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lodigame 2 login The South Carolina women's basketball team has been defeated for the first time since March 31, 2023. The No. 1 Gamecocks fell Sunday in Los Angeles as Lauren Betts posted a double-double effort to lead No. 5 UCLA to a 77-62 triumph. The Gamecocks (5-1) suffered their first defeat after 43 consecutive victories, dating back to the loss to Iowa 77-73 in the NCAA Tournament semifinals. South Carolina defeated Iowa last season for the national championship. Betts finished with 11 points, a game-high 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks to power the Bruins (5-0) to a historic victory. UCLA also got 15 points from Londynn Jones on 5-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, 13 points from Elina Aarnisalo and 11 each from Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jacquez. It's the first time UCLA has beaten South Carolina since 1981. The Bruins lost twice to the Gamecocks in the 2022-23 season, including in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Te-Hina Paopao had 18 points for South Carolina on 4-of-4 3-point shooting, while Tessa Johnson had 14 points. UCLA won the rebounding battle 41-34, marking the second time this season the Gamecocks have been outrebounded. South Carolina also got outscored in the paint 26-18. It's rare that a Dawn Staley-coached team -- units that typically revolve around dominant centers from A'ja Wilson to Aaliyah Boston to Kamilla Cardoso -- gets beat in the paint and on the glass, but with 6-foot-7 Betts, UCLA had the recipe to outmuscle the Gamecocks in those areas of the game. South Carolina never led after UCLA began the game with an 18-5 run, capped off by back-to-back 3-pointers from Jones. The Gamecocks cut the deficit to nine points in the second quarter, but the Bruins responded with a 17-5 run and entered halftime ahead by 21 points. Aarnisalo scored seven points during that run. From there, the Gamecocks never got within single digits of the lead in the second half. It's the first time in 21 tries that UCLA has beaten an AP-ranked No. 1 team. And it's the first time South Carolina lost a true road game since 2021, a streak of 33 games. The schedule doesn't get any easier for South Carolina. While UCLA faces UT Martin next on Friday, the Gamecocks play No. 8 Iowa State on Thursday. --Field Level Media

Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while WHO chief says he was meters awayXencor director Montgomery sells $397,930 in stock

Chelsea’s surprise defeat by Fulham meant victory over the Foxes stretched their lead to seven points, with a match in hand, with the halfway point of the campaign fast approaching. But Slot is maintaining his level-headed approach despite the clamour growing around their chances of adding another title to the one won in 2020. Tonight's goalscorers 💪 pic.twitter.com/xn9sfZbVow — Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2024 “If you are in this game for a long time like the players and I am then 20 games before the end you don’t look at it as there are so many challenges ahead of you,” he said after Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah scored to turn around an early deficit following Jordan Ayew’s strike. “Injuries and and a bit of bad luck can happen to any team, it is far too early to be already celebrating – but it is nice for us to be where we are. “I don’t think there was any easy win for us in any of these games; it could have been an easy win against Tottenham but we conceded two and it was then 5-2 – that tells you how difficult it is to win even when you have all your players available. “That is why we have to take it one game at a time. The league table is something of course we are aware of but we always understand how many games there are to go.” Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy felt his side held their own until Salah scored in the 82nd minute. “I think we were in the contest for a result for a long time,” he said. “Three-one was the turning point in the sense the game was done there to get a result. “I think the 60th minute I remember a chanced for Daka to score the equaliser so we were in the game to get a surprising result. “We did well, we did what we could: a good start with the goal but if you speak of a turning point, 3-1 with Salah, the game was done.” Van Nistelrooy left goalkeeper Danny Ward out of the squad after he struggled in the defeat to Wolves and was jeered by his own fans. “The change in goal was one to make and the conversation with Wardy was impressive, the way he was thinking of the team and the club,” added the Dutchman. “I insisted on a conversation and of course it is a private conversation but what I want to share is the person and the professional he is. “I was impressed with that and his willingness for the team and the club to do well. “Really tough what happened for him. We are professionals but human beings as well, when frustration is being directed towards one person that is difficult.”Is Outlook down? Thousands of Microsoft 365 users report outage issuesIT entrepreneur David Steward is the wealthiest African American man in the nation. According to Forbes , his net worth is at a record $11.4 billion dollars, making him part of the only one percent of Black entrepreneurs or executives on the impressive list. The multi-billionaire has a true “rags to riches” story, but his fight and dedication to technology, family, and all people sets him apart from others in the business. This is the evolution of David L. Steward. A version of this article originally appeared on The Root. 2 / 19 Born Born Steward was born in Chicago, but his family moved to Missouri when he was a child, according to NMSDC . He was raised in the segregated South with his seven siblings. His father worked as a mechanic, janitor, and trash collector to support his family. 3 / 19 College College The Central Missouri University alumnus graduated in 1973 with a Bachelors of Science in business. 4 / 19 Pursuing Sales Pursuing Sales Soon after graduating, the Missouri native pursued a career in sales with Missouri Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific, and FedEx. He was even named salesman of the year at FedEx. 5 / 19 Marriage Marriage Steward and his wife, Thelma, married in 1977. The couple has been married for almost 50 years. 6 / 19 Stepping Into Business Stepping Into Business In 1983, the businessman bought his first business, an auditing company named Transportation Business Specialists, with several loans from local banks across Missouri. 7 / 19 Hard Times Hard Times Steward co-founded World Wide Technology (WWT) in 1990. During the early years of the company, he faced financial hardships, at times forgoing a paycheck and witnessing his car being repossessed from the office parking lot. 8 / 19 Living in the Land of the Free Living in the Land of the Free Despite the setbacks, the 73-year-old billionaire businessman said “The breadth and depth of opportunities we have here [in the U.S.], coupled with a culture that allows you to be all you can be, makes it possible for anyone to be successful,” according to the Horatio Alger Association. 9 / 19 Expansion Expansion WWT soon expanded to offer full-scale technology solutions— “ranging from cloud computing and data analytics to cybersecurity and digital transformation services,” according to Black Engineer. 10 / 19 Big Break Big Break When the company secured contracts with government agencies and Fortune 500 companies, it positioned itself as a trusted technology leader. 11 / 19 Growing to Billions Growing to Billions Now, the company employs over 10,000 people and rakes in over $20 billion in annual revenues and over $6 million in international income. 12 / 19 Steward as an Author Steward as an Author In 2004, Steward penned his first book with the help of author Robert L. Shook. Their book, “Doing Business by the Good Book,” is described as “an indispensable volume that shows how to succeed in business by using the Bible and its lessons as a source of inspiration and guidance,” according to Amazon . 13 / 19 Supporting Sen. Tim Scott Supporting Sen. Tim Scott The billionaire is no stranger to supporting political campaigns. In 2023, Sen. Tim Scott tapped Steward to be the finance chair of Scott’s 2024 presidential campaign, according to CNBC . 14 / 19 Joining Other Organizations Joining Other Organizations He serves on the Executive Committee of Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the boards of National Academy Foundation (NAF), United Way of Greater St. Louis, Concordance Academy, Washington University, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, Boy Scouts of America and many other organizations. 15 / 19 Honorary Degrees Honorary Degrees Steward holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Washington University. He also has an Honorary Doctorates in Humane Letters from several colleges and universities. 16 / 19 Family Family The businessman has two children, Kimberly and David II. Kimberly is an Oscar-nominated film producer, and David II leads Lion Forge Animation, a media company dedicated to diverse storytelling. 17 / 19 Philanthropy Philanthropy The David and Thelma Steward Family Foundation— named after the billionaire and his wife— provides millions in donations to causes related to education, youth development, military families, and underserved communities, according to Black Engineer. 18 / 19 Now Surpassing Robert Smith Now Surpassing Robert Smith This year, Steward beat out Vista Equity Partners founder Robert Smith for the no. 1 spot on Forbes’ Richest Black People list. Smith, who’s net worth comes in at $10.8 billion, ranks no. 88 on Forbes 400 list. Steward comes in at no. 84 19 / 19JERUSALEM — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. "The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. "We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave," he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service. Israel's army later told The Associated Press it wasn't aware that the WHO chief or delegation were at the location in Yemen. Smoke rises Thursday from the area around the International Airport after an airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said in a statement it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, claiming they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military added it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israel's territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively." The strikes, carried out more than 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad's regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The U.S. military also targeted the Houthis in recent days. The U.N. says the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, while other missiles and drones were shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them weapons. Relatives and friends mourn over the bodies of five Palestinian journalists Thursday who were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in Gaza overnight, the territory's Health Ministry said. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists worked for local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. Israel's military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accuses six of its Gaza reporters of being militants. The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Mourners cry Thursday while they take the last look at the body of a relative, one of eight Palestinians killed, during their funeral in the West Bank city of Tulkarem. Separately, Israel's military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities are women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. The offensive caused widespread destruction and hunger and drove around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Ratings for BorgWarner BWA were provided by 6 analysts in the past three months, showcasing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives. Summarizing their recent assessments, the table below illustrates the evolving sentiments in the past 30 days and compares them to the preceding months. Bullish Somewhat Bullish Indifferent Somewhat Bearish Bearish Total Ratings 1 3 2 0 0 Last 30D 0 1 0 0 0 1M Ago 1 0 0 0 0 2M Ago 0 1 1 0 0 3M Ago 0 1 1 0 0 Analysts have recently evaluated BorgWarner and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $41.5, accompanied by a high estimate of $50.00 and a low estimate of $36.00. This current average has not changed from the previous average price target. Decoding Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Look In examining recent analyst actions, we gain insights into how financial experts perceive BorgWarner. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets. Analyst Analyst Firm Action Taken Rating Current Price Target Prior Price Target Colin Langan Wells Fargo Lowers Overweight $40.00 $42.00 Ronald Jewsikow Guggenheim Maintains Buy $41.00 $41.00 Edison Yu Deutsche Bank Raises Hold $39.00 $38.00 Ryan Brinkman JP Morgan Lowers Overweight $50.00 $51.00 Chris McNally Evercore ISI Group Raises Outperform $43.00 $39.00 Kash Rangan Goldman Sachs Lowers Neutral $36.00 $38.00 Key Insights: Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to BorgWarner. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company. Rating: Delving into assessments, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings communicate expectations for the relative performance of BorgWarner compared to the broader market. Price Targets: Analysts predict movements in price targets, offering estimates for BorgWarner's future value. Examining the current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations. To gain a panoramic view of BorgWarner's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table. Stay up to date on BorgWarner analyst ratings. Unveiling the Story Behind BorgWarner BorgWarner is a Tier I auto-parts supplier with three operating segments. The air management group makes turbochargers, e-boosters, e-turbos, timing systems, emissions systems, thermal systems, gasoline ignition technology, powertrain sensors, and cabin heaters. The drivetrain and battery systems group produces automatic transmission components, torque management products, battery heaters, battery charging, and battery modules. The e-propulsion segment makes e-motors, power electronics, and software and control modules. The company's largest customers are Ford and Volkswagen at 14% and 11% of 2023 revenue, respectively. Geographically, Europe accounted for 36% of 2023 revenue, while Asia and North America were 34% and 29% apiece. Financial Insights: BorgWarner Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is above the industry average, indicating that it is relatively larger in size compared to peers. This may suggest a higher level of investor confidence and market recognition. Revenue Growth: BorgWarner's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has faced challenges. As of 30 September, 2024, the company experienced a revenue decline of approximately -4.78% . This indicates a decrease in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Consumer Discretionary sector. Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 6.78%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control. Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 3.82%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital. Return on Assets (ROA): BorgWarner's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 1.6% . This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health. Debt Management: BorgWarner's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average. With a ratio of 0.77 , the company relies less on debt financing, maintaining a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by investors. What Are Analyst Ratings? Ratings come from analysts, or specialists within banking and financial systems that report for specific stocks or defined sectors (typically once per quarter for each stock). Analysts usually derive their information from company conference calls and meetings, financial statements, and conversations with important insiders to reach their decisions. Some analysts also offer predictions for helpful metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates to provide further guidance as to what to do with certain tickers. It is important to keep in mind that while stock and sector analysts are specialists, they are also human and can only forecast their beliefs to traders. Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. Click here for urgent details . This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.The UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors passed a resolution chiding Iran's poor cooperation with the agency after hours of heated exchanges, diplomats told AFP late on Thursday, a move Tehran called "politically motivated". The censure motion brought by Britain, France, Germany and the United States at the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board follows a similar one in June. But it comes as tensions run high over Iran's atomic programme, with critics fearing that Tehran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon -- a claim the Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied. The resolution -- which China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against -- was carried by 19 votes in favour, with 12 abstentions and Venezuela not participating, two diplomats told AFP. Ahead of the vote on Thursday night, the United States and its European allies sought to rally support for their resolution by denouncing Iran. In its national statement to the board, Washington said that Tehran's nuclear activities are "deeply troubling". London, Paris and Berlin in a joint statement drew attention to the "threat" Iran's nuclear programme posed "to international security", stressing that it now had enough highly enriched uranium for four nuclear weapons. In a first reaction after the vote, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Mohsen Naziri Asl, told AFP that the resolution was "politically motivated", citing its "low support" compared to previous censures. The confidential resolution seen by AFP says it is "essential and urgent" for Iran to "act to fulfil its legal obligations". The text also calls on Tehran to provide "technically credible explanations" for the presence of uranium particles found at two undeclared locations in Iran. Moreover, Western powers are asking for a "comprehensive report" to be issued by the IAEA on Iran's nuclear efforts "at the latest" by spring 2025. Since 2021, Tehran has significantly decreased its cooperation with the agency by deactivating surveillance devices to monitor the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors. At the same time, Iran has rapidly ramped up its nuclear activities, including by increasing its stockpiles of enriched uranium. That has heightened fears that Tehran might be seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, which it denies. The resolution comes just as IAEA head Rafael Grossi returned from a trip to Tehran last week, where he appeared to have made headway. During the visit, Iran agreed to an IAEA demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity. "This is a concrete step in the right direction," Grossi told reporters Wednesday, saying it was "the first time" Iran had made such a commitment since it started breaking away from its obligations under the nuclear deal. The landmark 2015 deal -- which curbed Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief -- fell apart three years later after the unilateral withdrawal by the United States under then-president Donald Trump. In retaliation, Tehran began gradually rolling back some of its commitments by increasing its uranium stockpiles and enriching beyond the 3.67 percent purity -- enough for nuclear power stations -- permitted under the deal. Although symbolic in nature at this stage, the censure motion is designed to raise diplomatic pressure on Iran. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday the censure "will disrupt" interactions with the agency, but stressed Tehran would remain keen to cooperate. Earlier, Araghchi had warned of a "proportionate" response by Iran if the board passes the resolution. According to Heloise Fayet, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations, the resolution has the potential to "harm Rafael Grossi's efforts". "But Western powers are frustrated by the lack of effectiveness of his diplomatic manoeuvres and are looking for firmer solutions," she told AFP. On Wednesday, Grossi said he could "not exclude" that Iran's commitment to cap enrichment might falter "as a result of further developments". Foreign policy expert Rahman Ghahremanpour said Tehran might retaliate to the new censure by "increasing the enrichment levels". But he does not expect any drastic "strategic measures" as Iran does not want to "aggravate tensions" before Trump returns to the White House. pdm-anb-kym/giv

Family of man killed in suspected stock theft case seek justice( ) shares had a tough time on Wednesday. The counterdrone technology company's shares were sold off again and dropped 6% to 70 cents. The good news for shareholders is that the company's shares are bouncing back on Thursday morning. In fact, the DroneShield share price was up 4% to 73 cents before being paused from trade. This put it among the best performers on the (ASX: XAO) index before the pause. Why are DroneShield's shares racing higher today? Today's gain was driven the release of an before the market open. According to the release, DroneShield has received a repeat order of $8.2 million from a major European military customer. The company advised that the order is for dismounted and vehicle-mounted counter-UxS systems. It expects to deliver the order over the next three months, including from available stock. The full cash payment is expected to be received during the first quarter of 2025. The company's CEO, Oleg Vornik, believes that this order is a validation of the quality of DroneShield products and how they are meeting the needs of sophisticated military customers. Commenting on the deal, Vornik said: Larger orders of this type from repeat customers of this calibre are a validation that DroneShield products are meeting the challenge set by sophisticated military customers. As the threat of drones is increasing across the entire battlespace, militaries need broader packages like this one. The chief executive also believes that this order demonstrates the company's competitive advantage in being able to link vehicle and fixed systems together. He adds: DroneShield is unique globally in that we can provide an entire ecosystem of dismounted, vehicle and fixed systems and link them all together. Should you invest? A recent note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts see a lot of value in DroneShield's shares at current levels. Prior to today's news, it had a buy rating and $1.20 price target on its shares. It said: Whilst DroneShield's revenue YTD has been disappointing, we view this as an opportunity to reset market expectations, which were overly optimistic for CY24. However, DRO remains a high-quality technology company, operating in a rapidly growing market and is well capitalised to maintain its market leading position. We believe the current SP provides an attractive entry point considering DRO's strong runway into CY25 ($18m contracted rev.), robust market demand and appealing long-term growth outlook. Why the pause? The pause states the following: Trading in the securities of the entity will be temporarily paused pending a further announcement. Stay tuned for that.The 'Zombie Law' That Anti-Abortion Groups Want to Resurrect Under Trump

Published 5:53 pm Thursday, December 26, 2024 by GRAHAM LEE BREWER Associated Press Founded during the Black Freedom Movement of the 1960s, Kwanzaa is a non-religious holiday that is observed by millions of Americans. It has become a nationally recognized celebration of African culture and community in the United States that also is celebrated in countries with large African descendant populations. It serves as a nationwide communal event reinforcing self-determination and unity in the face of oppression. The holiday spans seven days from the day after Christmas to New Year’s Day. African American author, activist and professor Maulana Karenga founded Kwanzaa following the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles, also known as the Watts Rebellion. Kwanzaa has become a nationally recognized celebration of African culture and community in the United States since its founding in 1966 and also is celebrated in countries with large African descendant populations. Email newsletter signup The holiday, which serves as a nationwide communal event reinforcing self-determination and unity in the face of oppression, spans seven days from the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day. It is observed in large, city-sponsored events as well as in smaller communities and homes nationwide. Kwanzaa has grown in popularity in the decades since its founding and is celebrated by 3% of the country, according to a 2019 AP-NORC survey. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all released statements commemorating the holiday, and in 1997 the U.S. Postal Service began issuing Kwanzaa stamps. It is not recognized as a federal holiday. Kwanzaa’s origins Kwanzaa emerged during the Black Freedom Movement of the 1960s as a way to reconnect Black communities in the U.S. with important African cultural traditions that were severed by the transatlantic slave trade. It also promotes unity and liberation. “It was also shaped by that defining decade of fierce strivings and struggles for freedom, justice and associated goods waged by Africans and other peoples of color all over the world in the 1960s,” Maulana Karenga, the holiday’s founder, wrote in his annual Kwanzaa address in 2023. “Kwanzaa thus came into being, grounded itself and grew as an act of freedom, an instrument of freedom, a celebration of freedom and a practice of freedom.” Karenga, an African American author, activist and professor, founded Kwanzaa following the Watts Riots, also known as the Watts Rebellion, in Los Angeles in 1965. Karenga described Kwanzaa as a “political-motivator holiday” in an interview with Henry Lewis Gates Jr. for PBS. “The idea is for African and African descended people to come together around family, community and culture so we can be in spaces where, in Dr. Karenga’s words, we feel fully African and fully human at the same time,” said Janine Bell, president and artistic director at the Elegba Folklore Society in Richmond, Virginia. The basics Many people who observe Kwanzaa, which is a secular holiday, celebrate it alongside religious festivals such as Christmas. People of any faith, race or ethnic background can participate. The name Kwanzaa derives from “mutanda ya kwanza” a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits” or “first harvest.” The final “a” was added to the name to accommodate the seven children present at the first Kwanzaa, each of whom was given a letter to represent. The holiday is governed by seven principles, known collectively as the Nguzo Saba, and a different principle is celebrated each day: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith). The Nguzo Saba is represented by a candleholder with seven candles called a kinara. Each night, one of those candles is lit. The candles are the same colors as the Kwanzaa flag: Black representing the people, red their struggle and green their hope. Large Kwanzaa celebrations happen across the country every year in cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta and Detroit. These events often feature storytellers, music and dance. Bell said the theme at this year’s Capital City Kwanzaa Festival in Richmond is “knowledge of self,” and an African descendent will be selected by drawing a name from a fishbowl to win a free DNA test so they can learn where they come from. The holiday is also observed in individual homes, often focusing on children, because they are key to the survival of culture and the development of community. This concept of children and the future they embody is often represented symbolically by corn. “The intention is that it’s 365 (days a year),” Bell said. “The need for the principles and the strengthening value of the principals don’t go away on January 2nd.” Family celebrations also involve giving gifts and sharing African American and Pan African foods, culminating in the Karamu, a feast featuring dishes from across the African diaspora. Typical meals include staples of southern cuisine like sweet potato pie or popular dishes from Africa like jollof rice. Activities over the seven days are geared toward reaffirming community bonds, commemorating the past and recommitting to important African cultural ideals. This can include dancing, reading poetry, honoring ancestors and the daily lighting of the kinara. UPDATE: One dead, two injured in Christmas Eve shooting Finding hope and purpose: MCC grad transforms her life through Culinary Arts Holiday scenes spread festive cheer Parks and Rec holds Holiday Ball Bash

LTIMindtree shares 0.93% as Sensex fallsare assessing their options over a transfer move for star in 2025. As part of that arrangement, Tottenham retained a option on Cardoso, which allows the USMNT midfielder to be signed for a fee in the region of £21m (€25m). Cardoso has made a strong start to life at Real Betis, since arriving from Internacional in January, and during the summer he was the subject of strong interest from clubs in Italy. However, despite Tottenham having first refusal on Cardoso, they are not the only club interested in a move for the 23-year-old, as per . The terms of Spurs’ clause mean that price is only available next summer and could beat them to it with a January offer to bolster their midfield for the second half of the campaign.

Players Era Festival organizers betting big NIL is future of college tourneys

On whether to allow digital ID for age assurance when buying alcohol, some countries say yes, some say no, and some see an opportunity for dramatically increased biometric surveillance using facial recognition cameras. is aiming to crack down on underage drinking by tightening and requiring establishments to check a physical copy of a government-issued ID. The only digital IDs that will be permitted in the city, where the drinking age is 25, are those stored in the government’s Digilocker portal, according to from the Economic Times. In a reversal of the standard story in which are more secure than easily tampered-with physical identity documents, the government says the move is to prevent the use of fraudulent or edited digital IDs. Elsewhere in the world, trends are moving in the opposite direction. In the new year, UK retailers are set to start accepting in alcohol sales. Staff at pubs, clubs and retail outlets will be able to perform age assurance checks using QR codes or contactless technology. The initiative follows the successful rollout of digital age verification in UK cinemas through the GOV.UK One Login system, as the Kier Starmer government takes up the reins on the nation’s wider . Meanwhile, in Türkiye’s capital, businesses selling alcohol and cigarettes are now required to install and to store biometric data for at least a month. A from DuvaR.English says the Istanbul Governorship issued a notice to liquor stores and other businesses requiring camera systems to be installed “to monitor and record the sales area, all entry and exit points, and parking lots, if any, from various angles.” The cameras must be effective in low light or nighttime conditions and able to operate constantly. While the set-up sounds much like a CCTV system for real-time and security monitoring, the stated goal is more like an ambient, panopticon-esque form of age assurance: the governorship says its goal is “protecting minors under 18 from harmful habits such as alcohol and cigarettes.” The rule goes into effect on January 1 and comes with penalties under the “non-compliance with orders” clause of the Misdemeanor Law. occupies a balance point between biometric innovation and a government with autocratic tendencies, embodied in president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. According to from Norton Rose Fulbright, in Istanbul and other large cities “security systems such as hand geometry recognition, iris or fingerprint scans are widely used to enter office buildings, new residential complexes and even luxury gyms.” And there are data protection laws on the books. “Under the Turkish data protection regime, personal data may not be processed without the data subject’s explicit consent. are treated as sensitive data under the Data Protection Law and are subject to the rules applicable to protection of sensitive personal data.” And yet, Türkiye has danced with questionable uses of facial recognition technology before. In 2023, the country’s minister of interior faced a data privacy lawsuit after going on air to show off a state-developed capable of identifying everyone in the country. | | | | |

25 Nov 2024 British businesses criticise Labour tax rises Helia Ebrahimi Economics Correspondent Just a few months ago she was the darling of the business world, but today Rachel Reeves was facing a room full of disgruntled business leaders as she defended her Budget at the Confederation of British Industry conference. The head of the CBI says the Chancellor’s tax rises caught companies off guard, and they can no longer afford to invest or hire new people. Share on Facebook Share Share on Twitter Tweet Share on WhatsApp Send Share on WhatsApp Send Share on WhatsApp Email Load more share options

Mark Zuckerberg sells $13.95 million in Meta Platforms stockBack in its second-quarter earnings report in August, Target ( TGT 2.81% ) gave investors hope that it was finally turning the corner. Since the pandemic began to wind down, the retailer has struggled with inflation, weak consumer discretionary spending , and an increase in theft. However, Target's shares plunged on Wednesday after its latest update indicated that the recovery trend didn't last, and the company is still struggling on both sides of the income statement. Comparable sales rose 0.3% in the quarter as traffic was up 2.4%, but its average transaction fell. The company's sales shifted to the digital channel, with digital comps up 10.8%, but in-store comparable sales fell 1.9%. Overall revenue rose 1.1% to $25.7 billion, which missed the consensus of $25.9 billion. The retailer continued to face margin pressure as gross margin fell from 27.4% to 27.2%, due to higher inventory levels and increased fulfillment and supply chain costs. Management stocked up on and rerouted inventory ahead of the October port strike, which should be a one-time headwind. Higher wages and benefits led to an increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses from 20.9% to 21.4%; as a result, operating margin fell from 5.2% to 4.6%. That led to a decline in earnings per share (EPS) from $2.10 to $1.85, which badly missed estimates of $2.30. Target also offered disappointing guidance for the key holiday quarter: It sees flat comparable sales growth and earnings per share of $1.85 to $2.45, which was well below the consensus of $2.64. It also cut its full-year EPS guidance from $9.00-$9.70 to $8.30-$8.90. What's ailing Target The company trotted out familiar excuses. Management said that "We encountered some unique challenges and cost pressures that impacted our bottom-line performance"; on the earnings call, it said that consumers are continuing to be selective about spending, and patiently waiting for deals. However, Target's struggles came as rival Walmart continued to dominate. Walmart captured comparable-sales growth of 5% in its third quarter at U.S. stores, driven by its core grocery business. It trimmed inventory in the third quarter and was able to increase gross margin, driving overall profitability. Walmart also reported mid-single-digit deflation in its general merchandise category, showing that it's lowering prices across its product range. And it called out market-share gains across all income cohorts, a sign that it's taking market share from Target, among other retailers. Target did have some bright spots, including 6% comparable-sales growth in beauty, and double-digit growth in Drive Up and same-day delivery. But overall, inventory challenges, consumer sluggishness, and competitive weakness continued to weigh on the business. Can Target bounce back? While Target stock deserves to be down sharply on the news and had fallen 21% as of early Wednesday afternoon, there are some reasons it could bounce back sooner than you think. Target has a lot of operating leverage in its business model, and a modest improvement in gross margin can lead to a surge in operating profits. First, better inventory management might have enabled the company to expand gross margin to 29%, an improvement of 180 basis points. Those gains would flow directly down to operating margin, which was just 4.6%. If its operating margin was instead 6.4% -- 180 basis points higher, and within Target's historical guidance for an operating margin of at least 6% -- operating income would have jumped 39%, a huge difference. Getting there isn't as hard as it looks, especially as management expects categories that have been under pressure, like home, to eventually recover. Second, shares are cheap compared to those of peers like Walmart: Target now trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14 based on this year's EPS estimates. Of course, the company needs to make some fundamental improvements before investors can capitalize on the discounted valuation, but the opportunity is there. After the third-quarter update, however, a recovery in the stock looks even further away.

Iran says will hold nuclear talks with France, Germany, UK on FridayThe third time was not the charm for a billing pushed by both the New York State House and Senate to address the state’s 178-year-old wrongful death statute. New York is only on par with Alabama in terms of how the wrongful death statute is enacted, while 48 other states have taken to amending theirs. Attorney Terry Connors, who has seen more than his fair share of courtrooms, seeking compensation for everything leading up to and including wrongful death, says there's a clear frustration across communities about a third veto of the “Grieving Families Act” this past weekend. "This veto is as illogical as it is disappointing," said Connors. The state House and Senate have brought the bill before Gov. Kathy Hochul on three occasions now and was vetoed every time. It’s a rare case in American politics where caucuses sporting more than 200 elected officials agree. "How often do you experience a situation where a law enacted any state, take any state throughout the country, and it comes in unanimous from both sides of the Legislature? That's unheard of," said Connors. "We have a statute in place right now, 178 years old, discriminates against the poor, discriminates against the young [and] discriminates against the old. Why should we have a statute like that in place?” A memo from the governor with the latest veto cites substantial reshaping of the legal framework for wrongful death actions and a slew of expansions for classifications that would help those families seek compensation. Suggestions Hochul's office have made include capping some of those categories and exempting the health care industry — something Connors understands, but takes issue with. "The only question to ask when those types of rebuttals are put forward as to why this statute should not change, is that it might impact insurance premiums," he said. "How have the other 48 states been able to combat that? How have the other 48 states not had that experience? We have precedent here." The bigger axe Connors and others have to grind is an advocacy for families they're fighting for, like the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting victims of whom Connors represents a majority of the families. "They want this passed because it's the right thing to do,” said Connors. “They never talk about the monetary issues here. All they say is, ‘my mother, my grandmother, should not be devalued.’” So the bill will be sent up a likely fourth time with a potential two-thirds majority in each body to override a veto, not something that has been outwardly campaigned for just yet. "It's direct. It's real. It's right here in our community," said Connors. From the perspective of Connors and other lawyers, it certainly would help them go after any entities involved in wrongful death actions, but they will have to continue to have conversations with officials in the House and Senate to see if that bipartisan support can hit those super majorities. One of the bills sponsors, state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, told Spectrum News 1 he believes the governor and supporters are actually in agreement the statute does need attention, but how the negotiations or talks for addressing it down the line are remain to be determined.

November 24 - Andrej Stojakovic made 11 free throws to help craft a team-high 20 points, freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson had his second consecutive big game off the bench and Cal ran its winning streak to three with an 83-77 nonconference victory over Sacramento State on Sunday afternoon in Berkeley, Calif. Wilkinson finished with 16 points and Rytis Petraitis 13 for the Golden Bears (5-1), whose only loss this season was at Vanderbilt. Jacob Holt went for a season-high 25 points for the Hornets (1-4), who dropped their fourth straight after a season-opening win over Cal State Maritime. Seeking a fourth straight home win, Cal led by as many as 12 points in the first half and 40-33 at halftime before Sacramento State rallied. The Hornets used a 14-5 burst out of the gate following the intermission to grab a 47-45 lead. Julian Vaughns had a 3-pointer and three-point play in the run. But Cal dominated pretty much the rest of the game, taking the lead for good on a Petraitis 3-pointer with 14:50 remaining. Stojakovic, a transfer from rival Stanford, went 11-for-15 at the foul line en route to his third 20-point game of the young season. Cal outscored Sacramento State 26-17 on free throws to more than account for the margin of victory. Coming off a 23-point explosion in his first extended action of the season, Wilkinson hit five of his 10 shots Sunday. The Golden Bears outshot the Hornets 47.2 percent to 43.1 percent. Joshua Ola-Joseph contributed 10 points and six rebounds, Mady Sissoko also had 10 points and Petraitis found time for a team-high five assists. Holt complemented his 25 points with a game-high eight rebounds. He made four 3-pointers, as did Vaughns en route to 18 points, helping Sacramento State outscore Cal 30-21 from beyond the arc. EJ Neal added 16 points for the Hornets, while Emil Skytta tied for game-high assist honors with five to go with seven points. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab