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Frida Formann finding her groove, leads CU Buffs into matchup with Tennessee TechCanadian savers are using their self-directed Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to build portfolios that can complement the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and company pensions in retirement. One popular investing strategy involves buying top dividend stocks and using the distributions to acquire new shares. This harnesses a compounding process that can turn modest initial investments into meaningful savings over the long run. Canadian National Railway ( ) went public in the mid-1990s. Since then, the stock has been one of the best dividend-growth names on the TSX. The railway giant operates nearly 20,000 route miles of tracks that cross Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic and run through the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. CN generates a good chunk of its revenue in the U.S., so it is a good way for investors to get exposure to the American economy through a Canadian stock. CN moves raw materials and finished goods, which are key to the smooth operation of the economy in Canada and the United States. Railways tend to have wide competitive moats. The odds of new competing tracks being built along the same routes are pretty much nil. CN’s share price is down about 6.5% in 2024 compared to a gain of more than 20% for the TSX. Labour issues at both the railway and Canadian ports have combined with disruptions by wildfires to make the past 12 months challenging for the rail operator. Potential new tariffs on goods entering the U.S. from Canada next year have also made investors cautious in recent weeks. These are likely short-term problems, however, and investors should consider taking advantage of the pullback in the stock. Buying CN on meaningful dips has historically proven to be a savvy move for patient investors. Fortis ( ) is another dividend-growth superstar on the TSX. The board has increased the dividend in each of the past 51 years. Looking ahead, Fortis intends to raise the distribution by 4-6% per year over through 2029. That’s good guidance in an uncertain economic outlook heading into 2025. Fortis operates roughly $69 billion in utility assets that include natural gas distribution, power generation, and electricity transmission businesses. Nearly all the revenue comes from rate-regulated assets, so cash flow tends to be predictable and reliable. Fortis grows through a combination of strategic acquisitions and development projects. The company hasn’t made a large purchase for several years, but that could change as interest rates decline in Canada and the United States. In the meantime, Fortis is working on a $26 billion capital program. As the new assets are completed and go into service, the boost to revenue and cash flow should support the planned dividend increases. Fortis gives investors a 2% discount on new stock purchased through the dividend-reinvestment plan. The bottom line on top TSX dividend stocks CN and Fortis are good examples of dividend-growth stocks that have generated attractive total returns for long-term investors. If you have some cash to put to work in a self-directed RRSP, these stocks deserve to be on your radar.
On 30 November 2024, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov met with a Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in Chengdu. During the meeting, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, confirming their commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the countries. Wang Yi stressed the high level of relations between China and Turkmenistan, calling the countries “good brothers and good partners.” He noted that under the strategic leadership of the two heads of state, Chinese-Turkmen relations have maintained a steady development dynamic. Last year, the two heads of state jointly announced an increase in the level of Chinese-Turkmen relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The Chinese Foreign Minister called for further implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level, strengthening mutual support on issues involving each other’s core interests, and exploring new ideas to expand comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation. During the meeting, the need for careful preparation for the meeting of the bilateral cooperation committee, which is scheduled for next year, was noted. Wang Yi expressed China’s readiness to further expand the scale of trade and investment cooperation with Turkmenistan. Among the promising areas of cooperation, he named agriculture, trans-Caspian logistics, the creation of centers of traditional Chinese medicine and the opening of cultural centers. According to the Wang Yi, the Chinese market is open to Turkmenistan. China is ready to increase imports of non-primary goods from Turkmenistan and will encourage investment projects by Chinese companies in the country. In turn, Rashid Meredov noted the high level of trust and friendship between President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President Xi Jinping, which gives a powerful impetus to the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership. He confirmed Turkmenistan’s readiness to intensify high-level contacts, use the potential of the bilateral cooperation committee, strengthen cooperation between foreign ministries, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the flagship project of natural gas trade between the two sides. During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on multilateral issues and agreed to continue close cooperation and support each other’s international initiatives. Following the meeting, a Memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China for 2025-2026.///nCa, 30 November 2024 (based on the press release of the MFA China) On 30 November 2024, the meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi was held on the margins of the Fifth Central Asia-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of the People’s Republic of China. During the meeting, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs noted with satisfaction the fruitful nature of the interstate dialogue built on the principles of mutually beneficial partnership. Regular contacts at the highest, governmental and interdepartmental levels contribute to the dynamic development of bilateral relations. In this regard, the sides discussed issues related to the implementation of previously reached bilateral agreements. It was emphasized that this meeting is a good opportunity to exchange views on the current state of the Turkmen-Chinese friendly relations, which are of comprehensive strategic nature. The Ministers underlined that the Turkmen-Chinese Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee serves as an effective mechanism of interstate collaboration. The diplomats also noted the effectiveness of the multilateral dialogue between Turkmenistan and China within the framework of international and regional structures. They highlighted the efficiency of the “Central Asia-China” Format. In this context, the sides discussed preparations to the second Summit of Heads of State of the “Central Asia-China” Format, scheduled to be held in Astana in 2025. The heads of foreign ministries noted the effective cooperation in trade and economic sphere, as well as analyzed the progress of joint activities in the field of energy, transport and communication interconnectivity, as well as cultural and humanitarian vector. Upon the outcomes of the meeting, the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China for 2025-2026 was signed. ///MFA Turkmenistan, 30 November 2024Save $59 on WD Black's One Terabyte Xbox Storage Card This Cyber MondayUS stocks were mostly higher on Tuesday, led by the tech sector. Today marks the start of the Santa Claus trading window, a historically bullish 7-day stretch. The stock market will close at 1 p.m. for a shortened trading session due to Christmas Eve. US stocks were mostly higher on Tuesday led by gains in technology stocks. The bump comes amid a shortened trading session for Christmas Eve, which also happens to mark the official start of the Santa Claus trading window — a historically bullish period for stocks during the last five trading days of the year and the first two trading days of the new year. The stock market is set to close at 1 p.m. and will be closed on Wednesday for Christmas. The bond market, which is also closed on Wednesday, will wrap up at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Investors have no economic data to analyze on Tuesday, but they will be watching for the release of initial jobless claims on Thursday morning. Economists expect 225,000 initial jobless claims, slightly higher than last week's reading of 220,000. Historical data dating back to 1950 shows that the S&P 500 has posted an average return of 1.3% and is positive 79% of the time during the Santa Claus trading window. The average gain during the Santa Claus trading window is even stronger, at 1.6%, when including stock returns going back to 1928, according to data from Bank of America. Here's where US indexes stood shortly after the 9:30 a.m. opening bell on Tuesday: S&P 500 : 5,982.87, up 0.14% Dow Jones Industrial Average : 42,892.81, down 0.03% (-10 points) Nasdaq composite : 19,838..09, up 0.40% Here's what else is going on: American Airlines briefly grounded all of its flights on Tuesday due to a technical glitch. The probability of a US recession in 2025 is 0%, according to a top economist. Consumer confidence dropped to near-recession levels ahead of Donald Trump's second administration. Here is a complete rundown of Wall Street's 2025 S&P 500 targets.
Tait-Jones scores 21 as UC San Diego defeats James Madison 73-67Ireland's two main centre-right parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, are poised to maintain their grip on power following the recent election, but forming a stable government remains a challenge. They are expected to require additional coalition partners to achieve a majority, potentially leading to prolonged negotiations. The parties secured 20.5% and 21.9% of first-preference votes respectively, with Sinn Fein trailing at 19.1%. The prospect of forming a majority hinges on securing 88 seats, with Labour and the Social Democrats as potential coalition candidates. However, Ireland's proportional representation system may necessitate a wider coalition due to uncertain seat counts. Prime Minister Simon Harris's campaign suffered setbacks despite an expansive budget, affecting Fine Gael's standing. With public discontent over unfulfilled economic promises, and Sinn Fein's declining popularity, securing a stable government is crucial amid upcoming international economic challenges. (With inputs from agencies.)
After an exhaustive six-month search that saw the names of Hedi Slimane from Celine, Jacquemus founder Simon Porte Jacquemus and former Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs tossed around the front row like empty goody bags, the house of Chanel has settled on 40-year-old Matthieu Blazy to run its fashion business. “I am thrilled and honoured to join the wonderful house of Chanel,” Blazy said in a statement. “I look forward to meeting all the teams and writing this new chapter together.” Blazy arrives at Chanel with the respect of the industry, having made the Italian label Bottega Veneta a flattering bright spot in the fashion conglomerate Kering’s portfolio, with sales rising by 4 per cent in the first nine months of 2024 to €1.23 billion ($2 billion). Mathhieu Blazy takes a bow in Milan following his ready-to-wear collection for Bottega Veneta in February. Credit: AP With his trompe l’oeil collections of elevated basics, such as T-shirts and jeans rendered in leather and hit Kalimero, Andiamo and Sardine-style handbags, Blazy has also gained a celebrity following that includes Kate Moss, Jacob Elordi, Greta Lee and Julianne Moore. Becoming only the fourth creative director of the house founded by Coco Chanel in 1910 is a major step up for the French-Belgian who has worked at Calvin Klein, Celine and Raf Simons. Chanel is more than 10 times the size of Bottega Veneta, with revenue in 2023 of $US19.7 billion ($30 billion). Blazy will oversee 10 collections a year spanning haute couture, ready-to-wear and resort shows. “I am convinced that he will be able to play with the codes and heritage of the house through an ongoing dialogue with the studio, our ateliers, and our maisons d’art,” said Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel Fashion, in a statement. “His audacious personality, his innovative and powerful approach to creation, as well as his dedication to craftsmanship and beautiful materials, will take Chanel in exciting new directions.” It’s the audacity that Chanel bosses are focusing on, with Blazy’s predecessor, Virginie Viard, attracting negative press during her five-year tenure as creative director, which followed the death of Karl Lagerfeld in 2019 at the age of 85. Viard’s collections helped Chanel achieve record profits, but low-key runway shows, compared to Lagerfeld’s extravagant sets, and social media roasting of house ambassadors Margot Robbie and Margaret Qualley on the red carpet led to her exit. Blazy will join the brand next year, Chanel said in a statement on Thursday, without specifying when. He is expected to present his first Chanel collection in October. A model on the Chanel runway for the spring 2025 collection in Paris, in October. Credit: Getty Images Even with one of the top seats in fashion now taken, the game of musical chairs is not over. Controversial designer John Galliano this week announced his departure from Maison Margiela, prompting rumours of a return to Christian Dior, and Fendi is still looking to replace Kim Jones, who resigned as creative director in October. For the time being Blazy can sit comfortably, with Chanel having said the appointment is a long-term commitment. And Chanel knows how to commit, with Lagerfeld occupying the top job for 36 years. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter . Get it in your inbox every Monday .The Pittsburgh Steelers saw their former Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson get traded from the Carolina Panthers to their AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens before the 2024 NFL trade deadline. Johnson was excited to be back in the AFC North and face his former team as the Steelers and Ravens still had two matchups in the season when Johnson was traded. However, Johnson hasn't made much of an impact in Baltimore so far. Through five games, Johnson has only had one catch for six yards and five targets. Johnson spent five seasons with the Steelers after being drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He had 4,363 receiving yards with the Steelers and served as Pittsburgh's top wide receiver for a while. The move to trade Johnson brought in Donte Jackson from the Panthers and a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Johnson had his up and down moments in Pittsburgh, but he was seeing a good amount of workload in Carolina. Before getting traded to the Ravens, Johnson had 357 yards and three touchdowns with the Panthers . Johnson joined a then 5-3 Ravens team and got a MVP quarterback with Lamar Jackson throwing to him. The former Toledo standout didn't see much work in Week 9, but it was assumed he was being worked into the offense. He had his Week 11 revenge matchup against the Steelers, but failed to bring in a single catch on his two targets. Questions have been risen why Johnson hasn't seen much of the field. The Ravens' only notable receivers are Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor, so why hasn't Johnson, who has proved himself in the past, not getting more playing time? Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh held a press conference Monday following Baltimore's Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and responded to questions about Johnson on the offense. "At this time, I'm going to have to wait. There are some moving parts there that we're going to have to figure out and explore and see where we're at. It's the best I can do in fairness to everybody," Harbaugh said. The Athletic Ravens' reporter Jeff Zrebiec reported after Week 13's game that Johnson had played no snaps against the Eagles. There were multiple shots during CBS' broadcast that showed Johnson on the sideline looking on with no emotion on his face. Johnson was getting targets and a lot of playing time with the Panthers, so he's clearly upset with the situation he's in now. Ravens snap counts in loss to Eagles: Diontae Johnson doesn’t get on field on a day where Wallace and Agholor play 40 snaps each. Oweh plays just 15 snaps while Tavius Robinson nearly goes the distance. Board outsnaps Simpson. pic.twitter.com/FePJKsjXkM It is tough to see as Johnson had a lot of good moments in Pittsburgh. He did have his infamous catches and run backwards plays, with some easy dropped pass moments, but overall he was a good addition in the wide receiver room, especially when George Pickens joined the team in 2022. Nothing is known on whether Johnson will finish out the season with the Ravens or if Harbaugh will start implementing him in the offense more. Johnson has received praise from his quarterback Jackson, but not much has come from that. Steelers Could Get Johnson Back After This Season Johnson will become a free agent after this season, so Head Coach Mike Tomlin and General Manager Omar Khan could make a move to sign Johnson again. It'd be interesting to see how Johnson would play with Russell Wilson , as for most of Johnson's career he had a subpar quarterback room in Pittsburgh. Although, Tomlin had some comments about Johnson before their Week 11 matchup in Pittsburgh and Tomlin wasn't too worried about facing off against his former wide receiver. It could've been from the rivalry, but Tomlin doesn't seem like he's in a rush to sign Johnson back. Harbaugh still has four more weeks and a potential playoff run with the Ravens to prove Johnson was a good acquisition for Baltimore. The Steelers will face the Ravens in Baltimore in Week 16 for their second matchup, so maybe Harbaugh will use Johnson more then to get him going against his former team one last time during this season. This article first appeared on SteelerNation.com and was syndicated with permission.
Stock up on these popular board games for your next get-togetherIga Swiatek’s doping case: 'Friendship' with WADA president sparks controversyNYC is now home to over 58K ‘criminal’ migrants — including more than 1,000 gang members: ICE
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Packers with a sore throwing shoulder
Te tomo atu nei tatou ki te akamaara’anga o te ra anau’anga o to tatou Akaora, To tatou Atu ko Iesu mesia. Ariki mai I teia reo aroa kia tatou katoatoa. Kotou te noo nei e te tiaki nei te kiritimiti I to tatou Pa Enua e pera katoa ko ratou te noo mai ki te enua mamao I Aotearoa e Otireria. Pera katoa tatou tei runga I to tatou enua ko Rarotonga, Mery Christmas kia tatou pourua. Kia akameitaki ia tatou katoatoa I to tatou Atu I teia tuatau o te orote. Noatu e e tuatau orote teia ka angaanga rai te tai pae ia tatou. Te aere atu nei te reo akamaroiroi e te reo akameitaki ki te au Taote e te au Neti I runga I to tatou aremaki – te aronga tiaki e te tam ate angaanga mai nei I teia tuatau Pera katoa ta tatou anau akava te angaanga nei I te tiaki e te paruru ia tatou, te au taiki I roto I te are tapeka’anga. Kare e ngaropoina te aronga anga’anga nei I roto I te au otera ten ga tamataora. Te irinaki nei e kua akamako ia ta kotou shift, kia rauka tetai tuatau orote no kotou a teia epetoma ki mua. This is also a first Xmas for some of us where a dear member of the family or friends has passed away and will not be with you to celebrate – our thoughts are with you. By the same token some of you will have welcomed a new addition to the family – a first Xmas for a new baby is always an occasion for joy and celebration. And we do have a lot to celebrate for this year – what a year it has been – from the 50 th celebration of the opening of our airport in January, a momentous occasion that acknowledged the hard work and vision of those who established our gateway to the world in January 1974, right through to another successful Cook Islands Games with over 4000 athletes taking part. These games reminded us of the unity and strength that come from our shared love of sport and culture. They brought together communities from across our islands, blending competitive spirit with a deep sense of camaraderie and cultural pride. This celebration of our identity was a shining example of what makes us unique as Cook Islanders. And in between a number of events that we as a country can be rightfully proud of, our tourism rebound has been nothing short of remarkable. Our country has led the way in economic recovery that benefits our local businesses and entrepreneurs – from AirBnB to market vendors to food sellers to tour operators, etc. As a country, we have a lot to be thankful for the blessing we received. I ended by chairmanship of the PIF (Pacific Islands Forum) in August and handed over to Tonga. Representing our Pacific region at the regional and international stage with our Pacific neighbours and international partners has been both great responsibility and a huge privilege. The effects of climate change have been front and centre in many discussions and decisions this year. We can be proud of the way our country has promoted initiatives that will benefit all of our Pacific region. Kotou te tiaki nei e Kiritimit na roto I te imene e te uapou – kia noo Mataora kotou. Kotou te ka tamataora I teia tuatau, kia maru e kia Mataora takotou tamataora’anga, akono Meitaki I to kotou au taeake kia kore tatou e rokona ia I te tumatetenga. As we celebrate this festive season, let us not forget the reason for the season – the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. His presence on Earth brought hope, peace, and joy, and this season is a time to reflect on His teachings. Let us give thanks for our many blessings. Let us remember those less fortunate than ourselves and honour the memories of those who are no longer with us. I encourage you to treasure your family and friends, hold them close, and savour every moment together. Celebrate with joy and responsibility, always looking out for one another. No reira te na roto atu nei iaku, maua ko Daphne, ta maua anua, to tatou kavamani, te ruru minita, te au mema Paramani, te orronga atu nei te reo aroa kia tatou katoatoa. Meri Christmas, Kia orana e kia manuia.Our Kampung app helps seniors stay socially engagedUConn announced a two-year contract extension for head football coach Jim Mora on Saturday, just before the team took the field for the Fenway Bowl against North Carolina. Mora’s contract extension will run through 2028 and will pay him $10 million through the remaining four years, with the opportunity to earn more in incentives. The 63-year-old coach is set to make $1.7 million next season, $1.9 million in 2026 and $2.3 and $2.4 million in 2027 and 2028, respectively. UConn then went out and thrashed North Carolina, 27-14, in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. “I am forever grateful. I’m grateful to (athletic director) David (Benedict) and (school president) Radenka (Maric) and the Board of Trustees, but this is about what the (UConn players) did today,” Mora said when asked about the extension in the postgame press conference. In a statement released by UConn ahead of the game, Mora said: “I’d like to thank David Benedict, Radenka Maric and the University of Connecticut leadership for their trust in me and their commitment to our football program. When I first got here, I talked about where we wanted this program to go and we have shown great progress but we still have plenty of work to do. The commitment and dedication from the university and the athletic department has me excited about the future for our football team.” “Three years ago, I tasked Jim Mora with the challenge of leading our football team back to success and through his experience, energy and leadership he has done just that,” UConn athletic director David Benedict said in a statement. “He has taken our program to post season bowl games twice and just guided our team to one of the best seasons in UConn football history, building a momentum to keep this program moving forward. I look forward to his leadership of our football team in the years ahead.” Mora is coming off one of the most successful seasons in UConn football history, having led the team to an 8-4 record and an appearance in the Fenway Bowl. It’s the Huskies’ second bowl appearance in three years. UConn’s eight wins is the most for the program since 2010, and the Huskies had their first winning season since that year, too. A win Saturday would give UConn nine wins for just the third time in program history, with the last two such seasons coming in 2003 and 2007. UConn quarterbacks coach Brad Robbins is heading to Tulsa as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, according to a report from CBS Sports. Robbins was part of a coaching staff that helped the offense produce its most prolific attack since the 2009 season and fifth-most in program history (32.3 points per game). Robbins worked at FCS Tennessee Tech and Division II North Greenville before joining Jim Mora’s staff in spring 2023. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Congress on Tuesday staged protests at all its district headquarters across Rajasthan condemning Union Home Minister Amit Shah's ''objectionable'' and ''disrespectful'' remarks on B R Ambedkar made in Parliament recently. Following the instructions given by Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, the party organised a 'Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Samman' march from all its district headquarters in protest against Shah's remarks,'' state Congress General Secretary Swarnim Chaturvedi said. After the march, the district Congress committees submitted a memorandum addressed to President Droupadi Murmu to their respective district collectors demanding Shah's dismissal as a Union minister, he added. The Congress also demanded that Shah should apologise to the nation for his comments, Chaturvedi said. Replying to the debate on the 'Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India', Shah said in the Rajya Sabha on December 17, ''It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar... If they had taken God's name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven.'' As his remarks triggered outrage among the opposition parties, Shah later accused the Congress of twisting his comments. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)returned to action in the on Saturday evening by recording an emphatic 5-2 win over United. A wild first half played out at the London Stadium, with Mikel Arteta's side going 4-0 up on 36 minutes thanks to goals from Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz. But, in stunning fashion, West Ham grabbed two goals back in the space of four minutes. First, Aaron Wan-Bissaka got onto the end of a wonderful ball in behind from Carlos Soler, before Emerson netted an incredible free-kick which beat Arsenal's David Raya. However, the game then took another turn, with Arsenal winning their second penalty of the first half after Gabriel was hit in the head by Lukas Fabianski following a ball into the box, with the spot kick converted by Saka to make it 5-2 at half-time. After the break, things settled, with Arsenal managing to see out the remainder of the game with relative ease. Arteta will have some injury concerns to deal with, especially after Gabriel went off injured following his collision with Fabianski, and Riccardo Calafiori's second half substitution. However, the win means Arsenal moved back up to second in the ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City's huge Sunday afternoon clash. And here are five things the Arsenal boss learnt following the win over West Ham... It cannot be overstated just how much better Martin Odegaard makes Arsenal. The Norwegian midfielder was at the heart of everything good for the Gunners, producing a wonderful lofted pass to Bukayo Saka who assisted Landro Trossard's goal which was Arsenal's second. He also bagged a goal himself, tucking away a brilliant penalty to beat Lukas Fabianski. Whilst sidelined earlier this season, Odegaard was sorely missed by Arsenal. It is the Arsenal skipper who keeps things ticking over in midfield for the Gunners and they are an infinitely worse side without him. There was one moment of concern for Arsenal around the hour mark when he went down holding his ankle, something which the Gunners will need to monitor. Come and join The Daily Star on , the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It's now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X. Fear not, we're not leaving , but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on , and see us social better than the rest. You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a . So what are you waiting for?! Let's Arsenal got the game off to a flying start thanks to a wonderfully worked corner which resulted in Gabriel heading home. It was a fantastically put together set-piece, with plenty of movement to confused the West Ham defence, allowing the Brazilian a free header to give Arsenal the lead. Under Arteta, and set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, the Gunners have become excellent at making the most of their set-pieces. It is an element within a game of massive variables that you can control, and Arsenal do it very well, for which Arteta and Jover deserve plenty of credit. At 4-0 up, the game looked to be dead and buried after 36 minutes. But just four minutes later, the mood inside the London Stadium changed rapidly after two West Ham goals. First, Aaron Wan-Bissaka got onto the end of an excellent ball from Carlos Soler to beat David Raya. Then, Emerson netted a stunning free-kick to make it 4-2. It felt as though there was still something to take from the game for West Ham at that point and that Arsenal could be on the ropes. However, the penalty from Saka settled the nerves and Arsenal managed the second half well - but Arteta may be concerned about just how the Gunners almost opened the door for the Hammers to get themselves fully back into the contest. Ultimately, it was job done for Arsenal at the London Stadium. They started the day nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, and managed to climb up to second with their win over West Ham. Arsenal now sit six points behind Liverpool, who take on on Sunday. Ideally for Arsenal, the two would draw, keeping City behind Arsenal and Liverpool in touching distance, with the latter having to face and away next week in the Premier League. Should Liverpool win, they would move nine points clear which would be frustrating for the Gunners following their impressive performance. But the reality is all they can do right now is try to keep up, win their games and hope Liverpool slip up.
Florida Train Accident: Several Injured After Brightline Train Collides With Fire Truck in Delray Beach in US (Watch Video)MLA for sports in schools to check obesity
Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has maintained its strong performance for the second consecutive year, posting an impressive growth of around 80%. In 2024, the benchmark KSE-100 index surged by almost 80% as on December 28, the market closed at 111,351 points. It indicated an impressive rise over the same period of the previous year, when the market closed at 62,052. This growth trajectory was further evident while looking back at December 30, 2022, when the market stood at 40,420 points, reflecting a 46% increase by the close of 2023. JS Global Deputy Research Head Waqas Ghani Kukaswadia said the KSE-100 index reached an all-time high of 117k in intra-day trading during CY24, a remarkable achievement despite significant foreign portfolio investors' selling driven by rebalancing activities. In terms of fiscal year 2023-24, the KSE-100 surged by 89.24% to 78,445 points on June 30, 2024 compared to 41,453 points in the previous year. "This remarkable growth restored market capitalisation to Rs10.37 trillion, which shows a rebound to peak levels last seen in 2017," the PSX wrote in the annual report for 2024 "Ode to Service". The KSE-100 posted an impressive gain of 70% in CY24, its highest return since 2002 and becoming the second best-performing global market after Argentina, according to the Pakistan Strategy 2025 released by AKD. The index is forecast to reach 165,215 points by December 2025, reflecting a potential upside of 55.5%. This performance highlights the growing appeal of the PSX among global investors. Increased activity Starting at lower levels at the beginning of 2024, the KSE-100 index experienced steady growth, with significant momentum building from April onwards. The second half of the year witnessed a sharp rally, when the index reached the high of 117,039.18 before slightly stabilising. By December 27, 2024, the KSE-100 closed at 111,351.17, near its peak levels. The 52-week range for the year was between 58,758.48 and 117,039.18, reflecting substantial recovery and growth. On December 28, the market recorded a trading volume of 816 million shares. Trading activity reached unprecedented levels in 2024. The traded volume soared to 151.4 billion shares, almost double from 2023, while the daily traded value averaged Rs22.1 billion, demonstrating heightened investor participation and confidence, according to the PSX report. Macroeconomic reforms played a pivotal role in supporting the market's strong performance. Interest rates are projected to decline to single digits in CY25, driven by structural adjustments under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility. Inflation, which peaked at 38% in May 2023, has since been anchored to single digits, significantly boosting investor confidence, according to AKD. New listings The year saw the listing of 11 new companies, including prominent entities like the Symmetry Group and TPL REIT Fund-I. These equity listings collectively raised Rs103.3 billion, which showed growing corporate interest in tapping the PSX potential. PSX played a pivotal role in facilitating the issuance of 22 government of Pakistan's Ijarah Sukuk instruments that raised Rs687.81 billion. Additionally, the introduction of a one-year Discounted Ijarah Sukuk provided innovative opportunities for Shariah-compliant investments, further diversifying market offerings, according to the PSX. Two new exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including the Mahaana Islamic Index ETF, were launched in 2024. These ETFs focused on Shariah-compliant and sector-specific investments, expanding the options for investors and promoting inclusivity in financial instruments, according to AKD. Sector-specific highlights Several sectors emerged as top performers in 2024, including banks, fertiliser, energy, and technology. These sectors benefitted from a stable currency, monetary easing, and reform-driven growth. In the medium term, textile exports are expected to lead the market, while technology remains poised for long-term double-digit expansion, reflecting the evolving dynamics of Pakistan's economy, AKD said. Foreign investors have shown increased interest in Pakistani equities, spurred by the country's improved weight in the MSCI Frontier Markets Index (6.4%). Furthermore, the anticipated reclassification of Pakistani equities into the MSCI Emerging Markets Index has created additional momentum, with seven stocks meeting the reclassification criteria, it added. PSX introduced a sophisticated primary market auction system for government debt securities. The implementation of the One-Share Lot System further enhanced liquidity and aligned the exchange with international standards. The exchange prioritised digital expansion by launching tools like the My Portfolio web app and the PSX WhatsApp Service, which provided real-time market updates and investor education. These innovations made market participation more accessible and user-friendly. Economic outlook Pakistan's economic growth remained modest in FY24, with GDP expanding by 2.5%. However, projections indicate an uptick to 2.7-3.2% in FY25 and 4.3% in FY26, driven by industrial and services sector recovery. The current account is expected to maintain a surplus for the next two years, supported by strong remittance inflows and moderate import growth, according to AKD. Waqas Ghani Kukaswadia of JS Global said the State Bank continues monetary easing, reducing the policy rate by a further 200 basis points (bps) earlier this month to 13%, driven by a faster-than-expected decline in inflation. The Consumer Price Index for November 2024 stood at 4.9%. The State Bank has cut interest rate by 900 bps since the easing cycle began in July 2024. Real interest rates now stand at 9%. He forecast FY25 inflation at 6.5%, with a potential sixth interest rate cut, though smaller. He emphasised the importance of foreign capital, political stability, and IMF alignment for Pakistan's macroeconomic stability and investment prospects. Fiscal reforms resulted in a reduction in fiscal deficit to 5% of GDP in FY24, with further improvements anticipated, according to AKD. The government has implemented structural adjustments in taxation, energy tariffs, and investment frameworks to strengthen economic resilience and promote sustainable growth. Ahsan Mehanti, MD of Arif Habib Commodities, noted the PSX's strong performance despite low foreign direct investment and foreign outflows, driven by low inflation and SBP policy easing. He highlighted IMF disbursements and SBP oversight in stabilising the rupee. Looking ahead, falling lending rates, positive earnings forecasts, and regulatory changes in sectors like banking, pharma, and auto lending are expected to push the PSX to new records in 2025. The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has emerged as a key driver of foreign direct investment, targeting annual inflows of $5 billion. Meanwhile, CPEC Phase 2.0 focuses on industrial, agricultural, and trade development, with significant emphasis on infrastructure and renewable energy projects, providing a transformative impact on Pakistan's economic landscape. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourBeyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to ChabadLibyan official says discussed energy, migration with new Syria leader
Ghaziabad: The Ghaziabad police on Saturday arrested three people for allegedly thrashing two men with rods and sticks in Ghaziabad’s prime commercial area of Rajnagar District Centre (RDC), and suspect that it could have happened over parking issue. Police identified the apprehended people as Ayush Tyagi, 26, restaurant owner; Nitish Sharma, 24, manager; and Abhishek Rastogi, 19, one other staff. But it did not identify the victims in the incident that occurred around 9.45pm on Friday outside a restaurant. Officers said that they learnt about the incident after a video of the incident surfaced on social media. “All the three suspects were arrested after police took cognisance and registered an FIR (first information report) when the video went viral. The injured are yet to approach the police, we are trying to establish contact. They are from outside the city,” said Abhishek Srivastava, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Kavi Nagar circle. “Prima facie, it seems that some parking issue led to the assault. We are investigating further,” the ACP added. The 1.45-minute video, meanwhile, shows several women standing on roadside outside a restaurant and several cars parked on the other side of the road. It shows about seven to eight people attacking two men on road using sticks, punching and kicking them repeatedly till one of them falls flat on the road. In between, loud and repeated voice of a woman shouting, “Ayush, leave him, leave it” in Hindi is heard. HT, however, could not independently verify the video’s authenticity. Police registered the FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 191(2) (rioting) and 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) at Kavi Nagar police station on Saturday, naming three people along with two-three others unidentified persons. The Ghaziabad police on December 25 announced increased security and round-the-clock checking across 26 different locations ahead of the New Year to ensure law and order and also women security. The checks were put in place from December 26 and would continue till January 2.About 50 members of the Cedar Hill community turned up to a prayer vigil this evening in response to recent violent incidents in the area. The event at the Cedar Hill Salvation Army car park was organised by the Garden Ministry and partners. The call came about a week after two men were injured in a shooting in the Cedar Heights Lane area. Aged 53 and 38, they suffered multiple gunshot wounds, but their injuries were not life-threatening. Chaplain Santucci said: “This is primarily in response to the attempted murder, the attempt on life, Thursday past. “We can’t let our communities run away from us so I contacted key stakeholders. Here we have it. “I know that it takes more than just coming together. It takes some ongoing steps, this is just the first of many steps we would like to take to bring back a spirit of culture in our communities of which we can all be happy and not feel that we are threatened by anyone or anything. “If we don’t do it now, who is going to do it? We don’t have to wait for a stray bullet to take the life of anybody else. “The Government and law enforcement must play their part but the community must take responsibility as well. This is one of the things that we as a community can do.” Partners included The Salvation Army and its band which performed music throughout the vigil. Others included the New Testament Church of God, church leaders and other reputable persons within the community. Neville Tyrell, MP for constituency 26, was present as was Douglas De Couto, candidate for constituency 25. The recent shootings took place in constituency 27. Mr Tyrell said: “It is important that we have the community together. The issue is community based. It is sad that our young children are going the wrong way but at the same time they need guidance and this is something we should show as an example. “We are here to talk to them, some of them feel that we don’t want to speak to them, maybe we don’t speak their language all the time but at the same time we are still open to help them.” Dr De Couto said: “This neighbourhood and the whole parish has had quite a lot of violence over the last several years including recently right around the corner. I am glad to be here as one of the voices at this vigil. “I know that children are affected by this. Through my canvassing, I met a young girl in this neighbourhood and for six months she couldn’t sit in her own bedroom after there was a shooting around the corner. imagine that multiplied by all the families.” Lieutenant Amy Patrick of The Salvation Army said: “This island, our world, is fraught with darkness and negativity but that doesn't define who we are. We are not alone, there is hope and there is light.“ Others shared words of reflection including Ras Mykall, who shared social commentary in the form of a poem, and Bishop Rudolph Ebbin who shared a prayer. Police have urged witnesses to come forward, particularly anyone who may have seen two people speeding on a motorcycle immediately after the shooting, which took place at about 9.10pm on November 21.
Christopher Nolan is following his Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” with a true epic: Homer’s “The Odyssey.” It will open in theaters on July 17, 2026, Universal Pictures said Monday. Details remain scarce, but the studio teased that it will be a “mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX technology.” It will also be the first time that an adaptation of Homer’s saga will play on IMAX film screens. Nolan has been an for years, going back to “The Dark Knight,” and has made his last three films exclusively using large format film and the highest resolution film cameras. For “Oppenheimer,” the first black-and-white IMAX film stock was developed. Nolan hasn’t said specifically what the new technology for “The Odyssey” will be, but earlier this month that they’re in an intensive testing phase with IMAX to prepare for the new production. “They have an incredible engineering staff, really brilliant minds doing extraordinary work,” Nolan said. “It’s wonderful to see innovation in the celluloid film arena still happening and happening at the highest level possible.” “The Odyssey” will be Nolan’s second collaboration with Universal Pictures following “Oppenheimer,” which earned nearly $1 billion at the box office and won the filmmaker his first Oscars, including for and . Rumors about his next project have been swirling ever since, with near-daily speculations about plot — none of which turned out to be true — and casting. While there are many reports about actors joining the ensemble, none has been officially confirmed by the studio.Trump and his GOP friends focus on tax breaks and deportations in his first 100 days