BPSC aspirants protest: Cops, demonstrators clash amid call for cancellation of Dec 13 examsThe most wonderful time of the year is here. We're not talking about the holiday season — we're talking about the World Juniors. Hockey fans, the wait is finally over. The presents have been unwrapped, the stockings have been taken down from the fireplace and the Christmas dinner has turned into leftovers. Now the focus turns to the annual international competition featuring the future stars of the NHL. Ottawa, Canada is the site for this year's competition, featuring 10 of the top U20 teams from around the world who are gunning for a gold medal. The United States enters the tournament as the defending gold medallists from 2024, going undefeated at last year's World Juniors and knocking off Sweden in the gold medal game. Competing at the tournament is mostly a mix of prospects from the 2023 and 2024 NHL Draft classes, highlighted by first-round picks Ryan Leonard (USA), Gabe Perreault (USA), Zeev Buium (USA), Sam Dickinson (Canada), Brayden Yager (Canada), Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Sweden) and Konsta Helenius (Finland). However, there are also 2025 and 2026 draft-eligible players highlighting rosters at this year's competition. That includes James Hagens (USA), Matthew Schaefer (Canada), Porter Martone (Canada) and Viktor Eklund (Sweden), who are all potential top-10 candidates for the 2025 draft. Gavin McKenna (Canada), the leading candidate to go first overall in 2026, will be at the tournament as well. The Sporting News has fans covered on the latest results and standings from the 2025 World Juniors. SN's NHL HQ: Live NHL scores | Updated NHL standings | Full NHL schedule World Juniors standings 2025 Group A Team Games Wins OT Wins OT Losses Losses Points USA 1 1 0 0 0 3 Finland 0 0 0 0 0 0 Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 Latvia 0 0 0 0 0 0 Germany 1 0 0 0 1 0 Group B Team Games Wins OT Wins OT Losses Losses Points Sweden 1 1 0 0 0 3 Czechia 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kazakhstan 0 0 0 0 0 0 Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 Slovakia 1 0 0 0 1 0 * = advances to knockout stage ** = plays in relegation game Teams will play four preliminary games in a round-robin format within their group, followed by a three-round playoff. In the group stage, teams earn three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, one point for an overtime loss and no points for a regulation loss. The top four teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, where the matchups are determined by seeding. They will cross over between groups for these games: 1A vs. 4B, 1B vs. 4A, 2A vs. 3B and 2B vs. 3A. The teams that advance to the semifinals will be reseeded. The winners of the semifinals will face off in the gold medal game. The losers will play for bronze. 2025 World Juniors schedule, results Thursday, Dec. 26 Matchup Time (ET) Sweden 5, Slovakia 1 FINAL USA 10 , Germany 4 FINAL Czechia vs. Switzerland 5 p.m. Finland vs. Canada 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27 Matchup Time (ET) Switzerland vs. Slovakia 1 p.m. Germany vs. Finland 3:30 p.m. Sweden vs. Kazakhstan 5 p.m. Latvia vs. Canada 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28 Matchup Time (ET) Kazakhstan vs. Czechia 1 p.m. Latvia vs. USA 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29 Matchup Time (ET) Switzerland vs. Sweden Noon USA vs. Finland 2:30 p.m. Czechia vs. Slovakia 5 p.m. Canada vs. Germany 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30 Matchup Time (ET) Slovakia vs. Kazakhstan 1 p.m. Germany vs. Latvia 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 Matchup Time (ET) Kazakhstan vs. Switzerland Noon Finland vs. Latvia 2:30 p.m. Sweden vs. Czechia 5 p.m. Canada vs. USA 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2 Matchup Time (ET) TBD vs. TBD - Relegation Game 11 a.m. TBD vs. TBD - Quarterfinal Noon TBD vs. TBD - Quarterfinal 2:30 p.m. TBD vs. TBD - Quarterfinal 5 p.m. TBD vs. TBD - Quarterfinal 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4 Matchup Time (ET) TBD vs. TBD - Semifinal 3:30 p.m. TBD vs. TBD - Semifinal 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5 Matchup Time (ET) TBD vs. TBD - Bronze Medal Game 3:30 p.m. TBD vs. TBD - Gold Medal Game 7:30 p.m.Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on February 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalise the country’s stagnant economy. Mr Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag – a sister publication of Politico owned by the Axel Springer Group – published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month that he has supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. “The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country,” he wrote in his translated commentary. He went on to say that the far-right party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality”. The Tesla Motors chief executive also wrote that his investment in Germany gives him the right to comment on the country’s condition. The AfD is polling strongly, but its candidate for the top job, Alice Weidel, has no realistic chance of becoming chancellor because other parties refuse to work with the far-right party. Billionaire Mr Musk, an ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, challenged in his opinion piece the party’s public image. “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Mr Musk’s commentary has led to a debate in German media over the boundaries of free speech, with the paper’s own opinion editor announcing her resignation, pointedly on Mr Musk’s social media platform, X. Eva Marie Kogel wrote: “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print.” A critical article by the future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard, accompanied Mr Musk’s opinion piece. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally wrong,” he wrote. Responding to a request for comment from the German Press Agency, dpa, the current editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Ulf Poschardt, and Mr Burgard – who is due to take over on January 1 – said in a joint statement that the discussion over Mr Musk’s piece was “very insightful. Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression.” “This will continue to determine the compass of the ‘world’ in the future. We will develop ‘Die Welt’ even more decisively as a forum for such debates,” they wrote to dpa.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Cornerback Riley Moss is “good to go” for the Denver Broncos' crucial game at Cincinnati on Saturday. “He's doing good,” coach Sean Payton said Thursday. “He'll be ready to go.” The Broncos (9-6), who would end their eight-year playoff drought with a win or a tie against the Bengals (7-8), have sorely missed the second-year pro from Iowa since he sprained an MCL against Las Vegas in Week 12. The Broncos allowed 26.3 points per game during his absence. With Moss in the lineup opposite superstar Patrick Surtain II, Denver gave up just 16.8 points per game. Aside from allowing defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to go back to employing more man coverage, Riley's return is expected to give the Broncos defense back its bite. “I think he's got an awfully competitive juice, yeah, I would say you definitely felt his absence, not just physically as a player but also his presence," Payton said. Earlier this week, Surtain said, “it’s great to have him back” at practice. “I mean, you talk about a guy who was playing lights-out before the injury, but to see him back out there with confidence, out there practicing, getting his mojo back, it brings a lot of confidence to the team.” Moss has enjoyed a breakout season in Denver with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception. He played in 14 games as a rotation player his rookie season after recovering from core muscle surgery that relegated him to special teams and spot duty in 2023. Moss wasn't available for comment Thursday as he was receiving treatment during the locker room access period. Moss has been the perfect complement to Surtain because of the physical play, bravado and the production he provides as opposing offenses shy away from Surtain. “It's going to be really good” having him back on the field, outside linebacker Nik Bonitto said. “I mean, I know the work that he's been putting in to get back and just knowing the type of season that he's had I'm just happy that he's going to be able to come back against an opponent like this.” Denver's defense hasn't been the same without Moss. The Broncos allowed 32 points to the Cleveland Browns when former teammate Jerry Jeudy caught nine passes for a career-best 235 yards. Jonathan Taylor’s unforced fumble at the goal line as he was about to score a 41-yard touchdown and give Indianapolis a 20-3 lead saved the Broncos in Week 15 and allowed Denver to seize momentum and get the victory. And Denver couldn’t stop Justin Herbert , who led the Los Angeles Chargers back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 win last week. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Sasa Ciani had 16 points in UIC's 73-67 victory over Illinois State on Sunday. Ciani had nine rebounds for the Flames (9-4, 1-1 Missouri Valley Conference). Javon Jackson scored 14 points while going 4 of 10 from the floor, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and 4 for 6 from the line. Ahmad Henderson II shot 4 of 7 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 3 from the line to finish with 12 points. The Redbirds (8-5, 0-2) were led by Malachi Poindexter, who posted 20 points. Ty Pence added 10 points and Dalton Banks pitched in with nine points, five assists and two steals. Jackson scored nine points in the first half and UIC went into the break trailing 35-33. UIC outscored Illinois State by eight points in the second half. Ciani led the way with 14 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Cole Anthony drove for a layup with 0.2 seconds left to complete the Orlando Magic's 17-point fourth-quarter comeback Sunday in a 102-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Cam Thomas missed a jumper from the corner at the final horn. Anthony scored 10, and Tristan da Silva scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for Orlando, which was down 71-51 midway through the third quarter. Goga Bitadze added 19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The Magic's comeback was their second in eight days after Orlando rallied from 25 points down to beat Miami 121-114 on Dec. 21. Thomas came off the bench with 25 points to lead the Nets in his first game since Nov. 25. Jalen Wilson added 16 points including two free throws with 6.2 seconds left. Thomas, Brooklyn's leading scorer with 24.7 points per game, played 25 minutes after missing 13 games with a strained left hamstring. Takeaways Nets: Losing for the seventh time in nine games, the Nets played for the first time without Dorian Finney-Smith, who was traded early Sunday to the Los Angeles Lakers. In their four games against the Magic this season, the Nets used 11 different starters. Only Cam Johnson started all four games. Magic: The Magic completed a four-game season series sweep of the Nets and concluded a 3-4 holiday home stretch. They overcame double-digit second-half deficits in all three of their wins against Miami, Boston and Brooklyn. Key moment A 3-pointer by Anthony, who did not play in the first half, launched a 13-0 Orlando run after they had fallen behind by 20 points. Key stat The Nets shot 13 for 30 from 3-point range. Up next The Nets are at Toronto and the Magic are at Detroit on Wednesday night. ___ AP NBA:Germany is to vote in an early election on February 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalise the country’s stagnant economy. Mr Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag – a sister publication of Politico owned by the Axel Springer Group – published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month that he has supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. “The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country,” he wrote in his translated commentary. He went on to say that the far-right party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality”. The Tesla Motors chief executive also wrote that his investment in Germany gives him the right to comment on the country’s condition. The AfD is polling strongly, but its candidate for the top job, Alice Weidel, has no realistic chance of becoming chancellor because other parties refuse to work with the far-right party. Billionaire Mr Musk, an ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, challenged in his opinion piece the party’s public image. “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Mr Musk’s commentary has led to a debate in German media over the boundaries of free speech, with the paper’s own opinion editor announcing her resignation, pointedly on Mr Musk’s social media platform, X. Eva Marie Kogel wrote: “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print.” A critical article by the future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard, accompanied Mr Musk’s opinion piece. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally wrong,” he wrote. Responding to a request for comment from the German Press Agency, dpa, the current editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Ulf Poschardt, and Mr Burgard – who is due to take over on January 1 – said in a joint statement that the discussion over Mr Musk’s piece was “very insightful. Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression.” “This will continue to determine the compass of the ‘world’ in the future. We will develop ‘Die Welt’ even more decisively as a forum for such debates,” they wrote to dpa.Takashi Murakami has the kind of childlike energy that only comes with age and wisdom. One part mad genius, another part curious kid, the prolific artist is one of the biggest names in his field. And—with his hotly anticipated collaboration with Louis Vuitton hitting stores in January—one of the biggest names in fashion. In hindsight, the artist’s first collaboration with the leather goods brand for spring 2003 was a pivotal moment. It heralded high fashion’s diffusion into all parts of pop culture, and the blurring of lines between creativity and commerce that still defines the industry today. The smiling flowers and cartoon creatures that were splashed across the brand’s monogram bags came at a time when such collaborations were at the cutting edge—and before ‘kawaii’ had entered the mainstream fashion lexicon. “I didn’t really know anything about fashion at that time,” he tells Vogue , speaking via video call from his huge, warehouse-like studio in Saitama, just north of Tokyo, where members of his staff mill about in the background. “For the first four years or so I was visiting Louis Vuitton’s headquarters quite frequently, so I remember it being a learning experience for me about how a brand is built,” he says, stroking his silver goatee. “Those 20 years have passed in the blink of an eye.” In the time since, the 62-year-old has settled into the easy swagger of a man who’s made his mark on the world. “I’m getting older, so I don’t get embarrassed about anything anymore or have any goals left that I want to achieve in the future,” he says. Back when he was tapped by Marc Jacobs to collaborate with Louis Vuitton he was a well-known artist, but nowhere near the prolific icon he is today. “I used to feel ashamed when I turned up to a Louis Vuitton runway show in my shabby clothes, but nowadays I don’t care about that at all!” he laughs. His new collaboration is a reedition of his first—the familiar flowers, Panda, and his “Creatures from Planet 66” (cute characters with what looks like leaves for hair) are splashed across white and black rainbow-monogrammed bags, accessories, and even a skateboard. The Pochette, Speedy, cardholders, and more reappear, with some featuring hardware updates and ribbon-shaped bag charms. Naturally, there’s also a pet bag—what’s more Y2K than a portable chihuahua? The hype surrounding the collection has been frenetic—but Murakami says it wasn’t initially intended to be as big as it was. The secret ingredient? A certain actress and Louis Vuitton ambassador, who will be the face of the upcoming campaign for the collaboration. “It was supposed to be a capsule collection, pretty small, but when Zendaya appeared, I was like, wow!” says Murakami. “Her power is completely different, the energy she has is on another level.” Along with the re-up is a remastered version of Murakami’s film Superflat Monogram , featuring a protagonist schoolgirl who gets swallowed by the Panda and embarks on an Alice-in-Wonderland-style adventure through the artist’s variegated world of madness. “I wanted to create a story about kids entering the world of LV, and this is revisiting that,” he explains. Still, Murakami’s take on kawaii has a latent darkness that comes through in the spiky fangs, psychedelic colors, and wild, disembodied cartoon eyes that populate his work. His famous rainbow flowers represent the hope that emerged in Japan following the aftermath of the atomic bombings. For the artist, the weirder, wackier elements are what he says appeals to kids precisely because they’re not patronizing. “If I don’t incorporate some shadows somehow, kids will feel like they’re being made fun of. The world is a mess, full of desires. It’s illogical. Kids understand that.” Murakami himself is, at least in some ways, as unimpeachably positive as his flowers. At a time when many artists are worried about being replaced by AI, Murakami takes an optimistic view. “Photographers thought they’d disappear when smartphones took over, but of course they didn’t,” he says. “It’s inevitable that things change. At first, many designers, composers, and other creatives might vanish, but they’ll come back—everyone gets bored.” Murakami is riding the wave. “If old people like me don’t use new technology, we’ll just forget everything, so now is the time to study AI,” he adds, laughing as he shares that he’s recently been using it to compose music. “Hurrah for AI!” Therein lies the eccentric curiosity that keeps Takashi Murakami’s work as relevant today as it was two decades ago. “Back in the early 2000s, I told Louis Vuitton that I wanted to bring their world to children in order to expand the market,” he says in summary of the collaboration. “Now, those children are grown up.” And what about Murakami himself? A mischievous grin crinkles his face. “I’ve never become an adult!”
The Denver Nuggets are struggling to show effort consistently in their games. Despite winning five of their last seven games, their effort is a coin flip. In that span, they have good wins and bad losses. The only consistency seems to be that they have played to the level of their opponent. They struggled heavily in games against the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers while cruising to blowout victories against the Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers. In three days, they won against the Suns by 27 and also lost to them by 10. Their consistency levels are not present enough for a team wanting to win another championship. Denver Nuggets Struggle to Bring Effort Consistently Not Taking Bad Teams Seriously Starting the season 16-12 puts the Nuggets in fifth-place at the moment in a tough Western Conference. In a competitive conference, winning games against bad teams can be crucial for seeding. Home court advantage plays a large role in the playoffs. With over 50 games left to play, early losses can haunt teams. The Nuggets have not taken advantage of beating inferior teams this season. Throughout the season thus far, they have approached games against teams under .500 with lower intensity. The Nuggets have won by 20 or more points against five teams, four of which are .500 or above on the season. They have losses to the Pelicans, Trail Blazers, and Washington Wizards, who averaged 116.3 points per game in their wins against the Nuggets. The Nuggets are 7-3 against teams below .500, but their losses are glaring, and their wins over bad teams do not come impressively. Outside of their two blowout victories over the Utah Jazz, the Nuggets have a +2.6 point differential across their five other wins. Having a dominant clutch duo is saving the Nuggets against poor teams. Denver Nuggets Offense Not Always Giving Full Effort What is most shocking about the Nuggets’ mediocre start to the season is their massive disparity in offensive effort between wins and losses. In wins, the Nuggets average 127.0 points per game , 4.3 points higher than the Memphis Grizzlies, the highest-scoring offense in the NBA. In their losses, the Nuggets only average 108.5 points per game, slightly more than the 25th-best offense in the NBA. Teams play worse in their losses than in their wins, but a 20-point swing in points per game is a significant margin. Their poor shooting splits highlight their massive swing in points per game. The Nuggets’ efficiency between wins and losses is glaring. Their field goal percentage is 6.5% higher in wins, three-point percentage is 8.3% higher, and free-throw percentage is 3.1% higher. With splits as significant as the Nuggets, it is no surprise they have struggled to pull off a winning streak longer than three games. Inconsistent Supporting Cast Nikola Jokić is having a stellar season. He is at the forefront of the early MVP race . His season includes averaging 30.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 9.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He is the only player in the top 10 in all four categories. Despite his ridiculous start, the Nuggets have only won 16 games. With the team needing Jokić to perform at the highest level every night, it shows how poorly their supporting cast has played. Jamal Murray has shown flashes of greatness, but has been inconsistent and is shooting poorly . There have been trade rumors surrounding Michael Porter Jr. Injuries have kept Aaron Gordon from getting the ball rolling. The biggest positive in the supporting cast has been the infectious energy and effort of former MVP Russell Westbrook , who has revitalized his career. The Nuggets supporting cast has been unreliable since starting the season. Of the eight Nuggets averaging 20 minutes per game or more, every player outside Jokić averages fewer points per game average in losses than wins. Consistency from role players takes a team from good to great. It can be the difference between a deep playoff run and a championship. For the Nuggets to contend, they need consistent, reliable players beyond Jokić. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.
UK study warns of perils in AI-driven 'intention economy'SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Two people were rescued when a California pier partially collapsed and fell into the ocean Monday as the state's central coast was pounded by heavy surf from a major storm expected to bring hurricane-force winds to the seas off the Pacific Northwest. Residents were warned to stay away from low-lying areas near the beaches around the Santa Cruz Wharf, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco. “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service's Bay Area office said on the social platform X. Lifeguards rescued two people from the water and a third person was able to swim to safety, the Santa Cruz Fire Department said on Instagram. Their conditions were unknown. Coastal roads in Santa Cruz were closed following the pier's partial collapse, city officials said. Gov. Gavin Newsom's has been briefed and the state's Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with local officials, his office said. Ocean swells along California's central coast could reach 26 feet (8 meters) as the Pacific storm gains strength through Monday, the weather service said. “A rapidly developing storm will bring hurricane force winds to the areas well offshore of the Pacific Northwest tonight,” the weather service's Ocean Prediction Center said on X. Winds off Oregon and Washington could peak near 80 mph (130 kph) and seas will build over 30 feet (9.1 meters), forecasters said. The Santa Cruz Wharf collapse Monday came about a year after the Seacliff State Beach pier just down the coast was battered beyond repair by a heavy winter storm.Welp. This season is officially off the rails. Ohio State thoroughly handled Indiana. Oklahoma trounced Alabama. Florida dashed Mississippi's playoff hopes. Auburn upset Texas A&M. Arizona State and Kansas sent the Big 12 into chaos with their wins over BYU and Colorado. Notre Dame resoundingly ended Army's magical run. And that was all in one week! There are more than 60 voters on the AP Top 25 panel. There’s at least one voter from each state that has an FBS team and a handful of national folks. For the state of Nebraska, there’s one voter. Each week I will break down my ballot compared with the actual Top 25 and write on some pressing topics. Without further ado, here is my ballot ahead of Week 14: And here is the actual AP Top 25 for Week 14: Nothing makes sense. I think Ohio State is the best team in the nation right now. However, the Buckeyes remain No. 2 behind undefeated Oregon. Penn State, even at 10-1, doesn't feel inspiring. Barely beating Minnesota? Not cause to be optimistic. I think Indiana still deserves more credit than it gets. The whole "who have they played" narrative is tired. Of their 10 wins, three teams are bowl-eligible in Nebraska, Washington and Michigan. And Michigan State is at five wins ahead of a Week 14 game against Rutgers. I don't know what to make of the SEC or the Big 12. The SEC might be lucky to get three teams into the College Football Playoff. Two feels reasonable, but three feels like a stretch — especially depending on the final week of the regular season. Every game is winnable for the ranked SEC teams. But every game is losable, too. Auburn could beat Alabama. Texas A&M could beat Texas. Vanderbilt could beat Tennessee. And, man, how about Florida? The Gators, after everything, could finish the season 7-5. Heck, even winless Mississippi State could pull off an Egg Bowl miracle over Mississippi. But regardless of what happens, thanks to tiebreakers, Georgia has clinched the SEC championship game. There's a possibility that the Big 12 gets left out of the CFP. If Boise State runs the table in the Mountain West and Tulane runs the table in the American, there's a possibility that both of them, in two weeks, are ranked ahead of whichever Big 12 team decides it wants to win the conference. Kansas, after being left for dead at 2-6, has rattled off three straight wins over ranked teams and could be bowl-eligible with a win over Baylor. Who's going to even make the Big 12 title game? Four teams are tied at 6-2 heading into the final week of the regular season, and there's plenty of potential chaos on the horizon. And Army... congrats on a great start to the season. Apologies that it had to end the way it did against Notre Dame. Now, was Army's schedule — in retrospect — pretty cupcakey? You betcha. Florida Atlantic, Rice, Temple, Tulsa and East Carolina have all already fired their coaches. And UAB probably should, too. Did I still have them ranked this week? I did. Mostly out of the notion that winning games, above all else, is the most important piece of the puzzle here. And because, honestly, the bottom of the poll is an absolute dumpster fire that's impossible to ascertain. Also, with one week left in the regular season, 77 teams have clinched bowl eligibility out of the possible 82 spots. Two more teams are guaranteed to reach their sixth win this week as there are two games both featuring 5-win teams. There are also 12 other teams that could win and reach a sixth win. It's been a while since there were too many bowl-eligible teams — another sign of the chaos that's unfolded this year. Three teams rose five or more spots this week and one team made a return to the Top 25. Arizona State: The biggest riser of the week? The Sun Devils. They jumped up seven spots to No. 14 after their chaotic victory over BYU. That's three straight wins for Arizona State, two of which came over teams that were ranked at the time. Clemson : The Tigers jumped five spots this week to No. 12 after their convincing victory over The Citadel paired with other teams dropping spots with losses. Iowa State : The Cyclones also rose five spots after narrowly beating an injury-riddled Utah squad. That's two straight wins for the Cyclones, putting them at 9-2 and in a must-win spot this week in Farmaggedon. Missouri: Tigers fans must have whiplash. Missouri is back in the Top 25 this week after a brief stint on the outside looking in. The Tigers vaulted back in at No. 24 after beating Mississippi State, 39-20, to move to 8-3 on the season. Seven teams dropped five or more spots this week, and one team dropped out. Army: Losing like that to Notre Dame? That'll send you tumbling. Army fell seven spots this week, narrowly holding onto the No. 25 spot. Colorado: Colorado also dropped seven spots after losing to Kansas, 37-21, falling to No. 23. The Buffaloes are still in the hunt, but they're in a must-win situation against Oklahoma State this week. Alabama : The Crimson Tide is on red alert this week after they not only lost to Oklahoma, which is bad enough, but only scored three points in the game. For that, Alabama fell six spots to No. 13. Indiana : Well, the fun story of an undefeated Indiana is over. The Hoosiers lost to Ohio State and dropped five spots to No. 10. The Hoosiers could still eclipse their 11th win of the season this week when they host the struggling Purdue Boilermakers to close out the regular season. Mississippi: Mississippi said goodbye to its playoff hopes with a loss to Florida, tumbling six spots down the rankings to No. 15. BYU : The Cougars have now lost two in a row — one to Kansas and now to Arizona State. The Cougars, once the Big 12's best story of the season, fell five spots this week to No. 19. Texas A&M: Texas A&M, after losing a close game to Auburn, 43-41, dropped five spots to No. 20. Oddly enough, though, Texas A&M is still in position to make the SEC title game. Just have to get through ~checks notes~ Texas this week to get there. Washington State: The Cougars lost the de facto Pac-2 Championship Game, so they fell out this week. I didn't want any three-loss teams on my ballot at all last week, but after the chaos of this week, it was impossible to do that again. So, I kept all the three-loss teams below No. 15. And that makes my ballot a little funky compared to the consensus poll. The biggest "miss" I had was Tennessee. I had the Volunteers at No. 11, while they came in at No. 7. Their most recent win came over a struggling UTEP that's 2-9 on the season. Before that, they lost to Georgia. Before that, they beat the only winless team in SEC play in Mississippi State. Now, I'm of the mindset that you have to win the games on your schedule, but they're pretty tough to figure out. Also, I had Memphis ranked instead of Missouri. Here are the games I have circled for this week: No. 16 South Carolina (8-3, 5-3) at No. 12 Clemson (9-2, 7-1) : It's been a long time since the Palmetto Bowl featured two ranked teams — 11 years, in fact. Going to be a fun one in Clemson. 11 a.m. kick Saturday on ESPN. No. 3 Texas (10-1, 6-1) at No. 20 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2): The Lone Star Showdown is back after a 12-year hiatus, and the stakes are incredibly high as the winner will advance to the SEC title game to face Georgia. 6:30 p.m. kick on Saturday on ABC. Kansas State (8-3, 5-3) at No. 17 Iowa State (9-2, 6-2) : The Big 12 is a mess, and this game will directly influence who makes the Big 12 title game. 6:30 p.m. kick on FOX. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Jimmy Carter, the earnest Georgia peanut farmer who as U.S. president struggled with a bad economy and the Iran hostage crisis but brokered peace between Israel and Egypt and later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, died at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday, the Carter Center said. He was 100. “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” said Chip Carter, the former president’s son. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” The Carter Center said there will be public observances in Atlanta and Washington. These events will be followed by a private interment in Plains, it said. Final arrangements for the former president's state funeral are still pending, according to the center. Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, served as president from January 1977 to January 1981 after defeating incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford in the 1976 U.S. election. Carter was swept from office four years later in an electoral landslide as voters embraced Republican challenger Ronald Reagan, the former actor and California governor. Carter lived longer after his term in office than any other U.S. president. Along the way, he earned a reputation as a better former president than he was a president - a status he readily acknowledged. His one-term presidency was marked by the highs of the 1978 Camp David accords between Israel and Egypt, bringing some stability to the Middle East. But it was dogged by an economy in recession, persistent unpopularity and the embarrassment of the Iran hostage crisis that consumed his final 444 days in office. In recent years, Carter had experienced several health issues including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. Carter decided to receive hospice care in February 2023 instead of undergoing additional medical intervention. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, died on Nov. 19, 2023, at age 96. He looked frail when he attended her memorial service and funeral in a wheelchair. Carter left office profoundly unpopular but worked energetically for decades on humanitarian causes. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 in recognition of his "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Carter had been a centrist as governor of Georgia with populist tendencies when he moved into the White House as the 39th U.S. president. He was a Washington outsider at a time when America was still reeling from the Watergate scandal that led Republican Richard Nixon to resign as president in 1974 and elevated Ford from vice president. "I'm Jimmy Carter and I'm running for president. I will never lie to you," Carter promised with an ear-to-ear smile. Asked to assess his presidency, Carter said in a 1991 documentary: "The biggest failure we had was a political failure. I never was able to convince the American people that I was a forceful and strong leader." Despite his difficulties in office, Carter had few rivals for accomplishments as a former president. He gained global acclaim as a tireless human rights advocate, a voice for the disenfranchised and a leader in the fight against hunger and poverty, winning the respect that eluded him in the White House. Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his efforts to promote human rights and resolve conflicts around the world, from Ethiopia and Eritrea to Bosnia and Haiti. His Carter Center in Atlanta sent international election-monitoring delegations to polls around the world. A Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher since his teens, Carter brought a strong sense of morality to the presidency, speaking openly about his religious faith. He also sought to take some pomp out of an increasingly imperial presidency - walking, rather than riding in a limousine, in his 1977 inauguration parade. The Middle East was the focus of Carter's foreign policy. The 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, based on the 1978 Camp David accords, ended a state of war between the two neighbors. Carter brought Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland for talks. Later, as the accords seemed to be unraveling, Carter saved the day by flying to Cairo and Jerusalem for personal shuttle diplomacy. The treaty provided for Israeli withdrawal from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and establishment of diplomatic relations. Begin and Sadat each won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1978. By the 1980 election, the overriding issues were double-digit inflation, interest rates that exceeded 20% and soaring gas prices, as well as the Iran hostage crisis that brought humiliation to America. These issues marred Carter's presidency and undermined his chances of winning a second term. HOSTAGE CRISIS On Nov. 4, 1979, revolutionaries devoted to Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, seized the Americans present and demanded the return of the ousted shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was backed by the United States and was being treated in a U.S. hospital. The American public initially rallied behind Carter. But his support faded in April 1980 when a commando raid failed to rescue the hostages, with eight U.S. soldiers killed in an aircraft accident in the Iranian desert. Carter's final ignominy was that Iran held the 52 hostages until minutes after Reagan took his oath of office on Jan. 20, 1981, to replace Carter, then released the planes carrying them to freedom. In another crisis, Carter protested the former Soviet Union's 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by boycotting the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. He also asked the U.S. Senate to defer consideration of a major nuclear arms accord with Moscow. Unswayed, the Soviets remained in Afghanistan for a decade. Carter won narrow Senate approval in 1978 of a treaty to transfer the Panama Canal to the control of Panama despite critics who argued the waterway was vital to American security. He also completed negotiations on full U.S. ties with China. Carter created two new U.S. Cabinet departments - education and energy. Amid high gas prices, he said America's "energy crisis" was "the moral equivalent of war" and urged the country to embrace conservation. "Ours is the most wasteful nation on earth," he told Americans in 1977. In 1979, Carter delivered what became known as his "malaise" speech to the nation, although he never used that word. "After listening to the American people I have been reminded again that all the legislation in the world can't fix what's wrong with America," he said in his televised address. "The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America." As president, the strait-laced Carter was embarrassed by the behavior of his hard-drinking younger brother, Billy Carter, who had boasted: "I got a red neck, white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer." 'THERE YOU GO AGAIN' Jimmy Carter withstood a challenge from Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination but was politically diminished heading into his general election battle against a vigorous Republican adversary. Reagan, the conservative who projected an image of strength, kept Carter off balance during their debates before the November 1980 election. Reagan dismissively told Carter, "There you go again," when the Republican challenger felt the president had misrepresented Reagan's views during one debate. Carter lost the 1980 election to Reagan, who won 44 of the 50 states and amassed an Electoral College landslide. James Earl Carter Jr. was born on Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, one of four children of a farmer and shopkeeper. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946, served in the nuclear submarine program and left to manage the family peanut farming business. He married his wife, Rosalynn, in 1946, a union he called "the most important thing in my life." They had three sons and a daughter. Carter became a millionaire, a Georgia state legislator and Georgia's governor from 1971 to 1975. He mounted an underdog bid for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination, and out-hustled his rivals for the right to face Ford in the general election. With Walter Mondale as his vice presidential running mate, Carter was given a boost by a major Ford gaffe during one of their debates. Ford said that "there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration," despite decades of just such domination. Carter edged Ford in the election, even though Ford actually won more states - 27 to Carter's 23. Not all of Carter's post-presidential work was appreciated. Former President George W. Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, both Republicans, were said to have been displeased by Carter's freelance diplomacy in Iraq and elsewhere. In 2004, Carter called the Iraq war launched in 2003 by the younger Bush one of the most "gross and damaging mistakes our nation ever made." He called George W. Bush's administration "the worst in history" and said Vice President Dick Cheney was "a disaster for our country." In 2019, Carter questioned Republican Donald Trump's legitimacy as president, saying "he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf." Trump responded by calling Carter "a terrible president." Carter also made trips to communist North Korea. A 1994 visit defused a nuclear crisis, as President Kim Il Sung agreed to freeze his nuclear program in exchange for resumed dialogue with the United States. That led to a deal in which North Korea, in return for aid, promised not to restart its nuclear reactor or reprocess the plant's spent fuel. But Carter irked Democratic President Bill Clinton's administration by announcing the deal with North Korea's leader without first checking with Washington. In 2010, Carter won the release of an American sentenced to eight years hard labor for illegally entering North Korea. Carter wrote more than two dozen books, ranging from a presidential memoir to a children's book and poetry, as well as works about religious faith and diplomacy. His book "Faith: A Journey for All," was published in 2018. (Reporting and writing by Will Dunham; Additional reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Bill Trott, Diane Craft and Lisa Shumaker)
AP News Summary at 3:17 p.m. ESTBRYN MAWR, PA — Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act by doubling down on its efforts to protect water quality and ensure public health. Through its water utility subsidiary, Aqua, the company is advancing its commitment to combating contaminants and modernizing infrastructure. “The Safe Drinking Water Act has been the cornerstone of safe drinking water protection for the past five decades,” said Christopher Franklin, chairman and CEO of Essential Utilities. “At Essential, we lead by action — tackling PFAS contamination, replacing lead service lines ahead of federal mandates, and investing in infrastructure modernization. It’s through these efforts that we continue to protect public health, exceed regulatory standards, and ensure safe, reliable water for the communities we serve today and for generations to come.” Aqua is addressing critical challenges such as PFAS contamination by implementing advanced treatment technologies and conducting rigorous monitoring. The company is also prioritizing the replacement of aging lead service lines, taking proactive measures across its eight-state service area to safeguard public health. Essential plans to invest $765 million in water system improvements in 2024 and more than $800 million in 2025. These investments include $89 million for PFAS mitigation and $44 million for lead service line replacement. The majority of this funding will go toward replacing aging water mains and meeting increasingly stringent regulatory standards. “The 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act is a moment to celebrate the progress we’ve made and reaffirm our commitment to delivering safe, reliable water to the communities we serve,” said Colleen Arnold, president of Aqua. “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Every day, our team works diligently to ensure our water systems not only meet but exceed state and federal standards, protect public health, and adapt to future challenges.” With its focus on innovation and infrastructure enhancements, Essential Utilities is reaffirming its commitment to ensuring safe and reliable water for the communities it serves for generations to come. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN .
Atria Investments Inc acquired a new stake in Insight Enterprises, Inc. ( NASDAQ:NSIT – Free Report ) during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm acquired 999 shares of the software maker’s stock, valued at approximately $215,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Insight Enterprises in the second quarter valued at approximately $38,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Insight Enterprises by 56.9% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 452 shares of the software maker’s stock valued at $90,000 after acquiring an additional 164 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in Insight Enterprises by 40.8% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 531 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $99,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Ausbil Investment Management Ltd acquired a new stake in Insight Enterprises in the second quarter worth $195,000. Finally, Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Insight Enterprises in the second quarter valued at $200,000. Insight Enterprises Trading Up 0.8 % NASDAQ:NSIT opened at $151.11 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 1.20. Insight Enterprises, Inc. has a one year low of $146.56 and a one year high of $228.07. The company has a market cap of $4.80 billion, a PE ratio of 19.01, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.48. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $196.66 and a 200-day moving average of $201.15. Analyst Ratings Changes NSIT has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Insight Enterprises from $233.00 to $225.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Barrington Research cut their price target on Insight Enterprises from $225.00 to $205.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Insight Enterprises in a report on Friday, November 15th. They set a “buy” rating and a $220.00 price objective for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Insight Enterprises presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $212.50. View Our Latest Research Report on NSIT Insight Enterprises Company Profile ( Free Report ) Insight Enterprises, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides information technology, hardware, software, and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers modern platforms/infrastructure that manages and supports cloud and data platforms, modern networks, and edge technologies; cybersecurity solutions automates and connects modern platform securely; data and artificial intelligence modernizes data platforms and architectures, and build data analytics and AI solutions; modern workplace and apps; and intelligent edge solutions that gathers and utilizes data for real-time decision making. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NSIT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Insight Enterprises, Inc. ( NASDAQ:NSIT – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Insight Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Insight Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
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Reid’s game-winner lifts South Florida past Wright State, 73-72 at Myrtle Beach InvitationalNEW YORK — There's a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. An animated game, anyway. The real game takes place at Madison Square Garden, where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks in a game televised on ABC and ESPN and streamed on Disney+ and ESPN+. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. Madison Square Garden is a staple of the NBA's Christmas schedule. Now it merges with a bigger home of the holidays, because the "Dunk the Halls" game will be staged at Disney, on a court set up right smack in the middle of where countless families have posed for vacation photos. Why that location? Because it was Mickey Mouse's Christmas wish. "Basketball courts often have the ability to make a normal environment look special, but in Disney it can only turn out incredible," Wembanyama said in an ESPN video promoting his Christmas debut. The story — this is Disney, after all — begins with Mickey penning a letter to Santa Claus, asking if he and his pals can host a basketball game. They'll not only get to watch one with NBA players, but some of them will even get to play. Goofy and Donald Duck will sub in for a couple Knicks players, while Mickey and Minnie Mouse will come on to play for the Spurs. "It looks to me like Goofy and Jalen Brunson have a really good pick-and-roll at the elite level," said Phil Orlins, an ESPN vice president of production. Walt Disney World hosted real NBA games in 2020, when the league set up there to complete its season that had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those games were played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The setting for the Christmas game will be Main Street USA, at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. Viewers will recognize Cinderella's castle behind one baseline and the train station at the other end, and perhaps some shops they have visited in between. Previous alternate animated broadcasts included an NFL game taking place in Andy's room from "Toy Story;" the "NHL Big City Greens Classic" during a game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers; and earlier this month, another NFL matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys also taking place at Springfield's Atoms Stadium as part of "The Simpsons Funday Football." Unlike basketball, the players are helmeted in those sports. So, this telecast required an extra level of detail and cooperation with players and teams to create accurate appearances of their faces and hairstyles. "So, this is a level of detail that we've never gone, that we've never done on any other broadcast," said David Sparrgrove, the senior director of creative animation for ESPN. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 phenom from France who was last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, looks huge even among most NBA players. The creators of the alternate telecast had to design how he'd look not only among his teammates and rivals, but among mice, ducks and chipmunks. "Like, Victor Wembanyama, seeing him in person is insane. It's like seeing an alien descend on a basketball court, and I think we kind of captured that in his animated character," said Drew Carter, who will again handle play-by-play duties, as he had in the previous animated telecasts, and will get an assist from sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Wembanyama's presence is one reason the Spurs-Knicks matchup, the leadoff to the NBA's five-game Christmas slate, was the obvious choice to do the animated telecast. The noon EST start means it will begin in the early evening in France and should draw well there. Also, it comes after ABC televises the "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade" for the previous two hours, providing more time to hype the broadcast. Recognizing that some viewers who then switch over to the animated game may be Disney experts but NBA novices, there will be 10 educational explainers to help with basketball lingo and rules. Beyond Sports' visualization technology and Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking allow the animated players to make the same movements and plays made moments earlier by the real ones at MSG. Carter and analyst Monica McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast, donning VR headsets to experience the game from Main Street, USA. Other animated faces recognizable to some viewers include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who will judge a halftime dunk contest among Mickey and his friends, and Santa himself, who will operate ESPN's "SkyCam" during the game. The players are curious how the production — and themselves — will look. "It's going to be so crazy to see the game animated," Spurs veteran Chris Paul said. "I think what's dope about it is it will give kids another opportunity to watch a game and to see us, basically, as characters." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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Romanian lawmakers narrowly approve new pro-European coalitioniShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF ( NYSEARCA:IBDT – Get Free Report ) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 2,213,441 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 501% from the previous session’s volume of 368,296 shares.The stock last traded at $24.87 and had previously closed at $24.89. iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF Price Performance The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $25.06 and a 200 day simple moving average of $25.13. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF by 216.3% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 102,073 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,606,000 after buying an additional 69,806 shares in the last quarter. Lyell Wealth Management LP increased its holdings in iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF by 17.7% during the 3rd quarter. Lyell Wealth Management LP now owns 308,104 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,866,000 after acquiring an additional 46,353 shares in the last quarter. Spinnaker Trust raised its position in iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF by 20.4% during the third quarter. Spinnaker Trust now owns 170,234 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,346,000 after acquiring an additional 28,863 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF by 9.0% in the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 299,491 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,646,000 after purchasing an additional 24,852 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $602,000. iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF Company Profile The iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF (IBDT) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a Bloomberg index of USD-denominated, investment-grade corporate bonds maturing between Jan 1 and Dec 15, 2028. IBDT was launched on Sep 18, 2018 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Patriots coach Jerod Mayo believes narrow loss to Bills shows potential of his young team
Melbourne cafe supremo Rashid Alshakshir is, in many ways, the epitome of a small business success story. The one-time aspiring journalist and student filmmaker pivoted several years ago into marketing and hospitality and is now the co-owner of the newly opened, trendy Tickled Pink cafe in Canngu, in Bali, building upon the brand’s outlets in Thornbury, Elwood and Richmond. More recently, Alshakshir has been involved in a far more lucrative business, earning $35 million in 18 months providing investment “leads” to property developer and fund manager Paul Chiodo. Until June, Chiodo had overseen the massive $480 million Shield Master Fund managed investment scheme and the Keystone Asset Management investment house, as well as a development pipeline of exclusive, five-star resorts worth $1 billion in places such as Port Douglas, Fiji and Venice. Alshakshir’s side hustle with Chiodo appears to have been stymied by an investigation by the corporate watchdog into the affairs of Chiodo and the investments of the Shield Master Fund, which is now frozen, trapping the life savings of 6000 Australians. Part of the regulator’s probe includes reviewing the relationship between Chiodo and the cafe owner and the other 16 or so lead generators who were paid $65 million in total – or 13 per cent of the money raised from investors – for marketing services. in early August revealed concerns at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) that a large proportion of the Shield Master Fund’s money had been improperly directed to another fund that then solely provided loans and mortgages to Chiodo’s property development business. ASIC alleges these investments may have been out of step with the fund’s stated investment intentions given it appears investors had believed they were investing in shares in listed companies and in a diversified portfolio of property developments and secured loans. This masthead also uncovered that several of the Chiodo developments invested in by the fund were for ambitious five-star hotel projects that had no planning approval and faced lengthy delays compared to the completion times touted in promotional material. This included $140 million of investor money being advanced to a property development in Port Douglas, which had no planning approval. It has since emerged that the fund, via its Quantum PE sub-fund, had invested in the Tickled Pink cafe business – which is owned by the man who was generating leads for new investors into the Chiodo investment empire. and “precipitous”, noting it had a disastrous impact on investors in the fund despite his efforts to work constructively with ASIC and receivers to his business. ASIC has made no formal charges against Chiodo and there is a chance the corporate watchdog’s investigation may result with no action being taken against the once highly flying property developer and fund manager who tried in vain to rescue the Shield Master Fund from entering administration before liquidators were appointed. There is also no suggestion that Alshakshir, who runs Bespoke Marketing, the business headquartered in Sydney Road, Coburg, as well as the cafes, has any involvement in the Shield Master Fund or Chiodo’s development business. The payments to Alshakshir’s business are, however, of interest to ASIC and to liquidators from Deloitte, Jason Tracy and Luci Palaghia, who are reviewing whether they can claw back the payments for the investors in the fund. ASIC highlighted the relationship between one of Chiodo’s entities and Alshakshir’s business NOHAP in court documents filed by the regulator when obtaining freezing orders over Chiodo’s assets this year. “ASIC suspects that Keystone has been paying commissions to lead generators engaged to assist Keystone in promoting investments in the SMF [Shield Master Fund]. ASIC is particularly concerned with certain payments made to NOHAP,” the regulator said in the documents. Commission payments to financial advisers for product recommendations are banned in Australia under laws put in place to stamp out conflicted remuneration. However, payments for marketing services are permitted. There is also no suggestion that Keystone paid any commissions to financial advisers. ASIC acknowledged in its court documents that Keystone and related group CF Capital maintained a policy that explicitly stated that neither ever paid commissions for financial advice in explaining the relationship between Alshakshir and Chiodo. “The agreement [between NOHAP and Chiodo Corporation Operations] variously provided that NOHAP would provide Chiodo Operations with services variously involving the identification and encouragement of ‘potential clients’ (expressly not involving the provision of advice),” ASIC said in its court filing. “NOHAP was to be paid significant fees and commissions as to any resulting person who invested in any financial product promoted, offered or managed by Chiodo Operations or a related entity of Chiodo Operations (including any fund).” Chiodo, when approached by this masthead for comment, said the payments were entirely above board and common in the industry. “Every fund undertakes marketing including the industry super funds via media, sporting sponsorships, radio and social media. There is nothing unusual about funds paying for marketing to gain more investors. The benefits to members are obvious as validated by large funds also using these forms of marketing strategies,” he said. Chiodo said that successful marketing resulted in leads for the business, and called it “marketing 101”. “The leads came from marketing consultants, which was approved expenditure by Keystone. Chiodo Corporation acted on instructions by Keystone to enter into contracts and to make marketing payments under the direction of Keystone,” he said. “Keystone engaged specialised marketing consultants under a fee-for-service arrangement that exists in this marketplace [which] provides these services a wide range of fund managers including the large industry funds.” Chiodo added that Alshakshir’s business was used by other leading fund managers for marketing to generate leads on prospective clients, and that doing so was common in the industry. Keystone’s also included paying $700,000 in corporate event appearance fees to big-name NBA players Allen Iverson and Josh Giddey, and boxers Tyson Fury and Floyd Mayweather Jr. It’s not clear if Alshakshir was involved in those corporate events. But he does have a strong marketing background and an interest in marketing for financial services, which appears to have blossomed in the past two years. This includes three websites focused on helping Australians better plan for their retirement, according to company documents and searches of website ownership databases. Two of the websites – Superfinder.au an Australianlostsuper.com.au – help Australians find and consolidate their lost superannuation. Another, mysmsfaustralia.com.au, educates people about the benefits of self-managed superannuation. The websites, which listed a business email address associated with Alshakshir, were all closed on December 18, following an inquiry from this masthead to Alshakshir to that email address the previous day. Alshakshir did not respond to the inquiry. There is no suggestion the sites were tied to Chiodo’s business or were conducting any work that was not in line with the law, just that they show Alshakshir’s burgeoning interest in marketing services that help Australians save for their retirement. Before being shuttered, all the sites made it clear there is no provision of financial advice, which requires a licence. Instead, the two lost super sites offered a call line and the self-managed superannuation business said it was only “Connecting you with licensed financial planners and advisers for super and other personal investment advice”. The website closure isn’t the only part of Alshakshir’s business that is in wind-down mode. In November, he and his business partners hung up closed signs at the Tickled Pink cafe outlets in Thornbury, Elwood and Richmond. The cafe in Canngu is also in hiatus, according to a post on its Instagram page which reads: “We are temporarily closed. And working on something exciting. Stay tuned.” Asked about the Tickled Pink business, including the closure of the Melbourne venues, Chiodo said: “Tickled Pink had three thriving businesses in Melbourne and their international strategy in Bali made for it to be a good investment. Tickled Pink upon completing the Bali restaurant fitout delivered a $15 million valuation. “I understand that that Bali business is still thriving, and they are about to complete the fitout of their second restaurant in Bali, which will only improve the valuation.” Hopefully for investors, that valuation uplift proves true.MORRISANIA, The Bronx (WABC) -- A crying newborn was found in a bag in the Bronx. The baby girl was discovered on Reverend James Polite Avenue in the Morrisania section, wrapped in a blanket and inside a bag. The baby was taken to Jacobi Hospital and is doing well. Police are trying to find out who abandoned the child. ---------- * More Bronx news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
There is a real fear that AI’s impact on hiring will actually hurt the chances of hiring the best candidates , says Sara Gutierrez, Chief Science Officer at SHL . However, she clarifies this statement by adding that AI can also help employers screen out those using AI to cheat while enhancing the interview experience for genuine applicants. AI is becoming frequently used in human resources.The future of AI in HR will be focused on skills-based resourcing instead of role-based resourcing. Furthermore, as jobs and skills data gets more complex, this is directing firms to lean more towards AI. With assessments and skill based hiring being the best way to hire top talent and candidates in 2025, Gutierrez states it is important to really perfect this hiring process and provide personalized feedback. In terms of how AI is set to disrupt human resources in 2025, Gutierrez predicts: “We’re going to see a change in how we’re looking to assess candidate skills. With the advent and bringing Gen. AI into the process, we’re going to see more personalization and interactivity into the assessment space. That can benefit us in multiple ways because Gen. AI can also help candidates cheat, or use nefariously to better their scores.” The need for improved scrutiny of job applications is essential, observes Gutierrez: “We’re in need of assessments that can resist cheating via AI, so we’re going to see organizations continue to invest in dynamic context-based questions. We will see more problem-solving tasks or assessments focused on critical thinking. Assessments that can’t be cheated.” While AI will revolutionize the assessment process, it will also help the candidate by giving feedback: “A secondary benefit of that is going to come with the use of AI through the insights coming out of those assessments. We’re going to see more personalization. We’ll see more personalized feedback coming to the candidates. So it feels like a better experience for them,” Gutierrez states. However, the most promising future is that of interactive assessments. Here Gutierrez thinks: “There is also a world in which the assessment becomes more interactive. Along the way, based on how the candidate is responding, obviously we need to be very careful that we’re having a standardized assessment process and we’re treating every candidate fairly. We have more flexibility as technology grows and allows us to reach out and try new things that we haven’t been able to do in the past.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.Andrews Sykes Group plc ( LON:ASY – Get Free Report ) shares hit a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 480 ($6.04) and last traded at GBX 503.40 ($6.33), with a volume of 143 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 496.50 ($6.25). Andrews Sykes Group Stock Up 1.4 % The stock has a market cap of £210.72 million, a P/E ratio of 1,227.80 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a current ratio of 2.11, a quick ratio of 3.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.80. The firm’s fifty day moving average is GBX 517.74 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 543.60. About Andrews Sykes Group ( Get Free Report ) Andrews Sykes Group plc, an investment holding company, engages in the hire, sale, and installation of environmental control equipment in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and internationally. The company operates through Hire and Sales UK, Hire and Sales Europe, Hire and Sales Middle East, and Installation and Maintenance segments. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Andrews Sykes Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Andrews Sykes Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .