Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. 2ND WEEK OF ADVENT: Psalter: Week 2 / (Red) St. Lucy, virgin & martyr Responsorial Psalm: Ps: 1: 1-2, 3, 4, 6: Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life. 1st Reading: Isaiah 48: 17-19 Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, Yahweh, your God, teach you what is best for you; I lead you in the way that you must go. Had you paid attention to my commandments, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Your descendants would been like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, their names never cut off nor blotted out from my presence. Gospel: Matthew 11: 16-19 Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain: ‘We played the flute for you, but you would not dance. We sang a funeral song, but you would not cry!’ For John came fasting, and people said, ‘He is possessed by a demon!’ Then, the Son of Man came. He ate and drank; and people said, ‘Look at this man: a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet, wisdom is vindicated by her works.” REFLECTION: “Jesus' steadfast heart.” The season of Advent is a time to fortify the good in us. It is the time to allow the seed of goodness which God has planted in our hearts to grow. Sometimes, we may have some experiences when after we have done something good for others, and at times to the best of our ability, we are given negative criticisms in return. Because of this, we may be discouraged, and the experience may dampen our spirit. However, we need to remember that every good deed we have done already serves as a vindication of the kind of person we have already become. Furthermore, Jesus exhorts us not to lose composure. We should never get tired of doing what we believe is good even if others do not positively respond to the good things we do. Our Gospel pericope for today speaks of Jesus’ steadfast heart to continue doing what is good while at the same time correcting the childish ways of his generation. Sadly, the people were not able to see the good things done either by Jesus or by John the Baptist. Nevertheless, nothing could stop either John or Jesus from doing what is good. CLARETIAN COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION, INC. 8 Mayumi Street, U.P. Village, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines Tel.: (02) 8921-3984 • Fax: (02) 8921-6205, 8927-7429 Bookstore: (02) 8924-6835 Email: ccfi@claretianpublications.ph Website: www.claretianpublications.ph
WASHINGTON (AP) — For years, Pat Verhaeghe didn’t think highly of Donald Trump as a leader. Then Verhaeghe began seeing more of Trump’s campaign speeches online and his appearances at sporting events. There was even the former president’s pairing with Bryson DeChambeau as part of the pro golfer’s YouTube channel series to shoot an under-50 round of golf while engaging in chitchat with his partner. “I regret saying this, but a while ago I thought he was an idiot and that he wouldn’t be a good president,” said the 18-year-old first-time voter. “I think he’s a great guy now.” Verhaeghe isn't alone among his friends in suburban Detroit or young men across America. Although much of the electorate shifted right to varying degrees in 2024, young men were one of the groups that swung sharply toward Trump. More than half of men under 30 supported Trump, according to AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, while Democrat Joe Biden had won a similar share of this group four years earlier. White men under 30 were solidly in Trump’s camp this year — about 6 in 10 voted for Trump — while young Latino men were split between the two candidates. Most Black men under 30 supported Democrat Kamala Harris, but about one-third were behind Trump. Young Latino men’s views of the Democratic Party were much more negative than in 2020, while young Black men’s views of the party didn’t really move. About 6 in 10 Latino men under 30 had a somewhat or very favorable view of the Democrats in 2020, which fell to about 4 in 10 this year. On the other hand, about two-thirds of young Black men had a favorable view of the Democrats this year, which was almost identical to how they saw the party four years ago. “Young Hispanic men, and really young men in general, they want to feel valued," said Rafael Struve, deputy communications director for Bienvenido, a conservative group that focused on reaching young Hispanic voters for Republicans this year. “They're looking for someone who fights for them, who sees their potential and not just their struggles.” Struve cited the attempted assassination of Trump during a July rally in Pennsylvania as one of the catalyzing moments for Trump’s image among many young men. Trump, Struve said, was also able to reach young men more effectively by focusing on nontraditional platforms like podcasts and digital media outlets. “Getting to hear from Trump directly, I think, really made all the difference," Struve said of the former president's appearances on digital media platforms and media catering to Latino communities, like town halls and business roundtables Trump attended in Las Vegas and Miami. Not only did Trump spend three hours on Joe Rogan's chart-topping podcast, but he took up DeChambeau's “Break 50” challenge for the golfer's more than 1.6 million YouTube subscribers. Trump already had an edge among young white men four years ago, although he widened the gap this year. About half of white men under 30 supported Trump in 2020, and slightly less than half supported Biden. Trump's gains among young Latino and Black men were bigger. His support among both groups increased by about 20 percentage points, according to AP VoteCast — and their feelings toward Trump got warmer, too. It wasn’t just Trump. The share of young men who identified as Republicans in 2024 rose as well, mostly aligning with support for Trump across all three groups. “What is most alarming to me is that the election is clear that America has shifted right by a lot,” said William He, founder of Dream For America, a liberal group that works to turn out young voters and supported Harris’ presidential bid. With his bombastic demeanor and a policy agenda centered on a more macho understanding of culture , Trump framed much of his campaign as a pitch to men who felt scorned by the country’s economy, culture and political system. Young women also slightly swung toward the former president, though not to the degree of their male counterparts. It's unclear how many men simply did not vote this year. But there's no doubt the last four years brought changes in youth culture and how political campaigns set out to reach younger voters. Democrat Kamala Harris' campaign rolled out policy agendas tailored to Black and Latino men, and the campaign enlisted a range of leaders in Black and Hispanic communities to make the case for the vice president. Her campaign began with a flurry of enthusiasm from many young voters, epitomized in memes and the campaign's embrace of pop culture trends like the pop star Charli XCX's “brat” aesthetic . Democrats hoped to channel that energy into their youth voter mobilization efforts. “I think most young voters just didn’t hear the message,” said Santiago Mayer, executive director of Voters of Tomorrow, a liberal group that engages younger voters. Mayer said the Harris campaign’s pitch to the country was “largely convoluted” and centered on economic messaging that he said wasn’t easily conveyed to younger voters who were not already coming to political media. “And I think that the policies themselves were also very narrow and targeted when what we really needed was a simple, bold economic vision,” said Mayer. Trump also embraced pop culture by appearing at UFC fights, football games and appearing alongside comedians, music stars and social media influencers. His strategists believed that the former president’s ability to grab attention and make his remarks go viral did more for the campaign than paid advertisements or traditional media appearances. Trump's campaign also heavily cultivated networks of online conservative platforms and personalities supportive of him while also engaging a broader universe of podcasts, streaming sites, digital media channels and meme pages open to hearing him. “The right has been wildly successful in infiltrating youth political culture online and on campus in the last couple of years, thus radicalizing young people towards extremism,” said He, who cited conservative activist groups like Turning Point USA as having an outsize impact in online discourse. “And Democrats have been running campaigns in a very old fashioned way. The battleground these days is cultural and increasingly on the internet.” Republicans may lose their broad support if they don't deliver on improving Americans' lives, Struve cautioned. Young men, especially, may drift from the party in a post-Trump era if the party loses the president-elect's authenticity and bravado. Bienvenido, for one group, will double down in the coming years to solidify and accelerate the voting pattern shifts seen this year, Struve said. “We don’t want this to be a one and done thing,” he said. Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan, and AP polling editor Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this report.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was an ugly scene at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. Following a loss against Michigan , multiple fights broke out between the Wolverines and Ohio State football players. The OSU police department issued a statement on the situation shortly after. “Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation,” the statement read. “During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games & will continue to investigate.” Latest Ohio State Buckeyes news Watch Ohio State football’s Skull Session ahead of game vs. Michigan (video) Maxwell Roy, 4-star defensive lineman: Ohio State Signing Day 2025 player profile Ohio State coach Ryan Day deserves brunt of blame after fourth straight loss to Michigan — Jimmy Watkins What Ohio State football coach Ryan Day said after extending skid vs. Michigan Who are The 40 Most Influential People in Cleveland Sports when it comes to fan happiness? See our list and how we ranked them. The fight centered around Michigan players trying to plant a flag on the 50-yard line. Coach Ryan Day said after the game that his players, while embarrassed, had too much pride to let the Wolverines do that. Police were in the middle of the skirmish, with video surfacing of some officers using pepper spray to try simmering the situation.Juan Soto could decide on his next team before or during baseball's winter meetings
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New Report Highlights Piana's Continued Momentum in Leading Sustainability Practices and Successfully Shrinking its Environmental Footprint CARTERSVILLE, Ga. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Piana Technology , the 442-year-old Italian-made textile company renowned for its innovations in the fiber and nonwovens markets, proudly announced it has published its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. Piana Technology's report is a reflection of the company's continued commitment to building a better future for our planet through an ethical and caring approach to technological growth and application. "2023 has been a year of transformation and growth. We have deepened our commitment to sustainability, not only in our products but in every aspect of our operations," said Andrea Piana , CEO of Piana Technology. "This year, we achieved significant milestones, from reducing our carbon footprint across all facilities to pioneering new technologies that align with our zero-waste vision. Our innovations are driven by a steadfast belief that the future of industry lies in responsible stewardship of our planet's resources." In 2021, Piana Technology established benchmark sustainability metrics that enable the company to reduce its overall organizational, facility, and product-level environmental impact, especially its greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint. Piana Technology's 2023 ESG report highlights the company's tremendous growth in implementing new programs and systems to lessen its impact on all fronts. "At Piana Technology, ESG priorities are at the heart of our mission," said Silvia Galasso , Executive Vice President of Piana Sleep , the bedding division of Piana Technology. "We aim to lead and inspire as we make meaningful improvements in our environmental footprint and the wellbeing of our people." Piana Technology is dedicated to leading change through example, transforming into a business for good, and working with those who share the Piana vision. For more information on Piana Technology's 2023 ESG report, visit: https://www.piana.tech/sustainability About Piana Technology The Piana family's roots began in the textile business in 1582 in Biella, Italy , evolving over centuries to develop innovative solutions in the industry, starting with traditional textile dyeing in 1950 and opening their first American factory in Cartersville, Georgia in 1995. Today, Piana Technology is a multinational company addressing common problems with unique solutions in nonwovens, digital printing, and fiber treatments. Piana provides the hidden technology behind many everyday consumer products—from automotive to home furnishings—replacing conventional materials with socially and environmentally responsible technologies. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/piana-technologys-annual-environmental-social-and-governance-esg-report-underscores-its-unwavering-commitment-to-sustainability-and-innovation-302316825.html SOURCE Piana Technology
NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart's sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are re-evaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups. The changes announced by the world's biggest retailer on Monday followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The retreat from such programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump's incoming deputy chief of policy will be his former adviser Stephen Miller , who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies. “There has been a lot of reassessment of risk looking at programs that could be deemed to constitute reverse discrimination,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher at the Human Capital Center at the Conference Board. “This is another domino to fall and it is a rather large domino,” he added. Among other changes, Walmart said it will no longer give priority treatment to suppliers owned by women or minorities. The company also will not renew a five-year commitment for a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. And it pulled out of a prominent gay rights index . Schweyer said the biggest trigger for companies making such changes is simply a reassessment of their legal risk exposure, which began after U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023 that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, conservative groups using similar arguments have secured court victories against various diversity programs, especially those that steer contracts to minority or women-owned businesses. Most recently, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty won a victory in a case against the U.S. Department of Transportation over its use of a program that gives priority to minority-owned businesses when it awards contracts. Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts, said Dan Lennington, a deputy counsel at the institute. His organization says it has identified more than 60 programs in the federal government that it considers discriminatory, he said. “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches -- the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President -- are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups,” Lennington said. The Trump administration is also likely to take direct aim at DEI initiatives through executive orders and other policies that affect private companies, especially federal contractors. “The impact of the election on DEI policies is huge. It can’t be overstated,” said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at law firm Gibson Dunn. With Miller returning to the White House, rolling back DEI initiatives is likely to be a priority, Schwartz said. “Companies are trying to strike the right balance to make clear they’ve got an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, and they want to get the best talent, while at the same time trying not to alienate various parts of their employees and customer base who might feel one way or the other. It’s a virtually impossible dilemma,” Schwartz said. A recent survey by Pew Research Center showed that workers are divided on the merits of DEI policies. While still broadly popular, the share of workers who said focusing on workplace diversity was mostly a good thing fell to 52% in the October survey, compared to 56% in a similar survey in February 2023. Rachel Minkin, a research associate at Pew, called it a small but significant shift in short amount of time. There will be more companies pulling back from their DEI policies, but it likely won’t be a retreat across the board, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University. “There are vastly more companies that are sticking with DEI," Glasgow said. "The only reason you don’t hear about it is most of them are doing it by stealth. They’re putting their heads down and doing DEI work and hoping not to attract attention.” Glasgow advises organizations to stick to their own core values, because attitudes toward the topic can change quickly in the span of four years. “It’s going to leave them looking a little bit weak if there’s a kind of flip-flopping, depending on whichever direction the political winds are blowing,” he said. One reason DEI programs exist is because without those programs, companies may be vulnerable to lawsuits for traditional discrimination. “Really think carefully about the risks in all directions on this topic,” Glasgow said. Walmart confirmed will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. Walmart says its U.S. businesses sourced more than $13 billion in goods and services from diverse suppliers in fiscal year 2024, including businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans. It was unclear how its relationships with such business would change going forward. Organizations that have partnered with Walmart on its diversity initiatives offered a cautious response. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, a non-profit that last year named Walmart one of America's top corporation for women-owned enterprises, said it was still evaluating the impact of Walmart's announcement. Pamela Prince-Eason, the president and CEO of the organization, said she hoped Walmart's need to cater to its diverse customer base will continue to drive contracts to women-owned suppliers even if the company has no explicit dollar goals. “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World,” Prince-Eason wrote. “Any retailer's ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart." Walmart's announcement came after the company spoke directly with conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck, who has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on the social media platform X. Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford , Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply . Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don’t feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. The company also will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. A Walmart spokesperson added that some of the changes were already in progress and not as a result of conversations that it had with Starbuck. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, senior director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program, said companies that “abandon” their commitments workplace inclusion policies “are shirking their responsibility to their employees, consumers, and shareholders.” She said the buying power of LGBTQ customers is powerful and noted that the index will have record participation of more than 1,400 companies in 2025.Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling
Modine stock soars to all-time high of $141.78 amid robust growthGov. Maura Healey nominated a seven-term Democratic representative from Beverly to serve as an associate justice of the District Court, a move that could set the stage for a special election after residents handed the lawmaker another two-year term. The governor turned to Rep. Jared Parisella, who has served in the Legislature for more than a decade, is a U.S. Army veteran, and helped negotiate a massive $4 billion jobs bill packed with policy proposals that Healey signed this month. Healey said Parisella is a “true public servant who knows what it means to deliver for the people of Massachusetts.” “We believe that he has the knowledge, the compassion, and the experience to excel on the District Court. We’re excited for him to continue his service to the state, and we look forward to working with Governor’s Council as they consider his nomination,” Healey said in a statement. Parisella handedly beat Republican Ty Vitale in the November general election with 71% of the vote, an outcome that gave him another two years in the House for the 2025-2026 legislative session. The Beverly Democrat raised more than $18,500 and spent $13,816 in campaign funds this year, according to state data last updated Oct. 31. Parisella had more than $65,400 in his campaign account as of the same date. A spokesperson for House Speaker Ron Mariano did not provide a response to questions about a potential special election, though Parisella’s nomination still needs to be approved by the Governor’s Council and he needs to submit a letter of resignation. In a message to the Herald, Parisella said he plans to serve “as a state representative until hopefully such time as I am confirmed and sworn in.” In a statement, Mariano said Parisella’s legislative work and three decades in the Army show he “dedicated his life to public service.” “Jerry’s commitment to helping others, along with his breadth of experience and deep understanding of the issues, has made him an invaluable asset to the House,” Mariano said. “Those same attributes also make Jerry the right choice to serve as an Associate Justice of the District Court, a role that, when confirmed, he will be successful in.” The District Court hears everything from criminal and civil cases to housing and juvenile matters. Parisella’s nomination is Healey’s 50th judicial pick.Most Read on Euro Weekly News
Since the final episode of Nine’s Footy Classified went to air, it has been expected Craig Hutchison would be returning to Seven as part of their 2025 AFL makeover. Seven finally confirmed today that after 18 years, Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) chief executive officer, Craig Hutchison, will return to the network in 2025. Hutchy is the latest high-profile recruit to join Seven to headline the network’s upcoming AFL news and opinion driven program, The Agenda Setters , which will air on Monday and Tuesday nights throughout the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on Seven and 7plus Sport. Hutchy will host Monday night’s edition The Agenda Setters , where he will be joined on the panel by recent Seven signings Kane Cornes and Nick Riewoldt. Chris Jones Seven Network director of sport (and a former housemate of Hutchy’s), Chris Jones , said the new schedule was a win for fans, with the network set to have AFL programming seven days a week across Seven and 7plus Sport in 2025. “ The Agenda Setters on Mondays and Tuesdays will be appointment viewing, and together with Rainmaker, we’ve assembled an incredibly experienced production team for this show to complement our unrivalled on-air lineup. “ Unfiltered on Wednesdays is going to take us behind the curtain and give fans the opportunity to learn more about the person behind the athlete. With Hamish McLachlan at the helm, viewers will be granted the best storytelling possible with the biggest and most fascinating names in the game,” he said. “At Seven, we can’t wait to bring footy fans more content than ever before, every week of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on Seven and 7plus. “From mid-week footy analysis headlined by new signings Kane Cornes, Craig Hutchison and Nick Riewoldt alongside our existing group of AFL experts, to light-hearted footy content midweek, all before the first bounce on Thursday Night Footy, there has never been a more exciting time to be an AFL fan,” Jones said. Craig Hutchison Hutchy said: “Seven is the home of free-to-air AFL, and has an unrivalled history, legacy and contribution to AFL football. These new shows will shape and set the agenda of the weekday discussion of football, which is at the heart of the game. “The media and opinions around the game is the zeitgeist of what fuels Australian football, and we will bring the game’s biggest names to the table and call it as it is. “And on a personal level, to return to Seven where I spent many years earlier in my career is an honour ,” he said. There is still speculation that former Nine radio and TV contributor Caroline Wilson will also be part of the Seven team in 2025. It has yet to be officially announced though. Seven is promising AFL content every day of the week during the AFL season, including games on 23 Thursday nights, 24 Friday nights, 25 Sunday afternoons, five Sunday nights, plus marquee games and every game in the Finals Series including – exclusive to Seven and 7plus Sport – the Brownlow Medal and the AFL Grand Final. See also : Seven’s new sports boss – Chris Jones details AFL, cricket plans and a whole lot more
Reilly scores 18 as Delaware downs Rider 72-66
TJX Cos. stock rises Thursday, still underperforms marketFeroze Kamardeen’s much-anticipated sequel, ‘Grow Up Nana 2’, once again brought the house down with its sharp wit, bold humour, and unique ability to turn life’s quirks into profound social commentary. The audience was taken on a whirlwind journey through Islamic cultural traditions, family expectations, and the hilarity of everyday life. I had the privilege of sitting with a group of people who were deeply familiar with the cultural nuances woven into the play, and generously explained some of the jokes I might have otherwise missed. One gentleman quipped, “It was supposed to start at 7:30, but it seems like it’s running late—just like dinner served at a Moor wedding.” The comparison was delivered with such good humour that it perfectly set the tone for the evening: a celebration of cultural quirks, tradition, and Feroze’s hilarious knack for turning everyday scenarios into theatrical brilliance. Kamardeen’s comedic genius shone brightest in his exploration of Muslim cultural norms, peppered with self-aware jokes like, “You can put a ‘thambi’ on a stage and call him a playwright and a performer, but you can never take a ‘thambi’ out of a profitable situation”, which had the audience in stitches while shedding light on deeper truths of the community. Star Performance by Ifaz Bin JameelIfaz Bin Jameel delivered an excellent performance, bringing the play’s themes to life with sharp comedic timing and an engaging stage presence. His ability to balance witty punchlines with subtle humour made him the perfect fit to Feroze’s theatrical masterpiece. We learned that in wedding circles, ‘good family’ is really code for ‘rich family’. By the end of the show, the audience couldn’t help but laugh, realising that when people said someone’s from a ‘good family’,they were really just talking about the size of said family’s bank account. Who knew matrimonial matchmaking had such a price tag? One of the play’s standout moments was the segment on ‘Kopi Theen’, the post-wedding gathering traditionally reserved for close family and friends. Kamardeen painted a vivid picture of this sugary paradise, where dodol, muscat, and watalappan reigned supreme, taking the aunties and uncles back to the days of their youth and causing a temporary memory loss with regard to their blood sugar levels. ‘Kopi Theen’ is a celebration of culture, nostalgia, and, as Feroze put it, “a guilt-free sugar rush like no other”. ‘Grow Up Nana 2’ wasn’t just a play—it was an experience that captured the eccentricities of Sri Lankan Muslim culture with humour and heart. Kamardeen once again proved his brilliance, delivering not just laughs but also insightful reflections on the traditions held dear by the Muslim community. For those who missed the show, here’s hoping for a repeat performance—not to mention a ‘Grow Up Nana 3’. But as with any Feroze Kamardeen production, prepare to be surprised—both by the humour and unexpected twists along the way.