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NoneIT takes more than a spoonful of food—or in this case, cash—to fix the malnutrition afflicting millions of Filipino children. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) program, hailed as the government’s recipe for combating poverty and undernutrition, may need a stronger dose of reform to achieve its intended impact, according to a recent study by a socioeconomic think tank. The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) revealed that while the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program initially showed promise in reducing severe stunting among children, subsequent evaluations indicated inconclusive results. Statistical significance was observed only in specific metrics, such as stunting under certain conditions, leaving questions about the program’s overall effectiveness in addressing malnutrition. As undernutrition remained a persistent problem in the country, with one in three children still stunted and wasting rates exceeding national targets, the 4Ps program was launched in 2007 and institutionalized through Republic Act 11310 in 2019. 4Ps program aims to improve human capital among low-income households by providing financial aid contingent on compliance with health, nutrition, and education requirements. Based on the survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in 2021, the Philippines had made significant progress in reducing child malnutrition from 1989 to 2019. Stunting decreased from 45 percent to 28.8 percent, underweight from 30 percent to 19 percent, and wasting from 6 percent to 5.8 percent. Despite receiving substantial funding, accounting for over 60 percent of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s budget between 2016 and 2020, the program has struggled to meet its goals. From 2008 to 2021, the Commission on Audit data in 2022 showed that an estimated P537.39 billion in cash grants was distributed to over four million households, benefiting approximately nine million children across 41,676 barangays. However, the study found that the program’s impact was negligible across key nutrition indicators, including height-for-age z-scores, weight-for-age z-scores, and wasting prevalence. Factors such as insufficient cash transfers, program design flaws, and gaps in implementation and monitoring were cited as potential reasons for the limited impact. Socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental differences were mentioned as contextual factors that influenced how households utilized financial aid. Additionally, unintended effects like rising food prices in beneficiary communities may have constrained the program’s effectiveness. Beneficiary households faced challenges in meeting dietary requirements as food costs increased, exacerbating poor nutritional outcomes for non-beneficiaries. “The inconsistency in the findings on 4Ps may be because the cash transfers were insufficient to make sustained changes in children’s nutritional outcomes,” the study noted. As a solution, PIDS researchers Alyssa Villanueva, Valerie Gilbert Ulep, and Rosela Agcaoili emphasized the need for the government to take a closer examination of the 4Ps and refine CCT programs to achieve tangible results in improving child nutrition and overall health. Image credits: LJ Pasion/Save The Children

NEW YORK (AP) — Remember what you searched for in 2024? Google does. Google released its annual “Year in Search” on Tuesday, rounding up the top trending queries entered into its namesake search engine in 2024. The results show terms that saw the highest spike in traffic compared to last year — ranging from key news events, notably global elections , to the most popular songs, athletes and unforgettable pop-culture moments that people looked up worldwide. Sports — particularly soccer and cricket — dominated Google's overall trending searches in 2024. Copa América topped those search trends globally, followed by the UEFA European Championship and ICC Men's T20 World Cup . Meanwhile, the U.S. election led news-specific searches worldwide. Queries about excessive heat and this year's Olympic Games followed. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump topped searches in Google's people category this year — followed by Catherine, Princess of Wales , U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif , who also led athlete-specific searches. Meanwhile, the late Liam Payne , Toby Keith and O.J. Simpson led search trends among notable individuals who died in 2024. In the world of entertainment, Disney and Pixar's “Inside Out 2” was the top trending movie of the year, while Netflix's “Baby Reindeer” led TV show trends. And Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” dominated song trends. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Queries for the Olympic village's chocolate muffin , made famous by Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen over the summer games, led Google's global recipe trends this year. The New York Times' “Connections” puzzle topped game searches. And in the U.S., country-specific data shows, many people asked Google about online trends like the word “demure” and “ mob wife aesthetic .” You can find more country-specific lists, and trends from years past , through Google’s “Year in Search” data published online . The California company said it collected 2024 search results from Jan. 1 through Nov. 23 of this year. Google isn't the only one to publish an annual recap or top trends as 2024 draws to a close. Spotify Wrapped , for example, as well as Collins Dictionary and Merriam-Webster’s words of the year, have offered additional reflections for 2024.The United States Postal Service might have found a way to unite a nation bitterly divided after this month's election: It will release a Betty White stamp. The beloved actor known for roles in "The Golden Girls," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Boston Legal" and others will be on a 2025 Forever stamp, USPS announced this past week. White died in late December 2021 , less than three weeks before her 100th birthday. The Postal Service hasn't announced a release date for the stamp. Betty White speaks Sept. 17, 2018, at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. “An icon of American television, Betty White (1922–2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades,” the Postal Service said in announcing the stamp, which depicts a smiling White based on a 2010 photograph by celebrity photographer Kwaku Alston . “The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals.” Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos created the digital illustration from Alston's photo. "I'd love to send a letter back to my 18-year-old self with this stamp on it and tell him that everything is going to be OK," Stephanos posted on Facebook . Regardless of personal politics, self-proclaimed supporters of Republican President-elect Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris reacted with delight on social media. "Betty White was my hero, all of my life! I actually had a doll when I was a little girl I named Betty White," one Trump supporter posted on X , formerly Twitter. “Something to make this awful week a little better: We’re getting a Betty White stamp,” a pro-Harris X account posted. White combined a wholesome image with a flare for bawdy jokes . Her television career began in the early 1950s and exploded as she aged. “The only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party," Seth Meyers posted on Twitter after her death. "A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end.” Allen Ludden and his wife Betty White, who love to play games, continue a two year gin rummy battle in which she's ahead by a cumulative 6,000 points in Westchester, N.Y. on April 29, 1965. They do it professionally on TV. He's the master of ceremonies on "Password," and she makes frequent guest appearances on game shows. They play games to relax at home. (AP Photo/Bob Wands) Allen Ludden and his wife Betty White admire magnolia blossoms on the lawn of their country home in Westchester, N.Y. on May 14, 1965. (AP Photo/Bob Wands) Actress Betty White in 1965. (AP Photo) Betty White shares a moment backstage at the 28th annual Emmy Awards with Ted Knight after they each won an Emmy for their supporting roles in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." On the series Miss White played Sue Ann Nivens while Knight played newscaster Ted Baxter. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 17, 1976: (L-R) "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" co-stars - Ed Asner, Betty White, Mary Tyler Moore and Ted Knight - all won awards at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Shubert Theatre on May 17, 1976 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by TVA/PictureGroup/Invision for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images) Actress Betty White with Ted Knight at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 13, 1981. (AP Photo/Randy Rasmussen) Betty White and Anson Williams don't seem to faze Buckeye, a St. Bernard, during an awards ceremony during which Williams was honored by the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as a friend and lover of animals. Ms. White presented a humanitarian plaque to Williams at the event, which was held in Hollywood, California, Friday, May 1, 1982. (AP Photo/Marc Karody) Actress Betty White with actor John Hillerman arriving at Emmy Awards, Sept. 22, 1985 in Pasadena, California. (AP Photo/LIU) Actresses Betty White Ludden, left, and Mary Tyler Moore, right, smile at each other in Los Angeles, Friday, June 22, 1985 during Annual Meeting of Morris Animal Foundation, at which Ludden announced her retirement as President of the animal health group, held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) These four veteran actresses from the television series "The Golden Girls" shown during a break in taping Dec. 25, 1985 in Hollywood. From left are, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur and Betty White. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Actress Betty White poses in Los Angeles, Ca. in June, 1986. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) Betty White stands backstage at the NBC TV Bob Hope "I Love Lucy" special on Sept. 16, 1989. (AP Photo/Djansezian) Michael J. Fox and Betty White, winners of Emmys for best actor and actress in a comedy series, stand backstage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, Sunday, Sept. 21, 1986 after receiving their honors. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac) Comedienne Betty White places her hand on the star that was presented posthumously to her husband, Allen Ludden, during ceremonies inducting him into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Thursday, March 31, 1988. Ludden was honored with the 1,868th star of the famed walkway — between those of White and Tyrone Power. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Estelle Getty, who plays Sophia, poses with her new husband, who plays Max, and the other "Golden Girls" after taping of episode on Friday, night, Nov. 5,1988 in Hollywood. Left to right are Rue McCLanahan (Blanche), Getty, Gilford, Bea Arthur (Dorothy) and Betty White. (AP Photo/Ira Mark Gostin) Former cast members of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, sans Mary Tyler Moore, are reunited for the Museum of Television and Radio's 9th annual Television Festival in Los Angeles Saturday, March 21, 1992. From left are Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and Ed Asner. (AP Photo/Craig Fujii) Actress Betty White, left, writer/producer David E. Kelley, actress Bridget Fonda, and actor Oliver Platt pose at the premiere of their movie "Lake Placid," Wednesday night, July 14, 1999, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Betty White, from "Golden Girls," and Mr. T, Lawrence Tureaud, from "The A Team," pose for photographers at NBC's 75th Anniversary Party, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura) Actors Betty White, left, Georgia Engel, second left, Gavin MacLeod, center, Valerie Harper, second right, and John Amos pose for photographers during arrivals at CBS's 75th anniversary celebration Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in New York. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano) Actress Betty White laughs as an African eagle roosts overhead at the Los Angeles Zoo Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in Los Angeles, where White was honored as Ambassador to the Animals by the city for her decades of dedication to the humane treatment of animals. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Betty White poses for photographers on the red carpet before Comedy Central's "Roast of William Shatner," Sunday, Aug. 13, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura) Betty White arrives at the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, on Friday, June 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Beatrice Arthur, left, Betty White, center, and Rue McClanahan, of the Golden Girls, arrive at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Actor Henry Winkler, center, is seen Beatrice Arthur, right, and Betty White at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) In this Nov. 24, 2009 file photo, actress Betty White poses for a portrait following her appearance on the television talk show "In the House," in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) Actress Betty White poses for a portrait on the set of the television show "Hot in Cleveland" in Studio City section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Actress Betty White is seen on stage at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010 in Universal City, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Betty White, a cast member in "You Again," poses with fans holding Betty White masks at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Actress Betty White wears a U.S. Forest Ranger hat after being named an Honorary Forest Ranger by the US Forest Service, at the Kennedy Center in Washington Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. White has stated in numerous interviews that her first ambition as a young girl was "to become a forest ranger, but they didn't allow women to do that back then". (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) Betty White, left, Bradley Cooper and Scarlett Johansson arrive at the MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, Calif., on Sunday, June 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Betty White, left, Kristen Bell, center, and Jamie Lee Curtis, cast members in "You Again," pose together at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Betty White, left, accepts the Life Achievement Award from Sandra Bullock at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) From left, actresses Betty White, Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, and Jane Leeves pose for a portrait on the set of the television show "Hot in Cleveland" in Studio City section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Alec Baldwin, left, and Betty White are seen on stage at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Betty White attends a book signing for her book 'If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)' at Barnes & Noble in New York, Friday, May 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes) Actress Betty White attends a press conference prior to the taping of "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute To America's Golden Girl" on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Vince Bucci) Actress Betty White arrives on a white pony as she is honored at a Friars Club Roast sponsored by Godiva, Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel in New York. (AP Photo/Starpix, Marion Curtis) Betty White, at left, attends her wax figure unveiling at Madame Tussauds on Monday, June 4, 2012 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Katy Winn/Invision/AP) From left, Sgt. 1st Class Chuck Shuck, Actress Betty White and The 2012 American Hero Dog Gabe pose during 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Invision/AP) Betty White and Cloris Leachman onstage at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the JW Marriott on Saturday, April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP) Ellen DeGeneres, left, presents Betty White with the award for favorite TV icon at the People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Betty White, left, speaks at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Looking on from right are Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

As the news of He Miao's expulsion spreads, it serves as a wake-up call for other officials to uphold integrity and ethical conduct in their roles. It highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in public office, and the need for strict adherence to party discipline and state laws.

No. 9 Kentucky, focused on getting better, welcomes Jackson St.John Carmack makes the case for future GPUs working without a CPU

Donald Trump has a chance to become a true education presidentEXCLUSIVE Luigi Mangione was 'anti-woke', says friend as he reveals regret over last messages with Brian Thompson 'assassin' READ MORE: 'Sex toys should be banned': Mangione's bizarre rant about Japan Follow all the latest news and updates in the manhunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's killer By LAURA PARNABY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:18, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 21:30, 10 December 2024 e-mail 44 shares View comments A friend of Luigi Mangione has given a deeper insight into the alleged assassin 's political views - and what might have radicalized him. Gurwinder Bhogal, a UK-based writer, told DailyMail.com Mangione was 'anti-woke', and that he expressed a deep envy for the UK's nationalized health system. Bhogal, who lives in Birmingham, England, suggested Mangione, who has been charged over the fatal shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson, may have become radicalized by what he read on social media. 'Luigi sent me a Twitter DM on June 10th, in which he asked me to show him how to curate his social media feeds,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I forgot to get back to him, and a part of me wonders, if I’d helped him find good information sources sooner, whether he would still have gone on to allegedly shoot the CEO.' The pair began speaking when Mangione, 26, took an interest in Bhogal's blog about politics and 'the digital age' called The Prism, and reached out to him on X. Bhogal said they exchanged more than a dozen emails, seen by DailyMail.com, before sharing a two-hour video chat while Mangione was traveling in Japan . 'He was left-wing on some things and right-wing on others,' Bhogal recalled. 'For instance, he was pro-equality of opportunity, but anti-woke: for example anti-DEI (and) anti-identity politics. Luigi Mangione's friend has given a deeper insight into the alleged assassin 's political views - and what might have radicalized him. (Pictured: Mangione arriving for his extradition hearing at Blair County Courthouse in Pennsylvania on Tuesday afternoon) Gurwinder Bhogal (pictured), a UK-based writer, told DailyMail.com Mangione was 'anti-woke', and that he expressed a deep envy for the UK's nationalized health system Mangione has been accused of shooting Brian Thompson at point-blank range in New York 'He opposed woke-ism because he didn’t believe it was an effective way to help minorities. 'He expressed interest in more rational, evidence-based forms of compassion, like effective altruism.' 'We briefly touched on the differences between the UK and US healthcare systems,' Bhogal added. 'Luigi complained about how expensive healthcare in the US was, and expressed envy at the UK’s nationalized health system.' Bhogal said they also discussed Ted Kaczynski, the 'Unabomber' who used terrorism to campaign against modern technology. Mangione had previously appeared to praise Kaczynski on Goodreads. 'Luigi disapproved of the Unabomber’s actions, but was fascinated by his ideology, and shared his concerns about rampant consumerism gradually eroding our agency and alienating us from ourselves,' Bhogal said. 'He expressed fears over smartphone addiction. Luigi asked me how to maximize agency in a world constantly trying to deprive us of it, so we also discussed that. 'Overall, the impression I got of him, besides his curiosity and kindness, was a deep concern for the future of humanity, and a determination to improve himself and the world.' Mangione is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson at point-blank range on December 5 Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon Bhogal said his overriding impression of Mangione was that he was 'one of the nicest people I've ever met', who even bought him a subscription to Readwise Reader, an app designed to help users retain more information from books. The writer said he was 'bewildered' when his friend was charged with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Monday. 'He was so thoughtful and polite that he seemed like the last person I’d suspect of murdering someone,' Bhogal told DailyMail.com. Ivy League engineering graduate Mangione was arrested on Monday morning moments after eating a hash brown in an Altoona, PA McDonald's. Cops closed in on the alleged killer after an employee at the restaurant recognized him from surveillance images NYPD shared online in the wake of the Midtown Manhattan shooting. He was later charged with second-degree murder over the slaying of Thompson, 50, just before 7am on Wednesday outside the Hilton hotel where the exec had been set to make a speech to finance heavyweights later that day. Cops closed in on the alleged killer after an employee at the restaurant recognized him from surveillance images NYPD shared online in the wake of the Midtown Manhattan shooting. Mangione appears to have led police on a 280-mile manhunt from New York City's 6th Avenue to the small Pennsylvania city of Altoona, around 100 miles east of Pittsburgh. He reportedly gave police a fake ID when they started to question him He was located by staff members at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania The suspect was picked up on 86th Street and Columbus Avenue two minutes after he left Central Park in Manhattan's Upper West Side He left a trail of overt clues about his motive, including ammunition etched with the words 'delay' 'deny' and 'depose' and a bag of Monopoly board game money in his backpack left in Central Park. Officials believe the bullet etchings refer to the 'three Ds of insurance' - tactics used by American insurance giants to reject patients' claims. This motive appeared to be even more clearly outlined in a handwritten manifesto cops seized from Mangione during his arrest on Monday, which the NYPD's chief of detectives Joseph Kenny said expressed 'ill will toward corporate America.' 'To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country,' Mangione wrote in the three-page document. 'To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone.' 'I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done,' Mangione added in the document. 'Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.' Mangione also allegedly had a ghost gun believed to be the rare World War Two era-inspired 9mm pistol used in Thompson's murder, which the New York Post reported was a Swiss-made Brugger & Thomet VP9, and a silencer. He was denied bond and not represented by an attorney during his arraignment in the Blair County Courthouse in Pennsylvania on Monday night. Mangione will next appear in court in New York at a later date. Luigi Mangione Brian Thompson Share or comment on this article: Luigi Mangione was 'anti-woke', says friend as he reveals regret over last messages with Brian Thompson 'assassin' e-mail 44 shares Add commentWelp. This season is officially off the rails. Ohio State thoroughly handled Indiana. Oklahoma trounced Alabama. Florida dashed Mississippi's playoff hopes. Auburn upset Texas A&M. Arizona State and Kansas sent the Big 12 into chaos with their wins over BYU and Colorado. Notre Dame resoundingly ended Army's magical run. And that was all in one week! There are more than 60 voters on the AP Top 25 panel. There’s at least one voter from each state that has an FBS team and a handful of national folks. For the state of Nebraska, there’s one voter. Each week I will break down my ballot compared with the actual Top 25 and write on some pressing topics. Without further ado, here is my ballot ahead of Week 14: And here is the actual AP Top 25 for Week 14: Nothing makes sense. I think Ohio State is the best team in the nation right now. However, the Buckeyes remain No. 2 behind undefeated Oregon. Penn State, even at 10-1, doesn't feel inspiring. Barely beating Minnesota? Not cause to be optimistic. I think Indiana still deserves more credit than it gets. The whole "who have they played" narrative is tired. Of their 10 wins, three teams are bowl-eligible in Nebraska, Washington and Michigan. And Michigan State is at five wins ahead of a Week 14 game against Rutgers. I don't know what to make of the SEC or the Big 12. The SEC might be lucky to get three teams into the College Football Playoff. Two feels reasonable, but three feels like a stretch — especially depending on the final week of the regular season. Every game is winnable for the ranked SEC teams. But every game is losable, too. Auburn could beat Alabama. Texas A&M could beat Texas. Vanderbilt could beat Tennessee. And, man, how about Florida? The Gators, after everything, could finish the season 7-5. Heck, even winless Mississippi State could pull off an Egg Bowl miracle over Mississippi. But regardless of what happens, thanks to tiebreakers, Georgia has clinched the SEC championship game. There's a possibility that the Big 12 gets left out of the CFP. If Boise State runs the table in the Mountain West and Tulane runs the table in the American, there's a possibility that both of them, in two weeks, are ranked ahead of whichever Big 12 team decides it wants to win the conference. Kansas, after being left for dead at 2-6, has rattled off three straight wins over ranked teams and could be bowl-eligible with a win over Baylor. Who's going to even make the Big 12 title game? Four teams are tied at 6-2 heading into the final week of the regular season, and there's plenty of potential chaos on the horizon. And Army... congrats on a great start to the season. Apologies that it had to end the way it did against Notre Dame. Now, was Army's schedule — in retrospect — pretty cupcakey? You betcha. Florida Atlantic, Rice, Temple, Tulsa and East Carolina have all already fired their coaches. And UAB probably should, too. Did I still have them ranked this week? I did. Mostly out of the notion that winning games, above all else, is the most important piece of the puzzle here. And because, honestly, the bottom of the poll is an absolute dumpster fire that's impossible to ascertain. Also, with one week left in the regular season, 77 teams have clinched bowl eligibility out of the possible 82 spots. Two more teams are guaranteed to reach their sixth win this week as there are two games both featuring 5-win teams. There are also 12 other teams that could win and reach a sixth win. It's been a while since there were too many bowl-eligible teams — another sign of the chaos that's unfolded this year. Three teams rose five or more spots this week and one team made a return to the Top 25. Arizona State: The biggest riser of the week? The Sun Devils. They jumped up seven spots to No. 14 after their chaotic victory over BYU. That's three straight wins for Arizona State, two of which came over teams that were ranked at the time. Clemson : The Tigers jumped five spots this week to No. 12 after their convincing victory over The Citadel paired with other teams dropping spots with losses. Iowa State : The Cyclones also rose five spots after narrowly beating an injury-riddled Utah squad. That's two straight wins for the Cyclones, putting them at 9-2 and in a must-win spot this week in Farmaggedon. Missouri: Tigers fans must have whiplash. Missouri is back in the Top 25 this week after a brief stint on the outside looking in. The Tigers vaulted back in at No. 24 after beating Mississippi State, 39-20, to move to 8-3 on the season. Seven teams dropped five or more spots this week, and one team dropped out. Army: Losing like that to Notre Dame? That'll send you tumbling. Army fell seven spots this week, narrowly holding onto the No. 25 spot. Colorado: Colorado also dropped seven spots after losing to Kansas, 37-21, falling to No. 23. The Buffaloes are still in the hunt, but they're in a must-win situation against Oklahoma State this week. Alabama : The Crimson Tide is on red alert this week after they not only lost to Oklahoma, which is bad enough, but only scored three points in the game. For that, Alabama fell six spots to No. 13. Indiana : Well, the fun story of an undefeated Indiana is over. The Hoosiers lost to Ohio State and dropped five spots to No. 10. The Hoosiers could still eclipse their 11th win of the season this week when they host the struggling Purdue Boilermakers to close out the regular season. Mississippi: Mississippi said goodbye to its playoff hopes with a loss to Florida, tumbling six spots down the rankings to No. 15. BYU : The Cougars have now lost two in a row — one to Kansas and now to Arizona State. The Cougars, once the Big 12's best story of the season, fell five spots this week to No. 19. Texas A&M: Texas A&M, after losing a close game to Auburn, 43-41, dropped five spots to No. 20. Oddly enough, though, Texas A&M is still in position to make the SEC title game. Just have to get through ~checks notes~ Texas this week to get there. Washington State: The Cougars lost the de facto Pac-2 Championship Game, so they fell out this week. I didn't want any three-loss teams on my ballot at all last week, but after the chaos of this week, it was impossible to do that again. So, I kept all the three-loss teams below No. 15. And that makes my ballot a little funky compared to the consensus poll. The biggest "miss" I had was Tennessee. I had the Volunteers at No. 11, while they came in at No. 7. Their most recent win came over a struggling UTEP that's 2-9 on the season. Before that, they lost to Georgia. Before that, they beat the only winless team in SEC play in Mississippi State. Now, I'm of the mindset that you have to win the games on your schedule, but they're pretty tough to figure out. Also, I had Memphis ranked instead of Missouri. Here are the games I have circled for this week: No. 16 South Carolina (8-3, 5-3) at No. 12 Clemson (9-2, 7-1) : It's been a long time since the Palmetto Bowl featured two ranked teams — 11 years, in fact. Going to be a fun one in Clemson. 11 a.m. kick Saturday on ESPN. No. 3 Texas (10-1, 6-1) at No. 20 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2): The Lone Star Showdown is back after a 12-year hiatus, and the stakes are incredibly high as the winner will advance to the SEC title game to face Georgia. 6:30 p.m. kick on Saturday on ABC. Kansas State (8-3, 5-3) at No. 17 Iowa State (9-2, 6-2) : The Big 12 is a mess, and this game will directly influence who makes the Big 12 title game. 6:30 p.m. kick on FOX. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

In the end, Zhejiang's victory over Guangzhou was a testament to the brilliance of Wu Qian and his ability to elevate his team to new heights. His 12 three-pointers, 6 assists, and 5 steals were not just impressive statistics but a reflection of his all-around excellence and unwavering commitment to success. With Wu Qian leading the charge, the Zhejiang Lions look poised to continue their winning ways and make a statement in the league.In recent news, a prominent media figure named Da Bing has found himself under scrutiny for a misjudgment that has sparked controversy among the public. Da Bing, known for his sharp wit and outspoken personality, recently criticized individuals who take advantage of loopholes in the system to benefit themselves at the expense of others. While his intention may have been noble, his words have backfired, leading to widespread backlash and criticism.

Over the years, Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) investors have become accustomed to collecting special dividends when the company has a strong year. However, special dividend payments are even less of a guarantee than regular dividend payments as they don't follow a schedule. Just because a company makes them one time doesn't mean it will again. But Costco has made special dividend payments multiple times in the past several years. And last year, that announcement came in December. Should investors expect another special dividend payment from Costco this year? Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Costco has announced a special dividend in 3 of the past 7 years Last year, Costco announced a special dividend of $15 per share, which coincided with the release of its first-quarter results. Prior to that, it paid a special dividend of $10 per share in 2020, which came a few years after making a special dividend payment of $7 per share in 2017. The company also made special dividend payments in 2015 ($5) and 2012 ($7). While Costco has made many of these types of payments in the past, it has yet to do them in back-to-back years. But with special dividend payments, investors shouldn't rely strictly on patterns as they're likely due more to sheer profit growth than anything else. Costco may feel compelled to reward its investors through special dividends. Otherwise, it might seem like an underwhelming dividend stock to own, given its modest 0.5% yield. That's well shy of the S&P 500 average of more than 1.2%. Could Costco justify a special dividend payment this year? Costco has been a growth machine over the years, and that's made it possible for the company to offer such high rates of special dividend payments. Its payout ratio is a relatively modest 26% of earnings. While the company could justify a big increase to its recurring quarterly dividend payments, Costco seems to prefer nonrecurring special dividend payments. These can give it much more flexibility and result in less pressure by not creating the expectation of higher recurring payments, which could drain its cash and limit its growth opportunities. Now, amid more tepid growth and potentially more challenging economic conditions, it may be difficult for Costco to justify making another special dividend payment in December, especially since it made one just last year. That's ultimately why I wouldn't expect it to happen. The company isn't having a banner year to justify making the exception. While Costco may be able to justify making a modest special dividend payment, the company has been increasing the rate of these bonuses in recent years. Assuming it wants to continue that trend, it will probably hold off on any such announcement for the time being. Is Costco stock still a good buy today? As of Monday, shares of Costco were up more than 44% this year. Investors have continued to buy the stock despite paying a fairly rich multiple of 58 times its trailing earnings. While Costco is a fantastic business to invest in, I wouldn't buy it today, due to its extremely high price tag. It can still rise in value over the long run, but its returns may be limited due to the premium at which it trades today. Costco isn't a bad buy, but there are many cheaper stocks that investors may want to consider, instead. Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $350,915 !* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $44,492 !* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $473,142 !* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 25, 2024 David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . Is Another Big Special Dividend Coming Up for Costco Wholesale Investors in December? was originally published by The Motley Fool