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Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NBH) Shares Purchased by Avior Wealth Management LLCThe Charlotte Hornets look to avenge their disappointing one-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets with a matchup against the Detroit Pistons. These two teams faced off on November 6th, when Brandon Miller’s tip-in secured a 108-107 victory for the Hornets. For the players, that win carried significance beyond just the final score. During the offseason, Draymond Green criticized the Hornets on the Club520 Podcast, questioning their status as a respectable franchise. Reflecting on the Warriors’ future after Klay Thompson’s move to Dallas, Green discussed possibly leaving if they rebuild. “ I pray to God if [the Warriors] ever feel the need to get rid of me... If they [are] going to send me to any non-winning organization, then send me to Detroit... then Charlotte [Hornets],” Draymond Green on the Club520 Podcast. Miles Bridges quickly responded to Green’s comments on Twitter, showing loyalty to the team. Now, with a 5-9 record, the Hornets face a larger question: Have they proven enough to earn respect? Is Green’s criticism still justified? Electrifying Playmaker Driving the Hornets Despite Flaws The Hornets’ 5-9 record mirrors their start to the 2023-24 season, which might have some fans feeling uneasy. However, this year’s team has been significantly more entertaining, largely thanks to LaMelo Ball’s electrifying play. The star guard has been the catalyst for the Hornets’ offense, appearing in all 14 games so far and delivering career-best performances. Ball’s 28.4 points per game rank 7th in the league, with 63 made three-pointers on 174 attempts, ranking 3rd and 1st. His shooting is key to the Hornets’ offense, but his 37.2% usage rate highlights the team’s reliance on him. However, this high usage comes with drawbacks—Ball leads the league with 57 personal fouls and 61 turnovers, ranking fourth. Watching Ball can be a rollercoaster of emotions for fans. His style of play can dazzle with spectacular shot-making and playmaking or frustrate with erratic decisions. This duality may explain why head coach Charles Lee chose to sit Ball during the fourth quarter of their recent game against the Nets. Although the Hornets needed his shot creation and passing late, his earlier struggles made the decision understandable. Key Contributors Stepping Up Beyond Ball, the Hornets’ core players are beginning to make their presence felt. Bridges, who started the season slowly with averages of 12.9 points on 36/23/76% shooting, has found his rhythm. Over his last four games, Bridges has elevated his play, averaging 19.1 points on an efficient 51/51/100% shooting split, along with 6.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Despite dealing with a hyperextended knee, he has delivered consistent performances during this stretch. Miller, meanwhile, has been impressive since returning from his oblique injury. Over the last nine games, the second-year forward has averaged 17.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. While his shooting remains a work in progress—38% from the field and 32% from three—Miller’s all-around game is starting to evolve, giving the Hornets another versatile weapon. Role Players The Hornets’ role players have also stepped up when needed. Tre Mann has become a key contributor off the bench, providing a spark with his scoring and energy. Mann is averaging 14.8 points in 24.8 minutes, frequently serving as the go-to scorer for momentum shifts. Grant Williams has been thrust into the starting center role due to injuries to Mark Williams and Nick Richards. Despite being undersized at 6’6”, Williams has performed admirably, averaging 13.0 points and 6.8 rebounds on 50/46/84% shooting since joining the starting lineup. His shooting adds a unique offensive dimension, but his size leaves the team vulnerable on the boards. Enter Moussa Diabaté , who has capitalized on his increased minutes amid the Hornets’ injury struggles. The young big man has been a force on the boards, averaging 7.3 rebounds (2.9 offensive) in just 16.1 minutes per game. His per-36 numbers are even more impressive, with 16.3 rebounds (6.6 offensive), showcasing his tenacity and value as a rebounder in a depleted frontcourt. In Conclusion Draymond Green’s offseason comments dismissed the Hornets, but their early performances suggest otherwise. Despite a 5-9 record, this team feels different. LaMelo Ball is playing at a superstar level, while Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, and Tre Mann have stepped up. The Hornets’ resilience amid injuries, with contributors like Moussa Diabaté and Grant Williams, shows they’re not easily written off. While they’re not ready to silence critics entirely, the Hornets’ growth and competitiveness may soon change perceptions—perhaps even Draymond Green’s. This article first appeared on thePeachBasket and was syndicated with permission.
GameStop Discloses Third Quarter 2024 ResultsProp bets, odds, picks and predictions for Seahawks vs. Bears on Thursday Night FootballHappy Wednesday! Amazon's Amit Agarwal spoke to us about the company’s quick commerce plans and India growth blueprint. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch. Also in the letter: ■ ETtech done deals ■ Mobikwik anchor book ■ GCC policy ETtech Interview: Amazon's Amit Agarwal on quick commerce foray, India plans Amit Agarwal, senior vice president for India and emerging markets, Amazon Amazon has entered the rapidly growing quick commerce space . In an interview with ETtech, the company's senior vice president of emerging markets Amit Agarwal spoke about its plans, the impact on broader ecommerce, and much more. India growth: "We have exceeded all the specific goals that we set for ourselves...across the board, we continue to see robust growth,” he said. “But we want to make sure that the growth we’re driving is towards a profitable business. We’ve been thoughtful in how we make our investments," he added. Also Read: Amazon India marketplace entity cuts net loss by 28% in FY24 Q-comm impact: “There is a physics to how much you can deploy closer to customers...but here we’re talking about the consumption of a few thousand products. It would be stretching the facts on how things are changing,” he said. “I appreciate that the customers are enjoying faster deliveries of a few thousand products, but they already come to us and get hundreds of thousands of products delivered in a few hours.” Also Read: ETSA 2024 | Quick commerce not impacting kirana stores: Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal Top-deck churn: “We have a very deep and tenured leadership team. Samir (Kumar) is probably the most tenured leader that India has,” Agarwal said, responding to questions on concerns over the top-deck exits . “If I look at the India leadership team, probably most of them were around when India launched. Leaders always make career and life choices about where to go...but I’m very excited to have Samir back,” he added. Also Read: Amazon veteran Samir Kumar to replace Manish Tiwary as India head Policy headwinds: “I look at 10 markets, and each one of them has their own nuance of regulation that...is a headwind. It’s no different in India. Our job is to be locally compliant, and despite that offer a great customer experience,” he said. “A policy infrastructure that is progressive, embraces ecommerce, reduces regulatory burden...is more predictable and creates a fair and transparent level playing field for all services...will not only grow ecommerce but will accelerate consumption and grow overall retail in the country,” Agarwal said. Also Read: CCI seeks Supreme Court hearing to expedite Amazon, Flipkart cases ONDC cuts incentives for network participants ahead of levying network fee The government's Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has slashed the monthly limit for financial assistance that network participants can seek, people in the know told ET. This comes even as ONDC plans to levy a network fee on seller apps starting next month, as it tries to reduce cash burn. More details: The open ecommerce network, which offered financial incentives of up to Rs 3 crore per network participant in July and Rs 2.5 crore in August, reduced the cap to Rs 40 lakh for September before increasing it to Rs 60 lakh in October amid festivals. The limit has now been set at Rs 40 lakh for December. For network participants who have crossed an average of one million orders per month during the August-October period, the assistance in December will be capped at Rs 30 lakh. Financials: In FY24, ONDC recorded a Rs 195.61 crore loss, wider than the previous fiscal year’s Rs 46.76 crore. Its marketing budget rose to Rs 91.73 crore from Rs 3.27 crore in FY23. Network maintenance charges rose to Rs 35.49 crore in FY24 from Rs 14.66 crore the year before. CEO speak: “Our expenditure is towards network enablement, keeping track of operations, governance, to make sure the whole network runs in a disciplined fashion, network expansion, and the financial incentives we give to trigger consumer trials," said ONDC chief executive T Koshy. ETtech done deals Anup Agarwal, CEO, Mintifi Mintifi secures $180 million: Mumbai-based lending platform Mintifi has secured $180 million in a new funding round, which includes secondary share sale. New investors PayU parent Prosus and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) pumped $80 million each into the company, with another $20 million being invested by Premji Invest, an existing investor. LambdaTest raises $38 million: Mobile and web testing firm LambdaTest announced a $38 million funding in a new round led by growth-stage venture capital firm Avataar Ventures to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) offerings to enterprise users. The firm will use the funds to add engineering talent to help accelerate its AI innovations such as KaneAI and scale its existing product and technology. Avanti Finance secures $14.2 million in equity funding: Avanti Finance, a non-banking finance company (NBFC) focused on financial inclusion, has secured $14.2 million in equity funding from social investor Dia Vikas Capital and existing investors IDH Farmfit Fund, NRJN Family Trust, Rabo Partnerships and some high networth individuals (HNIs). The company will invest in its technology capabilities to improve the borrowing experience of its customers and augment its channels in both rural and urban consumer segments. Infinity secures $1.9 million: Bengaluru-based business banking platform Infinity has secured $1.9 million (about Rs 16 crore) in equity funding from Y Combinator, Liquid 2 Ventures, Script Capital and angel investors such as Alan Rutledge, Justin Hamilton and Samvit Ramadurgam. Infinity focuses on businesses engaged in cross-border sales, helping them receive international payments as they sell their products and services globally. Climate tech startup Sustainiam raises $1.45 million: Climate tech startup Sustainiam , which offers carbon management and sustainability solutions, has raised $1.45 million (about Rs 12.14 crore) in its maiden institutional funding round, led by early-stage venture firm Orios Venture Partners. The funds will be used to launch a digital, technology-powered platform for trading environmental assets, increase the Noida-based company’s workforce and expand its operations globally. Mobikwik raises Rs 257.4 crore from anchor investors ahead of IPO launch Mobikwik cofounders Bipin Preet Singh, Upasana Taku Fintech platform Mobikwik's parent firm has raised Rs 257.4 crore from anchor investors , the company reported to the stock exchanges in a filing on Tuesday. Financials: The company said that it has allocated 9.2 million shares at a price of Rs 279 per equity share. Around 21 funds invested through the anchor placement round with around 10 domestic funds participating in the process. Out of the total amount raised, domestic investors have pumped in Rs 137.4 crore. IPO details: Mobikwik is set to go through the IPO process between December 11 and 13. The company is looking to raise Rs 572 crore through its public listing. Catch up quick: Mobikwik, which is making a second attempt at going public , downsized its IPO, which only has a primary capital component. It has also reduced its valuation to $250 million from $924 million in 2021 at which it was last valued privately. Other Top Stories by Our Reporters Govt working on policy to encourage setting up of GCCs in tier-II, tier-II towns, cities: The government is working on a new policy to provide incentives for setting up global capability centres (GCCs), especially in tier-2 and tier-3 towns and cities, sources told ET. OpenAI expands access to Sora Turbo for text-to-video creation: OpenAI has unveiled Sora Turbo , an enhanced version of its text-to-video generation model, which is now available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users. The rollout signals OpenAI’s ambition to lead in the competitive text-to-video market, where it faces rivals Meta, Google and Stability AI. Global Picks We Are Reading ■ Drivers demand Uber loosen UK insurance restrictions after price rises ( FT ) ■ Why AI could eat quantum computing’s lunch ( MIT Technology Review ) ■ We need a new right to repair for artificial intelligence ( Wired )
NORMAL — After making history by getting to the state title, Mount Zion ran into a buzzsaw in Chicago DePaul. It was a familiar story for public school teams on Friday — it was the fourth game in a row in Friday's IHSA State Football Championships that was a blowout of a public school team by a private school at Illinois State's Hancock Stadium. Public school teams were outscored by a combined 193-26 in four losses against private schools, two of which had previously won state titles in higher classes. Because of the IHSA success factor, Class 1A champion Belleville Althoff, with an enrollment of 288, will be bumped up to the Class 3A postseason next season. The Crusaders played in Class 1A the past two seasons and 2A in 2022. They competed in 4A between 2013-17 and took second in 2015. Althoff had a runner-up finish in 2A in 2012. Lombard Montini, which won the Class 3A title, won a Class 6A title in 2015 and was runner-up in 5A before moving down to 3A before last season. DePaul has a current enrollment of 1,347 students — nearly double the 763 of Mount Zion. A steep growth in enrollment in recent years wasn’t calculated into the recent classifications before the 2023 season that set DePaul as a 4A school. Here's a look at each of the games: DePaul stifles Mount Zion Brayden Trimble’s storied Mount Zion career came to an end with a 40-6 loss to DePaul Prep. The Braves' defense got some stops but their offense couldn’t get rolling. DePaul converted a 4th-and-10 to get into the red zone and then a third down before Nick Martinez got a rushing score near the goal line to open the scoring with 1:42 left in the first. A JuJu Rodriquez 29-yard score put DePaul up 13-0 at the end of the first. Keller Stocks threw a pick on the next possession and Martinez added a five-yard touchdown to his tally and put the Rams up 20-0 early in the second quarter. That ended up being the score at the break before defenses battled through the third quarter. Martinez scored his third touchdown for the Rams to push the lead to 27-0 with 6:29 left in the third. After another stop, DePaul extended its lead with Central Michigan commit Braden Peevy taking a screen pass 40 yards to paydirt to put the Rams up 33-0 with 1:16 left in the third. Nicholas Hathcoat added a 34-yard rushing score to put DePaul up 40 early in the fourth before a running clock took it to victory. Mt. Zion quarterback Keller Stocks throws the ball during the first half against DePaul Prep. Trimble, an Illinois recruit, got Mount Zion on the board with a jump ball touchdown catch over two defenders with 4:50 left. Trimble finished his career with 40 total yards after he carried the Braves to the title game with an impressive postseason. Kaden Becker rushed for 78 yards. Sages can't stop Montini Monticello’s dream run came to an end against Chicago power Lombard Montini. Ike Young’s dual-threat ability got the Sages back in the game, but he was neutralized for most of the evening before he left the game due to injury. Monticello's Nolan Buehnerkemper runs with the ball against Lombard Montini in the Class 3A state title game. Young, an Illinois baseball recruit, finished his career with a senior season that included 49 total touchdowns. Montini got on the board in under two minutes thanks to a couple of long runs by Israel Abrams and Jeremiah Peterson. Peterson got into the end zone from five yards out to open the scoring. After Montini’s score, the Sages drove down the field before they missed a 23-yard field goal. A few plays later, the Broncos were back in the end zone after a 53-yard touchdown catch on a screen by CJ Harkins. That put Montini up 14-0 with 3:50 left in the first. Peterson added a receiving score on a 49-yard screen that ended in a touchdown and pushed the lead to 21 with 30 seconds left in the first. Monticello’s offense stalled again and Abrams got in the end zone for the Broncos to put Montini up 28-0 with 4:50 left in the second. Three minutes later, Harkins was in the end zone on another screen that turned into a 70-yard score to put the Broncos up 35-0 With 30 seconds left, Foran, the school's record holder for single-season receiving yards, caught a tipped pass for a 29-yard score to get the Sages on the board. Chicago Christian beats Maroa In a rematch of the first round of last year’s playoffs where Maroa-Forsyth won by five scores, Palos Heights Chicago Christian got some revenge and a state title. Niko Griggs of Palos Heights catches a deflected pass next to Maroa-Forsyth’s DeAngelo Owen (21) and Dilsharan Singh (55) in the second quarter of the class 2A state championship at Hancock Stadium Friday. Griggs eventually scored a touchdown on the play. (Jim Bowling for Lee Enterprises) A slow start offensively and some missed tackles on defense meant Maroa’s best season since 2018 ended with a 47-0 loss. A screen pass to Mitch Williams was blown up on fourth down on the Trojans' opening drive to give Chicago Christian its first possession in opposing territory. Kenny Jager put the Knights on the board with a 27-yard rushing score a few plays later. Williams left the game in the first quarter with a leg injury and didn’t return. The Trojans couldn’t stop Jager, who ran for 223 yards and broke tackles on almost every carry. Christian Flutman also ran for 86 and three scores. Another Maroa drive stalled and Flutman scampered away for a 39-yard score to put Chicago Christian up 13-0 with 25 seconds left in the first quarter. The Knights were on there way to another scoring drive before Grant Smith forced a fumble and then pounced on it in the middle of the second quarter. The Trojans' offense that had moved the ball at will in the postseason struggled in the title game early with just one first down in the first half. It had the ball in opposing territory late in the second quarter but went three-and-out before missing on a fourth down pass. It looked like Maroa would go into the locker room down two scores, but a deep pass was tipped by Chicago Catholic and Maroa players before Niko Griggs went into a pile of bodies and grabbed the ball out of the air and raced away from defenders for a 59-yard score. A two-point conversion meant the Knights were up 21-0 at the half. The Trojans' defense struggled to get off the field. giving up multiple fourth and third down conversions on Chicago Christian scoring drives. The Knights opened the second half with a long scoring drive, capped by an 18-yard touchdown run by Flutman to take a 27-0 lead with 7:13 left in the third. Aiden Williams got in for a couple plays at quarterback in the first half before taking the reins of the offense after halftime. He fumbled in opposing territory to end a Trojans drive before Flutman got in the end zone again to extend the lead to 33-0 late in the third. Grant Smith finished his career with nine tackles to end his season with a school-record 188 tackles. He’ll join the Illini next season after helping lead Maroa to its fourth state title game appearance in the past 11 years. Belleville Althoff wins behind Hill Althoff's Dierre Hill Jr. put on a historic show, scoring a state title game record seven touchdowns in Althoff's 57-14 win over Lena-Winslow. Althoff finished the season 14-0. Lena-Winslow ended at 13-1 and as the runner-up in Class 1A for the second season in a row. Lena-Winslow, a public school with an enrollment of 239, has anthers have won six state titles in 1A since 2010 and were back-to-back champions in 2021 and 2022. Hill Jr., an Oregon recruit, ran for 438 yards and six touchdowns on 32 carries. He also had an 80-yard receiving touchdown and two two-point conversions. He scored from 59 yards out on the third play of the game, and had touchdown runs of five yards, 65 yards, 78 yards, seven yards and 49 yards. The seven touchdowns and 46 points scored are an IHSA record for a state championship, regardless of class. The 438 rushing yards are a state title game record for Class 1A. Hill Jr. finished his senior season with 2,588 rushing yards and 49 total touchdowns. En route to the 1A state championship, Althoff Catholic outscored its five postseason opponents 272-61. Niko Griggs of Palos Heights catches a deflected pass next to Maroa-Forsyth’s DeAngelo Owen (21) and Dilsharan Singh (55) in the second quarter of the class 2A state championship at Hancock Stadium Friday. Griggs eventually scored a touchdown on the play. (Jim Bowling for Lee Enterprises) Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
MARK Labbett was beaming as he spent a second day with his ex-wife, Katie. The couple, who married in 2014 but split in 2020 , have been treating their son, Lawrence, for a weekend in London. 4 Mark and Katie looked incredible as they spent a day out with their son Credit: Instagram/@markthebeastlabbett 4 The pair have both undergone body transformations since their split Credit: Getty Navigating co-parenting like pros, Mark shared pictures from their two big days out, which started on Saturday with a trip to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Watford. Today, they shared another photo, showing off their shared transformations as Mark wrote on the pic: "Co-parenting in London part two - Natural History Museum. "Little Monster LOVED the T-Rex in a Christmas jumper." Both Mark, 58, and Katie , 31, looked unrecognisable from their time being married, having both lost weight and switching up their looks. READ MORE MARK LABBETT gorg Glow-up The Chase star Mark Labbett's ex-wife unrecognisable as they reunite CHASE IS OVER The Chase’s Mark Labbett breaks silence on split from TV star girlfriend Mark looked slender in a grey jumper and black trousers next to Katie, who cuddled up beside him in a black skirt and maroon jumper. The new pic comes a day after the family spent a day at Warner Bros Studios to take in the Harry Potter tour with their son. While keeping "Little Monster" Lawrence away from his social media, Mark and Katie snapped a selfie together which he shared on his Instagram Stories. Mark and Katie, who are also second cousins, were together for seven years, but split when their attempts at an open marriage failed. Most read in TV BACK ON AIR BBC star reveals all clear from cancer & will return to work next week BABY JOY Georgia Kousoulou gives birth to baby daughter with co-star husband Tommy Mallett family fall out I'm A Celeb's Danny Jones' estranged dad reveals what caused family rift oh chlo Inside Love Island star Chloe Burrows’ £164 a night lavish trip to Dubai They first started speaking on Facebook in 2010, unaware of their familial connection. Mark, best known as The Beast on the ITV quiz show, later admitted that Covid lockdown had a detrimental effect on his mental health, and amplified the pair's 27-year age gap. Watch the moment The Chase's Mark Labbett furiously slams desk and shouts as team scoops humongous £80k prize Despite the break-up, they are yet to officially get divorced, though both have gone on to other relationships. Mark split from Hayley Palmer this year just a week after their one-year anniversary, with Hayley later claiming Mark had no intention of officially divorcing Katie. Speaking exclusively to The Sun about his break-up this week, Mark said: "She's [Hayley's] a lovely lady and I was very lucky to date her for a year, and as I said...it's me, I got old." "There's been no one since Hayley, I'm not saying there won't be another one. But I'm certainly not looking." Opening up about being content as a single man, Mark said: "I joke I am a shed man - a guy of a certain age that's quite content being in or out of a relationship - but loves to be spending time on their own. "It's primal, I think it goes all the way back to the hunter-gatherers where the man would go off a lot of time on their own. "To be fair it's not just men, there are people who actually like their own company." 4 The pair have spent the weekend together in order to 'co-parent' their son Credit: Instagram/@markthebeastlabbett 4 The duo, who are also second cousins, split in 2020 after a seven-year marriage Credit: Splash News
Warriors face Pelicans, out to stay perfect in NBA Cup play
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said developing schools as centres of excellence has been one of his objectives in the Union Territory. Addressing the annual function of a private school here, Sinha highlighted the need for a “knowledge revolution” to help India become a developed country and sustain all-round growth in different sectors of the economy. “Capacity building and developing schools as centres of excellence has been one of my objectives in Jammu and Kashmir and we have created a dynamic and competitive environment of learning to harness the power of students’ innovative ideas,” the LG said. He emphasised the role of teachers in realising the inherent potential of students and ensuring that the core competencies of Jammu and Kashmir are synergised for a brighter future. “Learning should not be centred around tests and assessment. Learning with proper understanding and proper awakening is necessary to connect the young generation with the moral values and practical aspects of life,” he said. Sinha laid special emphasis on developing a productive teaching-learning ecosystem where teachers are not restricted to the curriculum and are free to share their experiences and wisdom with their students. “Unless teachers are empowered, students will not be empowered and unless students are empowered, the nation cannot be strong,” he said. Talking about the reforms introduced in the education sector in the last few years, the LG said under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, “we are witnessing an educational revolution across the country”. He also spoke about the impact of artificial intelligence in the modern educational system and its greater role in making the teacher-student engagement more productive. “AI technology should be considered as a supportive tool rather than a complete replacement of teachers. AI-supported classrooms and not AI-led classrooms should be our future strategy,” he said.Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NBH) Shares Purchased by Avior Wealth Management LLC
New Delhi, Dec 8: Syrian rebel forces have reportedly entered Damascus, marking a key moment in the conflict that began over a decade ago. A resident of the city told CNN that opposition fighters were seen in the Barzeh neighbourhood, where gunfight continues while CNN again quoting a source claimed that “militarily, Damascus has fallen.” India along with several countries have advised their citizens not to travel to Syria in the current situation. The development follows a rapid rebel offensive that has swept across the country, with insurgents capturing Aleppo last week and claiming full control of Homs, Syria’s third-largest city. Residents in Homs were seen tearing down posters of President Bashar al-Assad, evoking the pro-democracy protests of the Arab Spring that first challenged Assad’s rule in 2011. Inside Damascus, reports suggest that rebel forces are positioning themselves in key areas of the city. A resident described scenes of fighters navigating the narrow alleys of Barzeh amid clashes in the area. “The electricity is cut off, the internet is weak, and people are staying indoors,” the resident told CNN. The rebel troops who continued to advance their units had entered the capital in search of President Assad but failed to locate him. While the presidential office and Iranian allies insist Assad remains in the city, U.S. officials believe his regime may be on the brink of collapse. Media also reports that rebel leaders have been in communication with high-ranking Assad regime officers considering defection. Russia and Iran have been asking for an immediate halt to the conflict. The Syrian conflict began in 2011 as peaceful protests against Assad’s government, inspired by the broader Arab Spring. What started as demands for democratic reforms soon transferred into a civil war, with Assad’s forces accused of using chemical weapons, indiscriminate bombings, and arrests to crush dissent. Over the years, the conflict drew in a complex web of regional and international actors. Iran and Russia provided military backing to Assad, while Gulf states, Turkey, and Western nations offered varying levels of support to rebel factions. Amid the chaos, extremist groups like ISIS and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) emerged, further complicating the conflict. Now, with rebel forces reportedly within striking distance of central Damascus, media reports quoting Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the commander of HTS, have declared that the Assad government collapse is imminent. He also pledged protection for civilians in areas under rebel control, though HTS itself has faced criticism for its extremist ideology and harsh governance. The quick advances have triggered a flurry of diplomatic activity. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Russia, among others, issued a joint statement warning of the conflict’s dangerous escalation and urging a political resolution. The Syrian army, meanwhile, has reinforced positions around Damascus, dismissing claims that Assad has fled. For ordinary Syrians, the latest developments bring both hope and fear. After years of devastating conflict, many are desperate for an end to the violence, but uncertainty looms over what a post-Assad Syria might look like. Rebel unity remains fragile, and the involvement of groups like HTS raises concerns about the potential for further fragmentation and extremism. Syria presently stands at a crossroads once again. For now, the country braces for what could be the most decisive chapter of its long and bloody civil war.
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Retailers coax Black Friday shoppers into stores with big discounts and giveaways NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year. Canada's Trudeau says he had an 'excellent conversation' with Trump in Florida after tariffs threat WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he had an “excellent conversation” with Donald Trump in Florida after the president-elect’s threat to impose significant tariffs on two of America’s leading trade partners raised alarms in Ottawa and Mexico City. It's unclear, as Trudeau headed back to Canada on Saturday, whether the conversation had alleviated Trump’s concerns. Trump’s transition team hasn't responded to questions about what the leaders had discussed at their dinner Friday night at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club. The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he said was the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans swept to power on Election Day and now control the House, the Senate and the White House, with plans for an ambitious 100-day agenda come January. Their to-do list includes extending tax breaks, cutting social programs, building the border wall to stop immigration and rolling back President Joe Biden's green energy policies. Atop that list is a plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring tax cuts that were a signature domestic achievement of Republican Donald Trump’s first term as president. It's an issue that may define his return to the White House. The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword Russia’s ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. Over time a weaker ruble could mean higher prices for imports from China, Russia's main trade partner these days. President Vladimir Putin says things are under control. One wild card is sanctions against a key Russian bank that have disrupted foreign trade payments. If Russia finds a workaround for that, the ruble could regain some of its recent losses. Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — While retailers hope to go big this holiday season, customers may notice that the catalogs arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were scaled down to save on postage and paper. Some gift purveyors are sending out postcards. In a sign of the times, the American Catalog Mailers Association rebranded itself in May as the American Commerce Marketing Association. Despite no longer carrying an extended inventory of goods, industry experts say catalogs help retailers cut through the noise and still hold their own in value because of growing digital advertising costs. Iceland votes for a new parliament after political disagreements force an early election REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Icelanders are electing a new parliament after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call early elections. This will be Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the North Atlantic island nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” The bans phase out the use of tobacco products based not just on a person's age but on birth year. Lawmakers plan to file the proposal next year. If approved, the bill would set a date and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after that date forever, eventually banning all sales. Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has approved the construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital Hanoi in the north with the financial capital of Ho Chi Minh in the south. It is expected to cost $67 billion and will stretch 1,541 kilometers (957 miles). The new train is expected to travel at speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), reducing the journey from the current 30 hours to just five hours. The decision was taken by Vietnam’s National Assembly on Saturday. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and Vietnam hopes that the first trains will start operating by 2035. But the country has been beleaguered by delays to its previous infrastructure projects. Inflation rose to 2.3% in Europe. That won't stop the central bank from cutting interest rates FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.3 percent, up from 2.0% in October, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However, worries about growth mean the Dec. 12 ECB meeting is not about whether to cut rates, but by how much. Market buzz says there could be a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%. Stock market today: S&P 500 and Dow post gains and close out best month of 2024 NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed with solid gains as Wall Street put the finishing touches on one of its best months of the year. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 188 points, or 0.4%. The Nasdaq added 0.8%. Friday was an abbreviated trading day, with stocks closing at 1 p.m. ET and the bond market an hour later. Investors were looking to see how much shoppers are willing to spend on gifts for the holidays. Black Friday unofficially kicked off the holiday shopping season, although retailers had been offering early deals for weeks. Macy’s and Best Buy each gained around 2%.
Baseball World Series Market Industry Dynamics and Contributions by Incorporated, Japan Professional Baseball League, Colombian Professional Baseball League (LCBP), Mexican Pacific League (LMP), Taiwan Professional Baseball League, Australian Baseball LeaAustralia's social media ban for under-16s is now law. There's plenty we still don't know – videoAH Real Deal: The TCL 50-inch Q5 TV is now $200 off
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