how to play baccarat
Packers fail yet again to produce a premier performance against a top NFC team in loss to Vikings
LONDON (AP) — When had their say in 2024, their message was often: “You’re fired.” Some 70 countries that are home to half the world’s population held elections this year, and in many . From and to , and , voters tired of economic disruption and global instability rejected sitting governments — and sometimes turned to disruptive outsiders. The rocky democratic landscape just seemed to get bumpier as a dramatic year careened toward its end, with mass protests in and , an election and an attempt to impose Cas Mudde, a professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia who studies extremism and democracy, summed up 2024 in Prospect magazine as “a great year for the far right, a terrible year for incumbents and a troublesome year for democracy around the world.” Incumbents battered One message sent by voters in 2024: They’re fed up. University of Manchester political scientist Rob Ford has attributed the anti-incumbent mood to “electoral long COVID” -– lingering pandemic-related health, education, social and economic disruptions that have made millions of people unhappier and worse off. High inflation, fueled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and mass displacement from that war and conflicts in the Middle East and Africa have added to the global unease. In South Africa, high helped drive a dramatic loss of support for the African National Congress, which had governed for three decades since the end of the . The party lost its political dominance in May’s election and was forced to go into coalition with opposition parties. Incumbents also were defeated in Senegal, Ghana and , where voters ousted the party that had been in power for 58 years since independence from Britain. Namibia’s extended its 34 years in power in December -– but only by a whisker. Uruguay’s leftist opposition candidate, , became the country’s new president in a November runoff that delivered another rebuke to incumbents. In India, the world’s largest democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party lost its parliamentary majority in a shock election result in June after a decade of dominance. It was forced to govern in coalition as the opposition doubled its strength in Parliament. Japanese politics entered a new era of uncertainty after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s governing Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled almost without interruption since 1955, suffered a major loss in October amid voter anger at party financial scandals. It now leads a minority government. The saw the right-of-center Conservatives ousted after 14 years in office as the center-left Labour Party swept to power in a landslide. But the results also revealed growing fragmentation: Support for the two big parties that have dominated British politics for a century shrank as voters turned to smaller parties, including the hard-right party Reform U.K. led by Nigel Farage. Authoritarians advance Britain is not alone in seeing a rise for the right. Elections in June for the parliament of the saw conservative populists and the far right rock ruling parties in France and Germany, the EU’s biggest and most powerful members. The anti-immigration National Rally party won the first round of in June, but alliances and tactical voting by the center and left knocked it down to third place in the second round, producing a and a fragile government that collapsed in a Dec. 4 no-confidence vote. In Austria, the conservative governing People’s Party was beaten by the far-right, pro-Russia Freedom Party in September, though other parties allied to keep it out of a coalition government. Nepotism and political dynasties continued to exert influence -– and to be challenged. After in February, Pakistan elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, younger brother of three-time leader Nawaz Sharif. Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest democracy, elected , son-in-law of the late dictator . Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the world’s longest-serving female leader, won in a January election that . Months later, her 15-year rule came to a tumultuous end: After mass student-led protests in which hundreds were killed, Hasina was ousted in August and fled to India. In Sri Lanka, voters also rejected a discredited old guard. Voters elected the Marxist as president in September, two years after an island-wide public movement by an engaged middle class removed the long-ruling Rajapaksa clan. Interference allegations Covert meddling and online disinformation were growing concerns in 2024. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said that this year it took down 20 election-related “covert influence operations around the world, including in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the U.S.” It said Russia was the top source of such meddling, followed by Iran and China. In Romania, far-right candidate Călin Georgescu came from nowhere to win the first round of the presidential election in November, aided in part by a flood of TikTok videos promoting his campaign. Amid allegations of Russian meddling, Romania’s runoff two days before it was due to take place after a trove of declassified intelligence alleged Russia organized a sprawling campaign across social media to promote Georgescu. No date has yet been set for a rerun. Moldova’s won a November runoff against her Moscow-friendly rival in an election seen as pivotal to the future of one of Europe’s poorest nations. Georgia has seen huge protests since an election in October was won by the pro-Moscow Georgian Dream party, which suspended negotiations on joining the European Union. The opposition and the pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, have accused the governing party of rigging the vote with Russia’s help. Uncertainty reigns Possibly the year’s most seismic result, in November’s U.S. presidential election, has America’s allies and opponents bracing for what the unpredictable “America-first” leader will do with his second term. And instability already reigns on several continents as the year ends. Venezuela has been in political crisis since a July election marred by serious fraud allegations which both President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition claim to have won. Amid opposition protests and a harsh crackdown, opposition candidate Edmundo González went into exile in Spain. In Mozambique, the Frelimo party that has ruled for half a century was declared the winner of an October election that the opposition called rigged. across the country South Korea’s conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol — weakened after the liberal opposition retained control in an April election -– astonished the country by declaring martial law in a late-night announcement on Dec. 3. Parliament voted to overturn the decision six hours later, and within days voted to impeach Yoon. The crisis in the deeply divided country is far from over. Democracy’s bumpy ride looks likely to continue in 2025, with embattled incumbents facing challenge in countries including Germany, where Chancellor lost a confidence vote on Dec. 16, triggering an early election likely in February. Canada will also vote in 2025, with the governing Liberals and increasingly divided after almost a decade in power. Seema Shah, head of democracy assessment at the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said global surveys suggest support for the concept of democracy remains strong, but the numbers plummet “when you ask people how satisfied they are with their own democracy.” “People want democracy. They like the theory of it,” she said. “But when they see it actually play out, it’s not living up to their expectations.” ___ Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, contributed to this story. Jill Lawless, The Associated Press
Published 3:03 pm Thursday, December 12, 2024 By Minnesota Public Radio Back to the nitty gritty of governing after a national campaign, Gov. Tim Walz urged lawmakers Thursday to avoid a “retreat” to political corners and promised to put forward a package of anti-fraud measures he hopes both parties can rally around. In an interview with MPR News, Walz also pressed for patience on the marijuana market rollout and said while his time on the presidential stage has ended, his outspokenness on major issues won’t stop. He said he remains in touch with some of the people he encountered across the country, from those who are well known to those who are fighting through everyday problems. It was the governor’s first interview with MPR News since his run for vice president, which ended in defeat. Walz had limited interaction with Minnesota media during his three-month bid for the nation’s second-highest office. On the issue of misuse of state funds, he said his administration has taken steps to root out unlawful spending but would put forward additional changes in 2025. Among them would be tougher penalties for those who attempt to fleece funds intended to serve children and people with disabilities. “This is not a victimless crime, and it is one that I consider to be incredibly harmful,” Walz said. “I would just like the tools to be able to maybe shut them down earlier, or to be able to detect it a bit sooner.” The comment came hours after FBI agents raided a pair of centers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud that serves people with autism as part of a Medicaid fraud investigation. Republicans and Democrats at the Capitol have both called for renewed efforts to weed out improper use of state government dollars. Walz said he would like to empower agencies to more quickly cut off grants to suspected fraudsters – a pause that he said could be easily lifted if everything checks out. Walz said he’s also settling back into his role in St. Paul following a whirlwind campaign that took him around the country. Walz was tapped to run by Vice President Kamala Harris after making a name for himself on a series of televised interviews criticizing Republicans’ policy priorities as “weird.” He had also built up clout among Democrats across the country in his role as chair of the Democratic Governors Association. He said he’s feeling back in the swing of things at the Capitol. “To still have the privilege of being governor of Minnesota was, if you will, kind of a nice consolation,” Walz said. Reflecting on his run, Walz said that while policies that Democrats were talking about – from paid leave to guaranteed cost-free access to school meals – were resonating, inflation and immigration turned out to be driving issues for voters that his party didn’t do well enough connecting with voters on. “Sometimes the other team plays better than you, and sometimes you don’t play to where you should be,” Walz said. “And I think this is more complex than that, but not altogether untrue.” He said his party has its work cut out for it as it works to rebound. Even as Democrats embrace policies popular with working-class voters, Walz said there is distrust of the party brand in some corners. “We’re gonna have to figure out how to make that case clearer and broader,” he said of the issues where he believes Democrats are more in line with the wishes of those voters. Walz declined to offer an endorsement in the contest to pick a new Democratic National Committee chair even though his longtime homestate chair and friend Ken Martin is in the running. He praised Martin but left it there. “I’m staying out of that one,” Walz said. After a loss to Republican President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, Walz returns to a new power dynamic in St. Paul. Democrats held a one-seat advantage in the Senate but stand poised to share custody of the Minnesota House on a 67-67 split. The governor said he thinks there is common ground to be found on health care, government efficiency and guardrails around technology such as artificial intelligence. He said he hopes that Republicans will be willing to strike a deal on a construction projects plan, which failed to pass in 2024. But he said he won’t agree to link it to other, unrelated topics. “I’m actually thinking this could be a productive session, if we don’t retreat to our particular corners,” Walz said. He said he was already holding phone calls with co-chairs of House committees who will have to find ways to muscle bills through the split-control chamber. He pointed back to 2019, when lawmakers in divided government were able to pass a budget and approve changes addressing problems with the state’s driver licensing system. “If democracy is going to work, you’re going to have to compromise,” Walz stressed. “And so I’m very hopeful.” Lawmakers have to pass a two-year budget before July or risk a state government shutdown. State budget officials last week said that while Minnesota has a projected $616 million surplus for the next budget, assuming ongoing spending remains on track with current levels, a deficit looms over the two years that follow. Republican leaders have said the state should assess areas where the state could pare back existing spending to stave off a shortfall down the road. Meanwhile, DFL leaders said the state remained in a strong financial position, and has a full rainy day fund should the state see a downturn down the road. Walz said lawmakers would have to make hard choices during the 2025 legislative session about areas of state government that could be cut or held constant to offset the growing price tag for special education and care for people with disabilities. He said those were areas that he would not look to pare back. “I think that over the horizon, there are going to be some hard discussions, but I think both Democrats and Republicans agree, especially with those groups of people, folks who need disability services and our children with special needs, we want to deliver that,” Walz said. Slow cannabis rollout The Office of Cannabis Management on Wednesday announced that the state’s timeline for rolling out its budding cannabis industry would be delayed , following a set of legal challenges over license preapprovals. A pair of lotteries for applicants – first social equity applicants, then a broader general pool – are set to take place this May or June. That means that the first recreational cannabis businesses not associated with tribes could be on hold for longer. The retail launch could come almost two years after it became legal for adults 21 and older to use, possess or home grow small amounts of cannabis in Minnesota. Walz said he advised his cannabis office to grudgingly put the court challenge to rest by moving beyond an early licensing process. He said he expects the market to develop before long. “The bottom line is that sometime early this spring or summer will issue those licenses, folks will be growing for retail sales, you’ll start to see some of these dispensaries open up, and then from there it’ll just be the market will work. The industry will mature.” To people who might be growing impatient with the pace of the rollout, Walz said it takes time to get it right. “So we passed this thing in 2023, the goal was to have these things up and running sometime late this year or early next year,” he said. “We’re pretty close to on-time to do that.”
Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems
Suspended soccer coach Bev Priestman has broken her silence, saying she hopes something positive comes out of the ongoing Canadian drone-spying scandal. “I hope out of a really tough situation, this is a turning point for our game,” she wrote in an Instagram post via her verified account. “There has been a standard and precedent set now, irrespective of gender, tournament or associated revenues that will hopefully clean up our game.” She did not address her role in the affair in the six-paragraph post. Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi are all serving one-year FIFA bans for their role in the scandal, which saw the Canada women’s team use a drone to spy on two New Zealand training sessions at the Olympics. Canada Soccer says the three won’t be back in the wake of the recent independent report into the scandal. Lombardi is already gone, having resigned his position after the Olympics. “The findings of the independent investigator reveal that the incident itself was a symptom of a difficult and unacceptable past culture within the national teams,” Canada Soccer chief executive officer and general secretary Kevin Blue and president and board chair Peter Augruso said in a statement when the report was released earlier this month. Canada Soccer continues to investigate the roots of the spying scandal and has initiated a disciplinary process against former men’s and women’s coach John Herdman, currently coach of Toronto FC. The governing body has said it “has initiated a proceeding with respect to Mr. Herdman under its Disciplinary Code.” Herdman did not speak to Sonia Regenbogen, who wrote the report. Priestman signed a new contract in January that runs through the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The 38-year-old Priestman took over the Canadian women on Nov. 1, 2020, and was initially appointed “through the next quadrennial.” She had been working on a rolling contract — until the new deal. “It has and will continue to take some time to process, heal, find the right words and step back into a public setting but I felt I should say something irrespective of ongoing circumstances,” Priestman wrote. In addition to the suspensions, FIFA docked the Canadian women six points in the group stage at the Olympics and fined Canada Soccer 200,000 Swiss francs ($312,815). Despite that, defending champion Canada still managed to make the knockout round before losing a penalty shootout to Germany in the quarterfinals. “I know that amazing group was ready to reach the top again this summer, but in many ways what they did was even more special under such difficult circumstances,” Priestman wrote. She also thanked those who had reached out to her. “You continue to help me through some dark days,” she said. Canadian under-20 coach Cindy Tye has been named interim coach for the sixth-ranked Canadians’ upcoming friendlies in Spain against Iceland and South Korea.Greece to Face Higher Costs if It Rejects Russian Gas – Russian Ambassador
NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP: To: All persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired securities of Sun Communities, Inc. ("SUI" or the "Company") SUI between February 28, 2019 and September 24, 2024, both dates inclusive . You are hereby notified that the class action lawsuit Michelle Nelson v. Sun Communities, Inc., et al. (Case No. 2:24-cv-13314) has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. To get more information go to: https://zlk.com/pslra-1/sun-communities-inc-lawsuit-submission-form or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500. There is no cost or obligation to you. The complaint alleges that defendants provided investors with material information concerning SUI's accounting practices and internal control over financial reporting. On September 24, 2024, after market close, an investment research report emerged calling into question the integrity of SUI's Board and the integrity of the Company's governance, controls, and financial disclosures. Investors and analysts reacted immediately to SUI's revelation. The price of SUI's common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $139.10 per share on September 24, 2024, SUI's stock price fell to a low of $137.48 per share on September 25, 2024. If you suffered a loss in SUI securities , you have until February 10, 2025 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Joseph E. Levi, Esq. Ed Korsinsky, Esq. 33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor New York, NY 10004 jlevi@levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500 Fax: (212) 363-7171 www.zlk.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.COLUMBUS, Ohio — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana 38-15 on Saturday. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 2) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 CFP) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. “In life, all good things come to an end,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. Curt Cignetti after the game: “In life, all good things come to an end.” #IUFB @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/zbkABIPLuZ Late in the first half, Indiana punter James Evans fumbled a snap and was buried at his own 7-yardline with the Buckeyes taking over. That turned quickly into a 4-yard TD run by Henderson that gave the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead. Early in the second half, Caleb Downs fielded an Evans punt at the Ohio State 21, raced down the right sideline, cut to the middle and outran the coverage for a TD that put the Buckeyes up 21-7. It was the first time a Buckeye returned a punt for a touchdown since 2014. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. “Our guys just played with a chip today, and that’s the way you got to play the game of football,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. Indiana scored on its first possession of the game and its last, both short runs by Ty Son Lawson, who paced the Hoosiers with 79 rushing yards. Rourke was 8 for 18 for 68 yards. “We had communication errors, pass (protection), every time we dropped back to pass, something bad happened," Cignetti said. Indiana's 151 total yards was its lowest of the season. And it was the most points surrendered by the Hoosier's defense. “We didn’t handle the noise very well, we didn’t. I don’t think we played our best game today” On the playoffs: “I don’t make those decisions.” Says he thinks the focus should be on Purdue who IU hasn’t beaten since 2019. #IUFB @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/R5hbXg7ULH Indiana: Its special season was blemished by the Buckeyes, who beat the Hoosiers for the 30th straight time. Indiana was eyeing its first conference crown since sharing one with two other teams in 1967. That won't happen now. “Ohio State deserved to win,” Cignetti said. “They had those (third quarter scores), and we just couldn’t respond.” Ohio State: Didn't waste the opportunities presented by the Hoosiers when they got sloppy. The Buckeyes led 14-7 at the break and took control in the second half. An offensive line patched together because of multiple injuries performed surprisingly well. “We know what was at stake," Day said. “We don't win this game, and we have no chance to go to Indianapolis and play in the Big Ten championship. And that's real. We've had that approach for the last few weeks now, more than that.” Some voters were obviously unsure of Indiana because it hadn't played a nationally ranked team before Ohio State. After this one, the Hoosiers will drop. Howard made history by completing 80% of his passes for the sixth time this season. No other Ohio State quarterback has done that. He completed his first 14 passes in a row and finished with a 85% completion rate. “I think Buckeye nation is now seeing, after 11 games, that this guy is a winner, he's tough, he cares about his teammates, he's a leader,” Day said. Indiana hosts Purdue in the regular-season finale next Saturday. Ohio State hosts rival Michigan on Saturday.
Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsDrones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The top of the NFC standings are towering over the Green Bay Packers as they move toward the playoffs, casting a long shadow shaped like Vikings, Lions and Eagles over what has been an otherwise-promising season on both sides of the ball. For as well as the Packers (11-5) had been playing down the stretch, they left Minnesota with a rather murky outlook for the playoffs after stumbling into a 17-point deficit that proved too large for their late surge in the 27-25 loss to the Vikings on Sunday . “They continued to compete and battle, but you just can’t do that against good teams. The margins in this league, especially against a good football team, are razor thin," coach Matt LaFleur said. "I don’t think we were at our best, but that’s a credit to them in our slow start — and that’s me as much as anybody.” The Packers gained 126 yards in the fourth quarter and still finished with a season-low 271 yards. The defense allowed 441 yards, which was also a season worst. The most glaring set of numbers after this frustrating afternoon, though, was this: 0-5. That's Green Bay's record against the top three teams in the NFC: Minnesota, Detroit and Philadelphia. There's no shame in losing to those opponents that carry a combined 40-7 record into Monday, particularly when four of those defeats — save for the 10-point loss to the Lions on Nov. 3 — came by a total of 12 points. “It’s not about who we can and can’t beat. We can beat everybody. If we figure out how to finish, we’ll win games,” cornerback Keisean Nixon said. But the Packers will more than likely be on the road the entire time they're alive in the playoffs, so any path to the Super Bowl would undoubtedly trigger rematches with one, two or even all three teams from that daunting trio. The Packers clearly aren't overmatched by the Vikings, Lions or Eagles, but in games against those premier foes that significantly shrink the margins for error the Packers have shown a troubling pattern of not meeting the moment with too many ill-timed mistakes and not enough big-time plays. “It's hard when you put yourself in a hole and are down early and just kind of shooting yourself in the foot,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “There’s so much stuff to clean up and get better at, but I think we’re still a really good team. We can put up points. But when you put yourself in a hole, it’s just hard to climb out of that hole. And when it’s a good team like the Vikings, you know, it just makes it even tougher.” The red flag came right away. Josh Jacobs, the NFL 's fourth-leading rusher, had just given the Packers a second first down on the opening drive of the game when defensive tackle Jerry Tillery pushed the ball out and safety Cam Bynum recovered at the Minnesota 38. Jacobs had gone 11 straight games without fumbling until losing one at Seattle on Dec. 15. Now he has coughed up the ball twice in three games. “I feel like it drained the energy out of the team just starting early,” Jacobs said. “I take it personal on getting the team to start fast and things like that. Yeah, that’s on me.” Though the Vikings punted on the subsequent possession, they moved the ball enough to flip the field position. Perhaps wary of the fumble getting in Jacobs' head, LaFleur then called three straight passes from their own 15-yard line, and Love was off the mark on all three to force a punt. After a breakout performance here a year ago in a 33-10 victory over the Vikings that helped the Packers squeak into the playoffs after a rough start and ride the momentum through a first-round win at Dallas, Love looked awfully ordinary amid the cocktail of blitzes ordered by Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores that fueled a fierce pass rush. He finished 19 for 30 for 185 yards and one touchdown. “They do a good job of keeping a lid on the coverage. That’s how they play," LaFleur said. "We knew that going in, so there was going to be minimal opportunities to push the ball down the field. You've got to be super efficient. You've got to stay on schedule because once they get you into third down, that’s where they’re really good.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLCalifornia reports more illnesses in people who drank raw milk. Here are the risks, according to health expertsWASHINGTON (AP) — In the history of American politics, there's no shortage of presidents who promised to shake up Washington once they got to the White House. But Donald Trump may prove to be in a class of his own, and he appears more interested in beating the federal government into submission than recalibrating it. In staffing his administration, Trump has shown an inclination to select people who distrust or even disdain the agencies that they've been chosen to lead, setting up a potential war of attrition between the incoming Republican president and American institutions. “There’s been nothing like what Trump is suggesting to do," said Doug Brinkley, a presidential historian. "We’re talking about dismantling the federal government.” Trump's approach will become even clearer this week as Kash Patel, his choice for FBI director , heads to Capitol Hill for an initial round of meetings with senators who will decide whether to confirm him to the post. A former national security official who has branded himself as an eager acolyte of Trump, Patel has talked about shutting down the agency's headquarters, splitting up its responsibilities and targeting Trump's perceived enemies. Greg Brower, a former U.S. attorney who served as the FBI’s top congressional affairs official, said Trump seems to want to make the nation’s law enforcement institutions “part of his political operation run out of the White House.” “That’s a major course change that I’m just not sure a majority of senators are willing to endorse," Brower said. Republican senators are already considering whether to support Pete Hegseth, whom Trump wants to lead the Pentagon , despite allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement. Hegseth is an Army veteran and former Fox News commentator who has described the military as flooded with “woke” liberal ideology. He also wants to remove women from combat roles. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team and the incoming White House press secretary, said the next administration wants to “shatter the Deep State," a term for entrenched civil servants who have frustrated Trump and his allies. “President Trump was re-elected by a resounding mandate from the American people to change the status quo in Washington,” she said in a statement. “That’s why he has chosen brilliant and highly-respected outsiders to serve in his Administration, and he will continue to stand behind them as they fight against all those who seek to derail the MAGA Agenda.” Margaret Spelling, who served as education secretary under President George W. Bush, said it is “probably not a good management style" to treat government employees as adversaries. “If you’re going to turn the tide or redirect the ship of state, you’ve got to have help doing it," she said. "And that’s people who work there already.” Spelling's former department could be outright eliminated if Trump has his way. His choice of education secretary , Linda McMahon, has never worked in the field. She served for one year on the Connecticut Board of Education and is a member of the board of trustees at a private university. McMahon lead the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term, and she made a name for herself by running World Wrestling Entertainment, a cultural juggernaut that features musclebound men beating each other up in elaborately scripted fights. Trump's plans for the federal government blend conservative ideology, which has long viewed Washington as too intrusive in Americans' daily lives, with his personal vendettas. After being plagued by investigations and contradicted by career officials during his first term, the returning president has no interest in a replay and he's more skeptical of insider views that clash with his own instincts. Some of his personnel choices have alarmed political opponents, but Trump's approach could prove appealing to voters whose faith in government has sunk to record lows in recent years. Only about 2 in 10 Americans trust the government to do the right thing always or most of the time, according to the Pew Research Center , down from around 4 in 10 who said this in 2000 — before the upheaval of a global financial crisis, an inconclusive war on terrorism and a worldwide pandemic. Kay Schlozman, a Boston College political science professor, said Trump's nominees could be viewed as "an extension of his capacity to question the received wisdom and question the supposed elites who always run everything.” Some of the largest gaps between expertise and personnel have been evident in public health. Trump chose Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services despite his reputation as one of the most prolific spreaders of unfounded theories about the supposed danger of vaccines. Trump also picked Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of public health measures like lockdowns and vaccine mandates that were used during the coronavirus outbreak, to run the National Institutes of Health , the country's top medical research agency. In other areas of government, loyalty has often been prized over expertise. Lee Zeldin, a former New York congressman, never served on any committees dealing with the environment during nearly a decade on Capitol Hill. Now he’s on deck to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Brinkley said it's not uncommon to have presidents attempt to change how Washington works. Richard Nixon tried to circumvent government agencies by centralizing decision-making in the White House, and Warren Harding stocked his Cabinet with business leaders. But Brinkley said Trump's approach is more venomous, and he seems to be setting up his staff to compete to be the most zealous. “It’s got a gladiator feel," he said. "They each want to show that they’ve got a scalp to punish the so-called deep state, the legacy media or the Democratic Party.” Another way that Trump is taking on Washington is the Department of Government Efficiency , an independent advisory organization that will be run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Musk, the world's richest man, and Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur, plan to provide ideas on dramatically reducing federal spending and cutting the government workforce. They also said Trump should sidestep Congress whenever possible, setting up a potential constitutional clash. Theda Skocpol, a Harvard University professor of government and sociology, agreed that Americans are often doubtful about Washington's effectiveness. “But it doesn’t mean there’s going to be an easy path to eliminating entire departments or functions of government because people will realize they have the stakes in those things,” she said. However, Skocpol said, chaos might be the actual goal. “Parts of American conservatism have been trying to make government a mess when they control it, and then use it as an argument for less government," she said. ____ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
Why Miami’s Pop-Tarts Bowl appearance is important even after missing College Football Playoff
Princely Umanmielen’s return to the Swamp ends with a loss and a police escortPatrick Roy showed as much anger as he had since becoming Islanders coach. And this came after a win. His ire was fueled after the Islanders took a four-goal lead in the third period against NHL-worst Chicago and then had to hold on for a 5-4 victory on Thursday night at UBS Arena. “A win is a win and we play to win games,” said Roy, a Hall of Fame goalie. “I guess times have changed because, in my days, if my team would have done that to me, I will break a stick in that room. I will be very upset to see my team playing like this in front of me.” The Islanders (12-12-7) took a 5-1 lead at 7:58 of the third period on Maxim Tsyplakov’s goal at the post, capping a three-goal burst in 2 minutes, 19 seconds. But defenseman T.J. Brodie brought Chicago (9-18-2) within three goals at 11:04 and Tyler Bertuzzi scored at 18:50 and 19:50 as Chicago skated six-on-five. Simply, the Islanders stopped competing as hard on pucks or defending around goalie Ilya Sorokin (26 saves), who made his seventh straight start with Semyon Varlamov (lower body) yet to resume skating. “Ilya is a gentleman,” Roy said. “He’s a first-class person, but that was unacceptable. We didn’t compete. We didn’t battle in front of the net in the last eight minutes. We talked about it this morning to be stronger. Our goalie deserves more respect than this from ourselves. “Let’s be happy about winning the hockey game. But deep inside, we know we can’t do what we did at the end of the game. That the guys will know for sure.” A practice was scheduled for Friday — but the players already knew that. “[Sorokin] has been outstanding lately,” said Simon Holmstrom, who had a goal and two assists, putting the Islanders ahead 2-1 at 14:06 of the second period after Roy shuffled his lines. “He’s one of the biggest reasons we’ve been collecting points as of late. We’ve got to step up for him and we can’t let this happen again.” The Islanders — who tied the Rangers, who hold the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot but have played three fewer games, in points — will complete this home-and-home series on Sunday afternoon. Chicago will first complete its three-game road trip against the Devils on Saturday. The Islanders have every reason to be motivated to give a full 60-minute effort in the rematch. In Thursday’s uneven effort, they slogged through the first two periods, then seemingly took control early in the third period before pulling back on their effort. “We just started playing a little smarter,” said defenseman Noah Dobson, who snuck a quick shot through goalie Arvid Soderblom’s pads to make it 3-1 at 5:39 of the third period. Holmstrom then threaded a pass to the cutting Bo Horvat for a 4-1 lead at 6:36 before Tsyplakov gave the Islanders their four-goal lead. Soderblom (14 saves) exited at that point in favor of Drew Commesso, who subsequently stopped both shots he saw in his NHL debut. “The first little bit [to start the game], it just came down to work ethic,” Dobson said. “They were outworking us, outcompeting us. That’s unacceptable. We found a way in the third. [But] it’s frustrating the way we played in front of Ilya in the end to let him down. So that’s on us. But take the two points and move on.” Connor Bedard, the first overall pick in 2023, opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 16:47 of the first period, but defenseman Dennis Cholowski tied it at 6:59 of the second period. Notes & quotes: Top-liner Mathew Barzal (upper body/ long-term injured reserve), injured on Oct. 30, rejoined his teammates for Thursday’s morning skate. He wore a regular practice jersey and linemate Anthony Duclair (lower body/LTIR), hurt on Oct. 19, and defenseman Adam Pelech (jaw/injured reserve), injured on Nov. 1, shed their orange non-contact jerseys as they continued to practice with the team. “To have those guys closer and out of the orange, hopefully we’ll see them in action soon,” Brock Nelson said. Roy listed them all as day-to-day and added that there’s no timetable for any of their returns . . . Defenseman Grant Hutton and forward Hudson Fasching remained healthy scratches. Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
Florida St. 41, Charleston Southern 7With north east Thatcham pencilled for an extra 2,500 homes in the coming years, conservationists are thinking ahead to the impact of an extra 7,000 people using nearby Bucklebury Common. A programme of tree clearing is already under way this winter, and as Local Democracy Reporter Niki Hinman found out, the land management scheme in parts of the common is about 100 years out of date. Bucklebury Common stretches for 900 acres and is one of the largest commons in southern England. Following the distant sounds of a chainsaw, I walk with the Bucklebury Estate steward Alasdair Jones Perrott who hopes the work to clear self-seeding birch saplings will allow a greater diversity of plant and animal life to thrive. “I don’t think much has been done here for about 100 years,” he explains. “We are removing a lot of the birch shrub which has seeded and taken hold because of a lack of grazing. “It is our intention to mechanically remove these saplings, but leaving the older oaks around the edge.” The common is home to the famous Avenue of Oaks at Chapel Row, ancient woodland at Holly Wood and one of the largest areas of heathland in Berkshire. In 2000 a new avenue of oaks was planted at Chapel Row to commemorate the Millennium. In 2011 a further row of oak trees were planted at Chapel Row Green to mark the marriage of Catherine Middleton – whose family live just up the road – and Prince William, now the Prince and Princess of Wales. The common is privately owned by the Bucklebury Estate and stretches from Cold Ash (Bucklebury Alley) in the west to Bradfield Southend in the east. While the common is privately owned, it is free and open to the public. Because it is registered common land, although it is owned by the Bucklebury Estate, everyone has the right to walk anywhere on the common under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Numerous tracks criss-cross the common created by people walking, often with their dogs. In addition, there are abundant public rights of way, giving additional access to those on bikes, horses and in vehicles. It is said that Bucklebury has the densest rights of way network of any parish in England. Sam Kerr is one of the rangers up on the heath, employed by the Bucklebury Estate. She is actually a marine biologist by training, but has opted for a winter of chain saw action in the woods, stripping out the birch shrubs. “I am creating a site of wood pasture, clearing the birch trees and creating more space and light to get more flora and fauna underneath,” she explains. “We have oak trees and big Scots pines we hope to work on too, along with a few birch and beech trees too. “We hope in spring with the extra light we will get more grass and flower species. “It is exciting to see what will pop up in a few months’ time. “It is an awful lot of sawing, but it’s good fun.” She is using the material she cuts down to create living hedges to edge the footpaths. This has a dual function, to encourage wildlife, but also to encourage walkers to keep to the paths and give the new swards a chance. Local ornithologists are helping the estate team by building up a picture or survey on what bird species are returning to the site. Nightjars and woodlarks are among them. There are hopes for more. An important feature of Bucklebury Common is its heathland. Alasdair tells me that before the Second World War, there was continuous heathland between Upper Bucklebury and Chapel Row. During the Second World War the common was requisitioned as a transport depot and as a result invasive vegetation took over during the post war period. The Bucklebury Heathland Group, in co-operation with the Pang Valley Conservation Group, has restored a significant area of heathland over the years. “Heathland in southern England is an extremely important habitat,” explains Alasdair. “Over the last 150 years about 80 per cent of this has been lost to agriculture or forestation.” Just a short walk from the main road, the woodlands open up on to a wide, wet, heather-covered heath. It is interspersed with different mosses and lichen, with bilberry near the woodland edge. It’s a boggy walk, with peaty coloured puddles and heather growing on gravel soil. “Heather grows well on minimal mineral soil,” explains Alasdair, as we sink to our ankles in prehistoric looking swamp. “That’s why it thrives, because it is on poor soil which is free draining because of the gravel. “As part of the scheme of work being carried out over this winter is to extend this magnificent rare landscape by almost doubling what we can see now. “We feel that because this has developed so well over the last 15 years there is no reason why we can’t achieve this. “And the reason that we are doing this is due to the Government’s 25-year environmental plan – and it supports the plans for the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.” In 2018 the 25-Year Environment Plan (25YEP) set out government goals for improving the environment, within a generation, and leaving it in a better state than it found it. Labour has committed to the scheme’s continuance. Its goals are simple – cleaner air and water; plants and animals which are thriving; and a cleaner, greener country for us all. “By using our land more sustainably and creating new habitats for wildlife, including by planting more trees, we can arrest the decline in native species and improve our biodiversity,” says the plan. “Connecting more people with the environment will promote greater well-being. “And by making the most of emerging technologies, we can build a cleaner, greener country and reap the economic rewards of the clean growth revolution.” Willie Hartley Russell is the Lord of the Manor, and the estate, including the common, has been in the family since 1540 and the dissolution of the monasteries. It was acquired by his family from Henry VIII. “It’s been a long road of restoration of the house and the estate over the last 30 years since I’ve lived here,” he says. “Key in that is future proofing Bucklebury Common. “We have the possibility of 2,500 extra houses in north east Thatcham and we have to start considering how those people might interact with the common. “So we are thinking of car parking, cycleways, pathways and so on. “Also how to protect those sensitive areas such as ancient woodland or heathland so we can live side by side but at the same time protecting the area while encouraging people to come and use the common in an appropriate way.” Among the plans, main car parks will be enhanced with new information signs to educate people in a ‘soft’ way. Some access to the common causes damage, such as inappropriate use of four wheel drive vehicles, both on and off the byways, or disturbance to rare ground-nesting birds by uncontrolled dogs. Working in partnership with West Berkshire Council, inappropriate access will be reduced as much as possible. The council has been working with Bucklebury Estate on ensuring that there is constructive response to 4x4 damage of the byways. Typically, this is by placing Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) over the winter months on selected byways, that are easily damaged by 4x4s, as a preventative measure. The council will also raise emergency TROs if actual damage is occurring and reported. The council raised an emergency TRO on the byways on the west end of the common at Ramsbury Corner after antisocial use of 4x4s on the common this summer. The council places bollards and barriers, with notices, at the entrances of the byways from the local roads. “Unfortunately, we have had some antisocial 4x4 drivers ram and push over bollards in the area, causing significant additional cost to the council for repairs,” explains Bucklebury councillor Chris Read, who is also a commons rights holder. “Residents should raise with the police if 4x4s are seen on the common itself or causing damage as this clearly breaks local bylaws. “The majority of 4x4 users use the local byways sensibly and adhere to the TROs and avoid damage to the byways, but unfortunately the common does get a few antisocial users of 4x4s who both the council and the police respond to vigorously.” Other plans include a cycle route between Upper Bucklebury and Chapel Row that will be created, providing a safe alternative to the dangerous road. A number of circular routes will be promoted, highlighting some short walks around the common. “It is a duty to look after the common, and one I relish. I love the common,” says Willie. “I work full time in the City Of London so I walk my dogs up there a lot in my free time. It is a big part of my life. “What upsets me is 4x4 abuse. Some are fine but others not. “Littering is an issue too. We have two litter picks a year with the parish council and we fill a skip up each time.” West Berkshire Council is responsible for way marking of public rights of way, maintaining the Commoners’ Rights register, collecting rubbish and assisting with vegetation clearance. It also maintains car parks and public access. In 2014, it transferred the recreational and access aspects of their management role to the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), while retaining the management of rights of way, the Commoners’ Rights Register and the regulation of byelaws pertaining to the common. There are approximately 130 houses in Bucklebury that have Commoners’ Rights. The majority of commoners’ rights are in respect of ‘hedgebote’ or ‘firebote’ – the right of picking up fallen dead wood from the common for the mending of fences and for fires. Approximately 20 households have ‘grazing rights’ but these are generally not exercised as the common is no longer fenced or gated, although the estate wants to bring a small cattle herd back to the common. They won’t be traditionally fenced, but ‘geo-fenced’ with cattle wearing collars which will ‘train’ them to stay in certain areas. “We are engaging with our local community to get a collaborative engagement with all parties including the parish council, Natural England, The Forestry Commission, BBOWT, West Berkshire Council, Rights of Way,” explains Willie. “Over the last 100 years the management of the common has changed dramatically. “Back then it was important for fuel and food and that has changed into more of a recreational area so it needs more work and thought to manage.” The estate puts a lot of its own money into management of the common, but also taps into government schemes as well. The project on the common is funded by the Government’s Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its arm’s-length bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency. “I can only echo Willie’s and Alasdair’s words,” adds Chris. “Even though myself and residents of [Upper and Lower] Bucklebury, Midgham, Chapel Row, Woolhampton and Stanford Dingley are opposed to the likely outcomes of the new town of north east Thatcham, we are also behind Bucklebury Estate in enhancing the infrastructure and ecological resilience of the common for the likely increase in visitor numbers and usage. “The common has not been actively managed for a number of years until recently and what the estate is doing and has planned will raise awareness with the public this is a delicate environment and must be looked after, not only for our current use and enjoyment but for future generations as well. “I can only encourage people to take the opportunity to come along to the estate’s future public engagements to hear from the experts and understand future plans.”
Top 10 Play-to-Earn Cryptocurrencies to Explore in December 2024
By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”The NFL's security division is warning players to be aware of professional burglars targeting the homes of pro athletes. The Athletic reported Thursday that the NFL sent a memo to teams that outlines the threat. "The homes of professional athletes across multiple sports leagues have become increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups," read the memo, which was obtained by The Athletic. "Law enforcement officials have noted these groups appear to exploit team schedules to target athletes' homes on game days." NBC News reported Wednesday that law enforcement is working to figure out whether an international crime syndicate is involved. The Athletic reported that the memo includes tips for home security and also gives recommendations about the use of social media, such as not posting photos of items that would attract thieves. Players also learned via the memo how homes are targeted and how burglars enter. Mahomes hasn't said much about the burglary, other than to call it "disappointing" and "frustrating." "I can't get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing," he said. "But obviously something that you don't want to happen to really anybody, but obviously yourself." It's not clear what was stolen from Mahomes' home in Belton, Mo., during the Oct. 6 incident. But Kelce apparently lost $20,000 in cash in the burglary at his home in Leawood, Kan., the following day when the Chiefs played the New Orleans Saints on "Monday Night Football," according to a police report. The burglary at the home of Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis in River Hills, Wis., occurred Nov. 2 during the Bucks' home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He said the perpetrators "took most of my prized possessions" and is offering a reward for the return of his property. "Any info that leads to the return of any of my belongings will be rewarded handsomely," Portis said. "Let me know, thank you." --Field Level Media
The market may be falling again on Friday, but the same cannot be said for one ASX 200 tech stock. That tech stock is ( ). At the time of writing, its shares are up 8% to $9.37. As a comparison, the (ASX: XJO) is down 0.7% to 8,272 points. What is Iress? Iress is a technology company that provides software to the financial services industry. It provides software and services for trading and market data, financial advice, investment management, superannuation, life and pensions, and data intelligence in Asia-Pacific, North America, Africa, the UK, and Europe In respect to trading and market data, more than 12,000 institutional, retail, and online traders around the world use the ASX 200 tech stock's trading and market data software. They use it to connect across multiple markets, monitor and manage risk, access end-to-end multi-asset trading support, and deliver better performance. Why is this ASX 200 tech stock jumping? Investors have been fighting to get hold of Iress' shares this morning following the release of an on its guidance for FY 2024. As a reminder, the company was guiding to adjusted EBITDA of $126 million to $132 million. Depending on where it lands in this guidance range, it will either be a small decline or small increase on the $128.3 million it recorded in FY 2023. Well, the good news is that management has revealed that it now expects to hit the top end of its earnings guidance range this year. It said: Iress today reaffirmed its FY24 guidance of $126m-$132m Adjusted EBITDA, with expectations it will achieve full year earnings towards the top end of the range. This is good news as it should bring to an end a run of lower earnings and could be a sign that the company is now positioned for a return to growth. And even more importantly, it appears to indicate that dividend payments will be returning in the near future. The ASX 200 tech stock's CEO and managing director, Marcus Price, revealed that its transformation program has been behind this improved performance. He said: Iress' transformation program concludes delivering the expected benefits and earnings improvement. With this momentum and the foundations for growth now in place, we are well placed to enter 2025 as a financially and strategically stronger, more streamlined business with dividends to be reinstated. Following today's gain, Iress' shares are now up almost 20% since this time last year.Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Marvell Tech MRVL , and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in MRVL usually suggests something big is about to happen. We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 15 extraordinary options activities for Marvell Tech. This level of activity is out of the ordinary. The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 40% leaning bullish and 40% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $150,614, and 12 are calls, amounting to $421,121. Expected Price Movements Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $70.0 to $125.0 for Marvell Tech during the past quarter. Volume & Open Interest Trends Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Marvell Tech's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Marvell Tech's whale activity within a strike price range from $70.0 to $125.0 in the last 30 days. Marvell Tech Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days Largest Options Trades Observed: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume MRVL PUT TRADE BEARISH 12/13/24 $1.07 $0.94 $1.07 $109.00 $84.7K 1.2K 26 MRVL CALL SWEEP BEARISH 02/21/25 $5.95 $5.85 $5.85 $115.00 $73.1K 2.2K 151 MRVL CALL SWEEP BULLISH 12/20/24 $1.2 $1.13 $1.19 $115.00 $47.6K 8.8K 488 MRVL CALL SWEEP BULLISH 12/20/24 $1.19 $1.16 $1.16 $115.00 $47.3K 8.8K 984 MRVL PUT TRADE BULLISH 01/17/25 $0.15 $0.0 $0.06 $75.00 $40.2K 9.8K 6.7K About Marvell Tech Marvell Technology is a fabless chip designer focused on wired networking, where it has the second-highest market share. Marvell serves the data center, carrier, enterprise, automotive, and consumer end markets with processors, optical and copper transceivers, switches, and storage controllers. After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Marvell Tech, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance. Present Market Standing of Marvell Tech Currently trading with a volume of 6,926,407, the MRVL's price is down by -0.88%, now at $110.38. RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought. Anticipated earnings release is in 84 days. What The Experts Say On Marvell Tech A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $116.4. Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access .* An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Overweight rating on Marvell Tech, maintaining a target price of $110. * An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Marvell Tech, maintaining a target price of $102. * An analyst from Oppenheimer has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Marvell Tech, which currently sits at a price target of $110. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Keybanc continues to hold a Overweight rating for Marvell Tech, targeting a price of $125. * In a cautious move, an analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded its rating to Overweight, setting a price target of $135. Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Marvell Tech options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
TransMedics Reports Inducement Grants Under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2024 / ARway.ai ("ARway" or the "Company") (CSE:ARWY)(OTCQB:ARWYF)(FSE:E65) is an AI powered Augmented Reality Experience platform with a disruptive no-code, no beacon spatial computing solution enabled by visual marker tracking with centimeter precision announces the departure of Board member Belinda Tyldesley for personal reasons. We thank her for her service! Arway also announced the appointment of Peter Bloch, a successful entrepreneur as new BOD member replacing Mrs. Tyldesley. Bio: Peter Bloch was the Chief Executive Officer of BresoTEC Inc. Mr. Bloch was also the CEO & Chairman of Bionik Laboratories from 2012 to 2018. Mr. Bloch is a CPA, CA, with a track record of building both public and private technology companies, mainly in the life sciences industry. In these roles, Mr. Bloch has secured significant funding for both private and public companies, gained experience with initial public offerings and led a number of acquisitions and partnership transactions. His past 25 years of executive management experience includes serving as Chief Financial Officer and joint interim CEO of Sanofi Canada Inc., the Canadian affiliate of Sanofi -Aventis, a global healthcare leader; Chief Financial Officer of Intellivax Inc., a biotechnology company which was sold to GlaxoSmithKline for $1.75 billion; founder of Tribute Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company; the Chief Financial Officer of Gennum Corporation, a public semiconductor company focused on the TV and medical device market and Chief Financial Officer of Just Energy, a large public electricity and gas company . These companies have ranged in size from start-ups to companies with revenues of over $2 billion. Mr. Bloch also has substantial experience serving on the Board of Directors of both public and private companies. Mr. Bloch also serves as an advisor to Mars Discovery District, a large Canadian incubator for technology companies. Sign up for Investor News - HERE To learn more about ARway, please follow on Social Media: Twitter , YouTube , Instagram , LinkedIn , and Facebook , and visit our website: www.arway.ai About ARway.ai ARway.ai (CSE:ARWY)(OTCQB:ARWYF)(FSE:E65) is a spatial computing platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) providing an array of augmented reality (AR) experiences for indoor spaces. ARway's breakthrough no-code no-beacon IPN allows for the easy creation of navigation, tours, information sharing, notifications, advertising and gamification. ARway works seamlessly as a cross platform solution on iOS/ Android. ARway's technology is optimized for both mobile devices and AR glasses: Apple's Vision Pro, Magic Leap and Microsoft's HoloLens. ARway has unlimited use cases for augmenting physical spaces, making it a valuable tool for creators, brands and companies in various industries. The complete ARway platform includes: the Web Creator Studio, the ARwayKit Software Development Kit (SDK) and a mobile app for iOs and Android. Nextech 3D.ai On October 26, 2022, ARway.ai. was spun-out from its parent Company, Nextech3D.ai (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:1SS). Nextech retained a control ownership in ARway.ai. with 13 million shares, or a 50% stake. Nextech3D.ai is a Generative AI powered 3D modeling Company and leading provider of augmented reality ("AR") experience technologies and 3D model services. Nextech's AI-powered 3D modeling platform, "ARitize3D" has contracts with; AMZN, KSS, CB2, Genuine Parts & many others. To learn more about Nextech3D.ai, visit www.nextechar.com For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Contact investor.relations@arway.ai ARway.ai Evan Gappelberg CEO and Director 866-ARITIZE (274-8493) Forward-looking Statements The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. ARway.ai will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: ARway Corporation View the original on accesswire.com
Yahoo laid off around 25% of its cybersecurity team — known as The Paranoids — over the last year, TechCrunch has learned. Overall, the company has laid off or lost through attrition 40 to 50 people from a total of 200 employees in the cybersecurity team since the start of 2024, according to multiple current and former Yahoo employees who spoke to TechCrunch on condition of anonymity. (Yahoo is TechCrunch’s parent company.) The Paranoids are not the only team affected by the layoffs. Valeri Liborski, who was appointed Yahoo’s chief technology officer in September , sent an email this week to employees announcing changes across the broader technology unit, including enterprise productivity and core services. The email to staff, which was obtained by TechCrunch, said: “This was a very difficult decision and one I have not taken lightly.” The Paranoids’ so-called red team, or offensive security team — which conducts cyberattack simulations to identify weaknesses in the company’s network before external hackers can — was eliminated entirely this week, and there have been at least three rounds of layoffs impacting the cybersecurity team this year, according to the sources. Yahoo confirmed the layoffs, including the elimination of its red team, when reached by TechCrunch on Thursday. “Yahoo’s security program has matured significantly over the past seven years and is widely recognized as a world-class, industry-leading operation. As part of this evolution, we’ve made strategic adjustments, including transitioning offensive security operations to an outsourced model,” said Yahoo spokesperson Brenden Lee. “This change reflects the sophistication of our program and enables us to concentrate resources on critical security priorities, maintaining the highest standards of protection for our users and platforms.” The company as a whole laid off more than 1,600 employees — around 20% of its total workforce — last year, as Axios reported at the time . Yahoo chief executive Jim Lanzone told Axios that the layoffs would be “tremendously beneficial for the profitability of Yahoo overall,” and that the company will “go on offense” and invest in other parts of its business.By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”