a columnist and political scientist at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico. The president has denied that she is simply trying to placate Trump. Mexicans, she recently told reporters, "can be sure that we are never going to bow our head or be ashamed." Sheinbaum must walk a fine line between her constituents, who don't want to see Mexico humiliated — or go broke — and the unpredictable, impetuous Trump. Few expect Sheinbaum, a scientist of austere demeanor, to secure the kind of rapport with Trump enjoyed by her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a folksy, old-school populist who showered Trump with praise at every opportunity. "She is not going to go and campaign for Trump in the Rose Garden," said Dresser, recalling López Obrador's 2020 visit to the Trump White House. "He's not going to call her, 'Mi amiga Claudia,' or sit and drink tequilas with her." Trump views tariffs as a way to pressure countries to do what he wants. In issuing his threat against Mexico last month in a post on his social media platform, he wrote: "The Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!" It didn't take long before Sheinbaum started trotting out accomplishments in those areas. On Dec. 4 — nine days after the tariff threat — Sheinbaum announced the seizure of more than a ton of fentanyl in two raids in the state of Sinaloa, a notorious cartel bastion and manufacturing hub for the synthetic opioid. The haul could have produced 20 million doses of fentanyl and yielded more than $400 million for organized crime, she told reporters. The operation, she said, had been planned for some time, countering suggestions in the Mexican media that it had been stage-managed to win over the Trump team. Completely shutting down the fentanyl trade is probably not possible, according to experts. Smugglers ship precursor chemicals from China to Mexico, where the opioid is produced in clandestine labs, before being transported across the U.S. border. It's not clear whether Trump will be willing to compromise. "We don't really know what Trump wants other than these blanket statements to 'stop the drugs,’ ” Castañeda said. "Does he want to send in more DEA guys? More military? To go after kingpins again? Or go after shipments of the precursor chemicals coming in from China?" On migration, Sheinbaum has said that northbound migrant caravans were being "dealt with" — Mexican authorities have been breaking up the groups in southern Mexico. Mexico has been detaining more than 5,000 migrants a day, almost 50 percent more than during the final months of her predecessor's term. This year, Mexico has reported more than 1.2 million apprehensions of migrants — a record for Mexico that even tops the total arrests by the U.S. Border Patrol along the U.S.-Mexico border during the same period. Will that be enough to mollify Trump? No one knows. "Both governments are kind of condemned to deal with each other," Castañeda said. "There's not much choice. She can't make Trump go away and he can't make her go away. So they will eventually get along."Average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the US rises to highest level since July
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Aston Villa had to settle for a 0-0 draw with Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday after a last-gasp effort by Morgan Rogers was chalked off for a foul on Juventus keeper Michele Di Gregorio. Villa thought they had won it at the death to end a six-game winless streak when Di Gregorio failed to catch a free kick but Diego Carlos fouled the Juventus keeper as Rogers was lashing the ball into the net, and boos poured out from Villa fans after the final whistle. The match was far from a classic, with Juventus seemingly content to keep possession, and both sides squandered chances, with Villa's best coming from Lucas Digne who hammered a free kick off the crossbar seconds before halftime. Midway through the second half, Francisco Conceicao's header from a corner looked destined for the back of Villa's net but goalkeeper Emi Martinez dived to get his fingertips to the ball. Unai Emery's Villa, who had kicked off their Champions League campaign with three victories and three clean sheets, are ninth in the table after five games, while their Italian visitors, who had only 14 outfield players available on Wednesday, are 17th.It's a significant step toward autonomous robotic surgery. In a groundbreaking development, researchers at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and Stanford University have successfully trained a robotic surgical system to perform complex tasks with the skill of human doctors. This achievement marks a significant step toward autonomous robotic surgery , potentially transforming the future of medical procedures. Robotic surgical system. (Johns Hopkins University) Robots learn from watching surgical videos The team utilized a da Vinci Surgical System, a robotic platform typically controlled remotely by surgeons . Using a machine learning technique called imitation learning, they trained the system to perform three critical surgical tasks: manipulating a needle, lifting body tissue and suturing. 3 DAYS LEFT! I’M GIVING AWAY A $500 GIFT CARD FOR THE HOLIDAYS (Ends 12/3/24 12 pm PT) What sets this approach apart is the training method. Instead of painstakingly programming each movement, the robot learned by watching hundreds of videos recorded from wrist-mounted cameras on da Vinci robots during actual surgical procedures. This method allows the robot to learn from the collective experience of numerous skilled surgeons, potentially surpassing the capabilities of any single human operator. KURT’S BEST NEW BLACK FRIDAY DEALS Da Vinci surgical system. (Intuitive) COULD YOUR NEXT PHYSICAL EXAM BE PERFORMED BY A ROBOT FINGER? AI combines imitation learning with robotics for surgical precision The researchers developed an AI model that merges imitation learning with the machine learning architecture used in popular language models like ChatGPT. However, this model operates in the language of robotics — kinematics — translating visual input into precise robotic movements. This sophisticated approach allows the system to understand and replicate complex surgical maneuvers with remarkable accuracy. Da Vinci surgical system. (Intuitive) THE CREEPY YET HELPFUL HUMANOID ROBOT READY TO MOVE INTO YOUR HOME Impressive results and self-correction The surgical system not only executed tasks as proficiently as human surgeons but also demonstrated the ability to correct its own mistakes. As Axel Krieger, assistant professor at JHU, noted, "Like if it drops the needle, it will automatically pick it up and continue. This isn't something I taught it to do." This level of autonomy and adaptability is crucial in surgical settings where unexpected situations can arise. The robot's ability to problem-solve and adjust its actions in real time could potentially reduce complications and improve patient outcomes. Da Vinci surgical system. (Intuitive) ROBOTS GET A FEEL FOR HUMAN TOUCH, NO ARTIFICIAL SKIN REQUIRED Accelerating the path to autonomous surgery This breakthrough could significantly speed up the development of autonomous surgical robots. Traditional methods of programming robots for surgery are time-consuming and limited in scope. With this new approach, Krieger explains, "We only have to collect imitation learning of different procedures, and we can train a robot to learn it in a couple days." This rapid learning capability opens up possibilities for quickly adapting surgical robots to new procedures or techniques, potentially revolutionizing the field of robotic surgery. WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? Robotic surgical system. (Johns Hopkins University) Looking ahead: Full surgical procedures The JHU team is now working on expanding this technology to train robots to perform complete surgical procedures. While fully autonomous robotic surgery may still be years away, this innovation paves the way for safer and more accessible complex treatments worldwide. The ability to train robots on entire surgical procedures could lead to standardized, high-quality surgical care even in areas lacking specialized surgeons. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Robotic surgical system. (Johns Hopkins University) SUBSCRIBE TO KURT’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICES Kurt’s key takeaways By harnessing the power of AI and imitation learning, we're witnessing the birth of surgical robots that can learn and adapt much like human surgeons. As this technology continues to evolve, it holds the promise of reducing medical errors, increasing surgical precision, and potentially making advanced surgical procedures available to more patients globally. While there are still challenges to overcome, including ethical considerations and regulatory approvals, the future of AI-assisted and autonomous robotic surgery looks increasingly promising. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Would you feel comfortable undergoing surgery performed by a robotic system trained using AI and imitation learning? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover . Follow Kurt on his social channels: Facebook YouTube Instagram Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: What is the best way to protect your Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android devices from getting hacked? What is the best way to stay private, secure and anonymous while browsing the web? How can I get rid of robocalls with apps and data removal services? How do I remove my private data from the internet? New from Kurt: Try CyberGuy's new games (crosswords, word searches, trivia and more!) Enter Cyberguy’s $500 Holiday Gift Card Sweepstakes Kurt’s Best New Black Friday Deals Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
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Maryland scholars on Monday alternately described President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — , a Johns Hopkins researcher, surgeon and author — as a “courageous leader” and a “reasonable choice,” who nevertheless espouses some “worrisome” views. Makary, who did not respond to requests for comment, currently serves as head of Islet Transplant Surgery at Hopkins. He also works as a public policy researcher and is the author of two New York Times-bestselling books entitled “Unaccountable” and “The Price We Pay,” which cover topics related to transparency and high costs in American health care. He previously made headlines after opposing some pandemic lockdown measures and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. He also publicly criticized the FDA for what he saw as a slow rollout of coronavirus therapies, done to hamper Trump’s first presidency. His selection to run the FDA was announced over the weekend. Jerome Adams, the Maryland-born physician who during Trump’s first term, said in and emailed statement that while he had reservations about Makary’s “ability to oversee and navigate such a big agency given what seems like a lack of experience running large organizations,” overall, Makary “is a reasonable choice, and perhaps the least controversial of the new administration’s health picks so far. ” Baltimore-born pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine advocate known for co-inventing a vaccine that immunizes against rotavirus infection, said Makary has been a “brilliant surgeon” at Hopkins and that he agreed with some of Makary’s opinions on where coronavirus response measures went wrong. But there have also been times when Makary has “said some things that are worrisome” about COVID-19 vaccines, said Offit, a professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who also directs the institution’s Vaccine Education Center. What bothers Offit “the most” about Trump’s pick to lead the FDA is Makary’s willingness to side with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmental lawyer turned anti-vaccine organizer who is Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Offit described Kennedy as a “wild-eyed conspiracy theorist.” Kennedy, who ran for president in 2024, has been highly critical of U.S. health officials for decades. In addition to railing against processed foods, fluoridated water and the pharmaceutical industry, Kennedy regularly pushes the debunked notion that vaccines cause autism. Kennedy endorsed Trump after dropping out of the race, and the two have collaborated on a campaign to “Make America Healthy Again,” or “MAHA.” Makary, a regular Fox News commentator, days before being selected by Trump and said Kennedy was not “scary” and that “people should not dissect what [Kennedy] said 30 years ago and listen to what he’s saying now,” telling Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream that Kennedy is “not anti-vax.” He Offit said Makary was “whitewashing” Kennedy’s statements about vaccines, noting Kennedy “remains a virulent anti-vaccine activist.” Ge Bai, a professor of accounting at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, contends Makary is a respected leader who can guide the FDA into a new, more productive direction. “Dr. Makary is an excellent choice to lead the FDA, an agency that will play a central role in the Trump administration’s MAHA movement,” said Bai, who is also a professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Although health care was not a major focus during the presidential campaign, it’s likely to become a key issue in the midterm and 2028 elections.” “The FDA needs a highly competent, decisive, and courageous leader who can break away from conventional wisdom and deliver outcomes for Americans quickly and effectively,” Bai said. Bai said she is confident that Makary is the best choice to lead the FDA. “Dr. Makary has a stellar record as a surgeon, scholar, bestselling author, commentator, policy expert and public intellectual,” Bai said. “He has demonstrated his ability to think independently, challenge the status quo, and communicate effectively. These qualities make him an outstanding choice and increase the likelihood of his success as the FDA commissioner.” In a statement announcing the nomination, Trump said Makary “will restore the FDA to the gold standard of scientific research” and “cut the bureaucratic red tape” at the agency to ensure Americans receive the medical cures and treatments they deserve. Makary’s nomination will require confirmation by the newly Republican-led Senate to take effect. Brian Abrahams, senior analyst for biotechnology and head of global health care research for RBC Capital Markets, wrote in a recent report forwarded to The Baltimore Sun that Makary has positioned himself as a “critic viewing the nation’s healthcare system as broken, and based on his writings he is focused on uncovering additional flaws in the system or among medical conventions that need to be fixed or challenged.” Abrahams pointed out that Makary alleges that COVID-19 vaccines ignored the benefits of natural immunity. Makary also contends that health agencies should focus on the root cause of disease and on understanding why rates of diseases are increasing, rather than additional therapeutics, according to Abrahams. “We believe this is somewhat of a misleading distortion, as this is likely at least in part from improved screening for diseases such as cancer, mental health disorders, and genetic illnesses — innovative treatments for which have helped meaningfully increase the overall U.S. expectancy over the past 50 years,” Abrahams wrote in the report. Ultimately, the analysts at RBC said Makary would not necessarily be as focused on pharmaceutical innovation as the current leaders in the FDA; could be particularly unfavorable for antibiotic, vaccine, obesity and chronic disease companies; and might not be overly impactful for companies developing drugs for rare or genetic diseases, or agents that holistically improve health. “Though his nomination is not certain, we sense that if made FDA head, Dr. Makary could make the Agency more suspicious of, rather than collaborative with, drugmakers ... vs. the current FDA, which has leaned toward approving drugs that show activity with acceptable safety and leaving individualized benefit/risk discussions up to physicians and patients,” Abrahams wrote.
Cerity Partners LLC boosted its stake in Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF ( NYSEARCA:SCHC – Free Report ) by 564.7% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 94,819 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 80,553 shares during the quarter. Cerity Partners LLC’s holdings in Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF were worth $3,653,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF by 21.6% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 584,865 shares of the company’s stock valued at $20,938,000 after purchasing an additional 103,768 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC boosted its position in Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF by 713.2% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 63,275 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,265,000 after buying an additional 55,494 shares during the period. 25 LLC grew its holdings in Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF by 193.2% during the 2nd quarter. 25 LLC now owns 19,920 shares of the company’s stock worth $709,000 after acquiring an additional 13,127 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF by 58.8% in the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 2,365 shares of the company’s stock valued at $84,000 after acquiring an additional 876 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. raised its stake in shares of Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF by 1.1% during the second quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 1,044,349 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,388,000 after acquiring an additional 11,095 shares during the last quarter. Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:SCHC opened at $36.77 on Friday. Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF has a 52 week low of $32.54 and a 52 week high of $38.94. The firm has a market cap of $4.20 billion, a PE ratio of 12.66 and a beta of 0.94. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $37.09 and its 200-day moving average is $36.69. Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF Company Profile Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the total return of the FTSE Developed Small Cap ex-US Liquid Index (the Index). The Fund’s index consists of small capitalization companies in developed countries outside the United States. The Index defines the small capitalization universe as approximately the bottom 10% of the eligible universe with a minimum free float capitalization of $150 million. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF ( NYSEARCA:SCHC – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
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Chandigarh, Dec 28 (PTI) Farmers, on a warpath against the Centre, on Saturday called for a "Kisan Mahapanchayat" at the Khanauri protest site on January 4. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had earlier given a call for a Punjab bandh on December 30. Also Read | Rajasthan Government-Led by CM Bhajan Lal Sharma Dissolves 9 Districts Created by Congress Govt; Ashok Gehlot Criticises Move. The steps come amid the Supreme Court coming down heavily on the Punjab government for not shifting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for over a month, to a hospital. SKM (Non-political) leader Kaka Singh Kotra, said the 70-year-old has been on an indefinite hunger strike, which entered its 33rd day on Saturday. Also Read | 'India's Pride': PM Narendra Modi Meets Newly-Crowned World Chess Champion D Gukesh (See Pics). "On January 4 at Khanauri, we will hold a big Kisan Mahapanchayat in which farmers from various states will participate," Kotra told reporters at Khanauri protest site. On Saturday, while it admonished the Punjab government, the Supreme Court also indicated the possibility that Dallewal may have not been allowed to be taken to a hospital by other farmer leaders. Responding to it, Dallewal, in a video message, said, "I am sitting on a fast. Who gave this report in the Supreme Court and who spread this misconception that I have been kept hostage, where did such a thing come from? He added, "Seven lakh farmers of this country have committed suicide due to debt. To save farmers is necessary, therefore, I am sitting here, I am not under anyone's pressure." In his message, Dallewal also said he had written a letter to the Supreme Court, requesting it to direct the Centre to accept the farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of the minimum support price on crops. "We thought, maybe the Supreme Court would give direction to the Centre," he said, adding, he was happy that the court intervened. Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said Dallewal may also speak at the Mahapanchayat. Dallewal had earlier said he would not break his fast till the government agreed to the farmers' demands. On Saturday, in an unprecedented hearing, a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia gave the Punjab government time till December 31 to persuade Dallewal to shift to a hospital, giving it the liberty to seek logistical support from the Centre, if the situation warrants. Expressing helplessness, the Punjab government said it is facing huge resistance from the protesting farmers who have encircled Dallewal and are preventing him from being taken to a hospital. The court also termed the conduct of some farmer leaders accompanying Dallewal surprising and questionable. Meanwhile, a high-level team of Punjab government officials again called on Dallewal requesting him to accept medical treatment even if he wishes to continue with his fast. Dallewal has so far refused medical treatment and the state government has formed a team of doctors to monitor his health round-the-clock. The team which also comprises Deputy Inspector General of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu told Dallewal that he could choose a place and he would only be given the required medical support. The farmers have been on a protest with several demands, one of them being a legal guarantee for a minimum support price. Farmers, under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. A "jatha (group)" of 101 farmers attempted to march to Delhi on foot three times between December 6 and 14 but were stopped by security personnel of Haryana. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)Watch Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat: How to live stream, TV channel, start time for Saturday's NBA game
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Stingray Group Inc. ( OTCMKTS:STGYF – Get Free Report ) was the target of a large drop in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,400 shares, a drop of 15.4% from the November 30th total of 5,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.3 days. Stingray Group Price Performance STGYF stock opened at C$5.16 on Friday. Stingray Group has a twelve month low of C$4.10 and a twelve month high of C$6.11. The company’s 50 day moving average is C$5.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$5.52. About Stingray Group ( Get Free Report ) Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Stingray Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stingray Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Jack Sawyer's Emotional Outburst After Michigan Brawl Captures Attention
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The S&P 500 index is a benchmark used to gauge the broader U.S. market. Its 500 large-cap and megacap components come from every sector of the economy, and reflect investing categories from value to growth. As those companies account for about 80% of the value of the U.S. stock market, the S&P 500 makes a fairly good proxy for it. However, each company's weight in the index is proportional to its market cap, and some companies have in recent years grown so big that now, just a few have a disproportionate amount of influence over it. Today, more than one-third of the S&P 500's value comes from just eight companies. The "Fateful Eight" If you follow the market, it should be no surprise that the broader market has become concentrated. High-flying tech and artificial intelligence stocks surged in price, with their gains offsetting hundreds of underperformers in the S&P 500 and carrying the index to a roughly 26% broader gain in 2024 (as of Dec. 27). Over the last two years, the S&P 500 is up by more than 55%. Here are the eight stocks that now make up roughly 34.4% of the market and their weights in the S&P 500: 1. Apple ( AAPL -1.32% ) : 7.66% 2. Nvidia ( NVDA -2.09% ) : 6.71% 3. Microsoft Corp ( MSFT -1.73% ) : 6.37% 4. Amazon ( AMZN -1.45% ) : 4.16% 5. Meta Platforms ( META -0.59% ) : 2.57% 6. Tesla ( TSLA -4.95% ) : 2.48% 7. Alphabet ( GOOGL -1.45% ) ( GOOG -1.55% ) : 2.24% 8. Broadcom ( AVGO -1.47% ) : 2.24% The first seven names have become known as the "Magnificent Seven" due to their massive market shares in their industries, their fortress balance sheets, and their incredible technological innovations. However, after Broadcom's market cap recently surged past the $1 trillion mark, a group of Wall Street pundits added it to the pack, dubbing the expanded group the "Fateful Eight." Their performances this year have (with one exception) been extraordinary. TSLA data by YCharts. Every stock in the Fateful Eight except Microsoft outperformed the S&P 500 in 2024. In fact, all of those other seven have at least doubled the gains of the broader market. However, consider that 168 stocks in the S&P 500 are down for the year, while more than 70% of the names in the index have underperformed it. Does this make the broader market risky? Some might wonder if investing in the broader market is safe considering that such a large proportion of its gains have come from such a narrow group of companies. Many of the Fateful Eight trade at nosebleed valuations, making them more vulnerable to pullbacks if they deliver weak earnings or miss their guidance, or if inflation reignites. After all, Treasury yields have marched higher, and many investors pared back their expectations for interest rate cuts in 2025. One assumption is that the market's gains will eventually broaden. If the lofty valuations on the Fateful Eight normalize, the rest of the stocks in the S&P 500, which generally trade at cheaper valuations, could appreciate, offsetting the impact of that normalization. However, some market strategists now view these big tech names as defensive plays, assuming that in an economic environment featuring more inflation and fewer interest rate cuts, mere mortal companies will suffer and investors will flee to safety in the Fateful Eight. These are interesting dynamics, and I do not know what the future holds. However, I think it's important for investors to understand that when they look at some metrics intended to reflect the broader market, the picture they present is not as diverse right now as it usually is. Because of that, the S&P 500 could be susceptible to a big pullback due to its high concentration in tech mega-caps stocks. Risks remain because inflation could reignite, and a recession is also not out of the question, although economic data does not currently suggest one is imminent. For investors who are concerned about the concentration risks in the S&P 500, one option would be to invest in a fund like the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF ( RSP -0.68% ) . Every quarter, equal-weight funds rebalance their holdings back to a condition where each company in the portfolio accounts for the same share of the total -- an even weighting not based on market cap. Equal-weighted S&P 500 funds have vastly underperformed standard S&P 500 funds this year, but they would be more resilient if the members of the Fateful Eight experience a pullback, or if the market's growth from here shifts toward the stocks that have been laggards lately.
By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”
Santa has come and gone (hopefully), which means after-Christmas sales are live. It's the last chance of the year to score clearance deals from retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target on TVs, fitness gear, appliances, iPads, and more. As TechRadar's deals editor, I've been scouring through all the offers to bring you today's best after-Christmas sales and stand-out deals. Whether you have a gift card burning in your pocket or want to get a head start on your New Year's resolution – there's something for everyone in today's sales. Below, I've listed links to all the best after-Christmas sales, followed by the top deals on kitchen appliances, headphones, fitness gear, vacuums, Apple devices, and smart home gadgets. A few standout deals include the all-new Apple Watch SE on sale for $189 , this Eufy by Anker smart scale on sale for $23.95 , and the highly-rated Tineco wet dry vacuum mop on sale for $99 . Keep in mind that most of today's offers are clearance prices on this year's best-selling items, and you might not see deals like this until the next big holiday sale event. Amazon: TVs, smart home & air fryers from $12.99 Apple: AirPods, iPads, MacBooks from $89.99 Adidas: 40% off running shoes & clothing Best Buy: $1,000 off 4K TVs, laptops & headphones Cheap TVs: smart TVs at Best Buy from $69.99 Dell: best-selling Inspiron & XPS laptops from $279.99 Dreamcloud: mattress deals from $349 + free shipping Fitness: treadmills, weights & bikes from $18.99 Home Depot: 40% off tools, appliances & furniture Lowe's: organization, appliances & tools from $17.31 Nectar: up to 50% off all mattresses Nordstrom: 46% off boots, coats, jeans & jewelry Samsung: $1,500+ off TVs, phones, watches & appliances Target: save on furniture, gifts, tech & clothing Walmart: cheap TVs, robot vacs, furniture & appliances After-Christmas sales 2024 – today's 10 best deals If you're looking for Apple's cheapest smartwatch, you can get the Apple Watch SE on sale for only $189. While the Apple Watch SE lacks all the bells and whistles found on the Apple Watch 10, it still packs a fast processor, excellent battery life, and plenty of health and fitness features. Get the best compact, single-serve blender for under $50 at Walmart's after-Christmas sale. This is an ideal solution for your daily smoothie or protein shake. With its built-in handle and sippy cup lid, you'll be ready to make your favorite creation just before leaving the house. The viral Beckham Hotel Collection pillows are always a top seller during holiday sales, and the queen-size set is on sale for $46.97 when you apply the additional discount. The queen-size pillows have over 240,000 positive reviews and are the number-one best-selling pillow on Amazon's site. Amazon's brand new Echo Spot pairs a 2.83-inch touch with a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker, which might make it the ideal smart alarm clock. With Alexa onboard, you can ask the assistant for the weather, play music, or even schedule alarms. Today's deal is a return to the record-low price. This Black+Decker Dustbuster has over 100,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is on my New Year's wish list. The handheld vacuum is lightweight, portable, easy to recharge, and has a crevice tool to clean hard-to-reach areas. It's also the perfect gift to yourself to get a head start on your New Year cleaning relations. The Apple AirTag is one of Apple's highly coveted gadgets and makes a great stocking stuffer. Today's deal from Amazon brings a four-pack down to $69.99, a record-low price. If you tend to misplace your keys or wallet, attach the AirTag to anything you don't want to lose, and your iPhone will locate the item. Amazon has Apple's all-new AirPods 4 on sale for $119 – only $1 more than the record-low price. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort and pack Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You're also getting a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and supports USB-C for wireless charging. Bissell carpet cleaners are another holiday best-seller, and Walmart has the top-rated Little Green on sale for $87.94 - the lowest price you can find. Perfect for pet owners and parents, the portable carpet cleaner can magically erase spills and stains on carpets, couches, auto interiors, and more. An air fryer is another popular gift idea, and this NInja Pro model is perfect for families. The 5-quart capacity drawer is enough to make meals for the whole family, and preset functions allow for easy air frying, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating. The compact design means it'll comfortably fit on your countertop, too. The top-rated Tineco cordless wet-dry vacuum mop combo is on sale for a record-low price of $99 at Walmart's after-Christmas sale. The Tineco iFloor 2 vacuums and washes hard floors in one step, handling wet and dry messes in one sweep. The top-rated Eufy smart scale is on sale for its lowest price yet at Amazon right now. The Eufy Smart Scale C1 can measure your body's body fat ratio, BMI, bone mass, muscle mass, as well as your weight and gives you a more detailed way of checking in with your health and what that number on the scale actually means. This top-rated massage gun has over 50,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is on sale for only $49.99. The Toloco massage gun features 20 different speed levels and 15 replaceable massage heads to relieve pain on all parts of your body. Today's cheapest Fitbit deal is the Fitbit Inspire 3 on sale for $79.95 - just $10 more than the record-low price. Made for everyday wear, the Inspire 3 offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring and tracks sleep, workouts, stress, and more. The Charge 6 includes updated HR sensors, making it one of Fitbit's best overall fitness trackers; plus, you're getting a comfortable band, a bright AMOLED screen, built-in GPS, and a Stress Management Score. Today's deal brings the price down to $119.95. Amazon has the best-selling Oura Ring 3 on sale, with prices starting at $299 depending on what size and color you buy. The Oura Ring Generation 3 is a discreet, accurate tracker with loads of features, and at this price, it's perhaps better value than the Oura Ring 4. Amazon's best-selling 43-inch 4-Series 4K smart TV is on sale for $229.99 - a new record-low price. It offers 4K HD resolution, smart capabilities with the Fire operating system, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa, so you can use your voice to control your TV. Samsung's The Frame TV is my dream display, and the 43-inch model is on sale for a record-low price. The 2024 Samsung Frame TV features Pantone art-validated colors that deliver lifelike images, and the display now comes with Streams, a complimentary set of artwork streamed from the Samsung Art Store. The LG B4 is one of the most affordable OLED TVs on the market, and Best Buy has the 48-inch model on sale for $699.99. It was $100 less over Cyber Monday but this is still a fantastic price. Its self-lit OLED pixels and Dolby Vision together enhance color and contrast beyond what the average backlit TV can do. Its built-in gaming features and 120Hz refresh rate make it an unbeatable deal for gamers looking for an upgrade. Amazon's highly rated Omni Series TVs feature 4K resolution support, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, and hands-free TV with Alexa. So, you can control the volume and launch channels hands-free instead of using your remote. Today's discount is the same price we saw during Black Friday and the best deal we've seen all year. Samsung's Discover sale has dropped this 55-inch Q60D QLED TV to $479.99 - the same record-low price we saw during Black Friday. The Q60D features 4K and Quantum HDR Smart technology with Motion Xcelerator, resulting in bright colors and realistic images. Its slim design also means it looks great in any living room. A 65-inch 4K smart TV for $399.99 is an incredible deal. The LG UT70 Series TV delivers a premium picture experience with brilliant colors thanks to LG's α5 Gen7 AI processor and WebOS 24 for seamless streaming. Gamers will also love the game optimizer and dashboard with GeForce NOW, which allows you to see and adjust all your settings in one place. The Samsung S90C OLED is TechRadar's best TV of the year, and the 65-inch model is on sale for $1,597.99, thanks to a $1,000 discount. Our Samsung S90C review awarded this TV five stars, praising its gorgeous picture, extensive gaming features, slim design, and reasonable price. Amazon has LG's 65-inch C4 OLED TV on sale for $1,496.99 - that's a whopping $1,200 discount and just $100 more than the record-low price on Black Friday. Ranked in our best TV guide, the 2024 C4 features exceptional brightness, LG's latest Alpha 9 AI chip for improved performance, and impressive gaming features, including four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM support and 144Hz certification from Nvidia. The LG C3 OLED TV is a best-seller here at TechRadar, and the 65-inch model is now on sale for $1,296.99. That's a whopping $1,200 discount and only $100 more than the record-low price on Black Friday. The stunning OLED display features a brilliant picture with bright colors and powerful contrast, thanks to LG's latest Alpha9 Gen6 chip. Plus, you're getting four HDMI 2.1 ports for the best gaming experience on next-gen consoles, a sleek, thin design, and an updated webOS experience. If you're looking for a big-screen budget display, Best Buy has this Samsung 75-inch 4K TV on sale for $549.99. This entry-level TV from Samsung packs a solid 'Crystal' UHD 4K processor, an easy-to-use Tizen operating system, and full HDR support all for under $600. That's good value for money if you need a straightforward but capable display for your everyday viewing and media streaming. This TV deal sold out on Black Friday, but now it's back in stock at the same record-low price of $478. The 2024 display features 4K UHD resolution, Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10, and smart capabilities courtesy of a voice-enabled remote, making this an outstanding value. This is an incredible price for a pair of wireless on-ear headphones – on sale for just $29.95 at Amazon right now. The JBL Tune 510BT features Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 Streaming, so you can stream music and podcasts and take calls from your device, and you'll enjoy an impressive 40 hours of battery life. They also come with JBL's renowned Pure Bass sound. If you need something inexpensive and you need it now, it's hard to argue with this price tag. The Sony WH-1000MX4 are older now, but they are still some of the best over-ear headphones ever. These wireless Sony cans package together top-notch audio, excellent comfort, and effective noise cancellation, all at a reasonable price point that's about $100 less than the newer Sony XM5, that is only a minor upgrade. We still rate these as the best headphones for most people, exactly because you can find them at a price like this during holiday sales. The handy Chamberlain smart garage control allows you to open and close your garage from anywhere, and the best part? It's on sale for $24.99. You can also set a schedule to make sure your garage is always closed at night and receive notifications anytime your garage door is opened or closed. Roku's most affordable streaming stick is quick, cheap, and easy to use, and it's a great way to get started in the world of streaming. This discount brings this device to under $20, which is a bargain for TV owners looking for a simple and effective way to add smart features to their display. The new version of Amazon's standard Fire TV Stick is on sale for just $19.99, which is only $2 shy of the record low. In our Fire TV Stick review, we found the original version was a cheap way to add essential smart features to your TV, including access to streaming apps in HD, Alexa voice controls, and the ability to control other smart home devices. As the name suggests, the Fire TV Stick 4K streams shows and movies on your TV in ultra-high-definition 4K resolution. It's a good offer for a solid streaming stick that comes with access to all the major apps and supports voice controls through Alexa. Today's offer is $6 more than the record-low price we saw during Black Friday. Looking to buy a smart speaker for a small space? Amazon's after-Christmas sale has the all-new Echo Pop for just $17.99 - the cheapest Echo device you can buy right now. For that money, you're getting a compact smart speaker with Alexa built-in, so you can play music, ask questions, and check the weather completely hands-free. Amazon's brand new Echo Spot pairs a 2.83-inch touch with a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker, which might make it the ideal smart alarm clock. With Alexa onboard, you can ask the assistant for the weather, play music, or even schedule alarms. Today's deal is a return to the record-low price. Amazon has the best-selling Keurig K-Express coffee maker on sale for a record-low of $59.99 – just $10 more than the record-low price. The single-serve coffee maker features a compact design for easy storage and uses K-Cups to brew a fresh, hot cup of coffee in minutes. Make a cup of coffee in less than two minutes with Keurig's best-selling K-Elite, which is on sale for $103.45. Five brew-size selections let you choose how much to make, while Strong brew and Iced options mean you can enjoy a bold morning cup or a refreshing afternoon beverage with the touch of a button. The Nespresso Vertuo Pop Plus Deluxe by Breville is on sale for its cheapest price yet. This easy-to-use coffee maker supports multiple types of drinks and sizes, and you can brew these using dedicated recyclable Nespresso pods. The large removable water tank and compact size also add to its convenience. Get the best compact, single-serve blender for under $50 at Walmart's after-Christmas sale. This is an ideal solution for your daily smoothie or protein shake. With its built-in handle and sippy cup lid, you'll be ready to make your favorite creation just before leaving the house. Walmart's after-Christmas sale includes this Ninja Grand Kitchen blender for $98. You'll get an XL 72-oz. blender, an 18-oz Nutri Ninja Cup with a to-go lid to take your smoothie on the go, and an eight-cup food processor bowl. This Gourmia Air fryer oven, on sale for only $50, briefly sold out during Black Friday, but it's now back. The 14-quart air fryer features 28 preset cooking functions and includes two baskets, a rotisserie spit and rotisserie lift tool, and a large window so you can monitor your cooking. If you're looking for a cheap air fryer to whip up your favorite foods in the new year, Walmart is offering a massive 50% discount on the top-rated Chefman air fryer, bringing the price down to $50. The eight-quart air fryer features a basket divider, so you can separate food for dual cooking. Ninja is one of the most popular air fryer manufacturers, and this is a new record-low price for one of its latest and easiest-to-use appliances. The 5-quart capacity drawer is enough to make meals for the whole family, and preset functions allow for easy air frying, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating. The compact design means it'll comfortably fit on your countertop, too. The Ninja Creami ice cream maker has been a hot seller this past year, and Walmart has the appliance down to a record-low price. You can make ice cream, milkshakes, and sorbets with a touch of a button and add your favorite mix-ins and flavors. KitchenAid is a mainstay in the Bake Off tent and still the leader when it comes to high-quality stand mixers – but they do come with a hefty upfront cost. This healthy $120 discount on the premium Artisan model definitely takes the sting out, though. It comes with a stainless steel bowl and three attachments for mixing, kneading, and beating – everything the amateur or intermediate baker needs for the kitchen. If you're looking for a powerful upright vacuum, Walmart has the best-selling Shark Navigator Lift-Away on sale for $99.99, thanks to today's 50% discount. The upright vacuum works on carpet and hard floors and features a lift-away technology, so you can lift the pod to clean hard-to-reach areas. The top-rated Tineco cordless wet-dry vacuum mop combo is on sale for a record-low price of $99 at Walmart's after-Christmas sale. The Tineco iFloor 2 vacuums and washes hard floors in one step, handling wet and dry messes in one sweep. If you're on a budget but still want a high-end vacuum, Dyso's V8 Absolute is a fantastic option at just $299.99. Perfect for pet owners, the Dyson V8 features a de-tangling motor bar that works across hardwood floors and carpets and can transform into a handheld vac for quick and convenient clean-ups. A robot vacuum has always been on my Christmas wish list, and maybe this year, it will come true thanks to this deal on the popular Eufy model. The Eufy 11S Max can clean hard floors and medium carpets and features BoostIQ Technology, which automatically works harder when it encounters a spot needing a deeper cleaning. Here's an incredible deal on a Roomba robot vacuum mop combo, bringing the price down to its lowest ever. The j5 uses the iRobot Home App to create no-mop zones, so it will vacuum your hard floors while mopping at the same time but will avoid your carpet. The Apple AirTag is one of Apple's highly coveted gadgets and makes a great stocking stuffer. Today's deal from Amazon brings a four-pack down to $72.99, which is only $3 more than the record-low price. If you tend to misplace your keys or wallet, attach the AirTag to anything you don't want to lose, and your iPhone will locate the item. Amazon has Apple's all-new AirPods 4 on sale for $138.99 – a new record-low price. The AirPods 4 feature active noise cancellation, a new design for all-day comfort, and pack Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You're also getting a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and supports USB-C for wireless charging. The AirPods Pro make a great holiday gift and Amazon has the earbuds on sale for $189 – the best price you can find right now. The sound quality is excellent, the noise cancellation power is top-level, Dolby Atmos spatial audio is cool, and they're packed with smart features for iPhone users, including an 'unlosable' case that's truly super-helpful. If you're looking for Apple's cheapest smartwatch, you can get the Apple Watch SE on sale for only $189. While the Apple Watch SE lacks all the bells and whistles found on the Apple Watch 10, it still packs a fast processor, excellent battery life, and plenty of health and fitness features. Apple's all-new Apple Watch 10 is on sale for $379, which is only $20 more than the record-low price. The Apple Watch 10 includes upgrades such as Apple's new S10 chipset, sleep apnea detection, depth gauge, and a new design featuring the most advanced display. Please note that this deal is for the larger 46mm model. Walmart has Apple's best-selling 10.9 iPad on sale for $279 – the same record-low price we saw during Black Friday. In our iPad 10.9 (2022) review , we said Apple's latest base-level tablet is a big upgrade over the previous generation model, offering a larger Liquid Retina display, a new A14 Bionic chip, improved cameras, USB-C support, and a sleek design. At just $599 - Walmart is practically giving away Apple's MacBook Air. Not only is this an outstanding price for such a powerful laptop that still holds up great for 2024, but this could be the last chance to pick one up now that it's officially discontinued. Don't miss this incredible deal if you're looking for a great bang for the buck MacBook.*Approves 2025 World Bank business enabling action plan *As Sokoto professionals canvass indigenous support for govt Onuminya Innocent Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has assented to the 2025 Appropriation Bill, promising to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state. Aliyu described the 2024 budget implementation as a success story, and reiterated his administration’s determination to continue to execute people-oriented projects already started. In another development, the Sokoto State government took a significant step towards economic growth and development by approving the 2025 World Bank Business Enabling Action Plan. The plan is an annual document that outlines the state’s 12-month business strategy, which is a requirement for the state to participate in the World Bank’s $750 million programme. Meanwhile, Sokoto Professional Network (SPN) appealed to indigenes of the state from different fields to support the state government for rapid development of the state. Chairman of SPN, Engineer Zayyanu Yabo, made the appeal at the network’s second Annual General Meeting, (AGM) held in Sokoto. Elaborating on his government’s 2024/2025 budgets, Aliyu stated, “In the outgoing financial year, we succeeded in executing many developmental projects that had impacted positively on the lives of our people. “We would, in sha Allah, sustain this invaluable gesture by delivering more dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of our people.” He reaffirmed his administration’s support to the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality in the state. The governor thanked the lawmakers for the speedy passage of the bill, stating that it has clearly demonstrated their unwavering commitment towards making the lives of their people better. He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and continued support for his administration. Earlier, Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Tukur Bodinga, said the lawmakers had subjected the appropriation bill to thorough scrutiny to ensure it was line with the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate. Bodinga commended the governor for the myriad dividends of democracy he had so far delivered across the state. The speaker assured of the lawmakers’ support to the governor’s policies and programmes aimed at transforming the state. Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the World Bank meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Alhaji Bello Danchadi, explained that the programme aimed to improve land administration, investment processes, and access to finance, as well as increase sustainable large-scale investments and resolve commercial disputes efficiently Danchadi was accompanied by his colleagues, including Professor Jabir Maihulla (Ministry of Religious Affairs); Professor Attahiru Sifawa (Ministry of Science and Technology); and Alhaji Haruna Bashir (Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry). Danchadi explained that with the state executive council’s approval, Sokoto State was now eligible to participate in the World Bank’s 2025 programme. In addition to the World Bank programme, the Sokoto State Executive Council also approved several other projects. The council approved the renovation and upgrading of nine Juma’at mosques across three senatorial districts in the state, with contracts awarded to various companies at a total cost of over N1.2 billion. It approved the construction of pedestrian bridges along Airport Road and Shehu Shagari College of Education road, at a cost of N331.135 million, to improve safety and reduce accidents in the area. SPN chairman, Yabo described the network as a coalition of professionals from Sokoto State working across various sectors, including science, technology, humanities, arts, and other public and private domains. He highlighted the organisation’s objectives, which included promoting sustainable professionalism, supporting advocacy and capacity development, and implementing initiatives to enhance the skills and scholarship opportunities for Sokoto youths to drive state-wide development. Reflecting on the network’s achievements over the past two years, Yabo stated significant milestones, including the training of 50 youths in solar installation and maintenance. He said many of the beneficiaries were now gainfully employed or running their own businesses. “Our network remains committed to supporting the development of Sokoto State and its people. The ultimate goal is to build a skilled and empowered population that contributes positively to societal growth,” Yabo stated. Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Goronyo, commended the network for its initiatives. Goronyo emphasised that this year’s theme, “A Year of Consolidation and Progress,” aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which advocated strategic partnerships and collaborations as catalysts for economic growth. “The efforts of SPN are commendable, and I applaud the leadership for organising such a significant gathering to consolidate its achievements and chart new paths for progress,” Goronyo said.
