
New York, Dec 30 (AP) Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. Magnus Carlsen Disqualified From FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2024 for Wearing Jeans, Fined USD 200 . He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. FIDE is pleased to confirm that Magnus Carlsen will participate in the FIDE World Blitz Championship. Speaking to Levi Rozman from “Take, Take, Take” at the playing venue on Wall Street, Carlsen said: “I am playing at least one more day here in New York and, if I do well,... pic.twitter.com/fvFJi2w970 — International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 29, 2024 “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app's YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organisation noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Magnus Carlsen Withdraws From FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship 2024 & Blitz Events, Says ‘A Matter Of Principle For Me’ (Watch Video) . Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh”. “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn't want to,” he said, and “I stand by that”. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)The A-share market in China experienced a volatile morning on (insert date), with a sharp rise in the opening followed by a significant retreat in the midday session. The total turnover reached a staggering 415.1 billion RMB, reflecting the heightened trading activities and investor sentiment. Concurrently, the combined trading volume of the two major stock exchanges surpassed 1.5 trillion RMB, indicating a robust level of market participation.On the other hand, Manchester United, led by the enigmatic Cristiano Ronaldo and the young prodigy Jadon Sancho, have shown flashes of brilliance and attacking flair that make them a threat to any team in the league. With a mix of experience and youth, the Red Devils have the potential to upset the established order and mount a serious challenge for the title.
Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus WASHINGTON (AP) — A powerful government panel has failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of a nearly $15 billion proposed deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. Steel. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on Monday sent its long-awaited report to President Joe Biden, a longtime opponent of the deal. Some federal agencies represented on the panel were skeptical that allowing a Japanese company to buy an American-owned steelmaker would create national security risks. That's according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. Both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump opposed the merger and vowed to block it. Nippon Steel says it is confident the deal will go ahead. Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Survey: Small businesses are feeling more optimistic about the economy after the election A survey shows small business owners are feeling more optimistic about the economy following the election. The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Small Business Optimism Index rose by eight points in November to 101.7, its highest reading since June 2021. The Uncertainty Index declined 12 points in November to 98, following October’s pre-election record high of 110. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said small business owners became more certain about future business conditions following the presidential election, breaking a nearly three-year streak of record high uncertainty. The survey also showed that more owners are also hoping 2025 will be a good time to grow. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. Stock market today: Wall Street rallies ahead of Christmas Stocks closed higher on Wall Street ahead of the Christmas holiday, led by gains in Big Tech stocks. The S&P 500 added 1.1% Tuesday. Trading closed early ahead of the holiday. Tech companies including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom helped pull the market higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended mostly higher after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was little changed at 4.59% An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally. In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration. What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. American consumers feeling less confident in December, Conference Board says American consumers are feeling less confident in December, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Monday that its consumer confidence index fell back in December to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Consumers had been feeling increasingly confident in recent months. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market tumbled more than a dozen points to 81.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda's U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market.President Biden announced he would commute the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates, including child murderers and rapists. The 'Fox & Friends' co-hosts react to the 'shocking' news. The inmates on federal death row whose lives were spared by President Biden after he commuted their sentences have killed victims across all facets of American society, ranging from a sailor to children as young as 8 years old. Biden announced Monday that he commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole because he is "more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level." "Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss," Biden added. "In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted." Among those who have been spared are Jorge Avila-Torrez, a Marine veteran found guilty of killing Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Amanda Snell inside of her barracks in Arlington, Virginia, in July 2009. ‘SQUAD’ DEMOCRAT APPLAUDS BIDEN FOR SPARING MURDERERS FROM ‘RACIST’ DEATH PENALTY Federal prosecutors said Avila-Torrez confessed to an inmate that he "entered Snell’s room through her unlocked door, jumped on her as she slept in her bed, bound her wrists with the power cord from her laptop computer and strangled her with the rest of the cord." Then years later, Avila-Torrez pleaded guilty to stabbing 8-year-old Laura Hobbs and 9-year-old Krystal Tobias to death on Mother’s Day 2005 in Zion, Illinois, and was told by a judge that he was a "serial killer," according to The Associated Press. Krystal Tobias, 9, left, and her friend Laura Hobbs, 8, who were killed by Jorge Avila-Torrez in Zion, Illinois, in May 2005. Marine veteran Jorge Avila-Torrez, who pleaded guilty to killing Tobias and Hobbs, reportedly was a friend of Tobias' older brother at the time of their deaths. (Zion Police Department/Getty Images) Another inmate spared by Biden is Daryl Lawrence, who was convicted of killing Columbus Police Officer Bryan Hurst in 2005. The Justice Department, which posthumously awarded Hurst the Medal of Valor, said he was working uniformed special duty at a bank when a masked gunman entered and the two exchanged fire. "In spite of receiving a mortal wound, Hurst maneuvered around the counter and fired at the suspect before he collapsed. Authorities apprehended the gunman several days later when he sought medical attention at a hospital in Washington, D.C.," it added. "Officer Hurst's quick action, exceptional courage, and persistence protected the lives of the many people at the bank." BIDEN COMMUTES 1,500 JAIL SENTENCES, GRANTS PARDONS FOR 39 OTHERS: ‘LARGEST SINGLE-DAY GRANT OF CLEMENCY’ Thomas Sanders also will no longer face the federal death penalty despite being found guilty for the "brutal kidnapping and murder" of 12-year-old Lexis Roberts in 2010. In that case, prosecutors said Sanders was dating Roberts’ mother Suellen Roberts, whom he fatally shot in the head near Interstate 40 in Arizona during a trip to a wildlife park near the Grand Canyon over Labor Day weekend. He then forced Lexis into a vehicle and held her captive as he traveled east. Thomas Sanders and Suellen Roberts, 31, the mother of 12-year-old Lexis Roberts, in undated photos provided by the FBI. Sanders was found guilty of killing Roberts in Arizona in 2010 and then kidnapping and murdering Lexis days later. (FBI) "Sanders drove several days across the country before he murdered Lexis Roberts in a wooded area in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana," the Justice Department said . "Evidence at trial established that Sanders shot Lexis Roberts four times, cut her throat, and left her body in the woods where a hunter found her body on October 8, 2010." Other inmates who were once on federal death row include Alejandro Umana, an MS-13 gang member who fatally shot brothers Ruben and Manuel Garcia Salinas at a restaurant in Greensboro, North Carolina, in December 2007 "after they ‘disrespected’ his gang signs by calling them ‘fake,’" according to federal prosecutors. Anthony Battle, who killed prison guard D’Antonio Andrew Washington with a ball-peen hammer inside a maximum-security unit at an Atlanta facility in 1994, has been spared as well. Correctional Officer D'Antonio Andrew Washington was killed by inmate Anthony Battle at USP Atlanta in 1994. (Federal Bureau of Prisons/U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General) Amnesty International USA, a supporter of Biden’s decision, said Monday that the "death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment" and Biden’s move is "a big moment for human rights." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "With a stroke of his pen, the President locks in his legacy as a leader who stands for racial justice, humanity, and morality," added Anthony Romero, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. "This will undoubtedly be one of the seminal achievements of the Biden presidency." Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.
Georgia QB Carson Beck's status for Sugar Bowl uncertain as he considers treatment options on elbow
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The consumer response to the Luckin Collaboration Cup's design flaw was mixed. While some loyal customers appreciated the cup's original intended use as a cold water vessel and continued to enjoy its stylish design, others expressed disappointment and frustration over its limited functionality. Social media platforms buzzed with debates, memes, and reviews, highlighting the importance of transparent communication and product testing in collaborative ventures.
As the world grapples with the urgent challenges of climate change and water scarcity, Microsoft's zero water waste data center design serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration. By pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability, Microsoft is demonstrating that it is possible to achieve both environmental responsibility and technological advancement in harmony.
With Syrian President Bashar al-Assad overthrown and now out of the country, Hamilton restaurateur Mohamad Tomeh says he's looking forward to reconnecting with friends and family he hasn't seen since leaving his home there more than 10 years ago. "I am sure that democracy and freedom are coming to Syria," said a joyful Tomeh, who came to Canada in 2018 and now owns two locations in Hamilton under the name Tomah. The political situation in Syria has changed drastically in the past two weeks. After a 13-year civil war that displaced millions of Syrians, rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, seized power from President Bashar Al-Assad. Syrian Canadians cautiously optimistic for 'new era' after Assad regime toppled by rebels It took just 2 weeks for Syria's 50-year Assad regime to crumble. Here's how it happened On Sunday, Assad, whose family ruled Syria for over 50 years, fled to Russia , prompting celebrations by many, including Tomeh. Reacting to the news, Tomeh shared a photo on social media of him smiling and holding two baking sheets full of pastries. The caption declared: "Today, Syria is free! And so today, Tomah's Baklava is also free at both locations!" Tomeh told CBC Hamilton on Monday he can't explain how happy he was. He said he wanted to share dessert as well as joy with a community that has been good to him. He also wants to bring community members who welcomed his family in Hamilton to visit Syria in the future, so they can see what its people have struggled for, he said. His daughter helped to translate part of the conversation. WATCH | What Assad's fall means for Syria and the Middle East: The Breakdown | What Assad’s fall means for Syria and the Middle East 14 hours ago Duration 19:42 As Syrian rebels outline their vision for the future of the country, The National breaks down what reignited the fighting, and what the stunning collapse of the decades-old Assad regime means for Syria, the region, and the world. Because of the "dictator" and "bullies" who ruled Syria for so long, it was no longer safe for Tomeh's family when they left in 2013, he said. The war "broke everything," including his cheese-making business, which was reduced to rubble. Tomeh had five children at the time and didn't want them to grow up in a place where all they could strive for was survival, he said, so he and his wife took the family to Egypt, where they lived for five years, opening a new cheese factory and restaurant. It "was not the best," there, so in 2018, the family immigrated to Canada and settled in Hamilton, Tomeh said. While other countries closed their doors to Syrians, "Canada opened everything," Tomeh said. "I feel grateful for Canada and the people." Mohamad Tomeh is an experienced chef and cheesemaker. He immigrated to Canada in 2018 and opened his restaurant Tomah in 2019. (Aura Carreño Rosas/CBC) Once things settle down following Assad's ouster, Tomeh said he will visit family and friends in Syria. Unfortunately he said, some did not survive the past decade. "Maybe we'll find the place, but we won't find the people," he said. In 2022, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that the conflict resulted in around 306,000 civilians being killed between 2011 and 2021. The office said it also documented thousands of cases including civilians being tortured, subjected to sexual violence and arbitrarily imprisoned. It also noted 38 instances of the use of chemical weapons, 32 of which it attributed to government forces. It's unclear what will happen in Syria now , but Tomeh said he's confident Syria is moving in the right direction. "I am sure the new government will be better than the dictatorship." Ultimately, Tomeh said, he wants Syrians to enjoy peace and tolerance as they rebuild. Marwah Kobieh, executive director of the Syrian Canadian Foundation told CBC Toronto many Syrians lost hope that they would ever see new leadership. "We're hoping that all the Syrians who are scattered across the world can come back to Syria and just hold each other's hand and rebuild the country that have been really facing so much for half a century," he said.In the midst of another thrilling Premier League season, the battle for the coveted title has once again captured the attention of football fans worldwide. With several top teams vying for supremacy, the competition has been fierce and unpredictable. Recently, renowned football pundit, Simon, shared his insights on the title race, identifying four teams as the true competitors, with Manchester City definitely among them.The case of Liu Yusheng serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding ethical standards and maintaining integrity in all aspects of professional life, especially in fields as critical as healthcare. The actions of individuals in positions of authority can have a profound impact on the lives of patients and the overall effectiveness of the healthcare system.6 Guatemalans arrested and charged with human smuggling in deadly 2021 Mexico truck crash