French government collapses after no-confidence vote, deepening political crisis
Lebawit Lily Girma | (TNS) Bloomberg News When winter rolls around, travelers predictably turn their attention to beaches. And this year, it’s the destination that comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean” that’s experiencing outsize demand from Americans planning a warm island vacation. Talk about trashing stereotypes. Related Articles Travel | Would you pay $700 a night to sleep under the stars at this Colorado resort? Travel | Thailand’s starring role in ‘The White Lotus’ is about to pay off Travel | 5 under-the-radar travel destinations the UN says you should visit Travel | Gift ideas for people planning their next trip Travel | Lights and decor, réveillon meals make Christmastime special in New Orleans Puerto Rico has recovered overseas visitors (excluding those from Canada and Mexico) faster than any U.S. state or territory — a staggering 85% increase over its 2019 overseas inbound visitor levels as of 2023, according to an October study from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office. There are now more daily flights from the U.S. West Coast, and hotel bookings are 6% higher so far in this last quarter of 2024 year-over-year. It’s a trifecta of tourism growth: more visitors, but also longer stays and a higher spend that reached a record $9.8 billion in 2023, boosting small businesses as well as major brands. “We don’t have a slow season in Puerto Rico anymore,” says Brad Dean, chief executive officer at Discover Puerto Rico. Even if they’re not booking, people are dreaming about “La Isla.” By tracking flight searches for trips between November 2024 and February 2025, a measure of “inspirational” demand, tourism intelligence company Mabrian Technologies reports Puerto Rico is up 9% compared with the same period last year and leads Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Bahamas in the Caribbean proper. Only Costa Rica ranked higher in the wider region. Dean attributes Puerto Rico’s ongoing tourism growth to a strategic effort to reposition the island’s brand as more than a sun-and-sea destination, starting back in 2018. That led to the Live Boricua campaign, which began in 2022 and leaned heavily on culture, history and cuisine and was, Dean says, “a pretty bold departure” in the way Puerto Rico was showcased to travelers. He adds that at least $2 billion in tourism spend is linked to this campaign. “We (also) haven’t shied away from actively embracing the LGBTQ+ community, and that has opened up Puerto Rico to audiences that may not have considered the Caribbean before,” Dean says. Hotels are preparing to meet this growing demand: A number of established boutique properties are undergoing upgrades valued between $4 million and more than $50 million, including Hotel El Convento; La Concha, which will join the Marriott Autograph Collection; Condado Vanderbilt Hotel; and the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar. That’s in addition to ultra-chic options that are coming online in 2025, including the adults-only Alma San Juan, with rooms overlooking Plaza Colón in the heart of Old San Juan, and the five-star Veranó boutique hotel in San Juan’s trendy Santurce neighborhood. The beachfront Ritz-Carlton San Juan in Isla Verde will also be reopening seven years after Hurricane Maria decimated the island. The travel industry’s success is helping boost employment on the island, to the tune of 101,000 leisure and hospitality jobs as of September 2024, a 26% increase over pre-pandemic levels, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Efforts to promote Puerto Rico’s provinces beyond the San Juan metro area — such as surfing hub Rincón on the west coast, historical Ponce on the south coast and Orocovis for nature and coffee haciendas in the central mountains —have spread the demand to small businesses previously ignored by the travel industry. Take Sheila Osorio, who leads workshops on Afro-Puerto Rican bomba music and dance at Taller Nzambi, in the town of Loíza, 15 miles east of San Juan; or Wanda Otero, founder of cheese-producing company Vaca Negra in Hatillo, an hour’s drive west of Old San Juan, where you can join a cheese-making workshop and indulge in artisanal cheese tastings. “The list of businesses involved in tourism has gone from 650 in 2018 to 6,100, many of which are artists and artisans,” Dean says. While New Yorkers and Miami residents have always been the largest visitor demographic, Dean says more mainland Americans now realize that going to Puerto Rico means passport-free travel to enjoy beaches, as well as opportunities to dine in Michelin-rated restaurants, hike the only rainforest in the U.S. and kayak in a bioluminescent bay. Visitors from Chicago and Dallas, for example, have increased by approximately 40% from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, compared with the same period in 2022-2023, and more travelers are expected from Denver now that United Airlines Holdings Inc. has kicked off its first nonstop service to San Juan, beginning on Oct. 29. Previously, beach destinations that were easy to reach on direct flights from Denver included Mexico, Belize and California, but now Puerto Rico joins that list with a 5.5-hour nonstop route that cuts more than two hours from the next-best option. Given United Airlines’ hub in San Francisco, it could mean more travelers from the Golden State in the near future, too. In December, U.S. airlines will have 3,000 more seats per day to the territory compared with the same period last year, for a total of 84,731 — surpassing even Mexico and the Dominican Republic in air capacity, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the island’s primary gateway, is projecting a record volume of 13 million passengers by year’s end — far surpassing the 9.4 million it saw in 2019. As for Hinchcliffe’s “floating island of garbage” line, Dean says it was “a terribly insensitive attempt at humor” that transformed outrage into a marketing silver lining, with an outpouring of positive public sentiment and content on Puerto Rico all over social media. Success, as that old chestnut goes, may be the best revenge. “It was probably the most efficient influencer campaign we’ve ever had,” Dean says, “a groundswell of visitors who posted their photos and videos and said, ‘This is the Puerto Rico that I know.’” ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Harry and Meghan 's absence from Selfridges' Royal bauble collection has become the butt of jokes online, with shoppers quipping they might end up "in the bargain bin". Fans looking to add a regal touch to their tree can snap up £40 ornaments representing King Charles, the late Queen Elizabeth, or the Prince and Princess of Wales at the iconic Oxford Street location. Sadly, the Sussexes and Queen Consort Camilla are conspicuously missing from the luxury lineup. Jibes about the oversight have spread across social media, with one user quipping: "I'm presuming that the Harry and Meghan baubles are in the bargain bin?!" Another chimed in: "I am sure Queen Camilla is very grateful!" READ MORE: Dad slams school as he's forced to take autistic daughter home every time she needs the toilet However, not everyone is thrilled by the appearance of the decorations, with comments ranging from labelling them as "tacky" to bluntly questioning, "Who in God's name would want to look at William or his dad?" Others disparaged the looks of the Royal couple’s baubles, with a detractor saying: "Both awful looking. No doubt the royal sycophants on here will lap these up, though." Within the walls of Selfridges, while many were initially taken by the quirky baubles, sticker shock was common. A pair of American tourists, after posing beside Prince William's likeness, protested: "It's nice - but not for £40!" Another shopper voiced her skepticism to a companion, musing: "They're sweet - but £40 just for one?" Prince William's baubles found themselves nestled among those fashioned after British icon Audrey Hepburn and the American star Post Malone. Surrounding the future king were glittering figures of Amy Winehouse, Harry Styles , Freddie Mercury , Britney Spears, and Paul Hollywood. These festive ornaments, crafted from coloured glass, stand approximately 12 - 13cm tall. King Charles graces one in his majestic Coronation Day regalia, while a separate bauble honours Queen Elizabeth adorned with one of her numerous crowns. On its website, Selfridges extols its Kate Middleton decoration, calling it "a stunning depiction of Her Royal Highness Princess Kate ." About its Prince William ornament, the retailer boasts: "This piece is sure to add a hint of regal sophistication to your Christmas decor."5 top tech gifts for the holidays
From $1,000 to $15,000...in a DaySeveral members of Donald Trump's incoming US administration have received threats including bomb alerts, the FBI said Wednesday, with one nominee reporting a pipe-bomb scare sent with a pro-Palestinian message. The President-elect's picks for UN ambassador and head of the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as his former choice to be US attorney general, said they were among those who had received the threats. "The FBI is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners," the agency said in a statement. Swatting refers to a practice in which police are summoned urgently to someone's house under false pretenses. Such hoax calls are common in the United States and have seen numerous senior political figures targeted in recent years. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, said that several appointees and nominees "were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them." Outgoing President Joe Biden "has been briefed" on the threats, the White House said. "The White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and the President-elect’s team, and continues to monitor the situation closely," a spokesperson said in a statement. "The president and the administration unequivocally condemn threats of political violence." Biden has vowed a smooth and peaceful presidential transition -- in contrast to when Trump riled a mob that attacked the US Capitol in January 2021 with false claims of election fraud. Elise Stefanik, a Trump loyalist congresswoman tapped to be UN ambassador, said her residence in New York was targeted in a bomb threat. She said in a statement that she, her husband, and small son were driving home from Washington for the Thanksgiving holiday when they learned of the threat. Lee Zeldin, Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said his home was targeted with a pipe bomb threat sent with a "pro-Palestinian themed message." The former congressman from New York said he and his family were not home at the time. Matt Gaetz, who dropped out as Trump's pick to be attorney general after facing opposition over sexual misconduct allegations, reposted Zeldin's message on X and said: "Same." Scott Turner, the nomine for Housing Secretary and a retired NFL player, and Trump's pick for Labor Secretary, meanwhile also said they had also received bomb threats at their homes. Fox News Digital quoted unidentified sources saying that John Ratcliffe, Trump's nominee to head the CIA, and Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary pick, were additionally targeted. Ahead of his return to the White House in January, Trump has already swiftly assembled a cabinet of loyalists, including several criticized for a severe lack of experience. The Republican, who appears set to avoid trial on criminal prosecutions related to attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss, was wounded in the ear in July in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally. The shooter was killed in counter-fire. In September, authorities arrested another man accused of planning to shoot at Trump while he played golf at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Leavitt appeared to reference the previous incidents, saying that "with President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us." bur-dk/sms
Ted Cruz's angry letter about artificial intelligence policies is unintentionally revealingEssex Property Trust Inc. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms marketSEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 22, 2024-- Curi Bio, a leader in delivering human functional data to drug discoverers through advanced preclinical tissue models, is proud to announce its selection as one of Deloitte's Technology Fast 500TM companies in 2024, an annual ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology companies in North America. Curi Bio achieved an overall rank of #123 and secured #18 out of the 70 life sciences companies recognized, highlighting its transformative contribution to enabling the development of next-generation medicines. Curi Bio’s innovative human stem cell platforms deliver functional data that enable biopharmaceutical researchers to make better informed, data-driven decisions during preclinical drug development. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122635899/en/ Curi Bio Recognized as a 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Winner (Graphic: Business Wire) "We are honored to be recognized among North America’s most innovative and fastest-growing life sciences companies," said Dr. Nicholas A. Geisse, CEO at Curi Bio. "This recognition reflects the unyielding dedication of our team and the groundbreaking impact of our human-relevant platforms. By providing drug developers tools that more accurately replicate human physiology, our work has accelerated timelines and continues improving the safety and efficacy of new therapies for patients suffering from some of the world’s most devastating diseases." Top global pharmaceutical companies have rapidly adopted Curi Bio’s biological models, driving the company’s strong and steady revenue growth. By delivering predictive, clinically relevant insights, Curi Bio’s technology accelerates the development of safer and more effective drugs, addressing critical challenges in a rapidly evolving industry. The company’s portfolio of functional human disease models spans cardiac, skeletal muscle, and neuromuscular indications, offering researchers powerful tools to tackle some of the most complex diseases beyond the constraints of costly and risky clinical trials. This approach of empowering researchers with turnkey platforms has been a cornerstone of Curi Bio’s growth, earning recognition with this award and demonstrating its pivotal role in advancing medical science. About the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Now in its 30th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies — both public and private — in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2020 to 2023. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company’s operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000, and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Curi Bio Curi Bio unlocks novel workflows and delivers functional human data to inform biopharmaceutical R&D decision-making. Through an integrated platform featuring advanced 3D tissue models of disease, biosystems enabling clinically relevant functional analyses, and AI/ML-enabled insights, Curi Bio melds functional and analytical assessments for drug safety, efficacy, and potency. By offering leading global pharmaceutical end users an integrated preclinical platform along with highly predictive human stem cell tissue models to generate clinically relevant data, Curi Bio is bridging the gap between preclinical R&D and clinical outcomes, accelerating the discovery and development of safer, more effective medicines. For more information, please visit www.curibio.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122635899/en/ CONTACT: For media inquiries, please contact: Heejoon Choi Sr. Director of Sales & Marketing, Curi Bio heejoon@curibio.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA WASHINGTON INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BIOTECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES HEALTH PHARMACEUTICAL OTHER SCIENCE RESEARCH DATA ANALYTICS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SCIENCE CLINICAL TRIALS SOURCE: Curi Bio Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/22/2024 01:57 PM/DISC: 11/22/2024 01:57 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122635899/en
Site plans for two new cannabis dispensaries proposed in Finksburg and Sykesville are under review by the Bureau of Development ReviewNo-grow zone LABOUR cannot shirk the blame for our dismal economic figures. In the first half of 2024, under Rishi Sunak , UK growth led the G7 . Under the new “growth-focused” Government, we have shrunk for two straight months. On taking power Labour chose not to talk Britain’s prospects up but to trash the Tories, exaggerate our problems and conjure up a “£22billion black hole”. How did they imagine investors would react to a Government saying the country was on its knees? They fled. And our firms froze with fear about the Budget. READ MORE SUN SAYS The crippling tax rises that they unleashed, including the job-wrecking National Insurance hike, are likely to trigger more woe in November’s figures. Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she has rolled the pitch for bumper long-term growth. The OBR is more pessimistic. We must hope she’s right and the economists are wrong. Wrecker Ed IT is arguable that Russia might never have invaded Ukraine were it not for Ed Miliband’s political parlour games. Most read in The Sun In 2013 he whipped Labour to defeat Tory plans to join the US in bombing Syria to stop it using chemical weapons. Without us, President Obama backed off. Assad continued his savagery, his ally Putin saw the West had lost its nerve and months later he attacked Crimea. So Health Secretary Wes Streeting is right to call out our “hesitation”, meaning his Cabinet colleague’s opportunism. These days Miliband’s unbending ignorance is driving us off a Net Zero cliff. High time Keir Starmer stopped him inflicting the same carnage on our energy supply as he may have done on all those lives in Syria and Ukraine . Name them NO ONE failed Sara Sharif as egregiously as the family court which handed her over to her monstrous father and stepmother. A judge and social workers made that ruling in 2019 despite knowing Urfan Sharif’s appalling record of abuse. Now, incredibly, another judge has ordered they must remain anonymous to dodge criticism. But they SHOULD be accountable for the error which proved a death sentence for little Sara. How else to stop them making another? Andy sums WHERE is disgraced, jobless Prince Andrew getting his money ? Cut off by the King after the Epstein paedo scandal, he can still afford the huge bills on the vast Royal Lodge. READ MORE SUN STORIES His top business advisor is an alleged Chinese spy — and people are snuck into and out of his mansion “unnoticed”. Are these murky dealings remotely in the national interest? Or just Andrew’s?
Javon Small scored 31 points to rally West Virginia to an 86-78 overtime upset of No. 3 Gonzaga in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, Wednesday in Nassau, Bahamas. The Mountaineers (4-1) trailed by 10 points early in the second half and by five in the final minute. But over the final 19 seconds of regulation, Tucker DeVries scored five straight points to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, Small scored five points and West Virginia held Gonzaga to a single field goal, which came after the outcome was decided with 19 seconds left. Amani Hansberry added a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds for West Virginia, which advances to the semifinals Thursday against another surprise first-round winner, Louisville, which stunned No. 15 Indiana. Braden Huff scored 19 points and Khalif Battle added 16 points for Gonzaga (5-1) which settles for a consolation-round game Thursday against Indiana. Nolan Hickman tallied 13 points. Ryan Nembhard delivered seven points and 12 assists for the Bulldogs. Huff put Gonzaga in position to win when he made three hook shots in the final 2:34 of regulation as the Bulldogs turned a one-point deficit into a 69-66 lead. Two free throws by Nembhard expanded the lead to 71-66 with 25 seconds left. But DeVries followed with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and then made a mid-court steal and drew a foul with 5.9 seconds left. His two free throws sent it to overtime. The Mountaineers never trailed in overtime. Sencire Harris wrapped it up with a steal and a breakaway slam that put West Virginia up 84-76 with 26 seconds left. Battle, a transfer from Arkansas, scored eight points in a span of 90 seconds late in the first half as the Bulldogs took control on their way to a 39-31 lead at the break. Gonzaga earned its biggest lead early in the second half when Graham Ike scored inside with an assist from Nembhard to make it 43-33. But West Virginia responded with a 17-2 run, fueled by Small as he hit two 3-pointers and two layups. Hansberry drained a trey and DeVries grinded for a putback layup to give the Mountaineers a 50-45 lead with 12:26 left. DeVries finished the game with 16 points and four blocks. --Field Level Media
Gamers can often be difficult people to shop for, especially those who curate the vibe of their setup as much as their gaming library. But cozy gamers can be the most fun to shop for, since you can think outside the box and surprise them with gifts they’d never think to get for themselves. As lovers of cozy games and gaming accessories , our expert staff has rounded up 10 great gift ideas to give the teen, college student, or cozy gamer of any age in your life. And, since we know the holidays are coming up quickly, many of them are available for speedy delivery with an Amazon Prime subscription (which comes with six months free if you’re between 18-24 and sign up before Dec. 20). Bulbasaur planter Every desk could use a bit more Bulbasaur. The cute grass-type Pokémon makes a perfect home for a small succulent that will add a pop of color to anyone’s gaming space. This tiny planter includes a drainage hole, so after watering, be sure to let it drain fully to ensure your gaming gear stays dry. Turtle artisan keycap Getting new keycaps is a simple change that can completely change the vibe of a gaming setup. You could buy someone a whole new set, but it’s more personal to find the exact keycap to fit the recipient’s personality and personal style. Amazon stocks several options, but we’re partial to this colorful turtle keycap (perfect to use for the “T” key). Skull & Co. thumbstick grips Many of our recommendations are about setting the right atmosphere, but being comfortable is just as important. If you notice that your loved one’s analog sticks are worse for wear, or if they complain about thumb pain while gaming, Skull & Co.’s stick grips are a good solution for bringing an extra level of comfort to controllers. Each set comes with options for adding grippier texture to slippery sticks, or adding some height to ones that feel too short. Queen Rose gaming pillow A gaming pillow is a great gift for anyone who plays on a handheld device or with a controller. Queen Rose’s wrap-around lap pillow comes in a variety of color options and offers arm, elbow, and back support while your cozy gamer invests long hours into their favorite games. Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite Finding the right lighting is absolutely key to creating the perfect ambience, and Govee’s TV Backlite 3 takes it to the next level by matching the visuals of whichever cozy game is being played. These lights create the ultimate immersive gaming experience by mimicking the colors on the TV and adding a matching splash to the wall behind. If you’re shopping for a PC gamer , Govee makes a similar model for monitors. Livabliss Hapsburg shag rug Sometimes, the best addition to a gaming space is something that can just tie the room together. So don’t underestimate the comfort-enhancing powers of a simple rug, like this plush shag one that will add luxurious texture to any setup. Whether it goes under their couch, computer desk, or wherever the recipient likes to sit while unwinding, the coziness of the space will be improved immensely. Llama hooded blanket Rather than tucking in with a blanket — which can render you a bit immobile — a hooded wrap has all the benefits of a blanket with the bonus of being cuter and easier to game in. We love this one that looks like a cuddly llama, but Amazon also has hooded blankets for those who’d prefer to be a sloth or axolotl . Or, if you think your loved one wants pockets and a more jacket-like fit for their cozy gaming uniform, UnHide’s Shleepy Robe will make for a great gift. Bamboo food trays (set of 2) Despite our best intentions, we can all be a little messy. If the person you’re buying gifts for is known for enjoying a snack or drink while they play games, do them (and their precious gadgets) a favor and surprise them with a cute bamboo food tray. It’s where all of the crumbs and inevitable spills can safely exist instead of falling on their desk or floor, where they might be forgotten. Logitech cloud wrist rest Cozy games aren’t so cozy if you aren’t comfortable. A good wrist rest, like this adorable (and TikTok-approved) cloud one from Logitech, not only will make playing PC games more enjoyable, but it’s a great way to lean into a room’s aesthetic — or serve as the launching point for creating one. This cute, seemingly minor upgrade is a gift that shows you’re looking out for your loved one’s well-being and honoring their taste in design. Gastly 3D-printed humidifier For all the good they do, most humidifiers are eyesores that stick out due to their bland or outright ugly design. Well, in the case of this humidifier, sticking out is a good thing, as it turns the typically boring gadget into a centerpiece any Pokémon fan would love. Designed to look like Gastly is popping out of a Poké Ball, this humidifier’s purple light shines through the water vapor, making it look like Gastly has come to life. Shopkeeper Polygon’s handpicked deals on games, movies, books, and more. Gaming Gift Guide Hardware Shopping StyleBy Jim Rossman, Tribune News Service (TNS) Everyone seems to be listening to something. I’m not sure what they’re listening to, because they all seem to be wearing headphones. I suppose they’re all listening to their favorite podcast or just their playlists. Here are a few gift suggestions for headphones that’ll make anything sound better. I’ve listed the retail pricing, but don’t be surprised if you find them on sale. We’ve all tried traditional earbuds. They can sound good if the fit is correct. The SoundCore AreoFit 2 ($99.99, soundcore.com) don’t fit inside your ear canal. Instead, they sit on the outside of your ear. The battery sits behind your ear, much like a hearing aid. The speaker is attached by a sturdy, yet flexible cable. The only adjustment is on the speaker end – it clicks to adjust the angle of the speaker to sit directly over your ear canal. The fact that they don’t insert into your ears means you can still hear the outside world, so you are not so isolated. These are great for jogging or biking. The sound is really nice. The full range of sound comes in very clearly and the form factor is comfortable to wear, even for hours at a time. There are four microphones, so your voice sounds clear on phone calls. They have an IP55 rating, so they can withstand water spashing, sweat or dust. They can also connect to more than one device, so you can keep them paired to your phone and laptop and switch easily between them. The AeroFit 2 can play for 10 hours on a charge. They live in a battery case that can keep them charged for more than 40 hours. The charging case can power up via a USB-C port or a Qi wireless charger. They are available in white, blue, green or black. The Soundcore C40i ($99.99, soundcore.com) is another fun option in a non-traditional form factor. Instead of going inside or even over the top your ears, the C40i earbuds are u-shaped and they clip on the sides of your ears. They are unlike anything I’ve ever tried, and they sounded surprisingly good once you get them in the right spot. They are a bit flexible, in that you can pull them apart slightly to get them in the right spot. Once you let go, they gently grip your earlobe. I must admit I was a little self-conscious when I first started wearing the C40i earbuds, as they look a bit like earrings. Related Articles The fit is interesting. The end with the speaker sits in front of your ear canal and the end with the battery and action button goes behind your ear. You can adjust them on your ear until the sound becomes clear. It’ll be obvious to your ears when you have them adjusted correctly. If your earlobes are thin, there are some rubber sleeves that can help with the fit. You want them to be snug, but not to the point where they are pinching your ears. There is a customizable button on the back of each earbud for call and music control. They are on the small side, so the battery life is seven hours before needing to return to the case for a charge. The case can charge them twice more before it needs recharging. The case charges via USB-C cable, but it is too small for wireless chargers. The earbuds have a 12mm x 17mm oval shaped driver and the sound quality is very good. Voice quality on phone calls also surprised me with its clarity. They sync with the Soundcore phone app to let you assign the button commands and tweak the sound settings. They also can pair to two devices at once. Frequent flyers know all about noise canceling over-the-ear headphones. These headphones usually have active noise canceling, which uses microphones to listen to the ambient noise and reduce it before it can get to your ears. What I’m noticing is more and more people wearing these during workouts or just walking around. The Baseus Bowie 30 Max noise canceling headphones ($79.99, baseus.com) are fairly generic looking headphones, but their performance is incredible for the price. Baseus says the Bowie 30s can eliminate 96 percent of noise, but that actual noise cancellation will vary depending on the ambient noise level. I can tell you the noise canceling is impressive. There is also a transparency mode that lets in outside sounds so you can have a conversation with someone without taking them off. You can pair them to the free Baseus phone app to unlock some additional features including spatial acoustics, bass enhancement and low-latency mode. These connect to your phone or PC wirelessly via Bluetooth or wired with an included 3.5mm cable. They last an impressive 65 hours on a charge without noise canceling or 50 hours with noise canceling enabled. The ear cups and piece that fits over the top of your head are nicely padded and the entire headset folds up to take up less room in your bag. ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Brett Yormark has an issue with College Football Playoff selection committee. And while it might be just nit-picking at this point, his case points up how an expanded playoff hasn't necessarily lessened the outcry. The Big 12 commissioner spoke to CBS Sports this week about his concern that his highest-ranked team, BYU (No. 14 in the CFP Rankings), is one spot behind a team it beat earlier in the season, No. 13 SMU . That goes back to the old transitive property of poll voting that basically posits "If Team A beat Team B, it must be ranked ahead of Team B." Not this week. Despite an 18-15 BYU win at SMU on Sept. 6, the Mustangs are one spot ahead of the Cougars. Complicating things is Boise State being No. 12. If the CFP started tomorrow, the Broncos would have a first-round bye ahead of the Big 12 champion. "A little puzzled," Yormark said Thursday. "If the metrics are all about strength of schedule and body of work and head-to-head, I don't see some of the consistencies that should be. "BYU being below a team they beat earlier in the year, on the road, with identical records is a little surprising to me," he said. Three other Big 12 teams are ranked in that top 25 this week: No. 16 Colorado , No. 21 Arizona State and No. 22 Iowa State . The Sun Devils debuted this week after upsetting Kansas State ; the Wildcats dropped out. "Having Colorado No. 16 when they've won seven of eight. In this new world of the transfer portal, those preseason polls don't mean much because of the turnover and roster management," Yormark continued. "You don't know what you really have until you get a few weeks into the season ... It's certainly playing out at Colorado. It's certainly playing out with Arizona State and their momentum." Both teams are 8-2, among 18 teams in the Power Four with at least that many wins. BYU has played two teams that were in the rankings at one time (SMU and Kansas State). It will play a third Saturday at Arizona State. SMU will end the regular season having played only two ranked teams (BYU and Louisville ). Boise's best "win" might be a loss, a narrow 34-27 decision at the hands of No. 1 Oregon on Sept 7. The Broncos outgained the Ducks that day. According to several metrics, BYU seems to have the most difficult schedule of the three. But when it lost, that meant every team in the Big 12 had lost at least one game. Only the Big Ten has any undefeated conference teams left (Oregon and Indiana ). While all of this may seem like typical campaigning, it's rare for a Power Four commissioner to enter the discussion. But the stakes have risen. The makeup of the 12-team playoff has created a new kind of flashpoint. The top four ranked conference champions on Dec. 8 will receive first-round byes. The next highest-ranked conference champion will be guaranteed a spot in the field as well. Right now, those five conference champions would be Oregon, Texas , Miami , Boise State and BYU. Because it is currently behind Boise, BYU would be playing a first-round game. The SEC and Big Ten are expected to load the field with up to four teams each. The ACC and Big 12 are each hoping for a second team in the field. If No. 6 Notre Dame , 9-1, qualifies, it would take a spot as well. "If we keep winning, we'll certainly be in the conversation for [a second spot]," Yormark said. "Don't look at the logo on the helmet, look at the résumé," he added. "I'll continue to use that line. Maybe I'll even trademark it." Earlier this year, the SEC and Big Ten lobbied for automatic qualifier spots beginning in 2026. That idea died but is expected to be brought up again after the season when the commissioners take up the subject. "I said so publicly, you don't want an artificial championship," Yormark said, providing a preview of those discussions. "I think you have to earn your way in. No free passes." What rankled the commissioner is BYU dropping six spots from No. 8 to No. 14 after a four-point loss at home to Kansas . That was the largest drop of any team in this week's rankings. Kansas State dropped out after being ranked 16th. CBS Sports was able to obtain exclusively a portion of the strength of schedule information used by the committee. The Big 12 is tied with the SEC for most wins against teams with records above .500 with 36 each. Here are those standings for the remainder of FBS ... 3. ACC (35) 4. Big Ten (32) 5 . Sun Belt (24) 6. MAC (18) 7. American (11) 8. Conference USA (10) 9. Mountain West (8) 10. Independents (7) 11. Pac-12 ( Oregon State , Washington State , 4) That information comes from SportsSource analytics, an industry-leading firm out of Atlanta and favored by the CFP. SportsSource recently expanded to player evaluation and recruiting information. Its database is so vast that athletic directors use the company's research to evaluate coaching candidates. Its information is not available to the public. Its "football data services" range from $12,500 to $50,000 for a subscription. "They all have limitations," SportsSource co-founder Drew Borland said of strength of schedule components. "I've probably researched 30 of them in-depth. As much as they are models and mathematical, there is a fair amount of subjectivity you have to put in building the model." The Big 12 has pointed out that the Mountain West is eighth among the nine FBS conferences in schedule strength calculated by the NCAA. The MWC's opponents have a combined .489 winning percentage. The Big 12 is second behind the SEC with a .582 winning percentage. The Big 12 continues to make its case. Committee members Gary Pinkel, the former Missouri coach, and journalist Kelly Whiteside have been assigned to evaluate Big 12 games and report back to the committee as a whole. Each FBS conference is assigned committee members who track its play during the season. It was a day of commissioners weighing in. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey posted on Twitter a graphic that showed six of his teams leading the country, all in the top 33 schedule strength. The next highest-ranked team? BYU.
UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New YorkOpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed confidence Wednesday that Elon Musk would not use his proximity to Donald Trump to harm business rivals, calling such actions "profoundly un-American." Speaking at the New York Times DealBook conference, Altman addressed concerns about Musk's announced role heading a new Department of Government Efficiency in the incoming Donald Trump administration, and whether he might use it to favor his own companies. "I may turn out to be wrong, but I believe pretty strongly that Elon will do the right thing," Altman said. "It would be profoundly un-American to use political power to hurt your competitors and advantage your own businesses." Even if there are "lots of things not to like about him... it would go so deeply against the values I believe he holds very dear to himself that I'm not that worried about it." Musk, an OpenAI co-founder who later departed the company, is currently suing Altman's firm and Microsoft, claiming they shifted from the project's original nonprofit mission. He has since launched xAI, reportedly valued at $50 billion, making it one of the world's most valuable startups. Altman said that the court battle was "tremendously sad" and that he once saw Musk as "a mega hero." Musk became a close ally of Trump during his campaign, spending over $100 million to boost his presidential bid and joining him at rallies. Since the election victory, he has been a frequent presence in the Trump transition and was reportedly on the line when Google CEO Sundar Pichai called the president-elect to congratulate him on winning the election. The tycoon's businesses have deep connections with governments -- both in the United States and elsewhere -- and his new position has raised concerns about conflict of interest. During the interview, Altman also lowered expectations for the importance of OpenAI's models achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), a benchmark of human-level intelligence the company has long set as the goal for its technology. "My guess is we will hit AGI sooner than most people in the world think, and it will matter much less," he said. "A lot of the safety concerns that we and others expressed actually don't come at the AGI moment... AGI can get built. The world goes on mostly the same way," he said. arp/ahaRams WR Demarcus Robinson not suspended, will play Sunday after arrest on DUI suspicion
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COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio House on Wednesday passed legislation that would require Cleveland and other cities and villages around the state to pitch in more money to police pensions for the first time in decades. But while House Bill 296 easily passed the House 66-25, its chances of passing the Ohio Senate in the final weeks of the current legislative session appear much dicier. Stories by Jeremy Pelzer Ohio House poised to pass bill requiring cities to pay millions more for police pensions Nominations are now open for the 2024 Sloopys – Capitol Letter’s Ohio political awards Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs ‘bathroom bill,’ restricting transgender students’ access to bathrooms, locker rooms
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