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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Front Row Motorsports, one of two teams suing NASCAR in federal court, accused the stock car series Thursday of rejecting the planned purchase of a valuable charter unless the lawsuit was dropped. Front Row made the claim in a court filing and said it involved its proposed purchase of the charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. Front Row said the series would only approve it if Front Row and 23XI Racing dropped their court case. “Specifically, NASCAR informed us that it would not approve the (charter) transfer unless we agreed to drop our current antitrust lawsuit against them,” Jerry Freeze, general manager of Front Row, said in an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina. The two teams in September refused to sign NASCAR's “take-it-or-leave-it” final offer on a new revenue sharing agreement. All other 13 teams signed the deal. Front Row and 23XI balked and are now in court. 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan has said he took the fight to court on behalf of all teams competing in the top motorsports series in the United States. NASCAR has argued that the two teams simply do not like the terms of the final charter agreement and asked for the lawsuit be dismissed. Earlier this week, the suit was transferred to a different judge than the one who heard the first round of arguments and ruled against the two teams in their request for a temporary injunction to be recognized in 2025 as chartered teams as the case proceeds. The latest filing is heavily redacted as it lays out alleged retaliatory actions by NASCAR the teams say have caused irreparable harm. Both Front Row and 23XI want to expand from two full-time cars to three, and have agreements with SHR to purchase one charter each as SHR goes from four cars to one for 2025. The teams can still compete next season but would have to do so as “open” teams that don't have the same protections or financial gains that come from holding a charter. Freeze claimed in the affidavit that Front Row signed a purchase agreement with SHR in April and NASCAR President Steve Phelps told Freeze in September the deal had been approved. But when Front Row submitted the paperwork last month, NASCAR began asking for additional information. A Dec. 4 request from NASCAR was “primarily related to our ongoing lawsuit with NASCAR,” Freeze said. “NASCAR informed us on December 5, 2024, that it objected to the transfer and would not approve it, in contrast to the previous oral approval for the transfer confirmed by Phelps before we filed the lawsuit,” Freeze said. “NASCAR made it clear that the reason it was now changing course and objecting to the transfer is because NASCAR is insisting that we drop the lawsuit and antitrust claims against it as a condition of being approved.” A second affidavit from Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI Racing, claims NASCAR accused 23XI and Front Row of manufacturing “new circumstances” in a renewed motion for an injunction and of a “coordinated effort behind the scenes.” “This is completely false,” Lauletta said. Front Row is owned by businessman Bob Jenkins, while 23XI is owned by retired NBA Hall of Famer Jordan, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and longtime Jordan adviser Curtis Polk. NASCAR had been operating with 36 chartered teams and four open spots since the charter agreement began in 2016. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. The teams contend they must be chartered under some of their contractual agreements with current sponsors and drivers, and competing next year as open teams will cause significant losses. “23XI exists to compete at the highest level of stock car racing, striving to become the best team it can be. But that ambition can only be pursued within NASCAR, which has monopolized the market as the sole top-tier circuit for stock car racing,” Lauletta said. "Our efforts to expand – purchasing more cars and increasing our presence on the track – are integral to achieving this goal. “It is not hypocritical to operate within the only system available while striving for excellence and contending for championships,” he continued. “It is a necessity because NASCAR’s monopoly leaves 23XI no alternative circuit, no different terms, and no other viable avenue to compete at this level.” AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racingnCino’s (NCNO) Outperform Rating Reiterated at William Blair
Related ArticlesFour New Small Business Lending Companies Authorized to Support America's Entrepreneurs in Underserved Communities WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman , head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America's more than 34 million small businesses in President Biden's Cabinet, announced that the SBA has granted Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) licenses to four lending institutions committed to expanding access to capital to underserved markets. The awarding of four new SBLCs-Cooperative Business Services, A10 Capital, Lafayette Square, and Stonehenge Capital-marks the SBLC program's second expansion during the Biden-Harris Administration and the second made in 40 years. This broadens the availability of 7(a) loans in low-income and other underserved communities nationwide from their locations in Ohio, Idaho, Washington, D.C., and Louisiana, respectively. "For the second time in over 40 years, the Biden-Harris SBA welcomes new lenders with a shared mission of filling capital gaps in underserved communities - the very same communities who are starting businesses at the highest rates in America today,” said Administrator Guzman. "With private markets playing an increasingly important role in small business lending, this expansion delivers against the Biden-Harris Administration's unwavering commitment to providing affordable financing to the incredible entrepreneurs and new business starts revitalizing Main Streets across America. Congratulations to the four new licensees as they work alongside the mission-focused teams at the SBA to put the American dream of business ownership within reach for more entrepreneurs.” The SBA approves SBLC licenses for selected non-depository lenders to increase responsible small business lending. An SBLC license allows the lending organization to access the SBA's 7(a) government guarantee program when underwriting small business loans to reduce the level of risk to the lender and cost to the borrower. As a result, SBLCs are positioned to underwrite higher volumes of loans to eligible small businesses than possible without a government guaranty. "Cooperative Business Services, LLC, is honored to receive an SBA SBLC license, a pivotal milestone that reinforces our commitment to serving communities through our innovative credit union consortium. By partnering with local credit unions, we can expand access to vital capital for underserved markets, empowering entrepreneurs to start, operate, and grow businesses that drive economic growth and strengthen the fabric of our communities,” said Cooperative Business Services, LLC., President and CEO Keith Reed. "This achievement underscores our dedication to fostering collaboration and supporting the credit unions that make our mission possible.” "A10 Capital is truly honored to receive a new SBLC license from the SBA. We look forward to applying our decades of knowledge, expertise and experience to provide lending solutions to small businesses nationwide that are unable to access constructive forms of credit elsewhere,” said A10 Capital CEO Anuj Gupta. "Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy and we are eager to quickly launch operations and commence providing capital to small businesses across a wide range of sectors, industry groups and geographies.” "Lafayette Square USA, Inc., appreciates receiving this new SBLC license that will allow our private credit platform to expand into 7(a) lending,” said Lafayette Square USA, Inc., President and CEO Damien Dwin. "As a business development company with two SBIC licenses, we are committed to partnering with SBA in pursuit of our Goal 2030 to support 100,000 working-class jobs, invest 50% of our capital in working-class places including rural areas, and see 50% adoption of managerial assistance across our portfolio. Our business model relies upon marrying capital, services, and technology for American small businesses, making this SBLC license incredibly valuable in driving our performance. We look forward to supporting entrepreneurs in working-class places across the country.” "For over 25 years, Stonehenge Capital has supported small businesses in underserved communities across the country,” said Stonehenge Capital Senior Managing Director of L'Quentus Thomas. "With our impact focus, we have helped entrepreneurs and small business owners grow their businesses by accessing capital that can be difficult to obtain in many areas. The SBLC license will give us a new tool to provide SBA 7(a) capital to small businesses with a particular focus on low-moderate income and rural areas in the U.S. We are honored that the SBA chose Stonehenge, and we look forward to playing a part in growing strong businesses and new jobs in underserved communities.” With this second expansion of four new SBLC licenses, SBA now has expanded the network from 14 SBLCs to 20 SBLCs helping to bring capital to new markets. About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov . CONTACT: SBA HQ Press Team U.S. Small Business Administration [email protected]In 2011, a shock celebrity break-up garnered headlines around the world – not the separation of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, nor Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, but the sudden, inexplicable rupture between Bibi and Poldi, two 115-year-old Galápagos tortoises at Happ reptile zoo in Austria. After nearly a century as a couple, the female, Bibi, had had enough: one day, she bit a chunk off Poldi’s shell, drawing blood, and continued to attack him until zoo staff moved him to a separate enclosure. In the wild, Galápagos tortoises are , so it’s no small feat that Bibi and Poldi’s liaison lasted as long as it did, though their coupling never produced any offspring. Unfortunately, attempts at reconciliation were not successful. “We get the feeling they can’t stand the sight of each other any more,” the zoo’s director, Helga Happ, . Why do breakups occur? Among humans it’s a question that has engendered ballads, provided rich fodder for novelists and continues to intrigue scientists. In many mammals, there’s no parental care by the dad To break up, of course, you have to be together in the first place. In social monogamy, animals live together and form strong ties known as pair bonds – though sexual faithfulness is a separate question. In mammals, humans are among the exceptions: social monogamy has been observed in less than 10% of mammal species. That low figure comes down to the difference in parental investment between males and females, says Prof Simon Griffith, an evolutionary ecologist at Macquarie University. In most mammal species, parental care comes primarily from the female, who invests hugely in gestating and providing milk for her young. “In many mammals, there’s no parental care by the dad,” Griffith says. “It may be that he’ll do a bit of guarding, or he’ll hold the territory, but ... he can’t really provide that much for the offspring. “In birds, it’s completely different. The dad can actually care almost as much as the female in terms of delivering food. “That’s why birds tend to have partnerships and mammals don’t.” Before methods to establish paternity existed, evidence suggested that birds as a group were mostly sexually monogamous, says Prof Raoul Mulder, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Melbourne. “If you look at whether or not a particular species pairs, and how long they pair for, and how long they stay together for, and you classify all the known birds, you’d arrive at a figure of over 90%,” Mulder says. But after genetic testing techniques were developed, scientists began to realise that birds were not as faithful as previously believed that social and sexual monogamy don’t necessarily go hand in hand. Mulder’s work on the found that born in nests were fathered by other males. That astonishing rate of cuckoldry is bested only by the Australian magpie, at a . On the whole, however, Australian birds tend to divorce less than European species, Griffith says, as strong partnerships are required to survive fickle environmental conditions. In the northern hemisphere, the timing of breeding seasons is predictable, tied to day length, but in Australia the decision to breed also depends on climatic factors. Australian birds tend to divorce less than European species “Some years, you literally don’t get any rain that’s meaningful and nothing grows, and the birds and animals that live there can’t breed,” Griffith says of Australia’s arid zone. “[Breeding] is a much more complicated decision at an individual level but, if you’re in a good partnership, you can together optimise that decision.” Among birds, the poster child for monogamy is the wandering albatross, which can live up to 50 years and usually mates for life. “This bird takes such a long time to establish a pair bond,” says Dr Ruijiao Sun, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “If an individual loses their partner, it takes years to bond with a new one to be able to start breeding again. “Wandering albatrosses only have one egg at each breeding season but there always needs to be one parent sitting on the nest to protect their chick and do the incubating but they also need to forage ... so they have to take turns. “It really takes two to be able to raise their chicks.” Sun suggests long-lived species such as the wandering albatross benefit more from strong pair bonds. “Each time they breed, they fine-tune their behaviours – they coordinate with each other much better, making reproduction effortless [over time].” Short-lived species, in contrast, might be more ready to ditch their partner to maximise breeding opportunities. Even so, Sun’s research estimates that the divorce rate in wandering albatrosses is about 10%. (Compare this to the king penguin, which, though while with a partner, divorces at a rate .) Other factors that might drive animals to divorce – what scientists call mate switching – include a high mortality rate and a . Both drive up competition for mates, creating temptation for those of the minority sex to shack up with someone more appealing. Research is also emerging that the climate crisis may also play a role in divorce. In a , which nest in rock crevices in Antarctica, Sun and her co-authors found that the number of snow days in a breeding season was directly linked to the rate of break-ups. Too much snow fills nests and freezes the eggs, leading to incubation failure. “They may either abandon their previous nest or abandon their partner,” Sun says, adding that the stress of constant snow-shovelling might make birds “blame their partner more than they normally would do”. The work projected that declining sea ice under climate change would also affect survival rates in future, skewing the sex ratio. “We will have a lot of males in a population, and fewer females available to mate with them,” Sun says. probably also play a role in the Falkland Islands, where unusually warm water temperatures have been linked to in black-browed albatrosses. “Environmentally driven divorce,” the researchers suggested at the time, “may therefore represent an overlooked consequence of global change”.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay's team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don't stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they've mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other's weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay's fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams' offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. Stafford's 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday's weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. CB Cobie Durant didn't play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA's first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon's recent play when asked why Durant didn't get on the field in New Jersey. The Rams' improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee's successful season debut. 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can't clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC's third seed, but that doesn't matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North's two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. AP NFL:
Barclays PLC raised its position in Embecta Corp. ( NASDAQ:EMBC – Free Report ) by 41.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 97,930 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 28,523 shares during the period. Barclays PLC owned about 0.17% of Embecta worth $1,381,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in EMBC. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Embecta in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Copeland Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Embecta in the third quarter valued at about $43,000. Iat Reinsurance Co. LTD. purchased a new stake in shares of Embecta in the second quarter valued at about $50,000. CWM LLC grew its position in shares of Embecta by 11.3% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 10,102 shares of the company’s stock valued at $142,000 after purchasing an additional 1,023 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new position in shares of Embecta during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $140,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.83% of the company’s stock. Embecta Price Performance NASDAQ:EMBC opened at $20.70 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $1.20 billion, a PE ratio of 15.33, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.25. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $17.22 and a 200-day simple moving average of $15.16. Embecta Corp. has a 1-year low of $9.93 and a 1-year high of $21.48. Embecta Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th were paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.90%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 6th. Embecta’s payout ratio is 44.44%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on EMBC shares. BTIG Research raised Embecta from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $26.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Morgan Stanley raised Embecta from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $13.00 to $20.00 in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on EMBC Embecta Company Profile ( Free Report ) Embecta Corp., a medical device company, focuses on the provision of various solutions to enhance the health and wellbeing of people living with diabetes. Its products include pen needles, syringes, and safety injection devices, as well as digital applications to assist people with managing patient's diabetes. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Embecta Using the MarketBeat Dividend Yield Calculator Buffett Takes the Bait; Berkshire Buys More Oxy in December Stock Average Calculator Top 3 ETFs to Hedge Against Inflation in 2025 What is a buyback in stocks? A comprehensive guide for investors These 3 Chip Stock Kings Are Still Buys for 2025 Receive News & Ratings for Embecta Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Embecta and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .NEW YORK (WABC) -- This week on "Playing the Field" Ryan and Jen talk about the latest news in Bachelor Nation. But first, Gina Sirico is out of the studio. She attended Jingle Ball in California where she was able to catch up with several members of Bachelor Nation! Among them, our favorite "Golden" couple, Joan and Chock! They also reveal one couple that Joan tried to set up didn't end up working out. Meantime, Kathy, Susan, and Nancy were elated to be on the red carpet. They shared a fun time with Gina! Next, Ryan and Jen recap all things Bachelor. First, Jenn Tran and Sasha attend the Eras Tour in Vancouver. Are they just friends? Or something more? Also, Jonathon, Jenn's ex-suitor and very good friend attends the Kansas City Chiefs game with a group of men from "The Golden Bachelorette." Finally, the very first "Bachelorette" couple celebrates a special occasion. Follow us now and never miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts Click here to subscribe on Spotify Click here to subscribe on iHeartNew 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns
N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Chadians voted Sunday amid a low turnout in parliamentary and regional elections that will end a three-year transitional period from military rule but which the main opposition is boycotting after accusing authorities of not overseeing a credible electoral process. The parliamentary election is the first in more than a decade in and comes months after the junta leader, Mahamat Idriss Deby, that was meant to return democracy. Deby took power in 2021 following the death of his father and longtime president Idriss Deby Itno, who spent three decades in power. Voting ended late Monday although official results won't be known for about two weeks. The election will “pave the way for the era of decentralization so long awaited and desired by the Chadian people," Deby said. The oil-exporting country of 18 million people, among Africa’s poorest, had not had a free and fair transfer of power since it became independent from France in 1960. The elections this year are the first in in Africa’s Sahel region to hold a promised but delayed return to democracy. At least 8 million voters are registered to elect 188 legislators in the Central African nation’s new National Assembly. Representatives at the provincial and municipal levels will also be elected. There was a low voter turnout in the capital N’Djamena, where only a handful of voters were seen in some polling stations. “We hope that the people we voted for do a good job for a better Chad, a Chad with a future," said Mahamat Issa Hissein, who voted in the capital. More than 10 opposition parties are boycotting the vote, including the main Transformers party, whose candidate, Succes Masra, came second in the presidential election. The party has criticized the parliamentary election, as well as the presidential vote that many observers were banned from, as a “charade” and a ploy for Deby to remain in power to continue a “dynasty." Masra briefly earlier this year after returning from exile before he resigned to run for president. On Saturday, he alleged that results of the vote would be tampered with and told voters, “It is better to stay at home.” Sunday's election comes at a critical period for Chad, which is battling several security challenges from in the Lake Chad region to the with France, its key ally. Mahamat Oumar Adam, a Chadian political scientist, said the main issue at stake in the election is not losing the country's democracy to a prolonged transition. That transition began in 2021, and featured a national dialogue in 2022, a constitutional referendum in 2023 and this year’s presidential election. “This is the last stage of the process of exiting the transition (but) the shortcoming is related to the lack of opposition in this election,” Adam said. —- Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria. Mouta Ali And Chinedu Asadu, The Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY – As infrequent as losses have been for the Wild, what’s even rarer is two in a row. Only twice have the Wild dropped back-to-back games, and both “skids” included a shootout finish. They’ve followed up every regulation defeat with a win, meaning the longest they’ve gone without picking up a point is a single game. To keep their perfect response record intact, the Wild will need another bounce-back effort in their road trip finale on Tuesday in their first appearance at Utah after a lull over the weekend to Los Angeles. “Same as when you win,” captain Jared Spurgeon said. “Once that win’s done, you’re onto the next one. Take things from every game on video, just what we can improve on. But once that one’s done, you can’t really do much about it so you’re looking forward to the next one.” The Wild’s five regulation losses through 27 games are the fewest in the NHL, and the Kings are responsible for two of them. After pulling away late on Nov. 5 for a 5-1 victory, Los Angeles nabbed a first-period lead on Saturday before building and bubble wrapping it the rest of the way to edge the Wild 4-1 — a result that was indicative of the Kings’ stingy style but also the Wild playing their second game in 22 hours and not being as in-sync and sharp as they usually are. They had a couple days to reset, including a practice on Monday to check out Delta Center in Salt Lake City where the Utah Hockey Club has relocated from Arizona for its inaugural season, and the Wild are getting healthier. Jakub Lauko is ready to return after the winger missed six games with what he described as a muscle injury. “Nothing serious, but it’s one where you need to take time to make sure it’s 100% because it could get worse or it could be longer,” said Lauko, who was acquired by the Wild in an offseason trade with Boston for Vinni Lettieri. “So, we took the time to get it proper, and I feel good on the ice now.” Lauko has two goals and two assists and skated alongside Frederick Gaudreau and Yakov Trenin on the Wild’s third line. The team also made a switch with its extra defenseman, sending David Jiricek to the minors and calling up Cameron Crotty to replace him. Jiricek has yet to crack the lineup since the Wild added him in a trade from Columbus on Nov. 30. But after the onboarding process, which included getting a feel for the team and its expectations for practices and games, the Wild want him to get back in action; Jiricek’s last game was Nov. 29, and he’s logged just 10 games total between the American Hockey League and NHL. “It was really good for him and self-admittedly that was nice,” coach John Hynes said. “But he wants to play, too, and it’s important for him to go down and play, work on some things that we want to see him execute, but get back into playing hockey.” That outlook also applies to the Wild, who have embraced a business-like, forward-thinking attitude to have their victories outnumber their defeats. “We enjoy [wins],” Hynes said. “We celebrate them, for sure. But I think when you lose, it’s not getting too low and everything’s not lost. I think it’s our job to have that demeanor with the team, but it’s also our job to take the things out of the game that are going to help us improve from that one either way: Reinforce the good, but also I think it’s important to turn the page quick to prepare for the next team.” Wild at Utah Hockey Club, Delta Center, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday TV; radio: ESPN+/Hulu; 100.3 FM Utah update : Utah is in the middle of the Central Division, continuing the strides the franchise started to make in Arizona before relocating. The team has won two in a row, sweeping its recent road trip to Buffalo and Philadelphia, and has just one regulation loss in its last six games. Utah has actually been better on the road, going 4-5-2 in its first season at Delta Center. LW Clayton Keller leads Utah in scoring with 24 points (seven goals and 17 assists). Blaine native and former Gopher Nick Bjugstad scored four goals, including a hat trick, vs. the Wild last season. Injuries : Wild D Jonas Brodin (upper body), C Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) and RW Mats Zuccarello (lower body) are out. Utah D Sean Durzi (shoulder), G Connor Ingram (upper body), D Maverick Lamoureux (upper body) and D John Marino (back) are out.Amazon now makes some of its chips: “ Amazon ’s cloud computing arm Amazon Web Services Tuesday announced plans for an “Ultracluster,” a massive AI supercomputer made up of hundreds of thousands of its homegrown Trainium chips, as well as a new server, the latest efforts by its AI chip design lab based in Austin, Texas. The chip cluster will be used by the AI startup Anthropic, in which the retail and cloud-computing giant recently invested an additional $4 billion.“ -WSJ Apple to use its own modem on some products: “ Apple will release its own modem next spring as it looks to replace technology from rival Qualcomm, Bloomberg reports, citing anonymous sources. The in-house modem, code-named Sinope, will debut in the iPhone SE, Apple’s entry-level smartphone.” – LinkedIn News What is going on? After years of neglect, companies are now looking for how hardware will catch up with software. Yes, the advancement of software systems is multiples ahead of hardware, even though there is a limitation for any software system, bounded by hardware. In other words, to advance those clicks, you have to have the hardware to process and compute them, and when there is a limitation on hardware, software underperforms. Nvidia picked that construct and touched the face of alpha-wealth. Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025 ) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts. Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here. Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and i nvest in Africa’s finest startups here . However, Nvidia chips are very expensive and that will limit participation of many companies and countries in the productive part of AI development and evolution, over mere acceleration of consumerism. The question becomes: how do you solve the hardware problems, and tap into the opportunities? You need to recruit, train and deploy the capabilities of young people. Interestingly, in the next decade, that broad electronics and microelectronics domain will be a huge career opportunity in tech as hardware will take years to evolve to support the AI era. Nigeria has a massive opportunity in this space. There was a time we exported software engineers via Andela, etc, the next age will be hardware guys! If Nigeria’s National Universities Commission can offer a small waiver, to give a temporary license, to run and operate a focused technical university*, on presentation of fund availability of N5 billion, Tekedia Capital will work with partners to set up such a school in Nigeria. Upon the presentation of this license, takeoff will happen within 24 months. But the requirement to build a campus before a license is issued does not work with our US institutional technical partners. Our vision is not to ask students to pay full tuition, but pay when they start work, and we plan to help on job placements. Who can help to make this happen for that license? *this has to be a university to attract the smartest kids. Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA (Feb 10 - May 3, 2025), and join Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe and our global faculty; click here .
FCS National Championship leaving Frisco after 2024 season due to Toyota Stadium renovation project
Urfan Sharif told social workers that his daughter Sara “brings a smile to my face” before he went on to murder her, new documents show. Sharif, who was convicted of Sara’s murder on Wednesday, also described her as “one of the best kids” when visited by social workers in February 2015. But staff at Surrey County Council had previously recorded that they did not “trust” Sharif, and described his parenting style as “quite dictatorial”. Sharif was found guilty of murdering his daughter in August last year along with her stepmother, Beinash Batool. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, was convicted of causing or allowing her death following a trial at the Old Bailey. Documents previously released to the media from three separate sets of family court proceedings – which were allowed to be published following the verdicts – showed that concerns were raised by Surrey County Council about Sara’s care within a week of her birth in 2013, with Sharif and Sara’s mother, Olga, known to social services as early as 2010. But new documents, released on Thursday, show that in 2014, a social worker said engagements with the parents “causes the local authority not to trust” Sharif. The same year, the council applied for Sara to be taken into emergency care, telling a family court it had “significant concerns” about the children returning to Sharif, “given the history of allegations of physical abuse of the children and domestic abuse with Mr Sharif as the perpetrator”. As part of that application, the council told the court that in 2013, Sharif was assessed as having “repeatedly overlooked” the needs of Sara and her siblings, and said “there is no evidence to suggest that this assessment of Mr Sharif would be any different now”. The report added that “there is evidence to suggest Mr Sharif poses a risk” to Sara, and that she was at “immediate risk of harm”. As part of the same set of proceedings, a report by a social worker said: “Mr Sharif described Sara as ‘one of the best kids, she is very good and brings a smile to my face. She gives hugs and kisses, she plays with you, she understands what you say to her and knows what she needs when going out. She has very good hygiene and is not a messy eater.” But the social worker recorded that Sharif demonstrated “some emotional warmth” to Sara, but said “it can be inconsistent”, and also recorded that Sharif stated that Sara had “‘no option’ but to listen to him, which comes across as quite dictatorial”. Despite the council’s concerns, Sara remained in contact with her father, and later moved to his home in Woking in 2019. Having previously said in 2015 that there is “no violence in our home”, Sharif later admitted to jurors at his trial that he hit Sara with a cricket bat as she was bound with packaging tape, repeatedly throttled her with his bare hands, and battered her over the head with a mobile phone, in a campaign of abuse. He will be sentenced alongside Batool and Malik on Tuesday. Following the guilty verdicts, Rachael Wardell, executive director for children, families and lifelong learning at Surrey County Council, said: “Sara’s death is incredibly distressing and we share in the profound horror at the terrible details that have emerged during the trial. “We cannot begin to comprehend the suffering that poor Sara endured at the hands of members of her family who should have loved, protected, and cared for her. “The focus of the trial has been on the evidence needed to secure the convictions of those responsible for Sara’s death. This means that until the independent safeguarding review concludes, a complete picture cannot be understood or commented upon. “What is clear from the evidence we’ve heard in court is that the perpetrators went to extreme lengths to conceal the truth from everyone. “We are resolute in our commitment to protecting children, and we are determined to play a full and active part in the forthcoming review alongside partner agencies, to thoroughly understand the wider circumstances surrounding Sara’s tragic death.”
Role of literature in building harmonious society highlighted Islamabad:The ninth ‘Adab Festival Pakistan’ hosted by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad in collaboration with Lightstone Publishers featured engaging daylong sessions highlighting the role played by literature in building a harmonious society. ISSI Director General and former ambassador Sohail Mahmood emphasised Pakistan’s literary richness and ISSI’s commitment to fostering creativity through literature. He highlighted the Adab Festival’s role in promoting book reading, especially among youth, as a vital balancing factor in the digital age. Mahmood lauded the festival as a platform to celebrate cultural pluralism, inspire dialogue, and explore creative ideas. Ameena Saiyid of Lightstone Publishers highlighted the transformative power of literature festivals in honouring writers, researchers, and poets, while addressing societal challenges and reinforcing cultural identity. Dr. Najeeba Arif of Pakistan academy of Letters emphasised literature’s role in fostering humanity, hope, and soft power, stressing its influence in shaping a nation’s cultural and intellectual landscape. The first session of the Adab Festival, titled ‘Jinnah's Vision for Pakistan – A Call for Action,’ featured insightful remarks by Barrister Yasser Latif Hamdani, author of the book. Barrister Hamdani emphasised Jinnah’s role as a key legislator in Pakistan’s formation, contrasting his inclusive vision with Gandhi’s focus on religion in politics. He said Jinnah envisioned a state, promoting harmony among diverse communities while fostering a modern Muslim society grounded in its religious roots. The session highlighted the need to realign contemporary discourse with Jinnah’s ideals, advocating for a more inclusive and harmonious society. The second session, titled ‘Leadership and Legacy,’ featured an engaging discussion with former ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi and journalists Zahid Hussain and Arifa Noor. Zahid Hussain stressed the importance of history for the younger generation, reflecting on Pakistan's challenges and sharing insights from interviews with figures like Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Rajiv Gandhi. Dr. Maleeha Lodhi highlighted unlearned lessons from history; missed opportunities in land reforms, education etc.; and the role of individuals in shaping history. Arifa Noor explored the evolution of political leaders and the need for balanced journalism to capture complex realities. Following an inspiring Sufi performance by Arieb Azhar, the third session of the Adab Festival, titled ‘Reimagining Education: New Frontiers and Opportunities,’ focused on critical challenges and innovative solutions in the education sector. Former secretary Shakeel Durani highlighted illiteracy as a central issue, advocating for community schools and emphasizing that just Rs15 billion annually could enrol 26 million out-of-school children. He also called for technology and policy interventions in remote areas. Ehtesham Anwar stressed the need to prioritize education and address overpopulation and systemic issues. Uzma Yousuf highlighted the role of parents, economic relevance in education, and the importance of teacher training. Hassan Khan advocated for a shift towards Education 5.0, incorporating AI, augmented reality, and project-based learning to equip students with future-ready skills, urging a collective responsibility for systemic transformation. The fourth session of the Adab Festival, titled ‘Her Story, Her Voice: Celebrating Women's Empowerment,’ explored themes of activism, optimism, and collaboration. Dr. Fouzia Saeed, the author of the book, emphasised the need to highlight positive advancements in the country to foster a sense of hope. Fazila Aliani reflected on her advocacy for Balochistan, calling for political collaboration and collective action to drive progress. The fifth session, titled "Pakistan and the Changing Global Scenario," moderated by Omayr Aziz Saiyid, focused on Pakistan’s strategic positioning amid global power shifts. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed discussed the "Asian Century," emphasizing Pakistan's ‘tactical’ ties with the US and “strategic” partnership with China. He called for political reconciliation and a strong counter-terrorism strategy.
The Salt Typhoon hack is one of the largest attacks on US telecommunications ever, officials say. The yearslong attack originated in China and targeted major telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon. The NSA says it believes Chinese hackers were targeting senior US political figures. US security officials have warned that millions of people's personal information could be at risk after a yearslong hacking campaign originating in China. The US government started investigating the hack in the summer after Microsoft — which named the hack the Salt Typhoon — sounded alarms about anomalies. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, White House Deputy national security advisor Anne Neuberger said that while data belonging to millions of Americans was likely compromised, the hack targeted senior US officials. "We believe the calls they recorded and took was really more focused on very senior political individuals," she said. A report from the Congressional Research Office said Chinese hackers may have sought access to presidential candidates' communications. "With that access, they could potentially retrieve unencrypted communication (e.g., voice calls and text messages)," the report says. A senior NSA official said in October that hackers from China accessed information from AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies, according to NBC. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner told The Washington Post that the hack is the "worst telecom hack in our nation's history by far." "This is an ongoing effort by China to infiltrate telecom systems around the world, to exfiltrate huge amounts of data," Warner told the outlet. The New York Times reported that hackers from China went undetected inside American telecommunications companies for over a year and obtained a nearly complete list of phone numbers that the Justice Department monitors in its "lawful intercept" system. The lawful intercept system is what allows law enforcement, through a court order, to wiretap or "bug" phone calls. The FBI warned that all US citizens should use a cellphone that automatically updates its operating system and use encryption and multifactor authentication for email and social media accounts. Neuberger said in an earlier press call on Wednesday that the government does not believe any of the targeted telecom companies have "fully removed" the Chinese hackers from their networks, and communications are still at risk. Senior White House officials on the call said the hack has been ongoing for "likely one to two years." "President Biden has been briefed multiple times on this compromise," Neuberger told reporters. She added that the White House "has made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom of this." Neuberger said that White House leaders are meeting three times a week to discuss the hack. The Senate Commerce Subcommittee will hold a hearing on December 11 to discuss security threats to communications networks and review best practices for providers to mitigate consumer risks. The committee will focus on the Salt Typhoon attacks in the hearing.
Young people will be able to use government-backed to prove they are old enough to drink alcohol under legal changes to take effect next year. They will be able to sign up to digital ID companies that are certified against Government-set standards for security and reliability and then use the app on their smartphone to prove they are over 18 when visiting pubs, restaurants and shops. It is part of a to move more state functions online so that people can prove their identity for everything from paying taxes to opening a bank account using the government-backed app. It will use a “single sign-on”, rather than the two-step identity verification currently needed online, for all government services including applying for benefits. Although it is a step towards wider use of digital IDs, Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out ID cards and has insisted that it will not make digital ID mandatory despite to do so to combat illegal migration and black market working. The changes are being enacted through the Data (Use and Access) Bill currently before Parliament which means companies that provide digital identity services can seek independent certification against Government-set standards for security and reliability. If successful, the services will be able to join a Gov.uk register and display a trust mark. As part of that change, next year digital IDs from these trusted providers can be used to prove a holder’s age when buying alcohol in pubs, restaurants and shops. The first step will be to give landlords and retailers the ability to scan digital identities to verify a customer’s age without unnecessarily disclosing personal information such as their name or address, as is the case with driving licences. The change will involve a quick check – like scanning a QR code or using technology similar to contactless bank cards. It is likely to be integrated into supermarkets’ and shops’ check-out scanning systems which will end the delays for customers when they have to call over the attendant to physically confirm they are old enough to buy alcohol – even if they are pensioners. Providers that could be verified include Yoti, a digital ID app. It recently introduced a new student feature, which enables people with a physical student card to register it as a digital ID. A public register of products that meet government standards will be published on Gov.uk. Officials insist will not be compulsory and people will still be able to use paper documents such as passports and utility bills to prove their identity. As part of the drive to digitalise existing identity documents, the Government has recently unveiled plans to enable about 250,000 former service personnel to access digital veteran cards on their smartphones starting next year. The digital identification document will help veterans to prove their status and speed up access to services and support programmes.