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legit jili games NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Capri Holdings Limited (NYSE: CPRI), Tapestry, Inc., and certain of Capri and Tapestry’s senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Capri, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/capri-holdings-limited . Investors have until February 21, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Capri stock or sold Capri puts. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and is captioned Hurwitz v. Capri Holdings Limited, et al. , No. 24-cv-1410. Why was Capri Sued for Securities Fraud? Capri is a fashion firm that owns several fashion brands, such as Michael Kors. Tapestry is also a fashion firm, and it owns fashion brands including Coach and Kate Spade. On August 10, 2023, Capri and Tapestry jointly announced that Tapestry would purchase Capri for $57 per share in cash. During the relevant period, Capri and Tapestry stated that the acquisition would not stifle competition, and that they expected to obtain antitrust approval for the acquisition and for the deal to close in 2024. On April 22, 2024, the FTC brought an action to enjoin the acquisition given its anticompetitive effects. Capri and Tapestry, however, strongly disputed the FTC’s allegations and insisted that the acquisition would be “pro-consumer” and have no negative effects on competition. The Stock Declines as the Truth is Revealed On October 24, 2024, the court granted the FTC’s motion for preliminary injunction and blocked the Capri acquisition. In its order, the court cited to hundreds of pages of internal documents revealing that defendants secretly understood that their brands were close competitors within a well-defined “accessible luxury handbag market” and that the Capri acquisition would decrease competition. According to the court, defendants’ statements to the investing public did not fit with the “commercial realities” to which defendants themselves were keenly attuned. On this news, the price of Capri stock fell nearly 50%, from a closing price of $41.60 per share on October 24, 2024 to $21.26 per share on October 25, 2024. Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/capri-holdings-limited . What Can You Do? If you invested in Capri you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/capri-holdings-limited Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/capri-holdings-limited Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — John Elway says any remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL draft is quickly dissipating with rookie Bo Nix's rapid rise, suggesting the Denver Broncos have finally found their next franchise quarterback. Elway said Nix, the sixth passer selected in April's draft, is an ideal fit in Denver with coach Sean Payton navigating his transition to the pros and Vance Joseph's defense serving as a pressure release valve for the former Oregon QB. “We’ve seen the progression of Bo in continuing to get better and better each week and Sean giving him more each week and trusting him more and more to where last week we saw his best game of the year,” Elway said in a nod to Nix's first game with 300 yards and four touchdown throws in a rout of Atlanta. For that performance, Nix earned his second straight NFL Rookie of the Week honor along with the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. “I think the sky’s the limit," Elway said, “and that’s just going to continue to get better and better.” In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Elway also touted former coach Mike Shanahan's Hall of Fame credentials, spoke about the future of University of Colorado star and Heisman favorite Travis Hunter and discussed his ongoing bout with a chronic hand condition. Elway spent the last half of his decade as the Broncos’ GM in a futile search for a worthy successor to Peyton Manning, a pursuit that continued as he transitioned into a two-year consultant role that ended after the 2022 season. “You have all these young quarterbacks and you look at the ones that make it and the ones that don’t and it’s so important to have the right system and a coach that really knows how to tutelage quarterbacks, and Sean’s really good at that,” Elway said. “I think the combination of Bo’s maturity, having started 61 games in college, his athletic ability and his knowledge of the game has been such a tremendous help for him,'" Elway added. “But also Vance Joseph’s done a heck of a job on the defensive side to where all that pressure’s not being put on Bo and the offense to score all the time.” Payton and his staff have methodically expanded Nix’s repertoire and incorporated his speed into their blueprints. Elway lauded them for “what they’re doing offensively and how they’re breaking Bo into the NFL because it’s a huge jump and I think patience is something that goes a long way in the NFL when it comes down to quarterbacks.” Elway said he hopes to sit down with Nix at some point when things slow down for the rookie. Nix, whose six wins are one more than Elway had as a rookie, said he looks forward to meeting the man who won two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame playing career and another from the front office. “He’s a legend not only here for this organization, but for the entire NFL," Nix said, adding, "most guys, they would love to have a chat with John Elway, just pick his brain. It’s just awesome that I’m even in that situation.” Orange Crush linebacker Randy Gradishar joined Elway in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, something Elway called “way, way overdue.” Elway suggested it's also long past time for the Hall to honor Shanahan, who won back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver with Elway at QB and whose footprint you see every weekend in the NFL because of his expansive coaching tree. Elway called University of Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders “both great athletes." He said he really hopes Sanders gets drafted by a team that will bring him along like the Broncos have done with Nix and he sees Hunter being able to play both ways in the pros but not full time. Elway said he thinks Hunter will be primarily a corner in the NFL but with significant contributions on offense: “He's great at both. He's got great instincts, and that's what you need at corner." It's been five years since Elway announced he was dealing with Dupuytren’s contracture, a chronic condition that typically appears after age 40 and causes one or more fingers to permanently bend toward the palm. Elway's ring fingers on both hands were originally affected and he said now the middle finger on his right hand is starting to pull forward. So, he’ll get another injection of a drug called Xiaflex, which is the only FDA-approved non-surgical treatment, one that he's endorsing in an awareness campaign for the chronic condition that affects 17 million Americans. The condition can make it difficult to do everyday tasks such as shaking hands or picking up a coffee mug. Elway said what bothered him most was “I couldn't pick up a football and I could not imagine not being able to put my hand around a football." AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

NEW YORK (AP) — As a Democrat who immersed himself in political news during the presidential campaign, Ziad Aunallah has much in common with many Americans since the election. He’s tuned out. “People are mentally exhausted,” said Aunallah, 45, of San Diego. “Everyone knows what is coming and we are just taking some time off.” Television ratings — and now a new poll — clearly illustrate the phenomenon. About two-thirds of American adults say they have recently felt the need to limit media consumption about politics and government because of overload, according to the survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Smaller percentages of Americans are limiting their intake of news about overseas conflicts, the economy or climate change, the poll says. Politics stand out. Election news on CNN and MSNBC was taking up too much of Sam Gude’s time before the election, said the 47-year-old electrician from Lincoln, Nebraska. “The last thing I want to watch right now is the interregnum,” said Gude, a Democrat and no fan of President-elect Donald Trump . The poll, conducted in early December, found that about 7 in 10 Democrats say they are stepping back from political news. The percentage isn’t as high for Republicans , who have reason to celebrate Trump’s victory. Still, about 6 in 10 Republicans say they’ve felt the need to take some time off too, and the share for independents is similar. The differences are far starker for the TV networks that have been consumed by political news. After election night through Dec. 13, the prime-time viewership of MSNBC was an average of 620,000, down 54% from the pre-election audience this year, the Nielsen company said. For the same time comparison, CNN’s average of 405,000 viewers was down 45%. At Fox News Channel, a favorite news network for Trump fans, the post-election average of 2.68 million viewers is up 13%, Nielsen said. Since the election, 72% of the people watching one of those three cable networks in the evening were watching Fox News, compared to 53% prior to election day. A post-election slump for fans of the losing candidate is not a new trend for networks that have become heavily identified for a partisan audience. MSNBC had similar issues after Trump was elected in 2016. Same for Fox in 2020, although that was complicated by anger : many of its viewers were outraged then by the network’s crucial election night call of Arizona for the Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden , and sought alternatives. MSNBC had its own anger issues after several “Morning Joe” viewers became upset that hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski visited Trump shortly after his victory last month. Yet while the show’s ratings are down 35% since Election Day, that’s a smaller drop than the network’s prime-time ratings. CNN points out that while it has been suffering in the television ratings, its streaming and digital ratings have been consistent. MSNBC can take some solace in history. In previous years, network ratings bounce back when the depression after an election loss lifts. When a new administration takes office, people who oppose it are frequently looking for a gathering place. “I’ll be tuning back in once the clown show starts,” Aunallah said. “You have no choice. Whether or not you want to hear it, it’s happening. If you care about your country, you have no choice but to pay attention.” But the ride may not be smooth. MSNBC’s slide is steeper than it was in 2016; and there’s some question about whether Trump opponents will want to be as engaged as they were during his first term. People are also unplugging from cable television in rates that are only getting more rapid, although MSNBC believes it has bucked this trend eating away at audiences before. The poll indicates that Americans want less talk about politics from public figures in general. After an election season where endorsements from celebrities like Taylor Swift made headlines, the survey found that Americans are more likely to disapprove than approve of celebrities, large companies and professional athletes speaking out about politics. Still, Gude is among those discovering other ways to get news to which he does want to pay attention, including on YouTube. MSNBC is also in the middle of some corporate upheaval that raises questions about potential changes. Parent company Comcast announced last month that the cable network is among some properties that will spin off into a new company, which will give MSNBC new corporate leadership and cut its ties to NBC News. Some of the Americans who have turned away from political news lately also had some advice for getting them engaged again. Gude said, for example, that MSNBC will always have a hard-core audience of Trump haters. But if the network wants to expand its audience, “then you have to talk about issues, and you have to stop talking about Trump.” Kathleen Kendrick, a 36-year-old sales rep from Grand Junction, Colorado, who’s a registered independent voter, said she hears plenty of people loudly spouting off about their political opinions on the job. She wants more depth when she watches the news. Much of what she sees is one-sided and shallow, she said. “You get a story but only part of a story,” Kendrick said. “It would be nice if you could get both sides, and more research.” Aunallah, similarly, is looking for more depth and variety. He’s not interested “in watching the angry man on the corner yelling at me anymore,” he said. “It’s kind of their own fault that I’m not watching,” he said. “I felt they spent all this time talking about the election. They made it so much of their focus that when the main event ends, why would people want to keep watching?” Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone. Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. —- The poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Related From Our PartnerPisces – (19th February to 20th March) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Be a master of the game Skip gossip at the office and focus on the job. Handle relationship issues on a happy note. Be careful about the expenditure and avoid investments in stock. Keep your lover happy by showering affection today. Minor productivity issues will not impact the overall professional performance. Be sensible while handling money. Minor health issues will cause trouble. Pisces Love Horoscope Today Be careful while making comments as your partner may take it in the wrong sense. Singe natives will fall in love in the first part of the day. Do not let egos play spoilsport in the relationship. A relative or friend may try influencing the lover which you may find unbearable. Today is good to have a romantic dinner where you may also surprise the lover with gifts. Married female natives can seriously think about starting a family today. Pisces Career Horoscope Today Your attitude is crucial at the office. Keep your focus on the target. Healthcare professionals as well as salespersons will work overtime today to meet the goals. The organization trusts your instincts and you need to maintain it. Some professionals will get an appraisal or change in role. Those who are new in the office must refrain from giving comments, especially at crucial team meetings. Businessmen handling electronics, transport, textiles, automobiles, and construction materials will face minor issues in trade. Pisces Money Horoscope Today Wealth will come in from different sources and you may handle it diligently to meet the expenditure. You may go ahead with the plan to buy a vehicle. The second part of the day is good to donate to charity while some females will also inherit property. You may win a legal battle over property but this can create issues with siblings. The second part of the day is good to donate money to charity. A friend may also ask for monetary assistance. Pisces Health Horoscope Today There can be health issues that may stop you from crucial decisions related to your personal life. You may have kidney or liver-related issues which will even require hospitalization. Seniors at home must be careful about their diet. Children will develop bone-related complaints while skin or oral infection will also be common today. Pisces Sign Attributes Strength: Conscious, Aesthetic, Kind-hearted Weakness: Sentimental, Indecisive, Unrealistic Symbol: Fish Element: Water Body Part: Blood Circulation Sign Ruler: Neptune Lucky Day: Thursday Lucky Color: Purple Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Stone: Yellow Sapphire Pisces Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Good compatibility: Virgo, Pisces Fair compatibility: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Less compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)

Syrian government services come to ‘complete halt’ as workers stay at homeThe future of gas transit through Ukraine is at a turning point. If a last-minute deal isn’t struck by Wednesday, billions of cubic meters in gas flows could come to a halt. Ukraine is under mounting pressure from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and a group of central European companies to keep gas moving from its eastern border with Russia into the European Union following the expiration of a transit agreement on Dec. 31. Almost three years after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Budapest and Bratislava still rely on cheap gas from Gazprom PJSC, undermining the EU push to cut reliance on Russian energy. With three days to go before the Russia-Ukraine agreement runs out, rhetoric on all sides has sharpened. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week accused Fico of striking “shadow agreements” with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Slovak leader on Friday threatened to halt power supplies to his eastern neighbor, a step Ukraine criticized. To diplomats with knowledge of the talks, the escalation hasn’t come as a surprise. Past disputes over gas transit between the two former partners saw flows cut or reduced at short notice — and deals clinched at the very last minute. Energy traders, industry leaders and politicians in Europe and elsewhere are still looking to the three leaders for signs of what might come next. Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that he won’t allow Russian gas, which benefits the Kremlin’s war machine, to transit through Ukraine after the current deal ends. He’s said that he would be open to transporting gas from countries other than Russia — an option that people with knowledge of the talks say isn’t completely off the table. In making the decision, the Ukrainian leader must consider the need to protect the country’s 38,600-kilometer (23,985-mile) gas pipeline system. The network, among the world’s largest, has been spared attacks over the last three years as Russian gas has flowed though it. If that were to stop, the system might become a target for missile strikes, as gas storage facilities and power supplies have been. It would also create technical challenges that would make it difficult to heat homes across Ukraine during the winter. “The issue of risks for Ukrainian infrastructure is reverberating in diplomatic discussions,” said Christian Egenhofer, senior researcher at the CEPS think-tank in Brussels. “It may prove a lifeline for Zelenskyy if he opts to allow for continued transit.” At the same time, Egenhofer noted, “the gas talks will matter beyond Ukraine.” For both Putin and Fico, the most profitable option would be for European buyers to continue purchasing gas directly from Gazprom. Russia would then remain in the EU market without having to share revenue with intermediaries, and Slovakia would save on additional transit costs, according to people with knowledge of the talks who asked not to be identified. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that talks are ongoing and a last-minute deal cannot be completely ruled out. Before the war, the executive arm of the European Union helped broker transit agreements between Kyiv and Moscow. Now, because of the bloc’s efforts to diversify energy sources away from Moscow and expand renewables, the European Commission is staying out of negotiations. Instead, it has stressed that alternatives sources are available and the region’s gas storage levels are high. In February, the EU’s executive arm will unveil a plan to further phase out Russian fossil fuels, which it says the Kremlin has turned into a political weapon. Its implementation hinges on member states: in addition to pipeline flows to Slovakia and Hungary, Russian liquefied natural gas is also shipped to ports in France, Belgium and Spain. “The row over the Russian gas will worsen the wedge between EU members, aligning neatly with Russia’s interest in seeing European support for Ukraine fracture,” said Bota Iliyas, a senior analyst at PRISM, a strategic intelligence firm. The end of gas flows through Ukraine will have a “negligible” impact on European gas prices, the commission said earlier this month, noting that markets have already priced in the end of the transit deal. European gas prices rose 48% this year, in anticipation of supply cuts combined with rapidly depleting gas reserves due to periods of cold and windless weather. While costs are still far below the 2022 records reached during the energy crisis triggered by the first phase of the war, they’re high enough to impact households and manufacturers. The absence of an intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Ukraine complicates but doesn’t rule out a commercial deal involving European companies. Slovakia’s gas utility Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel AS and its gas network operator Eustream AS — alongside Hungary’s MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc., trade associations and large industrial customers from Austria and Italy — have urged Zelenskyy to allow shipments to continue. The volume being discussed is 15 billion cubic meters a year, the amount that currently moves through Ukrainian pipelines. Following his meeting with Putin in Moscow a week ago, Fico said that Russia was ready to continue delivering gas to the West via Ukraine, but this would be “practically impossible” after Jan. 1 given Kyiv’s stance. In response, Zelenskyy said he’d offered to compensate Fico for the additional costs that Slovakia would accrue should Russian gas transit end. He said he was also ready to allow shipments of non-Russian fuel if a request was to be made by the European Commission — an offer which he claimed the Slovak leader rejected. The spat escalated further late on Friday, when Fico said in a video posted on Facebook that if the flows stop, he’ll assess potential reciprocal measures, including halting power supplies that Ukraine needs during its network outages. The end of transit of Russian gas would cost the EU an additional 120 billion euros ($125 billion) in energy costs over the next two years, according to Fico. “Stopping the transit of Russian natural gas through Ukraine is not just a hollow political gesture. It’s an extremely costly move, one that we, in the European Union, will pay for,” Fico said. Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko hit back on Saturday, telling a local television station that he alerted the EU and the region’s energy community that a halt in power supply will violate European regulations. He added that Ukraine has mechanisms to substitute Slovak electricity with more imports from other partners. With the deadline approaching, alternative solutions are being considered. SPP has been in talks with Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company about sourcing Azeri gas, according to people with knowledge of the talks. That may require a swap between Gazprom and Socar, in which the Azeri company would purchase corresponding volumes from Russia to deliver to European buyers. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also proposed moving the location of Russian gas sales to the physical border between Russia and Ukraine, which would transfer gas ownership to European buyers and oblige Ukraine to ensure transit under its free trade agreement with the EU, according to people with knowledge of the issue. Putin acknowledged various proposals on Thursday that would allow Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey or Azerbaijan to take control of the gas shipped through Ukraine. He noted that any such arrangement would be difficult to enact because of Gazprom’s long-term contracts. Before the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia was the EU’s top gas supplier, providing more than 40% of the bloc’s imports. Following the outbreak of the war and a cut in supplies, Europe accelerated its shift away from Russian energy. Last year, Russian gas made up around 8% of EU imports. Permitting further Russian gas to transit through Ukraine would undermine the message that the EU can no longer do business as usual with Putin’s Russia, said Benjamin L. Schmitt, senior fellow at the CEPA think-tank and the University of Pennsylvania’s Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. “The stakes couldn’t be higher,” Schmitt said in a research note. “Continuing Russian gas transit in any form — whether through an overt contract extension with Kremlin-controlled Gazprom, or under any other name, but still de facto Russian — would be dangerous for Ukraine.” ——— (With assistance from Daryna Krasnolutska and Daniel Hornak.) ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.When we say cricket test match in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth, or Gabba, what comes to the mind? Aggressive bounce and pace and turn and swing apart, there is a lingering sense of fear of the unknown. Cricket in Australia, the way it was played back in the 90s, was all about dominance of the home team against the minions. It was about sheer arrogance of pace bowling, of pitches that could kill, and a pace attack that could bring top opponents to their knees. But that was then. Today, Aussies are not a benchmark of quality, nor are countries scared of their batting strips. Has the veil behind the branding finally lifted or have teams become better equipped... we find out New Delhi: The Indian test cricket squad beat Aussies, in Perth, by a mammoth 295 runs. Now neither is this news flash, nor is it such an unbelievable feat that we keep crowing over it for this long, but there is still enough dough for us to talk about. Yes, this is our biggest win in Australia against the home team in a test match (bragging rights, eh?), yes, records were smashed (Bumrah’s fifer needs celebrations) and yes we have not only managed to get the Aussie media’s attention but we have them swooning to Jasprit Bumrah’s cleverly guised reverse swing, slower balls, bouncers or even his nipping it off the seam! While the Aussies are back to the drawing board trying to decode the “biomechanics” or “whatever” of Bumrah’s “awkward” run up and release of the ball, or discern whether their big three at the top — Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja — were “undercooked, overcooked or both” (media reports), we in India are happy that we have finally breached the SENA country. It is not the first, wont be the last. But the cricket dominance of Australia, both in terms of the team being a barometer of success and also in terms of their pitches being made in heaven, have been shattered. This deserves a piece, mate! Why Australian ego needed to be crushed The Kangaroos have held on to the adage of being the most “formidable” line-up, of being a team known for its composure and clear thinking, and of being front-runners when it came to batting, bowling and fielding (sledging too) was one that deserved to be shattered. It has been a slow process getting there but it has been conquered, and in style. The Indian cricket team has had a huge role to play in this pivot with other smaller cricketing nations contributing significantly. With as many as 10 Border-Gavaskar trophies, out of the 16 series that have been played so far, India is on the top of that chart and we are not yielding that position in a hurry. Australia, has five series wins, while one ended in a draw. It is an important series but we have achieved the feat of beating the Aussies in their own backyard many time before. Bumrah, himself, has been the architect of many such setbacks. Notably, the win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 2018, where the team handed one of the most embarrassing defeats to Australia by 137 runs. It was owed to the resilience shown by Cheteshwara Pujara and the devastating pace and seam by Jasprit Bumrah back then. Today, there is a different set of heroes, but the outcome is as sweet as we have experienced before. That the Australian ego has been seriously bruised can be gauged by the way their media has reported the happenings of last week. The puns on the lagging and aging top order may seem out of place, but their criticism of some of their seasoned batters when it came to handling the pace attack of India, in a pitch that is considered home, drove in a point. Most of the headlines described the Aussie performance as ‘Perth-etic’ or lacklustre. Truly there couldn’t be a better word to describe the scenes that unfolded at Perth. The ultimate solace for a fan from the Asian sub continent was that it was the Aussies that were facing the music, and not an opposition who had been handed another humiliating defeat. Said cricketer-commentator Wasim Akram during the course of the event – “It seems like the Aussie backbone has snapped. The ego of being a barometer for performance has been crushed...” Indeed. But who gave them the pride of place anyway? Cricket in Australia was a gift of British colonisation back in the 1800s with the first match being played out in Sydney in 1803. The south-eastern colonies that had experienced the British culture the most, took a fancy to the sport and helped it evolve with time. The dominance of Cricket Australia, or as they proudly refer to it as their ‘golden period’ was during the 19th century and the turn of the 20th; when the team was being led by veteran captains Joe Darling, Monty Noble and Clem Hill, the men who went on to win eight of ten tours that the team participated in. The cherry on the top was Australia winning four consecutive World Cup tournaments and were unbeaten in the Ashes series, barring the one in 2005. This was the prime of the Waugh brothers, and a very constructive middle order. While the batters were truly but surely bursting into the scene, pace and spin attackers were scripting their own history. Shane Warne with his spin had the world at wits end, McGrath Jason Gillespie and Bret Lee were confusing the batsmen with pace, bounce and swing. This is the time when Australia became the true test of champions, from players to commentators to even sporting enthusiasts, all believed that the nation was unbeatable in every aspect of the game. How did this aura suddenly become so gigantic? Partly because of the raw talent that the team possessed and kept on churning out players who could carry on the legacy, also because at the same time, other teams were fighting with systemic challenges being borne out financial constraints. But marketing and packaging were also core focus areas for Australian cricket back then. The way their media headlined victories, to the commentators dominating the BTS with their guffaws that further demoralised the opponents, there was a lot of backend activity that propelled Australia to this fantasy status. This adoration changed into fear in no time, teams that were ill-equipped with technology and expertise to match them, felt the heavy burden. Australia meanwhile continued to pile on to their records, averages and trophies. They wore the badge of ‘undisputable favourites’ in whichever tournament they participated in. This went on for well into the early 2000s. Some blamed this on systemic limitations that teams faced. India, for instance, at one point couldn’t send teams frequently to play down under because we were reeling under a cash crunch. As the BCCI evolved into a money-spinning beast later that the Indian players too found life to be much easier. Tours to first-world countries became more frequent, which helped players on these tours calibrate their techniques to suit to the conditions. Now, the tables have turned. Not just for the players but even for Indian audieTnces who are convinced that whenever a test match is played at an Australian venue, we start as “equals”, maybe even better than the host team. Maybe Rishabh Pant had something to do with this: This author’s favourite match/turning point for Indo-Aussie rivalry: I cannot end this analysis without bringing back an emotional moment from Brisbane in 2021. It was Rishabh Pant who hit the winning runs at this venue to complete a monumental series win. This, for me, is that moment which signalled a complete transition in the way the rivalry would be spoken of for the years to come. That victory at the Gabba will still be haunting the Oz, India, meanwhile still has Rishabh Pant in the batting order waiting for a sequel on December 14... Click for more latest Opinion Analysis news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Media professional with over two decades of experience in content generation, news writing and leadership roles. Worked with some of the biggest media establishments. Sci-fi on OTT is a big stress buster. Also takes her sports very seriously; and does believe that Man Utd will be back soon...

( MENAFN - Investor Brand Network) SportLync , a technology company focused on fostering community-driven platforms within the sports world, is charting a bold course for 2025. Known for its fast-growing flagship app, GolfLync, which connects golfers based on shared interests and skill levels, the company is now setting its sights on expanding into new sports. In its 2025 roadmap, detailed in a company news release, SportLync outlined plans to broaden its reach, improve user experiences, and solidify its position as a hub for sports enthusiasts ( ). The company's foray into new sports will begin in Q1 2025, offering users the opportunity to connect, compete and collaborate across a wider range of athletic pursuits. While golf remains a core focus, the platform will cater to team and individual sports, preserving the seamless connectivity and... Read More>> For additional investor information, visit SportLync Investment . About InvestorWire InvestorWire (“IW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on advanced wire-grade press release syndication for private and public companies and the investment community. It is one of 70+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers : (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries ; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets ; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact ; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers ; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions . With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, IW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today's market, IW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. IW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge. For more information, please visit Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorWire website applicable to all content provided by IW, wherever published or re-published: /Disclaimer InvestorWire Los Angeles, CA 310.299.1717 Office [email protected] InvestorWire is powered by IBN MENAFN26122024000224011066ID1109033802 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

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Syrian government services come to a 'complete halt' as state workers stay home

Gregory L. Coleman: Ravens 35 - Eagles 32 The Ravens and Eagles will have a high-scoring affair ending in a 35-32 win for Baltimore. Derrick Henry will continue getting the rock, building off the momentum from Monday night. Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts will utilize their weapons to put on a show. Prediction Record: 3-1 DJ Harding: Ravens 28 - Eagles 24 In a battle of MVP and OPOY candidates, I believe this is the game of the week that will showcase the two best rushing attacks in the league. Baltimore should win this, given Lamar's record against NFC teams and Henry having to play catch-up in the bout for the rushing title. Prediction Record: 6-3 Christian Marshall: Ravens 31 - Eagles 28 It'll definitely be a high-scoring affair with two explosive offenses battling. The Ravens' defense has looked its best the last three weeks, and I feel like they can force a pivotal turnover to give the Ravens the win. Prediction Record: 5-4 Bryce Parker: Ravens 31 - Eagles 28 With Brandon Graham out for the year, the biggest question is whether the Eagles' D-line will step up and stop the run. I think, eventually, the answer is no. We will see a great ground game from both teams, but it will be a close matchup, with Baltimore on top. Super Bowl preview? Prediction Record: 3-3 Kyle Alexander: Ravens 38 - Eagles 30 In a matchup of two offensive titans, the defense will be the crucial X-factor. Both teams boast the best rushing attacks in football and deadly passing attacks that keep defenses on their toes. Both teams have top-five run defenses, but the Eagles lost Brandon Graham for the year due to injury. Even with Baltimore and Philadelphia matching up almost evenly across the board, the Eagles have only beaten three .500+ teams all season, compared to Baltimore's five. The Ravens will get a more-needed victory as MVP Jackson will guide them to victory. Both sides face their toughest test yet. Prediction Record: 6-3( ) has been heavily sold in the last month of trade and is down 14% in that time. The stock finished the session at $1.11 apiece on Monday, more than 22% off its 52-week high of $1.43 in August. But for savvy investors eyeing opportunities in ASX small-cap stocks, Hipages may offer an intriguing turnaround story if a handful of experts are correct in their bullish view. Let's take a look. ASX small-cap stock ready to rebound Hipages is a 'tradie marketplace' that lets individuals and businesses link up with various tradespersons here in Australia. Say you need a tradie in your local area to fix the tap, or repair a dent in the wall. You might jump onto Hipages and see what local services there are. After a strong run in the 2021 to 2022 period, shares hit an all-time high of $4.10 apiece. But the ASX small-cap stock was heavily sold when high inflation and interest rates sowed their way into markets, resulting in sharp losses for investors. Despite this, Matthew Brooker from Spheria Asset Management sees Hipages as a . Brooker says the firm has changed from a pay-per-lead business model to a subscription service, which means growth is more visible. Speaking to Hipages continues to win market share and is now the leading tradie marketplace in Australia and New Zealand. We're confident profitability and free cash flow generation will continue to expand from here..[it is] a bargain for a growing technology business with a subscription model. And Brooker would be largely correct in his views on the ASX small-cap stock's financials. Revenues were up 13% to $75 million in FY24, with recurring revenue rising 15% to $72 million. Annual revenue per user (ARPU) also rose 11%. It also facilitated a record-breaking 2.7 million tradie-homeowner connections, with 86% of jobs . Growth outlook for FY25 The ASX small-cap stock is targeting FY25 revenue growth in the "low teens", consistent with FY24. It also expects pre-tax margins to expand by 1 to 2 percentage points. Free cash flow is forecast to hit $4 to $6 million. At its AGM last month, CEO Roby Sharon-Zipser said the company was better positioned under its subscription model, along with efforts in its Tradiecore initiative. He said that job volumes had started to return to growth, with Tradiecore delivering "another record quarter". Our subscription model gives us great visibility over future revenues and our operating model is highly efficient and scalable, which will continue to deliver enhanced operating leverage and margin expansion over time. Meanwhile, the consensus of broker estimates rates Hipages a buy, according to CommSec. Foolish takeout This ASX small-cap stock is catching the eye of brokers and fundies alike with its recent performance and growth outlook. Whether or not they are correct, time will tell. In the last 12 months, the Hipages share price is up 59%.

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We've no shortage of pubs in Essex, some dating back decades and others centuries. The English pub is a tradition that will never die in our county, or indeed in the country. However, there are some pubs which are in need of a new captain to steer the ship. There are at least 28 pubs in Essex which are on the hunt for new landlords, according to the website "Find My Pub". The pubs are being offered on a variety of terms, such as leasehold and tenancy. No one likes to see an old watering hole go under, especially which such a rich history. We have compiled details of where all these pubs are in the county, and what is being offered to those who wish to take them over and give them a new lease of life. Read more: The Essex beauty spot named among England's best attractions Read more: The Essex home that could be 'the most Christmassy in Essex' with 48,000 lights Below is a summary of them all, with details being shared by Find My Pub . The Compasses - Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1RY. Annual rent: £35,482. "Internally there is the main trading area with a bar a large kitchen, a pool table, and 80 covers. Externally there is a large beer garden with 30 covers and a car park with 10 spaces. The private accommodation is spacious and consists of three bedrooms. The Beehive - Barrack Lane, Great Waltham, CM3 1ES. Annual rent: £14,500. "The pub consists of two cosy bars - one used as a restaurant area and the other for drinking, with a pool table and toilets at both sides of the bar. The bars are well decorated and both include an open fire for that alluring county pub feel. Lastly, there is a commercial kitchen perfect for preparing traditional comforting pub food. There is a large and inviting garden to the rear which is well-maintained and used for functions in the summer." The Black Horse - Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0LD. Annual rent: £25,000. "The Black Horse is a large, double-fronted, traditional terraced style pub, situated in the secondary high street of Chelmsford, known as Moulsham Street and has the capacity for around 40 people. Surrounded by shops, bars and residential properties, the Black Horse is at the centre of this bustling community." The Bell - Main Road, Danbury, CM3 4DT. Annual rent: £31,000. "The Bell is a one-bar operation with cosy booths in the main trading area and the kitchen on the same floor. The landlords have invested in the pub in the last 3 years. Ample car parking is available and a recently added sheltered heated seating area for 20+ covers to the rear of the property. The private accommodation consists of a 1 bedroom flat, shower room, living room and a kitchenette area." The George - Newland Street, Witham, CM8 2AQ. Annual rent: £20,000. "The George has two entrances. The side entrance currently leads to the pool area and front bar, darts area, and casual seating. The main entrance which has disabled friendly access leads to the main bar. Around to the right is another spacious seating area which encompasses a raised area with leather bench seating. At the rear of this side of the pub, is a fantastic raised area that can be used for functions, an additional pool table, Super-League Darts, and much more." The Bell - Main Road, Rettendon Common, CM3 8DY. Annual rent: £30,000. "The pub is in a very active area with lots of passing trade as well as a strong local trade who visit the pub for its good quality food and a good selection of alcohol. With a warm and inviting atmosphere created by the traditional beams and décor the pub benefits from ample parking, a separate bar and restaurant, a function room and excellent external space." The Eagle - Coggeshall Road, Braintree, CM7 9ER. No rent payable, ingoing cost £2,000. "The pub will be beautifully decorated throughout following the investment. Upon entering, you will find an L-shaped bar servery that serves all areas of the pub. Throughout there are several areas that have been designed to offer something for everyone, including a games area with a pool table darts boards, and TVs throughout offering Sky Sports. There will also be snug areas for those wanting to enjoy a quieter drink." The Chapel Inn - Market Hill, Coggeshall. Annual rent: £50,000. "The pub benefits from being one of five pubs found in an area of around 3,000 adults. The affluent customer base is made up of mature households, married couples, and renters. Internally there is a main trading area with a bar, separate dining area, catering kitchen, pub games, smartdispense, and 70 covers." The Chough - Eastham Crescent, Brentwood. Annual rent: £33,500. "The landlords are investing in The Royal Oak which was formerly known as The Chough in Brentwood, Essex, to revitalise this community pub. As the only pub situated in the heart of a housing estate, it serves over 7,000 residents within walking distance and has no direct competition nearby. The renovation will include new signage, refreshed interiors, and enhanced outdoor areas like the garden and car park, ensuring The Royal Oak becomes a welcoming space for locals, from families to sports enthusiasts." The Green Man - Cricketers Lane, Herongate, Brentwood, CM13 3PZ. Annual rent: £58,240. "The Green Man provides a warm welcome and cosy atmosphere, with original features such as oak-beamed ceilings and inglenook fireplaces. Internally, its multiple, flexible trade areas can cater for approx.75 covers in total; including the main bar and servery for 30 covers, the orangery for 8 covers, the snug for a further 12 covers, and a separate restaurant dining room for 25 covers." The Plough and Tractor - Great Knightleys, Basildon, SS15 5HG. Annual rent: £36,000. "The Plough and Tractor is a public house in the Lee Chapel North area of Basildon. It was built to serve the then-new Lee Chapel North housing estates constructed on behalf of Basildon Development Corporation. It is situated at 186 Great Knightleys adjacent to the neighbourhood shopping centre where at that time, in 1964, the first shops had only begun opening the previous November." The Woodman's Arms - Rayleigh Road, Thundersley, Benfleet, SS7 3TA. Annual rent: £35,401. "There are the 3720 people living within a 10-minute walk of the Woodman’s Arms. And the local demographic features a high mix of families with steady incomes and mature couples which lends itself to the pub developing a profitable food offer. Currently this great pub is frequented by many locals who visit for the fantastic food and broad range of drinks including cask ales. As there is a large outdoor area attached to the pub, there are great opportunities for al fresco dining and BBQ days." The Purple Emperor - Harlow, CM20 3EH. No rent payable, ingoing cost: £2,000. "The Pub is in fantastic condition after undergoing a £215,000 investment! There is a well-stocked bar servery that services all areas, the pub has a bright and vibrant feel with modern fixtures and fixings. There is a pool table & darts board which is well used by the locals and there is a huge opportunity to develop local sports teams at the pub which would be well received. The pub boasts a fantastic function room which is serviced by its own bar with the added benefit of separate toilets." The Anchor Inn - High Street, Canewdon, Rochford, SS4 3QA. Annual rent: £25,000. "Boasting a good size, The Anchor features two inviting bar areas, one accessed from the street at the front, and another being accessed via a rear entrance. The bar areas have beautiful back-to-back open fires and the pub is packed full of traditional features and wooden beams. The trade kitchen is located immediately behind the bar, giving easy access for food to be served in all areas of the pub. In addition to the two bar areas, there is also a cosy restaurant boasting both fixed and loose seating for an uninterrupted dining experience." Brookside Tavern - Rayleigh Road, Leigh-On-Sea, SS9 5PS. Annual rent £18,000. "This is a rare opportunity to acquire the Brookside Tavern set in the heart of Leigh-on-Sea. The pub benefits from both the locals and the 6.5 million tourists that visit Leigh-on-Sea and neighbouring Southend-on-Sea each year. The pub currently focuses on community and live sport and benefits from a secluded beer garden to the rear. The potential to improve or adapt the offer is possible." The New Courthouse - King Street, Stanford-Le-Hope, SS17 0HJ. Annual rent: £20,000. "This well-presented building with two separate trading areas allows for the creation of several zones and boasts the space and features rarely found in one place. The pub's 'small-town' central location brings in a real mix of clientele, allowing the new publican to explore new and varied offers to be run during the day and throughout the week. The pub also attracts a busy passing trade, thanks to its great curb appeal and high visibility." The Railway Hotel - Clifftown Road, Southend-On-Sea, SS1 1AJ. "The pub will be undergoing a refurbishment which will cover the interior and exterior of the pub. A significant refurbishment will transform the Railway into a stylish city centre pub. Redecorations throughout will breathe a new lease of life into this pub. The landlords investment will allow for an all-new bar to be installed, new seating, a kitchen, and ‘instagrammable’ features such as a piano hanging from the ceiling. Additionally, there will be new lighting throughout the pub and complete refurbishments to all toilets." The Fox - Heath Road, Orsett, Grays, RM16 3AP. Annual rent: £32,000. "This is a well-presented community pub that has a traditional bar, large sprawling beer garden and large car park. A range of real ales are served alongside a bar menu. The customer base is of a mature demographic comprising of couples, friends and regulars. Entertainment in the form of live music and quizzes is a regular feature of the pub. The permitted hours for alcohol sale is 12pm-12am. This is an open plan one bar operation, with bar stools and fixed and loose furniture around the perimeter. Two fireplaces are situated at each end of the bar, complemented by decorative ornamentation. An operational catering kitchen is suitable for the provision of a hot/cold menu and Sunday roasts." Railway Bar & Grill - Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5BZ. Annual rent: £35,000. "The Railway is a fantastic pub with a lot to offer, from its convenient location near the tube station to its variety of spaces, including a garden and function area. Its position on the Essex/London border draws in a diverse crowd, and being a hub for the local community adds to its charm. The trade kitchen and zoned bar areas also make it versatile for different events and dining options." The Anchor - High Street, Rowhedge Quay, Rowhedge, Colchester, CO5 7ES. Annual rent: TBC. "Sat on the banks of River Colne and housing a friendly, close-knit community, Rowhedge is a thriving rural village that is also accessible by river, with private patron moorings available at the Anchor Inn and public moorings nearby. It is surrounded by numerous woodland and riverside walks with two established RSPB reserves at Fingringhoe and Abberton and from April until October each year, it is connected to Wivenhoe by a local foot ferry." The Crown - Romeland, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1QZ. Annual rent: £18,000. "Internally, there is a central trading area with 38 covers and bar servery to the left side wall. To the right-hand side is a snug area with 10 covers with sofa seating and access to the external trade paved area with benched seating for a further 28 covers. Customer toilets are located to the rear and the trading areas are in a good condition, decorated in a traditional public house style with beamed ceilings and a fireplace with exposed brickwork walls. There is also a small commercial kitchen in use with a storage area and bin store." The Ship Inn - London Road, Grays, RM20 4AR. Annual rent: £28,000. "The Ship Inn is in the heart of Grays, Essex, a short distance from the shopping mecca of Lakeside, drawing in thousands of shoppers daily. The Ship Inn is in London and ideally placed to benefit from passing trade heading into Grays. The pub boasts a sizeable trade space with the central bar all decorated to a high standard. To the rear is a courtyard-style beer garden with sports screens that’s ideal for those summer days and evenings." The Cherry Tree - Church Road, Brightlingsea, CO7 0JF. Annual rent: £16,500. "The outside of the pub is in good condition and consists of two separate trading areas, one at the front, and one at the rear. As you enter, there is the main drinking area with an L-shaped bar, a mixture of low and high-level seating as well as a sports area with a pool table and darts board. The second area is more of a lounge or perhaps an eating space for up to 25 covers, served by another small bar that connects to the main bar. There are a set of toilets in between both which are in good condition. The trade kitchen was updated a few years ago and can deal with an array of menu options." The Skinners Arms - Station Road, Lawford, Manningtree, CO11 1DX. No rent payable, ingoing cost: £3,000. "Skinners has a lovely cosy and welcoming feel, with an L-shaped trading area wrapping around the main bar, with pool tables and machines, darts, and Sports. The Pub also benefits from an adjacent beer garden for brighter days, with Petanque courts and a car park to the rear (up to 14 cars). The private accommodation includes two bedrooms and a private lounge." The Plough - North Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 4DA. Annual rent: £26,000. "Here, you’ll discover a cosy interior featuring traditional, exposed beams, wood-panelled walls and a fireplace that adds to the quintessentially English ambience and a place to nestle and relax during the colder months. During the summer, guests enjoy the picturesque outside area awash with colour. The Plough offers a range of traditional pub fare alongside more contemporary options. From fish and chips to Sunday roasts, the pub’s food is known for its generous portions and home-cooked flavours." The Crown - High Street, Thorpe-le-Soken, Clacton-on-Sea, CO16 0DY. Annual rent: £24,000. "The Crown is situated on the busy main road of the North Essex village of Thorpe le Soken, en route from the A12 to the coast at Walton on the Naze and Frinton On Sea. The pub is ideally positioned to serve a wide ranging demographic of locals, passing trade and families as a destination venue. There is a 40 cover restaurant, public bar, cosy lounge area and a large L-shaped garden comprising a patio area and children's climbing frame. A good sized, light and airy upstairs flat comprising three bedrooms and a lounge." The Red Lion - The Street, Kirby-le-Soken, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 0EF. Annual rent: £33,000. "The Red Lion is a 14th-century, grade II-listed pub. The pub is in excellent order, comprising two bars, a restaurant, and a large beer garden. The pub benefits from an abundance of local support and has a good base during the summer months, with trade coming from holidaymakers and tourists. The pub isn’t short of space, character, or a warm and welcoming atmosphere, which you would expect from this type of pub. The trade kitchen is well-equipped to support a good food offer that will drive the pub business forward." The British Flag - West Street, Harwich, CO12 3DD. Annual rent: £15,000. "The British Flag is situated on the historic coastal port of Harwich on the North Eastern edge of Essex close to Colchester and Clacton. It’s a historic area with a port close by that still handles large commercial freight as well as a ferry links to the Hook of Holland. Together with Dovercourt, the population is over twenty thousand and there are train links to Colchester, Ipswich, and London (ninety minutes) from the nearby Harwich Station. There are several amenities all within walking distance of the pub which is located just off the A120 West Street surrounded by residential housing and businesses."

Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration as attorney general in Donald Trump’s cabinet over ethics allegations, says he will not return to his seat in the US House of Representatives. Gaetz told a conservative radio host: “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch.” A staunch Trump ally and leader of a hard-right faction in the House, Gaetz resigned his seat shortly after being picked by the president-elect to lead the Department of Justice. But after eight days of scrutiny and growing uncertainty that he would be able to get through the US Senate's confirmation process, he withdrew his nomination on Thursday. Prior to being chosen by Trump to serve as America's top law enforcement official, Gaetz won re-election in his House district in north-west Florida. That meant, despite his resignation, he could have chosen to retake his seat when a new Congress is formed in January. But he told Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and radio host, that he would not return to the House. “There are a number of fantastic Floridians who stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service,” Gaetz said. “And I’m actually excited to see north-west Florida go to new heights and have great representation. “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” he said. Gaetz, 42, has been the subject of allegations of human trafficking, illegal drug use and paying for sex, including with a 17-year-old. He denies the allegations, and a Department of Justice investigation did not result in any criminal charges. However, a separate House of Representative ethics investigation was ongoing until he resigned from the chamber. On Wednesday the House ethics committee deadlocked on a vote on whether to release its report on Gaetz. House ethics investigations generally end if a representative resigns or is voted out of their seat. If Gaetz had chosen to rejoin the House, however, he may have faced having the investigation re-opened. In recent days, US media outlets have reported that Gaetz made electronic payments to women using the Venmo app, allegedly in exchange for sex. Gaetz said: “If the things that the House Ethics report [said] were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell. “But of course, they're false, because when you test them against other records, when you test them against other testimony, it all falls apart very quickly.” The BBC News has not confirmed the veracity of the report or the allegations that it contains. Trump selected Gaetz to serve as attorney general for his desire to make changes at the justice department - which had also investigated the Florida congressman for several years. The president-elect claims he has been unfairly treated by the US legal establishment and said that Gaetz would end the “weaponization” of the judicial system. But critics charged that Gaetz would use his post to pursue Trump's personal vendettas. He also faced scepticism from moderate Republican senators and Democrats. The fact that many members of his own party openly dislike Gaetz - due in part to his successful effort in ousting Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy in 2023 among other political stunts - made his pathway to confirmation even more difficult. In his place, Trump has said he intends to nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as attorney general. On Friday, Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis set out the timeline for the special election to fill the vacancy in the state’s 1st district, where Gaetz won two-thirds of the vote in the election earlier this month. Party primaries will be held on 28 January with the general election held on 1 April 2025. At least six Republicans and one Democrat have said they will enter the race, according to local news reports.Retailers coax Black Friday shoppers into stores with big discounts and giveaways NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year. Canada's Trudeau says he had an 'excellent conversation' with Trump in Florida after tariffs threat WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he had an “excellent conversation” with Donald Trump in Florida after the president-elect’s threat to impose significant tariffs on two of America’s leading trade partners raised alarms in Ottawa and Mexico City. It's unclear, as Trudeau headed back to Canada on Saturday, whether the conversation had alleviated Trump’s concerns. Trump’s transition team hasn't responded to questions about what the leaders had discussed at their dinner Friday night at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club. The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he said was the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans swept to power on Election Day and now control the House, the Senate and the White House, with plans for an ambitious 100-day agenda come January. Their to-do list includes extending tax breaks, cutting social programs, building the border wall to stop immigration and rolling back President Joe Biden's green energy policies. Atop that list is a plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring tax cuts that were a signature domestic achievement of Republican Donald Trump’s first term as president. It's an issue that may define his return to the White House. The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword Russia’s ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. Over time a weaker ruble could mean higher prices for imports from China, Russia's main trade partner these days. President Vladimir Putin says things are under control. One wild card is sanctions against a key Russian bank that have disrupted foreign trade payments. If Russia finds a workaround for that, the ruble could regain some of its recent losses. Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — While retailers hope to go big this holiday season, customers may notice that the catalogs arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were scaled down to save on postage and paper. Some gift purveyors are sending out postcards. In a sign of the times, the American Catalog Mailers Association rebranded itself in May as the American Commerce Marketing Association. Despite no longer carrying an extended inventory of goods, industry experts say catalogs help retailers cut through the noise and still hold their own in value because of growing digital advertising costs. Iceland votes for a new parliament after political disagreements force an early election REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Icelanders are electing a new parliament after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call early elections. This will be Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the North Atlantic island nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” The bans phase out the use of tobacco products based not just on a person's age but on birth year. Lawmakers plan to file the proposal next year. If approved, the bill would set a date and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after that date forever, eventually banning all sales. Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has approved the construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital Hanoi in the north with the financial capital of Ho Chi Minh in the south. It is expected to cost $67 billion and will stretch 1,541 kilometers (957 miles). The new train is expected to travel at speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), reducing the journey from the current 30 hours to just five hours. The decision was taken by Vietnam’s National Assembly on Saturday. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and Vietnam hopes that the first trains will start operating by 2035. But the country has been beleaguered by delays to its previous infrastructure projects. Inflation rose to 2.3% in Europe. That won't stop the central bank from cutting interest rates FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.3 percent, up from 2.0% in October, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However, worries about growth mean the Dec. 12 ECB meeting is not about whether to cut rates, but by how much. Market buzz says there could be a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%. Stock market today: S&P 500 and Dow post gains and close out best month of 2024 NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed with solid gains as Wall Street put the finishing touches on one of its best months of the year. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 188 points, or 0.4%. The Nasdaq added 0.8%. Friday was an abbreviated trading day, with stocks closing at 1 p.m. ET and the bond market an hour later. Investors were looking to see how much shoppers are willing to spend on gifts for the holidays. Black Friday unofficially kicked off the holiday shopping season, although retailers had been offering early deals for weeks. Macy’s and Best Buy each gained around 2%.

NoneThe Center forthe Development of Cultural and Creative Industries (CreativeCenter), established by the Ministry of Culture, was inaugurated onDecember 28 with the participation of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-Presidentof the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, reports. Minister of Culture Adil Karimli provided an overview of thefacilities at the Center, highlighting its mission to support youngtalents, enhance their professional skills, and foster therealization of creative potential. The Center aims to implement cultural and creative industryprojects, support the establishment and growth of newentrepreneurial ventures and startups, facilitate the creation andexport of local creative products and services, and attracttalented youth from various regions. The Creative Center is running several successful initiatives,including three incubation programs focused on Music, “Gametech,”and “Cultech,” resulting in 20 startups and over 50 activeresidents. Adil Karimli noted that since 2023, the Ministry has beenorganizing the "Creative Talks" project. This initiative promotesthe development of skills in culture and creativity in both thecapital and the regions, serving as an educational platform aimedat supporting the formation of creative entities. The Center also organizes masterclasses and training sessions onthe use of artificial intelligence in animation, music and filmindustries, design, and creative fields under the "Ai4Art" project.Over 200 young individuals participate in these educationalprograms. The Center encompasses the "Creative Market" marketplaceplatform and the "Creative Edu.az" educational center, providingadditional support and resources for creative development. The Center is equipped with advanced technology to supportdiverse creative endeavors, including studios for photo and videoproduction, sound recording, animation, dance, and more. The Creative Center collaborates with both local entities andinternational organizations as its partners. The establishment of the Center for the Development of Culturaland Creative Industries was approved by an order of the Presidentof Azerbaijan on July 22, 2022. Founded by the Ministry of Culturein 2024, it is part of the Action Plan for the “2022-2026 Socialand Economic Development Strategy of the Republic ofAzerbaijan.”

India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies at 92