International News: Diddy’s team allegedly slams Shyne, former protege, with cease-and-desist over documentary claims; Shyne says he hasn’t gotten itSlope launched a commercial buy now, pay later (BNPL) card solution powered by Marqeta . The new Slope Card enables brands and marketplaces to allow their B2B customers to pay in-store or online with 30- or 60-day loan options, the companies said in a Thursday (Dec. 12) press release . “Marqeta allows us to deliver flexible and scalable BNPL solutions that provide businesses with timely access to low-interest loans,” Slope CEO and co-founder Lawrence Lin Murata said in the release. “Together, we’re driving a transformative approach to financial management, empowering businesses with easier access to working capital when they need it most.” Slope provides the invoice-to-pay solution that furniture retailer IKEA U.S. began rolling out in August to offer flexible payment options to its business customers. The payment option provided by Slope eliminates the manual process of traditional invoicing, offers business owners access to capital with 30-day net terms and provides a streamlined checkout experience. “Our partnership with Slope represents a step forward in our commitment to supporting small- to medium-sized businesses in the communities we serve,” IKEA U.S. Chief Commercial Officer Jordi Esquinas Gimenez said in an Aug. 29 press release. Slope’s commercial BNPL card solution enhances the ability of its clients to offer fast, secure and flexible digital payment options to their SMB customers, Marqeta Chief Revenue Officer Todd Pollak said in the Thursday press release. The solution is powered by Marqeta’s card issuing platform that enables embedded finance solutions , according to the release . Marqeta’s technology allows companies to put their own brands front and center while providing the embedded, mobile payments experiences consumers expect, per the release. “This is another example of how Marqeta is pioneering the responsible transformation in payments to enable brands to offer embedded finance solutions that unlock purchasing power for businesses whenever needed,” Pollak said in the release. Marqeta reported in November that during the third quarter, it saw year-over-year increases of 30% in total processing volume , 18% in net revenue and 24% in gross profit. During a Nov. 4 earnings call, Marqeta CEO Simon Khalaf attributed the results to operational discipline and the launch of innovative new products. For all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter .
Deion Sanders’ Colorado Is Already Doing the Heisman Dance With Shedeur and Travis Hunter
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Sunday lambasted the political aides of President Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif family, alleging that they are merely targeting PTI founder Imran Khan to garner public attention and media coverage. Reacting to Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s recent outbursts, Akram fired back, saying that even these “political entertainers privately acknowledged” that the PTI founder sacrificed his comfort for Pakistan’s greater good. “They have been admitting the bitter truth that only Khan is the political reality of the country,” he added. He claimed that former prime minister Imran Khan was a leader of international stature, while his critics were “mere pawns unleashed by their masters to unnecessarily criticize the PTI founder because the political demise of the outdated and corrupt political dynasties of Sharifs and Zardaris was imminent.” Earlier in the day, Khawaja Asif in a public statement slammed Khan for begging for US help to ensure his release from jail. He also questioned the motive of PTI’s desire for talks with the political players, saying that for over two years they had been pressing only for engaging with the establishment. Multiple cars pileup in Dera Ismail Khan leaves 20 injured The information secretary said this power greedy clique not entered into a marriage of convenience to serve the nation’s interests, but to deliberately push Khan out of the political landscape. “Their sinister plan ultimately backfired, as they failed miserably in their attempts to sideline him,” he added. He called Bilawal an angry political child and advised him to focus on debating with politicians at his own level, rather than targeting Khan. He said Khan had an unwavering commitment to Pakistan’s sovereignty and national pride, recalling how he consistently stood firm against foreign conspiracies. He recalled that during PTI’s tenure, no drone attacks occurred within its borders, and no country dared to breach its territorial sovereignty. Khan never relied on foreign intervention to secure deals, unlike Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who negotiated exits to avoid jail time and then left the country in shambles, he said. Mashhood unveils plan to empower ‘marginalised communities’InvestEd receives support of 100 Women Who Care Clark County‘Oh, Canada’ review: Richard Gere shows the price of a lifetime of deception
Innovate corp.'s interim CEO Paul Voigt acquires $99,500 in stock
Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers will continue their gauntlet of AFC North showdowns when they visit Jameis Winston and the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football. The two teams have split their regular-season matchups in four of the last five years, with the home team going 9-1 over those meetings. The Steelers (8-2) will hope to expand their lead in the AFC North with a victory, while the Browns (2-8) try to salvage their season. According to the latest Browns vs. Steelers odds from the SportsLine Consensus, Pittsburgh is a 3.5-point favorite, while the over/under for total points scored is 36.5. The Steelers are -198 money-line favorites (risk $198 to win $100), while the Browns are +166 underdogs (risk $100 to win $166). The latest Steelers vs. Browns weather forecast is calling for snow, winds over 10 mph, and temperatures in the mid-30s. If you are looking for NFL picks, AI predictions or NFL DFS picks for Steelers vs. Browns, SportsLine has you covered with its proven model, AI PickBot and team of experts. They even have one pick that returns a whopping +10000, so be sure to see what they have to say. SportsLine's model enters Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season on an incredible 20-8 betting hot streak on top-rated NFL picks this year. Longer term, it is on a 200-136 roll on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season and a 54-29 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of 2022. The model has revealed its best bets for Steelers vs. Browns and is backing the Steelers (-3.5) to hit in well over 50% of simulations. You can find the model's picks on the spread and money line here . SportsLine AI hit a whopping 2,029 4.5- and 5-star sports betting picks since the start of last season. Now it has locked in its top player props for players like Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Nick Chubb . One of its top picks is Winston staying Under 214.5 passing yards, which has earned a 4-star rating. The AI PickBot is calling for 209 passing yards on TNF. You can see all the top-rated NFL prop picks from the AI PickBot here . SportsLine has an expansive team of NFL experts who provide quality betting advice for every game on the schedule. NFL expert R.J. White, who is on a blistering 68-36 roll on Steelers picks, has analyzed this rivalry from every angle and locked in his best bet for TNF right here . Eric Cohen, who is 81-37 since Week 4, has revealed his exact score prediction for Browns vs. Steelers, which returns a whopping +10000 on FanDuel . That pick, along with his prediction for the other 12 games, is available here . SportsLine's advanced computer model has also locked in its exact score predictions for Steelers vs. Browns, and every Week 12 NFL game right here . SportsLine has a DFS optimizer that simulates every game 10,000 times and uses info from the SportsLine Projection Model and DFS Professional Millionaire Mike McClure to identify top DFS picks/plays for any slate on sites like FanDuel and DraftKings . Their NFL DFS Optimizer has Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson as its top overall player to include in your TNF DFS picks. Here are its complete Browns vs. Steelers NFL DFS rankings . DFS Professional Millionaire Mike McClure has locked in his top NFL DFS picks for Steelers vs. Browns on Thursday Night Football. He's building his NFL DFS lineups around Browns receiver Cedric Tillman. McClure is also targeting another undervalued player who could explode for huge numbers on TNF. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is, and the rest of McClure's NFL DFS picks, right here .New Orleans Saints could be without another offensive weapon against Commanders | Sporting News
As she throws herself into jungle life, I'm A Celebrity star Coleen Rooney is no doubt missing the home comforts in her lavish £20million Cheshire mansion. Coleen, 38, who has swapped her comfy bed for a hammock and her marble bathrooms for the dunny, lives in the plush pad with her husband Wayne Rooney and their four sons Kai, 15, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and Cass, six. The couple moved into the property, which sits on 50 acres of old farmland, in 2021. While former footballer Wayne, 39, currently spends most of his time in Devon as he manages Plymouth Argyle, Coleen often shares glimpses of her home life on social media. Here, we take a look inside the incredible house, which boasts a football pitch, a wine cellar, a cinema and a swimming pool. Before heading Down Under, Coleen filmed a video to announce her stint on the show, giving fans a peek inside her neutral-coloured home. The room featured a huge bay window and a large mirror. Another clip of her sons wishing her luck in the jungle also showed off the home's modern decor. The Rooneys have spent multiples Christmases in their pad. With marble floors and high ceilings, there's plenty of space for festive decorations. Coleen showed off the sprawling family home as she celebrated son Kai's 14th birthday last year. The bar area in the kitchen has a worktop island with grey seating and hanging lights. The living room is super cosy with a grand fireplace decorated with candles. Coleen spares no expense when it comes to Christmas, previously transforming her home with elegant white and silver decorations. One of on the rooms features a comfy grey sofa and a framed photo of Coleen's Vogue cover from September 2023. Coleen clearly takes pride in her pristine home as she showed off a huge bedroom featuring white walls and a plush grey carpet. The property has a huge staircase which looks like it could belong in a Disney castle. Coleen previously showed off their sprawling bar, which is fully stocked with drinks and has a huge seating area.Contribution from Tyman Acquisition Boosts Results Margin Expansion Realized on Consolidated Basis for Full Year $53.75 Million of Debt Repaid Since Closing Tyman Acquisition Integration of Transformative Acquisition Progressing Ahead of Schedule Realization of Synergies Ongoing HOUSTON, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quanex Building Products Corporation (NYSE:NX) ("Quanex” or the "Company”) today announced its results for the three months and twelve months ended October 31, 2024. The Company reported the following selected financial results: George Wilson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "On a consolidated basis, results for the fourth quarter and full year were boosted by the contribution from the Tyman acquisition. Results from the legacy Quanex business were in-line with our expectations for both the fourth quarter and full year. We are pleased with profitability despite the soft macro environment we experienced throughout 2024. Overall, we executed on our plan from an operational standpoint, and we executed on our long-term profitable growth strategy by closing on the transformative Tyman acquisition in August. In addition, our continued focus on cash flow and managing working capital enabled us to repay approximately $54 million in debt since closing the acquisition on August 1, 2024. "As we transition into 2025, we expect the current demand softness to persist until the spring selling season, but our expectations are that results will improve in the second half of 2025 due to typical seasonality combined with the benefit from unwinding pent up demand as interest rates continue to trend lower and consumer confidence improves. We will continue to focus on integrating the legacy Tyman business and capturing the targeted synergies. We have also settled on a new operating structure that is designed around our core competencies, which should enable us to capitalize on existing commercial opportunities and tap into new innovative solutions. Furthermore, we continue to be excited about building a stronger, more profitable company over time and creating additional value for our shareholders. We have scheduled an Investor and Analyst Day on February 6, 2025, to unveil the 'new' Quanex, which will include providing detail on the revamped operating structure, guidance for 2025 and an update on our long-term profitable growth strategy.” Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2024 Results Summary Quanex reported net sales of $492.2 million during the three months ended October 31, 2024, which represents an increase of 66.6% compared to $295.5 million for the same period of 2023. The Company reported net sales of $1.28 billion during the twelve months ended October 31, 2024, which represents an increase of 13.0% compared to $1.13 billion for the same period of 2023. The increases reflect the contribution from the Tyman acquisition that closed on August 1, 2024. Excluding the contribution from Tyman, net sales would have declined by 2.3% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 5.0% for the full year, largely due to lower volume. Quanex reported a decline in net sales of 4.7% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and a decline of 2.6% in net sales for the full year in its North American Fenestration segment. In its North American Cabinet Components segment, Quanex reported an increase of 1.7% in net sales for the fourth quarter and a decline of 7.9% in net sales for the full year. Excluding foreign exchange impact, the Company realized a decrease in net sales of 1.2% for the fourth quarter and a decrease of 8.9% in net sales for the full year in its European Fenestration segment. In addition, Quanex reported net sales of $203.4 million related to the Tyman acquisition during the fourth quarter of 2024. (See Sales Analysis table for additional information) The increase in adjusted earnings for the three months and twelve months ended October 31, 2024 was mostly attributable to the contribution from the Tyman acquisition; however, the increase in adjusted earnings was also due in part to the lower cost of sales, including labor, related to lower volumes and deflation in the price of raw materials. Quanex was able to realize margin expansion in the fourth quarter in its North American Fenestration segment mainly due to effective cost control. In addition, the Company was also able to realize margin expansion on a consolidated basis for the full year, primarily driven by the contribution from the Tyman acquisition. Balance Sheet & Liquidity Update The Company borrowed $770 million ($500 Term Loan A and $270 on Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility) to acquire Tyman on August 1, 2024. Quanex repaid $53.75 million in debt during the fourth quarter of 2024. As of October 31, 2024, the Company had total debt of $776.9 million and Quanex's leverage ratio of Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA was 3.7x. As of October 31, 2024, the Company's LTM Net Income was $33.1 million and LTM Adjusted EBITDA was $182.4 million (See Non-GAAP Terminology Definitions and Disclaimers section, Net Debt Reconciliation table and Last Twelve Months Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table for additional information) The leverage ratio for Quanex's quarterly debt covenant compliance ("Debt Covenant Leverage Ratio”) for its lenders was 2.3x as of October 31, 2024. The Debt Covenant Leverage Ratio calculation is defined in the Company's Amendment No. 1 to its Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which was filed with the SEC on June 12, 2024. In general, the main difference is that the Debt Covenant Leverage Ratio excludes real-estate leases that are considered "finance” leases under U.S. GAAP and is calculated on a proforma basis to include Adjusted EBITDA from the Tyman acquisition, $30 million of EBITDA for the synergy target related to the acquisition and only cash from domestic subsidiaries. The Debt Covenant Leverage Ratio would be 2.1x if calculated using the cash and cash equivalents amount on the balance sheet as of October 31, 2024. Quanex's liquidity was $343.3 million as of October 31, 2024, consisting of $97.7 million in cash on hand plus availability under its Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility due 2029, less letters of credit outstanding. Investor and Analyst Day The Company announced it will host an Investor and Analyst Day at the New York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall St. New York, NY 1005, on February 6, 2025. The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET and conclude at approximately 11:00 a.m. ET. All investors and analysts that plan to attend should RSVP for the event by January 23, 2025, by contacting Quanex's Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, Scott Zuehlke, by email ( [email protected] ). Presentation content and a live audio webcast will be made available on Quanex's website at http://www.quanex.com in the Investors section under Events & Presentations. A replay of the webcast will be posted following the live event. Conference Call and Webcast Information The Company has also scheduled a conference call for Friday, December 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. ET (10:00 a.m. CT) to discuss the release. A link to the live audio webcast will be available on Quanex's website at http://www.quanex.com in the Investors section under Presentations & Events. Participants can pre-register for the conference call using the following link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIef39998f168c4cff8d9ed1561cb1cc48 Registered participants will receive an email containing conference call details for dial-in options. To avoid delays, it is recommended that participants dial into the conference call ten minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. A replay will be available for a limited time on the Company's website at http://www.quanex.com in the Investors section under Presentations & Events. About Quanex Quanex is a global manufacturer with core capabilities and broad applications across various end markets. The Company currently collaborates and partners with leading OEMs to provide innovative solutions in the window, door, solar, refrigeration, custom mixing, building access and cabinetry markets. Looking ahead, Quanex plans to leverage its material science expertise and process engineering to expand into adjacent markets. Non-GAAP Terminology Definitions and Disclaimers Adjusted Net Income (defined as net income further adjusted to exclude purchase price accounting inventory step-ups, transaction costs, certain severance charges, gain/loss on the sale of certain fixed assets, restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, other net adjustments related to foreign currency transaction gain/loss and effective tax rates reflecting impacts of adjustments on a with and without basis) and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that Quanex believes provide a consistent basis for comparison between periods and more accurately reflects operational performance, as they are not influenced by certain income or expense items not affecting ongoing operations. EBITDA (defined as net income or loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and other, net), Adjusted EBITDA and LTM Adjusted EBITDA (defined as EBITDA further adjusted to exclude purchase price accounting inventory step-ups, transaction costs, certain severance charges, gain/loss on the sale of certain fixed assets, restructuring charges and asset impairment charges) are non-GAAP financial measures that the Company uses to measure operational performance and assist with financial decision-making. Net Debt is defined as total debt (outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility plus financial lease obligations) less cash and cash equivalents. The leverage ratio of Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA is a financial measure that the Company believes is useful to investors and financial analysts in evaluating Quanex's leverage. In addition, with certain limited adjustments, this leverage ratio is the basis for a key covenant in the Company's credit agreement. Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure calculated using cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. Quanex uses the Free Cash Flow metric to measure operational and cash management performance and assist with financial decision-making. Free Cash Flow is measured before application of certain contractual commitments (including capital lease obligations), and accordingly is not a true measure of the Company's residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Quanex believes Free Cash Flow is useful to investors in understanding and evaluating the Company's financial and cash management performance. Quanex believes that the presented non-GAAP measures provide a consistent basis for comparison between periods and will assist investors in understanding the Company's financial performance when comparing results to other investment opportunities. The presented non-GAAP measures may not be the same as those used by other companies. Quanex does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Forward Looking Statements Statements that use the words "estimated,” "expect,” "could,” "should,” "believe,” "will,” "might,” or similar words reflecting future expectations or beliefs are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: impacts from public health issues (including pandemics) on the economy and the demand for Quanex's products, timing estimates or any other expectations related to the Acquisition, the Company's future operating results, future financial condition, future uses of cash and other expenditures, expenses and tax rates, expectations relating to Quanex's industry, and the Company's future growth, including any guidance discussed in this press release. The statements and guidance set forth in this release are based on current expectations. Actual results or events may differ materially from this release. For a complete discussion of factors that may affect Quanex's future performance, please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the sections entitled "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and "Risk Factors”. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and Quanex undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events. (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)
Trump is named Time's Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange's opening bell NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized by Time magazine as its person of the year. The honors Thursday for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump’s remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November. At the stock exchange, Trump was accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Trump grinned as people chanted “USA” before he opened the trading day and raised his fist. YouTube TV is hiking its monthly price, again. Here's what to know NEW YORK (AP) — Are you a YouTube TV subscriber? Your monthly bills are about to get more expensive again. YouTube has announced that it’s upping the price of its streaming service’s base plan by $10 — citing rising content costs and other investments. The new $82.99 per month price tag will go into effect starting Jan. 13 for existing subscribers, and immediately for new customers who sign up going forward. YouTube TV has rolled out a series of price hikes over the years. When launched back in 2017, the going price of its streaming package was $35 a month. By 2019, that fee rose to $50 — and has climbed higher and higher since. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre's brotherhood is still strong after 30 years with new album 'Missionary' LOS ANGELES (AP) — When it comes to music, there’s one person in particular Snoop Dogg trusts to steer the ship without question: hit-making producer Dr. Dre. Their bond, built over 30 years of brotherhood, began when Dr. Dre shaped Snoop’s game-changing debut, “Doggystyle,” a cornerstone of hip-hop history. From young dreamers chasing stardom to legends cementing their legacies, the duo has always moved in sync. Now, the dynamic pair reunites for Snoop’s “Missionary,” his milestone 20th studio album, which releases Friday. The 15-track project features several big-name guest appearances including Eminem, 50 Cent, Sting, Method Man, Jelly Roll, Tom Petty, Jhené Aiko and Method Man. Country star Morgan Wallen sentenced in chair-throwing case NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country music star Morgan Wallen has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. He had been charged for throwing a chair from the rooftop of a six-story bar in Nashville and nearly hitting two police officers with it. Wallen appeared in court alongside his attorney on Thursday. He was sentenced to spend seven days in a DUI education center and will be under supervised probation for two years. According to the arrest affidavit, Wallen was accused of throwing a chair off the roof of Chief’s bar on April 7. The chair landed about a yard from the officers. Witnesses told police they saw Wallen pick up a chair, throw it off the roof and laugh about it. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. 'Vanderpump Rules' star James Kennedy arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Police say “Vanderpump Rules” star James Kennedy has been arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence. Police in Burbank, California, say officers investigated reports of an argument between a man and a woman at a residence late Tuesday night and arrested the 32-year-old Kennedy. He was released from jail after posting bail. A representative of Kennedy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The Burbank city attorney will decide whether to file charges. Kennedy is a DJ and reality TV star who has appeared for 10 seasons on “Vanderpump Rules” — the Bravo series about the lives of employees at a set of swank restaurants. The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own death moves to end their marriage MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own drowning so he could abscond to Europe has filed a court action to end the couple's marriage. Online court records indicate Emily Borgwardt filed a petition in Dodge County Circuit Court on Thursday seeking to annul her marriage to Ryan Borgwardt. A hearing has been set for April. According to court documents, Ryan Borgwardt staged his own drowning by leaving his overturned kayak floating on Green Lake. He flew to Eastern Europe, where he spent several days in a hotel with a woman before taking up residence in the country of Georgia. He is charged with misdemeanor obstruction in Green Lake County. San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A block in downtown San Francisco has been renamed for acclaimed photojournalist Joe Rosenthal, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his iconic photo of U.S. Marines raising the flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during WWII. The longtime staff photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle, who died in 2006 at age 94, is also remembered for the 35 years he spent documenting the city's famous and not so famous for the daily newspaper. He photographed a young Willie Mays getting his hat fitted as a San Francisco Giant in 1957. He also photographed joyous children making a mad dash for freedom on the last day of school in 1965. Nearly half of US teens are online 'constantly,' Pew report finds Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly,” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health. That's according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment.Huddle Global 2024 concludes by setting the stage for promising startup collaborations
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of peopleWest Palm Beach (US), Nov 30 (AP) President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the US dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Also Read | Bangladesh: ISKCON Claims Arrest of 2 More Monks, Ranganath Das Brahmachari and Chinmoy Krishna Das' Assistant Adipurush Shyamdas Without Warrant Amid Row. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have applied to become members and several other countries have expressed interest in joining. While the US dollar is by far the most-used currency in global business and has survived past challenges to its preeminence, members of the alliance and other developing nations say they are fed up with America's dominance of the global financial system. Also Read | Gautam Adani Breaks Silence on US Fraud Charges, Says 'Every Attack Makes Us Stronger, Every Obstacle Becomes Stepping Stone for More Resilient Adani Group'. Trump, in a Truth Social post, said: “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy." At a summit of BRIC nations in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the US of “weaponising” the dollar and described it as a “big mistake”. “It's not us who refuse to use the dollar,” Putin said at the time. “But if they don't let us work, what can we do? We are forced to search for alternatives.” Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network, SWIFT, and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners. Trump said there is "no chance" BRIC will replace the US dollar in global trade and any country that tries to make that happen "should wave goodbye to America”. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)Indiana tries to snap 3-game losing skid to Nebraska