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Conor McGregor was a hero to millions around the world but his reputation is in the gutter now
Saudi Arabia head coach Herve Renard has told his underperforming players that it is “time to wake up” and labelled his side as “average” after losing their opening match at the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup to Bahrain. Renard has recently returned to the post after a disappointing run of World Cup qualifying results which led to the sacking of Roberto Mancini, and the latest 3-2 defeat brought more criticism to the players, with some believing they are more concerned with their club than country. The experienced tactician accepted responsibility following Saturday’s defeat, and conceded that he has a lot of work to do if Saudi are to qualify for the semi-finals, starting with tonight’s match with Yemen at the Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium. “The first round is three games, and the most important is to be in the first or second position at the end of them,” said Renard, who addressed the club v country claim. “In the national team you are not playing with eight foreign players like at the club. You are playing for Saudi Arabia, the country, and since a few months we are not ourselves. It is time to wake up. Time to look at the mirror. “Maybe we are thinking we are very beautiful and very fantastic players but we are not currently. We are only an average team. So, all of us, we have to look at the situation and to do what we have to do. Starting with defending very well is most important.” The Saudi Arabia fans are again expected to travel in large numbers to Kuwait for the second match, despite the criticism at home about recent performances, and Renard had a strong message for them. “We must never give up,” he said. “We are still two games to reach the semi-final. This is our goal and we’ll think about the World Cup qualifiers later. At the moment we still have two chances and I can understand the disappointment from fans. It is normal when you lose. But they need to know I am doing my best to put this team in the right way. Not easy but this is football. “We are not at the level that people are expecting and I have confidence in the players to change things. In 2019, we lost the first game and reached the final so football is like this. Not one team here is above everybody. We still have the chance to win this. Football can change quickly.” Meanwhile, Yemen’s coach Noureddine Ould Ali has warned that teams at the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup should be writing off giants Saudi Arabia at their peril. But says his team will be out to upset the football heavyweights. Yemen lost 1-0 to Iraq in their opening Group B game, meaning that Wednesday’s crucial night encounter is a must-win for both sides in their bid to qualify to be among the top two in the group. “Beware of the wounded beast,” said Noureddine Ould Ali while speaking to the media on Tuesday. “Saudi Arabia are a very respected team but are passing through some hard circumstances currently. Like us, they lost in the first round so have a very difficult mission, but, like Iraq, they are a strong team with some excellent players, particularly in midfield and attack. I know there are negatives, but I am not going to discuss them.” The head coach said he was proud of his players following the opening match, believing they did enough to gain a point. The defeat leaves Yemen without a single Arabian Gulf Cup win after 34 matches, but the head coach believes history can be made here in Kuwait. “I am not going to blame my current players for the history of past results. Of course, we go into every match wanting to win. This generation has the talent to win and we will keep working together to try. I am confident in my players and hope the Yemen supporters will continue to support the team, particularly with all the problems at home with the league stopping,” he said. Saudi-Yemen match is the first of two on the night, and kicks off at 5.25pm, with the second being between Bahrain and Iraq kicking off at 8.30pm.
Vikings withstand Bears' furious rally, win on field goal in OT1. A tub of O'Keeffe's hypoallergenic hand cream that will make dry, cracked wintry hands feel as if they were just treated to a 5-star manicure (without having to leave the house and brave the cold). Promising review: "Does this product need another 5-star review? Nope. But I had to. This is truly a miracle product!! I have the driest skin in the winter . To the point where I will look down at my hands to notice they are bleeding from all the various cracks. This product made a major difference after just one use! Here I am weeks later, and my hands have no cracks, look younger, and are no longer red. Can O'Keeffe's fix potholes too?!" — Ms. Chamomile Get it from Amazon for $8.07 . 2. An electric foot heater to give your feet the warm relief they crave that even the thickest, coziest socks can't even provide on the coldest of winter days. Promising review : "Super comfortable and cozy. I work from home, and this keeps my feet warm under my desk all day. The 'bag' itself is kind of big but it allows you to push your feet in all the way up to your ankles or even mid-calf. The control box is even easy to push with my toes :). It has a simple display with a small green light for low, yellow for medium, and red for high, so you can tell at a glance what level temperature you have selected. The pad heats up quickly and at a good temperature for all three levels — not too hot, not too cold. I also enjoy putting this on my lap and pushing my hands inside it as it warms up my hands and core. I recommended this to all my coworkers who now want to get one as well. It's been a great purchase." — BJ Hughes Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in four colors). 3. A foot file if your biggest struggle each winter is annoying, uncomfortable cracked heels that snag on your bedding, socks, carpet, etc. Smoother feet are possible, and they're on their way. Promising review: "OMG, these should be standard issue for every human. I’ve bought them all — the cheap foot files and the expensive ones. None of them remotely compare to this one. I thought I was doomed to have coarse heels forever, but no more! With just one use, my heels are fabulous! The calluses this thing removed were absolutely disgusting, but I couldn’t be happier. You won’t be disappointed!" — JMart Get it from Amazon for $9.95 . 4. An acupressure anti-nausea wristband claiming to ward off motion sickness and nausea, minus the drowsiness side effect found in most nausea medications. These babies are gonna come in handy for any holiday family road trips or winter break vacations you may have coming up. Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center . Promising review: "THESE ARE A MUST BUY!!!! I was having horrible pregnancy nausea that lasted all day — I was hardly eating. These arrived and within minutes I felt instantly better and was able to eat a bit. I would recommend these to everyone! Lifesaving purchase!! " — Amazon Customer Get a pack of two from Amazon for $8.43 (available in four colors, and a version for kids ). 5. An adorable little space heater deserving of a spot on your desk this winter because it'll be pretty dang difficult to respond to all of those emails or have a report ready for your boss in time if your fingers are too cold to comfortably type. Promising review : "I bought this to use under my desk to keep my feet warm. It's perfect, and as you can see, it's little (about the size of a medium coffee), so it's not in the way of me hitting it with my feet. There's a safety button on the bottom, so the heater stops working when it's tipped over, picked up, or not on a level surface. I like that feature a lot, definitely recommend purchasing if you need a little heater at a decent price!" — Ta2dmom Get it from Amazon for $14.89+ (available in four colors). 6. A pair of blackout curtains to help block out light (and the early morning brightness that wakes you up when it's a winter wonderland outside your window), while also helping to prevent the heat you pay wayyyyy too much for each winter from getting out of the room. Also, you know those first few late spring/early summer weekends when you have to adjust to the sun rising earlier yet again, and you start to wonder why you ever wanted winter to end? Well, you'll be thankful these exist when that time of year comes around again. Promising review : "We have a bank of seven windows, which makes the area cool in the fall and winter. Such a great help in warming the area. Superb quality. Color is true to the picture. Extremely pleased with this purchase." — Jeanne Get them from Amazon for $17.95+ (available in various colors and sizes). 7. A pair of fleece-lined tights that'll make wearing a dress or skirt in the colder months something you actually...look forward to?! Groundbreaking! Promising review: "I do not know how I managed to live 39 years before discovering fleece-lined tights. I purchased a pair of black and navy to take home to Wisconsin for the holidays. They are incredible. The fleece is beyond soft, and it doesn't add any bulk to the tights (which I was concerned about). I was able to wear dresses in 20-degree weather without my legs turning into icicles, and they really helped keep my feet warm as well. I haven't washed them ye,t but I am confident that they will continue to wear beautifully." — Blondie, Esq. Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in several colors and packs of two). 8. And a pair of fleece-lined leggings you can bet you'll live in all season. Working from home? Wear these leggings. Going for a run? Wear these leggings. Being brave and going grocery shopping in negative wind chill? WEAR THESE LEGGINGS!! Promising review : "These are by far my favorite leggings that I own! I initially bought the unlined version about a year ago and decided to get these fleece-lined leggings to wear under dresses at work. They are thick enough to wear on their own without being see-through, and they are warm enough to wear as the weather gets cold. They are my go-to for running errands on the weekend and the material looks so nice. l wouldn't say that it's shiny, but the material looks more like a compression/athletic material than the thin, cottony leggings you get for cheap. Love, love, love them! I would absolutely buy again!" — Andrea Get them from Amazon for $34.99 (available in women's sizes XS–3XL, 34 colors, and with one or three pockets). 9. A set of door strips to help prevent warm air in your room from escaping in the winter (because you deserve for your little haven to be niiiice and toasty). On top of that, they also help to keep sounds outside your door at a lower level because noisy family members and pets disrupting your holiday weekend slumber is soooo not the vibe. Promising review: "Just received and installed. Quick and easy to install. One roll split in two covers one standard doorway. It works great at keeping the cold draft out. Stopped it completely. I’ll be using the other roll to fill gaps around a couple of window AC units. I would recommend this to friends and family." — Amazon Customer Get a two-pack of 33-foot-long rolls from Amazon for $7.97+ (available in four colors and two sizes). 10. A pair of fuzzy cross-band slippers you'll never wanna take off, and we can't say we blame you. Just look at how comfy these babies look. Promising review: "I’m 100% not gonna lie but I saw these on TikTok and was interested...needed new house slippers so I ordered. OMG! YES. YAAAAS. I recommend. So soft. So plush. I ordered them in black and a half size up based on other reviews...I just enjoy how they feel on my toes. 🖤🖤 buy! Do it now! Even if TikTok told you to!" — ashdav Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in women's sizes 5–10 and 16 colors). 11. An ultra-hydrating lip balm rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, and green tea that your dry-as-heck lips are gonna be so very thankful for. Not to mention, it will be great to have on hand as fall and winter bring about even MORE dry weather. Promising review: "My lips usually crack and bleed in the winter no matter what I put on them. This is literally the first winter ever that my lips are perfect. This is the best product I've ever used! It's nice and soft, not greasy. I've bought it for several coworkers who also suffer like I do. I hope they never stop making this!" — Mel Belle Get it from Amazon for $10 (available in six flavors and packs of three). 12. A portable electric hand warmer your hands would thank you for if they could speak. Promising review: "This hand warmer is amazing! My hands are constantly cold, and I've tried all sorts of products to help keep them warm, but nothing has worked until now. I charge the hand warmer every night with a standard USB charger, and the next day, I have hours of warmth. The three temperature settings are very helpful — I use the highest setting when I'm outdoors for long periods of time and the lower settings when I'm indoors (e.g., sitting at my desk or in a cold movie theater). I've already given hand warmers as gifts to several cold-handed friends and family members, and they love them as well. I hope Ocoopa comes out with a foot warmer next!" — RK Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in a variety of colors/styles and two-packs). 13. A fluffy comforter that'll pretty much transform your bedroom into the coziest, most luxurious suite at a 5-star hotel. Literally, all you have to do is put it on top of your bed. You're welcome. Promising review: "This comforter is awesome. The quality is great, especially for the price! It is warm, so I probably wouldn't use it in the summer months, but definitely perfect for fall and winter. It is so comfortable, cozy, and warm, yet breathable and lightweight at the same time . Perfect duvet insert." — Meghan O'Keefe Get a queen-size from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in six colors and eight sizes). 14. And this faux-fur duvet cover to upgrade your new comforter. Or pair it with a duvet you already own to make your bed a place you'll wanna hibernate in all winter long. One side is faux fur, and the other side is plush velvet; the twin set comes with one pom-pom-fringed pillow sham, and the other set sizes include two. Promising review: "If my house caught on fire, this is the first thing I’d grab. But seriously, this is one of my favorite things in my whole house. I feel like it tied my entire room together. I get so many compliments on it, and it's seriously so cozy and well-made. My only complaint would be how hard this thing makes it to get out of bed in the mornings. It’s incredibly soft and isn’t the type of 'fur' that will mat and get gross-looking over time. I rely heavily on reviews when I buy things, so I’m here to tell you — if you’re on the fence about buying this...do it!! Also, the pillowcases are amazing. Super soft, and the pom-pom fringe is adorable." — Sk Get it from Amazon for $51.99+ (available in sizes Twin–King and 34 colors). 15. A windshield cover because leaving the house in the winter is bad enough, but add having to scrape snow and ice off your car into the mix? Crying just thinking about it. Plus, it's heat-resistant, so whenever summer eventually comes back around, you'll be able to get into your car without your leather seats burning your skin. Promising review: "This is the best thing I could have ever bought! I bought one for myself, my mom, and my sister. New England just got slammed with a Nor'easter, and let me tell you...this thing works! It only took about five minutes to put on my car and like five seconds to get it off this morning. No snow or ice anywhere on the wiper well or windshield. I highly recommend this!" — Shelley Get it from Amazon for $26.95 . 16. An Amazon-famous thickened down jacket you'll be extra grateful for whenever you have to leave your warm home and step outside into cold temps. This coat features large pockets, a fleece-lined hood, and comes in an awesome array of colors. Let's face it, cold weather szn is awful. BUT this jacket does make it a teensy bit better. I finally bought one for myself last year and I'm so glad I did. It's THICC!!! So warm, so cozy, and those pockets? Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique. Be sure to read our Orolay down jacket review ! FYI, this is included in Prime Try Before You Buy so you can test it out before committing if you’re a Prime member! Promising review: "Let me start by saying, my husband says that I am obsessed with coats. Out of probably 20 winter coats, this is now my absolute favorite! I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this coat; I love everything about it! The quality is outstanding! I have had every expensive brand-name winter coat, but have never ever had one that has kept me this warm! I'm not even looking forward to the warmer months because I don't want to put this coat away!! Every time I wear it, I get at least one, 'I love your coat!'" — Suzi Linthorst Get it from Amazon for $129.99+ (available in women's sizes XXS–5X and 13 colors) 17. And if a long coat isn't your thing, this cropped puffer jacket is another excellent option. It's bound to make all of your coats SOOOO JELLY because it's all you're gonna want to wear when It arrives on your doorstep. Promising review: "Super cute and keeps you warm. I only got to wear it a few times before my sister stole it from me. She wore it basically every day for two winters, and it’s still in good condition. It’s definitely puffy, but that’s the style, so it’s to be expected." — Adri Get it from Amazon for $49.98+ (available in women's sizes XS–L and eight colors). 18. A suede brush cleaner that'll save you from having to spend your money on bringing your salt-ruined suede shoes to get repaired, or worse...REPLACED. Good for cleaning boots, shoes, coats, jackets, furniture, dance shoes, and sneakers and is compatible with sprays, foams, erasers, and cleaning kits. Promising review: "I got this product recently to clean multiple pairs of suede boots I have. All the salt and snow of winter did quite a job of making my boots look dirty and unkempt. This brush is easy to use and has multiple styles of brushes to clean the various parts of the boot. I cleaned three pairs of boots and they look like new. I would recommend this item." — Celeste Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in four styles). 19. A portable paw cleaner to prevent your little mush from tracking dirty snow, mud, and other yuckiness into the house or car. Promising review: " I’ve been using this for a few weeks, and I love it. It cleans the salt off my dogs’ paws so easily. When it’s super dirty, and the streets are covered in salt, I’ll refresh the water supply. I add a few drops of doggie shampoo, and it works great. This product is not a replacement for a bath. I have four dogs in NYC. I have to wash their feet after every walk because the streets are so filthy. It would take me about 10–15 minutes to clean their paws with a spray bottle and towel. Now it takes about 5 minutes. And the towel doesn’t end up filthy. The dirt gets caught in the cup. Plus, the dogs seem to like it. The silicone bristles must feel good. A huge thumbs-up!" — Sandra Get it from Amazon for $14.40+ (available in three sizes and eight colors). 20. A reviewer-loved knit beanie for keeping your head warm and toasty allllll season long. Plus, it comes in tons of cute colors! Promising review: "Saw this hat on TikTok and decided to place my order! It can get very cold where I live, especially during morning time when I’m walking my dog. I need to keep my ears warm! The material is so soft, and there are many color options." — MHF Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 17 colors). 21. A jetted bathtub cleaner — fill up your luxurious bath, add a quarter of the bottle, and watch it work its magic by removing gross residue from inside your tub's jets. It only takes about 15 minutes to clean and when you're done, you can look forward to taking so many cozy baths this winter. Oh Yuk is a family-owned small biz based in Minnesota that sells home cleaning products Promising review: "They don't call this 'Oh Yuk' for no reason. I previously used Jacuzzi's two-part system, and this worked sooo much better. I was totally embarrassed not to mention grossed out at how much funk came out. It was NASTY! It definitely cleans your tub. You will probably have to clean the sides of your tub after it's finished because of how much stuff might come out. I swear I clean my tub on a regular basis, but I was amazed at how much better this worked. Highly recommend!" — Erica Get it from Amazon for $18.73 . 22. And now that you have a clean tub, you should treat yourself to this bath pillow ASAP so all of your baths are as comfy as can be. Bath Haven is a small biz! Promising review: "Absolutely love this!!! Five stars all the way! I love soaking in baths but always had to use two or more towels every time to cushion my tailbone/neck from crunching against the hard tub. With this bath bed, though, I relax in delightful comfort the entire time and no longer have any pressure on my tailbone or head against the hard surface. Feels like I’m laying on a cloud." — Ashley Get it from Amazon for $37.99 . 23. A unique and scrumptious hot chocolate bomb that's so pretty, you may never want to take it out of the package, but they're so yummy and will make your taste buds so very happy, so please do. Big Bear Chocolates is a small biz based in Spokane, Washington, that sells gourmet caramel apples and fresh fudge. Promising review: After missing the hot chocolate bomb trend last year, I decided that I had to have some this year. It arrived quickly and in perfect condition, and was the perfect size for my mug! It was also one of the best cups of cocoa I've had in a long time, and I'm already thinking of getting more." — Ishita Bose Get it from Big Bear Chocolates on Etsy for $6.20+ (available in 11 flavors). 24. The Comfy — a sweatshirt/blanket combo that might just be one of the coziest things ever invented. It'll allow you to do important things like change the channel or play video games and stay toasty at the same time! I originally bought this for my mom who always gets cold at night when she's watching TV and she loves it, but it may or may not have ended up in my room one night, and now belongs to me — oops. I LOVE this thing. It truly is so warm and so perfect for cold winter nights when I wanna reach that level of toasty warm my sweatshirts alone cannot accomplish. Plus, you can do things while wearing it! I mean, how else am I gonna keep the entire length of my arms warm while trying to play The Sims ? Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in 32 styles and o/s). 25. A lightweight jacket equipped with a battery pack to heat it because sweating the second you put on a bulky winter coat is undeniably one of the worst parts of winter. Promising review: "I was honestly kind of skeptical about this at first because it took a bit of time to heat up all the way, but once it did I was absolutely in love. It gets so warm and is absolutely perfect. It’s very very well made and luxurious feeling. 10/10." — Ezra Adair Get it from Amazon in two styles: $159.99 (available in six colors and women's sizes XS–3XL) and $159.99 (available in three colors and men's sizes S–3XL). 26. HelloFresh — a service that will save you snowy trips to the grocery store and send you pre-portioned ingredients and simple instructions so you can quickly cook up fun and innovative meals. Bye, grocery store, see you when it gets warmer outside.* *Just kidding, because you're gonna love having ingredients sent right to your doorstep so much, you're never gonna wanna leave the house again! My colleague Maitland Quitmeyer is a HelloFresh subscriber and swears by it! Here's what she has to say: "For me, there are three great reasons to try a meal kit like HelloFresh right now: 1. to reduce trips to the grocery store without having to forgo fresh produce, 2. to get out of the same-dinner ruts, especially when we're cooking at home more than ever, and 3. to learn new cooking skills in a basically foolproof setting. Here's how it works: You can select from the four preferences: meat and veggie, veggies, low-calorie, and family-friendly. Recipes come portioned to two or four people (but I find the portions to be generous), and you can get either three or four recipes per week (for the two-person plan) or two or three recipes a week (for the four-person plan). And, of course, you can skip weeks, upgrade to ~premium~ recipes (think surf and turf) for an additional fee, or change the number of meals at any time. When your box arrives, you get everything you need to make the recipe, chilled to perfection and portioned accordingly (you just need to provide pantry staples like butter, oil, salt, and pepper). And the instructions? Totally foolproof. My fave recipe so far exemplifies how helpful HelloFresh is for trying out new recipes and techniques — say hello to my little friend, tempura shrimp. I have thought about making at-home tempura for like...years, but it seemed like a lot of work, and I'd burn myself on the hot hot oil. But this recipe took all the scariness out of it — turns out I *didn't* need a whole pot of oil to fry these bbs up, a shallow fry worked PERFECTLY. And when I feel done with HelloFresh, when we're no longer social distancing from the grocery store and I feel like I've learned enough, I will 10000000000% make this again on my own. And I've been thinking about the sauce (an easy mix of mayo, Sriracha, and apricot jam) ever since, and will put it on just every single thing from here on out — including just a spoon. And the portions are IMO, very generous — I could not eat what they'd consider one portion in a single night, and the leftovers always reheated just as deliciously as they were the first night. And the best part = you can access their database of over 2,500 recipes even when you're not a subscriber, so you can just use it as a cookbook when you're done subscribing." Subscribe to HelloFresh starting at $9.99/serving . 27. A towel warmer you can use to heat up more than just towels — robes, throw blankets, pajamas, sheets, pillowcases, etc. This is gonna be your new favorite toy this season. Promising review: "Absolutely my favorite thing purchased from Amazon. You will never be able to take a shower without this once you have it. Just like right-out-of-the-dryer towels!" — Erin Get it from Amazon for $169.99 . 28. A thermal set great for layering underneath outfits so you can rock trendy looks and stay warm at the same time! This is also great if you have any outdoor winter activities planned like skiing, skating, or snowboarding. You may also just wanna wear it around the house as comfy loungewear! Many reviewers say this set tends to run a little big, especially the shirt, so if you're buying this with the intention of layering underneath clothing, you may want to keep that in mind and size down! Promising review: "Purchased these to wear under my ski gear. They were better than expected. The material is buttery and not scratchy. Super comfortable and warm. They do run large. I would suggest sizing down. The shirt is a little big, but works for me!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $22.49+ (available in women's sizes 2XS—3XL, 15 colors, and in crewneck, scoop neck, and V-neck). 29. A Book of the Month subscription so you can enjoy a juicy read whilst snuggled up at home minus the trip to the book store or the guess work of picking from an overwhelming selection of books. I joined Book of the Month three years ago because I wanted to read People We Meet on Vacation and my local library had a waitlist. I thought I'd sign up for one month and cancel my subscription right after, but I am here to say that was not the case. I'm obsessed with my BOTM subscription and can't recommend it enough. At the start of each month, they add five to seven new books to the app. These books span all sorts of genres, include reads from new authors and returning favorites, and some even have a theme (aka: spooky reads for October, holiday reads in December). You can choose up to three books per month. All three of your selections can be from that month's book picks or you can pick a book or two from that month's selections and choose add-on books — I did this in the beginning when I was working on creating my own little ~home library bookshelf~. If you don't like any of their monthly selections that is A-OK! Simply skip that month and a credit will be applied towards future months. It's such a fun thing to treat myself to each month and makes for a perfect gift (both to yourself and to loved ones). Happy reading! Sign up for Book of the Month for $17.99/month ! 30. Or a Kindle Paperwhite that'll basically serve as your own little at-home library. Thanks to this baby, you'll be able to purchase or rent virtually all the books on your TBR without having to leave the house! Plus, the glare-free display makes reading in brighter conditions a squint-free experience, while night mode allows you to unwind before bed sans brightness. AND!!! This lovely device is ALSO waterproof! I did it. I caved on October Prime Day and bought myself this older model of the Kindle Paperwhite, and boy, am I glad I did. For starters, I always thought of myself as someone who preferred physical books over e-books. There's just something SO exciting to me about unboxing a book order or walking into a bookstore and spending way too much money. I even spent two years creating a rainbow library on my bookshelf in my apartment. BUT! After taking two vacations this year and realizing how annoying it is to pack physical books and move somewhere that requires a long train ride to get to the city (aka increased boredom), I decided to just get myself a Kindle. For starters, I'm reading more on this Kindle in the past month than I have all year. It is incredibly lightweight (it fits into my small little BELT BAG WITH ROOM TO SPARE!!!), easy to use, and not to mention a really great investment! I have three free months of Kindle Unlimited , which means access to tons of great books for free, but the best is Libby! I just go on the Libby app from my phone, choose a Kindle book to check out through my local library, and boom, it's instantly delivered to my Amazon account to add to my Kindle library. It's safe to say I'm obsessed. Get it from Amazon for $129.99+ (available in three colors and with or without ads). Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
Techmediabreaks Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ: QUBT) Announces Concurrent OfferingsNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks climbed Thursday after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 pulled 0.5% higher after flipping between gains and losses several times during the day. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend to do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 461 points, or 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up by less than 0.1%. Nvidia rose just 0.5% after beating analysts’ estimates for profit and revenue yet again, but it was still the strongest force pulling the S&P 500 upward. It also gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that topped most analysts’ expectations due to voracious demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Its stock initially sank in afterhours trading Wednesday following the release of the results. Some investors said the market might have been looking for Nvidia’s revenue forecast to surpass expectations by even more. But its stock recovered in premarket trading Thursday, and Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said it was another “flawless” profit report provided by Nvidia and CEO Jensen Huang, whom Ives calls “the Godfather of AI.” The stock meandered through Thursday as well, dragging the S&P 500 and other indexes back and forth. How Nvidia’s stock performs has more impact than any other because it’s grown into Wall Street’s most valuable company at roughly $3.6 trillion. The frenzy around AI is sweeping up other stocks, and Snowflake jumped 32.7% after reporting stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company, whose platform helps customers get a better view of all their silos of data and use AI, also reported stronger revenue growth than expected. BJ’S Wholesale Club rose 8.3% after likewise delivering a bigger profit than expected. That may help calm worries about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. A day earlier, Target tumbled after reporting sluggish sales in the latest quarter and giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Nearly 90% of the stocks in the S&P 500 ended up rising Thursday, and the gains were even bigger among smaller companies. The Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped a market-leading 1.7%. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, helped keep indexes in check. It fell 4.7% after U.S. regulators asked a judge to break up the tech giant by forcing it to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser. In a 23-page document filed late Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice called for sweeping punishments that would include restrictions preventing Android from favoring its own search engine. Regulators stopped short of demanding Google sell Android but left the door open to it if the company’s oversight committee continues to see evidence of misconduct. All told, the S&P 500 rose 31.60 points to 5,948.71. The Dow jumped 461.88 to 43,870.35, and the Nasdaq composite added 6.28 to 18,972.42. In the crypto market, bitcoin eclipsed $99,000 for the first time before pulling back toward $98,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s more than doubled so far this year, and its climb has accelerated since Election Day. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to make the country “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. Bitcoin got a further boost after Gary Gensler, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, said Thursday he would step down in January . Gensler has pushed for more protections for crypto investors. Bitcoin and related investment have a notorious history of big price swings in both directions. MicroStrategy, a company that’s been raising cash expressly to buy bitcoin, saw an early Thursday gain of 14.6% for its stock quickly disappear. It finished the day with a loss of 16.2%. In the oil market, a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 2% to bring its gain for the week to 4.8%. Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 1.8%. Oil has been rising amid escalations in the Russia-Ukraine war. In stock markets abroad, shares of India’s Adani Enterprises plunged 22.6% Thursday after the U.S. charged founder Gautam Adani in a federal indictment with securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. The businessman and one of the world’s richest people is accused of concealing that his company’s huge solar energy project on the subcontinent was being facilitated by an alleged bribery scheme. Stock indexes elsewhere in Asia and Europe were mixed. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.43% from 4.41% late Wednesday following some mixed reports on the U.S. economy. One said fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week in the latest signal that the job market remains solid. Another report, though, said manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region unexpectedly shrank. Sales of previously occupied homes, meanwhile, strengthened last month by more than expected. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Yuri Kageyama contributed.
Humiliation of a freedom fighter is unacceptableBryce Thompson scores 17 points and Oklahoma State beats Miami 80-74 in the Charleston ClassicSA pushes for dialogue and stability in Mozambique
Barron and Elon have interplanetary bro thing going on, says Musk’s momImage credit: X (Twitter) Xiaomi India has launched a special out-of-home (OOH) advertising campaign for its latest Redmi Note 14 5G series. The campaign, which uses a combination of CGI and live action, highlights the durability of the smartphone. These billboards have been placed in prominent locations in multiple cities across the country including -- Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. What Xiaomi is promoting with this campaign Placed at iconic locations of Connaught Place in Delhi and MG Road in Bengaluru, Marine Drive in Mumbai and Charminar in Hyderabad, the campaign highlights the durability of the Redmi Note 14 series smartphones in extreme conditions. In this campaign, the company used a mix of CGI and live-action to showcase the phone’s toughness. The videos open with a CGI-enabled smartphone popping out of the billboard which takes the actors by surprise and escalates further when a real smartphone falls on the ground. One of the videos also created anxiety among the actors who feared that the smartphone run over by a vehicle would not withstand the extreme conditions, but it did. Various meme pages, influencers, and marketing pages have also taken the campaign to their social media, discussing the phone's durability features, including its Flagship Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 & IP68 Water Resistance along with a 6,200mAh battery. The smartphone is now available for purchase across all retail stores and online. What the company said about the campaign Talking about the campaign, the Director of Marketing at Xiaomi India, Suraksha R, said: “With the Redmi Note 14 5G Series, we wanted to go beyond traditional product launches and engage our audience, giving them a first-hand experience of the product’s durability and strength. We wanted to get creative with our approach to showcasing the features of our product. With this dynamic and innovative campaign, we have combined the virtual world with reality to offer a reliable companion in the Redmi Note 14.”
'Fun-filled family entertainment' - Pantomime to take place at village hallStunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano
India News | CM Dhami Remembers Indramani Badon's Contributions in Uttarakhand Statehood Movement( MENAFN - The Rio Times) The loonie's descent has caught the attention of economists and investors alike. As of December 2024, the Canadian dollar trades below 70 cents US, its lowest point since March 2020. This sharp decline stems from a combination of factors that have created a challenging environment for Canada's currency. The bank of Canada 's aggressive rate cuts have played a significant role. With 175 basis points of cuts since June 2024, the BoC has outpaced other G10 central banks in monetary easing. This divergence from the US federal Reserve's policy has weakened the loonie's appeal to global investors. Political uncertainty adds another layer of complexity. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's surprise resignation over budget disagreements has raised the possibility of a snap election before October 2025. This development, coupled with the threat of US tariffs, has further eroded confidence in the Canadian dollar. The economic picture remains gloomy. Canada 's GDP per capita has declined by 3% since September 2022, a drop unprecedented outside of a recession. Canada's Economic Outlook This sluggish growth, combined with rising unemployment, paints a concerning picture for the nation's economic health. For investors, the weakening loonie presents both challenges and opportunities. While it may boost short-term returns for those holding non-Canadian assets, it also raises concerns about inflation and foreign investment. The currency's trajectory will largely depend on future interest rate decisions, trade relations with the US, and overall economic performance. As Adam Button, chief currency analyst at Forexlive, notes, "Until the U.S. economy stumbles, I don't see a real opportunity for the Canadian dollar to right itself." This statement encapsulates the current sentiment surrounding the loonie's prospects. The coming months will be crucial for the Canadian dollar. Its performance will not only impact investors and businesses but also shape the broader economic landscape of Canada in 2025 and beyond. MENAFN24122024007421016031ID1109028444 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights
A man accused of setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway train and then watching her die after she was engulfed in flames has made an initial court appearance and will remain in custody. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the US illegally, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court. He appeared briefly before a judge and wore a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt. He did not speak. He will remain jailed ahead of his next court date on Friday. The apparently random attack occurred on Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Police said on Tuesday that identification of the victim was still “pending at this time”. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who was sitting motionless in the train car and may have been sleeping, and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire. The woman quickly became engulfed in flames, while the suspect then sat at a bench on the subway platform and watched, according to police. Video posted to social media appeared to show the woman standing inside the train ablaze as some people look on from the platform, and at least one officer walks by. NYPD chief of transit Joseph Gulotta said that several officers had responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be” while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. They were eventually able to douse the fire, but “unfortunately, it was too late”, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said — the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. During Zapeta’s court hearing on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said Zapeta at one point fanned the flames on the woman using his shirt. He said a 911 call from a subway rider helped identify Zapeta. Mr Rottenberg added that under interrogation Zapeta claimed he did not know what happened, noting that he consumes alcohol. But he alleged that Zapeta identified himself to interrogators in images related to the attack. Zapeta was taken into custody on Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after police got a tip from some teenagers who recognised him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta had been previously deported in 2018 but at some point reentered the US illegally. The crime — and the graphic video of it that ricocheted across social media — deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system in a city where many residents take the subway multiple times each day.Pep Guardiola: It’s my responsibility to solve Manchester City’s poor runMan accused in burning death of a woman on New York subway appears in court
An advocacy group that pushed for children and teens under 16 to be banned from social media has supported YouTube being given an exemption, but warns there is still a risk of kids being able to create accounts on the video site. On Thursday, the federal government introduced legislation to parliament to ban kids under 16 from social media sites like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. But children and young teens will still be allowed to use YouTube, WhatsApp and gaming services. That's because the government has excluded "messaging apps," "online gaming services" and "services with the primary purpose of supporting the health and education of end-users" from the ban. Online gaming services also won't be captured by the government's proposed social media ban for children and teens under 16. (ABC News: Rebecca Trigger) Director of the 36 Months campaign Greg Atwells backed the exemption, telling the ABC the goal was never to stop young people from communicating or accessing educational tools and entertainment online, but rather to protect them from addictive algorithms and online bullying. "Using YouTube for entertainment and educational purposes I think is fair enough ... it's where people pretty much learn how to do things, I learnt to change the oil in my car," he said. But he added that watching YouTube videos without logging in was very different to kids being allowed to have an account where they can comment on, and upload, content. He pointed to American singer Rebecca Black as an example of someone who experienced online trolling, after uploading her song Friday to YouTube at age 13. Rebecca Black uploaded her song Friday to YouTube age 13. (YouTube) In an... Evelyn ManfieldMatteo Berrettini has piled the praise on his teammate and countryman Jannik Sinner after Italy defended their Davis Cup crown. Both Berrettini and Sinner went undefeated this week at the team tournament - winning a doubles match together and sweeping their singles rubbers. And the former Wimbledon finalist gave an insight into the world No. 1's attitude towards being on a team, claiming Sinner's approach "said a lot" about him. Twelve months ago, Italy ended a 47-year drought to lift the Davis Cup trophy. After waiting so long, they decided to double up and retained their crown in 2024. Berrettini beat the Netherlands' Botic van de Zandschulp in Sunday's final before Sinner downed Tallon Griekspoor to secure victory for Italy. It capped off an incredible season for the world No. 1, who ends the year with a 73-6 record and has won eight titles as well as the Davis Cup. It was also a special moment for Berrettini, who couldn't be part of the winning squad in 2023 because he was forced to end his season early due to injury. He did turn up last year to cheer his compatriots on from the sidelines. And he knew then that Sinner would go on to do big things. “I think I can speak for everyone. Seeing Sinner play from the sidelines is something special,” the former world No. 6 said. “Last year we were already saying that this kid was something different. Everyone said they had never seen anyone hit the ball with such power, and many times it seemed like he couldn't miss. Since then, he has only lost six games and has proven to be the best in the world.” Sinner's ability isn't the only thing that has impressed Berrettini, as the 28-year-old has been impressed with the young star's attitude. Berrettini and Sinner were subbed in to represent Italy in a decisive doubles rubber against Argentina in their quarter-final. Experienced top-10 doubles pairing Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori were meant to play the match. And Berettini explained that the world No. 1 wanted to make sure it was fine to take their place in the match. Berrettini added: “Before the doubles match, Sinner wanted to see if all his teammates were happy with the captain's decision. That says a lot about him. “His tennis is spectacular, but the way he handles everything off the court and his relationships with the team is the reason why he won the Davis Cup again.” Doubles has been a touchy subject at this week’s Davis Cup Finals. Team USA swapped out former No. 1s Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram for two singles players and lost - and team captain Bob Bryan faced backlash for his decision. But Bolelli and Vavassori backed Sinner and explained that they were happy to step back for the good of the team. “I'm not disappointed, but with this team it's normal that they played,” Bolelli said. “Jannik is in incredible condition and Berrettini is playing brutally this week, so it's normal. We accept it, our goal was to win the title again and all row in one direction, so we're happy.” Vavassori added: “I'm happy to share this moment for the team. I've had a great year with Bolelli and the captain didn't have an easy decision. One of our keys is that we have many good different players.”The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pick WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members. It's a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members. They're a key part of the Democratic base but are gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Trump chooses Bessent to be treasury secretary, Vought as budget chief, Chavez-DeRemer for Labor WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent, 62, is founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. He previously had worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. Trump also said he would nominate Russell Vought, 48, to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a position he held during Trump's first term. And Trump chose Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican, as his labor secretary, and Scott Turner, a former football player who worked in Trump’s first administration, as his housing secretary. Afraid of losing the US-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has been taking a bashing for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America. Officials here are terrified that a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Justin Trudeau could simply expel their country from the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Mexico's ruling Morena party is so afraid its has gone on a campaign to get companies to replace Chinese parts with locally made ones. And its legislators are consciously tweaking the wording of major laws to try to make them compatible with the trade pact's language. Mexico hopes the rules of the trade pact would prevent the U.S. or Canada from simply walking away. Australia withdraws a misinformation bill after critics compare it to censorship CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s government has withdrawn a bill that would give a media watchdog power to monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Sunday that the government was unable to drum up the support needed to pass the legislation. The opposition spokesman, David Coleman, said the bill “betrayed our democracy” and amounted to “censorship laws in Australia.” The bill would have granted the Australian Communications and Media Authority power over digital platforms by approving an enforceable code of conduct or standards for social media companies if self-regulation fell short. He'll be the last meatpacker in the Meatpacking District. Here's how NYC's gritty 'hood got chic NEW YORK (AP) — The last meatpackers in New York's Meatpacking District have agreed to end their leases early and make way for development on their city-owned lot. A third-generation meatpacker says he is ready to retire and he'll be proud to be there when the building closes. The closure date has not been set, but will mark the end of over a century of industrial life in the Meatpacking District. Starting in the 1970s, a new nightlife scene emerged as bars and nightclubs moved in. Today it's a hub for shopping, tourism, and recreation and only echoes of that grit remain. US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. What to know about Scott Bessent, Trump's pick for treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen money manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction and deregulation, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent is a past supporter of Democrats who has become an enthusiastic supporter of Trump. He’s an advocate of cutting spending while extending the tax cuts approved by Congress in Trump’s first term. He has said tariffs imposed during a second Trump administration would be directed primarily at China.
The champions crashed to a fifth straight defeat in all competitions – something not experienced by the club in more than 18 years – as they were thrashed 4-0 by Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The loss, which was also a third in succession in the Premier League and shattered a 52-game unbeaten home run, damaged the club’s hopes of winning an unprecedented fifth title in a row. It is the worst run of Guardiola’s glittering managerial career and the City boss, who extended his contract until 2027 last week, is determined to turn the situation around. The Catalan said: “When we start to lose I say to the people I have to find a way, I have to. It’s my duty, my responsibility, to find a way to be more consistent, that our game will be better and win games. “This is what we have to do.” City have been hampered by injuries to key players in recent weeks, particularly by the absence of Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri, who has been sidelined for the remainder of the season. Problems have emerged at both ends of the field with a lack of clean sheets – just five in 19 outings this term – and a shortage of goals being scored on occasions, like Saturday, when the prolific Erling Haaland has an off-day. Guardiola said: “We don’t expect to lose important players but it’s happened and you have to find a way. We have to find other abilities. “I don’t think we didn’t create enough chances. We created a lot of chances, clear ones at 0-0, 0-1, 0-2. “Of course we want a lot of players to score but it’s happened now. “I know at the Etihad when we are there and we score goals our momentum is there, but now we are not solid enough. That is the truth. “In both sides normally we are solid but we concede the goals. Now in both sides we are not good enough. “In these situations, what do you have do to? Keep going my friends, keep going. “We have done it in the past – not in terms of results being as bad as now – but we have done it and we face the situation and move forward.”Mnangagwa’s Spokesperson Urges Mozambique to Clamp Down on Opposition ProtestsBiden 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. American Airlines briefly halts flights nationwide after technical issue American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue just as the Christmas travel season kicks into high gear. American flights were cleared to fly by federal regulators about one hour after the ground stop order was issued Tuesday. Just before 7 a.m. Eastern time, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the U.S. at the airline’s request. American had reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions traveling for the holiday. The groundings couldn’t come at a worse time for the millions of travelers expected to fly over the next 10 days. 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 holds near breakeven ahead of Christmas Stock indexes are edging higher in morning trading on Wall Street as gains for some Big Tech stocks make up for weakness elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 was up 0.4% Tuesday. Chip company Broadcom was again helping to pull the index higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite was up 0.7%. American Airlines fell 1.2% after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields rose. U.S. markets will close at 1 p.m. Eastern and stay closed Wednesday for Christmas. 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.