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Someone may say, “Hiring more staff is the best way to grow your business,” but is that a fact at all? As the cost of operations continues to rise, coupled with the increasing benefits of employees and overheads, many businesses may also find that full-time employees are a strain on their pockets. The solution may not lie in employing additional staff but n outsourcing tasks to a virtual assistant company, eliminating long-term commitments or additional expenses. Virtual Assistant USA services enable you to expand your operations efficiently and cost-effectively, proving that sometimes less really is more when it comes to staffing. Understanding Virtual Assistant USA Services A virtual assistant (VA) is a professional who offers administrative, technical, or creative services to businesses from a remote location. Virtual Assistant Services operate as independent contractors or freelancers. They handle assignments that can be executed through online or virtual channels. Technological advancements have broadened the scope of easily outsourcing work to VAs, leaving businesses to concentrate on more strategic operations. Which Types of Services Are Offered by Virtual Assistant Companies? Virtual Assistant companies in USA offer a multitude of customized services for their clients. Some of the common services are as follows: Key Benefits of Hiring Virtual Assistant Companies One of the most notable virtual assistant benefits is improved efficiency for your business operations. When all redundant tasks are delegated to a Virtual Assistant Team, you can use that time to concentrate on more crucial business elements— business strategy, marketing, or customer relations. Virtual Assistant Services can streamline your workflows by taking responsibility for responding to emails, scheduling meetings for you, and updating your social media. Therefore, no more handling of those small tasks that pile up so quickly and slow you down. The costs of hiring a full-time employee are high. It includes the salary, benefits, equipment, and other overheads such as office space. Virtual Assistant Companies in USA offer affordable substitutes to hiring in-house staff. With a Virtual Assistant USA, you only pay for the services you require without the extra costs of vacation time, healthcare, and an office infrastructure. Let’s take an example. If you want help for only 10 hours a week, you can hire a VA for that time and not have to pay a full-time salary for that position. Incredible, isn’t it? Such a flexibility allows you to allocate resources more effectively and save bucks in the long run. Most virtual assistant companies have a lot of professionals specializing in different areas. Thus, you can hire virtual assistants for, let’s say, graphic design, content writing, bookkeeping, and more based on the work requirements of your business. This means that you can go for quality work without hiring specialists on a full-time basis. Moreover, virtual assistant services provide flexibility in scaling your operations. If you want more hands on deck and your business is increasing, you can easily scale by adding more virtual assistants and/or increasing their working hours. Should you have less work to do, you can reduce your VA usage, again with no long-term commitments. How a Virtual Assistant USA Simplify Daily Operations Task management is probably the most time-consuming thing in business. Virtual Assistant Benefits include properly arranging schedules and all appointments, thus managing every task. Whether it includes organizing the calendar, fixing up meetings, or reminding whenever a deadline approaches, they serve this role. When you Hire Virtual Assistants, they also help with email management, organizing and responding to emails based on your priorities. This means fewer distractions and more time for you to focus on the bigger picture. Managing multiple projects can be a bit overwhelming, especially because there are so many moving parts. Virtual Assistant Companies can conduct research, compile data, and track progress to support ongoing projects. They will help ensure that projects stay on track, meeting deadlines and completing tasks efficiently. For instance, if you have an ongoing marketing campaign, the virtual assistant team can monitor its performance, collect data, and then give you reports. Hence, you can make well-thought-out decisions without having to spend hours on data collection and analysis. Customer support is critical for businesses. A Virtual Assistant USA can manage customer inquiries or complaints and provide after-sales support. Improved response times will make customers feel that they have been heard, leading to improved customer experience. Customers who receive prompt and effective service are more likely to return and promote your company to others. A Virtual Assistant Team may ensure that your customer support runs efficiently, even during peak periods, without requiring you to oversee it personally. Choosing the Right Virtual Assistant Company Before hiring a virtual assistant company, assess your business needs. Clarify the exact Outsourcing Tasks for VAs. It could be administrative functions, customer care, social media management, or any other operation that currently consumes most of your time. Next is to evaluate the volume of work. Do you need full-time assistance, or can it be just a few hours of support you require in a week? If you evaluate your needs well, then you can find a virtual assistant company that provides the right level of support. After identifying your requirements: Another factor to consider is the expertise and range of service offerings. Some of the best virtual assistant companies focus on specific fields, such as ecommerce or marketing, while others provide more generalized services. Select a company that will align with your business requirements and goals. Take the Leap Towards Business Efficiency! Business doesn’t have to come to a standstill due to operational challenges. With virtual assistant services, you can proactively shape your business’s future by streamlining workflows, decreasing stress, and increasing productivity. Discover how much a VA can do for your business and reach previously unattainable levels of efficiency from this moment forward.
Germany’s chancellor appears to be heading for defeat; France’s president is mired in crisis. But while Europe’s traditional power duo are in the doldrums , there is a strong, stable and pro-EU leader east of Paris and Berlin – Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk. For European officials, it’s a helpful gift of the calendar that Poland takes charge of the EU Council rotating presidency from 1 January. Tusk, a former European Council president, returned as Poland’s prime minister in 2023, leading a broad coalition that defeated the rightwing populist party Law and Justice (PiS). One of his first acts was to end a long-festering dispute with Brussels with a pledge to restore constitutional norms, which unlocked billions of frozen EU funds. Tusk later showed his influence inside the European Council of EU leaders, helping to orchestrate the return of his centre-right ally Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president. An EU presidency is a technical business: chairing hundreds of meetings, setting agendas. Tusk has no formal role. But symbolism matters. The presidency logo, a Polish flag entwined with the letters “E” and “U”, is intended to project Poland’s return to the European mainstream. Tusk’s government, which has pledged to prioritise security during its six-month stint, is an especially welcome contrast after the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán’s rogue diplomacy during his country’s presidency. Michał Wawrykiewicz, a centre-right MEP, affiliated to the governing Civic Coalition, said: “We are just after the presidency of Hungary, which is the biggest violator of all of the fundamentals of the European Union . So it is a good time slot for my country to prove that we are one of the leaders of the European Union.” But the image of harmony regained is not quite what it seems. First, Poland’s democratic restoration is incomplete. As many as a third of Poland’s 10,000 judges are so-called “neo judges”, according to the Council of Europe – ie politicised appointees who took office through processes introduced by PiS that were widely deemed to violate the rule of law. Tusk’s government faces a legal minefield in restoring independent judges , while the PiS-aligned President Andrzej Duda is blocking many reforms. “It shows how difficult it is to reverse the country on the democratic path after such a huge devastation,” said Wawrykiewicz, a lawyer who campaigned to restore the rule of law before he was elected as an MEP in 2024. Duda is nearing the end of his term limit, so presidential elections likely in May will be critical in determining whether Tusk’s government can fulfil its promise to restore the rule of law in Poland. That could affect how Poland runs its presidency. Some EU insiders contend that Poland’s government is playing it safe by avoiding putting controversial topics on the EU agenda, such as 2040 carbon reduction targets. Before Duda stands down, he could be a helpful bridge to Donald Trump’s White House. Anna Wójcik, of Kozminski University in Warsaw, said Tusk’s government could use the “surprising card of President Duda, who has good relations with the president-elect of the United States”. More broadly, Warsaw has a good story to tell Trump, who has fiercely criticised Nato allies for “not paying their bills” . Poland, already the biggest defence spender in GDP terms in Nato, is expected to spend 4.7% of its economic output on defence in 2025. This will be an advantage in Washington and “a way of proving that Europe can well commit and even over-commit” to Nato goals, Wójcik said. During its EU presidency, Poland is expected to make the case for more European defence spending, including via EU financing, which could entail joint borrowing. The European Commission has put the cost of boosting EU defences at a minimum of €500bn and has promised an options paper on how to raise these funds early in 2025. Any agreement on European defence spending will have to go through Europe’s largest contributor to the EU budget, Germany , where political opposition and legal constraints make common borrowing deeply problematic. More broadly, despite the return of a pro-EU government in Warsaw and the epoch-making “turning point”, the Zeitenwende , in Germany, German-Polish relations are weighed down by mistrust and recrimination. Under the previous PiS government, Poland waged a long-running campaign for reparations for damage caused by the Nazi invasion and occupation. Germany, meanwhile, was one of Warsaw’s toughest critics on the politicisation of its courts, helping to broker an agreement in 2020 that meant EU funds could be frozen over rule-of-law violations. In theory, Tusk’s election should have improved relations, but the mood remains sour. Berlin was exasperated when in May Tusk joined forces with the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to call for a European air defence shield to protect EU airspace against all incoming threats, described as “a bold initiative that will send a clear and strong message to our friends and foes”. Germany dismissed the plan as a nonstarter, objecting to its vast cost and apparent emphasis on it being made in Europe. For Tusk, facing smears from his PiS rivals of being pro-German, that refusal closed down a positive, future-looking project that could have put relations on a better path. “There is no agreement on how to solve this conundrum in the Polish-German relations,” said Piotr Buras, the head of the European Council on Foreign Relations’ office in Warsaw. “This is a major problem for Tusk because he is the one who faces accusations that he is too pro-German, so he needs to make himself more credible to the Polish public opinion by being tough on Germany.” Buras thinks the rest of the EU underestimates how far PiS “redefined the parameters of the Polish European debate”. Polish support for the EU remains high but has fallen back from the stratospheric enthusiasm of the recent past: a survey for the Warsaw-based pollster CBOS showed 77% of respondents in favour of the EU in April 2024, down from 92% less than two years earlier. Opposition to Ukrainian refugees in Poland is growing. “Tusk is very much under pressure from the opposition, from the PiS, and he needs to be very, very cautious and he is very cautious,” Buras said. “That sets limits for some major pro-European, courageous initiatives.”
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed his country will "invariably support" Russia's war in Ukraine as he met Russia's defense chief, the North's state media reported Saturday. Related video above: US confirms North Korean troops in Russia (10/24/24) A Russian military delegation led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday, amid growing international concern about the two countries' expanding cooperation after North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia last month. The official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim and Belousov reached "a satisfactory consensus" on boosting strategic partnership and defending each country's sovereignty, security interests and international justice in the face of the rapidly changing international security environments in a Friday meeting. Kim said that North Korea "will invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists' moves for hegemony," KCNA said. North Korea has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine, calling it a defensive response to what both Moscow and Pyongyang call NATO's "reckless" eastward advance and U.S.-led moves to stamp out Russia's position as a powerful state. Kim slammed a U.S. decision earlier in November to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles as a direct intervention in the conflict. He called recent Russian strikes on Ukraine "a timely and effective measure" to demonstrate Russia's resolve, KCNA said. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia, and some of them have already begun engaging in combat on the frontlines. The U.S., South Korea and others say North Korea has also shipped artillery systems, missiles and other conventional weapons to replenish Russia's exhausted weapons inventory. Both North Korea and Russia haven't formally confirmed the North Korean troops' movements and have steadfastly denied reports of weapons shipments. South Korea, the U.S. and their partners are concerned that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Last week, South Korean national security adviser Shin Wonsik told a local SBS TV program that that Seoul assessed that Russia has provided air defense missile systems to North Korea. He said Russia also appeared to have given economic assistance to North Korea and various military technologies, including those needed for the North's efforts to build a reliable space-based surveillance system. Belousov also met North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol on Friday. During a dinner banquet later the same day, Belousov said the the two countries' strategic partnership was crucial to defend their sovereignty from aggression and the arbitrary actions of imperialists, KCNA said. In June, Kim and Putin signed a treaty requiring both countries to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked. It's considered the two countries' biggest defense deal since the end of the Cold War.* US Treasury yields, strong dollar weigh on emerging Asia FX * South Korean won, shares edge higher after Friday's sharp fall * Indonesian rupiah up 0.5%, Thai baht gains 0.3% By John Biju Dec 30 - Most Asian currencies were subdued on Monday, pressured by high U.S. Treasury yields and a firm dollar, while South Korean markets recovered slightly after last week's parliament vote to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo. Equities in the region edged higher, with stocks in Malaysia and Singapore each gaining 0.3%. The South Korean won rose 0.2% after falling to a more than 15-year low on Friday, following Han's impeachment. Equities climbed 0.4% after Friday's fall of about 1%. "The political uncertainties and faster rate cut pace should keep the won on the back foot in the coming months," said Ken Cheung, chief Asia FX strategist at Mizuho Bank. The won is the worst performing currency in emerging Asia so far this year, having lost some 12% amid political turmoil, weak exports, fears of U.S. tariffs and an unexpected rate cut from the Bank of Korea. The country's factory output fell more sharply than expected in November amid slowing exports and weakening business confidence, data showed on Monday. Most other Asian currencies were largely unchanged amid pressure from high U.S. Treasury yields and with the dollar at a multimonth peak. Yields on 10-year Treasuries are near eight-month highs at 4.631% and ending the year around 75 basis points above where they started it, despite the Fed making 100 basis points of cuts to cash rates. The Federal Reserve's hawkish tilt at its December policy meeting has weighed on Asian currencies, which were already under pressure from fears of U.S. tariffs in 2025. The Indonesian rupiah rose 0.5% on Monday. The Thai baht climbed 0.3% while equities gained 0.4%. Thailand will implement a global minimum corporate tax of 15% on multinational enterprises from the beginning of January, the finance ministry said on Friday. Mizuho's Cheung said the move should be supportive of the baht over the medium term, as it signals a step towards joining the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development . HIGHLIGHTS: ** Japan's factory activity shrinks at slower pace, PMI shows ** China's Nov industrial profits narrow decline but 2024 likely worst year in decades ** Thai advisory council says candidate for cbank chair ineligible due to recent political role Asian currenc ies and stocks as at 0345 GMT COUNTRY FX RIC FX FX INDE STOCK STOCK DAILY YTD X S S YTD % % DAILY % % Japan 0.02 -10. China 6 EC> India 0.03 -2.6 Indones 0.46 -4.7 Malaysi 0.07 2.8 Philipp - -4.5 S.Korea 28 11> Singapo 0.08 -2.8 Taiwan -0.01 -6.0 Thailan 0.32 0.6 This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.Analysis: Incumbents had a bad year. Will 2025 be different? | CNN
Bajaj has released a cryptic teaser on its social media channels. The teaser shows nothing but the sound of a revving single-cylinder engine playing in the background. The caption of the post reads, "The sound is enough. You already know what it is... or do you?" Also Read: Hero Xpulse 421 Design Trademarked In India New Pulsar RS400 Based On The NS400z The teaser looks like it's for the RS400. The fully-faired Pulsar will likely be based on the NS400z. Though the teaser does not show much of what the new bike will look like, expect its styling to be an evolved version of what is available on the fully-faired Pulsar RS200. New Pulsar RS400 Will Likely Get The 373cc Single-cylinder Engine The Pulsar NS400z-based RS400 motorcycle will likely use the former's 373cc single-cylinder engine. This unit produces 39.45 hp and 35 Nm of peak torque. Transmission duties will likely be handled by a 6-speed manual. Also Read: Hero MotoCorp, Harley Davidson Expand Partnership To Develop A New Bike A Digital Instrument Cluster With Bluetooth The RS400 will also likely share its features with the NS400z. This means LED lighting all around and a digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Bike News, Auto and around the world.
US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday demanded that BRICS member countries commit to not creating a new currency or supporting another currency that would replace the United States dollar or face 100% tariffs. "We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty US Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful US Economy," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. "They can go find another 'sucker'. There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the US Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the worldQuest Partners LLC boosted its stake in Customers Bancorp, Inc. ( NYSE:CUBI – Free Report ) by 143.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,633 shares of the bank’s stock after purchasing an additional 962 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC’s holdings in Customers Bancorp were worth $76,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hood River Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Customers Bancorp by 94.3% in the second quarter. Hood River Capital Management LLC now owns 549,063 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $26,344,000 after buying an additional 266,462 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its position in Customers Bancorp by 88.9% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 479,739 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $22,284,000 after acquiring an additional 225,785 shares in the last quarter. Peregrine Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Customers Bancorp during the second quarter valued at approximately $7,690,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Customers Bancorp by 5.4% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,186,920 shares of the bank’s stock worth $116,038,000 after purchasing an additional 111,654 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Customers Bancorp by 14.6% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 686,825 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $32,954,000 after purchasing an additional 87,557 shares during the period. 89.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Customers Bancorp Price Performance Shares of CUBI opened at $56.52 on Friday. Customers Bancorp, Inc. has a 52 week low of $42.31 and a 52 week high of $68.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market cap of $1.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.18 and a beta of 1.61. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $49.13 and a 200-day moving average of $49.77. Insider Activity In related news, Director Robert Neil Mackay sold 4,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.78, for a total value of $215,120.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 4,567 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $245,613.26. This trade represents a 46.69 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, insider Glenn Hedde sold 5,002 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.68, for a total value of $268,507.36. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 66,256 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,556,622.08. The trade was a 7.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last three months, insiders sold 96,440 shares of company stock valued at $5,425,815. Company insiders own 6.92% of the company’s stock. Analyst Ratings Changes CUBI has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Wedbush lowered shares of Customers Bancorp from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $79.00 to $53.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. StockNews.com cut Customers Bancorp from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 23rd. B. Riley raised their price objective on Customers Bancorp from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Raymond James cut their target price on Customers Bancorp from $80.00 to $70.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Hovde Group downgraded shares of Customers Bancorp from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and set a $49.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Friday, August 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $61.11. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on CUBI Customers Bancorp Company Profile ( Free Report ) Customers Bancorp, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Customers Bank that provides financial products and services to individual consumers, and small and middle market businesses. The company provides deposit banking products, which includes commercial and consumer checking, non-interest-bearing and interest-bearing demand, MMDA, savings, and time deposit accounts. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CUBI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Customers Bancorp, Inc. ( NYSE:CUBI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Customers Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Customers Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .NexOptic Technology Corp. ( CVE:NXO – Get Free Report ) shares fell 20% on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$0.02 and last traded at C$0.02. 480,200 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 387% from the average session volume of 98,644 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.03. NexOptic Technology Stock Performance The stock has a market cap of C$3.90 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.00 and a beta of 1.14. The firm’s 50-day moving average is C$0.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$0.02. The company has a current ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 0.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 56.33. NexOptic Technology Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) NexOptic Technology Corp., a technology company, develops artificial intelligence and imaging products. It engages in developing All Light Intelligent Imaging Solutions (ALIIS), a suite of intelligent imaging solution that processes raw images and video in real time; and NexCompress technological solutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for NexOptic Technology Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NexOptic Technology and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
The county was left with no Conservative MPs for the first time in recent history, after losing their seats in Banbury, Witney, Didcot and Wantage, as well as Henley and Thame. While the Labour party won by a landslide nationally, the Lib Dems were the major winners in Oxfordshire. READ MORE: Marcham crash driver jailed after killing three teens Henley and Thame had been represented by a Conservative MP for 114 years until it turned Lib Dem in the general election. Freddie van Mierlo, the new Lib Dem MP, said: “It has been an historic year for Henley and Thame and after more than 100 years of Conservative representation, the constituency has elected a Lib Dem MP. (Image: Newsquest) “For the first time since 1777, Oxfordshire no longer has a Conservative MP. “It is an honour to represent such an incredible part of the country, and I am committed to rebuilding trust in politics that has been severely damaged over the past 14 years. “Transparency, accountability, and responsiveness are my priorities. “I want to be the constituency dedicated MP Henley and Thame has lacked. “I hold regular public surgeries by appointment, and I am working hard to help residents on individual cases.” Long-standing Conservative MP Victoria Prentis, who had represented Banbury since 2015, lost her seat to the Labour candidate Sean Woodcock. (Image: Sean Woodcock) Reflecting on his win, Mr Woodcock MP said: “4 July shows how badly the Conservative Party lost the trust of people even in their previous heartlands. “They crashed the economy leaving us with low growth, rising national debt, and a £22bn black hole in the public finances. “By the time they left office, the NHS waiting list was at 7.6 million. And they lost control of our borders with immigration at nearly one million last year. Alongside the worst housing crisis in generations. Since July, they’ve shown no signs of learning from the result; doubling down on stuff that is irrelevant to the majority of the population.” Lib Dem MP Calum Miller became the first ever MP for the newly created constituency, Bicester and Woodstock. (Image: Charlotte Coles, Newsquest) He said: “Since July, it has been an immense honour to serve as your MP. “I’ve enjoyed the privilege of attending dozens of events and meeting hundreds of residents. I have spoken with many of you about the challenges you face. “My team and I have tried to help directly. “I’ve also raised with Ministers your many concerns including flooding, provision for children with SEND, access to health and social care and funding rural transport. “Next year, I’m committed to ensuring the needs of our area are heard in government.” Anneliese Dodds retained her seat in Oxford East and was appointed to Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as Minister for Women and Equalities in the Department of Education. (Image: Contribution.) She said: "People in Oxford East were desperate for change – so that's what Labour has been delivering. “Living costs are sky high here, so we’ve boosted the Minimum and National Living Wage. “The new government is also funding 40,000 more NHS appointments a week, supporting public investment (including for East-West rail), put in new Respect Orders and measures against domestic violence and knife crime; launched Great British Energy to deliver green power and is setting up pilot free breakfast club schools. “And there’s much more to come with our Plan for Change set out earlier this month". Charlie Maynard, newly elected MP for Witney, David Cameron’s former constituency, said: “I’m loving being your MP, thank you so much for voting for me. “By far the hardest task has been building a team from zero after the election. That is now done. (Image: Miranda Norris) “I have a fantastic, experienced team who are an enormous help both to constituents and to me. “Over the last few months I’ve also been helped by a lots of volunteers who stepped in at very short notice to help set things up and I will be forever be grateful to them. “I am hard at work on the issues that you elected me on. I’ve just been asked to join the committee on the Water Bill which is making its way through parliament. “I am working with district and county colleagues both to bring more health services into Witney from Oxford and to rebuild the railway line between Oxford, Eynsham, Witney and Carterton to help mitigate our dire transport and housing problems. “I’ve been elected on the business and trade select committee and am pushing for policies which will get our economy growing again, funding our public services and bringing down the exorbitant cost of living.” Lib Dem MP Layla Moran retained her seat in Oxford West and Abingdon, while Lib Dem Olly Glover gained the Didcot and Wantage seat from the Conservatives.WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — It wasn’t how Duke drew up the final play, but it worked out perfect for the Blue Devils in Saturday’s 23-17 victory over Wake Forest. Maalik Murphy threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Moore as time expired, allowing Duke to end the regular season with three consecutive victories. Murphy said he realized he took too long to make a decision after the last snap. “I knew at that point I had to make a play,” he said. “The damage was already done, time was ticking.” With the score tied at 17, the Blue Devils (9-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) moved 76 yards in 1:22 after forcing a Wake Forest punt. It appeared that Duke might run out of time in the slow-developing play, but Moore improvised and broke free along the right side, caught the ball at the 10-yard line and spun into the end zone to complete a comeback from 14 points down in the second half. “The play that Maalik and Jordan put together was magical,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “Nobody thought a 5-yard route would turn into a (long) touchdown.” So instead of a long field-goal attempt, Duke had something better. “I just decided to take it down the field,” Moore said. “I think that’s a testament to our chemistry. ... Maalik had the confidence in himself to make that kind of play.” It resulted in Duke’s sixth victory by seven points or less. “It’s like a perfect exclamation point to our season,” Diaz said. “An unbelievable way to finish our season.” Murphy racked up with 235 yards on 26-for-34 passing. Moore, who was down with an injury after a reception earlier in the second half, made five catches for 98 yards. Hank Bachmeier threw for 207 yards and a touchdown as Wake Forest (4-8, 2-6) ended its second straight four-win season with a four-game losing streak. “A heartbreaking loss,” Demon Deacons coach Dave Clawson said. “It’s a tough way to lose a game and a tough way to end the season.” Tate Carey’s 8-yard run, Matthew Dennis’ 37-yard field goal and Horatio Fields’ 9-yard reception across 11 minutes of game time gave Wake Forest a 17-3 lead with nine minutes left in the third quarter. Duke took advantage of a short field following a punt, moving 42 yards in four plays to score on Star Thomas’ 3-yard run. The Blue Devils recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and converted on Murphy’s 2-yard run with 12:57 left to pull even. “What has been proven is that we’re mentally tough,” Diaz said. “We’re not going to do everything perfect.” Taylor Morin became Wake Forest’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,974. He picked up 47 yards on eight catches on Saturday. Morin, in his fifth season, passed former NFL player Ricky Proehl, who had 2,929 yards in the late 1980s. Duke: The Blue Devils have secured at least a nine-win season for the second time in three seasons, this one coming in Diaz’s first season. They racked up a 4-0 record against in-state opponents, including comebacks to top North Carolina and Wake Forest. “Every quest that we have for championships starts in our own state,” Diaz said. Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons punted on their final three possessions of the season. They finished with a 1-6 record in home games. “It’s been a tough year, a long year, and I’m proud of our team and how hard they fought,” Clawson said. Duke: Awaits a bowl invitation Wake Forest: Enters the offseason with a losing record for the third time in five seasons. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
The polling expert gave his verdict to The National after new polling from Find Out Now showed that the SNP were on course to remain by far the largest party at Holyrood in the 2026 elections . The polling projected constituency vote shares of 35% for the SNP, 19% for Labour , 15% for the Tories , 11% for Reform UK, and 9% for the LibDems. On the regional lists, it predicted 26% for the SNP, 17% for Labour, 14% for the Tories, 13% for the Greens , 11% for Reform UK, 10% for the LibDems, and 6% for Alba. Analysing the polling, Curtice said it would lead to a pro- independence majority of 15 should it be repeated in the elections in around 17 months’ time. The SNP would win 54 MSPs, the Greens 15, and Alba three, he projected. On the Unionist side, Curtice projected that Scottish Labour would become the second largest party – despite their support having “fallen precipitately”. Labour were projected to return 19 MSPs, the Tories 16, the LibDems 12, and Reform UK 10. Curtice, a professor of politics at Strathclyde University considered the UK’s foremost polling expert, said the polling data showed Reform gaining especially from the Conservatives, but also from Labour and the LibDems, while hardly any SNP voters were switching to the party. He noted that Labour appeared to be losing voters to Reform, the Conservatives, and the SNP. READ MORE: As polls point to Yes, Anas Sarwar's road to Bute House just got a lot rougher Curtice said: “Today's poll is further evidence that Anas Sarwar's hopes of displacing John Swinney as First Minister have rapidly diminished since Labour's heady election victory in July. “As south of the Border, Labour's support in Scotland has fallen precipitately in the wake of a UK Labour Government that voters hoped would begin to turn the economy and public services around but which in practice has proven something of a disappointment in their eyes. “Meanwhile, Reform are continuing to poll at a level that could be enough for the party to secure some 10 or so MSPs at Holyrood at the next Scottish election in May 2026. Such an outcome would add a new and potentially disruptive element to Scottish politics. “Meanwhile, by taking votes primarily from Conservative , Labour and the Liberal Democrats , Reform's advance threatens to further fragment the Unionist vote. That could potentially make it easier for pro-independence parties to retain their Holyrood majority, and thereby keep alive the possibility of a second independence referendum.” On the fortunes of Swinney’s SNP, Professor Curtice said that while they “now enjoy a significant lead over Labour, and as a result appear to have some prospect of remaining in government after the next election, the party's popularity is still well below what it routinely enjoyed before Nicola Sturgeon 's resignation in February 2023”. “At the moment, another round of potentially difficult minority government could well be the best that it can reasonably hope to achieve,” he added. Find Out Now surveyed 1774 Scottish adults aged 18+ between December 17-24.PHILADELPHIA -- running back on Sunday became just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. The accomplishment came in the fourth quarter of a over the that clinched the NFC East Division title for the Eagles. "Being a fan of the game and the running back position, to reach a milestone and put myself up there with eight other backs that I respect, and some I grew up watching, definitely means a lot," Barkley said, donning an NFC East champion hat for the first time in his career. "But at the same time, I wouldn't be able to do that without this team. You can't be great without the greatness of others." The coaching staff kept Barkley in the game in the fourth quarter despite Philadelphia holding a big lead. He was handed the ball on five straight plays, the last of which was a 23-yard scamper down the left side that put him over 2,000 yards. Barkley trotted to the sideline and received a pat on the head from lineman and a hug from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Coach Nick Sirianni then called a timeout, allowing the rest of his teammates to swarm Barkley and offer their congratulations while the fans broke into "MVP" chants. "It's a testament to him, coming to another team, first year, a lot of expectations. He's truly a super-talented football player, a great teammate," right tackle said. "I was happy for him." Barkley was replaced in the lineup by after surpassing the 2,000-yard mark. Barkley finished with 167 yards on 31 carries. He is now just 101 yards from breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record (2,105 yards). Now the question becomes: With the division wrapped up and the chances slim of capturing the No. 1 seed in the NFC, will he have a chance to chase Dickerson in the regular-season finale against the ? Sirianni will have to weigh allowing Barkley the chance to capture the rarest of records versus ensuring his health heading into the postseason. "I always have to do what's right for the football team to reach our goals of what we need to do," Sirianni said. "I've got a lot to think about." Johnson's stance was that the group had accomplished its goal of surpassing 2,000 yards and suggested the starters should rest Week 18 under the philosophy that it's "better to be safe than sorry." Left tackle , meanwhile, said he will "push for" the starters to play against New York even if the game has no meaning in terms of playoff seeding, though he sounded unsure whether Sirianni would go for it. "It's an opportunity to make history," Mailata said. "We never really spoke about the Giants next week, but we just had the feeling that if we don't go for it today, we might sit out. We don't know. Coach hasn't really said anything yet. We'll see." Barkley said he'll be fine with whatever Sirianni decides. "Whatever his decision is, I'm all for it," Barkley said. "If his mindset is, we'll go out there and try it, I'll go out there and try it. If his mindset is, let's rest and get ready for this run, I'm all for that, too ... I came here to do something special. Breaking a record is special but I want a banner up there. I think we all do." With the win, the Eagles completed their first season sweep of the Cowboys since 2011. This is the 20th straight season the NFC East does not have a repeat champion, which is the longest streak in NFL history. Philadelphia accomplished the feat while operating with its No. 2 and No. 3 quarterbacks at the controls. got the start for , who suffered a concussion against the last week. Pickett, a New Jersey native who grew up cheering for the Eagles, had a strong performance (10 of 15, 143 yards, 2 total touchdowns) but was playing through injured ribs and had to exit the game after a couple of hard hits during the opening series of the second half. "I'm good. I'll be all right," Pickett said. "Came in with a little bit of an injury. We'll do some more tests to see how it looks, but I'll be OK." , the 2023 sixth-round pick out of Stanford, received the bulk of the first-team reps Friday so Pickett could rest, Johnson said. McKee made the most of his opportunity, going 3-of-4 for 54 yards with 2 touchdown tosses. The Eagles (13-3) reached 13 wins for just the fourth time in franchise history. The other three times (2004, 2017, 2022) they went to the Super Bowl. There is one game left before the playoffs. Should Barkley sit out that game against his former team, it would be just fine with Dickerson, who made it clear to the Los Angeles Times he does not want Barkley to break his long-standing record. "If you had a record, would you want me to break your record?" Barkley said when asked to respond to Dickerson's comments. "It's an honor to ... have your name attached to that record and having guys chase it. Guys have been chasing that record for 40 years. I don't see it as a shot, I don't see it as throwing shade. You shouldn't want me to break that record. That's how I look at it."Remembering Jimmy Carter: Maryland leaders react to the death of the country’s 39th president
The Sultanate of Oman, represented by Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and the State of Palestine, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Sunday to strengthen cooperation in the fields of telecommunications and information technology. The agreement also aims to facilitate exchange of experiences and expertise in the digital economy. The MoU was signed by H E Saeed Hamood al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology of Oman, and Dr Abdul Razzaq al Natsheh, Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Economy of Palestine. H E Mawali informed that the agreement focuses on advancing the digital economy, with particular emphasis on areas such as digital government, cybersecurity, workforce training, and support for startups. He added that the MoU will facilitate business development and improve services in both countries. Some of the objectives outlined in the MoU are set to be implemented by the first quarter of 2025, including hosting Palestinian startups in Oman. Additionally, rapid progress is expected in the exchange of cybersecurity expertise with tangible results anticipated by 2025.AP Trending SummaryBrief at 11:43 p.m. EST