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jj kk ll SMU has plenty to play for when it closes the regular season against California on Saturday afternoon in Dallas. The Mustangs (10-1, 7-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who checked in at No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday, would like to send their seniors off the right way. They would also like to complete a perfect regular season before appearing in the ACC title game in their first year in the conference. Most importantly, they want to continue to strengthen their playoff case. "You've got the College Football Playoff, so every game matters. That's what's so cool about it now. The regular season is important," SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. "We'd like to finish well in everything we do, particularly on Saturday, to finish off the regular season, continue our momentum into the following week. Hopefully, continue to show the committee and others that we're worthy of continuing to play this year." The Mustangs are a worthy playoff team to date. Kevin Jennings has established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country, throwing for 2,521 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has rushed for 315 yards and four TDs. Brashard Smith has been another standout, rushing for 1,089 yards and 13 TDs. Defensively, the Mustangs rank tied for 14th in the country with 20 takeaways. "Obviously they've had a phenomenal season," Cal coach Justin Wilcox said of SMU. "As soon as you turn the tape on, it doesn't take very long to see why their record is what it is. They're very, very good really in every phase of the game - extremely explosive and quick and fast. They've got a dominant D-line. We've got a lot of challenges in front of us and our guys are excited for that." Cal (6-5, 2-5) is coming off an emotional win, defeating rival Stanford 24-21 on Saturday to secure a bowl berth. The Golden Bears will appear in consecutive bowls for the first time since 2018-19 and are now looking to clinch their first winning season since 2019. SMU is not overlooking Cal, as all five of the Golden Bears' losses have come by one score. "You'd be hard-pressed to find a better 6-5 team in America," Lashlee said. "I think you can conservatively say they very, very easily could be 9-2." Cal is led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has thrown for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Tight end Jack Endries leads the team with 555 yards receiving, while wide receiver Nyziah Hunter has caught a team-leading five touchdowns. Defensively, Cal has the ACC's top scoring defense (20.7 points per game) and is tied with Clemson for the ACC's best turnover margin (plus-13). Defensive back Nohl Williams is the star of the group -- he leads the country with seven interceptions. Even though oddsmakers are heavily favoring SMU, Cal is going into the game with a simple mindset. "Our task at hand is to make the best bowl game right now," Mendoza said. "And the way to do that is to go into Dallas, give it our best and ruin SMU's season." Saturday will mark the first conference meeting between these ACC newcomers, and just the second meeting between the programs all time. SMU won a 13-6 game back in 1957. --Field Level MediaMore trouble for Kejriwal? Vigilance dept seeks PWD report on Flag Staff expenses

Net sales increased 2% versus last year with comparable sales up 1% Operating margin of 9.3% improved 270 basis points versus last year Market share gains across all brands in the quarter Raises outlook for fiscal 2024 net sales, gross margin and operating income growth SAN FRANCISCO , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP), the largest specialty apparel company in the U.S. and a house of iconic brands including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended November 2, 2024. "I'm proud that Gap Inc. delivered another successful quarter, growing net sales for the 4 th consecutive quarter and gaining market share across all brands while meaningfully expanding operating margin," said President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard Dickson . "Consistent execution of our strategic priorities, including the rigor and repetition we're applying to our brand reinvigoration playbook, is making us a stronger company and demonstrates our continued progress in unlocking Gap Inc.'s full potential." Dickson continued: "Holiday is off to a strong start and we remain focused on executing with excellence in the fourth quarter. Our performance year-to-date gives us the confidence to raise our full year outlook for sales, gross margin and operating income growth." Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 – Financial Results Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights Additional information regarding free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, is provided at the end of this press release along with a reconciliation of this measure from the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the applicable period. Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 – Global Brand Results Comparable Sales Third Quarter 2024 2023 Old Navy — % 1 % Gap 3 % (1) % Banana Republic (1) % (8) % Athleta 5 % (19) % Gap Inc. 1 % (2) % Old Navy: Gap: Banana Republic: Athleta: Fiscal 2024 Outlook As a result of its strong third quarter results, the company is raising its full year outlook for net sales, gross margin and operating income growth compared to prior expectations. Please note that the company's projected full year fiscal 2024 operating income growth below is provided in comparison to its full year fiscal 2023 adjusted operating income, which excludes $93 million in restructuring costs and a $47 million gain on sale of a building. Full Year Fiscal 2024 Current FY24 Outlook Prior FY24 Outlook FY23 Results Net sales Up 1.5% to 2.0% on a 52-week basis Up slightly on a 52-week basis $14.9 billion 1 Gross margin Approximately 220 bps expansion Approximately 200 bps expansion 38.8 % Operating expense Approximately $5.1 billion Approximately $5.1 billion $5.17 billion (adjusted) 2 Operating income Mid to High 60% growth range Mid to High 50% growth range $606 million (adjusted) 3 Effective tax rate Approximately 26.5% Approximately 28% 9.7 % Capital expenditures Approximately $500 million Approximately $500 million $420 million 1 Fiscal year 2023 consisted of 53 weeks and the extra week drove approximately $160 million of incremental sales. 2 Fiscal year 2023 adjusted operating expense of $5.17 billion excludes $89 million in restructuring costs and a $47 million gain on sale. 3 Fiscal year 2023 adjusted operating income of $606 million excludes $93 million in restructuring costs and a $47 million gain on sale. Webcast and Conference Call Information Whitney Notaro , Head of Investor Relations at Gap Inc., will host a conference call to review the company's third quarter fiscal 2024 results beginning at approximately 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time today. Ms. Notaro will be joined by President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard Dickson and Chief Financial Officer, Katrina O'Connell . A live webcast of the conference call and accompanying materials will be available online at investors.gapinc.com . A replay of the webcast will be available at the same location. Non-GAAP Disclosure This press release and related conference call include financial measures that have not been calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and are therefore referred to as non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP measures described below are intended to provide investors with additional useful information about the company's financial performance, to enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects, and to allow for greater transparency with respect to important metrics used by management for financial and operating decision-making. The company presents these non-GAAP financial measures to assist investors in seeing its financial performance from management's view and because it believes they provide an additional tool for investors to use in computing the company's core financial performance over multiple periods with other companies in its industry. Additional information regarding the intended use of non-GAAP measures included in this press release and related conference call is provided in the tables to this press release. The non-GAAP measures included in this press release and related conference call are adjusted operating expense/adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, and free cash flow. These non-GAAP measures exclude the impact of certain items that are set forth in the tables to this press release. In addition, the company's outlook includes projected full year fiscal 2024 operating income growth compared to its full year fiscal 2023 adjusted operating income. The non-GAAP measures used by the company should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies due to possible differences in method and in items or events being adjusted. The company urges investors to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures included in the tables to this press release below, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate its business. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the company have limitations in their usefulness to investors because they have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Forward-Looking Statements This press release and related conference call and accompanying materials contain forward-looking statements within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than those that are purely historical are forward-looking statements. Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "project," and similar expressions also identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the following: becoming a high performing company; unlocking Gap Inc.'s potential; our four strategic priorities, including maintaining and delivering financial and operational rigor, the reinvigoration of our brands, strengthening our operating platform, and energizing our culture; driving relevance and revenue by executing on our brand reinvigoration playbook; expectations for Old Navy for the holiday season; accelerating Old Navy's presence in the Active category; Old Navy's holiday activations and product; reigniting Gap brand's leadership in trend-right products and creative expression through big ideas and culturally relevant messaging; reestablishing Banana Republic to thrive in the premium lifestyle space; evolving Banana Republic's assortment and fit; continuing to fix the fundamentals at Banana Republic; Banana Republic's holiday product; Athleta's trajectory; Athleta's holiday product; enhancing Athleta's in-store and online experiences; driving high-performance across our teams; executing with excellence; Gap Inc.'s positioning going into the holiday season; expectations for our full year performance; expected year-end inventory levels; expected full year fiscal 2024 net sales; the expected impact of the loss of the 53rd week on full year fiscal 2024 net sales; expected fourth quarter fiscal 2024 net sales; the expected impacts of the loss of the 53rd week and the weekly calendar shift on fourth quarter fiscal 2024 net sales; expected full year fiscal 2024 gross margin; the expected impacts of commodity costs and better inventory management on full year fiscal 2024 gross margin; expected full year fiscal 2024 ROD; expected fourth quarter fiscal 2024 gross margin; the expected impact of the loss of the 53rd week on fourth quarter fiscal 2024 gross margin; expected full year fiscal 2024 SG&A/operating expense; continuing cost discipline and unlocking more efficiencies in the business; expected full year fiscal 2024 operating income; expected full year fiscal 2024 effective tax rate; expected full year fiscal 2024 capital expenditures; generating sustainable, profitable growth and delivering long-term shareholder value; and our dividend policy. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the following risks, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or reputation: the overall global economic and geopolitical environment, including the ongoing Russia - Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts and recent elections in the United States , and impacts on consumer spending patterns; social and political unrest in our sourcing countries, including Bangladesh , and disruptions to global trade and shipping capacity, including in the Red Sea; the risk that we or our franchisees may be unsuccessful in gauging apparel trends and changing consumer preferences or responding with sufficient lead time; the highly competitive nature of our business in the United States and internationally; the risk that we may be unable to manage our inventory effectively and the resulting impact on our gross margins and sales; the risk that our investments in customer, digital, and omni-channel shopping initiatives may not deliver the results we anticipate; the risk that we fail to maintain, enhance, and protect our brand image and reputation; the risk of loss or theft of assets, including inventory shortage; the risk that we fail to manage key executive succession and retention or continue to attract qualified personnel; reductions in income and cash flow from our credit card arrangement related to our private label and co-branded credit cards; the risk that changes in our business strategy or restructuring our operations may not generate the intended benefits or projected cost savings; the risk that trade matters could increase the cost or reduce the supply of apparel available to us; the risks to our business, including our costs and global supply chain, associated with global sourcing and manufacturing; the risks to our reputation or operations associated with importing merchandise from foreign countries, including failure of our vendors to adhere to our Code of Vendor Conduct; the risk that we or our franchisees may be unsuccessful in identifying, negotiating, and securing new store locations and renewing, modifying, or terminating leases for existing store locations effectively; engaging in or seeking to engage in strategic transactions that are subject to various risks and uncertainties; the risk that our efforts to expand internationally may not be successful; the risk that our franchisees and licensees could impair the value of our brands; the risk of data or other security breaches or vulnerabilities that may result in increased costs, violations of law, significant legal and financial exposure, and a loss of confidence in our security measures; the risk that failures of, or updates or changes to, our IT systems may disrupt our operations; the risk that our comparable sales and margins may experience fluctuations, that we may fail to meet financial market expectations, or that the seasonality of our business may experience fluctuations; the risk of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; the risk that our level of indebtedness may impact our ability to operate and expand our business; the risk that we and our subsidiaries may be unable to meet our obligations under our indebtedness agreements; the risk that changes in our credit profile or deterioration in market conditions may limit our access to the capital markets; natural disasters, public health crises (such as pandemics and epidemics), political crises (such as the ongoing Russia - Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts), negative global climate patterns, or other catastrophic events; evolving regulations and expectations with respect to ESG matters, including climate reporting; the adverse effects of climate change on our operations and those of our franchisees, vendors, and other business partners; our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations and changes in the regulatory or administrative landscape; the risk that we will not be successful in defending various proceedings, lawsuits, disputes, and claims; the risk that our estimates and assumptions used when preparing our financial information are inaccurate or may change; the risk that changes in the geographic mix and level of income or losses, the expected or actual outcome of audits, changes in deferred tax valuation allowances, and new legislation could impact our effective tax rate, or that we may be required to pay amounts in excess of established tax liabilities; the risk that changes in our business structure, our performance or our industry could result in reductions in our pre-tax income or utilization of existing tax carryforwards in future periods, and require additional deferred tax valuation allowances; the risk that the adoption of new accounting pronouncements will impact future results; and the risk that additional information may arise during our close process or as a result of subsequent events that would require us to make adjustments to our financial information. Additional information regarding factors that could cause results to differ can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2024 , as well as our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on information as of November 21, 2024 . We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. About Gap Inc. Gap Inc., a house of iconic brands, is the largest specialty apparel company in America. Its Old Navy , Gap , Banana Republic , and Athleta brands offer clothing, accessories, and lifestyle products for men, women and children. Since 1969, Gap Inc. has created products and experiences that shape culture, while doing right by employees, communities and the planet. Gap Inc. products are available worldwide through company-operated stores, franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. Fiscal year 2023 net sales were $14.9 billion . For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com . Investor Relations Contact: Nina Bari Investor_relations@gap.com Media Relations Contact: Megan Foote Press@gap.com The Gap, Inc. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS UNAUDITED ($ in millions) November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,969 $ 1,351 Short-term investments 250 — Merchandise inventory 2,331 2,377 Other current assets 580 646 Total current assets 5,130 4,374 Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 2,546 2,552 Operating lease assets 3,217 3,200 Other long-term assets 960 926 Total assets $ 11,853 $ 11,052 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 1,523 $ 1,433 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 1,135 1,078 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 617 604 Income taxes payable 50 24 Total current liabilities 3,325 3,139 Long-term liabilities: Long-term debt 1,489 1,488 Long-term operating lease liabilities 3,360 3,456 Other long-term liabilities 544 509 Total long-term liabilities 5,393 5,453 Total stockholders' equity 3,135 2,460 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 11,853 $ 11,052 The Gap, Inc. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS UNAUDITED 13 Weeks Ended 39 Weeks Ended ($ and shares in millions except per share amounts) November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net sales $ 3,829 $ 3,767 $ 10,937 $ 10,591 Cost of goods sold and occupancy expenses 2,194 2,211 6,322 6,488 Gross profit 1,635 1,556 4,615 4,103 Operating expenses 1,280 1,306 3,762 3,757 Operating income 355 250 853 346 Interest, net (6) — (12) 8 Income before income taxes 361 250 865 338 Income tax expense 87 32 227 21 Net income $ 274 $ 218 $ 638 $ 317 Weighted-average number of shares - basic 377 371 376 369 Weighted-average number of shares - diluted 383 375 383 373 Earnings per share - basic $ 0.73 $ 0.59 $ 1.70 $ 0.86 Earnings per share - diluted $ 0.72 $ 0.58 $ 1.67 $ 0.85 The Gap, Inc. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS UNAUDITED 39 Weeks Ended ($ in millions) November 2, 2024 (a) October 28, 2023 (a) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 638 $ 317 Depreciation and amortization 371 394 Gain on sale of building — (47) Change in merchandise inventory (344) (5) Change in accounts payable 156 133 Other, net

Africa’s top billionaires have amassed their wealth through innovation, resilience, and visionary business strategies, transforming industries along the way. From manufacturing and mining to telecommunications and consumer goods, these industry leaders are not only shaping Africa’s economic landscape but also leaving a global impact. Explore the sectors they dominate, the lifestyles they lead, and the journeys that brought them success, revealing how their influence extends far beyond their financial worth to drive change across the continent. PAY ATTENTION: Got a Minute? Complete Our Quick Survey About Legit.ng Today! 1. Aliko Dangote Net Worth: $15.6 billion Sector: Manufacturing (Cement, Sugar, Flour) Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa for over a decade, built his wealth through Dangote Group, a conglomerate that dominates the African market in cement, sugar, and flour production. Despite his immense wealth, Dangote maintains a relatively low-profile lifestyle. His journey began with trading commodities, and today, he is spearheading projects like the Dangote Refinery, which will significantly impact Nigeria's oil industry . Read also Just in: Lagos seals Adeboye’s RCCG, 8 other top establishments, full list emerges PAY ATTENTION : Standing out in social media world? Easy! "Mastering Storytelling for Social Media" workshop by Legit.ng. Join Us Live! 2. Johann Rupert Net Worth: $10.7 billion Sector: Luxury Goods Johann Rupert, a South African billionaire, heads Compagnie Financière Richemont, known for luxury brands like Cartier and Montblanc. His understated yet luxurious lifestyle reflects his company’s high-end clientele. Rupert’s journey was rooted in his father’s tobacco business, which he diversified into the global luxury goods empire it is today. 3. Nicky Oppenheimer Net Worth: $8.4 billion Sector: Mining (Diamonds) Nicky Oppenheimer, a diamond magnate, made his fortune through the Oppenheimer family’s 40% stake in De Beers, the world’s largest diamond producer. His family sold its stake in 2012 for $5.1 billion. Though private, Oppenheimer enjoys philanthropy, particularly in environmental conservation. His journey started in the diamond mines, and he eventually steered De Beers to global prominence. 4. Abdulsamad Rabiu Net Worth: $8.1 billion Sector: Manufacturing (Cement, Sugar, Real Estate) Read also Nigeria, Brazil sign MoU to boost agribusiness across all 774 local governments Abdulsamad Rabiu is another Nigerian industrialist who made his wealth through BUA Group, a conglomerate in cement, sugar, and real estate. Known for his quiet and modest lifestyle, Rabiu expanded his family business into one of Nigeria’s largest manufacturing companies. His journey highlights his ability to navigate Nigeria’s complex business environment. 5. Nassef Sawiris Net Worth: $7.2 billion Sector: Construction, Chemicals Egypt’s Nassef Sawiris, part of the wealthiest family in Egypt, runs Orascom Construction and is heavily invested in global giants like Adidas. His journey in construction has made him one of the world’s most influential investors. Despite his vast fortune, Sawiris prefers to keep a low profile. 6. Mike Adenuga Net Worth: $6.1 billion Sector: Telecommunications, Oil Mike Adenuga, Nigeria’s second-richest man, made his fortune in telecommunications and oil, founding Globacom, Nigeria’s second-largest telecom company. He also owns Conoil, a major oil exploration firm. Known for his opulent lifestyle, Adenuga’s journey is marked by his relentless ambition, starting with small ventures and growing into a telecom and oil powerhouse. Read also Tinubu’s govt, Brazil sign MoU to boost agribusiness in Nigeria 7. Issad Rebrab Net Worth: $5.1 billion Sector: Food and Beverage Algeria’s Issad Rebrab made his fortune through Cevital, the country’s largest privately-held conglomerate. Cevital operates one of the world’s largest sugar refineries. Known for his down-to-earth lifestyle, Rebrab’s journey began in humble beginnings before establishing a food empire that spans across continents. 8. Naguib Sawiris Net Worth: $3.3 billion Sector: Telecom, Media Naguib Sawiris, Nassef’s brother, has a stronghold in the telecom industry with Orascom Telecom, which was sold to Russia’s VimpelCom in 2011. A lover of luxury, Naguib is known for his flamboyant lifestyle and sharp business acumen. He now focuses on media and political ventures in Egypt. 9. Patrice Motsepe Net Worth: $2.9 billion Sector: Mining South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe, the first Black African billionaire, founded African Rainbow Minerals, which mines gold, platinum, and other precious metals. Known for his philanthropy, Motsepe has pledged half of his wealth to charity. His journey started in the law, before transitioning to mining, where he saw massive success. Read also Mike Adenuga: Ally speaks out amid rumours of billionaire's death, calls him "the spirit of Africa" 10. Koos Bekker Net Worth: $2.5 billion Sector: Media, Technology Koos Bekker transformed Naspers from a South African newspaper publisher into a global e-commerce and media giant, investing in platforms like Tencent. Bekker’s modest lifestyle contrasts with the digital empire he’s built. His journey underscores visionary leadership, taking calculated risks in emerging markets. 11. Mohamed Mansour Net Worth: $2.5 billion Sector: Diversified (Automotive, Retail) Mohamed Mansour oversees the Mansour Group, a family-owned conglomerate with interests in automotive and retail sectors, including the distribution of General Motors vehicles. Mansour is known for his reserved yet philanthropic lifestyle, with investments spanning Africa , Europe, and beyond. 12. Strive Masiyiwa Net Worth: $1.9 billion Sector: Telecommunications Strive Masiyiwa, a Zimbabwe an billionaire, founded Econet, one of the largest telecom companies in Africa. Masiyiwa is a prominent philanthropist and advocate for African entrepreneurship. His journey is marked by resilience, overcoming regulatory challenges in Zimbabwe to create a telecom giant that serves millions across the continent. Read also Fuel crisis: Amid NNPCL shake up, Buhari’s appointee, 1 other named as alleged major problems 13. Mohammed Dewji Net Worth: $1.5 billion Sector: Manufacturing Tanzania’s Mohammed Dewji, CEO of MeTL Group, transformed a small trading business into a $1.5 billion conglomerate. Dewji, Africa’s youngest billionaire, is known for his active lifestyle and philanthropy. His journey reflects the power of family legacy and strategic investment in manufacturing. 14. Prateek Suri Net Worth: $1.4 billion Sector: Consumer Electronics, Investment, Manufacturing Prateek Suri, founder of Maser Group and MDR Investments popularly known as technology tiger of Africa, made his fortune in the consumer electronics and tech space after valuation crossing $5bn after acquired by SCG, focusing on frontier technologies and large-cap ventures in Africa mining and infrastructure, shipping and AI and the GCC region. Known for his high-energy lifestyle, Suri’s journey highlights innovation in manufacturing and technology, with an eye on transforming Africa’s tech landscape. Suri is Africa’s youngest billionaire with net worth $1.4bn Read also Which is the richest family in Nigeria? Top 10 ranked by wealth 15. Youssef Mansour Net Worth: $1.1 billion Sector: Retail, Consumer Goods Youssef Mansour, part of Egypt’s wealthy Mansour family, has built his wealth through Metro, Egypt’s largest supermarket chain, and other consumer goods ventures. He lives a low-profile lifestyle, focusing on expanding his family’s retail empire across Africa and the Middle East. 16. Othman Benjelloun Net Worth: $1.1 billion Sector: Banking, Insurance Othman Benjelloun, a Moroccan banking magnate, founded BMCE Bank, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions. Benjelloun is known for his classic and traditional lifestyle. His journey through finance has positioned him as one of the most influential bankers in North Africa. 17. Michiel Le Roux Net Worth: $1 billion Sector: Banking Michiel Le Roux founded Capitec Bank, one of South Africa’s most successful retail banks, revolutionizing affordable banking for the masses. Le Roux enjoys a relatively simple lifestyle, focusing on the banking sector and making banking accessible for all. His journey reflects his focus on innovation in financial inclusion. Read also Okele's net worth, real name, age, wife, house and car 18. Christoffel Wiese Net Worth: $1 billion Sector: Retail Christoffel Wiese, South Africa’s retail giant, made his fortune through Shoprite, the continent’s largest retailer. Known for his lavish lifestyle, Wiese’s journey has seen both remarkable successes and setbacks, but his influence on African retail remains unmatched. 19. Youssef Dewji Net Worth: $900 million Sector: Manufacturing, Real Estate Youssef Dewji, part of the influential Dewji family in Tanzania, has seen tremendous success in the manufacturing and real estate sectors, expanding his family’s business legacy. His modest lifestyle belies his impressive business acumen. 20. Aziz Akhannouch Net Worth: $900 million Sector: Oil and Gas Aziz Akhannouch, Morocco’s oil and gas magnate, is also a politician, serving as the country’s Prime Minister. His family owns Akwa Group, a conglomerate focused on petroleum products. Akhannouch maintains a relatively low public profile, balancing his political and business commitments. Read also Top 10 richest women in the world in 2024 and how they made their money Conclusion Africa’s leading billionaires are at the forefront of driving economic transformation, channeling investments into critical sectors and shaping industries that will define the continent’s future. Their inspiring journeys highlight the impact of resilience, innovation, and a shared vision for a more prosperous and dynamic Africa. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng

Barclays Lowers Warner Music Group (NASDAQ:WMG) Price Target to $31.00Ministers pledge £15m towards tackling food waste and feeding communitiesScotland would be full of people if the cold wet sand and lashing winds on the grey sea were a bit less wild and more conducive to supply chains. In 1700 there were about a million Scots. In 1800, a million and half. By 1900, four and a half, but rugby has been written from then till now, and during the era of Tests, Scotland only gained a million more to reach its current five-and-a-half million. In the same 120-year period, Australia went from less than four million to over 27 million. There are as many Sydneysiders as Scots in Scotland, even if star loose forward Jack Dempsey and current Scottish captain Sione Tuipulotu have tried to counter the ruck direction, along with several Saffas. AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES WEEK 4 TEAMS AND TV TIMES A different Hopetoun Cup reunion has convened this weekend: the two teams who fought one of the most contentious Rugby World Cup matches in history in 2015, a quarterfinal which effectively and unfairly ended referee Craig Joubert’s on-field career, as the 35-34 score was pronounced as an error, even if all refs make at least a handful of material errors in a Test, and many who are seen as competent risers have made more than a dozen and been protected by World Rugby. For the most part, the competition between the sides has been friendly. This match should be as well, but both teams desperately need the win: for the now, for this series, for their coaches even at opposite stages of their tenure, and for the scant time left before the Lions set sail. If either were to lose badly, their sunny narrative of this month would turn frigid. A big win, or any win, would crown the Wallabies the biggest gainers of the season. The Wallabies have played Scotland 21 times in Scotland, losing nine. In 2022, Dave Rennie’s squad took it by a point: a try by James Slipper on the hour and 11 points from Bernard Foley did the trick. Before that: a squeaker in 2021 in Romain Poite’s final Test match, with Finn Russell winning a kicking duel with James O’Connor; the 2017 rout (24-53); and a Wallaby triumph (again by a point) in 2016, sealed by a late Tevita Kuridrani try converted by Foley. Sione Tuipulotu. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images for Scottish Rugby) Scotland poses a unique threat to Australian Grand Slam dreams. They score. A lot. In their three matches this November, Scotland has scored 131 points, and their low tally (15) was against South Africa, the stingiest team in world rugby. The last time Scotland was kept tryless was also against the Springboks in Marseille in the opening pool match of the World Cup. Given the weather at Murrayfield (raining all day and temperatures as low as five) the Bok template might be worth emulating. The Wallabies have let in too many points this season; in particular, too many tries. An average of over 20 a match conceded to Wales in three Tests, 29 let in from Georgia, over 30 a game by both the Boks and the All Blacks, a 67-point debacle in Argentina, and 37 by England. Shave this by five or ten points and the Wallabies could get a lead against Scotland and take it to the house. Even if Joe Schmidt’s ball possession doctrines and Laurie Fisher’s defensive structures do not operate at the level of the Boks (allowing Russell no tries or try assists in 2023 and 2024, and an average of nine points a game) but merely almost as well, the upset is on the cards. In bad weather, in the third weekend of a long tour far from home, putting hopes in a 40-point explosion again is unwise and rare. The average output for the Wallabies in Edinburgh since 2009 is 17.5 points a Test. How do you construct a game plan to slow down Russell, Tuipolotu, Huw Jones, wings who will be Lions, and big Toulousain Blair Kinghorn at the back? The Boks have done it by giving Russell too much: too much time on the ball, too many defenders between him and his centres, too many choices, too much contact, too many (legal) rib ticklers, too much of the play, and too many false doglegs. Scotland’s Finn Russell in action during the Autumn Nations Series match between Scotland and Australia at BT Murrayfield in 2021. (Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images) Basically, South Africa turned the Bath wizard into a carrier and squeezed kicker; not a passer. Russell is not a poor runner, but he cannot beat a single Wallaby in a footrace. He makes the ball work for him and has relied on Kinghorn and Tuipulotu to trigger breaks. The battle within the battle will be to spoil the quality of the second pass in each Scottish attack set and prevent the third altogether. Highlight flicks will be less important than cramping the potent Scots, putting bodies in the way of passing lanes, and keeping the wider channels quiet. South Africa uses shooters (both from the outside backs and quick forwards like Kwagga Smith or Pieter-Steph du Toit) to cut salient through the attack shape Scotland prefers (a rather flat line compared to many of the cascading teams) and do not worry so much if those scouts blitz to a tackle: the key is to crash the space. The goal is to cut Jones off from Tuipulotu and 12 from ten. In the URC this year, Jones has only played three matches but has beaten eight defenders and made seven line-breaks (from just 24 carries). Tuipulotu is the ‘culprit.’ His 11 bruising carries a game for Glasgow has committed so many tacklers and jacklers, Jones runs free. The former Melbourne Rebel commits two or more tacklers 46.9% of the time, according to OptaAnalyst; the same rate of his gainline success. This has given Jones a staggering 80% figure for what OptaAnalyst classifies as ‘dominant carries’ (and 88.2% gainline success). Darcy Graham or Duhan der Merwe or any of the slippery Scot wings feed off this mayhem. Kinghorn is an upgrade on his disgraced predecessor Stuart Hogg, and not just on the court blotter: he makes gainline for Toulouse 72.7% of the time. The overall task is clear: if Australia defends at Murrayfield as well as they have so far in 2024, they will ship 40 points. How do you beat Scotland? Start by counter-rucking, contacting the Scottish scrumhalf, touching Russell, smash-tackling Tuipulotu, sawing off Jones, starving their wings, and not giving Kinghorn lazy kicks. This team is hard to tackle: Scotland led the World Cup in tackle evasion (43.6%, just ahead of New Zealand), even in the “pool of death.” They trailed only Ireland in finishing breaks with tries. They led the Cup in offload success. Their attack seldom goes blindside (their shortside attack in the Cup was only 4.2%, the lowest in the tournament), is not tight (they went wide 16% of the time in France, compared to the Wallabies’ 7.5%), and went wider than 10 metres from source the most, just ahead of Italy and Ireland. More Rugby The point is this: nobody except New Zealand this year will have tested Australia’s wider channel defence more than Scotland by the end of Saturday. Oppose that? Not by suddenly sprouting a steel trap in the trams; but by cutting it off from the promised land. South Africa has funneled Scottish runners into the teeth of its brutal forward and midfield defence. If Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is manning the inside channel next to the Wallaby flyhalf, he will need to hit higher upfield and lower on the body, giving his in-form mate Len Ikitau cover to blanket Jones. A metric for success is for Rob Valetini to have more carries than the Scottish wings put together, and for Ikitau to neutralise Jones. (Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images) The match which will tell most about this tale of return and revival. Back when Schmidt was hired, I wrote here: “The Wallabies have been stymied by seven cardinal rugby sins for a decade or more. A high penalty and card count, poor referee relations, a shapeless attack, poor ball retention, overreliance on a few stars, a tendency to play to the level of the opposition (tight losses to top teams, narrow wins versus weaker team), and a disconnect from fans and their proxies in the media.” They are connecting, because winning does that. Accuracy has risen. Harry Wilson knows how to talk to a ref. The attack has a shape which can reform because ball is better protected. But two of those seven points are still to be overcome.

ASBT launches Fill a Forgotten Stocking programAzerbaijani and US officials believe a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the deadly crash of an Azerbaijani passenger jet, media reports and a US official said Thursday, as the Kremlin cautioned against "hypotheses" over the disaster. The Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau, an oil and gas hub, on Wednesday after going off course for undetermined reasons. Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board died. The Embraer 190 aircraft was supposed to fly northwest from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to the city of Grozny in Chechnya, southern Russia, but instead diverted far off course across the Caspian Sea. An investigation is underway, with pro-government Azerbaijani website Caliber citing unnamed officials as saying they believed a Russian missile fired from a Pantsir-S air defence system downed the plane. The claim was also reported by The New York Times, broadcaster Euronews and the Turkish news agency Anadolu. Some aviation and military experts said the plane might have been accidentally shot by Russian air defence systems because it was flying in an area where Ukrainian drone activity had been reported. A former expert at France's BEA air accident investigation agency said there appeared to be "a lot of shrapnel" damage on the wreckage. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the damage was "reminiscent" of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was downed with a surface-to-air missile by Russia-backed rebels over eastern Ukraine in 2014. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "It would be wrong to make any hypotheses before the investigation's conclusions." Euronews cited Azerbaijani government sources as saying that "shrapnel hit the passengers and cabin crew as it exploded next to the aircraft mid-flight". A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said early indications suggested a Russian anti-aircraft system struck the plane. Kazakhstan news agency Kazinform cited a regional prosecutor as saying that two black-box flight recorders had been recovered. Azerbaijan Airlines initially said the plane flew through a flock of birds, before withdrawing the statement. Kazakh officials said 38 people had been killed and there were 29 survivors, including three children. Jalil Aliyev, the father of flight attendant Hokume Aliyeva, told AFP that this was supposed to have been her last flight before starting a job as a lawyer for the airline. "Why did her young life have to end so tragically?" the man said in a trembling voice before hanging up the phone. Eleven of the injured are in intensive care, the Kazakh health ministry said. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a day of mourning and cancelled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of former Soviet nations. "I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash... and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Aliyev said in a social media post Wednesday. The Flight Radar website showed the plane deviating from its normal route, crossing the Caspian Sea and then circling over the area where it eventually crashed near Aktau, on the eastern shore of the sea. Kazakhstan said the plane was carrying 37 Azerbaijani passengers, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz and 16 Russians. A Kazakh woman told the local branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) she was near where the plane crashed and rushed to the site to help survivors. "They were covered in blood. They were crying. They were calling for help," said the woman, who gave her name as Elmira. She said they saved some teenagers. "I'll never forget their look, full of pain and despair," said Elmira. "A girl pleaded: 'Save my mother, my mother is back there'." Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Aliyev and "expressed his condolences in connection with the crash", Peskov told a news conference. bur/rlp/js

Gaetz’ Bad Boy image finally catches up with him

Palawan bishops launch petition for mining ban on islandBrendan Rodgers praises Celtic and Cameron Carter-Vickers’ mentality

NoneLooking for dividend growth stocks? These stocks are expected to deliver strong payout growth over the next couple of years at least. BAE Systems 2.5% for 2024, 2.7% for 2025 The stable nature of arms spending means defence tends to be a rock-solid sector for . This is especially the case today, as fractures in the global order drive rapid rearmament in the West. ( ) is one contractor with a long record of distinguished dividend growth. It’s raised shareholder payouts every year since 2011. It’s a trend City analysts expect to continue, making it worth a close look in my opinion. Payouts are expected to rise 8%, to 32.3p per share, this year. Dividend growth is expected to accelerate to 10% in 2025, resulting in a full-year payout of 35.5p. Forecasts for next year are supported by expected profits rises of 7% and 12% in 2024 and 2025 respectively. As a consequence, estimated dividends for both years are covered 2.1 times by predicted earnings. Both readings are above the safety benchmark of 2 times, providing dividends forecasts with additional steel. BAE also has strong financial foundations to fund dividends in case earnings disappoint. Profits may fall short of estimates due to supply chain issues, for instance, a significant threat to defence firms’ annual earnings today. The firm had £2.8bn of cash on the balance sheet as of June. BAE Systems’ order backlog is surging, and it hit a record £74.1bn at the midpoint of 2025. It looks set to keep rising too, which bodes well for longer-term dividends. Airtel Africa 5.4% for 2025, 5.5% for 2026 Telecoms provider ( ) doesn’t have a long record of dividend growth like BAE. It’s only been listed on the for five years. It also cut the annual payout in 2021 as it rebased dividends to cut debt. However, cash payouts have surged since then, and by more than double-digit percentages on occasions. It’s a trend that City brokers expect to carry on. For this financial year (to March 2025), a total dividend of 6.52 US cents per share is predicted, up 10% year on year. A further 3% rise is anticipated for financial 2026, to 6.70 cents. However, I must warn that Airtel’s forecasts aren’t as robust as I’d ideally like. Profits are skidding lower due to adverse currency movements (EBITDA dropped 16.5% between April and September). And leverage levels are sharply growing, with net-debt-to-EBITDA rising to 2.3 times as of September. Falling earnings also mean dividend cover turns negative for this year, with predicted earnings of 46.7 US cents per share forecast. On the plus side, City analysts expect profits to rebound strongly in financial 2026, leaving robust dividend cover of 2.7 times. Yet despite the uncertain near-term outlook, I still believe Airtel Africa shares are worth serious consideration by risk-tolerant investors. What’s more, I believe the long-term picture here remains highly attractive. Telecoms demand for Africa continues to rocket, with Airtel’s customer base rising 6.1% year on year to 156.6m in September.

Peering Into IBM's Recent Short Interest

Natixis Advisors LLC reduced its stake in shares of Aramark ( NYSE:ARMK – Free Report ) by 18.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 111,136 shares of the company’s stock after selling 24,496 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC’s holdings in Aramark were worth $4,304,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of Aramark by 3.6% in the third quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 7,621 shares of the company’s stock worth $295,000 after acquiring an additional 265 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in Aramark by 100.3% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 681 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 341 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV lifted its holdings in Aramark by 18.3% in the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 6,878 shares of the company’s stock valued at $266,000 after purchasing an additional 1,064 shares in the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Aramark by 25.8% during the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 11,733 shares of the company’s stock worth $454,000 after purchasing an additional 2,406 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP grew its holdings in shares of Aramark by 24.1% during the third quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 35,227 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,364,000 after buying an additional 6,837 shares in the last quarter. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ARMK has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Aramark from $40.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Truist Financial increased their price target on Aramark from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Aramark from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Aramark from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Aramark from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $36.00 to $42.50 in a report on Tuesday, September 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $42.23. Aramark Stock Performance Aramark stock opened at $40.86 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $10.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.27 and a beta of 1.62. Aramark has a 12 month low of $26.58 and a 12 month high of $42.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $38.39 and its 200-day moving average is $35.50. Aramark ( NYSE:ARMK – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 11th. The company reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.54. Aramark had a net margin of 1.51% and a return on equity of 14.06%. The firm had revenue of $4.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.46 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.64 earnings per share. Aramark’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Aramark will post 1.92 earnings per share for the current year. Aramark Cuts Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 12th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.001 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $0.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.01%. Aramark’s payout ratio is 38.38%. Aramark Profile ( Free Report ) Aramark provides food and facilities services to education, healthcare, business and industry, sports, leisure, and corrections clients in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Food and Support Services United States, and Food and Support Services International. The company offers food-related managed services, including dining, catering, food service management, and convenience-oriented retail services; non-clinical food and food-related support services, such as patient food and nutrition, retail food, environmental services, and procurement services; and plant operations and maintenance, custodial/housekeeping, energy management, grounds keeping, and capital project management services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ARMK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aramark ( NYSE:ARMK – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Aramark Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aramark and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Telangana Cyber Sleuths Nab Scammer in Rs 8.14 Cr Trading Fraud

Central Connecticut State defeats Binghamton 64-56Dior Conners hits game-winning 3 with a second left as Appalachian State tops William & Mary, 79-76Azerbaijani and US officials believe a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the deadly crash of an Azerbaijani passenger jet, media reports and a US official said Thursday, as the Kremlin cautioned against "hypotheses" over the disaster. The Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau, an oil and gas hub, on Wednesday after going off course for undetermined reasons. Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board died. The Embraer 190 aircraft was supposed to fly northwest from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to the city of Grozny in Chechnya, southern Russia, but instead diverted far off course across the Caspian Sea. An investigation is underway, with pro-government Azerbaijani website Caliber citing unnamed officials as saying they believed a Russian missile fired from a Pantsir-S air defence system downed the plane. The claim was also reported by The New York Times, broadcaster Euronews and the Turkish news agency Anadolu. Some aviation and military experts said the plane might have been accidentally shot by Russian air defence systems because it was flying in an area where Ukrainian drone activity had been reported. A former expert at France's BEA air accident investigation agency said there appeared to be "a lot of shrapnel" damage on the wreckage. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the damage was "reminiscent" of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was downed with a surface-to-air missile by Russia-backed rebels over eastern Ukraine in 2014. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "It would be wrong to make any hypotheses before the investigation's conclusions." Euronews cited Azerbaijani government sources as saying that "shrapnel hit the passengers and cabin crew as it exploded next to the aircraft mid-flight". A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said early indications suggested a Russian anti-aircraft system struck the plane. Kazakhstan news agency Kazinform cited a regional prosecutor as saying that two black-box flight recorders had been recovered. Azerbaijan Airlines initially said the plane flew through a flock of birds, before withdrawing the statement. Kazakh officials said 38 people had been killed and there were 29 survivors, including three children. Jalil Aliyev, the father of flight attendant Hokume Aliyeva, told AFP that this was supposed to have been her last flight before starting a job as a lawyer for the airline. "Why did her young life have to end so tragically?" the man said in a trembling voice before hanging up the phone. Eleven of the injured are in intensive care, the Kazakh health ministry said. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a day of mourning and cancelled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of former Soviet nations. "I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash... and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Aliyev said in a social media post Wednesday. The Flight Radar website showed the plane deviating from its normal route, crossing the Caspian Sea and then circling over the area where it eventually crashed near Aktau, on the eastern shore of the sea. Kazakhstan said the plane was carrying 37 Azerbaijani passengers, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz and 16 Russians. A Kazakh woman told the local branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) she was near where the plane crashed and rushed to the site to help survivors. "They were covered in blood. They were crying. They were calling for help," said the woman, who gave her name as Elmira. She said they saved some teenagers. "I'll never forget their look, full of pain and despair," said Elmira. "A girl pleaded: 'Save my mother, my mother is back there'." Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Aliyev and "expressed his condolences in connection with the crash", Peskov told a news conference. bur/rlp/js

Celtic pundits blown away by Club Brugge but Arne Engels leaves former stars looking for moreNFC-leading Lions host Bears on Thanksgiving, trying to stop 7-game losing streak on the holidayTennessee 32, Houston 27

NoneNo. 9 SMU aims to improve playoff odds vs. Cal