slots synonym Dennis McCann has provided an adverse analytical finding in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test . The British super-bantamweight's boxing clash with compatriot Peter McGrail is now off. McCann and McGrail were due to face each other on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk’s clash with Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia next weekend. The 23-year-old southpaw is promoted by Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions. A statement from Queensberry said: "The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) has today informed all relevant parties that Dennis McCann has returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test conducted in advance of his upcoming bout. Tyson Fury compares himself to Muhammad Ali as boxing legacy hangs in balance Mike Tyson did controversial Jake Paul fight 'for fans' despite pair being booed "Mr McCann’s scheduled fight next Saturday will no longer take place, as the relevant parties investigate the matter further. No further comment on this will be made at this time." The substance discovered in McCann’s sample and the date it was given have not been revealed. McCann has been preparing for the fight in Liverpool with his trainer Joe McNally. The clash with McGrail was due to be one of the highlights of the Fury and Usyk rematch card in Riyadh. McGrail hails from Liverpool and the highly-regarded amateur now looks set to miss out on a fight on the card unless a replacement is found. McCann will now face a full investigation and the matter is likely to be referred to the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping, who will handle any procedure in the case. He will be handed a temporary suspension once an investigation begins. Fury will be looking to avenge the only defeat of his professional career on December 21. The former heavyweight champion has won 34 of his 36 fights, having recorded a draw against Deontay Wilder in 2018. He's previously beaten the likes of Wilder (twice), Derek Chisora (three times), Dillian Whyte, Francis Ngannou, and Wladimir Klitschko. Usyk, meanwhile, hasn't lost any of his 22 professional fights. The Ukrainian is a former Olympic and undisputed heavyweight champion after beating the likes of Anthony Joshua (twice), Daniel Dubois, Chisora, and Tony Bellew earlier in his career. Speaking ahead of this month's fight, Fury has admitted that he's starting to feel his age. The 36-year-old said: "I'm not the same guy I was at 21 or 22, but who is at that age? "No one is, I suppose. Muhammad Ali wasn't. Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson definitely wasn't. Nobody is. Who is the same man they are at 36 as they was at 26? Nobody really. So yeah, all of those fights have a big effect on human beings. "I remember when I was a young guy in my 20s and I said to Vladimir Klitschko, 'Look at you, you're an old man.' He was 37. I said, 'You're old.' I said, 'You've got grey hairs in your beard.' I said, 'It's a young man's game.' Now I'm in that position, I'm in that boat."Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel met with South Florida media following his team's 34-15 win over the New England Patriots Sunday. Now at 5-6, the Dolphins have a three game win streak, and playing their best football of the season. In the midst of a major turnaround from a 2-6 record, injuries and uncertainties, McDaniel gives credit to his team's leaders to power through. “Guys chose to believe and it’s hard when everyone is telling you the opposite,” he told reporters. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

A fugitive gains fame in New Orleans eluding dart guns and nets

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B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 13,807 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $794,000. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 11.8% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,720 shares of the company’s stock worth $99,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd lifted its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage by 1.0% during the third quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 20,543 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,182,000 after acquiring an additional 197 shares during the period. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,102 shares of the company’s stock valued at $768,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 32,080 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,845,000 after purchasing an additional 277 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Focus Financial Network Inc. raised its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 4,276 shares of the company’s stock worth $246,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.46% of the company’s stock. Molson Coors Beverage Stock Performance Molson Coors Beverage stock opened at $60.36 on Friday. Molson Coors Beverage has a fifty-two week low of $49.19 and a fifty-two week high of $69.18. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $56.84 and its 200-day moving average price is $54.45. The stock has a market cap of $12.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.99. Molson Coors Beverage Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.44 per share. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 6th. Molson Coors Beverage’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.64%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TAP has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Molson Coors Beverage from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Molson Coors Beverage from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their price target for the company from $52.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $60.31. Read Our Latest Report on TAP Molson Coors Beverage Profile ( Free Report ) Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits and energy, and ready to drink beverages. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TAP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Molson Coors Beverage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molson Coors Beverage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Kids are often pretty good at being consumers. If you’re a parent with a small business, you have the opportunity to show your kids firsthand what it means to be a producer. Small Business Saturday, which takes place on Nov. 30 this year, may be a great time to do just that. Small Business Saturday was established by American Express in 2010 and encourages consumers to patronize their local stores as a way to keep dollars circulating within their community. Here are three reasons you should consider getting your kids involved in Small Business Saturday, according to two mompreneurs. Ronne Brown is the owner of HERLISTIC, a plant-derived beauty and feminine care brand in Washington, D.C. She’s been participating in Small Business Saturday since she established her business in 2020. The entrepreneur gets her kids (ages 24, 18 and 12), plus her bonus daughter, 10, to help out on Small Business Saturday and beyond. Brown’s kids help with customer service, shipping and fulfillment tasks. That could include counting inventory, quality control or packaging boxes. Other times, help looks like Brown’s 12-year-old daughter keeping her up-to-date with in the beauty field. “I just want them to understand the price and the value of a dollar and what it actually costs to make it,” Brown says. The mompreneur also hopes her kids learn the benefits of commitment and hard work. “What I want to show them is that you have to work hard every day. And there are gonna be moments where you’re gonna be tired, you’re gonna be exhausted, and you’re not gonna want to do things, and you’re going to have to push through,” she says. Hiring your kids to do legitimate work during Small Business Saturday provides a chance for them to learn pillars needed for a strong financial foundation: , and investing. That said, before hiring kids, it’s critical to understand the child labor laws for your state in addition to the IRS’ rules around hiring kids. Brown says she pays all of her children, including her 24-year-old son who is on payroll. Additionally, she teaches them about investing in the stock market. “I want them to understand the importance of making money, but also investing the money that they’re making,” she says. “Because when I pay them, I always ask them, ‘so what are you gonna do to double this money?’” If you hire your minor kids, they could get a headstart on investing by putting some of their income into a , which requires earned income to open. You could also open them a custodial brokerage account. Another perk of your kids earning income by working for you is that they may be exempt from paying federal income taxes if they earn less than the . In 2024, that threshold is $14,600. Having your kids add helping hands, whether it be doing administrative tasks or helping customers, can ensure you keep up with a potential increase in sales. A found that 16% of 2024 holiday shoppers plan to shop on Small Business Saturday this year. Lisset Tresvant, owner of Glow Esthetics Spa in Hollywood, Florida, has been participating in Small Business Saturday since the genesis of her business in 2019. “I do tend to sell more because people are usually more inclined to purchase because of the sales, and it gives them a reason to support us,” she says. To help with the demand, Tresvant’s daughter, 12, and son, 9, fill her skincare products, add labels and help prep items for shipping. Tresvant says she decided to let her kids get involved in her business so they have a better understanding of what she does. Looking beyond Small Business Saturday, hiring your child can also help with , which is about planning for your departure from your business. Tresvant hopes to pass hers down to her kids one day. “They understand that I’m building this legacy just for not myself, but for them as well,” says Tresvant.

SHOPPERS are racing to get hold of the best deal on a litre bottle of Baileys as they stock up for Christmas. With just over a month to go until the big day , we wanted to let you know the cheapest place this week to buy a litre of the liqueur. Baileys has always been pretty pricey, usually being sold at around £20 for a litre of its original Irish Cream flavour. Supermarkets like Aldi and Asda have their own versions available for those looking for a dupe. But if it's the real thing you're after, you should always check where you can get the most for your money . As always, remember to check elsewhere in case we missed a cheaper price - there's never a bad time to catch a bargain. READ MORE ON XMAS Prices may vary day to day as well depending on what deals are on, and remember to look at delivery costs too if you're ordering online. There's a really easy-to-use comparison site called Trolley.co.uk, which compares the prices of 130,000 products across 14 major supermarkets. The Latest Deals app also lets you search items and helps you compare prices at several supermarkets to see where it's cheaper. When it comes to Baileys , it is always worth noting that the closer to Christmas we get the more likely it is that even better deals will crop up. Most read in Money Back in 2022, Tesco was selling a litre for £7.50 - which is its lowest price ever. By using Trolley and Google shopping we've narrowed down some of the cheapest places for you to grab a bottle of Baileys this week. Please drink responsibly and for advice or support about drinking alcohol please visit drinkaware.co.uk Cheapest shops to buy Baileys this week Retail giant Sainsbury's has slashed the price of its Baileys 1L bottles to £10 for customers. The deal is available to those with a Nectar Card, which slashes the usual price of £21.95 down by more than half. You can sign up for the scheme for free online or in store. Nectar customers can add the card to their Sainsbury's Groceries account when they check out to access all sorts of discounts . For those shopping in person, all you need to do is scan the Nectar card or app on your phone to bag the bargain. You may have heard of loyalty pricing, but do you know what it is? Sainsbury's , Tesco and Morrisons are three supermarkets that offer customers signed up to their loyalty schemes exclusive discounts - known as loyalty pricing. All three retailer's schemes, Nectar Card, Clubcard and More Card, are free to sign up to as well. The obvious advantage to loyalty pricing is that you can save potentially hundreds of pounds a year on your shopping, all without spending a penny. But different supermarkets offer exclusive discounts on different products, so do some research before doing your shopping. Either way, be wary of supermarkets artificially inflating prices to make it seem like you're getting a better deal than you are. A previous investigation by consumer group Which? found Sainsbury's and Tesco have increased the price of everyday goods then slapped loyalty prices on them thinking customers wouldn't notice. Either way, it's worth shopping around though. Supermarkets change their prices all the time, sometimes multiple times daily, so it's worth researching to ensure you're getting the best price on an item. You can use websites like Trolley to see how the major supermarket's compare in terms of price on any number of goods. Tesco also has the same deal for shoppers through its loyalty scheme. A litre of the original Irish Cream is now just £10 with a Clubcard, a whopping saving of £12. Despite being a festive favourite it's the cheapest it's been all year. The deal is running until December 9, so shoppers need to be quick to snatch the tipple. You can sign up for Tesco's Clubcard scheme for free and bag special prices like this one. Loyalty members can collect points every time they shop which then can be exchanged for vouchers. If you don't have a Nectar or Clubcard then you'll be stuck paying full price which is £21.95 and £22 respectively. The next cheapest stores selling the liqueur are Ocado and Asda which are both selling a litre for £13. READ MORE SUN STORIES Morrisons is the most expensive chain, selling a bottle for £22. But it's worth noting that at the beginning of November the supermarket was selling a bottle for £8.50 - the cheapest its been all year - so do keep an eye out for better deals. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping. Limit the amount of presents - buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb. Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you're not having to buy multiple presents. Plan ahead - if you've got the stamina and budget, it's worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales. Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you're not forking out more than you should though. Buy in Boxing Day sales - some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25. Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent. Shop via outlet stores - you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts. They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.A New Hampshire high school banned two parents from its grounds after they wore wristbands protesting boys participating in girls’ sports. Two months later, the school remained adamant about its decision in a court hearing on Friday. The controversy began in September when parents complained to the Bow High School athletic director about their daughters’ soccer team having to compete against a team with a boy on the roster, the reported. “Where’s your courage? Where’s your integrity? Stand up for real women or get out of the way,” soccer dad Anthony Foote wrote in an email to athletic director Mike Desilets. When the school told the parents nothing could be done because of the federal judge’s ruling that the word “girl” included , the parents took a stand at the next game on Sept. 17. Multiple parents wore bright pink wristbands which read “XX,” of course implying the fact that girls have two x chromosomes. Officials stopped the game, demanding the parents remove the wristbands. Police issued “No Trespassing” letters to Foote and fellow soccer dad Kyle Fellers. Foote said he was banned from the school until Sept. 23, which meant missing his daughter’s homecoming soccer game. Superintendent of Schools Marcy Kelley signed the order, saying the pink wristbands violated the school’s policy against “threatening, harassing, or intimidating ... any person.” Kelley added that the wristbands violated its policy “that no person shall ‘impede, delay, disrupt or otherwise interfere with any school activity.'” “The District had to obtain additional police presence to ensure order. The District had to order you to remove the armbands and as a result of your ‘protest’ and other actions, play was temporarily stopped,” Kelley said. Foote, his wife, Fellers and other parents filed a lawsuit against multiple school administrators, including Kelley and Desilets, according to . The parents testified Thursday at a hearing in the United States District Court in Concord, New Hampshire. Foote said that the protesters hadn’t intended to harass or target anyone, merely protest the participation of . “I don’t care what Parker wants to do with his life,” Foote told the New Hampshire Journal. “What I do care about is that my daughter could be , maybe not by Parker because he’s not the biggest kid on the field. But there’s a chance that next time will be different.” Kelley and Desilets claimed otherwise, saying the protests wouldn’t stop with the wristbands, citing strongly worded emails to school administrators and social media posts encouraging other parents to attend and protest the game. One parent reportedly told school officials hearsay of plans to heckle the “transgender” player on the other team — male Parker Tirrell. The protesters were supposedly going to wear dresses and make fun of Tirrell. “When we suspect there’s some sort of threat . . . we don’t wait for it to happen,” Kelley said at the hearing Friday. Tirrell and another student had previously challenged the state law prohibiting boys from participating in girls’ sports — . The judge ruled that the players could temporarily participate in the games during the ongoing lawsuit, Fox News reported. At that time, Tirrell’s next game would be the Sept. 17 game in question, in which he played nearly the whole game, the New Hampshire Journal reported. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. .No. 5 UCLA snaps No. 1 South Carolina's 43-game win streakBY MELISSA GOLDIN Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general’s office, falsely claiming that it’s proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Related Articles National News | OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment National News | Judge rejects an attempt by Trump campaign lawyer to invalidate guilty plea in Georgia election case National News | Texas’ abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine National News | US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say National News | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report’s finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here’s a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. THE FACTS: That’s false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau’s informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day’s events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office’s counterterrorism division told the inspector general’s office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D’Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report’s findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!” reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray’s resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. Wray called such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a press release about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI’s involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. 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NoneBangkok's office market must balance a growing supply pipeline of 1.1 million square metres of lettable space with shifting tenant demands, intensifying competition among landlords in an increasingly dynamic environment. Panya Jenkitvathanalert, executive director and head of office strategy and solutions at property consultant Knight Frank Thailand, said the additional 1.1 million sq m anticipated over the next few years will prompt landlords to adjust their strategies. "It will likely drive further innovation in design, services and pricing strategies," he said. "Grade A properties, while commanding premium rents, must set themselves apart through unique value propositions." Of the additional 1.1 million sq m, 640,000 sq m are already under construction. "Next year will be a critical period, with a record-breaking 550,000 sq m of new space entering the market. As the landscape evolves, existing buildings must focus on retaining tenants and maintaining competitiveness to meet the diverse needs of today's occupiers," said Mr Panya. Knight Frank Thailand reported steady momentum in Bangkok's office market during the third quarter of 2024, bolstered by notable supply growth and increased leasing activity. The completion of key developments, such as the mixed-use One Bangkok on Wireless-Rama IV roads, brought the city's total office stock to 6.31 million sq m, underlining the transformative impact of large-scale, integrated projects on Bangkok's skyline. In the third quarter, Bangkok's office supply grew by 151,000 sq m, or 2.5% quarter-on-quarter, following the completion of One Bangkok Tower 3 and Tower 4, alongside Rangsit Business Park. The key differentiators for developers include state-of-the-art amenities, wellness-focused designs, and enhanced accessibility. This shift has fuelled the adoption of WiredScore and SmartScore certifications, highlighting the rising importance of digital connectivity and smart technology in modern office environments. These certifications, which assess and promote a building's technological and smart capabilities, have become essential tools for landlords seeking to attract tech-driven, forward-thinking tenants. Sustainability-focused developments also gained traction, with the share of green-certified buildings rising from 26% to 28% of total supply. Meanwhile, 54,000 sq m of older office space was withdrawn as three buildings exited the market. Demand showed promising signs of recovery, with leasing activity nearly doubling from the second quarter as more tenants transitioned staff back to on-site work, with some implementing full in-office policies. Leasing activity accelerated for the third consecutive quarter, with take-up reaching 164,000 sq m, marking a significant increase from the previous quarter. Net absorption climbed to 50,000 sq m, primarily driven by robust leasing at One Bangkok. As a result, total occupied office space grew by 1% to 4.81 million sq m. Green-certified buildings were the primary beneficiaries of this demand, recording net absorption of 80,000 sq m, while non-green buildings posted a decline of 30,000 sq m. Both the central business district (CBD) and non-CBD areas saw positive demand trends, with net absorption of 24,000 sq m and 26,000 sq m, respectively, reflecting a broad-based recovery across Bangkok's office market. The overall market occupancy rate declined to 76%, down 1.1 percentage points from the previous quarter and 2.6 points year-on-year, plunging well below the 10-year average of 87%. Occupancy in Grade A offices dipped from 80% to 74%, driven by an influx of new supply and fierce competition. In contrast, Grade B offices remained stable at 75%, continuing to underperform relative to other segments. Grade C properties were the only category to improve, with occupancy rising from 79% to 80%. Unlike other segments, Grade C stock remains relatively unchanged as these buildings often undergo asset enhancement or exit the market during challenging periods. Their affordability continues to attract consistent demand from budget-conscious tenants, said Mr Panya.

A fugitive gains fame in New Orleans eluding dart guns and nets

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller sat for a long interview with the NCAA as it looked into concerns about unusual gambling activity, his lawyer said Friday amid reports a federal probe is now under way. “Hysier Miller fully cooperated with the NCAA’s investigation. He sat for a five-hour interview and answered every question the NCAA asked. He also produced every document the NCAA requested,” lawyer Jason Bologna said in a statement. “Hysier did these things because he wanted to play basketball this season, and he is devastated that he cannot.” Miller, a three-year starter from South Philadelphia, transferred to Virginia Tech this spring. However, the Hokies released him last month due to what the program called “circumstances prior to his enrollment at Virginia Tech.” Bologna declined to confirm that a federal investigation had been opened, as did spokespeople for both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that authorities were investigating whether Miller bet on games he played in at Temple, and whether he adjusted his performance accordingly. “Hysier Miller has overcome more adversity in his 22 years than most people face in their lifetime. He will meet and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead," Bologna said. Miller scored eight points — about half his season average of 15.9 — in a 100-72 loss to UAB on March 7 that was later flagged for unusual betting activity. Temple said it has been aware of those allegations since they became public in March, and has been cooperative. “We have been fully responsive and cooperative with the NCAA since the moment we learned of the investigation,” Temple President John Fry said in a letter Thursday to the school community. However, Fry said Temple had not received any requests for information from state or federal law enforcement agencies. He vowed to cooperate fully if they did. “Coaches, student-athletes and staff members receive mandatory training on NCAA rules and regulations, including prohibitions on involvement in sports wagering," Fry said in the letter. The same week the Temple-UAB game raised concerns, Loyola (Maryland) said it had removed a person from its basketball program after it became aware of a gambling violation. Temple played UAB again on March 17, losing 85-69 in the finals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. League spokesman Tom Fenstermaker also declined comment on Friday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballRick Higgins: 'He sees people and he's always there to lend a hand'NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, t-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. "Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you," Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's Disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be." Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions spent three months scoring at a historic rate. Now with the weather changing outside, they’re winning with old school football, too. , David Montgomery added a third TD run and Detroit's increasingly stingy defense kept the Indianapolis Colts out of the end zone on Sunday, leading the Lions to their ninth straight win, 24-6. “This is, whatever it is, 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown and the three last games in the second half we're not allowing it,” coach Dan Campbell said. “We talk about it all the time — limiting points, play physical style, shut down the run — we were able to do that.” They've been doing it all season in their greatest run in decades, but have been more effective lately and it has shown. The Lions improved to 10-1 for the first time since 1934, their inaugural season in the Motor City. They own the league's longest active winning streak and are 6-0 on the road this season. While the Lions have scored points by the dozens all season, Campbell's preference for physical football means they're equally capable of grinding out wins with the combination of a ball-control offense and an ascending defense that propelled them to this win. Gibbs finished with 21 carries for 90 yards on a day Goff went 26 of 36 with 269 yards and no touchdowns. And for the third straight week, all against AFC South foes, the Lions had a second-half shutout. “If you can win on the road, you're normally a pretty damn good team,” Campbell said. “And we can win on the road.” The Colts (5-7) found out the hard way by losing their second straight home game and for the fourth time in their past five games. , going 11 of 28 with 172 yards while rushing 10 times for 61 yards. But it was Indy's inability to finish drives with touchdowns that again cost the team. That flaw was evident right from the start when Richardson took the Colts inside the Lions 5-yard line on the game's first series and settled for a short field goal when they couldn't punch it in. “We've got to take advantage of our opportunities,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “This league comes down to inches, it comes down to yards and you've got to take advantage of those opportunities. We've had issues down in the red zone and you have to look at the tape and clean it up.” Detroit made Indy pay dearly for its offensive miscues. Gibbs' 1-yard TD run on the Lions' second series made it 7-3 early in the second quarter and after Indy settled for another short field goal, for a 6-yard TD and a 14-6 lead. Detroit's defense made sure that was all the scoring punch it needed. “Those players, we've been around each other long enough, they've been around each other to know exactly what we're looking for,” Campbell said. “We have an identity about us. We know the critical factors as they pertain to winning, and those guys take that stuff serious.” Gibbs' 5-yard TD run late in the third quarter gave Detroit a 21-6 lead and they closed it out with a 56-yard field goal midway through the fourth. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 62 yards for Detroit while Michael Pittman Jr. had six catches for 96 yards for Indy despite leaving briefly in the first half with an injured shoulder. Gibbs' first score extended Detroit's league record to 25 consecutive games with a TD run, including the playoffs. He's also the third Lions player with 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 TDs in each of his first two pro seasons with Detroit, joining Billy Sims and Barry Sanders. Gibbs and Montgomery have each scored at least one TD in the same game nine times. Lions: Things got ugly during a third-quarter flurry. Receiver-punt returner Kalif Raymond (foot), left tackle Taylor Decker (right leg) and Montgomery (shoulder) all left in quick succession. Raymond and Montgomery did not return. Decker did. CB Carlton Davis II left early in the fourth with what appeared to be a left knee injury. Colts: Indy deactivated left tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee), forcing the Colts to again use three rookie linemen. Receivers Ashton Dulin (ankle) and Josh Downs (shoulder) both left in the second half. Downs returned, Dulin did not. Lions: Host Chicago in its traditional Thanksgiving Day game. Colts: Visit New England next Sunday. AP NFL:

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Short Interest in JE Cleantech Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:JCSE) Increases By 1,285.0%The Dow rocketed to a fresh record Friday, extending a post-election US equity rally while the euro retreated against the dollar following weak eurozone data. The blue-chip index piled on one percent to end the day at 44,296.51, narrowly overtaking a record set earlier this month. Major American indices have been at or near record territory since the US election, with investors betting that President-elect Donald Trump's program of tax cuts and regulatory scale-back would more than offset the drag from expected tariff increases. "The trading most of this week has been influenced by the growth agenda," said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Cresset Capital Management. Market watchers have been cheered this week by a broadening of the rally beyond the tech names that dominated earlier in the year. The dollar also continued to strengthen, reflecting less certainty about additional Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and the US currency's status as a haven asset amid escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war. The euro was also battered by a closely watched survey showing contractions in November business activity in the eurozone. The HCOB Flash Eurozone purchasing managers' index (PMI) published by S&P Global dropped to 48.1 compared to 50.0 in October, the most marked rate of contraction in 10 months. Any reading above 50 indicates growth, while a figure below 50 shows contraction. "Things could hardly have turned out much worse," said Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank. "The eurozone's manufacturing sector is sinking deeper into recession, and now the services sector is starting to struggle after two months of marginal growth." But as the euro fell both Paris and Frankfurt stocks managed to recover their losses and advance. "The eurozone data has increased the chance of more rate cuts from the ECB next year," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, as well a cut of 50 basis points next month. "Investors have been jolted into recalibrating interest rate expectations on the back of this bleak economic news," she added. London managed to gain 1.4 percent despite data showing that retail sales figures for October undershot forecasts, as the pound fell against the dollar. In Asia, Tokyo climbed as the government prepared to announce a $140 billion stimulus package to kickstart the country's stuttering economy. However, Hong Kong and Shanghai sank on a sell-off in tech firms caused by weak earnings from firms including Temu-owner PDD Holdings and internet giant Baidu. Bitcoin set a new record high above $99,500 Friday, before easing back slightly. The leading digital currency is expected to soon burst through $100,000 as investors grow increasingly hopeful that Trump will pass measures to deregulate the crypto sector. Bitcoin has soared more than 40 percent since the Republican's election victory this month and has more than doubled since the turn of the year. The recent surge has also been "driven by news that Trump could set up an official crypto department that would sit in the heart of US government," said XTB's Brooks. New York - Dow: UP 1.0 percent at 44,296.51 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.4 percent at 5,969.34 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 19,003.65 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 1.4 percent at 8,262.08 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.6 percent at 7,255.01 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.9 percent at 19,322.59 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 38,283.85 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.9 percent at 19,229.97 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 3.1 percent at 3,267.19 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0418 from $1.0474 on Thursday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2530 from $1.2589 Dollar/yen: UP at 154.83 yen from 154.54 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.11 pence from 83.20 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.6 percent at $71.24 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.3 percent at $75.17 per barrel burs-jmb/mlm

Zug, Switzerland - December 30, 2024 - WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey” or the“Company”) (NASDAQ: WKEY; SIX: WIHN), a global leader in cybersecurity, AI, blockchain, and IoT technologies, that its subsidiary, SEALCOIN AG, ends 2024 as a leader in secure, decentralized IoT ecosystems. Utilizing its blockchain-based TIOT token, SEALCOIN empowers IoT devices to autonomously exchange data, energy, and services, transforming real-time interactions with unmatched trust and efficiency. In January 2025, SEALCOIN will achieve a major milestone in cooperation with WISeSat AG, another WISeKey subsidiary which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, with the launch of a new generation of WISeSat satellites designed to support autonomous machine-to-machine (M2M) transactions from space. This Proof of Concept (PoC) will demonstrate secure, satellite-initiated transactions with IoT devices, marking a significant step toward creating a scalable Transactional IoT (t-IoT) infrastructure. By combining SEALCOIN's decentralized platform with WISeSat's capabilities, the PoC will showcase how blockchain and space technologies can enable global IoT networks with unparalleled security and scalability. Earlier in 2024, SEALCOIN successfully conducted a PoC for t-IoT transactions between two devices, proving its ability to disintermediate service providers and securely manage decentralized device interactions. The upcoming generation of WISeSat satellites will feature enhanced operational capabilities tailored for M2M transactions, reinforcing SEALCOIN's position as a pioneer in space-based digital ecosystems. With decentralized ledger technology ensuring secure, tamper-proof exchanges, SEALCOIN is driving innovation in industries like energy, logistics, and environmental monitoring, expanding the possibilities for IoT devices to interact autonomously in real-time. SEALCOIN's roadmap for 2025 focuses on scaling its space-based IoT initiatives, refining blockchain solutions for advanced security and scalability, and exploring partnerships to expand the transactional IoT ecosystem. By addressing real-world challenges with innovative solutions, SEALCOIN continues to deliver long-term value to stakeholders and set new standards for global IoT ecosystems. With Swiss regulatory compliance, advanced encryption, and collaboration with cutting-edge technologies like Hedera Hashgraph, SEALCOIN's decentralized architecture ensures trust, transparency, and privacy in IoT transactions. SEALCOIN AG is revolutionizing the future of machine-to-machine transactions with its innovative integration of blockchain and space technology. SEALCOIN is committed to fostering secure, scalable, and autonomous IoT ecosystems, enabling a new era of interconnected devices. About WISeKey WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform. Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey's mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company's semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey's strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa's predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey. Press and Investor Contacts MENAFN29122024004107003653ID1109040073 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.Canada's Trudeau condemns violent protests as NATO meets in Montreal

In the lives of public figures a tale often takes hold and that narrative becomes their story. In the case of Jimmy Carter, it goes like this: A humble peanut farmer and former Georgia governor defies extraordinary odds and wins the White House, through a combination of virtue, decency and a post-Watergate political cleansing. Over the next four years he is overwhelmed and over-matched by inflation and Iran’s ayatollah. He scolds his countrymen and wears a sweater like a hairshirt. He’s attacked by a “killer rabbit” and loses reelection — in an electoral college landslide — to the buoyant and swaggering Ronald Reagan. But, then, in a great and noble second act, the former president travels the world spreading goodness, peace and light while helping build safe and affordable housing for the needy and fighting the twin scourges of poverty and disease . There is much that is accurate about that account. But it also overlooks a good deal, and distorts some of the rest. “There’s been this easy shorthand about him that is actually a real disservice to the complex truth,” said Jonathan Alter, a political journalist and author of the 2020 biography “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life.” In Alter’s considered judgment, Carter, who died Sunday at 100 , “was an underrated and under-appreciated president and an appropriately appreciated but slightly overrated former president.” Politics is a zero-sum profession, its score-keeping writ in black and white. Either you win or you lose. “If you’re president and you’re defeated for a second term — that, in our system, is the definition of failure,” said Les Francis, a California Democratic strategist who worked in the Carter White House and both his presidential campaigns. Francis, now retired in the Sierra foothills, is quite mindful of the Carter narrative — lousy president, sainted ex-president — and reacted to its mention in a tone that mixed weariness with resignation. “It rankles those of us who worked for him,” Francis said, “and I know it rankled him because it ignores the substantial accomplishments of his presidency.” Those include a doubling of the national park system; the first national legislation funding green energy; major civil service and government ethics reforms; creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency ; the Middle East peace accord between Egypt and Israel; normalization of relations with China; and moves that helped bring about the end of the Soviet Union. In their most recent survey, released in February, presidential historians ranked Carter’s performance 22nd among the nation’s 46 presidencies. To give some perspective, Abraham Lincoln was first and Donald Trump came in dead last. Of course, there were plenty of reasons that Carter lost his 1980 reelection bid. A stiff primary challenge from the liberal leviathan, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. The toxic mix of high inflation and high unemployment, dubbed “stagflation.” Gas lines. The Iranian hostage crisis and, in particular, a failed rescue attempt that ended in wreckage and humiliation in the country’s Great Salt Desert . Carter also had a self-righteousness that could present as starchy and sanctimonious, a trait he exhibited even in his good works once he left the White House. “Sometimes, as a former president, he operated as a kind of freelance secretary of State and he did some things to complicate the lives of his successors that don’t look so great in retrospect,” Alter said. “I think he sometimes let his own ego get in the way a little bit.” The body language on those occasions Carter gathered alongside presidents past and present was telling. He stood among them but always seemed somehow apart. At bottom, Carter was a fundamentally good and caring man, who lived his Christian faith and whose uprightness and personal probity offer a model for those who’ve followed him into the Oval Office. (His more than yearlong survival after entering hospice and refusing further medical treatment was both stirring and surprising. Carter’s last public appearance came in late November last year, at the funeral of his wife, Rosalyn, who died two days after entering hospice at age 96.) In 1976, during the presidential campaign, there was a flap when Carter told Playboy magazine he “looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The controversy seems quaint now, compared to the criminally convicted Trump’s 2016 boast of grabbing women “by the pussy” and getting away with it. It’s just one example of how low our politics have sunk , and it casts some of the criticisms of Carter in a fresh light. Maybe being a micromanager and a little uptight weren’t such horrible things after all. After news broke that Carter had entered hospice, writer and GOP political consultant Stuart Stevens was one of many offering public reappraisals of the former president. “The first article I published in a national magazine was a snarky piece ... calling Jimmy Carter a failure,” Stevens said on Twitter, as the site was then known. “Looking back on it, my smugness was disgusting. I can’t imagine he read it & if he did, I’m sure he didn’t care but still, I wish I had found a way to apologize.” In a follow-up email, Stevens said his original piece came “from the perspective of a Southerner who felt that Carter was an embarrassment. Not in a policy sense but just his manner and approach. “There was no appreciation,” Stevens said, “for the basic decency of a man trying to do what he felt was right.” In the summer of 1984, after his forced exit from the White House, Carter paid a return visit to Washington. It was a rarity. The former president was never much liked inside the Beltway, and the feeling was mutual. But Carter, as dutiful Democratic soldier, headlined a reception and chicken dinner to raise money for his f ormer vice president, Walter Mondale , while Mondale prepared to accept the party’s presidential nomination. (And, it turned out, the opportunity to be buried a few months later in yet another Reagan landslide .) With the leadership mantle passing from the former president to his understudy, Mondale offered a laudatory summation of the Carter administration. “We told the truth,” he said. “We obeyed the law and we kept the peace. And that’s not bad.” Not bad at all. (Mark Z. Barabak is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, focusing on politics in California and the West.) ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.None

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Pakistan forces launch raid on ex-PM Khan's supportersU.S. stocks closed at more records after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to reach another all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3% to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.6% as Big Tech stocks helped lead the way. Stock markets abroad saw mostly modest losses, after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. U.S. automakers and other companies that could be hurt particularly by such tariffs fell. On Tuesday: The S&P 500 rose 34.26 points, or 0.6%, to 6,021.63. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 123.74 points, or 0.3%, to 44,860.31. The Nasdaq composite rose 119.46 points, or 0.6%, to 19,174.30. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 17.72 points, or 0.7%, to 2,424.31. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 52.29 points, or 0.9%. The Dow is up 563.80 points, or 1.3%. The Nasdaq is up 170.65 points, or 0.9%. The Russell 2000 is up 17.64 points, or 0.7%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,251.80 points, or 26.2%. The Dow is up 7,170.77 points, or 19%. The Nasdaq is up 4,162.95 points, or 27.7%. The Russell 2000 is up 397.23 points, or 19.6%.Musk heads to US Congress to discuss slashing government costs

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luckyland slots VICE PRESIDENT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING CEDAR RAPIDS — In today’s rapidly changing economy, traditional pathways to education and employment are evolving, and Kirkwood Community College is at the forefront of this transformation. In addition to offering standard degree programs, we are deeply committed to bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that our students are equipped with theoretical knowledge and practical skills required in today’s workforce. This blending of traditional degrees and job-specific training allows us to address the unique needs of students and the community. Kirkwood has long served as an educational solution for a broad range of students. Current high school students earn credentials through our dual enrollment programs, and our community-based English as a Second Language programs serve hundreds with varying skill and literacy levels, helping them attain language proficiency, join the workforce, and thrive in our communities. Our high school completion programs provide foundational knowledge and remove barriers for hundreds of adults annually, supporting them in earning the high school diplomas they need for employment. While we are best known for our two-year degree programs, which serve students aiming to transfer to four-year institutions, and for our skilled graduates in career and technical education programs, many are unaware of the thousands of working professionals we serve. Our partnerships with local businesses and industries allow us to continuously update our programs to reflect real-time market demands. Through customized training, apprenticeship programs, and a wide array of certificates, credentials, and courses offered through our Continuing Education division, we work closely with employers to identify skills gaps and emerging technologies that require specialized workforce. This adaptive approach has been essential in fields such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and information technology, where skills evolve quickly. It also supports employers in fields with specialized skills unmet by traditional education programs or where licensures require ongoing education to stay current with industry needs. One of Kirkwood’s unique strengths is our dual approach, which offers both degree and certificate options, allowing students to customize their educational journey. Students in our traditional degree programs can supplement their studies with certifications that provide job-ready skills, while those enrolled in specific training programs can, if they choose, transition into associate degree programs. This flexibility allows students to stack credentials, making them more versatile and adaptable in a job market that values both depth and breadth of expertise. Our focus on job-specific training programs plays a critical role in meeting the needs of the local economy. As a community college, Kirkwood has a responsibility to our seven-county region to cultivate a workforce that can support the growth and sustainability of local businesses. Through collaboration with regional employers, economic development agencies, and governmental partners, we are helping create job opportunities and economic stability, especially in high-demand fields where skilled workers are scarce. When local businesses have access to skilled talent, they can expand, innovate, and contribute to a more prosperous community. The success stories we hear from students and partners reflect the value of this approach. At Kirkwood, we believe education is more than a job pathway; it is a bridge connecting individuals to opportunities, families to prosperity, and communities to growth. By blending traditional degrees with job-specific training, we are ensuring our students can navigate the modern workforce and contribute meaningfully to regional success. Having spent the last 16 years in workforce and economic development, I am proud to be part of an institution that so effectively serves our community by preparing individuals not just for jobs but for lifelong careers and personal growth. Our commitment to bridging this educational gap strengthens Kirkwood’s legacy as a leader in accessible, relevant, and community-focused education.

California will revive its own subsidy programs for electric vehicles if Donald Trump guts US federal tax breaks for such cars, the state's governor said Monday. The president-elect has said repeatedly he would scrap what he called the "electric vehicle mandate" -- actually a $7,500 federal rebate for anyone who purchases an EV. Gavin Newsom, who heads the solidly Democratic state and has pitched himself as a leader of the anti-Trump political resistance, said Monday California was not "turning back" towards polluting transport. "We will intervene if the Trump Administration eliminates the federal tax credit, doubling down on our commitment to clean air and green jobs in California," Newsom said. "We're not turning back on a clean transportation future -- we're going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don't pollute," he added. "Consumers continue to prove the skeptics wrong -– zero-emission vehicles are here to stay." If Trump scraps the tax credit, California could revive its own Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, which ran until November 2023, granting rebates of up to $7,500 for people buying battery-powered cars, a press release said. California leads the nation in electric vehicle adoption, and is the single biggest market in the country, representing around a third of all units sold in the United States. State figures show that more than two million so-called "zero emission vehicles" -- which include fully electric vehicles as well as plug-in hybrids -- have now been sold in the state, with one-in-four new cars in that category. On the campaign trail, Trump was frequently hostile to electric vehicles, which he has linked with what he calls the "hoax" of climate change. He vowed repeatedly that under his watch the United States would become "energy dominant," chiefly through expanded oil and gas extraction. For many in California, such pledges are anathema, with the state frequently battered by the tangible effects of climate change, from huge wildfires to droughts to furious storms. Newsom -- who many believe has White House ambitions of his own -- has positioned himself as a bulwark against the feared excesses of an incoming Trump administration on issues from climate change to immigration, vowing to be a check on its power. With 40 million people, the sheer size of California's market has for a long time helped set the national tone when it comes to pollution standards for automakers. Rather than make two versions of the same vehicles, Detroit giants have willingly adopted California's tougher rules on emissions and efficiency for nationwide sales. That de facto standard-setting power has angered Republicans like Trump, who say -- on this issue -- states should not be allowed to set their own rules. hg/ahaBitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 mark as the post-election rally continues. What's next?

Liverpool vs. Manchester City: Arne Slot Premier League title edge over Pep Guardiola after Tottenham Hotspur lossLes Ferdinand blasts Spurs lack of ‘urgency’ as video emerges of ugly scenes between Ange & supporters

Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’Mumbai: In the state assembly elections, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the candidate from the Mahayuti alliance in the Malabar Hill constituency, has won with a resounding majority. A total of 137,911 votes were cast in the Malabar Hill assembly area, out of which 101,197 votes went to Mangal Prabhat Lodha. He secured 73.38 per cent of the total votes, the highest vote share in any constituency in Mumbai. Mangal Prabhat Lodha has been elected six times from the Malabar Hill constituency, and in 2024, he has been elected as an MLA for the seventh time by the people. He is the first candidate to have been continuously elected from this constituency for so many years. In light of his victory, MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the public. He attributed his win to the blessings of the people. He said, “I am deeply grateful to every citizen of the Malabar Hill constituency for giving me the opportunity to serve as an MLA for the seventh time. I have been working tirelessly for the development of this area for years, and I will continue to do so! Inspired by the thoughts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I will fulfill my promise to the citizens of Malabar Hill for its development.” After this victory, Mangal Prabhat Lodha also expressed his gratitude to the Mahayuti workers. He mentioned that many of them had dedicated their precious time and efforts, allowing him once again the opportunity to serve the people. Following the win, his supporters celebrated in large numbers, rejoicing in his victory.Elon Musk, the world's richest person and one of Donald Trump's closest allies, met with US lawmakers Thursday on his plans for overseeing radical government spending cuts under the incoming administration. President-elect Trump rewarded the Tesla, X and SpaceX chief for his support during the White House campaign by naming him head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy ally, Vivek Ramaswamy. Although the office, dubbed DOGE, has a purely advisory role, Musk's star power and intense influence in Trump's inner circle bring political clout. As Musk and Ramaswamy strode into the Capitol for meetings with lawmakers, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson touted "a new day in America." "There's an enormous amount of waste, fraud and abuse," he told reporters. "Government is too big, it does too many things, and it does almost nothing well." Musk and Ramaswamy have said they can identify billions of dollars of cuts in spending, sparking questions about whether Republicans will even try to slash politically popular social security programs. Writing in the Wall Street Journal last month, the two businessmen laid out plans for the White House to cut staff, trim government programs and reduce federal regulations, even if it means bypassing Congress, which holds budgetary power. "The entrenched and ever-growing bureaucracy represents an existential threat to our republic, and politicians have abetted it for too long," Musk and Ramaswamy wrote. "We're doing things differently. We are entrepreneurs, not politicians. During Trump's election campaign, Musk vowed to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion. This would represent cutting total US spending by a third, almost certainly meaning devastation of social support programs -- something that has never garnered strong political backing. Musk's emphasis on firing large numbers of government employees, however, echoes Republican talking points about the need to take on an overbearing state and may garner more support. Musk says he is seeking "mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy." Musk suggested banning government employees from working at home as an opening tactic. "Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome." Cuts will also target subsidies to public broadcasters and groups such as Planned Parenthood, which campaigns for abortion access and offers an array of reproductive health services. But DOGE is unlikely, at least initially, to go after welfare programs such as Social Security or health insurance for the poor and seniors, Ramaswamy said in an interview with Axios on Wednesday. Such cuts should be "a policy decision that belongs to the voters" and their representatives in Congress, Ramaswamy said. A reduction in military spending, which climbed to $820 billion in 2023, is also unlikely to be on the table. Musk's new role raises the question of potential conflicts of interest, since he could be issuing policy recommendations that impact directly on his own business empire. Underlining the close connection to DOGE, Musk's favorite cryptocurrency is called Dogecoin. rle/ev/md/sms/md

Aaron Cohen, Brooke Goldstein and Rabbi Chaim Mentz discuss the ICC arrest warrants against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. President-elect Trump will take office just as Iran has the potential to become the world’s 10th nuclear-armed state, and it’s unclear if either side knows how it will approach the other. Judging by Trump’s last time in office, it would suggest he would come out the gate with a combative tone — having instituted a "maximum pressure" campaign to "bankrupt" the regime. His secretary of state pick , Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has been an unyielding Iran hawk in the Senate. After the regime fired 200 missiles toward Tel Aviv last month, Rubio said: " Only threatening the survival of the regime through maximum pressure and direct and disproportionate measures has a chance to influence and alter their criminal activities." That could reinstate — and eliminate — any waivers for oil sanctions. It could mean threatening not to conduct business with countries that buy Iranian fuel products. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., Trump’s pick for national security adviser, is of a similar mind. Last month, when the Biden administration urged Israel to keep its counterstrikes "proportional," Waltz slammed President Biden for pressuring Israel "once again to do less than it should." A big banner depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is placed next to a ballistic missile in Baharestan Square in Tehran, Iran. (Hossein Beris/Middle East Images/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images) He suggested Israel strike oil facilities on Kharg Island and Iran’s nuclear plants in Natanz, a move the Biden team feared Iran would deem escalatory. Last month, Trump appeared to rule out the U.S. getting involved in any effort to take out Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini and his government. "We can’t get totally involved in all that. We can’t run ourselves, let’s face it," he said. "I would like to see Iran be very successful. The only thing is, they can't have a nuclear weapon." Trump has said he does not want Iran to have nuclear weapons , but has not laid out how he would stop it from doing so. "I'm not looking to be bad to Iran, we're going to be friendly, I hope, with Iran, maybe, but maybe not. But we're going to be friendly, I hope, we're going to be friendly, but they can't have a nuclear weapon," he said at a New Jersey press conference in August. Last month, Trump suggested Israel strike Iran’s nuclear facilities. Following the Iranian missile attacks, he suggested Israel should "hit the nuclear first and worry about the rest later." On Thursday, Iran said it was activating "advanced" centrifuges after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors censured it for failing to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Without cooperation, the world is in the dark about how quickly Iran is advancing its technological capabilities to use its uranium fuel for a bomb. "We will significantly increase enrichment capacity," Behrouz Kamalvandi, Iran's atomic energy organization spokesman, said after the censure. IRAN HIDING MISSILE, DRONE PROGRAMS UNDER GUISE OF COMMERCIAL FRONT TO EVADE SANCTIONS What’s standing between Iran and a fully formed nuclear weapon is both a political and a technological question. While the nation has enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon, the process of turning that into a warhead could take anywhere from six to 12 months, according to Nicole Grajewski, nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "That’s when Iran would be most vulnerable to attack," she said. "Iran could probably make a dirty bomb from its current stockpile." Over the years, Iran’s nuclear progress has been set back by international sanctions, COVID-19, high-profile assassinations of its nuclear scientists and attacks and sabotage on its nuclear facilities led by Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad. And announcing they have a nuclear weapon could threaten Iran’s longtime goal of regional hegemony. "Iran is less isolated than it was four years ago, but it’s still pretty isolated. Announcing they are nuclear would trigger an arms race in the Middle Eas t," predicted Simone Leeden, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East. "Saudi Arabia and the UAE would decide they will pursue nuclear weapons the minute Iran declares it has its own. Another action they could and would take is deepening ties with Israel." IRAN VASTLY INCREASED NUCLEAR FUEL STOCKPILE AHEAD OF TRUMP RETURN, UN AGENCY FINDS Iran also understands that producing a nuclear bomb would likely evoke a military response from Israel and the U.S. under Trump. Heavy weapons, including ballistic missiles, air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, are displayed at Baharestan Square in Tehran, Iran on Sept. 26, during the 44th anniversary of the eight-year war with Iraq. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images) After years of trying to assassinate Trump, the Iranians don’t seem to have figured out whether to approach the U.S. relationship under Trump with a combative or diplomatic tone. Just last month, they told President Biden they would not make any efforts to kill the president-elect going forward. "I think that there's been a lot of mixed signaling from the kind of Trump transition team is, you know, you see Brian Hook being appointed, who was behind this maximum pressure and sanctions," said Grajewski. But then, on the other hand, Trump envoy Elon Musk reportedly met with Iranian officials to discuss how the two nations could dial back tensions. "I think that he is being opaque on purpose," said Leeden. "I don't think he wants to show his cards as a negotiator." "In all likelihood, maximum pressure is going to be restored," said Behnam Taleblu, Iran expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "U.S. partners are asking now, to what end? Is it towards regime collapse? Is it towards a deal? What if the Iranians don't negotiate in good faith?" Former Israeli officials have suggested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be emboldened to strike Iranian nuclear facilities with the go-ahead from the Trump administration. But a lot of Iran’s centrifuge and enrichment facilities are deep underground, complicating a bombing campaign against them. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Image) To get to them, Israel would need the U.S.' Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOP), or "bunkbuster bombs." "It would require U.S. involvement — either the direct transfer of this, which is currently not really discussed — that would be pretty escalatory — or Israel getting the United States to also conduct this mission," said Grajewski. The Trump team will also place a high priority on bringing Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords, solidifying the Sunni Muslim alliance against Iran. But the Saudis have insisted the U.S. and Israel must recognize a Palestinian state for such a deal to get done. "The incoming administration wants to quiet down this kinetic energy in the Middle East quickly, because we have bigger fish to fry as a country," said Leeden. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The U.S. has long looked to pivot its military focus away from the Middle East and toward the Indo-Pacific . The outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas after Oct. 7 tore that focus back to the Arab world.ATLANTA (AP) — Jalen Johnson scored 28 points and the Atlanta Hawks closed out a four-game homestand, winning a third straight contest, 120-110 over the Miami Heat on Saturday. Trae Young added his 22nd double-double of the season, with 11 point and 15 assist, and De'Andre Hunter scored 26 points in his 14th consecutive game with at least 15 points coming off the bench. Tyler Herro scored 28 points and dished out 10 assists and Bam Adebayo added 17 points and 10 rebounds. It was the Heat's fourth game in a row without star Jimmy Butler , who sat out for what the team called “return to competition reconditioning.” Heat: Miami lost despite five players finishing with double-digit point totals. The Heat shot 44.4% from the field, but it wasn't enough to overcome a Hawks team that hit over half of its shots, 51.2% from the field. Hawks: Johnson has been on an offensive tear in his last two games. He finished two points shy of his single-game career high of 30 points, set in his last game, on Thursday against the Chicago Bulls. Hunter also finished just one point shy of his single-game career high of 27 points. After a close first half that featured nine lead changes, Atlanta seized control early in the second half. With five minutes to go in the third quarter, Atlanta’s Garrison Mathews and Hunter hit back-to-back 3s to give Atlanta an 81-72 lead, their biggest of the night, and forcing a Miami timeout. Young finished one assist shy of a franchise single-game record for assists against the Miami Heat, set by Mookie Blaylock in 1993. The Hawks begin a six-game road trip in Toronto on Sunday, while the Heat visits the Rockets on Sunday. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

I had a rifle through the charity shop’s 20p bin on the off chance, but was left flabbergasted by a gem I pulled outRays will play 13 of first 16 games at home and 47 of 59, then have 69 of last 103 on road

Universal charger rule: USB-C becomes mandatory for devices sold in EUOne of Silicon Valley’s biggest civil rights groups is changing leadership. The Rev. Jethroe Moore II has made his second and likely final exit from the NAACP San Jose/Silicon Valley after buying a home in Douglasville, Georgia six months ago. It’s opened the door for someone new to take the reins — a former county correctional officer. Sean Allen, a retired sergeant with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, is running unopposed in the group’s election to replace Moore as president on Saturday, and will take over the 82-year-old organization with roughly 260 members early next year. The former sheriff training officer has in many ways been prepped for the job and not just under Moore’s tutelage. Before joining the NAACP in 2021, Allen was for years a rare dissenting voice against sheriff leadership from within the county jail. When reporters in 2017 investigated abuse after the jail beating of Michael Tyree that led to his death, Allen was the only one out of eight correctional officers who talked on record. When a violent training accident killed a cadet in 2020, he publicly deemed it a long-running issue. After suing the sheriff’s office twice for workplace discrimination and joining the NAACP, Allen also helped lead protests against the use of police dogs and Tasers . His rise through the group first met hesitation in civil rights circles. Allen recalls some community leaders telling him they hated cops and refused to interact with him. He said things have changed over time, partly thanks to Moore’s extensive relationships. Yet Allen said the hesitation resurfaced in his bid for president. “People questioned: ‘Hey, is this guy gonna be more loyal to law enforcement?’” Allen told San Jose Spotlight. “And I’ve never represented that.” Asian Law Alliance Executive Director Richard Konda, whose group has challenged police misconduct alongside the NAACP for years, doesn’t have any reservations. “Sean Allen has been a strong advocate for civil rights and his leadership will as the new president of the local NAACP chapter ensure that the visionary leadership of (the) Rev. Moore will continue,” Konda told San José Spotlight. “Sean has been an active member of the Coalition for Justice and Accountability and has been very involved in CJA’s advocacy against Tasers and police attack dogs. We look forward to continuing to work with him on these and other civil rights issues. Moore, who often stayed with Allen and his family while traveling back and forth from Georgia over the past half-year, has come to know him as a close personal friend. He said he trusts Allen to “show up for the people.” “I want Sean to keep us down — to cobble together all the different ethnic groups — and ensure that when we say we’re speaking with the community, we really mean it,” Moore told San José Spotlight. The incoming president said he’s grappling with the idea of filling his mentor’s shoes. Moore spent decades building connections with local leaders and trust with other community organizations. When San Jose’s Black community spoke out against racist election attack ads published by the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, then known as the Silicon Valley Organization, Moore organized a diverse list of leaders to push back. It prompted the chamber to dismantle its political action committee behind the ads. Moore also helped establish Juneteenth as a recognized holiday in San Jose. Related Stories “I wanted to poise the organization to be on the sphere of what was happening — we wanted to be the first to weigh in on a critical issue and make sure we had a presence on that situation,” Moore told San José Spotlight. “I got in trouble a lot of times because it would go against the state’s position. But our goal was to protect the citizens of Santa Clara County.” In 2021, Moore announced he was moving to Atlanta, Georgia in search of better opportunities. But just one year after leaving San Jose, the beloved civil rights leader was back — separated from family, ousted from a job where he reported inappropriate conduct and struggling to find work. This time, he said he’s got more reasons to be hopeful about his latest move back east. “We’ve been fortunate enough to buy a home in Georgia on a quarter acre,” he told San José Spotlight. “I always promised my wife and kids a home.” Changing of the guard Allen said it will take time to get to Moore’s level. But he’s already looking ahead. He said he plans to continue the chapter’s government watchdogging and accountability efforts — a pursuit he said distinguishes his NAACP chapter from others in the state. “We just had a state convention and I learned about how some of the other branches are going down the same path — but it sounds to me, from the interactions we had, that we are in a different space. Particularly because we have a lot of insiders in the government informing us,” Allen told San José Spotlight. While all 57 NAACP branches in California and Hawaii are governed by the same policy principles, Silicon Valley has “one of the best branches in ensuring government accountability and fair and equal treatment of African Americans and people of color,” Rick Callender, a high-ranking leader of the NAACP’s statewide chapter and CEO of Valley Water, told San José Spotlight. “Allen has been a long fighter for equity and justice,” Callender said. “He came from the trenches doing battle, and he has fought not only for himself, but others. I fully support him as the incoming president for the San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP.” Former Milpitas Vice Mayor and San José Spotlight board President Bob Nuñez briefly helmed the NAACP during Moore’s first move to Georgia. He said his hope is the community will rally around Allen. “Somebody has to be the watchdog. But I also think you need the ability to bring people together. Somebody has to point out what we did wrong, but it shouldn’t be the only thing we do,” Nuñez told San José Spotlight. Allen agrees. He said he also wants to put more energy toward college education access. He said he’s courting local academics to join the NAACP’s executive board, in an effort to coax local community colleges into covering tuition and other expenses for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. He also said he intends to enhance awareness of the NAACP as an advocate for all marginalized communities. “Most people think of the NAACP and think it’s Black only. That’s not the case,” Allen told San José Spotlight. “We’re fighting for the rights of everyone. That is the mission of the organization. That will be broadcast and represented publicly everywhere. (The) Rev. Moore has expressed the same thing. I think that we have to make changes about how we’re bringing it to other people.” Contact Brandon Pho at [email protected] or @brandonphooo on X, formerly known as Twitter.Democrats plan to elect new party leader just days after Trump's inauguration

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S&P/TSX composite index gains more than 350 points, U.S. stock markets also rise TORONTO — Canada's main stock index gained more than 350 points Thursday in a broad rally led by energy and technology stocks, while U.S. markets also rose, led by a one-per-cent gain on the Dow. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 354. Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press Nov 21, 2024 1:42 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message The TMX Market Centre is shown in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paige Taylor White TORONTO — Canada's main stock index gained more than 350 points Thursday in a broad rally led by energy and technology stocks, while U.S. markets also rose, led by a one-per-cent gain on the Dow. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 354.22 points at 25,390.68. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 461.88 points at 43,870.35. The S&P 500 index was up 31.60 points at 5,948.71, while the Nasdaq composite was up 6.28 points at 18,972.42. The Nasdaq lagged an otherwise decent day for Wall St., rising just 0.03 per cent as it was dragged down by Google parent Alphabet and some of its tech giant peers. The tech company’s stock fell 4.6 per cent after U.S. regulators asked a judge to break it up by forcing a sale of the Chrome web browser. Amazon shares traded down 2.2 per cent while Meta and Apple both moved lower as well. After a substantial run for major tech stocks this year, that kind of news “shakes people a bit,” said John Zechner, chairman and lead equity manager at J. Zechner Associates. Meanwhile, semiconductor giant Nvidia saw its stock tick up modestly by 0.5 per cent after it reported earnings Wednesday evening. The company yet again beat expectations for profit and revenue, and gave a better revenue forecast for the current quarter than expected. But expectations for Nvidia have been so high amid the optimism over artificial intelligence that even beating forecasts wasn’t enough to send its stock flying the way it has in previous quarters, said Zechner. Nvidia essentially caps earnings season in the U.S., with companies largely beating expectations, said Zechner — though those expectations weren’t exactly lofty for companies outside the tech and AI sphere, he added. The Dow led major U.S. markets as the post-election hopes for economic growth continued to fuel a broadening of market strength, said Zechner. There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, said Zechner, and there’s no guarantee he will do what he’s promised. “There’s a lot of unknowns, but for now the markets seem to be assuming that whatever comes of this, the U.S. will continue to lead global growth,” he said. However, some of Trump’s promises — chief among them widespread tariffs on imports — have sparked bets that inflation may rear its head again. The market has pared back its expectations for interest rate cuts as a result, said Zechner. “Nobody’s talking about a half-point cut, that’s for sure,” he said. The Canadian dollar traded for 71.63 cents US compared with 71.46 cents US on Wednesday. The January crude oil contract was up US$1.35 at US$70.10 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up nine cents at US$3.48 per mmBTU. The December gold contract was up US$23.20 at US$2,674.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was down three cents at US$4.13 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More The Mix When others ran from the musical, Jon M. Chu and 'Wicked' embraced it Nov 21, 2024 1:59 PM Economists say temporary tax cut, relief cheques play into rosier growth picture Nov 21, 2024 1:57 PM Petition by RFK Jr. fan prompts water fluoridation vote by Montreal council Nov 21, 2024 1:33 PM Featured Flyer

LISBON, Portugal (AFP)— Mikel Arteta has called on his Arsenal team to be “ruthless” as they seek to end their away-day blues in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. The Gunners have failed to win — or even score — in their past four European matches on the road. Their last away win came against Sevilla in the group stages in October 2023. A narrow 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan earlier this month has left Arteta’s men 12th in the new-look Champions League table. The Spaniard believes a victory in the Portuguese capital, against a Sporting side who, when still managed by Ruben Amorim, thumped Manchester City 4-1 earlier this month, will prove they belong in elite company. “It’s certainly something we have to improve,” Arteta told reporters on Monday. “I think we have made the right steps and, looking back with the way we played against Inter, which is a team that has been so dominant in their league, reached the final of the Champions League (in 2023), which they should have won, to play and dominate that game. “But the reality is that you have to make it happen and we didn’t. “Making those steps is what we have to do next. Be ruthless, be efficient in the opposition box and do what we have to do to take the three points away from here.” Sporting are now managed by Joao Pereira, who has been promoted from the reserve team after Amorim’s switch to Manchester United. “The run they are on is incredible,” said Arteta. “That tells you that it is not only the quality, the set-up, the ambition, it is something about the team energy that they have. “That is a great challenge that we have tomorrow, to come here and make a statement and show we are capable against this kind of opponent. Be ourselves and win the game.” Kieran Tierney was a surprise addition to the travelling squad. The Scotland full-back has been sidelined since June after suffering a hamstring injury at Euro 2024. If called upon, Tierney would make his first Arsenal appearance since the 2023 Community Shield. “Everybody in the squad is fully fit and available to start the game,” said Arteta. “We have Kieran Tierney after a long injury, it’s great news that he’s back, he’s been training with the team and he’s at the level to participate.”

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No matter what life stage you are in, the advice your mother gave you to make sure you can look after yourself rings as true as it did from when you were young until now. No matter your gender, age or status, being financially independent is an achievement worth accomplishing. It also applies to all levels of social income brackets. EDUCATING AND AWARENESS IS THE KEY It doesn’t take a genius or a degree in economics and accountancy to plan and look after your own finances properly. Good habits are essential to managing personal finances and ensuring that you live within your means and that your debt and savings levels are reasonably balanced. “ Sikit-sikit jadi bukit” is a common phrase learnt while young in Malay language class and the phrase itself holds so much meaning when it comes to savings. It can however also be applied to debt that is badly managed. But by cultivating good habits at an early age, good financial habits can last a lifetime and most importantly, lessons need to be taught and practiced at home. PHOTO: FREEPIK PHOTO: FREEPIK PHOTO: FREEPIK GOOD HABITS Cultivate good habits from an early age. For young children, the simple objective of completely filling up a coinbox should be a very important achievement encouraged by parents. Give plenty of praise to children who have managed to save all their coins and make an important event of it by spending time to count their savings with them and bringing them to a bank to deposit their savings. Open accounts for your children instead of mixing their savings with yours – the boundary between who the money belongs to is important for them to understand that the rewards from this account is all theirs. As children grow up and savings grow along with them, remind them not to touch their savings for unnecessary spending. Instead remind them that these savings will help to go towards their future schooling or maybe even their first car when they finally obtain their driving license. Cultivate the lesson that one should save up for the things that one wants. As teenagers, children should be aware of how much they have in their possession and what they would like to do with their savings. Discuss with them and explain the benefits of investing their savings into investment options which are not only safe but also offer higher returns like fixed deposits. Introduce them to the world of investment. Give your children personal achievements to ponder over. What do they intend to do after they finish school or university? Would they like to get a part time job to earn extra money over long school holidays? Would they like to give themselves a one year period to find a job that they are passionate in? Whatever the view, discuss reasonable timelines for your children to achieve their objectives. At this point, your role as a parent is to guide and support their decisions as they transition into adulthood and also find their own ways in life. TAKING RESPONSIBILITY As your children graduate and start searching for careers, give them responsibilities deserving of an adult. And as they begin their jobs, discuss with them the feasibility of them helping out with bills or groceries at home if they continue living at home. It can be small things at first, such as contributing to the household bill payments like monthly TV subscription or the house telephone bill. By giving them the responsibility, they will learn to appreciate the importance of contributing to the household as well as ensuring that bills are paid in a timely manner. By sharing responsibilities, they will also appreciate the roles you have taken in ensuring that they have a comfortable up-bringing. BEING HONEST Be honest with your family on financial matters. Pretending to be better off than you really are benefits no-one, especially your family. If household expenses are becoming burdensome, sit down with your family and discuss on what measures you can all take together as a family to help the situation. Is it a matter of being more energy-conscious to help reduce electricity bills? Is it a matter of everyone pitching in with daily house chores so that you can do without a domestic worker? Will it make more sense to downgrade to a cheaper vehicle to help reduce monthly payments and possible gasoline consumption by using diesel? While it is indeed a worry that you do not wish to impose on your children, by being honest with them, they will be able to appreciate the financial situation more and learn to take up responsibility to help out with family matters. This article is for general information purposes only and while the information in it is believed to be reliable, it has not been independently verified by us. You are advised to exercise your own independent judgement with the contents in this article. – Standard Chartered Bank

Saka stars as Arsenal put five past West Ham to go second - Premier LeagueRiding a 3-game win streak, the Bengals cling to playoff hopes with the Broncos nextMALAGA, Spain (AP) — The last man to face — and beat — Rafael Nadal in professional tennis, 80th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp , converted his 10th match point Friday to finally close out a 6-4, 6-7 (12), 6-3 victory over Daniel Altmaier and help the Netherlands reach its first Davis Cup final by sweeping Germany. Tallon Griekspoor, who is ranked 40th, sealed the 2-0 win for the Dutch in the best-of-three-match semifinal by hitting 25 aces and coming back to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4. When it ended, appropriately, on an ace, Griekspoor shut his eyes, dropped to his knees and spread his arms wide.

( MENAFN - GetNews) With Texas facing another potentially severe winter, the state's power grid is once again under scrutiny. In light of the catastrophic failures during Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and Hurricane Beryl this past summer, residents are increasingly adopting innovative energy solutions to safeguard against outages. Tesla Energy, in partnership with installation leader Vikta Energy, is spearheading efforts to bolster energy resilience and sustainability for Texas homes and businesses. Extreme weather events have become a recurring challenge in Texas. This past summer, Hurricane Beryl left Houston residents without power for nearly two weeks, exposing significant vulnerabilities in the state's unregulated energy grid. As forecasters predict harsh winter conditions, the need for dependable, self-reliant energy systems has never been more urgent. “Texans deserve the security of knowing their homes can weather any storm,” said Angela Zatopek, SVP of Strategic Partnerships at Vikta Energy.“With advanced solar and battery technologies, we can empower homeowners to take control of their power and safeguard their families in the face of grid failures.” Tesla's Role in Creating Resilient Energy Solutions Tesla Energy's suite of products, including the Tesla Solar Roof, Powerwall battery storage, and the Cybertruck Powershare, offers a clean and sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources. These solutions allow homeowners to generate, store, and manage their own electricity, reducing reliance on an often-unreliable grid. Houston residents now have access to Tesla Electric's Virtual Power Plant program, enabling them to sell excess energy back to the grid and contribute to a more stable energy ecosystem. Vikta Energy, Tesla's certified partner, ensures seamless installation and integration of these systems, bringing Tesla's vision of energy independence to life. Addressing Safety and Sustainability The Tesla Powerwall has proven to be a safer alternative to traditional generators, which can pose risks such as carbon monoxide poisoning. Following Hurricane Beryl, Houston saw a concerning rise in generator-related incidents, highlighting the critical need for reliable, non-polluting backup power solutions. The Powerwall provides uninterrupted power during outages, offering peace of mind to families across Texas. A Strategic Shift Toward Renewable Energy Investing in renewable energy is a growing trend among Texans, not only as a safeguard against outages but also as a means to reduce energy costs and environmental impact. Tesla's Solar Roofs and Powerwalls offer long-term solutions that prioritize sustainability and resilience. These systems align with Texas's push toward clean energy while addressing the challenges posed by climate change and infrastructure limitations. “Energy independence is no longer a luxury but a necessity for Texans,” Zatopek added.“We're proud to lead the charge in providing cutting-edge solutions that protect our communities and support a greener future.” MENAFN23122024003238003268ID1109025370 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.Brain injury: Rehab is crucial, but survivors are often forgotten and just left to exist

Army-Navy game has added buzzWarner was 27-of-42 passing for 430 yards and had 294 yards and two TD throws in the first half when the Owls (4-6, 3-5 American Athletic Conference) rolled up 367 yards offense and 19 first downs for a 27-7 lead at the break. Trailing 35-14 with five minutes left, USF quarterback Bryce Archie had to leave the game after taking a late hit. Backup Israel Carter threw two touchdown passes in the final three minutes to cut the lead to seven. Rice recovered an onside kick and got the clock down to 27 seconds on six straight Christian Francisco runs before turning the ball over on downs at the USF 28. A final hook-and-lateral play loaded with laterals went deep into Rice territory but was nullified in any case by a penalty. Rice’s Matt Sykes had 118 yards receiving and Dean Connors 91 yards and a score. The other TD passes went to Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman and Drayden Dickmann. Archie was 19 of 35 for 227 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception for USF (6-6, 4-4). Sean Atkins with 110 went over 2,000 career receiving yards and Keshaun Singleton had 107 yards receiving with a score. USF came in having four of its last five games but was outgained by Rice 550-431. With the game tied at 7-all, Quinton Jackson scored on a 12-yard run three plays after Francisco returned a kickoff 45 yards to the USF 38. Tim Horn added a field goal in the final minute of the first quarter for a 17-7 lead after Josh Pearcy recovered a fumble in USF territory. Connors’ 23-yard scoring reception and another field goal with 12 seconds left in the half made it a 20-point lead. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?3D Metrology Market Is Booming Worldwide 2024-2031 11-21-2024 07:31 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: SkyQuest Technology 3D Metrology Market Global 3D Metrology Market size was valued at USD 8.68 billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 9.28 billion in 2023 to USD 15.82 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period (2024-2031). The Research report on 3D Metrology Market presents a complete judgment of the market through strategic insights on future trends, growth factors, supplier landscape, demand landscape, Y-o-Y growth rate, CAGR, pricing analysis. It also provides and a lot of business matrices including Porters Five Forces Analysis, PESTLE Analysis, Value Chain Analysis, 4 Ps' Analysis, Market Attractiveness Analysis, BPS Analysis, Ecosystem Analysis. Request for Sample Copy of this Global 3D Metrology Market: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/3d-metrology-market Segmental Analysis Component Hardware, Software, Services [After-sales Services, Software-as-a-service, Storage-as-a-service, Measurement Services] End User Automotive [Automotive Design and Styling, Pilot Plant Metrology, Automotive Component Inspection, Others], Aerospace & Defence [Aircraft Components, Defense, Space Exploration], Medical [Orthopedics and Prosthetics, Medical Devices, Dental], Heavy Machinery, Construction & Engineering, Energy & Power [Turbines, Solar Panels], Mining, Other Industries Application Quality control & inspection, Reverse engineering, Virtual simulation, 3D scanning Product Type ODS [3D Laser Scanner, Structured Light Scanner, Laser Tracker], CMM [Bridge CMM, Gantry CMM, Horizontal Arm CMM, Cantilever CMM, Articulated Arm CMM], VMM [Vision System, Measuring Microscope, Optical Comparator, Multi-sensor Measuring System], 3D Automated Optical Inspection System, Form measurement, Others Market Dynamics 3D Metrology Market Drivers Increase in R&D to Bolster Market Growth Around the world, there have been more investments made in the R&D sector to create innovative metrology products and solutions. Rapid technical change is being caused by ongoing R&D in the electronics industry. Additionally, these sectors have developed new tools for precise management and inspection in order to boost efficiency and fulfil rising demand. The market is expected to increase as a result of these factors. The market for 3D metrology will also be greatly influenced by the expanding usage of 3D data for modelling and analysis across numerous industries, as well as by the strong demand for big data analysis. As industries strive for higher levels of quality assurance, 3D metrology plays a crucial role in ensuring precise and accurate measurements. Industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and manufacturing require stringent quality standards to meet customer expectations and regulatory requirements. 3D metrology enables comprehensive and detailed measurement analysis, helping organizations maintain quality control and improve product reliability. Want to customize this report? Ask here : https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/3d-metrology-market By Regions and Countries o North America o Europe o Asia-Pacific o South America o Middle East & Africa Following are the players analyzed in the report • Hexagon AB (Sweden) • Zeiss Group (Germany) • Faro Technologies, Inc. (United States) • Nikon Metrology NV (Belgium) • Renishaw plc (United Kingdom) • Keyence Corporation (Japan) • Mitutoyo Corporation (Japan) • Automated Precision Inc. (United States) • Jenoptik AG (Germany) • WENZEL Group GmbH & Co. KG (Germany) • ZEISS Industrial Metrology (Germany) • Carl Zeiss Optotechnik GmbH (Germany) • KLA Corporation (United States) • Bruker Corporation (United States) • Trimble Inc. (United States) • 3D Systems Corporation (United States) • Cognex Corporation (United States) • AMETEK, Inc. (United States) • Zebra Technologies Corporation (United States) • Surphaser (United States) View report summary and Table of Contents (TOC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/3d-metrology-market The research provides answers to the following key questions: • What is the estimated growth rate of the market for the forecast period 2024-2031? What will be the market size during the estimated period? • What are the key driving forces responsible for shaping the fate of the 3D Metrology Market during the forecast period? • Who are the major market vendors and what are the winning strategies that have helped them occupy a strong foothold in the 3D Metrology Market? • What are the prominent market trends influencing the development of the 3D Metrology Market across different regions? • What are the major threats and challenges likely to act as a barrier in the growth of the 3D Metrology Market? • What are the major opportunities the market leaders can rely on to gain success and profitability? About Us: SkyQuest is an IP focused Research and Investment Bank and Accelerator of Technology and assets. We provide access to technologies, markets and finance across sectors viz. Life Sciences, CleanTech, AgriTech, NanoTech and Information & Communication Technology. We work closely with innovators, inventors, innovation seekers, entrepreneurs, companies and investors alike in leveraging external sources of R&D. Moreover, we help them in optimizing the economic potential of their intellectual assets. Our experiences with innovation management and commercialization has expanded our reach across North America, Europe, ASEAN and Asia Pacific. Contact: Mr. Jagraj Singh Skyquest Technology 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 USA (!) 351-333-4748 Visit Our Website: https://www.skyquestt.com/ This release was published on openPR.As we age, our cognitive and motor functions degrade, reducing our independence and overall quality of life. Research efforts to mitigate or perhaps eliminate this have resulted in technologies that hold a lot of promise. Now, scientists led by Friedhelm Hummel at EPFL have identified an important factor affecting an individual’s responsiveness to atDCS. The team looked at how native learning abilities determine the effect of brain stimulation applied while learning a motor task. Their findings suggest that individuals with less efficient learning mechanisms benefit more from stimulation, while those with optimal learning strategies might experience negative effects. Among these is non-invasive brain stimulation: a term encompassing a set of techniques that can affect brain functions externally and noninvasively, without the need for surgery or implants. One such promising technique, in particular, is anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS), which uses a constant, low electrical current delivered via electrodes on the scalp to modulate neuronal activity. However, studies exploring atDCS have produced inconsistent results, which has prompted researchers to explore why some people benefit from atDCS while others don’t. The problem seems to lie in our understanding of factors that may influence responsiveness to brain stimulation, leading to responders and non-responders; among these, age has been suggested as one important factor. Some studies suggest further factors such as baseline behavioural abilities and previous training might be important considerations, but an interplay of these factors with behaviour has not been determined in detail, pointing to the need of refined predictive models of the effects of atDCS. The researchers recruited 40 participants: 20 middle-aged adults (50-65 years old) and 20 older adults (over 65). Each group was further divided into those receiving active atDCS and those receiving placebo stimulation. Over ten days, participants practised a finger-tapping task designed to study motor sequence learning at home while receiving atDCS. The task involved replicating a numerical sequence using a keypad, trying to be as fast and as accurate as possible. The team then used a machine-learning model trained on a public dataset to classify participants as either “optimal” or “suboptimal” learners, based on their initial performance. This model aimed to predict who would benefit from atDCS, based on their ability to integrate information about the task efficiently early during training. The study found that suboptimal learners, who were seemingly less efficient at internalizing the task at the early stages of learning, experienced an accelerated accuracy improvement while performing the task when receiving atDCS. This effect was not limited to people of a certain age (e.g., older adults), with suboptimal learners being found among younger individuals as well. In contrast, participants with optimal learning strategies, regardless of age, even showed a negative trend in performance when receiving atDCS. This difference suggests that brain stimulation is more beneficial for individuals who initially struggle with motor tasks. As such, atDCS seems to possess a restorative rather than an enhancing quality, with important implications for rehabilitation. “By leveraging different methods in Machine learning, we were able to untangle the influence of different factors on the individual effects of brain stimulation,” said Pablo Maceira, the study’s first author. “This will pave the way to maximize the effects of brain stimulation in individual subjects and patients.” The study implies that, in the long run, personalized brain stimulation protocols will be developed to maximize benefits based on an individual’s specific needs, rather than a common trait such as age. This approach could lead to more effective brain stimulation-based interventions, targeting specific mechanisms supporting learning, especially in the view of neurorehabilitation, for which the main basis is the re-learning of lost skills due to a brain lesion (e.g., after a stroke or a traumatic brain injury). “In the future, clinicians could apply a more advanced version of our algorithm to determine whether a patient will benefit from a brain stimulation-based therapy, to enhance the effects of neurorehabilitation and personalize treatment,” said Hummel. (With inputs from ANI)

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Jimmy Carter was respectively known as St Jimmy - universally revered for his good deeds in the poorest countries in the world and for the impeccable moral probity of his character, writes JONATHAN AITKENOriginal 'YMCA' Singer Explains Why He Let Trump Use the Song, Answers 'Gay Anthem' ClaimsJEFFERSON CITY — Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe has chosen Maj. Michael A. Turner to serve as the next superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The appointment, which is subject to Missouri Senate confirmation, would become effective on Feb. 1. Turner succeeds Col. Eric Olson, a 34-year veteran of the highway patrol who announced his retirement Thursday. “My administration is ready to get to work on improving safety and security in our communities, and I look forward to Major Turner and our MSHP troopers playing a large role in that effort,” Kehoe said in a news release. Turner currently serves as commander of the highway patrol’s Field Operations Bureau. He has direct oversight responsibility for all nine troops, the Aircraft Division, and the Water Patrol Division. “I’m humbled to receive this appointment and look forward to working with Governor-Elect Kehoe and incoming DPS Director James to take care of our troopers on the road, enforce laws to improve public safety, and strengthen the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s distinguished reputation as the state’s premiere law enforcement agency,” Turner said in a statement. Turner joined the highway patrol on Jan. 1, 1996. He was born in Texas and grew up in Kansas City.Judge denies Musk $56 billion Tesla compensation package

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King Charles has turned heads earlier this week as he sported a pair of previously banned satin breeches to an event at Buckingham Palace. The breeches, steeped in royal tradition, had been a topic of debate leading up to his coronation last year. Ultimately, the King opted for a more modernised pair of Royal Navy trousers for the historic ceremony. However, on Tuesday, he finally donned the ceremonial outfit, which boasts a storied lineage. Accompanied by Queen Camilla, Charles paired the breeches with black silk stockings and bespoke shoes crafted for his coronation by Tony Gaziano of Gaziano & Girling. The shoes, described as black opera pumps with a "family buckle", were made by the Kettering-based company, whose founder noted the King’s "delicate" feet during the fitting process. The satin breeches hold deep historical significance, having been worn by Charles’s grandfather, King George VI, as well as great-grandfather King George V and great-great-grandfather King Edward VII at their coronation ceremonies. In a nod to royal tradition, Charles, 76, also wore a garter on his left leg inscribed with the Order of the Garter’s motto, "Honi soit qui mal y pense", meaning "shame on he who thinks ill of it". Queen Camilla, 77, complemented the occasion by wearing a velvet blue gown and a sentimental piece from the late Queen Elizabeth’s collection, a diamond and aquamarine tiara previously seen on Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Camilla paired it with matching aquamarine earrings and a necklace, as well as the King’s family order displayed on a royal blue sash. In a nod to Charles’ passion for sustainability, his likeness is believed to be painted on polymin, rather than ivory. The Diplomatic Corps reception, one of the largest annual events at Buckingham Palace , welcomed approximately 1,000 guests. Invitations were extended to ambassadors, high commissioners, past prime ministers, and other notable public figures. This year’s reception was moved to November to avoid clashing with the Emir of Qatar’s state visit in December. Prince William attended the event alongside his father and stepmother, looking dashing in a black suit and trousers as he mingled with guests. Absent from the event was Princess Catherine, who is gradually resuming royal duties after completing chemotherapy in October. The Duchess of Wales made a public appearance at Remembrance Sunday earlier this month and is reportedly preparing for her Together at Christmas carol service on December 6. This year’s carol service is themed around the Christmas story, which "encourages us to consider the experiences of others and the important human need of giving and receiving empathy."Players Era Festival organizers betting big NIL is future of college tourneysKey posts 4.20am In pictures: Seoul descends into chaos after martial law declaration 3.52am Yoon Suk Yeol says martial law declaration will be lifted 3.32am Martial law declared in South Korea, sparking chaos Hide key posts Posts area Latest 1 of 1 Go to latest Pinned post from 3.32am Martial law declared in South Korea, sparking chaos By Riley Walter On Tuesday night, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, sending the capital, Seoul, into chaos. Here’s what you need to know: Yoon made the declaration, vowing to eradicate “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces” and said he had no choice but to take the measure to safeguard constitutional order. The country’s National Assembly passed a motion to have the martial law declaration lifted, but it will remain in place until Yoon complies with the vote. Just before 5am local time (7am AEDT), Yoon announced that he would move to lift the martial law declaration at a cabinet meeting “as soon as members arrive”. Tuesday’s move was the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared in South Korea. Under martial law, South Korea’s military has the authority to suspend parliament and political activities and arrest those protesting the declaration. Shortly after Yoon’s announcement, made on live television, troops enforcing martial law swarmed the National Assembly building in Seoul as protesters gathered outside calling for the declaration to be lifted and for the president to be arrested. The United States is closely monitoring the situation and in contact with the South Korean government, a White House spokesperson said. Read our full story here . Latest posts Latest posts 4.45am Australians in South Korea warned to stay away from mass gatherings By Josefine Ganko Australians in South Korea should stay away from mass gatherings and listen to official advice amid the unfolding political crisis, says Finance Minister Katy Gallagher. Gallagher told ABC News Breakfast there was lots of “uncertainty” around President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, which was walked back early this morning. People gathered outside the National Assembly building in Seoul protesting the martial law declaration. Credit: Getty Images She said the government had been briefed by the relevant agencies. “I think that the best message that we can give on this unfolding situation is for any Australians in South Korea to really listen to official advice and stay away from some of the mass gatherings as we continue to get across and understand the full implications of what’s happened overnight.” 4.20am In pictures: Seoul descends into chaos after martial law declaration By Riley Walter The first declaration of martial law in South Korea in almost 50 years sparked chaos in the country’s capital, Seoul, as thousands gathered to protest the move outside parliament and troops descended on the National Assembly building. Footage captured by a South Korean media outlet, OhmyTV, shows a woman tussling with a soldier as she attempts to take his gun before being pushed aside. South Korean troops try to enter the National Assembly building. Credit: Getty Images Other footage circulating online shows troops smashing windows of the National Assembly building to gain access after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration. 3.52am Yoon Suk Yeol says martial law declaration will be lifted By Riley Walter South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says he will soon move to lift the martial law declaration imposed on Tuesday night, honouring a parliamentary vote against the measure. Yoon said his government had withdrawn military personnel that had been deployed, and that he would formally lift martial law following a cabinet meeting “as soon as members arrive”. It is just before 5am local time in Seoul, South Korea’s capital. Yoon declared martial law on Tuesday to thwart “anti-state forces” among his opponents. But outraged MPs rejected the decree, as protesters gathered outside parliament in the country’s biggest political crisis in decades. Protesters gathered outside the National Assembly building in Seoul after the martial law declaration. Credit: AP Yoon’s surprise declaration, which he cast as aimed at his political foes, was unanimously voted down by 190 MPs. Under South Korean law, the president must immediately lift martial law if parliament demands it by a majority vote. His own party urged him to lift the decree. The crisis in a country that has been a democracy since the 1980s, and is a US ally and major Asian economy, caused international alarm. Reuters, AP Advertisement 3.49am Why South Korea matters By Chris Zappone South Korea has hosted US troops since the cessation of fighting at the end of the Korean War in 1953. The conflict, which saw North Korea fight for control of the peninsula with South Korea, was a central event of the Cold War (the geopolitical situation which lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.) South Korea has transitioned from that time from an authoritarian nation to a liberal democracy with a rising standard of living. Its economy transformed from agriculture to high technology and exports, although like other nations, standards of living have struggled in recent years. The ceasefire in the Korean War, which has held since 1953, sees North Korea and South Korea in a state of continual tension – with Pyongyang frequently testing the resolve of Seoul with rocket launches and threats. South Korea hosts approximately 28,000 US troops. North Korea, led by Kim Jong-un, is a Stalinist authoritarian regime. In recent years, it has grown closer to Russia with which it shares a border. South Korea along with Japan are key allies in the US-led security alliance in Asia, a grouping which has been pressured by the rise of China. For this reason, any sudden political shocks within South Korea are watched carefully. 3.34am President Yoon hints at North Korean role By Chris Zappone In South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s speech declaring martial law, he accused the opposition of trying to paralyse the administration and then invoked the threat from North Korea. “I am declaring a state of emergency martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threats of the North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the shameless pro-North anti-state forces that plunder the freedom and happiness of our people and to safeguard the free constitutional order. “Through this state of emergency martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the abyss of national ruin. “To this end, I will definitely eradicate the root causes of national ruin and the anti-state forces that have persistently engaged in malicious conduct.” South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night. Credit: AP 3.33am US says it is watching events in South Korea with grave concern US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the United States was watching events in US ally South Korea with “grave concern” and had every hope and expectation that any political disputes would be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law. Campbell spoke at an event at the US State Department after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in a surprise late-night TV address earlier on Tuesday, creating the most serious challenge to South Korea’s democracy since the 1980s. “We are watching the recent developments in ROK with grave concern,” Campbell said, using the acronym for Republic of Korea. “We’re seeking to engage our (South Korean) counterparts at every level, both here and in Seoul.” Campbell said President Joe Biden, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were being kept appraised of the situation as it developed. He stressed that the US alliance with South Korea was “ironclad” and added: “We stand by Korea in their time of uncertainty. I also want to just underscore that we have every hope and expectation that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.” Reuters Advertisement 3.32am Martial law declared in South Korea, sparking chaos By Riley Walter On Tuesday night, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, sending the capital, Seoul, into chaos. Here’s what you need to know: Yoon made the declaration, vowing to eradicate “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces” and said he had no choice but to take the measure to safeguard constitutional order. The country’s National Assembly passed a motion to have the martial law declaration lifted, but it will remain in place until Yoon complies with the vote. Just before 5am local time (7am AEDT), Yoon announced that he would move to lift the martial law declaration at a cabinet meeting “as soon as members arrive”. Tuesday’s move was the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared in South Korea. Under martial law, South Korea’s military has the authority to suspend parliament and political activities and arrest those protesting the declaration. Shortly after Yoon’s announcement, made on live television, troops enforcing martial law swarmed the National Assembly building in Seoul as protesters gathered outside calling for the declaration to be lifted and for the president to be arrested. The United States is closely monitoring the situation and in contact with the South Korean government, a White House spokesperson said. Read our full story here . Latest 1 of 1 Latest Most Viewed in World Loading

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MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Amarion Dickerson had 27 points and 15 rebounds to help Robert Morris hold off Northern Kentucky 97-93 in triple overtime on Sunday. Dickerson blocked five shots and had three steals for the Colonials (9-5, 1-2 Horizon League). Sophomore Alvaro Folgueiras scored 21 points and added a career-high 19 rebounds and six assists. DJ Smith had 13 points. The Norse (7-7, 2-1) were led by LJ Wells, who finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and two steals. Northern Kentucky also got 17 points and six rebounds from Trey Robinson. Randall Pettus II had 17 points. The Norse saw a five-game win streak come to an end. Dickerson's dunk gave Robert Morris a 94-92 lead with 26 seconds left in the third OT. Dilen Miller made two free throws with 3 seconds left to wrap up the victory. Josh Dilling made the second of two free throws with 8 seconds left for the Norse, forcing a second OT tied at 80. Wells hit a 3-pointer with 2:05 left and neither team scored after that, forcing the third OT tied at 86. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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In a surprise twist, the first domino to fall in ‘s free agency wasn’t a top option like Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes or Alex Bregman. Instead, it was . Kikuchi became the first big signing of the off-season when he agreed to a three-year deal worth $63 million (U.S.) with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday morning. The contract, , is pending a physical and has yet to be officially announced. The 33-year-old Kikuchi is set to cash in following a career season with the Jays and Houston Astros. He was one of the top pitchers available at this year’s trade deadline and his stock soared after he produced a . The contract was close to what had been predicted. At the start of the off-season, , while . The contract will carry Kikuchi through his age-36 season. When the Jays began shopping Kikuchi in mid-July there was speculation they would attempt to re-sign him during the off-season. At the time, right-hander Alek Manoah half-jokingly told him, “Hey, go get us a couple prospects and then come back in the free agency.” The first part of that statement came to fruition on July 30, when for promising righty Jake Bloss, infielder Will Wagner and outfielder Joey Loperfido. Bloss immediately became one of the Jays’ top pitching prospects, while and Loperfido offers upside off the bench. As we wait for the Jays and the rest of Major League Baseball to make moves this off-season, Gregor Chisholm answers readers’ questions. As we wait for the Jays and the rest of Major League Baseball to make moves this off-season, Gregor Chisholm answers readers’ questions. However, the second part never gained much traction. The Jays have been linked to other prominent free-agent pitchers this winter, but there was hardly any talk about Kikuchi. It wasn’t immediately known if he received an offer from his former team. If he did, the one from the Angels was apparently much better. Where this leaves the Jays isn’t clear. While general manager Ross Atkins reportedly has interest in Max Fried, the Atlanta Braves lefty isn’t going to be cheap. The 30-year-old has been projected by MLB Trade Rumors to sign a six-year deal worth $156 million. Burnes, Blake Snell and are the other starters at the top end of the market. If the Jays miss out on that group, they could turn their attention to the likes of Jack Flaherty, Sean Manaea, Nathan Eovaldi and Walker Buehler. It’s also possible they will look to save money by targeting a lesser known starter, or forgoing that market entirely to focus on offence. The Jays have four of their five starting rotation jobs accounted for. José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and Bowden Francis all figure to be back, while swingman Yariel Rodríguez remains an option for the final spot. If Atkins adds a starter, Rodríguez would move to the bullpen. Team president Mark Shapiro has said the Jays are . In 2024, they had an estimated opening day payroll of about $225 million. After rather than paying him a projected $7.75 million through arbitration, the Jays are on track for $181 million. Jays GM Ross Atkins didn’t make reliever Jordan Romano an offer by Friday’s deadline, making the former all-star a free agent. Jays GM Ross Atkins didn’t make reliever Jordan Romano an offer by Friday’s deadline, making the former all-star a free agent. That means there should be about $44 million to spend, but the Jays are also more than $65 million below the second competitive balance tax apron, creating additional flexibility. In 2024, they had a tax payroll — the annual average of all fees for players on the 40-man roster — of $237 million. That number currently sits at $194.5 million. Kikuchi’s signing could be an indication that MLB’s free agency is gaining steam. Another few deals should trickle out before teams take a break on Thursday for American Thanksgiving. Next week figures to bring even more action, as clubs prepare to converge in Texas for the annual winter meetings from Dec. 9 to 12. There’s no denying Kikuchi would have been welcomed back to Toronto with open arms. During his three years, he became a favourite among teammates and the coaching staff. He also deserves credit for turning his career around after being dubbed a flop with a 5.19 ERA in his initial run. Re-signing Kikuchi would have been an undeniable upgrade, but it would have taken up about half their off-season budget. With multiple upgrades required in the everyday lineup, that money can and should be put to better use. Kikuchi got what he needed by securing a lucrative multi-year deal. The Jays got what they wanted by using his expiring contract to increase their minor-league depth. The much-talked about reunion didn’t come to fruition, but this was still a win-win for everyone involved.

By Lawrence Delevingne and Carolina Mandl BOSTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) -As a money manager, Scott Bessent's years of inconsistent performance have contributed to a nearly 90% decline in his hedge fund's assets. Now, with other business lines expanding, he has scored on perhaps his biggest bet yet: President-elect Donald Trump. Bessent spotted what he called an anomaly in the market: that political and market analysts were too negative on what a Trump victory would mean, according to a letter to clients in January seen by Reuters. His Key Square Capital Management put on bets that U.S. stocks and the dollar would gain, helping earn a double-digit percentage profit so far in 2024, with November as its best month, according to a person familiar with the situation. Bessent's even bigger wager and apparently win is on Trump, the future president. He's been a donor, economic adviser and booster on TV to Trump. On Friday night, news broke that Bessent was Trump's pick to be Treasury Secretary. "Scott is widely respected as one of the World’s foremost International Investors and Geopolitical and Economic Strategists," Trump wrote on Truth Social. A representative for Bessent did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the nomination. Trump has talked Bessent up as “one of the most brilliant men on Wall Street." While parts of Bessent's business have expanded, such as advising other family offices and money managers, details of his fund's performance, reported here for the first time, show a mixed track record in the decade since he launched his own hedge fund firm. Ted Seides, the former president of Protege Partners, an investment firm where Bessent earned strong returns in the late 2000s, told Reuters that Bessent's track record should be taken in the context of macro investing, where big profits can be followed by less attractive returns. So-called macro hedge funds bet on global macroeconomic trends and are not open to retail investors. "If you only look at the part of a track record with lean years, it’s like saying Aaron Judge struck out a lot last year," Seides said, referring the baseball star known for hitting home runs. "But he was just named MVP." Bessent has long been considered a top contender to run Treasury and his candidacy in the hotly-contested role has heightened interest in the fund manager. If he were to take a job in the new administration, Key Square could be wound down, sold, or put in "sleep mode," according to the same person. BIG START Bessent, who grew up in a small town in South Carolina and went to Yale College before landing on Wall Street, started Key Square in late 2015. The firm quickly raised $4.5 billion - then one of the largest hedge fund launches in history. That included $2 billion from famed macroeconomic investor George Soros, for whom Bessent had helped earn billions of dollars over two stints at Soros Fund Management. Key Square's main fund returns surged 13% in its first year, 2016, according to a second person familiar with the firm. That year, it gained on correctly predicting the British pound's decline around "Brexit," a vote for Britain to leave the European Union, according to the first person familiar with the situation. Later, Key Square made money when Bessent correctly anticipated a U.S. stock and dollar rally when Donald Trump was elected that November, according to the first person. But Key Square lost 7% in 2017, and then lost money or just broke even from 2018 to 2021, according to the second person and performance disclosures from one of its investors, New York City Police Pension Fund. The hedge fund gained double digits in both 2023 and 2024 and is up "double digits" over its history, according to the second person. That uneven performance appears to have scared away some clients. Assets under management shrank from a peak of around $5.1 billion at the end of 2017 to $577 million as of December 2023, while the number of institutional investors fell from 180 in December 2017 to 20 by the end of 2023, according to regulatory disclosures tracked by Convergence Inc. While Key Square's hedge fund assets have declined, it has other business lines that have expanded, including providing investment ideas to other money managers, with up to $1 billion to draw from and invest for a large macro investment firm; an advisory business for family offices, foundations and endowments, including one client with $11 billion in assets; and fees from a spin-out firm, $3.4 billion Ghisallo Capital, part of Key Square's incubation business, according to the two people familiar with the firm and regulatory filings. It also has plans to launch an ETF, according to a recent securities filing. Soros took back most of his capital in 2018, per a previous agreement with Bessent to return the money, according to a third source familiar with the matter. Soros no longer has any money managed by Bessent, according to the third person. The two men have not spoken since 2016, Bessent said in a recent interview with Trump ally Roger Stone. Other large clients who no longer have money with Key Square include Australia's Future Fund, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, and the New York City Police and Fire pension funds, according to public records and regulatory disclosures. One large hedge fund allocator told Reuters that they pulled their money several years ago from Key Square because the returns had been “too inconsistent.” Another large Key Square investor withdrew from the hedge fund last year because of Bessent’s support of Trump, according to the second person familiar with the firm. The University of California redeemed its assets from Key Square amid a broader pull back from using hedge funds, but Bessent has remained "deep source of knowledge for us," chief investment officer, Jagdeep Singh Bachher, told Reuters via email. Another longtime client to stick with Key Square is Brevan Howard Asset Management, the $34 billion macro hedge fund manager co-founded by British billionaire Alan Howard. "Scott is one of the best macro investors in the world," a spokesperson for Brevan Howard said via email. "His understanding of markets, public policy, and the global economy is largely unmatched." Semafor previously reported that selective Key Square performance numbers were being shared around Wall Street chats as Bessent competed for the coveted post of U.S. Treasury Secretary. The report did not reveal the numbers shared. POLITICAL BET Bessent contributed to Trump’s inauguration following his 2016 election win. He was more involved during the 2024 election cycle, serving as an economic adviser to the campaign in addition to being a top fundraiser. Since the election, he has made TV appearances and written opinion pieces in support of Trump's proposed economic agenda. “I was all in for President Trump. I was one of the few Wall Street people backing him,” Bessent recent said in the interview with Stone. In January this year, Bessent predicted a “Trump Rally” in stocks as long as the Republican remained ahead in the election polls. “We are expecting an upward trajectory in the U.S. equity markets,” he wrote in the letter to Key Square clients. “Barring (President Joe) Biden pulling ahead in substantial fashion, all pullbacks should be bought.” (Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne in Boston and Carolina Mandl in New York; editing by Paritosh Bansal, Megan Davies, Deepa Babington and Diane Craft)

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Cruise into this holiday season with a non-traditional vacationWith Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fightslots help 。

Black Friday might have already been a week ago, but the deals at Amazon are still going strong. A number of Black Friday deals have now rolled over into Amazon’s holiday deals , including this $250 markdown on the Breville the Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine . If you can’t make it through the holidays without one cup (or 10) of espresso, you’ll want to grab this Breville machine while it is still marked down by 28%. It is the lowest price this espresso machine has ever sold for and we don’t anticipate it getting any cheaper ahead of the holidays. This Breville has a smart dosing and precision measurement system that calculates and adjusts the level of fresh coffee required for the perfect cup every time, which takes the guesswork out of making espresso. You’ll feel like you’re actually at a boutique coffee shop being served by a professional, thanks to The Barsita’s assisted tamping feature, which has a 7-degree “barista twist” finish and 10kg of pressure to give it that polished puck surface and a clean tamp face. There are 25 grind settings and a Thermocoil heating system with PID control to precision control the temperature, flow rate, and contact time when brewing a cup of coffee. And of course, it comes with a built-in microform steam wand, which allows you to hand texture microfoam milk, enhancing the look and taste of your cup, essential for latte art This isn’t the only Breville deal we’re still seeing in stock. Amazon also has a markdown on the Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS Espresso Machine for $800, instead of $1,000, which was a top seller this past October Prime Day . Get the Breville the Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine for $650, instead of $900 while it is in stock at Amazon today. Coffee maker & espresso machine deals at Amazon Breville BES870XL Espresso Machine for $550, instead of $750 PHILIPS 3300 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine for $500, instead of $650 KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine for $900, instead of $1,200 Keurig K-Express Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker for $60, instead of $90 Ninja Drip Coffee Maker With K Cup Combo for $125, instead of $230 Cuisinart Coffee Maker, 14-Cup Glass Carafe for $70, instead of $100 Philips 1200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine for $329, instead of $499 The Best Cyber Monday & Leftover Black Friday Deals UGG has these 8 Black Friday deals still in stock, with up to 30% off the Ultra Mini Platform The Dyson V7 is currently 50% off and the cheapest cordless vacuum on sale at Dyson right now Walmart has this Blackstone griddle on sale for under $200 in a leftover Cyber Monday deal Alo Yoga extended its Black Friday sale for 1 more day, get leggings for as cheap as $54 11 Travel Tuesday 2024 deals from Expedia, Marriott, Priceline and more you can book now before they’re gone Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .By Noam N. Levey, KFF Health News Worried that President-elect Donald Trump will curtail federal efforts to take on the nation’s medical debt problem, patient and consumer advocates are looking to states to help people who can’t afford their medical bills or pay down their debts. “The election simply shifts our focus,” said Eva Stahl, who oversees public policy at Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has worked closely with the Biden administration and state leaders on medical debt. “States are going to be the epicenter of policy change to mitigate the harms of medical debt.” New state initiatives may not be enough to protect Americans from medical debt if the incoming Trump administration and congressional Republicans move forward with plans to scale back federal aid that has helped millions gain health insurance or reduce the cost of their plans in recent years. Comprehensive health coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs remains the best defense against medical debt. But in the face of federal retrenchment, advocates are eyeing new initiatives in state legislatures to keep medical bills off people’s credit reports, a consumer protection that can boost credit scores and make it easier to buy a car, rent an apartment, or even get a job. Several states are looking to strengthen oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products that can leave patients paying high interest rates on top of their medical debt. Some states are also exploring new ways to compel hospitals to bolster financial aid programs to help their patients avoid sinking into debt. “There’s an enormous amount that states can do,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, who leads health care initiatives at the nonprofit Community Service Society of New York. “Look at what’s happened here.” New York state has enacted several laws in recent years to rein in hospital debt collections and to expand financial aid for patients, often with support from both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature. “It doesn’t matter the party. No one likes medical debt,” Benjamin said. Other states that have enacted protections in recent years include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Many measures picked up bipartisan support. President Joe Biden’s administration has proved to be an ally in state efforts to control health care debt. Such debt burdens 100 million people in the United States, a KFF Health News investigation found . Led by Biden appointee Rohit Chopra, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made medical debt a priority , going after aggressive collectors and exposing problematic practices across the medical debt industry. Earlier this year, the agency proposed landmark regulations to remove medical bills from consumer credit scores. The White House also championed legislation to boost access to government-subsidized health insurance and to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, both key bulwarks against medical debt. Trump hasn’t indicated whether his administration will move ahead with the CFPB credit reporting rule, which was slated to be finalized early next year. Congressional Republicans, who will control the House and Senate next year, have blasted the proposal as regulatory overreach that will compromise the value of credit reports. And Elon Musk, the billionaire whom Trump has tapped to lead his initiative to shrink government, last week called for the elimination of the watchdog agency . “Delete CFPB,” Musk posted on X. If the CFPB withdraws the proposed regulation, states could enact their own rules, following the lead of Colorado, New York, and other states that have passed credit reporting bans since 2023. Advocates in Massachusetts are pushing the legislature there to take up a ban when it reconvenes in January. “There are a lot of different levers that states have to take on medical debt,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, which has helped lead national efforts to expand debt protections for patients. Kuehnhoff said she expects more states to crack down on medical credit card providers and other companies that lend money to patients to pay off medical bills, sometimes at double-digit interest rates. Under the Biden administration, the CFPB has been investigating patient financing companies amid warnings that many people may not understand that signing up for a medical credit card such as CareCredit or enrolling in a payment plan through a financial services company can pile on more debt. If the CFPB efforts stall under Trump, states could follow the lead of California, New York, and Illinois, which have all tightened rules governing patient lending in recent years. Consumer advocates say states are also likely to continue expanding efforts to get hospitals to provide more financial assistance to reduce or eliminate bills for low- and middle-income patients, a key protection that can keep people from slipping into debt. Hospitals historically have not made this aid readily available, prompting states such as California, Colorado, and Washington to set stronger standards to ensure more patients get help with bills they can’t afford. This year, North Carolina also won approval from the Biden administration to withhold federal funding from hospitals in the state unless they agreed to expand financial assistance. In Georgia, where state government is entirely in Republican control, officials have been discussing new measures to get hospitals to provide more assistance to patients. “When we talk about hospitals putting profits over patients, we get lots of nodding in the legislature from Democrats and Republicans,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy nonprofit. Many advocates caution, however, that state efforts to bolster patient protections will be critically undermined if the Trump administration cuts federal funding for health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the insurance marketplaces established through the Affordable Care Act. Trump and congressional Republicans have signaled their intent to roll back federal subsidies passed under Biden that make health plans purchased on ACA marketplaces more affordable. That could hike annual premiums by hundreds or even thousands of dollars for many enrollees, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank. And during Trump’s first term, he backed efforts in Republican-led states to restrict enrollment in their Medicaid safety net programs through rules that would require people to work in order to receive benefits. GOP state leaders in Idaho, Louisiana, and other states have expressed a desire to renew such efforts. “That’s all a recipe for more medical debt,” said Stahl, of Undue Medical Debt. Jessica Altman, who heads the Covered California insurance marketplace, warned that federal cuts will imperil initiatives in her state that have limited copays and deductibles and curtailed debt for many state residents. “States like California that have invested in critical affordable programs for our residents will face tough decisions,” she said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.By Noam N. Levey, KFF Health News Worried that President-elect Donald Trump will curtail federal efforts to take on the nation’s medical debt problem, patient and consumer advocates are looking to states to help people who can’t afford their medical bills or pay down their debts. “The election simply shifts our focus,” said Eva Stahl, who oversees public policy at Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has worked closely with the Biden administration and state leaders on medical debt. “States are going to be the epicenter of policy change to mitigate the harms of medical debt.” New state initiatives may not be enough to protect Americans from medical debt if the incoming Trump administration and congressional Republicans move forward with plans to scale back federal aid that has helped millions gain health insurance or reduce the cost of their plans in recent years. Comprehensive health coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs remains the best defense against medical debt. But in the face of federal retrenchment, advocates are eyeing new initiatives in state legislatures to keep medical bills off people’s credit reports, a consumer protection that can boost credit scores and make it easier to buy a car, rent an apartment, or even get a job. Several states are looking to strengthen oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products that can leave patients paying high interest rates on top of their medical debt. Some states are also exploring new ways to compel hospitals to bolster financial aid programs to help their patients avoid sinking into debt. “There’s an enormous amount that states can do,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, who leads health care initiatives at the nonprofit Community Service Society of New York. “Look at what’s happened here.” New York state has enacted several laws in recent years to rein in hospital debt collections and to expand financial aid for patients, often with support from both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature. “It doesn’t matter the party. No one likes medical debt,” Benjamin said. Other states that have enacted protections in recent years include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Many measures picked up bipartisan support. President Joe Biden’s administration has proved to be an ally in state efforts to control health care debt. Such debt burdens 100 million people in the United States, a KFF Health News investigation found . Led by Biden appointee Rohit Chopra, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made medical debt a priority , going after aggressive collectors and exposing problematic practices across the medical debt industry. Earlier this year, the agency proposed landmark regulations to remove medical bills from consumer credit scores. The White House also championed legislation to boost access to government-subsidized health insurance and to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, both key bulwarks against medical debt. Trump hasn’t indicated whether his administration will move ahead with the CFPB credit reporting rule, which was slated to be finalized early next year. Congressional Republicans, who will control the House and Senate next year, have blasted the proposal as regulatory overreach that will compromise the value of credit reports. And Elon Musk, the billionaire whom Trump has tapped to lead his initiative to shrink government, last week called for the elimination of the watchdog agency . “Delete CFPB,” Musk posted on X. If the CFPB withdraws the proposed regulation, states could enact their own rules, following the lead of Colorado, New York, and other states that have passed credit reporting bans since 2023. Advocates in Massachusetts are pushing the legislature there to take up a ban when it reconvenes in January. “There are a lot of different levers that states have to take on medical debt,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, which has helped lead national efforts to expand debt protections for patients. Kuehnhoff said she expects more states to crack down on medical credit card providers and other companies that lend money to patients to pay off medical bills, sometimes at double-digit interest rates. Under the Biden administration, the CFPB has been investigating patient financing companies amid warnings that many people may not understand that signing up for a medical credit card such as CareCredit or enrolling in a payment plan through a financial services company can pile on more debt. If the CFPB efforts stall under Trump, states could follow the lead of California, New York, and Illinois, which have all tightened rules governing patient lending in recent years. Consumer advocates say states are also likely to continue expanding efforts to get hospitals to provide more financial assistance to reduce or eliminate bills for low- and middle-income patients, a key protection that can keep people from slipping into debt. Hospitals historically have not made this aid readily available, prompting states such as California, Colorado, and Washington to set stronger standards to ensure more patients get help with bills they can’t afford. This year, North Carolina also won approval from the Biden administration to withhold federal funding from hospitals in the state unless they agreed to expand financial assistance. In Georgia, where state government is entirely in Republican control, officials have been discussing new measures to get hospitals to provide more assistance to patients. “When we talk about hospitals putting profits over patients, we get lots of nodding in the legislature from Democrats and Republicans,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy nonprofit. Many advocates caution, however, that state efforts to bolster patient protections will be critically undermined if the Trump administration cuts federal funding for health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the insurance marketplaces established through the Affordable Care Act. Trump and congressional Republicans have signaled their intent to roll back federal subsidies passed under Biden that make health plans purchased on ACA marketplaces more affordable. That could hike annual premiums by hundreds or even thousands of dollars for many enrollees, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank. And during Trump’s first term, he backed efforts in Republican-led states to restrict enrollment in their Medicaid safety net programs through rules that would require people to work in order to receive benefits. GOP state leaders in Idaho, Louisiana, and other states have expressed a desire to renew such efforts. “That’s all a recipe for more medical debt,” said Stahl, of Undue Medical Debt. Jessica Altman, who heads the Covered California insurance marketplace, warned that federal cuts will imperil initiatives in her state that have limited copays and deductibles and curtailed debt for many state residents. “States like California that have invested in critical affordable programs for our residents will face tough decisions,” she said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The ‘Dota 2’ Frostivus Event Is More Annoying Than FunShare Tweet Share Share Email Collaboration in Big Data Projects: 16 Recommendations for Your Business Navigating the complex landscape of big data projects requires more than just technical know-how; it demands collaboration and innovation. This article presents practical recommendations, distilled from the wisdom of industry experts, to ensure success in your big data endeavors. By implementing these expert insights, businesses can transform data challenges into opportunities for growth. Establish Cross-Functional Data Squads Create Data Translator Roles Use a Shared Workspace Build Mutual Trust and Respect Adopt Unified Data Sources Implement Data Sprint Partnerships Secure Executive Sponsorship Hold Data Democracy Days Create a Shared Data Dictionary Identify Important Topics Develop a Unified Data Strategy Align Team on Project Vision Standardize Data Practices Decentralize Execution Share Dashboards and Hold Data Syncs Promote Continuous Learning Establish Cross-Functional Data Squads As the Founder and CEO of Zapiy.com, I’ve found that fostering collaboration and communication among different departments working on Big Data projects requires a unified framework that aligns goals and encourages transparency. One of the most impactful strategies we’ve implemented is establishing cross-functional “data squads” for Big Data initiatives. Data squads are small, cross-functional teams composed of members from different departments—such as data analysts, IT, marketing, operations, and sales—working together on a shared Big Data project. These squads ensure that everyone’s perspective is heard and that the data insights directly serve the organization’s broader goals. Every Big Data project should have a well-defined purpose, such as improving customer segmentation or optimizing supply chain processes. All departments involved must understand and agree on the project’s objectives from the start. At Zapiy, we ensure that kick-off meetings clearly align the project goals with business priorities. A common pitfall in Big Data projects is siloed data. By using shared tools—such as a centralized data warehouse or platforms like Snowflake or Tableau—our teams can collaborate in real time. This eliminates confusion about the validity or accuracy of data and ensures everyone is working from the same baseline. Weekly check-ins, facilitated via tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams, allow data squads to address roadblocks, share insights, and stay aligned. We also use dashboards to visualize project progress so all team members can track outcomes at a glance. Each department brings unique expertise to a Big Data project. By hosting periodic “data debriefs,” where teams share their challenges and findings, we create a collaborative environment that fosters innovation and prevents bottlenecks. Big Data projects often involve complex dependencies across departments. By building cross-functional squads with shared goals and transparent processes, we break down silos and empower teams to co-create solutions. For instance, a recent project involving customer churn analysis succeeded because marketing provided behavioral insights, IT ensured seamless data access, and data analysts built actionable models—all working cohesively. Max Shak , Founder/CEO, Zapiy Create Data Translator Roles Want to supercharge collaboration on Big Data projects? Focus on creating “data translators” – team members who bridge the gap between technical and business teams. These people act like interpreters, helping data scientists and business units actually understand each other instead of talking past one another. Imagine your data science team finds some exciting patterns of customer behavior. However, if they cannot explain it in terms the sales team understands, that insight goes nowhere. Data translators translate complex findings into actionable business strategies, but also help translate business requirements back into technical specifications. And most importantly, these bridge-builders tend to emerge naturally—possibly from business analysts who learned how to code or from data engineers with a deepened grasp of business strategy. This has proven to work miracles for one retail company in their company where their business-savviest data scientist joined meetings in the strategy formulation meetings in marketing. The customer segmentation models stopped becoming pure abstract exercises—the actual models are now put to good use by the marketers themselves. What this means for you: Look around your organization for people who already naturally translate between technical and business teams. Give them the official time and space to serve this role. You’ll find projects moving faster, fewer insights getting lost in translation, and teams building solutions that solve real business problems instead of just interesting technical puzzles. Justin Abrams , Founder & CEO, Aryo Consulting Group Use a Shared Workspace One tip is to make collaboration easy and transparent by keeping everything in one shared workspace. For Big Data projects, we’ve found that having a central hub where teams can share updates, track progress, and store resources makes a huge difference. At Taskade, we use our platform to break silos by letting everyone contribute in real-time, whether they’re from engineering, marketing, or data science. Another key is clarity. Define goals, roles, and expectations upfront so everyone knows how their work fits into the bigger picture. Regular check-ins or async updates help teams stay aligned without unnecessary meetings. When everyone feels like they’re part of the process, collaboration becomes natural. John Xie , Co-Founder and CEO, Taskade Build Mutual Trust and Respect I can tell you from experience that building mutual respect and trust is absolutely crucial when it comes to fostering collaboration between teams working on big data projects. In my years working with various organizations, I’ve seen that when teams trust each other, they’re more likely to share valuable insights, ask for help when needed, and work together toward a common goal. This starts with acknowledging each team’s expertise, whether it’s the data scientists, engineers, marketers, or finance teams. Every department has its own strengths, and when people feel respected for their contributions, they’re more motivated to work together and contribute their best. Creating an environment of trust also means encouraging open communication and ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard. If one department feels like their input isn’t valued, they might become disengaged or reluctant to collaborate. This lack of respect can easily lead to misunderstandings or siloed work. In my experience, the key is to foster an atmosphere where team members can express their ideas freely, ask questions without fear of judgment, and learn from each other. When trust is in place, it enables smoother collaboration, faster problem-solving, and ultimately, more successful big data projects. Kevin Baragona , Founder, DeepAI Adopt Unified Data Sources A key component of fostering collaboration is ensuring that all teams-from underwriters and claims specialists to data engineers and analysts-are looking at the same, consistently defined data. At NOW Insurance, we unified our data sources by adopting a Data Lakehouse architecture built on cost-efficient cloud storage and modern data management tools. Specifically, we leveraged Apache Hudi for data versioning and time-travel queries, maintained a centralized AWS Glue Data Catalog to govern schema definitions and access controls, and utilized AWS Athena as a serverless, SQL-based query engine. This combination ensures that every stakeholder can securely access the same data sets without having to navigate siloed or duplicated data stores. In addition to a unified platform, we established strict column naming conventions and standardized metadata indicators to clearly communicate a data set’s origin and purpose. Whether it’s underwriting data, marketing funnel metrics, or risk analytics, these standardized naming conventions help analysts and data scientists quickly understand the context and lineage of each table or field. As a result, cross-functional teams spend less time unraveling data complexity and more time generating insights and making strategic decisions. Jonathan Sims , VP Data & Analytics, NOW Insurance Implement Data Sprint Partnerships We blend SEO data analysis with marketing strategy. I transformed our cross-team collaboration by introducing “Data Sprint Partnerships.” We pair SEO analysts with content strategists for two-week sprints focused on specific client campaigns. Last month, this approach uncovered valuable insights when our technical team spotted search patterns our content team hadn’t considered. They found that users searching for “SEO services” also frequently looked for pricing comparisons – knowledge that reshaped our content strategy. The magic happens in our daily 15-minute stand-ups where both teams share their unique perspectives. Our analytics team explains technical findings in plain language, while content specialists help translate data into actionable marketing strategies. This partnership model lifted client campaign performance by 30%. Structured collaboration beats sporadic meetings. When specialists from different departments work side-by-side on shared goals, they naturally develop mutual understanding and respect. Breaking down these department walls turned our big data projects into unified business solutions. Marc Hardgrove , CEO, The Hoth Secure Executive Sponsorship In my experience working on a project with stakeholders in different departments or teams within an organization, fostering collaboration and communication among them takes a lot of work. Your first goal is to enroll the company’s top executives in the project; you need them to sponsor the project, giving it the resources it needs to succeed. Second, you need to gain the buy-in of each leader of the departments and teams involved and have them sponsor the initiative, making it a top-down approach. After that, the challenge is to make the project address at least one crucial pain point for each department or team involved. Once you clarify that collaboration is in their best interest, you must create a structure of cooperation and communication. The third step is to have leaders of departments and teams nominate an employee as the focal point for the project. Take the time to assess whose job the project will impact more carefully and have the leader appoint this person as the focal point for the project so you can have passionate people as the focal points. The project manager will be the leader of the focal point group and will decide the frequency of the meetings of this group and the agenda of these meetings. Other tricks I have used are to deliver the feature of the least interested focal point first to spark interest and maintain momentum. Succeeding in a project like that is how well you manage people, their egos, and personal interests. The project is never their main job; it is often a side goal. Having executives periodically ask for updates is another way to keep everyone motivated. Once this structure is in place, the project manager aims to establish a shared understanding of the project goals, metrics, and data definitions across all involved departments. A shared “data language” minimizes misinterpretations and ensures everyone works towards the same outcome, facilitating smoother communication and collaboration. Other activities that may help include: Creating a glossary of terms. Holding joint workshops to align on objectives. Establishing regular cross-departmental meetings to track progress and address challenges collaboratively. Steve Fleurant , CEO, Clair Services Hold Data Democracy Days Establish “Data Democracy Days” – a structured yet dynamic framework that transforms how departments collaborate on big data projects. This approach has consistently delivered remarkable results in breaking down silos and accelerating project outcomes. Here’s how it works: Every two weeks, schedule a focused half-day session where all stakeholders (data scientists, business analysts, department heads, end users) come together in a structured format: Hour 1: Data Story Sharing – Each department presents one key data insight or challenge – Focus on real business impact, not technical details – Share actual use cases and pain points – Highlight cross-departmental dependencies Hour 2: Solution Workshop – Break into mixed-department small groups – Each group tackles one specific challenge – Combine technical and business perspectives – Document actionable solutions Hour 3: Integration Planning – Teams present quick solutions – Vote on priority implementations – Assign cross-departmental “data buddy” pairs – Set concrete next steps Why This Works: 1. Creates Shared Understanding – Business teams learn data capabilities – Technical teams grasp business needs – Everyone speaks the same “data language” 2. Builds Trust Through Transparency – Regular face-to-face interaction – Shared ownership of solutions – Visible progress tracking – Clear accountability 3. Drives Practical Results – Focus on actionable outcomes – Quick wins build momentum – Regular follow-up ensures implementation – Measurable impact on projects Key Success Factors: – Mandatory attendance from all departments – Executive sponsor participation – Focus on solving real problems – Follow-up accountability The beauty of this approach lies in its simplicity and scalability. It’s not just another meeting – it’s a systematic way to break down barriers, build understanding, and create lasting collaborative relationships. We’ve seen this method reduce project timelines by 40% and increase cross-departmental solution adoption by 65%. The key is consistency and follow-through. Most importantly, this framework creates a culture where data collaboration becomes natural and expected, rather than forced and complicated. It transforms “your data” and “my data” into “our data,” leading to more innovative solutions and better business outcomes. The goal isn’t perfect collaboration from day one, but rather consistent improvement in how teams work together with data. Nirmal Chhabria , CEO/Author/Professor Create a Shared Data Dictionary One key tip for fostering collaboration in Big Data projects is establishing a shared data dictionary and centralized knowledge hub. When all departments operate with a common understanding of data definitions, metrics, and goals, it reduces silos and miscommunication. Pair this with regular cross-functional meetings where data scientists, marketers, and analysts can align on priorities and outcomes. This approach not only ensures clarity but also fosters a culture of shared ownership over data-driven insights and decisions. Jayanti Katariya , CEO, Moon Invoice Identify Important Topics As a starting point, I would suggest that companies identify a topic that is important to both your business and teammates. For nearly 25 years, AvidXchange has been dedicated to automating accounts payable processes for middle-market businesses. As part of our commitment to innovation, we’ve introduced AI-enhanced solutions that simplify AP tasks for our customers and create opportunities for our teammates to deliver smarter, more efficient results. However, in this current AI boom, there are so many questions that our teammates are justifiably asking from a place of both curiosity and concern. We’re hearing everything from “How can we better use AI?” to “Will AI take my job?” Knowing that AI is such a hot button for our organization both internally and externally, we implemented new programming with the intent for our teammates to feel more educated and comfortable with AI while feeling empowered to ask questions to address concerns. We also introduced ways for controlled experimentation. We have created spaces like hackathons and innovation labs where teammates can experiment with new AI tools in low-risk, controlled environments. For example, we recently held a hackathon where we evaluated new technology that we wanted to bring in to automate business operation tasks. By working with new software and technology directly, we’re able to maintain data integrity of new technology while driving a unified approach to learning. Additionally, we introduced quarterly AI All Hands meetings where teammates can learn, ask questions and collaborate on different AI initiatives. Secondly, we’ve launched an AI Center of Excellence, where teammates across disciplines can come together to collaborate and learn how each department utilizes AI and how to best streamline practices. At many companies, AI is investigated at the department level, which creates inefficiency and duplication of efforts. This Center of Excellence helps enable knowledge to be shared across the company, reducing silos and staying compliant. Any group in the organization can present their AI use case or value driver to this cross-functional group, which reviews each one to look for opportunities to expand AI ideas into actionable use cases across the organization. Creating the framework for teammates to regularly experiment in Big Data projects in ways that are important to the business is an effective way to foster collaboration and provide reassuring communication to your teammates. Angelic Gibson , Chief Information Officer, AvidXchange Develop a Unified Data Strategy Creating a unified data strategy has been crucial for improving collaboration and communication across our teams. When working with Big Data, especially in the realm of identity management and security, it’s crucial to have a standardized approach to how data is collected, stored, and accessed. By implementing clear protocols for data handling, we ensure that all departments, from development to compliance, are on the same page and can easily share information without running into technical roadblocks. A unified data strategy also helps us avoid inconsistencies and miscommunication, particularly when sensitive information is involved. For example, our security and IT teams work closely together to ensure that our data encryption methods align with the standards set across the company. This alignment not only improves efficiency but also helps ensure compliance with regulations. By prioritizing a unified approach to data, we’ve created a more streamlined and secure environment where teams can collaborate more effectively and focus on delivering better solutions. It’s a key practice for scaling up while maintaining data integrity and security. Binod Singh , Founder, Cross Identity Align Team on Project Vision Having led numerous Big Data projects as the founder of a software development company, my top tip is to ensure that the entire team understands the project’s vision and objectives. This includes data scientists, engineers, and business analysts all being aligned with the KPIs and expected results. Holding regular meetings to align everyone on a common goal. Arslan Naseem , CEO, Kryptomind Standardize Data Practices Standardizing data practices can dramatically improve collaboration and communication in Big Data projects. One of the biggest challenges in these projects is the inconsistency in how data is stored, accessed, and interpreted across different departments. To address this, we implemented clear data governance policies, ensuring everyone understood data ownership, access rights, and security protocols. This eliminated confusion and reduced friction when teams needed to share or analyze data. We also standardized our data models, using consistent formats and naming conventions. This made it easier for our technical and non-technical teams to work together without getting bogged down by translation issues. Regular training sessions helped align everyone on these practices and improved data literacy across the organization. By creating a unified framework, we not only streamlined workflows but also fostered a culture of trust and transparency, key ingredients for successful collaboration in Big Data initiatives. Rob Stevenson , Founder, BackupVault Decentralize Execution Most consultants will tell you to establish a centralized data governance framework with shared goals, but too often data governance turns into a “one ring to rule them all” initiative, focused on the means instead of the ends. It gets worse when someone claims they can “establish governance” by purchasing licenses for a technology platform. What makes big data projects work is a clear, simple, and powerful specification of the project’s goals and resultant customer experiences. This specification should be generated through thoughtful customer research, senior technical expertise, and knee-deep alignment with business leadership. After you create a compelling core, decentralize execution, organizing into small pods with representatives from each department. Each pod can be accountable for delivering a part of the end specification. This enables faster decisions, and thus, rapid results. The storage of data; the compute cycles required to analyze the data and train models; the platforms required to inventory, manage, and deploy APIs associated with machine learning models; monitoring and logging; auditing-these things aren’t cheap. The smartest thing any leader can do before running up a technology bill is thinking carefully about what really needs to happen to create, validate, or deploy an idea. Too often, a “big data” problem turns out to be something that “small data” could have remedied faster and cheaper; analysts in search of “firepower” embark on an expensive boondoggle while the rest of the business taps their foot waiting for what seemed like an easy and quick solution. Joe Sutherland , Founder, J.L. Sutherland & Associates Share Dashboards and Hold Data Syncs In my experience, shared dashboards and regular “data sync” meetings work miracles. Throughout the years, I’ve found that when different teams have access to the same data in real-time, it positively impacts their collaboration. As a result, when our marketing, sales, and product teams all look at the same customer journey metrics, it creates this natural bridge for collaboration. For example, at Adverity, we introduced an initiative called “data coffee chats,” which are basically 30-minute bi-weekly meetings where the different departments share one key finding they’ve made from our data. Nothing fancy or too technical, just a quick, straight-to-the-point discussion. Sometimes it’s us (marketing) that shares which campaigns are bringing in the most engagement from users, other times it’s the product team showing how a new feature they’ve introduced is being implemented. I think what makes it work is that these sessions keep things simple and focused on the business outcomes rather than getting lost in all the little technical details. When our sales team sees how our marketing data directly impacts their approach to prospect clients, or when product managers understand how the customer behavior data influences marketing strategies, the inter-departmental collaboration becomes effortless. This way, all the teams naturally start bouncing ideas off of each other and are motivated to share insights because they can see the direct impact on their day-to-day work. It’s fascinating. This approach has really helped in removing barriers between teams. Now, everyone works with the same numbers and facts, rather than each team having their own separate data. Ira Prevalova , Growth Marketing Director, Adverity Promote Continuous Learning Dealing with big data projects is always a difficult process, where cooperation between departments can contribute to success or, conversely, delay it. To avoid the second scenario, I advise you to establish constant communication between teams, not just when needed. Organize joint meetings, after-hours visits, and training sessions that can strengthen team spirit and show all employees that they have a common goal. One of the most common barriers to interdepartmental collaboration is the gap between the knowledge of different specialists. A technical employee may have difficulty understanding marketing strategies, and a PR manager may have difficulty setting up a program. Therefore, it is important to promote the idea of continuous learning, not only in a specific area, but for a general understanding of the main points. This will help eliminate the complexity of communication and facilitate the process of working with big data. And do not forget to use common platforms that contain all the information about the project from each department. We work with Worksection, where each department can see the information they require at any time, without waiting for a response from a specific person and distracting them from their work. Your team should see the big picture and feel involved in the success of the project. Finally, open and positive communication is the engine of the process. Big data projects are complex and difficult, and therefore require constant discussion and coordination. And this can only be achieved if your employees respect each other and share a common goal. Evgen Kushnirchuk , Marketer, SEO Expert, and CEO, Hire Developers Biz Related Articles Azure — a game changer for Big Data projects – TechBullion The Role of Big Data in Making Smarter Decisions – TechBullion Collaborative Strategies for Building Strong and Sustainable Business Related Items: Big Data , collaboration Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Shaping the Future of BigData and AI Innovation: The Pioneering Journey of Venkata Suman Doma. 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