b hip company
Tinubu appoints new CEOs for NUC, NERDC, others
NoneThe Prime Minister insisted the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as he made a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, but for the first time acknowledged the conflict could move towards a negotiated end. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks suggested he is open to a possible ceasefire with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Kyiv and its European allies meanwhile fear the advent of Donald Trump’s return to the White House could result in American aid being halted. President-elect Trump has said he would prefer to move towards a peace deal, and has claimed he could end the conflict on “day one” of his time in power. As he attempts to strike up a good relationship with the incoming president, Sir Keir revealed he had told Mr Trump the UK “will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come”. In his speech at London’s Guildhall, the Prime Minister said there is “no question it is right we support Ukraine”, as the UK’s aid to Kyiv is “deeply in our self-interest”. Allowing Russia to win the war would mean “other autocrats would believe they can follow Putin’s example,” he warned. Sir Keir added: “So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.” Mr Zelensky told Sky News over the weekend he would be open to speaking with Mr Putin, but branded the Russian president a “terrorist”. He also suggested Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia. In a banquet speech focused on foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said it was “plain wrong” to suggest the UK must choose between its allies, adding: “I reject it utterly. “(Clement) Attlee did not choose between allies. (Winston) Churchill did not choose. “The national interest demands that we work with both.” Sir Keir said the UK and the US were “intertwined” when it came to commerce, technology and security. The Prime Minister added: “That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.” He also repeated his commitment to “rebuild our ties with Europe” and insisted he was right to try to build closer links with China. “It is remarkable that until I met President Xi last month there had been no face-to-face meeting between British and Chinese leaders for six years,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t simply look the other way. We need to engage. To co-operate, to compete and to challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well as addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians,” he added. The Prime Minister said he wants Britain’s role in the world to be that of “a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”. He added: “To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do. “Every exchange we have with other nations, every agreement we enter into to deliver for the British people and show, beyond doubt, that Britain is back.” Ahead of Sir Keir’s speech, Lord Mayor Alastair King urged the Prime Minister and his Government to loosen regulations on the City of London to help it maintain its competitive edge. In an echo of Sir Keir’s commitment to drive the UK’s economic growth, the Lord Mayor said: “The idealist will dream of growth, but the pragmatist understands that our most effective machinery to drive growth is here in the City, in the hands of some of the brightest and most committed people that you will find anywhere in the world.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland announced Monday that he will run to become the top Democrat on the powerful House Judiciary Committee next year, directly challenging fellow Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler as the party prepares to fight a second Trump administration and an emboldened Republican majority. “House Democrats must stand in the breach to defend the principles and institutions of constitutional democracy,” Raskin wrote in a letter to colleagues. “That is our historic assignment now. We dare not fail.” Raskin said in the letter — obtained by The Associated Press — that he decided to run for the post after spending the week consulting with House Democrats and “engaging in serious introspection” about where the party is following their stunning electoral defeat last month that handed Republicans control of Congress and the White House. While currently the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Raskin said that come next year, the Judiciary Committee under his leadership would become “the headquarters of Congressional opposition to authoritarianism” as well as other efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to thwart the Constitution. Being the face of the resistance against Trump is not new territory for Raskin who spent the last two years on Oversight as the most vocal defender of President Joe Biden and his family as they faced a sprawling Republican investigation — encouraged by Trump — into their various business affairs. Raskin, who is a former constitutional law professor, also helped draft articles of impeachment against the incoming president for his encouragement of the violent mob on Jan. 6, 2021, and led the impeachment prosecution in the Senate. But by throwing his hat in the ring, Raskin is inviting what a bitter intra-party fight with Nadler, who is currently serving his 17th term in Congress and who has held the top spot on Judiciary since 2019. Democrats have over the years rarely broken from the seniority system for committee assignments, no matter how long someone has held a position, making the outcome of the race uncertain. Both men did not respond to requests for comment but Raskin closed his letter by praising Nadler, saying that he made this decision “with respect and boundless admiration” for him. “If I’m lucky enough to be chosen for this responsibility in the 119th Congress, I will turn to Jerry first and throughout for his always wise counsel and political judgment,” Raskin added.ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Sydney Shaw scored 20 points and made four 3-pointers, JJ Quinerly added 14 points and No. 12 West Virginia handed Boise State its first loss, 82-47 on Saturday in the Gulf Coast Showcase. West Virginia advances to the championship game on Sunday, while Boise State plays for third place. The Mountaineers have started 8-0 in back-to-back seasons after last year's 11-0 beginning. Quinerly also had three steals to help West Virginia reach double figures in that category in every game this season. The Mountaineers also forced 20-plus turnovers for the eighth straight game. Boise State was held to just six points in the first and third quarters. West Virginia went on two 10-0 runs in the first quarter to build a 16-point lead. The Mountaineers led by double figures the rest of the way. It was 45-23 at halftime then Quinerly scored four straight points to begin a 9-0 run that ended in a 32-point lead. Freshman Jordan Thomas, coming off her first career double-double, had 10 points and six rebounds for West Virginia. Elodie Lalotte scored 11 points for Boise State (7-1). Teryn Gardner addd 10. West Virginia was coming off an 89-54 victory over High Point on Friday to begin the tournament. The Mountaineers led by as many as 39 points and forced 22 turnovers in that one. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
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Aidan O'Connell shows in loss to Chiefs that he is the Raiders' QB for the rest of seasonRICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Matt Morrissey threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Calwise Jr. that ended the scoring midway through the fourth quarter and Eastern Kentucky beat North Alabama 21-15 on Saturday for its fifth straight win. TJ Smith drove North Alabama to the EKU 45-yard line before he threw an interception to Mike Smith Jr. to end the game. Smith threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Warfield to give North Alabama a 15-14 lead with 10:37 to play. Morrissey completed 9 of 15 passes for 154 yards and added 60 yards on the ground with a touchdown run. Brayden Latham added 103 yards rushing on 19 carries that included a 2-yard score for Eastern Kentucky (8-4, 6-2 United Athletic Conference). Smith was 23-of-39 passing for 325 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for North Alabama (3-9, 2-5). Tanaka Scott had 109 yards receiving and a touchdown catch. ___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. ___ AP college football: and The Associated PressA DUP minister rebuffed a suggestion that there could be an extension of pub opening hours in Northern Ireland to celebrate the golden jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, declassified files show. Stormont minister Maurice Morrow told an official he would not raise the issue with the Northern Ireland Executive, despite similar measures being considered in England and Wales. A file on planning arrangements for the jubilee celebrations reveals a series of civil service correspondences on how Northern Ireland would mark the occasion. It includes a letter sent on January 11 2001 from an official in the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) to the Department of Social Development, advising that a committee had been set up in London to consider a programme of celebrations. The correspondence says: “One of the issues the committee is currently considering is the possibility of deregulating liquor licensing laws during the golden jubilee celebrations on the same lines as the arrangements made for the millennium. “It is felt that the golden jubilee bank holiday on Monday 3 June 2002 is likely to be an occasion on which many public houses and similar licensed premises would wish to stay open beyond normal closing time.” The letter said a paper had been prepared on the issue of extending opening hours. It adds: “You will note that paragraph seven of the paper indicates that the devolved administrations ‘would need to consider deregulation separately within their own jurisdictions’. “I thought that you would wish to be aware that this issue is receiving active consideration for England and Wales and to consider whether anything needs to be done for Northern Ireland.” Some months later a “progress report” was sent between officials in OFMDFM, which again raised the issue of licensing laws. It says: “I spoke to Gordon Gibson, DSD, about Terry Smith’s letter of 12 January 2001 about licensing laws: the matter was put to their minister Maurice Morrow (DUP) who indicated that he would not be asking the NIE (Northern Ireland Executive) to approve any change to current licensing laws in NI to allow for either 24 hour opening (as at the millennium) nor a blanket approval for extended opening hours as is being considered in GB. “In both cases, primary legislation would be required here and would necessitate consultation and the minister has ruled out any consultation process.” The correspondence says individual licensees could still apply for an extension to opening hours on an ad hoc basis, adding “there the matter rests”. It goes on: “DSD await further pronouncements from the Home Office and Gibson and I have agreed to notify each other of any developments we become aware of and he will copy me to any (existing) relevant papers. “Ministers may well come under pressure in due course for a relaxation and/or parity with GB.” The document concludes “That’s it so far...making haste slowly?” Emails sent between officials in the department the same month said that lord lieutenants in Northern Ireland had been approached about local events to mark the jubilee. One message says: “Lord lieutenants have not shown any enthusiasm for encouraging GJ celebrations at a local level. “Lady Carswell in particular believes that it would be difficult for LLs to encourage such activities without appearing political.”
On the evening of Sunday, December 29, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter , who was also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, passed away at the age of 100. His son confirmed the news of his death without specifying the cause. In February 2023, following multiple hospitalizations, the Carter Center announced that the former president had decided to forego further medical treatment and return home to receive only palliative care. In his last public appearance two months ago, Carter celebrated his 100th birthday in the garden of his Georgia home, surrounded by family and friends. Last November, his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, passed away. Carter had expressed his desire to live long enough to vote for Kamala Harris as President of the United States, telling his son Chip, “I’m trying to hold on so I can vote for Harris.” Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, served from January 20, 1977, to January 20, 1981. He secured his party’s nomination on the first ballot at the 1976 Democratic National Convention and won the election on November 2, 1976. Key foreign policy achievements during his administration included the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords, the Egypt-Israel peace treaty, the SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union, and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Carter championed human rights worldwide. Domestically, his administration enacted a comprehensive energy program through the newly created Department of Energy, deregulated various industries, and passed significant environmental legislation, including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which doubled the size of the national park system and tripled wilderness areas. James Earl Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, and grew up in nearby Archery. His father was a farmer and businessman, and his mother was a nurse. Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946, served in the Navy as a submariner, and pursued graduate studies in reactor technology and nuclear physics. After his father’s death in 1953, he returned to Georgia to manage the family farm and engage in community leadership. In 1982, Carter became a Distinguished Professor at Emory University and co-founded the Carter Center with his wife Rosalynn. The non-partisan, non-profit center addresses global public policy issues, including conflict resolution, human rights, and disease prevention. Under Carter’s leadership, the center played a pivotal role in Guinea worm disease eradication efforts and conducted election monitoring in over 100 countries. Carter authored 32 books on topics ranging from politics and history to poetry and personal reflections. He and Rosalynn volunteered annually with Habitat for Humanity and remained active in their Baptist church in Plains. Carter received the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his decades-long efforts to find peaceful solutions to conflicts, promote democracy, and advance social and economic development. Explore related questions
DUP minister rejected suggestion licensing laws could be relaxed for jubileeTraining held to strengthen journalists’ role in upholding fundamental freedoms
Trimble and Mallon sanctioned DUP ministers over rotation plan
The Prime Minister insisted the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as he made a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, but for the first time acknowledged the conflict could move towards a negotiated end. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks suggested he is open to a possible ceasefire with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Kyiv and its European allies meanwhile fear the advent of Donald Trump’s return to the White House could result in American aid being halted. President-elect Trump has said he would prefer to move towards a peace deal, and has claimed he could end the conflict on “day one” of his time in power. As he attempts to strike up a good relationship with the incoming president, Sir Keir revealed he had told Mr Trump the UK “will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come”. In his speech at London’s Guildhall, the Prime Minister said there is “no question it is right we support Ukraine”, as the UK’s aid to Kyiv is “deeply in our self-interest”. Allowing Russia to win the war would mean “other autocrats would believe they can follow Putin’s example,” he warned. Sir Keir added: “So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.” Mr Zelensky told Sky News over the weekend he would be open to speaking with Mr Putin, but branded the Russian president a “terrorist”. He also suggested Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia. In a banquet speech focused on foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said it was “plain wrong” to suggest the UK must choose between its allies, adding: “I reject it utterly. “(Clement) Attlee did not choose between allies. (Winston) Churchill did not choose. “The national interest demands that we work with both.” Sir Keir said the UK and the US were “intertwined” when it came to commerce, technology and security. The Prime Minister added: “That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.” He also repeated his commitment to “rebuild our ties with Europe” and insisted he was right to try to build closer links with China. “It is remarkable that until I met President Xi last month there had been no face-to-face meeting between British and Chinese leaders for six years,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t simply look the other way. We need to engage. To co-operate, to compete and to challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well as addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians,” he added. The Prime Minister said he wants Britain’s role in the world to be that of “a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”. He added: “To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do. “Every exchange we have with other nations, every agreement we enter into to deliver for the British people and show, beyond doubt, that Britain is back.” Ahead of Sir Keir’s speech, Lord Mayor Alastair King urged the Prime Minister and his Government to loosen regulations on the City of London to help it maintain its competitive edge. In an echo of Sir Keir’s commitment to drive the UK’s economic growth, the Lord Mayor said: “The idealist will dream of growth, but the pragmatist understands that our most effective machinery to drive growth is here in the City, in the hands of some of the brightest and most committed people that you will find anywhere in the world.”US Junk-Bond Market Is Increasingly Just for Refinancing ItselfThe webcast, as with other selected presentations regarding developments in Amgen's business given by management at certain investor and medical conferences, can be found on Amgen's website, www.amgen.com , under Investors. Information regarding presentation times, webcast availability and webcast links are noted on Amgen's Investor Relations Events Calendar. The webcast will be archived and available for replay for at least 90 days after the event. About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative medicines to help millions of patients in their fight against some of the world's toughest diseases. More than 40 years ago, Amgen helped to establish the biotechnology industry and remains on the cutting-edge of innovation, using technology and human genetic data to push beyond what's known today. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline that builds on its existing portfolio of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases and rare diseases. In 2024, Amgen was named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company and one of "America's Best Large Employers" by Forbes, among other external recognitions . Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average ® , and it is also part of the Nasdaq-100 Index ® , which includes the largest and most innovative non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also part of the Nasdaq-100 index. In 2023, Amgen was named one of "America's Greatest Workplaces" by Newsweek, one of "America's Climate Leaders" by USA Today and one of the "World's Best Companies" by TIME. For more information, visit Amgen.com and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube and Threads . Amgen Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements on the outcome, benefits and synergies of collaborations, or potential collaborations, with any other company (including BeiGene, Ltd. or Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.), the performance of Otezla ® (apremilast) (including anticipated Otezla sales growth and the timing of non-GAAP EPS accretion), our acquisitions of Teneobio, Inc., ChemoCentryx, Inc., or Horizon Therapeutics plc (including the prospective performance and outlook of Horizon's business, performance and opportunities, any potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected as a result of such acquisition, and any projected impacts from the Horizon acquisition on our acquisition-related expenses going forward), as well as estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes, effects of pandemics or other widespread health problems on our business, outcomes, progress, and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Our results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of our products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products, including our devices, after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, our business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, or we may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. We perform a substantial amount of our commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities, including in Puerto Rico , and also depend on third parties for a portion of our manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as COVID-19, and the public and governmental effort to mitigate against the spread of such disease, could have a significant adverse effect on the supply of materials for our manufacturing activities, the distribution of our products, the commercialization of our product candidates, and our clinical trial operations, and any such events may have a material adverse effect on our product development, product sales, business and results of operations. We rely on collaborations with third parties for the development of some of our product candidates and for the commercialization and sales of some of our commercial products. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to many of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of our distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with us. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of our products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on our business and results of operations. Our efforts to collaborate with or acquire other companies, products or technology, and to integrate the operations of companies or to support the products or technology we have acquired, may not be successful. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to realize any of the strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities arising from the Horizon acquisition, and such benefits, synergies or opportunities may take longer to realize than expected. We may not be able to successfully integrate Horizon, and such integration may take longer, be more difficult or cost more than expected. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach of our information technology systems could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems and our data. Our stock price is volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Our business and operations may be negatively affected by the failure, or perceived failure, of achieving our environmental, social and governance objectives. The effects of global climate change and related natural disasters could negatively affect our business and operations. Global economic conditions may magnify certain risks that affect our business. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock. We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Elissa Snook , 609-251-1407 (media) Justin Claeys , 805-313-9775 (investors) View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amgen-to-present-at-citis-2024-global-healthcare-conference-302319891.html SOURCE Amgen
Australian airline Qantas is preparing to launch the world's longest non-stop flights in 2026, connecting Sydney with London and New York. The flights will last between 19 and 22 hours , allowing passengers to experience two sunrises during their journey, hence the name Project Sunrise. Once operational, this new service could cut up to four hours compared to the current one-stop routes. Russian economy meltdown as Moscow hit with crisis Dad makes friend dig own grave and kill himself after raping his daughter, six Qantas is reportedly investing $1.53 billion into the project, purchasing 12 custom-designed Airbus A350-1000 planes for these ultra-long-haul flights. These aircrafts are specifically built with extra fuel tanks and state-of-the-art technology to handle the routes. Project Sunrise was first announced in 2017 but faced delays due to the pandemic, with Qantas now expecting to start the flights in mid-2026. The airline also predicts that the new routes will increase annual earnings by $332 million once all aircrafts are in service. This new service is also great news for passengers who can anticipate a luxurious experience on board. The Airbus A350-1000 will feature six enclosed first-class suites, 52 business suites, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 economy seats. First-class passengers will enjoy flatbeds, reclining armchairs and 32-inch touchscreens, while economy passengers can look forward to more spacious seating and advanced entertainment systems. Passengers looking forward to the new first-class suites can expect a luxurious 50 percent increase in suite space compared to those on the A380, complete with a lie-flat bed, an independent reclining armchair, ample space for working or dining alone or with a companion, along with a full-length wardrobe to store their belongings. DON'T MISS: Spirit airlines launches new luxury seating plan - it could impact low fares Passenger fumes after man sits directly behind him on near-deserted flight 'I'm a former flight attendant - this is how you can get a first class upgrade' For those flying economy, comfort gets a significant boost with six-way adjustable headrests, versatile seatback tables, dual USB-C outlets, a sizable 13.3-inch entertainment touchscreen featuring Bluetooth audio connectivity, and additional storage for personal gadgets. Excitingly, the airlines will introduce a 'Wellbeing Zone' accessible to all passengers. This area is designed to mitigate jetlag on long-distance journeys and will be situated between the Economy and Premium Economy sections. One viewer of a YouTube video showcasing the future plane interiors lauded the new upgrades, stating: "First, business, premium and the well-being zone are spot on! Surprising to see economy class on a flight that long though... I'm surprised it's not all premium." Another viewer expressed enthusiasm about the design features, commenting: "All these seats looks amazing, love the wireless charger spots, love the colour schemes, amazing touch with the seat and bed, separate." Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson has voiced her opinion, stating that these new routes will bridge the distance between Australia and worldwide destinations, providing a more direct and comfortable flight path. The airline is targeting travelers who prioritize direct routes and comfort in their flight selections.
NoneAustralian PM ready to 'engage' with Musk on social media teen ban
NoneAustralia’s sharemarket is likely to open lower after a sell-off in the world’s largest technology companies hit US stocks in the final stretch of a stellar year. Futures are pointing to a drop of 0.35 per cent, or 29 points, on Monday morning across the local bourse, to 8228, as traders take stock of a pullback in the US last week. Nasdaq, one of the “Magnificent Seven” companies, bore the brunt of last week’s selling. Credit: Bloomberg In the US, during a session of slim trading volume – which tends to amplify moves – the S&P 500 lost 1.1 per cent and the Nasdaq 100 slipped 1.4 per cent. While every major industry succumbed to Friday’s slide, tech megacaps bore the brunt of the selling. That’s after a torrid surge in which the group of companies dubbed the “Magnificent Seven” accounted for more than half of the US equity benchmark’s gains in 2024. “I think Santa has already come. Have you seen the performance this year?” said Kenny Polcari from financial advising firm SlateStone Wealth. “[This] week is another holiday-shortened week, volumes will be light, moves will be exaggerated. Don’t make any major investing decisions this week.” Steve Sosnick, from Interactive Brokers said while the market was in holiday season, he had fielded more inquiries than expected. “The best I can figure out is that there are large accounts, pension funds and the like, who need to rebalance their holdings before year-end,” he said. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 trimmed last week’s gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.8 per cent on Friday. A gauge of the “Magnificent Seven” sank 2 per cent, led by losses in Tesla and Nvidia. The Russell 2000 index of small caps dropped 1.6 per cent. The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose 4 basis points to 4.62 per cent. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index wavered. Funds tied to several of the major themes that have driven markets and fund flows over the past three years stumbled during the week ending Christmas Day, according to data compiled by EPFR. Redemptions from cryptocurrency funds hit a record high while technology sector funds extended their longest outflow streak since the first week of 2023, the firm said. This year’s rally in US equities has driven the expectations for stocks so high that it may turn out to be the biggest hurdle for further gains in the new year. And the bar is even higher for tech stocks, given their massive surge in 2024. A Bloomberg Intelligence analysis recently found that analysts estimate a nearly 30 per cent earnings growth for the sector next year, but tech’s market-cap share of the S&P 500 index implies closer to 40 per cent growth expectations may be embedded in the stocks. “The market’s largest companies and other related technology darlings are still being awarded significant premiums,” said Jason Pride and Michael Reynolds at Glenmede. “Excessive valuations leave room for downside if earnings fail to meet expectations. Market concentration should reward efforts to regularly diversify portfolios.” Bloomberg The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day’s trading. Get it each weekday afternoon .
Over the past few weeks, several teams holding playoff spots in the NFL have shown glimpses of who they truly are. Although plenty can change by the end of the season, Yardbarker is examining each current playoff team's potential as a Super Bowl contender based on its roster, past performance, and, to a lesser extent, future outlook. With that in mind, here's a look at which AFC playoff teams are contenders and pretenders. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) Whether you prefer to call it luck or black magic, the Chiefs have something special. Kansas City clinched a playoff spot on Friday after recovering a botched snap by the Las Vegas Raiders, who were in field goal range, with 15 seconds remaining to secure a wild 19-17 home win. While they've dealt with their share of key injuries, there's no denying that the Chiefs don't look the part of an 11-1 team. Not only are they averaging their second-fewest points per game in the Patrick Mahomes era ( 24.1 ), but they're also racking up their fewest yards per contest (341.6). Additionally, Kansas City's +54 point differential is the worst among teams that have recorded 11 wins through the first 13 weeks of the regular season since 2000, per The Ringer's Sheil Kapadia . To put that in perspective, the other 22 teams that achieved this feat had an average point differential of +139. Regardless of whether their opponent is one of the NFL's elite teams or a bottom dweller, the Chiefs continue to find themselves in one-score games. On the surface, this might make Kansas City seem like a pretender. However, during last season's title run and through seemingly every win this year, the Chiefs proved that they can rise to the occasion when the stakes are the highest. As long as they have Mahomes, they'll remain a Super Bowl front-runner. Verdict: Contender Buffalo Bills (9-2) In a season where they were expected to fall off and the New York Jets were finally supposed to snap their lengthy playoff drought, the Bills are once again the team to beat in the AFC East. A fifth consecutive division title may be the most satisfying for Buffalo, considering it had to overhaul its roster this past offseason, parting ways with several longtime contributors. There was no shortage of uncertainties surrounding the Bills entering the season, especially regarding their receiving corps. Only one wide receiver on the roster had previously caught a pass from QB Josh Allen, but it hasn't been an issue since the two-time Pro Bowler has played like an MVP front-runner. In 11 games, Allen has amassed 2,859 total yards and 23 total touchdowns, playing much cleaner than he has in seasons past, tossing just five interceptions. Under Allen, the Bills offense averages the third-most points ( 29.1 ) and 13th-most yards in the league ( 345.3 ), which is particularly impressive since we haven't seen the unit at full strength. Once TE Dalton Kincaid and WR Keon Coleman return from injuries and midseason acquisition Amari Cooper continues to get acclimated; the Bills offense could potentially improve on those marks down the stretch. It may be difficult to put much stock in the Bills as a Super Bowl contender, seeing as though this season has played out like most of their recent ones. However, now that Allen has fully grasped OC Joe Brady's system and the team is getting healthier, this could finally be the year Buffalo gets over the hump. Verdict: Contender Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) Expectations were relatively high for the Steelers after coming into the season with an upgraded quarterback room, albeit one featuring castoffs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. While it's not exactly surprising that HC Mike Tomlin is on his way to delivering another winning season in Pittsburgh, it is a bit shocking that his team sits atop the AFC North standings. A calf injury Wilson suffered in training camp opened the door for Fields to be Pittsburgh's starting quarterback, and the former Bear led the team to a 4-2 record. Despite Fields' serviceable play, Tomlin swapped him out for the veteran Wilson, who guided the Steelers to four straight wins before dropping a Week 12 road contest against Cleveland. Throughout it all, the imposing Steelers defense has been the backbone and identity of the team. Overall, the unit has allowed the third-fewest points ( 16.9 ) and seventh-fewest yards per game ( 305.18 ) while ranking third in turnovers forced (22). LB T.J. Watt is enjoying another season worthy of Defensive Player of the Year honors, having notched 7.5 sacks and a league-leading four forced fumbles . Even though Wilson has shown signs of his former self, the Steelers offense raises doubts about the team's Super Bowl potential, as the unit ranks 30th in red zone scoring efficiency. Nonetheless, with one of the NFL's top head coaches, as well as a quarterback with playoff experience and an elite defense, on their side, the Steelers are a legitimate dark-horse contender. Verdict: Contender Houston Texans (7-5) The luxury of having a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract allowed the Texans to aggressively add talent this past offseason to become a Super Bowl contender. Initially, Houston's investments paid off, with the team jumping out to a 5-1 record . Even so, it's becoming increasingly apparent as the season progresses that this Texans team has significant flaws and even lacks the spark last year's group possessed. Houston has lost four of its last six games, mainly due to its inconsistent, injury-plagued offense. QB C.J. Stroud has also regressed, throwing for 2,875 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions, four more than he threw in his 2023 OROY Award-winning season. As a result, the Texans have been one of the worst second-half offenses in the league, failing to find the end zone after halftime in five of their last six games. The Texans' shortcomings don't fall solely on Stroud, as he's playing in an unfavorable environment. Aside from losing his top three wideouts to injuries at different points in the year, Stroud's offensive line is one of the league's worst, ranking 27th in pass block win rate ( 53% ) and 28th in run block win rate (68%). Barring a catastrophic collapse, the Texans should eventually clinch their second straight AFC South title. Still, they haven't shown the necessary flashes to be considered one of the NFL's top contenders, and given their offensive woes, it doesn't seem like that will change anytime soon. Verdict: Pretender Baltimore Ravens (8-4) The Ravens are a much different team than the one that lost to the Chiefs in last season's AFC Championship Game, but they're still one of the best in the NFL. Baltimore made one of the most significant free agent acquisitions this past offseason, signing RB Derrick Henry to form the NFL's best offensive duo alongside QB Lamar Jackson. Henry has rushed for 1,325 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns, whereas Jackson has accounted for the most total yards ( 3,652 ) and touchdowns (30) among signal-callers. Although the offense can look nearly unstoppable at times, Baltimore's defense has been a problem, which isn't shocking as the team lost former DC Mike Macdonald and a few starters during the offseason. The Ravens bolstered their secondary through the draft, but their pass defense has been abysmal, allowing the most yards ( 3,569 ) and third-most touchdowns (22) among teams through the air. It is worth noting that the unit may be turning a corner, as Baltimore has only allowed 41 points over the last two games. There's no doubt that the Ravens have some brutal losses poking holes in their resume, namely those to Cleveland, Las Vegas and Pittsburgh. But if the defense continues to play at its current level, Baltimore's talent outweighs any concern about its status as a Super Bowl contender. Verdict: Contender Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) One of the biggest winners of the offseason, the Chargers made as substantial of a head coaching upgrade as a team could make, replacing Brandon Staley with Jim Harbaugh. The 60-year-old Harbaugh has quickly changed the culture in Los Angeles, and the team is firmly in the playoff picture, which was unexpected, given the state of the roster entering the season. Due to salary cap constraints, the Chargers were forced to cut ties with their two best wide receivers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Fortunately for Los Angeles, the Justin Herbert-led offense has fared just fine, ranking 18th in scoring and showing continuous signs of improvement. Los Angeles' defense has arguably been the most surprising unit in the NFL this season and a driving force behind the team's success. Through 11 games, the Chargers have allowed the fewest points ( 175 ) and eighth-fewest yards among teams ( 3,560 ), a dramatic turnaround from a unit that finished 24th in scoring and 28th in yardage last season . It's possible, however, that the Chargers defense's performance will decline, considering it gave up 57 points in its last two games and now has three starters sidelined with injuries. While the Chargers have proven they're tough for any opponent to beat, they won't make much noise in the playoffs. After all, Harbaugh inherited a difficult situation, and they're just 1-4 against winning teams, with the lone win coming against the Broncos. But if Los Angeles can add a true No. 1 wide receiver for Herbert this offseason, it should be on the short list of contenders to win Super Bowl LX. Verdict: Pretender Denver Broncos (7-5) Wilson's disastrous Broncos tenure feels like ages ago, which is a testament to the stellar job HC Sean Payton and rookie QB Bo Nix have done this season. Payton faced his share of criticism after pushing the nine-time Pro Bowler Wilson out of town and replacing him with the 24-year-old Nix, but the Oregon product has been a perfect fit for his scheme. After a lackluster first two starts to his career, Nix has hit his stride, emerging as one of the leading candidates for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Since Week 3, Nix has thrown the seventh-most touchdowns in the NFL ( 16 ) and just two interceptions while posting a 65.7% completion rate. Considering Nix seems to be improving with each passing start, it's fair to say Denver's 19th-ranked scoring offense has yet to reach its full potential. On the other side of the ball, few teams have a more formidable unit than the Broncos defense, which is headlined by All-Pro CB Patrick Surtain II. In addition to ranking first in sacks ( 44 ), third in pressures (124) and 10th in takeaways (15) this season, Denver's defense allows the second-fewest points (16.8) and third-fewest yards per game (296). Despite their success this season, the Broncos are another ascending team that feels like they're a year away from being able to mount a deep playoff run. Denver's 16-14 Week 10 road loss to Kansas City showed that it can compete against the NFL's top teams and could maybe steal a game. But ultimately, its 1-5 record against teams that now hold winning records is impossible to dismiss. Verdict: Pretender
Competition among generative AI companies is heating up. On Friday, Amazon announced it would invest another $4 billion in the generative AI company, Anthropic. In little more than a year, the tech giant has now dumped at least $8 billion into the brand. Anthropic is a competitor of OpenAI, which raised $6.6 billion from investors last month. It also rivals Google and Elon Musk’s xAI. In a blog post announcing the deal, Matt Garman, chief executive of Amazon’s cloud computing division, AWS, said, “We’ve been impressed by Anthropic’s pace of innovation and commitment to responsible development of generative AI, and look forward to deepening our collaboration.” Garman added that the companies will “keep pushing the boundaries of what customers can achieve with generative AI technologies.” Amazon also said that AWS will be named “primary training partner.” That boundary-pushing could look like more innovations coming to Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Anthropic’s new AI model. The chatbot was first released in 2023, as a competitor to ChatGPT. Last month, the company announced it gave Claude the ability to control a user’s computer and access the internet—a big leap for AI, which other companies are likely to imitate. | Anthropic was founded by former OpenAI employees (and siblings) Dario Amodei and Daniela Amodei, and was, at first, an AI safety lab. Though initially it positioned itself as a small, safety-focused brand, starting with less than 200 employees, as of September, Anthropic is said to employ 1,035 people. Still, the major innovation , which will allow for tasks to be more easily automated, raises concerns about the risks that may come with giving robots the power to control computers on their own. Likewise, in a video post on X, the company admitted that the “experimental” new technology can be “error-prone.” However, Anthropic is still extremely focused on “honest” AI. It started out doing advanced AI safety research that ultimately required the company to build its own AI model. “Imagine if everyone of good conscience said, ‘I don’t want to be involved in building AI systems at all,'” chief executive, Dario Amodei told the New York Times a year ago. “Then the only people who would be involved would be the people who ignored that dictum—who are just, like, ‘I’m just going to do whatever I want.’ That wouldn’t be good.” WIth safety as its constant focus, the AI model is trained on Constitutional AI, which is essentially a set of principles that mean it’s less likely to misbehave or say harmful things. “AI models will have value systems, whether intentional or unintentional,” Anthropic said in a May 2023 blog post. “Constitutional AI responds to shortcomings by using AI feedback to evaluate outputs,”—which, presumably, teaches the model to respond in the most respectful way possible. Other leading competitors that aren’t trained on values may be easier to manipulate. As part of the investment, Anthropic plans to train and deploy its foundational models on Amazon’s own Trainium and Inferentia chips, as opposed to the more common Nvidia chips. The new chips, which Amazon says offer “high performance” at the “lowest cost” are part of Amazon’s strategy to strengthen its position in the market. The company also said, in its announcement, that Claude will power Amazon’s new and improved Alexa voice assistant (which, when tested, was said to perform better using Claude than the previous in-house model). The feature is scheduled for release in 2025. The announcement also stated that AWS will be named “primary training partner.” Given that it ostensibly began as a research firm, Anthropic is already known for its research-driven practices, like developing advanced strategies to help mitigate election-related risks and measuring the persuasiveness of its models. Amazon doubling its investment may not only keep the AI game competitive, but also help keep safety at the forefront of AI developments. The application deadline for Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards is Friday, December 6, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.Aidan O'Connell shows in loss to Chiefs that he is the Raiders' QB for the rest of season