Long-term investing with a different perspective: Stocks of 5 companies with strong brands which have stood the test of timeAs Thanksgiving approaches, I’m giving thanks for something that’s truly important to me and my family. I’m talking of course about sausage. The author claims that Conecuh smoked sausage, the pride of Evergreen, Ala., is the world's best sausage. In the past few months, it's popped up in a few grocery stores around the Triad. This deep thought came to me while I was removing the last of my four children from my insurance plan. Without a doubt, Bess and I are grateful that all the kids are out of the house, off the payroll and living more or less like responsible adults. We’re also looking forward to having all of them, including our daughter’s husband and our oldest son’s brand-new bride, under our roof for Thanksgiving. The thought of sharing another Thanksgiving dinner together made me think of all the happy meals we’ve shared together over the years. And that made me think of the time many years ago when a sausage link vanished from our breakfast table in broad daylight. People are also reading... Back then, the son I just took off my insurance was still a twinkle in his mother’s eye. Our daughter was 5 years old, and our two other boys were 3 and 1 We were all sitting together enjoying pancakes and sausage, and our daughter was in the process of telling a long story. She did most of the talking back then. While she regaled us, she held the last remaining sausage link in one hand, and she would punch the air with it during particularly dramatic moments of her story. Her 1-year-old brother was mesmerized. He sat frozen in his highchair, following the sausage’s flight with his eyes. Our daughter kept talking and the story kept going. I don’t remember what it was about. But things kept happening and people kept doing things and saying things and it all went on and on, and she kept waving the sausage in the air and then... Bam! Our daughter’s hand was empty. Our son’s jaws were moving. Faster than the blink of an eye, that sausage link was gone. It was a scene straight out of Animal Planet or, if you're old like me, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. It was awesome. We were living in Tennessee at the time, but we would soon move to Georgia, where our third son was born and where we discovered that the world's best sausage was being made nearby in Alabama. It's Conecuh Smoked Sausage, the pride of Evergreen, Ala. A friend in Alabama served it to me, and I started grilling it in my back yard. My kids immediately favored it over hot dogs. Conecuh also became our favorite barbecue side dish, accompanying popular main dishes such as brisket, Boston butt, beer-can chicken, spare ribs and ribeyes. If I wanted to wow our guests, I always tossed Conecuh on the grill right after I'd finished whatever else I was cooking. Oh, and I'd grill it for breakfast, too. When I moved to the Triad at the end of 2022, I quickly realized that Conecuh was not sold in the Tar Heel state. Whenever I was back in Georgia or Alabama, I'd always stock up on Conecuh's original smoked sausage and hickory smoked sausage. And if I could find it, I'd throw in some cracked black pepper smoked sausage, my personal favorite, and the spicy & hot smoked sausage. But now, happily, that's changed. A couple of weeks ago, Bess and I were patrolling the aisles of the Harris Teeter on New Garden Road, looking for something to grill on a Friday night. And there it was. Conecuh Original Smoked Sausage and Conecuh Hickory Smoked Sausage, in 1-pound packages, for $6.99. Look what the author found a couple of weeks ago in the meat cooler at a Greensboro Harris Teeter: Conecuh smoked sausage, the pride of Evergreen, Ala. The company's website also confirms its sausage is now available at Publix in Winston-Salem and Ingles stores in Thomasville and Walnut Cove. I immediately snapped a photo and texted my children. "The eagle has landed," I wrote. "Just in time for me to leave," lamented our oldest son, who recently moved from Charlotte to Brooklyn. "Just in time for us to arrive!" exclaimed our daughter, who recently moved from Connecticut to Chapel Hill, and presumably doesn't wave around Conecuh at the table when she talks. A quick trip to the Conecuh website indicates that the tasty sausage is also now available in Winston-Salem at the Publix on Miller Street, and at the Ingles in Thomasville and Walnut Cove. The site doesn't mention that Harris Teeter in Greensboro, but I know it's there because I saw it, bought it, grilled it and ate it. I'd highly recommend it. You know, as an extra side dish with your turkey. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Dimon Kendrick-Holmes is North Carolina editor at Lee Enterprises. Email him at dimon.kendrick-holmes@greensboro.com or dimon.kendrick-holmes@journalnow.com . 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Bryce Young has added key scrambling element to game in Year 2
The 2024 college football season has brought many surprises for various teams. That includes the No. 10 Georgia Bulldogs (9-2), who have two losses for the first time since the 2020 season. The team's losses are mainly due to the offense's inconsistencies. Georgia ranks No. 34 in total offense, No. 9 in passing offense, No. 98 in rushing offense and No. 29 in scoring. Star quarterback Carson Beck's season has reflected those inconsistencies. He is completing 65.1% of his passes -- well below last season's 72.4% -- for 3,132 yards, 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. That's twice as many interceptions as Beck had in 14 games last season. David Pollack stated on his YouTube channel, "David Pollack College Football," that he believes Georgia is turning a corner. John David Mercer-Imagn Images "If you're a Georgia fan, I'm excited," Pollack said. "Because I'm saying, Carson Beck looked really good again. The offense continues to look really good. It looks like it's kind of turning the corner." The Bulldogs faced the UMass Minutemen (2-9) on Saturday, with Beck completing 20-of-31 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns. The offense amassed 550 total yards in the game. While the offense appears to be finding a rhythm, Pollack expressed concern about the defense on Saturday. He noted that the Minutemen gained a total of 351 yards, including 226 on the ground. Georgia ranks 15th in total defense, 27th in passing yards allowed, 38th in rushing defense and 17th in scoring defense. The Bulldogs need to improve their rush defense from last weekend to prevent an upset this weekend. The Bulldogs will face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-4), who rushed for 271 yards in an impressive upset win against the No. 8 Miami Hurricanes (10-1) earlier this season. The rivalry game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET Friday on ABC. Related: Paul Finebaum Names Top SEC Quarterback Who Doesn't 'Deserve All of The Criticism'
Capricorn – (22nd December to 19th January) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Struggles make you stronger today Look for moments to celebrate in the love affair. Be sincere at work and this will give positive outputs. Keep your financial life safe and steady today. Be sincere in love and you will see positive changes. Ensure you meet the expectations at work. Both health and wealth are on your side. Capricorn Love Horoscope Today You should devote more time to the love affair and must consider sitting with your partner and expressing your emotions. Avoid discussing old unpleasant issues in the relationship and do not open up the healed wounds. Those who have already proposed and are waiting for a response can be confident about a positive one. Female natives have high chances to conceive and you need to be ready to welcome a new member to the family. Those who are in long-distance relationships must have more communication and should also be supportive of each other. Capricorn Career Horoscope Today Do not say no to new tasks at the workplace. Each new assignment will give me the opportunity to prove my professional mettle. A few healthcare and IT professionals will relocate abroad. Handle foreign clients with extra care as any minor issue may impact the business. The first half of the day is good to launch a new project. Your interaction with the client will be fruitful. Entrepreneurs need to keep authorities happy today. Traders may face license and policy-related issues today. Capricorn Money Horoscope Today Money can be a major factor today as you may have unexpected expenses. A medical emergency in the family would financial assistance. Take the initiative to settle a financial dispute within the family. You may see fortune in speculative business as well as online gaming. You may also buy new property or jewelry today. Some Capricorns will clear all pending dues while a legal suit over property will also be settled today. Capricorn Health Horoscope Today The second part of the day will see minor troubles, especially related to the lungs or chest. Seniors may develop breathing difficulties. Those who love adventure sports should be careful and must keep a medical kit ready in the bag. Athletes and soccer players may have minor injuries today. Seniors may have urine-related issues which will need medical attention. Capricorn Sign Attributes Strength: Intelligent, Practical, Trustworthy, Generous, Optimistic Weakness: Persistent, Stubborn, Suspicious Symbol: Goat Element: Earth Body Part: Bones & Skin Sign Ruler: Saturn Lucky Day: Saturday Lucky Color : Grey Lucky Number : 4 Lucky Stone: Amethyst Capricorn Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces Good compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn Fair compatibility: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius Less compatibility: Aries, Libra By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)NoneSANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 2, 2024-- SoundHound AI, Inc. (Nasdaq: SOUN), a global leader in voice artificial intelligence, today announced that it will participate in the following investor conferences in December: Webcast registration links will be available before each conference on SoundHound’s investor relations website at investors.soundhound.com . If you wish to receive company email notifications, please register here . About SoundHound AI SoundHound (Nasdaq: SOUN), a global leader in conversational intelligence, offers voice and conversational AI solutions that let businesses offer incredible experiences to their customers. Built on proprietary technology, SoundHound’s voice AI delivers best-in-class speed and accuracy in numerous languages to product creators and service providers across retail, financial services, healthcare, automotive, smart devices, and restaurants via groundbreaking AI-driven products like Smart Answering, Smart Ordering, Dynamic Drive Thru, and Amelia AI Agents. Along with SoundHound Chat AI, a powerful voice assistant with integrated Generative AI, SoundHound powers millions of products and services, and processes billions of interactions each year for world class businesses. www.soundhound.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241202763976/en/ CONTACT: Investors: Scott Smith 408-724-1498 IR@SoundHound.comMedia : Fiona McEvoy 415-610-6590 PR@SoundHound.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA ARIZONA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY AUDIO/VIDEO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOURCE: SoundHound AI, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/02/2024 04:37 PM/DISC: 12/02/2024 04:37 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241202763976/en
Truckloads of Cheer: Truck Master Warranty Donates Toy Trucks to Children's Hospitals for the Holidays
Judge hears closing arguments on whether Google's advertising tech constitutes a monopoly ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The Justice Department and Google have made their closing arguments in a trial alleging Google’s online advertising technology constitutes an illegal monopoly. The arguments in federal court Monday in northern Virginia came as Google already faces a possible breakup of the company over its ubiquitous search engine. The Justice Department says it will seek the breakup of Google to remedy its search engine monopoly. The case in Virginia focuses not on the search engine but on technology that matches online advertisers to consumers on the internet. A judge is expected to rule by the end of the year. ‘Busiest Thanksgiving ever’: How the TSA plans to handle record air travel DALLAS (AP) — The Thanksgiving travel rush is expected to be bigger than ever this year. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million people in the U.S. will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday — most of them by car. Thanksgiving Day falling so late this year has altered traditional travel patterns. At airports, the Transportation Security Administration says it could screen a record number of U.S. air travelers on Sunday. Meanwhile, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration says a shortage of air traffic controllers could cause flight delays. Transportation analytics company INRIX says roads could be congested on Monday with both commuters and returning holiday travelers. Macy’s says employee hid up to $154 million in expenses, delaying Q3 earnings Macy’s says it’s delaying the release of its fiscal third-quarter earnings results after it discovered an up to $154 million accounting-related issue. The company did provide some preliminary results for its third quarter, including that net sales fell 2.4% to $4.74 billion. It anticipates reporting its full third-quarter financial results by Dec. 11. Newsom says California could offer electric vehicle rebates if Trump eliminates federal tax credit SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California could offer state tax rebates for electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. Gov. Gavin Newsom says Monday he'll propose creating a new version of the state’s successful Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, which was phased out in 2023 after funding nearly 600,000 new cars and trucks. Officials didn’t say how much the program would cost or how the rebates would work. Newsom’s proposal is part of his plan to protect California’s progressive policies ahead of Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. But a budget shortfall could complicate California’s resistance efforts. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by announcing plans Monday to hand more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Stock market today: Dow hits another record as stocks rise NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose, with those benefiting the most from lower interest rates and a stronger economy leading the way. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% Monday to pull closer to its record set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 440 points to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. They got a boost from easing Treasury yields after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants hedge-fund manager Scott Bessent to be his Treasury Secretary. Smaller companies can feel a big boost from easier borrowing costs, and the Russell 2000 index of small stocks finished just shy of its record. Workers at Charlotte airport, an American Airlines hub, go on strike during Thanksgiving travel week CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — American Airlines says it doesn’t expect significant disruptions to flights this week as a result of a labor strike at its hub in Charlotte, North Carolina. Service workers there walked out Monday during a busy week of Thanksgiving travel to protest what they say are unlivable wages. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services authorized the work stoppage. Union spokesperson Sean Keady says the strike is expected to last 24 hours. The companies contract with American Airlines to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. The companies have acknowledged the seriousness of a strike during the holiday travel season. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Eggs are available -- but pricier -- as the holiday baking season begins Egg prices are on the rise again as a lingering outbreak of bird flu coincides with high demand during the holiday baking season. The average price for a dozen eggs in U.S. cities was $3.37 in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was up 63% from October 2023, when a dozen eggs cost an average of $2.07. Avian influenza is the main culprit. The current bird flu outbreak that began in February 2022 has led to the slaughter of more than 111 million birds, mostly egg-laying chickens. But the American Egg Board says egg shortages at grocery stores have been isolated and temporary so far. ‘Buy now, pay later’ is more popular than ever. It can cost more than you think NEW YORK (AP) — More shoppers are using ‘buy now, pay later’ plans heading into Black Friday and the holiday season, as the ability to spread out payments looks attractive at a time when Americans still feel the lingering effect of inflation and already have record-high credit card debt. Experts say the short-term loans can lead consumers to overextend themselves and warn that those who use credit cards for the service face higher interest expenses. The data firm Adobe Analytics predicts shoppers will spend 11.4% more this holiday season using buy now, pay later than they did a year ago.Hingham Savings Declares Regular DividendPepsiCo Inc. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors despite daily gains
US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US elections NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, setting another new high above $99,000 overnight. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Australia rejects Elon Musk's claim that it plans to control access to the internet MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian Cabinet minister has rejected X Corp. owner Elon Musk’s allegation that the government intends to control all Australians' access to the internet through legislation that would ban young children from social media. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Friday that Musk’s criticism was “unsurprising” after the government introduced legislation to Parliament that would fine platforms including X up to $133 million for allowing children under 16 to hold social media accounts. The spat continues months of open hostility between the Australian government and the tech billionaire over regulators’ efforts to reduce public harm from social media. Parliament could pass the legislation as soon as next week. Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California. The Texas-based company is accused of discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater containing excessive amounts of oil and grease. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Phillips is charged with two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. An arraignment date has not been set. A spokesperson for the company said it was cooperating with prosecutors. US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. Stock market today: Wall Street edges higher as it heads for a winning week NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks edged higher on Wall Street, keeping the market on track for its fifth gain in a row. The S&P 500 was up 0.1% in midday trading Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 226 points and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.2%. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts' estimates. EchoStar, parent company of the Dish satellite television provider, fell after DirecTV called off its purchase of the company. European markets were mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Crude oil prices gained ground. Apple and Google face UK investigation into mobile browser dominance LONDON (AP) — A British watchdog says Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers. The watchdog's report Friday recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year. The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker’s tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. The CMA’s report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers “the clearest or easiest option.” Apple said it disagreed with the findings. German auto supplier Bosch to cut 5,500 jobs in further sign of carmakers' woes FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany's technology and services company Bosch is cutting its automotive division workforce by as many as 5,500 jobs in the next several years, in another sign of the headwinds hitting the German and global auto industries. The company cited stagnating global auto sales, too much factory capacity in the auto industry compared to sales prospects and a slower than expected transition to electric-powered, software-controlled vehicles. Some 3,500 of the job reductions would come before the end of 2027 and would hit the part of the company that develops driver assistance and automated driving technologies. About half those job reductions would be at locations in Germany. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration.Port: Committee that backed Measure 4 has some solid ideas for future of property tax reform
Jessica Tisch trades NYC's 'war on rats' to become NYPD's 'battle-tested' leaderWall St closes higher; small-caps hit record high after Trump nominates Bessent
PORTLAND, Ore. — Mobile-first customer experience company today announced the winners of the 2024 Airship Altitude Awards. Asda, bol, CIMB Singapore, Sally Beauty Holdings and The Vitamin Shoppe each won their respective award categories for exceptional value creation across acquisition, activation, value impact, unified experience and mobile mastery. Online marketplace bol was recognized for its strategies and results in driving app downloads with its “Price Alert Push as Acquisition Strategy.” bol created a price alert push campaign to acquire new app users and gain opt in for alerts when there is a discount on an item in a user’s wish list. The team encouraged customers to download the app, opt-in to notifications and add items to their wish list in the run up to major sales campaigns, like their bol 10 Days Campaign. The effort drove a significant uplift in price alert notifications, driving nearly 3X higher opt-in rates than average, an above average open rate of 27% and a conversion rate of 9%. Sally Beauty Holdings, a global distributor and retailer of professional beauty products, is honored for “Sally Beauty and CosmoProf Engagement and Opt-in Growth,” which showcased the brand’s ability to onboard new app users, drive ongoing engagement, opt-ins and registrations. Sally Beauty Holdings wanted to grow opt-ins and expand app engagement to provide more value to Sally Beauty and CosmoProf app users. The company implemented Airship’s no-code experiences and cross-channel engagement solutions, including eye-catching native, multiscreen experiences showing videos and quizzes, app store events, early access, sneak-peek programs and exclusive offers. The effort helped the brand increase the number of active users on the Sally Beauty app by 7% and CosmoProf by 16.6% year-over-year. Additionally, Sally Beauty app revenue grew from 12% to 22% of ecommerce revenue and CosmoProf revenue increased from 20% to 32% of ecommerce revenue. Leading ASEAN bank CIMB Singapore won top honors for driving revenue and creating valuable app customer experiences with its entry, “Empowering Simplicity with CIMB Clicks.” The brand’s vision was to make the CIMB Clicks mobile app in Singapore the go-to choice for simple, secure and seamless banking. The team went beyond simple app upgrades and fostered greater collaboration with their team, simplifying processes and reducing development time from months to weeks and days. CIMB Singapore established a dialogue with customers to educate them on security risks like phishing scams and promote new app features. As a result, monthly active users (MAU) grew 162% from early 2023 to early 2024 and 9 out of 10 retail customers now use digital banking with 75% regularly making monthly transactions. Asda, one of the largest supermarket chains in the UK, was recognized for achieving exceptional customer engagement from cohesive, contextually connected experiences with its “Multichannel Rewards Round-Up” campaign. To strengthen the value exchange among its loyal Asda Rewards customers, Asda wanted to increase awareness and engagement with its loyalty program and build customer anticipation for future cash rewards. The team deployed data-driven multichannel campaigns with push notifications, in-app messages and email marketing to provide relevant, timely and consistent updates of personalized rewards progress across channels. As a result, Asda saw a 100% increase in direct open rates of push notifications and a 50% uplift in customers responding to in-app messages. Additionally, Asda’s 2024 email campaign saw an 8% increase in open rates and 39% growth in click-through rate. The Vitamin Shoppe, a leading retailer of nutritional supplements in the U.S., transformed its mobile app experience to improve customer engagement and e-commerce revenue. The retailer worked diligently to improve every touchpoint along the customer journey, increasing loyalty members and identified users, boosting in-app engagement through gamification, increasing notification opt-in rates, improving conversion rates with an abandoned cart campaign and expanding app traffic with SMS. The Vitamin Shoppe is the first to be recognized in this new award category that celebrates meaningful achievements across the entire customer lifecycle. “This year’s Altitude Award winners represent teams from across the globe that are capturing greater value from mobile customer experiences,” said Brett Caine, CEO of Airship. “From several dozen award entries to an elite group of 12 finalists, all with very impressive results, these five winning brands are helping to define how to get mobile-first customer experience right in ways that matter most for their customers and their businesses.” A distinguished group of industry experts reviewed the 2024 Altitude Award entries and scored them based on overall performance, amplification, innovation and degree of difficulty. This year’s judges included: , VP of Product Management at OneFootball; , Director of Mobile App Marketing and Lifecycle at VML; , independent retention marketing consultant formerly with DAZN; and , VP of Audience Engagement and Lifecycle Marketing at Pandora. To learn more about the 2024 Altitude Award winners, read the . Airship helps brands master mobile-first customer experiences to build lasting relationships and accelerate business growth. Since 2009, Airship has enabled thousands of the world’s leading brands to be at the forefront of the customer experience revolution with industry-first support for push notifications, in-app messages and mobile wallet boarding passes — all now the norm in elevating experiences everywhere. Today, the Airship Experience Platform provides an end-to-end solution for unifying experiences across apps, websites and all channels, including email, SMS, mobile wallet and more. Its no-code Experience Editor and Journeys AI solutions enable marketers and product managers to get work done in minutes instead of months, capturing more value across the entire customer lifecycle without ongoing developer support. With the Airship Experience Platform and App Store Optimization technology and expertise, brands now have a complete set of solutions to optimize the entire customer lifecycle – from the point of discovery to loyalty – driving greater value for everyone involved. For more information, visit , read our or follow us on , and . North America: Deidre Wright Airship +1 415-223-0832 Kali Myrick Kali Myrick Communications +1 503-580-4645 EMEA: Ana Williams Airship +44 (0)20 3405 5160 Pauline Delorme Tyto PR +44 (0)20 3934 8882
Here's some help with today's Quordle, including hints and the answers. Looking for Tuesday’s Quordle hints and answers? You can find them here: Hey, folks! Hints and the answers for today’s Quordle words are just ahead. How To Play Quordle For any newcomers joining us, here’s how to play Quordle : Just start typing in words. You have four five-letter words to guess and nine attempts to find them all. The catch is that you play all four words simultaneously. If you get a letter in the right place for any of the four words, it will light up in green. If a word contains a letter from one of your guesses but it’s in the wrong place, it will appear in yellow. You could always check out the practice games before taking on the daily puzzle. Here are some hints for today’s Quordle game, followed by the answers: What Are Today’s Quordle Hints? The 85 Best Black Friday Deals So Far, According To Our Editors 60+ Early Black Friday Deals Worth Shopping Right Now What Are Today’s Quordle Answers? Spoiler alert! Don’t scroll any further down the page until you’re ready to find out today’s Quordle answers. This is your final warning! Today’s words are... That’s all there is to it for today’s Quordle clues and answers. Be sure to check my blog for hints and the solution for Thursday’s game if you need them.NUVVE HOLDING CORP. ANNOUNCES DATE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERSJets deliver payback to Leafs, claim NHL's top spot before Christmas break
Stock market today: Dow hits another record as stocks riseWHITE SALMON — A more experienced Columbia High girls basketball team is hoping to have more success this year in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Class 1A Trico League. The Bruins, guided by third-year Coach Justin Frazier, started practice Nov. 18 in preparation for a 20-game 2024-2025 schedule. The Bruins play their season opener Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at Goldendale. “The team has definitely grown quite a bit from last year in terms of their maturity level, so we’ll see how much that helps our team improve this year,” said Frazier. “It’s nice to have everyone coming back this year after getting a year of experience last season.” The young Bruins, with one senior (Sheyenne Antis), have their entire team returning from last season, when they (three freshmen) won six games. “We’re really looking forward to seeing Sheyenne helping provide leadership for the team along with a good strong core of juniors including center Sara Miller, Halle Kock, and Joella Posini, who will be starters for us again this year,” Frazier said. “They have a year underneath their belt, and they all worked pretty hard during the summer to become better players. The summer league schedule and the summer camp that they participated in really helped the girls a lot.” Frazier said the players improved physically, becoming stronger and more mature. “Our sophomores Taniah Barajas, Madison Russum, and Kierra Bucher will also be expected to provide valuable contributions, too, with their scoring and rebounding ability,” said Frazier. “Freshman Mckena Carlock is going to be our starting point guard and she’ll be a great addition to the team this year. She’s young but she played outstanding during the summer league and she’s been very impressive at practice.” The Bruins, who play their first home game Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. versus Hockinson, begin a 15-game Trico schedule Dec. 18 at home versus King’s Way Christian. The Knights are traditionally a strong team in the eight-team Trico. “Having another year of experience really helped to elevate talent level for the girls and they’ve all been competing really hard in practice,” said Frazier. “They’re putting in the time to help them improve and they also have a very positive attitude, which is going to help our team tremendously.”Two California prosecutors promised a different kind of justice. Voters turned on themANTERIX TO PRESENT AT JANNEY CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT SYMPOSIUM DECEMBER 4-5, 2024
By WILL WEISSERT, JUAN ZAMORANO and GARY FIELDS PANAMA CITY (AP) — Teddy Roosevelt once declared the Panama Canal “one of the feats to which the people of this republic will look back with the highest pride.” More than a century later, Donald Trump is threatening to take back the waterway for the same republic. Related Articles National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl The president-elect is decrying increased fees Panama has imposed to use the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He says if things don’t change after he takes office next month, “We will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question.” Trump has long threatened allies with punitive action in hopes of winning concessions. But experts in both countries are clear: Unless he goes to war with Panama, Trump can’t reassert control over a canal the U.S. agreed to cede in the 1970s. Here’s a look at how we got here: It is a man-made waterway that uses a series of locks and reservoirs over 51 miles (82 kilometers) to cut through the middle of Panama and connect the Atlantic and Pacific. It spares ships having to go an additional roughly 7,000 miles (more than 11,000 kilometers) to sail around Cape Horn at South America’s southern tip. The U.S. International Trade Administration says the canal saves American business interests “considerable time and fuel costs” and enables faster delivery of goods, which is “particularly significant for time sensitive cargoes, perishable goods, and industries with just-in-time supply chains.” An effort to establish a canal through Panama led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built Egypt’s Suez Canal, began in 1880 but progressed little over nine years before going bankrupt. Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle, eventually costing more than 20,000 lives, by some estimates. Panama was then a province of Colombia, which refused to ratify a subsequent 1901 treaty licensing U.S. interests to build the canal. Roosevelt responded by dispatching U.S. warships to Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The U.S. also prewrote a constitution that would be ready after Panamanian independence, giving American forces “the right to intervene in any part of Panama, to re-establish public peace and constitutional order.” In part because Colombian troops were unable to traverse harsh jungles, Panama declared an effectively bloodless independence within hours in November 1903. It soon signed a treaty allowing a U.S.-led team to begin construction . Some 5,600 workers died later during the U.S.-led construction project, according to one study. The waterway opened in 1914, but almost immediately some Panamanians began questioning the validity of U.S. control, leading to what became known in the country as the “generational struggle” to take it over. The U.S. abrogated its right to intervene in Panama in the 1930s. By the 1970s, with its administrative costs sharply increasing, Washington spent years negotiating with Panama to cede control of the waterway. The Carter administration worked with the government of Omar Torrijos. The two sides eventually decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate, the “Permanent Neutrality Treaty” and the “Panama Canal Treaty.” The first, which continues in perpetuity, gives the U.S. the right to act to ensure the canal remains open and secure. The second stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, and was terminated then. Both were signed in 1977 and ratified the following year. The agreements held even after 1989, when President George H.W. Bush invaded Panama to remove Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. In the late 1970s, as the handover treaties were being discussed and ratified, polls found that about half of Americans opposed the decision to cede canal control to Panama. However, by the time ownership actually changed in 1999, public opinion had shifted, with about half of Americans in favor. Administration of the canal has been more efficient under Panama than during the U.S. era, with traffic increasing 17% between fiscal years 1999 and 2004 . Panama’s voters approved a 2006 referendum authorizing a major expansion of the canal to accommodate larger modern cargo ships. The expansion took until 2016 and cost more than $5.2 billion. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said in a video Sunday that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to.” He added that, while his country’s people are divided on some key issues, “when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.” Shipping prices have increased because of droughts last year affecting the canal locks, forcing Panama to drastically cut shipping traffic through the canal and raise rates to use it. Though the rains have mostly returned, Panama says future fee increases might be necessary as it undertakes improvements to accommodate modern shipping needs. Mulino said fees to use the canal are “not set on a whim.” Jorge Luis Quijano, who served as the waterway’s administrator from 2014 to 2019, said all canal users are subject to the same fees, though they vary by ship size and other factors. “I can accept that the canal’s customers may complain about any price increase,” Quijano said. “But that does not give them reason to consider taking it back.” The president-elect says the U.S. is getting “ripped off” and “I’m not going to stand for it.” “It was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions — you’ve got to treat us fairly. And they haven’t treated us fairly,” Trump said of the 1977 treaty that he said “foolishly” gave the canal away. The neutrality treaty does give the U.S. the right to act if the canal’s operation is threatened due to military conflict — but not to reassert control. “There’s no clause of any kind in the neutrality agreement that allows for the taking back of the canal,” Quijano said. “Legally, there’s no way, under normal circumstances, to recover territory that was used previously.” Trump, meanwhile, hasn’t said how he might make good on his threat. “There’s very little wiggle room, absent a second U.S. invasion of Panama, to retake control of the Panama Canal in practical terms,” said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington. Gedan said Trump’s stance is especially baffling given that Mulino is a pro-business conservative who has “made lots of other overtures to show that he would prefer a special relationship with the United States.” He also noted that Panama in recent years has moved closer to China, meaning the U.S. has strategic reasons to keep its relationship with the Central American nation friendly. Panama is also a U.S. partner on stopping illegal immigration from South America — perhaps Trump’s biggest policy priority. “If you’re going to pick a fight with Panama on an issue,” Gedan said, “you could not find a worse one than the canal.” Weissert reported from West Palm Beach, Florida, and Fields from Washington. Amelia Thomson-Deveaux contributed to this report from Washington.Falcons feeling the pressure at .500 as Cousins' interceptions put spotlight on downturn for offense