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Jalen Hurts is in the NFL's concussion protocol, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed during his Monday video call with the media. The Eagles lost their starting quarterback just over five minutes of game time into Sunday's 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on the road. Hurts took off on a second-down run and as he fell forward, he took a hit to the head on the way down to the grass. Officials and sideline spotters noticed symptoms as he stood back up, and pulled him off the field for evaluation while Eagles backup QB Kenny Pickett went in. Hurts was ruled out with a concussion for the remainder of Sunday's game . Pickett was shaky, but did leave the Eagles with a chance to still win until it all fell apart at the end. Now the Eagles will be in a bit of a holding pattern waiting to see who their quarterback might be for Week 17, when they come back home to face the Dallas Cowboys, and with the NFC East still clinchable with just one more win. "We just lean on the doctors to let us know on a daily basis of where he is," Sirianni said of Hurts . Pickett, as the QB2, went 14-for-24 with passing for 143 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in relief of Hurts on Sunday. He got sacked three times in the second half as Washington clawed its way back, and one of the hits appeared to shake him up, even though he stayed in and finished the game. Pickett said postgame that it was his ribs that were hurting, but Sirianni had no update about that on Monday. Tanner McKee is the next man up behind Pickett, though, and did outplay him in the preseason , which led to questions about the third-stringer also. Sirianni vouched for each of them with Hurts' status for this coming Sunday in limbo. "Tanner gives us a lot of confidence. Kenny gives us a lot of confidence," Sirianni said."I think that's just a tribute to [general manager Howie Roseman] and his staff, of the all the pieces that he's given us to work with, and the depth that he's given us to work with." Wide receiver DeVonta Smith, and defensive backs Darius Slay and Reed Blankenship each suffered concussions earlier in the season, and their resulting time in the protocol each led to them missing a game after a week of being unable to practice . A similar timeline for Hurts is a strong likelihood, and a factor the Eagles will brace for in their gameplanning for this week. "You adjust," Sirianni said of whether Hurts or Pickett (or McKee) will be the QB. "There are a lot of similarities. There are little differences, but there are differences. It's just something you adjust to. This is the unfortunate part of the NFL. We've had a lot of experience doing this with different positions, and that includes the quarterback." There is a slight chance that Hurts won't miss the Cowboys game, but that would be a tough prospect. He would have to clear all his tests with the doctors and prove he's not at a major re-injury risk, which would be a process that would likely prevent him from getting in any practice reps before Sunday. Sirianni didn't dismiss the possibility of letting Hurts go back in without any practice if he does get cleared, but he was far from committing to anything either. The Eagles are going to have to wait on a lot. "Each and every week is a different scenario," Sirianni said. "What I've seen is Jalen knows how to prepare, knows how to get himself ready. He is a true pro." Follow Nick on Twitter: @itssnick Follow Nick on Bluesky: @itssnick Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice SportsTreace Appoints Guy Guglielmino as Chief Commercial Officer
The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% from the all-time high it had set the day before, its 56th of the year so far, to shave a bit off what's set to be one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 248 points, or 0.6%, while the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.2% from its own record set the day before. Bitcoin powered above $100,000 for the first time the night before, after President-elect Donald Trump chose Paul Atkins, who's seen as a crypto advocate, as his nominee to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. The cryptocurrency has climbed dramatically from less than $70,000 on Election Day, but it fell back as Thursday progressed toward $99,000, according to CoinDesk. Sharp swings for bitcoin are nothing new, and they took stocks of companies enmeshed in the crypto world on a similar ride. After rising as much as 9% in early trading, MicroStrategy, a company that's been raising cash just to buy bitcoin, swung to a loss of 4.8%. Crypto exchange Coinbase Global fell 3.1% after likewise erasing a big early gain. Elsewhere on Wall Street, stocks of airlines helped lead the way following the latest bumps up to financial forecasts from carriers. American Airlines Group soared 16.8% after saying it's making more in revenue during the last three months of 2024 than it expected, and it will likely make a bigger profit than it had earlier forecast. The airline also chose Citi to be its exclusive partner for credit cards that give miles in its loyalty program. That should help its cash coming in from co-branded credit card and other partners grow by about 10% annually. Southwest Airlines climbed 2% after saying it's seeing stronger demand from leisure travelers than it expected. It also raised its forecast for revenue for the holiday traveling season. On the losing end of Wall Street was Synopsys, which tumbled 12.4%. The supplier for the semiconductor industry reported better profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, but it also warned of "continued macro uncertainties" and gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that fell short of some analysts' estimates. American Eagle Outfitters fell even more, 14.3%, after the retailer said it's preparing for "potential choppiness" outside of peak selling periods. It was reminiscent of a warning from Foot Locker earlier in the week and raised more concerns about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain. Solid spending by U.S. consumers has been one of the main reasons the U.S. economy has avoided a recession that earlier seemed inevitable after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to crush inflation. But shoppers are now contending with still-high prices and a slowing job market. This week's highlight for Wall Street will be Friday's jobs report from the U.S. government, which will show how many people employers hired and fired last month. A report on Thursday said the number of U.S. workers applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but remains at historically healthy levels. Expectations are high that the Fed will cut its main interest rate again when it meets in two weeks. The Fed began easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high in September, hoping to offer more support for the job market. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.17% from 4.18% late Wednesday. The S&P 500 fell 11.38 points to 6,075.11. The Dow sank 248.33 to 44,765.71, and the Nasdaq composite lost 34.86 to 19,700.26. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mostly calm in Europe after far-right and left-wing lawmakers in France joined together to vote on a no-confidence motion that will force Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet to resign. The CAC 40 index in Paris added 0.4%. In South Korea, the Kospi fell 0.9% to compound its 1.4% decline from the day before. President Yoon Suk Yeol was facing possible impeachment after he suddenly declared martial law on Tuesday night. He revoked the martial law declaration six hours later. Crude oil prices slipped after eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries decided to put off increasing oil production.5 ways to tell if you’re on track for retirement — and 5 things to do if you need to catch up, according to expertsAthletic director Paul A. Bryant announced the decision in a statement. The Bulldogs went 6-6 this season, including a 4-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference mark, and won three straight games before a season-ending loss to Florida A&M. Maynor finished 40-32 at Alabama A&M, including a 28-21 SWAC record. Maynor led Alabama A&M to its first SWAC championship in 15 years during the shortened 2021 season that played in the spring. The Bulldogs went 5-0 and beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 40-33 to claim the program's second SWAC football title. Maynor is a former Arena Football League player who played quarterback for Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T. The program suffered a tragedy when linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr. died last week from an injury sustained during the annual Magic City Classic against in-state rival Alabama State on Oct. 26. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThe Journalist For Christ (JFC), in collaboration with the World Association For Christ Communication (WACC) and other relevant stakeholders, on Thursday formally activated the #EndMisogynyNG advocacy campaign in Lagos, Nigeria. The event held at the Sir Kensington Adebutu Media Resource Centre, Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba Lagos focuses on trends and contexts of Misogyny and Tech Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFG-BV) in Nigeria. In the spirit of the #16DaysOfActivism to end all forms of Gender-Based Violence in society, the keynote speaker, Mr Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the immediate Past President, Muhammadu Buhari urged participants to propagate the JFC report on Misogyny. According to him, this will enable guilty perpetrators who are involved to stop all forms of antisocial and dehumanizing acts before they become an uncontrollable vice in society. Correspondingly, the Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Mr Gbenga Adefaye who applauded the advocacy initiative of JFC founding President and Project Coordinator, Mr Lekan Otunfodunrin said, “This is a very good thing, and I would love to see and read this report because some of us may be an unconscious misogynist, acting unplanned or not being deliberate as agents who are mad at women.” Speaking further, he emphasised how he is interested and eager to read the JFC report in order to learn and reflect if he was a misogynist or not. The Project Officer and Publisher of BoNews, Ms Blessing Oladunjoye who spoke on the theme, “Understanding the Issues in Monitoring Social Media On the Trends of Misogyny and Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence,” stressed how TFGBV is a form of GBV which is predominantly carried out online on digital spaces. “This act usually targets women with the purpose of harassing them through electronic means or technological devices and is carried out via online channels or platforms,” she said. She, however, mentioned various forms and categories of TFGBV that include cyberbullying, doxxing, trolling, online sexual harassment and revenge porn while explaining the findings from the social media monitoring on the trends of Misogyny and TFGBV in Nigeria. She said, “We discovered 49 cases of TFGBV on Facebook, 8 on X and Instagram, and 1 case on TikTok of a total of 66 cases found online.” According to her, the percentage of male perpetrators of Misogyny is 28.8% which comprises 19 posts, while female perpetrators comprise 25.8% of 17 posts, and Bloggers and Skit Makers with 22.7% of 15 posts and social media influencer/ public figure and other were 4.6% with 3 posts and some unascertained account holder with unclear identity to be 13.6% with 9 posts respectively.” Blessing emphasized. She vividly gave examples of women who were victims of Misogyny and TFGBV with reference to how the announcement of Umeogi as the CEO of Zenith Bank sparked various misogynistic reactions online. Sharing from a post on X by @Olabode_ifeanyi on March 19, 2024, sparked 1.8 million views, 3,000 quotes and almost 9,000 likes as the post read thus- “The new Zenith Bank CEO’s profile gives me orgasm.” The author and poster sexualized the CEO’s professional achievement through a sexual. Though he later apologized, the damage has been done. But other social media users had reacted that the writer would not have used the term “orgasm” if a man with a similar profile were to be appointed as the CEO. Another example of Misogynistic content on social media was from one Azolike Nonso Afameduna who wrote: ” Adaora Umeoji, the woman appointed as Zenith Bank Plc’s first female CEO, looks like a hookup girl. I will never take that bank seriously again.” Sadly, the post which tends to trivialize women’s career success reinforces harmful stereotypes and downgrades women’s achievement as they are judged by their looks instead of their professional competence ultimately exemplifying some of the Misogynistic acts perpetrated on the digital space. Also, the JFC Vice President, Ugonma Cokey spoke on “Key Highlights from Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Trends of Misogyny and Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria. She revealed that the FGDs had 8 different groups ranging from female students in tertiary institutions, women Professionals, female Journalists across the country, social media enthusiasts, people living with disability and a special session for the males, to generate insights for the dissemination of digital counter-narrative and strategic advocacy interventions to mitigate Misogynistic attitudes and Gender-based cyber violence in Nigeria. Ugonma reiterated how the focus group discussion for men was fascinating and became essential, because it serves as an avenue to orientate more men, in silencing various misogynistic activities in the society. She further revealed some highlights from the discussion, which include how WhatsApp groups have been used as a platform for shaming women, with men posting sexually explicit pictures of women. Some men are attracted to women living with disabilities, using their vulnerability to take advantage of them, by pretending to offer assistance, but end up sending unsolicited sexual images and posts to them. The patriarchal nature of the society, including inherent tradition and religious beliefs encourages Misogyny and TFGBV. Violence against women exists both offline and online. While offline has to do with physical assault, online has to do with cyber assault. Some men are misogynistic in nature as a result of skewed and dysfunctional family/ home structure. Though men are often the perpetrators of Misogynistic and TFGBV, men are also very strategic and important in playing key roles in efforts to curb Misogyny and TFGBV. The highlighted points led to a clarion call for men to help champion this course while describing the need to change the narratives, as this quote helps to summarize the highlighted points thus- “I have a daughter and I don’t want her to grow up in a world where she is constantly belittled and objectified”
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Miriam Gluyas has been up since 4am in the Melbourne morning to make it here for our lunch, which will not trouble this masthead’s budget. She is warm and bright in a tomato-red cardigan, fitting apparel for the Commissioner of the Salvation Army. Not for us, a flash restaurant in Sydney’s down-town. Gluyas, who is “65 but feels 35”, has invited me to dine as the organisation’s clients do – modestly and communally. We are at William Booth House, a Salvos-run rehabilitation facility in Surry Hills. It is poised on a hip patch of Sydney real estate, amid minimalist clothing boutiques and cafes where the baristas are extremely serious about coffee. It would be worth a fortune, but like nearby Foster House, a facility for the homeless, it is badly in need of refurbishment. Advertisement “We want to give people who use our services some dignity,” Gluyas tells me. “For that we need to upgrade. So we are going to donors and the government to seek support.” The lunchroom is a cheerful, stainless-steel kitchen, cafeteria-style affair, staffed by residents and scattered with rehab attendees, one of whom sits next to Miriam and chats easily to her. We serve ourselves. On the menu is a Greek-style grilled chicken wrap with yoghurt sauce and salad. We drink tap water from mugs. It’s simple and delicious. Simple and delicious food is available at the Salvos – like this Greek-style chicken wrap. Credit: Louise Kennerley Gluyas is the Salvos’ Big Cheese – the head of an organisation with 8000 employees, about $735 million in property assets and a net income of $22.9 million, according to the December 2023 Annual Report. But she does not have Big Cheese-energy. She also does not get paid Big Cheese-bucks – her pay packet is about $500 a week. Advertisement Sure, she gets the use of a house and a vehicle thrown in, but I cannot think of any other boss who draws a salary of $26,000 a year. It’s radically counter-cultural. “I don’t like a command-and-control leadership,” Gluyas says. “I like a leadership that says, ‘Let’s come together, let’s wrestle and get to the best outcome’.” A structural flaw of the lunch interview is the fact that the interviewee has to do almost all the talking, and doesn’t get a chance to eat. But that’s not my problem. I begin with asking Miriam about her own background, which she says was as obliviously happy as they come – so much so, that she says she “probably didn’t even realise that people went through difficult stuff”. “I would call myself very blessed to have grown up in a family where you could be anything, do anything.” Advertisement She was raised in Ballarat, with loving parents and grandparents, the eldest of three siblings, in a strongly Salvation-Army household, going back generations to her Scottish forebears. Loading She barracked for the Geelong Cats and attended Clarendon Presbyterian Ladies College. “It didn’t work,” she quips, meaning the “Ladies” part. Her mother May was a ten-pound Scottish migrant who ran her own small businesses, including a babywear shop and a ladies’ apparel store. Her father, Les, was a builder. “I think my parents were ahead of their time, but I didn’t realise it,” Gluyas says. “They both worked. They always said to me, ‘Be whatever you want. Do whatever you want’.” The family was close-knit but full of robust kitchen table debate, especially about politics. Her father Les was always Gluyas’ chief sparring partner. Now aged 88, he still is. I ask what the fault lines of their discussions are. Advertisement “He would come from the very white ... there’s only one side of politics for him,” Gluyas says carefully. “So we would debate about that, especially when I was working at Auburn with asylum seekers and refugees. We would probably debate about most things.” Gluyas wanted to be a professional golfer or a sports teacher but ended up training as a Salvation Army officer, graduating aged 24 in 1983. She has worked “all over NSW and Queensland”, but her career highlights were “planting” (starting up) a new church in Newcastle in the mid-1990s, running a church in Auburn in Sydney’s western suburbs in the 2000s, and a three-year mission in Papua New Guinea in the early 2010s. Miriam Gluyas as a young Salvation Army cadet. The Auburn church attracted congregants from 26 different nations, many of them refugees and asylum seekers. There was also a cohort of methadone users. Gluyas learnt that years of drug abuse can ruin teeth, which in turn can result in self-esteem issues and social rejection. So the Salvos offered dental care. “Beautifully, one of the dentists out there said, ‘Everything would change if they could get their teeth back’,” Gluyas recounts. “So he would redo their teeth and to see them come back and say ‘Finally, I am game enough to smile and get a job!’” Advertisement One of Gluyas’ most memorable clients at the Auburn centre was a young girl from Sierra Leone. “She had been in two refugee camps where she was not sure if she would survive,” Miriam says. “When she arrived in Australia, she was placed in Year 10, but she was years behind in her schooling.” With support and tuition from the Salvation Army, she finished the HSC, went on to university and is now a registered nurse. “I remember sitting at a table with someone once and people were saying, ‘Those people should have to learn English before they come here’, and I remember reacting and saying, ‘How dare you say that? You don’t know their stories’,” Gluyas says. “But then I had to stop and think, ‘I didn’t know their stories before either’. If you don’t know, you don’t know.” Gluyas speaking to some of the staff at the Salvation Army kitchen in Surry Hills, where people in need of food can have a meal. Credit: Michael Quelch Gluyas has managed a few nibbles of her lunch before I hit her with a big question – I ask her what the voice of God sounds like to her. She answers by telling me about her mother. When Gluyas was working in Papua New Guinea, her mother, who suffered from dementia towards the end of her life, used to phone and beg her daughter to come home. Gluyas was in knots about what to do, until one night as she was jogging around the Salvos’ compound, God spoke to her. “He said, ‘I never want you to worry about a title or a position any more. Go home and look after your mum’.” Gluyas did what she was told, and got another seven years with her mother, but when her mum died in 2021 during lockdown, it was “incredibly sad” and Gluyas had “a little argument with God”. “I said, ‘You could have waited because I would really have liked to be there with my dad at her funeral’,” she says. “But then I thought, ‘It is what it is, and many other people have been through the same thing’.” Gluyas is too nice, too clever and too unassuming to bite on any questions about politics. But she says the impact of the cost of living crisis is “huge”, and is forcing people to make impossible choices between paying power bills and buying food. “It’s just becoming overwhelming, like a blanket over people, they think, ‘How will I do this?’” Last week, the Salvation Army put out a press release saying it expected this Christmas to be the hardest in its 140-year history in terms of the volume and widespread nature of need across the country. Gluyas says the Salvos are seeing “people who have never come before and are actually embarrassed to come”. Having seen the effects of gambling addiction, she supports cashless gambling cards and banning gambling advertisements. “It’s all right to say at the end of the Footy Tab ad, ‘You are likely to lose’ or whatever, but I think, ‘Why bother?’” While some faith groups want to retain exemptions to anti-discrimination laws, the Salvation Army has a formal “Commitment to Inclusion” which encompasses “people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and intersex status”. “I think there is a massive degree of loneliness,” Gluyas says of the Salvos’ mission. “A lot of people come into our centres because they’re lonely, and they’re after real community.” By now I have polished off my chicken wrap and Gluyas has barely touched hers, and I do start to feel bad about it. Gluyas is so thoroughly equable and kind that it is starting to rub off on me. I tell her I worry she will be hungry later. “That’s fine!” she says. “It’s totally fine.” She takes a few more bites before we make her work again, this time to pose for the photographer. Loading Ghoulishly desperate to discover Gluyas’ dark side, I ask her if she ever feels despondent. “Look, I am a pretty positive, upbeat person,” she says. She pauses for a moment to reflect, and then says that the only thing she gets despondent about is “attitudes”. Characteristically, she refrains from mentioning the people whose attitudes sadden her. “You have to hear the story behind the person, and then you’ll start to think differently,” she says. “Why is someone lying in the doorway? What is their story? How did they end up getting there? You will usually find a pretty powerful story there.” Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .Vigil neuroscience CEO Ivana Magovcevic-Liebisch buys $11,700 in stockINDIANAPOLIS — Only the coldest of hearts won't empathize with Michael Andretti, who has been sidelined from his namesake motorsports organization and won't have any role with the the Formula 1 program he spent the last four years desperately trying to launch. His effort to get a program partnered with General Motors into F1 was approved last week , roughly a month after Andretti stepped aside from leading his race teams. F1's decision to expand its grid for Cadillac F1 came amidst a federal antitrust investigation into why Liberty Media refused to admit Andretti Global as an 11th team — and after Andretti partners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter took controlling interest of the effort. “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Andretti posted on social media. “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!” The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team. I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you! While he will have no role with the F1 team, it is unclear what his regular involvement will be with his IndyCar team. His famous father, 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti, will be on the board of the F1 team and an ambassador. What changed F1's position on Andretti — an application it basically mocked in its January denial — is not known. Few have said much beyond noting GM's increased commitment to take a larger role beyond engine supplier. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of F1's governing body, had championed the GM bid from the start and Andretti's application was the only one of seven to receive approval from the FIA. In an interview with The Associated Press, he called F1's decision to finally allow the GM team a spot in the sport “a win for all of motorsports” but also sympathized with Michael Andretti. “I feel he should be proud because he's the founder who started this thing with his partners,” Ben Sulayem said. "We did the proper due process, we never favored anyone, and it is only because his application ticked all the boxes that the FIA approved it. Michael is a lovely person and I do not feel this was personal against Michael Andretti. “The other teams? For them, it was about the money. They don't want the money to go from split between 10 teams to split between 11 teams," he added. "But it was only a matter of time before General Motors was going to be approved and I feel it is incorrect to say it happened because Michael stepped aside. What did Michael do? Why would people not want him? Because he spoke publicly? He didn't break any rules. He didn't abuse anyone. If people want to see it as personal, it is up to them. He doesn't annoy me." What likely did annoy F1 and Liberty Media, its commercial rights holder, was the Justice Department investigation. Liberty announced it was under investigation this summer, not long after Mario Andretti visited Washington to discuss the F1 snub with lawmakers. The FBI was allegedly at last month's Las Vegas Grand Prix and Ben Sulayem confirmed to AP he was interviewed by federal investigators. “It is the department that protects the interest of the United States and the FIA has nothing to hide,” Ben Sulayem said. “I was proud to speak to them and they were very polite and understanding. I wanted this to be cleared: I wanted GM in F1 because it is good for business.” F1 currently has just one American team, owned by California businessman Gene Haas, despite a series-high three races in the United States. Should the Cadillac F1 team make it to the grid in 2026 as scheduled, there will be two American teams and Ford will officially join Red Bull that season as a technical partner. This Andretti-less F1 effort will be led by TWG Global, the investment company founded by Walter, who as CEO of Guggenheim Partners is the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea, and Towriss, who became involved in motorsports initially as a sponsor for Andretti and took an ownership role in Andretti Global in 2022. Towriss is now the majority owner of the Andretti race teams and work on the F1 team will continue in Andretti's Indiana shop, its recently opened satellite factory in Silverstone and GM’s facilities in North Carolina and Michigan. Towriss is the CEO of TWG Global’s motorsports arm. There is no indication who the drivers will be for the F1 team, although Valtteri Bottas indicated last weekend he'd like to be considered and the original Andretti effort targeted current IndyCar driver Colton Herta, who is sponsored by Towriss' company, Gainbridge.
Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report findsHow you can cash in on DEAL MANIA By ANNE ASHWORTH Updated: 21:50, 6 December 2024 e-mail View comments An astonishing £52billion worth of UK-listed businesses have succumbed to bids or mergers in 2024, in a feeding frenzy of deals that provokes concern – but also indicates an opportunity. The shrinking of our stock market is bad news for the economy – the pace of departures is the fastest for a decade. But the payback for investors from takeover mania can be gratifying, suggesting that British shares are worth a bet now. So, enough of Black Friday and its often-so-so bargains. Is this the area where you could make a mint, especially given this week's forecast from the Swiss fund management group Pictet that the UK market could be less adversely affected than the rest of Europe by the Trump administration's tariffs policy? Trade buyers and US private equity groups are eager to indulge their appetite for businesses that appear irresistibly cheap and may not stay that way. The 45 companies that have been swallowed up include the packaging company DS Smith, cybersecurity group Darktrace, the financial platform Hargreaves Lansdown and the bank Virgin Money. Done deal: An astonishing £52billion worth of UK-listed businesses have succumbed to bids or mergers in 2024 Carlsberg's £3.3billion purchase of Britvic is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority watchdog. But the year's most controversial transaction is Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's campaign to seize control of the Royal Mail owner IDS in a £3.6billion deal. Why is UK plc so alluring to predators? Ian Lance and Nick Purves, managers of the Temple Bar investment trust, say that shares have been ground down by short-term pessimism – and by UK pension funds preferring to put money into the US and other markets. So enticing are the bargains that have been produced that would-be bidders are not putting their plans on hold for Christmas. The 'takeover juggernaut keeps on trucking', in the words of Dan Coatsworth, analyst at broker AJ Bell, with a spate of offers for household names and more obscure firms in past days. Yesterday, the insurer Aviva moved closer to winning control of embattled rival Direct Line with a £3.6billion offer. The combined group will control one-fifth of the motor insurance market. The rumoured interest from several parties in ITV could turn into a tense drama, amid the perception that there is 'trapped value' in its studios arm which delivers shows as diverse as Love Island and Coronation Street. Also, the success of ITV X, its streaming service, has confounded expectations. The belief that the takeover talk could now be credible has led one analyst to speculate that ITV could be worth £4.5billion, against its current market capitalisation of £2.7billion. Suitors are also lining up for smaller enterprises. The Australian asset manager Macquarie has offered £700m offer for Renewi, the London-listed Belgian waste disposal business. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Wealth preservation trusts can protect you and turn a profit... Can fund managers bounce back from a bad run, or is your... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 engineering firm TI Fluid Systems is to be acquired for £1billion by a Canadian competitor ABC Technologies, which is owned by the £250billion US private equity giant Apollo Global Management. It has also been revealed that the AIM-listed gold mining company Metals Exploration is snapping up Condor Gold for about £67.5m. Metals Exploration is backed by the investment vehicle of Nick Candy, the property developer famous for the One Hyde Park super-luxe apartment scheme in Knightsbridge, and his marriage to actress and singer Holly Valance. If you are checking your portfolio for exposure to this spending spree through individual stocks, funds and trusts, be aware that a bid approach may not culminate in an investor bounty. Lance and Purves point out that two holdings in their trust's portfolio – Anglo American and Currys – have fended off attempts to curtail their independence. Currys argued that a £757m offer from US activist investor Elliott Partners was far too low. A fair contention, it seems, since the share price of the electrical retailer is now 73 per cent higher than a year ago. There is also mounting disquiet among fund managers over what they see as the paltry sums being paid by predators – which should also raise the ire of private investors. There is particular dismay over one business. The cafe bar company Loungers is to be bought for £338m by New York private equity player Fortress, whose past UK acquisitions include Curzon Cinemas, Majestic Wines, Poundstretcher stores and Punch pubs. Axa Investment Managers is just one of the shareholders who are unhappy. Nick Hawthorn, manager of the Downing Strategic Multi-cap fund, argues that the 310p-a-share being paid by Fortress represents a 'derisory 30 per cent premium' on the Loungers share price, which was hard hit by the Budget's employer National Insurance raid and other measures. Loungers disputes these claims. Yet they should serve as an alert to anyone who wants to make the most of bid and merger mania but who does not want to be short-changed. This is our guide: Where to invest Cashing in: Nick Candy and wife Holly Valance So attractive are the valuations of UK shares at present that some analysts argue that 'everything is for sale'. This assessment may be an exaggeration. Yet it will heighten the focus on names whose shares have fallen in past months such as the convenience store chain B&M, the drinks group Diageo and the bank Schroders – its price is down by 27 per cent this year. US buyout company Advent is, reportedly, poised to pounce on Tate & Lyle, the flavourings group. Since it is difficult to tell whether such reports are speculation or fact, it may be wise to put some cash into a UK trust or fund gives you a stake in the action – and a chance for future appreciation. Suitable choices include Fidelity Special Situations, Fidelity Special Values, Jupiter UK Dynamic and Temple Bar – which is my pick. Trusts that could pay dividends There has already been a large amount of consolidation in the investment trust sector. The Alliance and Witan trusts got together to form Alliance Witan which joined the FTSE 100 this week. If you are ready for adventure, James Carthew of QuotedData suggests renewable energy trusts, such as Bluefield Solar, Greencoat Renewables or NextEnergy Solar. Some of their share prices are at a discount of 30 per cent to the net asset value (NAV), making them a possibly enticing target. Greencoat also provides a 7.8 per cent dividend yield – some consolation if a predator fails to appear on the scene. Have your cake and eat it, too Ben Yearsley of Fairview Investing is not a fan of investing in a share simply because a bid could appear. He says: 'I tell my clients that you should buy what you normally buy, based on the company's credentials and prospects.' If a bid materialises, this is the icing on the cake. He continues: 'Standard Chartered has been the subject of takeover rumours for about three years. None has materialised. 'If you invested three years ago, believing this to be a bank that could make a comeback, you would have been rewarded with a share price rise of 126 per cent and enjoyed dividends along the way. What's more, the share price could advance by a further 20-30 per cent.' Don't rely on a bid The luxury goods industry is set for consolidation, its Asian clientele having become reluctant to spend. But companies seeking to make acquisitions in this sector can prefer a brand that is on its way to revival, rather than starting on the journey. This means holders of the iconic British fashion house Burberry (like me) may need to be forbearing as it tries to retain its style credentials through ads featuring Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, Chelsea and England footballer Cole Palmer, and Alex Hassell and David Tennant, stars of Disney+ series Rivals. For the moment, the handbag maker Mulberry has evaded the clutches of Fraser founder Mike Ashley. Yet close attention will be paid to the success of boss Andrea Baldo's drive to remodel the business. 'Watch and wait' should be your motto. What to do in the case of a bid It is tempting to be dazzled by an offer for a company in which you hold shares, especially if it is pitched at 20-30 per cent above the share price. But the offer may not necessarily reflect the company's prospects. Most bids are cash only. But if there is a mix of cash and shares, you have to weigh up whether you consider the bidder worth backing. If you hold your shares through a platform, you will receive information about the bid and be able to sell your shares without a fee if the offer is approved by the company's board and so become official. If the shares trade at about the level of the bid, it may be worth selling before this time in case the deal is derailed. 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We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence. More top storiesNew Delhi: Delhi BJP on Monday unveiled a " political chargesheet ", targeting AAP's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and his party. The document pointed to the alleged failures of Delhi govt and instances of corruption involving its ministers. Releasing the "chargesheet", senior BJP functionary Anurag Thakur accusing Kejriwal of turning Delhi into a "corruption lab" through a series of "scams". Delhi BJP has set up a "chargesheet committee" that has, so far, issued detailed reports listing the alleged failures of AAP MLAs, ahead of the assembly polls. "What kind of a party comes to power promising to give a corruption-free govt, but is involved in 8-9 scams related to liquor policy, Delhi Jal Board, DTC, Waqf Board, and so on?" Thakur asked. Claiming that BJP would oust AAP from Delhi, Thakur gave the slogan, "Ghotale Pe Ghotala, Kejriwal Ne Banaya Delhi Ko Bhrashtachar Ki Prayogshala (Kejriwal turned Delhi into a laboratory of corruption with scams)." The chargesheet stated a list of "unfulfilled" promises of AAP govt, including clean water, 24-hour tap water supply, world-class health infrastructure, a clean Yamuna, pollution-free Delhi, and a corruption-free state. It claimed: "The deadly AQI has permanently damaged the lungs of Delhi children, and Yamuna has become dirtier and stinkier than before". The chargesheet further stated that the CM, deputy CM, five ministers, an MP and 10 MLAs had gone to jail over corruption and criminal charges. It alleged that, on one hand, AAP did "drama" on women's safety and then beat up its own MP at the CM's residence and, on the other, it created "fake drama" over Rohingya, but didn't implement NRC. The chargesheet alleged that Delhi govt didn't implement PM Awas Yojna in the capital, which allowed affordable housing, but Kejriwal went about making "a lavish residence for himself". Thakur targeted AAP and Kejriwal over education and health too, alleging that they failed to open new mohalla clinics and hospitals and did not use Centre's funds to boost the city's healthcare infrastructure. He charged that the smog tower in Connaught Place, which was supposed to provide relief from air pollution, was lying defunct although AAP govt spent crores of rupees on its publicity. Thakur alleged that while AAP supported "anti-national" forces, Kejriwal questioned India's surgical strikes. He claimed that AAP got the support of "Khalistani elements" during Punjab polls. He questioned Delhi govt over the "migration" of people during Covid. Thakur said, "During the pandemic, Kejriwal govt failed to provide even basic facilities to workers from UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, Bengal and other states working in Delhi. Instead, they were forced to leave the city." He added: "Promises were made to establish free clinics and large hospitals in Delhi, but today, 70% of patients are forced to seek treatment in private hospitals." Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said claimed that it was "crucial to dislodge AAP's half-hearted govt and replace it with a complete BJP govt in Delhi, so that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, a double-engine govt could rescue Delhi from misgovernance". Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes.
Downingtown East’s Brianna Litvan is Daily Local News 2024 Girls Tennis Player of the Year
All is quiet during the changing of the guard outside Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei before the gathered crowd erupts. Taiwanese flags line Democracy Boulevard as cheering locals and tourists alike encircle the strictly choreographed ceremony. Women in short skirts stand side-by-side with those wearing conservative religious garments. China claims self-governed Taiwan as a breakaway province. The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) fled to the island in 1949 during the civil war with the Chinese Communist Party. Cultural artefacts including the prized Jade Cabbage, given as a dowry gift to an emperor's consort in the 19th century, is one of the many treasures that were taken across the Taiwan Strait. Officials from Beijing say they are not bothered by the objects being on display in Taiwan, as it is a part of China. Many Taiwanese people speak about their shared ancestry with the mainland but consider themselves culturally distinct. Only a dozen nations recognise Taiwan as a state. Australia is part of the overwhelming majority that does not. Canberra continued to recognise the Republic of China until diplomatic relations were set up with the People's Republic of China - established by the communist party - in 1972. Taipei's representative offices in Australia do not have diplomatic status and dealings take place unofficially. But trade between the two is worth billions and a number of travel and academic exchanges take place. Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019 and Taipei is adorned with pride flags and rainbow road crossings. About 170,000 people took part in the pride parade in October, which has been celebrated annually since 2003. China has meanwhile increasingly conducted military drills around Taiwan, with more than 150 aircraft swarming the island in mid-October. A declaration of independence is a clear red line many Taiwanese officials say they will not cross. A survey completed earlier this year showed more than 80 per cent of Taiwanese respondents wanted to maintain the status-quo with China. The number of those wanting independence has been dropping since 2020. Department of International Information Services Director General Catherine Hsu says Taipei is not fearful of an invasion by China. However I-Chung Lai, president of government-funded think tank Prospect Foundation, insists the majority of Taiwanese are ready to take a stand to protect their freedom and democracy. Asked what he would advise in the face of an invasion, he says: "That's a very easy answer, we'll go to war. We'll fight to the death." Dr Lai says despite concerns about an invasion, officials are also considering a blockade or an "anaconda" strategy, where Taiwan would be strangled into submission. "We need to prepare ourselves (so) we can fight tonight and win, that China cannot prevail in a successful military operation," he says. Taiwanese factcheckers say the island is a target for serious disinformation campaigns, often aimed at undermining democracy as a form of government. According to Taiwan FactCheck Center chief executive Eve Chiu shared-language across the strait means lots of fake news floods Taiwanese feeds. Doctored images showing US Vice-President Kamala Harris in a bikini and embracing disgraced American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein on a beach with a caption "this is real," have been picked up via monitoring of the online space. Ms Chiu says another area malicious groups would target include fuelling US scepticism among the general public. A deepfake appeared online, showing a heavily-edited video of a US politician falsely saying Washington was keen to arm Taiwan for a coming war with Beijing. In fact, the original video showed him being questioned by American reporters about the state of the US economy. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Francois Wu has told journalists it is sometimes "lonely" being Taiwanese, as many countries prioritise good economic relations with Beijing. Despite the uncertainty, he was defiant in the face of questions Taiwan might capitulate. "We have to be careful but that does not mean that we have to be intimidated by China," he said. "They said they (have) wanted to occupy Taiwan since 1949 and look at what has happened. We are still here, standing alive." The AAP reporter travelled to Taipei with the assistance of the Taiwanese government.NEW YORK (AP) — Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner has been fined $2,000 for embellishment during a recent game against the New York Rangers, the NHL said Monday. Skinner was issued a warning after a diving/embellishment incident in an Oct. 22 game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the league said. His second citation, which triggered the fine, came in the second period of a 6-2 victory over the Rangers on Nov. 23. Skinner was being followed by Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller as he had the puck along the boards in the New York zone. Skinner lost his footing and the puck despite minimal contact from Miller. The Oilers forward looked toward the referee as he got up but no penalty call was made on the play. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Analysis: Win or lose at UNC, Belichick's NFL legacy cemented
WASHINGTON — Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the newly tapped co-chairs of President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency advisory board, met with lawmakers behind closed doors to discuss Trump's agenda for the new Congress. "We need to make government more efficient," said House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La. Trump tasked the entrepreneurs with finding ways to cut government spending. Musk claimed he could cut "at least $2 trillion" of federal spending but did not specify how or in what time frame. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Musk and Ramaswamy wrote they would welcome "a wave of voluntary terminations" by ending remote work for federal workers. The duo has also considered cutting government programs and slashing federal regulations to save funds. "While I embrace the DOGE concept, I think we have to be careful with the expectation," said Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark. The federal budget is divided into three parts: mandatory spending, which includes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; paying interest on the debt, which increases as the deficit grows; and the discretionary budget, half of which goes to the Pentagon, with the other half covering veterans' benefits, education, transportation and other government services. "We have to find an answer as to how we save Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, pay the net interest on the debt, while at the same time not being able to take all of that out of the hide of the discretionary budget, which is already pretty thin," Womack said. On Thursday, Johnson did not answer a question about how to cut funding while saving entitlements. On the campaign trail, Trump said he would not make cuts to Social Security or Medicare, the largest and fifth largest line items in the budget.