
City’s 2-1 loss at Aston Villa on Saturday, the Premier League champions’ ninth defeat in 12 matches in all competitions, saw Haaland fail to score for the fifth time in six outings. After the game the Norway striker told TNT Sports: “First I’m looking at myself. I haven’t been scoring my chances. I have to do better, I haven’t been good enough.” City boss Guardiola subsequently stuck up for Haaland, who has netted 108 times for the club since joining in 2022, saying that “without him we will be even worse” and that “he needs to be delivered the right balls in the right spots”. And speaking on Christmas Eve at his press conference ahead of the Boxing Day home clash with Everton, Guardiola said: “It’s about us, not just one player. “When in the past we score goals and Erling was so prolific, helping us, it was because of the team. “And when you have problems at the back, in the middle, it is for everyone, it is a team, it is not about one player. It would be easy, if it was just one player, the reason why. It’s not about that. PEP 💬 It is about us, not just one player... when you have problems at the back and middle, it is all about the team, not just one player... Erling [Haaland] is so important for us, will be important for us and has been and we need to use him better. pic.twitter.com/VBgJywyCT2 — Manchester City (@ManCity) December 24, 2024 “Erling is so important for us, will be so important for us, has been. (We have to) try to do things better, to use him better.” He added: “In this situation, this tendency for all of us (is to say) ‘the reason why is this one, and this one and this one’. It’s about us, about everyone. “The guys are running, making effort more than ever. All the tendency ‘it’s because we don’t run, because we don’t fight, the reason why is this situation or this player or this manager’... It’s not about that. “It’s many little details or big details that make all together not as good as we were. But we have another opportunity on Boxing Day.” City have a sidelined list that includes key midfielder Rodri, recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in September, and Ruben Dias, who was ruled out for up to four weeks after sustaining a muscular problem in the 2-1 loss to Manchester United on December 15. Fellow defender John Stones made his return to action in the Villa game after a foot issue, only to be substituted at half-time. City have been assessing him, along with goalkeeper Ederson and midfielder Matheus Nunes, both of whom were absent on Saturday. What is an unprecedented slump in results in Guardiola’s managerial career has featured six losses in eight in the league. And City, who had gone into the season targeting a fifth successive title under the 53-year-old, head into Christmas lying seventh in the table, 12 points adrift of leaders Liverpool having played a game more. Their next five league fixtures are all against sides currently in the bottom half, with Everton sat 15th. Guardiola emphasised the Toffees should not be regarded as the “perfect opponent”, and added: “It’s about us, to come back at our best. We will take time because we don’t have players, but we have to get results as quick as possible.” Ahead of the 12.30pm kick-off, City’s players are set to train on Christmas Day before staying at the training ground that night, and Guardiola said: “Today they will be at home with the families, tomorrow (they will be) in the morning and in the night they will be here – hopefully they want to be here, because it’s our job and our duty.”
NoneEvermark Announces Acquisition of Oak Pointe, LLC
Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard, 5 (Fenway Park) Stoneham vs. Reading, 7:30 (Fenway Park) Brighton at Tech Boston, 1 Latin Academy vs. O’Bryant, 2 (West Roxbury) Central Catholic vs. Lawrence, 4 (Fenway Park) KIPP vs. Lynn Tech, 4 (Manning) Holbrook/Avon at South Shore, 5 Somerset Berkley at Central (RI), 5 Andover at North Andover, 6 Bishop Stang at Bishop Feehan, 6 Cambridge at Somerville, 6 East Boston at Chelsea, 6 Greater Lowell vs. Lowell Catholic, 6 (Chelmsford) Milford at Taunton, 6 Nashoba Tech at Monty Tech, 6 North Middlesex at Rockland, 6 Old Colony at Tri-County, 6 St. John’s (Shrewsbury) at Malden Catholic, 6 West Bridgewater at East Bridgewater, 6 Whittier at Greater Lawrence, 6 Bishop Fenwick at St. Mary’s, 6:30 Swampscott vs. Marblehead, 6:30 (Fenway Park) Acton-Boxboro at Westford Academy, 10 Amesbury at Newburyport, 10 Apponequet at Old Rochester, 10 Arlington at Waltham, 10 Ashland at Hopkinton, 10 Attleboro at North Attleboro, 10 Bellingham at Norton, 10 Beverly at Salem, 10 Billerica at Chelmsford, 10 BC High at Catholic Memorial, 10 Braintree at Milton, 10 Bridgewater-Raynham at Brockton, 10 Bristol-Plymouth at Blue Hills, 10 Brookline at Newton North, 10 Burlington at Bedford, 10 Cardinal Spellman at Archbishop Williams, 10 Carver at Middleboro, 10 Case at Atlantis Charter, 10 Concord-Carlisle at Lexington, 10 Danvers at Gloucester, 10 Dartmouth at Fairhaven, 10 Dighton-Rehoboth at Seekonk, 10 Dover-Sherborn at Medfield, 10 Duxbury at Marshfield, 10 English/New Mission vs. Boston Latin, 10 (Harvard) Falmouth at Barnstable, 10 Fitchburg at Leominster, 10 Framingham at Natick, 10 Franklin at King Philip, 10 Greater New Bedford at Diman, 10 Hamilton-Wenham at Ipswich, 10 Hingham at Scituate, 10 Hull at Cohasset, 10 Lincoln-Sudbury at Newton South, 10 Lowell at Haverhill, 10 Lynn Classical at Lynn English, 10 Manchester-Essex at Essex Tech, 10 Mansfield at Foxboro, 10 Masconomet at Northeast, 10 Mashpee at Sandwich, 10 Medford at Malden, 10 Medway at Millis, 10 Methuen at Dracut, 10 Minuteman at Keefe Tech, 10 Nauset at Dennis-Yarmouth, 10 North Quincy at Quincy, 10 Norwell at Hanover, 10 Norwood at Dedham, 10 Oliver Ames at Sharon, 10 Peabody at Saugus, 10 Pentucket at Triton, 10 Plymouth North at Plymouth South, 10 Revere at Winthrop, 10 St. John Paul at Monomoy, 10 Silver Lake at Pembroke, 10 Stoughton at Canton, 10 Upper Cape at Cape Cod Tech, 10 Wareham at Bourne, 10 Watertown at Belmont, 10 Wayland at Weston, 10 Wellesley at Needham, 10 Westwood at Holliston, 10 Weymouth at Walpole, 10 Whitman-Hanson at Abington, 10 Wilmington at Tewksbury, 10 Arlington Catholic at Shawsheen, 10:15 Durfee at New Bedford, 10:15 Wakefield at Melrose, 10:15 Woburn at Winchester, 10:15 Xaverian at St. John’s Prep, 10:15 Lynnfield at North Reading, 10:30 Billerica at Chelmsford, 10 BC High at Catholic Memorial, 10 Dartmouth at Fairhaven, 10 Duxbury at Marshfield, 10 English/New Mission vs. Boston Latin, 10 (Harvard) Fitchburg at Leominster, 10 Franklin at King Philip, 10 Hingham at Scituate, 10 Lynn Classical at Lynn English, 10 Mansfield at Foxboro, 10 Mashpee at Sandwich, 10 Medford at Malden, 10 Nauset at Dennis-Yarmouth, 10 North Quincy at Quincy, 10 Wellesley at Needham, 10 Weymouth at Walpole, 10 Wilmington at Tewksbury, 10 Xaverian at St. John’s Prep, 10:15 Lynnfield at North Reading, 10:30 DIVISION 1 – Thursday, Dec. 5 at Gillette No. 4 Needham (11-0) vs. No. 3 Xaverian (8-3), 5:30 DIVISION 2 – Thursday, Dec. 5 at Gillette No. 2 King Philip (11-0) vs. No. 1 Catholic Memorial (10-1), 8 DIVISION 3 – Friday, Dec. 6 at Gillette No. 3 Mansfield (8-3) vs. No. 4 North Attleboro (9-2), 8 DIVISION 4 – Thursday, Dece. 5 at Gillette No. 2 Scituate (11-0) vs. No. 1 Duxbury (10-1), 3 DIVISION 5 – Friday, Dec. 6 at Gillette No. 1 Shawsheen (11-0) vs. No. 3 Foxboro (8-3), 5:30 DIVISION 6 – Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Gillette No. 3 Fairhaven (10-1) vs. No. 1 Hudson (11-0), 8 DIVISION 7 – Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Gillette No. 1 Uxbridge (11-0) vs. No. 3 Mashpee (9-2), 5:30 DIVISION 8 – Friday, Dec. 6 at Gillette No. 1 Randolph (10-1) vs. No. 2 West Boylston (9-2), 3 VOCATIONAL BOWL PLAYOFFS LARGE SCHOOL FINAL – Wednesday, Dec. 4 No. 6 Whittier (8-3) at No. 1 Bay Path (10-1), TBA SMALL SCHOOL FINAL – Wednesday, Dec. 4 No. 4 Tri-County (7-3) at No. 3 Blue Hills (6-5), 6
The Manchester Road Race course has been remeasured, and you will officially run less this yearAccording to the budget, defence spending has been allocated ZiG18 billion, dwarfing investments in health (ZiG28.3 billion) and education (ZiG46.6 billion). This has raised concerns among opposition leaders, who argue that such militarisation does not advance the country’s development goals, particularly at a time when citizens are struggling with food insecurity and collapsing services. Welshman Ncube, leader of a faction of opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), noted that the budget reveals glaring contradictions, misplaced priorities, and an alarming disconnect from the realities facing ordinary Zimbabweans. The government has projected a 6% GDP growth for 2025, hinging on “normal to above-normal rainfall” and macroeconomic stability. However, the former cabinet minister has argued that this optimism “ignores the deep-seated structural challenges in the economy, including unsustainable public debt now standing at US$21.1 billion”. “The government projects a 6% GDP growth for 2025, hinging on normal to above-normal rainfall and macroeconomic stability. “Yet, this optimism ignores the deep-seated structural challenges in our economy—unsustainable public debt now standing at US$21.1 billion, weak institutions, and an economic environment marred by inflationary pressures and governance failures,” he stated. “Defence spending is prioritised with an allocation of ZiG18 billion, dwarfing investments in critical sectors like agriculture, health, and education. “At a time when citizens struggle with food insecurity and collapsing services, how does such militarization advance our development goals? Resilience cannot be built on fear—it requires investment in people.” Corban Madzivanyika, Mbizo MP, described the budget’s claim of achieving 6% economic growth while implementing austerity measures as a “glaring contradiction” that will only serve to exacerbate the suffering of the most vulnerable citizens. “The proposed budget’s claim of achieving 6% economic growth while implementing austerity measures is a glaring contradiction that will only serve to exacerbate the suffering of our most vulnerable citizens,” Madzivanyika said. “Austerity measures, characterised by tough fiscal and monetary policies, have been widely discredited as a recipe for economic stagnation, rising inequality, and social unrest. “It is nothing short of economic malpractice to pursue policies that will inevitably lead to reduced government spending, higher taxes, and increased interest rates, all of which will suffocate economic activity and crush any hopes of achieving the touted 6% growth rate. “We urge the government to reconsider this flawed budget and instead prioritize policies that promote economic stimulus, social welfare, and inclusive growth. “This can be achieved by investing in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, while also implementing progressive taxation policies that address income inequality and promote social justice. “Anything less would be a betrayal of the public’s trust and a recipe for economic disaster.” The budget has also introduced new revenue measures, including a 10% withholding tax on betting winnings, a Fast Foods Tax, and taxes on the emerging sector. However, these measures have been criticised for targeting an overburdened populace without addressing corruption, a cancer that siphons billions from public coffers. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has justified the budget, arguing that it aims to provide economic relief and support key sectors. He has also offered token relief on tax-free income threshold, Capital Gains Tax on Marketable Securities, and VAT deferment on energy sector, among other measures.CAIRO (AP) — Famine is spreading in Sudan due to a war between the military and a notorious paramilitary group that has devastated the country and created the world’s largest displacement crisis, a global hunger monitoring group said Tuesday. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said it detected famine in five areas, including in Sudan’s largest displacement camp, Zamzam , in North Darfur province, where famine was found for the first time in August. The report said the war has triggered unprecedented mass displacement and a collapsing economy. It said hostilities can result in farmers abandoning their crops, looting and stock destruction. Along with the Zamzam camp, which has more than 400,000 people, famine was also detected in two other camps for displaced people, Abu Shouk and al-Salam in North Darfur, and the Western Nuba Mountains, the IPC report said. Five other areas in North Darfur are projected “with reasonable evidence” to experience famine in the next six months, including el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, it said. Seventeen areas in the Nuba Mountains and the northern and southern areas of Darfur are at risk of famine, it added. The report also said some areas in the capital, Khartoum, and the east-central province of Gezira “may be experiencing” famine-like conditions. It said experts were unable to confirm whether famine threshold has been surpassed due to lack of data. “It is not merely a lack of food but a profound breakdown of health, livelihoods and social structures, leaving entire communities in a state of desperation,” it said. There is widespread hunger, with food in markets scarce and prices high. Aid groups say they struggle to reach the most vulnerable as warring parties limit access, especially in North Darfur province. Ahead of the IPC's report, Sudan’s government said it had suspended its participation in the global monitoring system, according to a senior United Nations official with knowledge of the move. In a letter dated Dec. 23, Agriculture Minister Abu Baker al-Beshri accused the IPC of “issuing unreliable reports that undermine Sudan’s sovereignty and dignity,” said the U.N. official, who spoke in condition of anonymity to discuss the letter. Sudan's 20-month war has killed more than than 24,000 people and driven over 14 million people — about 30% of the population — from their homes, according to the United Nations. An estimated 3.2 million Sudanese have crossed into neighboring countries including Chad, Egypt and South Sudan. The war began in April 2023 when tensions between its military and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into fighting in Khartoum before spreading to other areas. The conflict has been marked by atrocities including ethnically motivated killing and rape, according to the U.N. and rights groups. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Dervla Cleary, a senior emergency and rehabilitation officer at the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, said 638,000 people are experiencing famine. “The situation in Sudan is just awful. It is unacceptable in a world like today,” she said. The IPC report called for a ceasefire, calling it the only way to reduce the risk of famine spreading further." Sudan is the third country where famine was declared in the past 15 years, along with South Sudan and Somalia. The IPC comprises more than a dozen U.N. agencies, aid groups and governments that use its monitoring as a global reference for analysis of food and nutrition crises. The organization has also warned that large parts of Gaza’s Palestinian population face the threat of famine.
At the peak of her fame, Caprice Bourret had achieved things most young stars can only dream of. She graced more than 250 magazine covers, from Vogue to Sports Illustrated, and strode catwalks all over the world. But the star, now 53, says she still has one major regret. She should never have turned down the lead role in Baywatch. She was offered the chance to take over when fellow blonde Pamela Anderson left the wildly popular show in 1997. “I think I believed my own bulls*** at the time,” admits. “I thought I would be stereotyped as this dumb blonde character. And I look back now and think, ‘What an idiot! Why didn’t I take it?’”. But the beauty, now a mum-of-two, was still reeling from her rapid rise to fame. Born into an unassuming Los Angeles family, she moved to London in 1994 and made her name as a Wonderbra model. And thanks to her high-profile flings with stars like Rod Stewart and footie ace Tony Adams, she was never out of the papers. “The height of my fame was so big,” she says. “I was from a normal, middle-class family and all of a sudden I had yes people everywhere telling me how wonderful I was. You think it’s going to be like that forever.” When she tried to move into acting, she was flooded with offers. But she says all the parts were the same – the classic “babe”, who was beautiful to look at but had very little else going on. And when her By Caprice lingerie range started taking off in the early Noughties, her acting dreams fell by the wayside. It took a life-changing event to bring them back into focus. That came in 2017, when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. “You really wake up when you have a bit of a health scare,” she says. “But I believe things happen for a reason. It’s changed my life and made me a better person.” Caprice, who was training for Channel 4 reality show The Jump at the time, had a gruelling seven-hour op to get rid of the growth. But she made a full recovery – and says the experience has left her more positive. She decided to give acting another shot, but found casting directors were still reluctant to take her seriously. So finally, she set up her own production company. The model-turned-media mogul has since sold three movies through JJLove Productions, including new romcom A European . “I love Christmas, I’m obsessed with Christmas,” she says. “The first week of November I get all of my Christmas gear out. It’s the happiest time of the year. “So when I did a Christmas movie, I thought, ‘This is the perfect avenue for me.’ I want people to watch my films and get a positive feeling – they know how it’s going to end but they don’t care because it makes them feel good.” Set in snowy Serbia, the film stars Caprice as a jaded director who falls in love with her leading man and rediscovers the magic of Christmas. It also features her long-time pal, Blue singer Duncan James. “He’s been one of my best friends for over 20 years,” she says. “Back in the day we were inseparable, we hung out all the time. He was brilliant to work with. I wish we’d written a much chunkier role for him, he was so good.”NoneAscentus Digital Expands to Saudi Arabia
Ramaco Resources, Inc. ( NASDAQ:METCB – Get Free Report ) gapped down before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $10.27, but opened at $9.79. Ramaco Resources shares last traded at $10.00, with a volume of 47,821 shares. Ramaco Resources Stock Performance The firm has a 50-day moving average of $10.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $10.82. Ramaco Resources Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd will be issued a $0.2364 dividend. This is a boost from Ramaco Resources’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $0.95 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.34%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ramaco Resources Ramaco Resources Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Ramaco Resources, Inc engages in the development, operation, and sale of metallurgical coal. Its development portfolio includes the Elk Creek project that covers an area of approximately 20,200 acres located in southern West Virginia; the Berwind property covering an area of approximately 62,500 acres situated on the border of West Virginia and Virginia; the Knox Creek property, which covers an area of approximately 64,050 acres is located in Virginia; the Maben property covering an area of approximately 28,000 acres situated in southwestern Pennsylvania southern West Virginia; and the Brook Mine property that covers an area of approximately 16,000 acres located in northeastern Wyoming. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ramaco Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ramaco Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's defense of the national championship has fallen woefully short. The Wolverines started the season ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25 , making them the third college football team since 1991 to be ranked worse than seventh in the preseason poll after winning a national title. Michigan (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) failed to meet those modest expectations, barely becoming eligible to play in a bowl and putting the program in danger of losing six or seven games for the first time since the Brady Hoke era ended a decade ago. The Wolverines potentially can ease some of the pain with a win against rival and second-ranked Ohio State (10-1, 7-1, No. 2 CFP) on Saturday in the Horseshoe, but that would be a stunning upset. Ohio State is a 21 1/2-point favorite, according to the BetMGM Sportsbook, and that marks just the third time this century that there has been a spread of at least 20 1/2 points in what is known as “The Game.” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore doesn't sound like someone who is motivating players with an underdog mentality. “I don’t think none of that matters in this game,” Moore said Monday. “It doesn’t matter the records. It doesn’t matter anything. The spread, that doesn’t matter.” How did Michigan end up with a relative mess of a season on the field, coming off its first national title since 1997? Winning it all with a coach and star player contemplating being in the NFL for the 2024 season seemed to have unintended consequences for the current squad. The Wolverines closed the College Football Playoff with a win over Washington on Jan. 8; several days later quarterback J.J. McCarthy announced he was skipping his senior season; and it took more than another week for Jim Harbaugh to bolt to coach the Los Angeles Chargers. In the meantime, most quality quarterbacks wanting to transfer had already enrolled at other schools and Moore was left with lackluster options. Davis Warren beat out Alex Orji to be the team's quarterback for the opener and later lost the job to Orji only to get it back again. No matter who was under center, however, would've likely struggled this year behind an offensive line that sent six players to the NFL. The Wolverines lost one of their top players on defense, safety Rod Moore, to a season-ending injury last spring and another one, preseason All-America cornerback Will Johnson, hasn't played in more than a month because of an injury. The Buckeyes are not planning to show any mercy after losing three straight in the series. “We’re going to attack them," Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer said. “We know they’re going to come in here swinging, too, and they’ve still got a good team even though the record doesn’t indicate it. This game, it never matters what the records are." While a win would not suddenly make the Wolverines' season a success, it could help Moore build some momentum a week after top-rated freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan. “You come to Michigan to beat Ohio,” said defensive back Quinten Johnson, intentionally leaving the word State out when referring to the rival. "That's one of the pillars of the Michigan football program. “It doesn’t necessarily change the fact of where we are in the season, but it definitely is one of the defining moments of your career here at Michigan.” AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollFormer Boise State coach Chris Petersen still gets asked about the Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma on the first day of 2007. That game had everything. Underdog Boise State took a 28-10 lead over one of college football's blue bloods that was followed by a 25-point Sooners run capped by what could have been a back-breaking interception return for a touchdown with 1:02 left. Then the Broncos used three trick plays that remain sensations to not only force overtime but win 43-42. And then there was the marriage proposal by Boise State running back Ian Johnson — shortly after scoring the winning two-point play — to cheerleader Chrissy Popadics that was accepted on national TV. That game put Broncos football on the national map for most fans, but looking back 18 years later, Petersen sees it differently. "Everybody wants to talk about that Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl game, which is great how it all worked out and all those things," Petersen said. "But we go back to play TCU (three years later) again on the big stage. It's not as flashy a game, but to me, that was an even better win." Going back to the Fiesta Bowl and winning, Petersen reasoned, showed the Broncos weren't a splash soon to fade away, that there was something longer lasting and more substantive happening on the famed blue turf. The winning has continued with few interruptions. No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for another trip to the Fiesta Bowl, this time in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year's Eve. That success has continued through a series of coaches, though with a lot more of a common thread than readily apparent. Dirk Koetter was hired from Oregon, where Petersen was the wide receivers coach. Not only did Koetter bring Petersen with him to Oregon, Petersen introduced him to Dan Hawkins, who also was hired for the staff. So the transition from Koetter to Hawkins to Petersen ensured at least some level of consistency. Koetter and Hawkins engineered double-digit victory seasons five times over a six-year span that led to power-conference jobs. Koetter went to Arizona State after three seasons and Hawkins to Colorado after five. Then when Petersen became the coach after the 2005 season, he led Boise State to double-digit wins his first seven seasons and made bowls all eight years. He resisted the temptation to leave for a power-conference program until Washington lured him away toward the end of the 2013 season. Then former Boise State quarterback and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin took over and posted five double-digit victory seasons over his first six years. After going 5-2 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he left for Auburn. "They just needed consistency of leadership," said Koetter, who is back as Boise State's offensive coordinator. "This program had always won at the junior-college level, the Division II level, the I-AA (now FCS) level." But Koetter referred to "an unfortunate chain of events" that made Boise State a reclamation project when he took over in 1998. Coach Pokey Allen led Boise State to the Division I-AA national championship game in 1994, but was diagnosed with cancer two days later. He died on Dec. 30, 1996, at 53. Allen coached the final two games that season, Boise State's first in Division I-A (now FBS). Houston Nutt became the coach in 1997, went 4-7 and headed to Arkansas. Then Koetter took over. "One coach dies and the other wasn't the right fit for this program," Koetter said. "Was a really good coach, did a lot of good things, but just wasn't a good fit for here." But because of Boise State's success at the lower levels, Koetter said the program was set up for success. "As Boise State has risen up the conference food chain, they've pretty much always been at the top from a player talent standpoint," Koetter said. "So it was fairly clear if we got things headed in the right direction and did a good job recruiting, we would be able to win within our conference for sure." Success didn't take long. He went 6-5 in 1998 and then won 10 games each of the following two seasons. Hawkins built on that winning and Petersen took it to another level. But there is one season, really one game, no really one half that still bugs Petersen. He thought his best team was in 2010, one that entered that late-November game at Nevada ranked No. 3 and had a legitimate chance to play for the national championship. The Colin Kaepernick-led Wolf Pack won 34-31. "I think the best team that I might've been a part of as the head coach was the team that lost one game to Nevada," Petersen said. "That team, to me, played one poor half of football on offense the entire season. We were winning by a bunch at half (24-7) and we came out and did nothing on offense in the second half and still had a chance to win. "That team would've done some damage." There aren't any what-ifs with this season's Boise State team. The Broncos are in the field of the first 12-team playoff, representing the Group of Five as its highest-ranked conference champion. That got Boise State a bye into the quarterfinals. Spencer Danielson has restored the championship-level play after taking over as the interim coach late last season during a rare downturn that led to Andy Avalos' dismissal. Danielson received the job full time after leading Boise State to the Mountain West championship. Now the Broncos are 12-1 with their only defeat to top-ranked and No. 1 seed Oregon on a last-second field goal. Running back Ashton Jeanty also was the runner-up to the Heisman Trophy. "Boise State has been built on the backs of years and years of success way before I got here," Danielson said. "So even this season is not because of me. It's because the group of young men wanted to leave a legacy, be different. We haven't been to the Fiesta Bowl in a decade. They said in January, 'We're going to get that done.' They went to work." As was the case with Danielson, Petersen and Koetter said attracting top talent is the primary reason Boise State has succeeded all these years. Winning, obviously, is the driving force, and with more entry points to the playoffs, the Broncos could make opportunities to keep returning to the postseason a selling point. But there's also something about the blue carpet. Petersen said he didn't get what it was about when he arrived as an assistant coach, and there was some talk about replacing it with more conventional green grass. A poll in the Idaho Statesman was completely against that idea, and Petersen has come to appreciate what that field means to the program. "It's a cumulative period of time where young kids see big-time games when they're in seventh and eighth and ninth and 10th grade and go, 'Oh, I know that blue turf. I want to go there,'" Petersen said.
World's Leading Specialty Battery Franchise Achieves Historic Success with Unprecedented Commercial Sales Throughout 2024 HARTLAND, Wis. , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Batteries Plus , the world's leading specialty battery franchise, has marked a historic milestone in October 2024 , setting all-time commercial sales records across its franchise and systemwide channels. Total systemwide commercial sales grew by 23.7% year-over-year, with franchise commercial sales increasing by 24.4%, marking the highest monthly performance in the company's history. The record-breaking success in October was not an isolated achievement, but rather a continuation of a historic 2024. Batteries Plus has experienced more than 20% year-over-year growth in systemwide commercial sales for five of the first 10 months of the year. Year-to-date, total commercial sales have grown by 16.1% through October. "Achieving this record-breaking October is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of our franchisees and the ongoing strength of our commercial growth strategy," said Scott O'Farrell , Chief Commercial Officer of Batteries Plus . "Our commitment to providing exceptional service and innovative solutions for our commercial partners continues to position us as a leader in the industry." This October milestone also capped off a flawless 10-for-10 streak in exceeding commercial sales targets for 2024, driven by Batteries Plus's commitment to exceptional service, in-stock availability, and a diversified approach across consumer and commercial channels. The company has exceeded its sales plan for every month, currently 2.6% ahead of plan through October. Remarkably, the top eight commercial sales months in franchise history have all occurred this year, demonstrating the strength and scalability of the franchise system. "October's success is just the beginning of an exciting period for Batteries Plus," said Joe Malmuth , Chief Development Officer . "We're witnessing substantial growth across all facets of the business. This record-breaking performance is a direct result of our team's tireless efforts to drive meaningful results for our franchise owners and customers alike." Building on this momentum, Batteries Plus is looking ahead to close the year strong, with plans to enhance its market presence, introduce new business partnerships, and continue the expansion of its franchise network that has reached over 800 store locations in operation and development nationwide. In 2024, Batteries Plus was ranked on Franchise Times' Top 400 list at #128 and named to Entrepreneur Magazine 's Franchise 500 ® Hall of Fame, alongside placements on Entrepreneur 's Franchise 500 ® and the Top Brands for Multi-Unit Owners lists. For more information on Batteries Plus, including franchise opportunities and a virtual store tour, visit batteriesplusfranchise.com . ABOUT BATTERIES PLUS: Batteries Plus, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Hartland, WI , is a leading omnichannel retailer of batteries, specialty light bulbs and phone repair services for the direct-to-consumer and commercial channels. The retailer also offers key programming, replacement and cutting services. Through a nationwide network of stores, the company offers a differentiated value proposition of unrivaled product selection, in-stock availability and customer service. Batteries Plus is owned by Freeman Spogli , a private equity firm based in Los Angeles and New York City . To learn more about one of Forbes ® ' Best Franchises to Buy in America, visit https://www.batteriesplusfranchise.com . MEDIA CONTACT: Danny Stewart , Fishman Public Relations, dstewart@fishmanpr.com or 847-945-1300 ext. 266 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/batteries-plus-celebrates-record-breaking-commercial-sales-month-surpassing-major-milestones-in-franchise-and-systemwide-commercial-growth-302315675.html SOURCE Batteries PlusTrump chooses loyalist Bondi for attorney general after Gaetz withdrawsFlying taxi maker Lillium lays off 1,000 workers and ceases operations
NoneJBDI Holdings Limited Ordinary Shares ( NASDAQ:JBDI – Get Free Report ) and Greif ( NYSE:GEF – Get Free Report ) are both business services companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, risk and earnings. Profitability This table compares JBDI Holdings Limited Ordinary Shares and Greif’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Insider & Institutional Ownership 45.7% of Greif shares are held by institutional investors. 3.1% of Greif shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Earnings & Valuation Greif has higher revenue and earnings than JBDI Holdings Limited Ordinary Shares. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings for JBDI Holdings Limited Ordinary Shares and Greif, as provided by MarketBeat. Greif has a consensus target price of $79.40, indicating a potential upside of 11.42%. Given Greif’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Greif is more favorable than JBDI Holdings Limited Ordinary Shares. Summary Greif beats JBDI Holdings Limited Ordinary Shares on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About JBDI Holdings Limited Ordinary Shares ( Get Free Report ) JBDI Holdings Limited engages in the trading of reconditioned and recycling containers in Singapore and the Southeast Asia region. The company offers reconditioning and recycling drums, including open top drums, metal drums, plastic drums, plastic carboys, and intermediate bulk containers, as well as new drums, and collects waste drums and related products. It serves solvent, chemical, petroleum, and edible product oil industries. The company was founded in 1983 and is based in Singapore. JBDI Holdings Limited operates as a subsidiary of E U Holdings Pte. Ltd. About Greif ( Get Free Report ) Greif, Inc. engages in the production and sale of industrial packaging products and services worldwide. The company operates through Global Industrial Packaging; Paper Packaging & Services; and Land Management segments. The Global Industrial Packaging segment produces and sells industrial packaging products, including steel, fiber, and plastic drums; rigid and flexible intermediate bulk containers; closure systems for industrial packaging products; transit protection products; water bottles, and remanufactured and reconditioned industrial containers; and various services, such as container life cycle management, filling, logistics, warehousing, and other packaging services to chemicals, paints and pigments, food and beverage, petroleum, industrial coatings, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, mineral product, and other industries. The Paper Packaging & Services segment produces and sells containerboards, corrugated sheets and containers, and other corrugated and specialty products to customers in the packaging, automotive, food, and building products markets; and produces and sells coated and uncoated recycled paperboard, and recycled fiber. This segment's corrugated container products are used to ship various products, such as home appliances, small machinery, grocery products, automotive components, books, and furniture, as well as various other applications. The Land Management segment engages in harvesting and regeneration of timber properties; and sale of timberland and special use properties. As of October 31, 2023, this segment owned approximately 175,000 acres of timber properties in the southeastern United States. The company was formerly known as Greif Bros. Corporation and changed its name to Greif, Inc. in 2001. Greif, Inc. was founded in 1877 and is headquartered in Delaware, Ohio. Receive News & Ratings for JBDI Holdings Limited Ordinary Shares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JBDI Holdings Limited Ordinary Shares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .