
The last thing the San Francisco 49ers needed for their Week 12 matchup with the Green Bay Packers was to be without their starting quarterback, but it appears they may have to deal with that scenario. Brock Purdy left practice on Thursday after throwing just a few passes in the section of the session open to media. According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area , Purdy was seen getting his shoulder rubbed by head athletic trainer Dustin Little before the quarterback left prior to the start of practice. Purdy has been dealing with shoulder soreness in the wake of the 49ers' surprise loss to the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, one which left them 5-5 and bottom of the NFC West. He was officially listed as limited for Thursday's session, but the 49ers' decision to push the usual quarterback media session back to Friday suggested there is a strong chance Purdy will not play at Lambeau Field. If that proves to be the case, Brandon Allen would get the start under center for the 49ers. Joshua Dobbs is the third-stringer. Nick Bosa and Trent Williams again missed practice, while reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey was back after a rest day on Wednesday. Rookie wide receiver Jacob Cowing sat out the session after being limited on Wednesday, indicating he is on course to miss the game with a concussion suffered against Seattle. 49ers injury report This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.Vast Updates Shareholders at Annual General Meeting on Significant Progress Towards Delivering Continuous, Carbon Free Energy to the WorldWhere to shop Alison Hammonds Bake Off looks and yes they are all from the high street, including River Island and Asos
Milan's Via MonteNapoleone usurps New York's Fifth Avenue as world's most upscale shopping streetDependency and plight of Islamabad Police The picture shows Islamabad police personnel in this undated photo. — AFP/File Islamabad : The capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad, presents a sobering example of administrative inefficiency, neglect, and under-resourced law enforcement. Despite being the nation’s seat of power, the Islamabad police struggle to manage crime, maintain law and order, and combat terrorism, largely due to their glaring dependence on borrowed forces from provinces like Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); This unusual dependency starkly contrasts with international norms, where federal capitals are typically fortified with well-staffed and well-equipped police forces capable of addressing their unique security needs. Islamabad’s situation highlights a crisis that undermines the city’s safety and national prestige. For a city of Islamabad’s stature, a police force of at least 30,000 personnel is needed to ensure comprehensive security and effective law enforcement. Yet, the city operates with only 10,000 officers, of which a significant portion is dedicated to VIP protocols and security for government officials and diplomats, protection of foreign missions and high-profile installations. This leaves a mere 2,000 to 2,500 officers to perform core policing duties such as crime prevention, anti-terrorism operations, and addressing everyday safety concerns for the city’s residents. Such an imbalance leaves vast areas of the city vulnerable, emboldening criminal activities and exposing glaring gaps in law enforcement. The Islamabad police often find themselves outmatched, battling heavily armed criminals and dealing with unruly mobs using outdated equipment. This mismatch is glaring in situations requiring rapid mobilisation and technological support, such as surveillance or intelligence-driven operations. Behind the veneer of Islamabad’s polished roads and pristine government offices lies the grim reality of its police force-overworked, underpaid, and severely underappreciated. The plight of Islamabad’s police highlights the neglect of law enforcement in Pakistan’s capital, with inadequate resources, outdated equipment, and deplorable working conditions taking a heavy toll on the morale and effectiveness of the force. The allowances they receive are shockingly meagre, making it almost impossible for them to make ends meet in a city with one of the highest costs of living in the country. The allowances for Islamabad police officers include, washing allowance: Rs150/month, Federal Police allowance: Rs125/month, ration allowance (including family): Rs1,038/month and medical allowance (including dependents): Rs1,500/month. Such figures are not just inadequate but humiliating for individuals who put their lives on the line daily to maintain law and order. When compared to the facilities and allowances provided to police officials in other countries or even other provinces within Pakistan, the disparity is staggering. While provincial police officers in areas like Punjab and Sindh receive Risk Allowance, Capital Allowance, and Big City Allowance, Islamabad police are excluded from these critical benefits. This unequal treatment further deepens the frustration among the force, fostering feelings of neglect and resentment. The lack of proper financial rewards is just one aspect of the problem. Islamabad police are also forced to operate with outdated equipment and minimal training, putting them at a disadvantage against well-armed criminal gangs and organized syndicates. With rising inflation, stagnant wages, and overwhelming responsibilities, officers are left feeling undervalued and unsupported. The inadequacies of Islamabad’s police are emblematic of the federal government’s neglect. Despite the city’s critical importance as the nation’s capital, funding and strategic planning for law enforcement have been insufficient. The disproportionate allocation of resources toward VIP protocols further compromises the safety of ordinary citizens. The current state of the Islamabad police requires urgent intervention, including increasing the force’s strength to at least 30,000 personnel to match the city’s growing security needs, enhancing financial incentives, including introducing risk, capital, and big-city allowances to boost morale, equipping the police with modern tools such as advanced surveillance systems, vehicles, and weaponry and reducing the focus on VIP and protocol duties, reallocating resources toward public safety and crime prevention. The ongoing neglect of Islamabad’s police administration exposes the city to escalating threats from criminal gangs and terrorist elements. The federal government’s reluctance to invest in its police force is not just a matter of inefficiency but a direct threat to the city’s residents and national security. The security of Islamabad cannot remain dependent on borrowed forces. A capital city that represents the heart of Pakistan deserves a modern, well-equipped, and adequately staffed police force. But the question remains unanswered, when will the federal government recognise the urgency of investing in the capital’s safety and its police force? Until then, the Islamabad police will remain an overworked and underappreciated force, struggling to safeguard a city that should be its pride.Vasko's 4 TDs power Coastal Carolina past Georgia State 48-27 to become bowl eligible
Some refugees are experiencing so much unexpected racism in Australia they wish they never came. "From education, employment, social settings including sports, service access, racism has such a significant impact on refugees' lives," Refugee Council Deputy CEO Adama Kamara said. "Some say to me they've made such long journeys to get here, if they knew what it would have been like they may not have come." 'Insidious and profoundly damaging': Australia's systemic racism revealed An anti-racism report from the Australian Human Rights Commission , billed as the most comprehensive plan in the nation's history, was delivered to the federal government on Tuesday. It calls for a number of major legal and policy changes such as the introduction of a national framework with 10-year commitments that include acknowledgement of the "systemic and structural nature of racism" and "historical and ongoing impacts of settler colonisation on First Nations peoples". Among the 63 recommendations, the framework calls for political accountability, something Kamara said is vital for the livelihood of refugees. "We've seen time and time again how refugees are used for political football," she said. "It's to the detriment of human rights commitments but also to refugees' lives, all these actions are counterproductive to a belonging society." The council has heard countless stories of people from the African diaspora experiencing racism in the streets, which Kamara said is linked to the way police, the media and politicians have been talking about Sudanese communities and the alleged link to increased crime. "Those comments have caused a lot of damage in how communities see themselves." She said the government now faces the task of tackling the issue head-on, and not shying away from the "hard conversations". "I would like this to not be a matter for the election because then it's about winning votes and not people's lives," she said. Refugees are finding it hard to rent a home in Australia for this 'pervasive' reason The commission also calls for the introduction of a national human rights act and for a positive duty clause to be added to the Racial Discrimination Act, forcing businesses and employers to implement anti-discrimination policies. The framework would also include an agreed national definition of racism for Indigenous people. One of the report's overarching recommendations is for the federal government to lead a national response to racism, beginning with truth-telling and self-determination for Indigenous people. This would include anti-racism lessons in schools and enshrining the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into Australian law. A spokesman for Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus commended the commissioner and said the government would work through the recommendations. "No Australian should be targeted because of who they are or what they believe," he said. "Australians should be able to live their lives without fear of being attacked or treated differently because of their race."
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Marcus Johnson scored 23 points and Javontae Campbell secured the victory with a free throw with 12 seconds remaining as Bowling Green knocked off New Mexico State 61-60 on Saturday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Marcus Johnson scored 23 points and Javontae Campbell secured the victory with a free throw with 12 seconds remaining as Bowling Green knocked off New Mexico State 61-60 on Saturday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Marcus Johnson scored 23 points and Javontae Campbell secured the victory with a free throw with 12 seconds remaining as Bowling Green knocked off New Mexico State 61-60 on Saturday. Johnson had five rebounds and three steals for the Falcons (3-5). Derrick Butler scored 15 points while going 4 of 15 from the floor, including 2 for 7 from 3-point range, and 5 for 5 from the line and added five rebounds. Campbell had 12 points and shot 1 of 9 from the field and 10 of 12 from the free-throw line. The Aggies (3-4) were led by Jaden Harris, who posted 18 points and nine rebounds. New Mexico State also got 10 points and seven rebounds from Robert Carpenter. Christian Cook finished with nine points and four assists. Campbell scored a team-high 12 points for Bowling Green in the second half, including their game-winner. NEXT UP Up next for Bowling Green is a Saturday matchup with Morgan State at home, and New Mexico State hosts Abilene Christian on Wednesday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. AdvertisementIt’s official: Dodgers sign Blake Snell for 5 years, $182 million
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The Christmas season affects more than just our wallets and waistlines, so how can you reduce the impact of your yuletide celebrations on the environment? The total environmental cost of Christmas is hard to measure – and whether a real or fake Christmas tree is the more ethical choice is up for annual debate – but the Stockholm Environment Institute estimates Christmas festivities account for 650 kilograms of greenhouse gases per person, or about 5 per cent of each person’s annual carbon footprint. Christmas can be the most wonderful, and most wasteful, time of the year. Credit: Monique Westermann Australian shoppers are expected to spend $11.8 billion on gifts this year, up $1.6 billion on last year, Roy Morgan estimates. Australia Institute polling suggests a quarter of Australians anticipate receiving unwanted gifts, most of which are expected to end up in landfill. It is a different story at Lori Spence’s house: she is something of an expert on managing, and reducing, waste. Three-and-a-half years ago, Spence relocated with her husband and two children to Narara Ecovillage, an 130-person sustainability-focused community on the NSW Central Coast. “We have a culture that appreciates crafted, homemade, homegrown and home-baked gifts,” Spence says. Typical presents include homemade elderberry wine or hand sewn knitwear. Lori Spence and her two children try to celebrate Christmas in a sustainable way. Credit: Each family brought a dish to the recent village Christmas party. Leftovers were shared, given to the village chickens, or composted, Spence says. Ten-cent recyclables, including glass bottles and cans, were delivered to the nearby recycling centre. Money earned will be allocated for children’s equipment and craft activities. When it comes to the tree, “decorate a favourite pot plant instead of buying a plastic tree”, Spence recommends. Alternatively, she suggests donating your real tree to keen gardeners on Facebook Marketplace after the holidays. Loading If you’d like to keep the sparkle this Christmas without emission-driven electricity use, Spence suggests solar-powered lights, which require minimal maintenance and can last up to 20 years with proper care. Even better – invest in high-quality decorations or create your own plantable Christmas decor using newspapers, seeds and water, she says. University of Sydney Business School retail academic Lisa Asher requests no Christmas gifts, saying: “The joy of coming together, and being together, is a gift in itself”. “Photos which capture this are worth more than material items,” she says. Asher says Australians produce 30 per cent more waste during the Christmas period due to gift-wrapping paper, food waste, unwanted gifts and over-consumption, describing the environmental impact as “eyewateringly significant”. “We are led to believe buying and consumption is necessary, but is it really?” The federal government’s National Food Waste Feasibility Study found households generate roughly 30 per cent of Australia’s food waste . Asher says businesses and families need to commit to gradual changes. “The Christmas dining table is a great place to start,” Asher says. Sourcing sustainably can be challenging, but small steps like freezing leftovers and eating local produce can reduce carbon emissions of food miles . Secret Santa is a great option for minimising the number of gifts and unwanted items for those who still wish to buy presents, she adds. Loading As part of her sustainable resolution, Asher successfully avoided buying new clothes this year. “I repaired clothes, and if I wanted something new, I purchased it second-hand,” Asher says, a practice she plans to continue and encourages others to adopt in the new year. Queensland University of Technology fashion lecturer Zoe Mellick says there has been a growing disconnect between the gifts we give and their value to the recipient. Mellick suggests creating a wishlist and asking preferences for gifts – “that way, people are receiving gifts that they want,” she says. When buying clothes, Mellick advises considering local brands affiliated with Seamless , a federal government initiative that recognises brands which aim for clothing circularity by 2030. Uturn, a sustainable fashion marketplace, had a threefold increase in sellers listing their unwanted clothes on its website in October. It anticipates wardrobe reassessments will increase in the holidays. Alex Dimou, managing director of Uturn, hopes more customers will embrace sustainable Christmas gifting by buying items secondhand. “We see thousands of designer and premium items come through our stores,” Dimou says. Salvation Army circular economy senior manager Sarah Knop says the organisation sees a significant surge in donations at this time of year. The Salvation Army’s Sarah Knop says more people should shop for gifts secondhand. Credit: Simon Schulter Buying from charity stores is a way “to be more sustainable, but also to ensure Christmas comes within budget”, she says. “Some of the best gifts I’ve seen, to be honest, come from secondhand stores.” Knop suggests decorative silk scarves or cloth as a reusable, zero-waste wrapping alternative to the 150,000 kilometres of wrapping paper the CSIRO estimates Australians use each year. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Christmas Family Ethical living Most Viewed in Environment LoadingMany new (Tax-Free Savings Account) investors may stand to underestimate the true wealth-creating power the account grants them. Undoubtedly, you can just leave your TFSA funds sitting around in a savings account to collect tax-free interest. That said, if you’re a young investor, I believe the sooner you put the funds to work in equities, the better. If you’re just getting started with your career, you likely have an investment horizon that’s measured in decades. The longer your horizon, the more tax-free compounding you’ll be able to benefit from. And though everyone’s situation is different (some folks may need the TFSA cash at some point over the medium term for a down payment on a home), I think that value stocks, vanilla index funds, or affordable exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are options to look to if you’re looking at constructing a sound long-term TFSA strategy. It’s not just for the retired: Why positioning a TFSA with passive income and value in mind seems smart The TFSA isn’t just for growing wealth via capital gains, however. It can also be a robust cash flow generator that can supplement your income. And you don’t need to be a retiree to benefit from the passive income either. Undoubtedly, the cost of living has risen at a jarring rate in the post-lockdown world. And if you could use an extra few bucks of passive income to help out on the rent or the trips to the grocery store without spending down your retirement savings (spending the principal of your nest egg never feels good!), I think a passive-income strategy for your TFSA can make sense for some. Right now, the TSX Index is packed with some very cheap, high-yielding dividend stocks. Further, if you’re serious about collecting passive income from a TFSA portfolio, the real estate investment trusts (REITs) also look intriguing this December. Some pundits on Bay Street are fans of the setup for some REITs going into the new year. And there’s more to them than just the falling-rate catalyst! In this piece, we’ll look at one TFSA-worthy investment (spoiler alert: it’s a REIT) worth adding to your radar before 2024 ends. SmartCentres REIT: A fat but stable yield ( ) is one of my top REIT picks for 2025. Shares are currently trading at just under $26 per share after rising just 4% year to date. Indeed, it’s been a volatile ride, primarily due to expectations for where rates could be headed. In any case, shares seem poised to pick up where they left off prior to the correction, which started this September. Of course, the 7.16% distribution yield is the most compelling part of SRU.UN shares. A $14,000 sum invested would work out to $1,000 in annual passive income. Come January, you may find yourself with such a sum (think the TFSA contribution limits for 2024 and 2025) to put to work! That said, I view the dirt-cheap multiple and sustainability of its payout as also positive traits that should have passive income intrigued. Though SRU.UN shares could prove choppy in 2025; I’d stash the name away for the next five years as the REIT recovers from the high-rate world while looking to benefit from several impressive real estate projects. As I’ve noted in prior pieces, SmartCentres is a retail REIT but one that may soon become a diversified REIT as it finds success with its residential project pipeline.
TULSA, Okla., Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS) today issued financial guidance for 2025 and updated its five-year growth rates. "We enter 2025 focused on creating long-term value for our stakeholders, supporting growing customer demand, and enhancing the safety and reliability of our system," said Robert S. McAnnally, president and chief executive officer. "Our strategic plan supports a long runway of growth opportunities and investments in system reinforcements." 2025 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE ONE Gas (the "Company") expects 2025 net income to be in the range of $254 million to $261 million, with earnings per diluted share of $4.20 to $4.32. The midpoints of 2025 guidance are net income of $257 million and earnings per diluted share of $4.26. The Company's 2025 earnings guidance includes the benefit of new rates and customer growth, partially offset by higher operating expenses, including employee-related and contractor costs, depreciation expense from capital investments, and interest expense. Capital investments, including asset removal costs, are expected to be approximately $750 million in 2025, primarily targeted for system integrity and replacement projects. Capital investments for extensions to new customers are expected to be approximately $180 million, largely due to continued growth opportunities in Texas and Oklahoma. The anticipated average rate base for 2025 is $5.8 billion. The Company has outstanding forward sale agreements covering approximately 3.6 million shares of its common stock at an average price of approximately $77 per share. Had all forward shares been settled at the end of the third quarter, net proceeds would have been approximately $275 million. The Company expects to settle approximately $245 million of its outstanding equity under forward sale agreements at year-end 2024 and roll forward approximately $30 million to settlement in 2025. FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL GROWTH RATES For the five years ending 2029, capital investments, including asset removal costs, are expected to be in the range of $750 million to $850 million per year, or approximately $4.0 billion for the five-year period, including growth capital of approximately $1.0 billion. Capital expenditures support estimated average rate base growth of 7% to 9% per year through 2029. Annual net income and diluted earnings per share are expected to increase by an average of 7% to 9% and 4% to 6%, respectively, over the long term and the Company expects to be at the high end of these respective ranges through 2029. Operating costs over the five-year period are expected to increase an average of approximately 4% per year, down from the 5% average annual increase indicated in the 2024 guidance. The Company estimates total net long-term financing needs for the period 2025 through 2029 of approximately $1.5 billion, of which approximately 40% is expected to be equity. Consistent with last year's guidance, the Company expects to achieve an average annual dividend growth rate of 1% to 2% through 2029, subject to the board of directors' approval, with a target dividend payout ratio of 55% to 65% of net income. CONFERENCE CALL, WEBCAST AND INVESTOR PRESENTATION The ONE Gas executive management team will conduct a conference call on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (7 a.m. Central Standard Time). The call also will be carried live on the ONE Gas website. To participate in the telephone conference call, dial 833-470-1428, passcode 934495, or log on to www.onegas.com/investors and select Events and Presentations. If you are unable to participate in the conference call or the webcast, a replay will be available on the ONE Gas website, www.onegas.com , for 30 days. A recording will be available by phone for seven days. The playback call may be accessed at 866-813-9403, passcode 503269. Additional information can be found in the 2025 Financial Guidance investor presentation on the ONE Gas website at https://www.onegas.com/investors/financials-and-filings/guidance . Guidance estimates may be impacted by the variables in the forward-looking statements listed below. ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS) is a 100% regulated natural gas utility, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OGS." ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, ONE Gas provides a reliable and affordable energy choice to more than 2.3 million customers in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Its divisions include Kansas Gas Service, the largest natural gas distributor in Kansas; Oklahoma Natural Gas, the largest in Oklahoma; and Texas Gas Service, the third largest in Texas, in terms of customers. For more information and the latest news about ONE Gas, visit onegas.com and follow its social channels: @ONEGas , Facebook , LinkedIn and YouTube . Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. The forward-looking statements relate to our anticipated financial performance, liquidity, management's plans and objectives for our future operations, our business prospects, the outcome of regulatory and legal proceedings, market conditions and other matters. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained or incorporated in this news release identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "should," "goal," "forecast," "guidance," "could," "may," "continue," "might," "potential," "scheduled," "likely," and other words and terms of similar meaning. One should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are applicable only as of the date of this news release. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Those factors may affect our operations, costs, liquidity, markets, products, services and prices. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with the forward-looking statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following: These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Part 1, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/one-gas-issues-2025-financial-guidance-302322972.html SOURCE ONE Gas, Inc.Blackhawks fire coach Luke Richardson in his 3rd season after league-worst startColts hope for another late-season playoff push
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