ދXkH~:%{Z]s9+`f9^ x RPQ\c+]WXQzoZ%w/;.-tyw Ör'LJ۰zѧd *qVB ,&0>>(e 5mg)KfeG$&4+ϭ ]VLTFjOF,Z[)B']nw7cٰSl% lh!`>Xށ1e|9IJ3XX#R`t' sT?hZW Kc5{ .K[!Dyy:h\gyQ4=ce{yZL#9 \>i m뒙|!aU\~` (u;Ɲ5#_h HkCz Fԉ4 {@y Dém2u1p)k0H@Onl[ڤZAMM˂bcx v1=Z'=x-?JxC < %1p!J I#7jÚ(80( 1m8gWWŞAP!U5h3FFJ\CtyBK Y&K O\d3`">0(U_DYbR ShG @K{3:|jCWaa!tP?9|Ժ1,FkԞ`1SG^{L7 l =Se?-"$*0yF:˸n/h N\th;Z ZEIG:]L8ƉѼqOt*g~$p7oؗ9+@E,m%a@Fa F 5What To Expect From Vail Resorts’s (MTN) Q3 EarningsUndefeated Oregon and No. 23 Texas A&M will collide Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas in the second game of the new Players Era Festival. Both teams are in the "Power" group of the eight-team event. All eight teams are receiving $1 million for their name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives, but placing fourth or higher in the tourney in order will net them anywhere from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. The Aggies (4-1) opened the season with a three-point loss at UCF, but since then have won four straight, all in convincing fashion. Texas A&M upset then-No. 21 Ohio State 78-64 on Nov. 15 at home in College Station, Texas. Then the Aggies crushed Southern 71-54 last Wednesday, when Wade Taylor IV led the way with 17 points and six assists. All of Texas A&M's wins have been by double digits. The Aggies and Ducks (5-0) have split the two previous meetings against each other. Until March 2022 in an NIT second-round game, they had not met since the 1970-71 season. Texas A&M tied the overall series with a 75-60 win at home in 2022. The only player on the Ducks' current roster who played in that game was 7-foot senior Nate Bittle, who has been one of Oregon's best players so far this season. Bittle's 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game lead the Ducks so far this season, and the big man also averages two blocked shots per game. Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps, a transfer from SMU, leads the Aggies in scoring at 16 points per game. Taylor adds 14 points per game. The Aggies could be the best defensive team the Ducks will have seen this season. A&M is allowing teams to shoot only 36.6 percent in games. Head coach Buzz Williams and his staff are hoping the team gets better at taking charges on defense, as the Aggies have just one so far this season. "I guess the thing that you work on most is verticality around the rim," Texas A&M assistant coach Steve Roccaforte told KBTX television. "‘Hey, once you get there, if you try and take a charge, it's going to be a block. Just jump as high as you can, stay vertical, try to go chest-to-chest. Make it a hard shot.'" Oregon is coming off a 78-75 win at Oregon State, the Ducks' first road game of the season. The Ducks trailed by 10 points at halftime but, as they have in several games this season, they found a rhythm on offense in the second half and came up with a comeback win. Bittle's 23 points and 14 rebounds led the way. Jackson Shelstad had 15 points and Jadrian Tracey and Keeshawn Barthelemy both added 10. "We started rebounding the ball a little better. Nate really got it going inside and our guys got him the ball," Oregon head coach Dana Altman told the school's athletics website. "He had a heck of a game." --Field Level MediaToxic Smell Detected On Sunita Williams-led Space Station, NASA Responds
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s bid for a fourth straight NFC South title and fifth consecutive playoff berth is gaining momentum. Back-to-back wins over a pair of last-place teams , combined with Atlanta’s three-game losing streak, have propelled the Bucs (6-6) to a tie atop the division. Although the Falcons (6-6) hold a tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams, Tampa Bay can control its own destiny by finishing strong against a less than imposing schedule. The Bucs, who are back in the thick of the race after beating the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, figure to be favored in four of their five remaining games. “Every week, we said it’s a playoff game, we got to take care of us. It’s not going to be easy. As it was (Sunday), it’s going to be a dog fight every week,” coach Todd Bowles said after Sunday’s 26-23 overtime win at Carolina. “We got to clean up some things, we know that, but it's hard to win in this league,” the coach said of the mistake-filled victory that lifted the Bucs back to .500. “We’ll take a win any way we can get it.” After facing Las Vegas (2-10) this week, the Bucs will finish with road games against the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) and Dallas Cowboys (5-7), followed by home dates vs. Carolina (3-9) and the New Orleans Saints (4-8). What’s working Kicker Chase McLaughlin has been one of team’s most consistent performers, converting 21 of 23 field goal attempts. He was 4 of 5 against the Panthers, including 51-yarder to force overtime on the final play of regulation. He missed from 55 yards in OT before winning it with a 30-yard field goal on Tampa Bay’s next possession. What needs help Just when it appeared the defense was beginning to trend in the right direction, Carolina's Bryce Young threw for 298 yards without an interception against the Bucs in one of his better outings of the season. “In the first half, he did it with his feet and the second half he did it with his arm,” Bowles said. Stock up Running back Bucky Irving rushed for a career-best 152 yards and finished with 185 from scrimmage against Carolina, making him the first rookie since Miles Sanders in 2019 to have consecutive games with 150-plus yards from scrimmage. Stock down A week after playing well offensively and defensively in a 23-point rout of the New York Giants, the Bucs were sloppy against the Panthers. In addition to throwing two interceptions, Mayfield was sacked four times. Tampa Bay was penalized seven times for 54 yards, and the defense was only able to sack Young once. Injuries Mayfield (sore leg), linebacker K.J. Britt (sprained ankle) and safety Mike Edwards (hamstring) will be on the injury report this week. Bowles said he’s not sure what Mayfield's practice status will be when the team reconvenes Wednesday, however he expects the quarterback to play Sunday. Key numbers 37 and 101 — Wide receiver Mike Evans had another big day against Carolina, posting the 37th 100-yard receiving performance of his career — fifth among active players. He also moved ahead of Hall of Famers Steve Largent and Tim Brown for sole possession of ninth place on the all-time list for TD receptions with 101. Next steps The Buccaneers host Las Vegas in Tampa Bay's first home game in a month and the third consecutive outing against a last-place team. The Raiders (2-10) have lost eight in a row. ___ NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Fred Goodall, The Associated Press
Alphabet's chief accounting officer Amie O'Toole sells $232,950 in stockNo. 22 Xavier unbeaten but looking for more effort vs. South Carolina
INTERNATIONAL TASTE A culinary student of the Joji Ilagan International School of Hotel and Tourism Management prepares a dish of French-Western fusion, introducing him to international cuisine. —PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOJI ILAGAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF HOTEL AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT DAVAO CITY—For businesswoman Joji Ilagan-Bian, running a family business is not just about money. For a business to thrive and last beyond its time, there has to be fulfillment for those who work and devote their time and energy in it. “At the end of the day, if [money] is the only goal you have, I don’t think that’s going to last,” she said. “For a family business, fulfillment has to be there; and what I’m saying is the internal fulfillment, something that is not measured by money.” From the four-classroom school known as the Joji Ilagan Career Center (JICC) that she started in 1982, offering short courses for the youth, her company has grown into a network of international schools and a business process outsourcing (BPO) and call center. These are now under the Joji Ilagan Bian (JIB) Group run by her son and daughters. But the company’s core values remain. Bian instilled in her children, and also in people who worked with her, the passion for their work and the pride to be the best of what they can be. “If you work with me, it could not just be half-hearted. There has to be passion in your work because it is this business that will provide them better opportunities in life,” she said. As a young teacher in the early 1980s, Bian was looking around Davao and discovered quite a number of youth who wanted to be financially independent early in life. But everyone’s focus then was on acquiring college education, then thought of as the main yardstick for measuring one’s competence and ability to go through a professional career. That was when she realized there was a room for an educational institution that offers short courses for those who couldn’t go to college but who wanted to earn good so they could pursue their own dreams and that of their families. That was also the time when technical and vocational courses were yet looked down as merely for those who do not have the acumen for or could not afford college education. “I was thinking I should restore respect and dignity to short-term courses. It’s part of a lifelong learning,” Bian said. So she ensured that the short courses offered by JICC were top of the line even as she nurtured among her employees and students passion for excellence and pride in their work. “One of the core values that I put in my school is pride,” she said. “Pride not only among people who work for me but more importantly, [among] the students. They have to have that pride in themselves so that they remain confident in themselves, they’re able to talk well, communicate well, and that is the signature of JIB students even today.” As a result, JIB graduates have become top choices among fast-growing hospitality and tourism industry players here and in other parts of the country. They were immediately hired by restaurants, hotels and resorts as JICC started earning its reputation for quality and excellence that continued up to this day. “We have the best graduates until today because what makes our training program’s curriculum and methodology [the best] is the inclusion of personality development and communication skills,” Bian said. Aside from passion for their work, the company nurtures the value of respect, honesty and integrity. “We listen, we argue, we fight in [the process of] making decisions, but at the end of the day, there is to be respect for each other,” she said. “Integrity is very important. Honesty is very important in everything that we do for us to grow, and integrity has a place not only at the business table but also in our family relationship,” Bian said. She also cited the need to develop the sense of dynamism to make the business responsive to change and new challenges. “Everything changes very fast, even without technology and social media before, the best marketing was through word of mouth and we easily took advantage of that because of our dynamism.” Bian considers it the death of family enterprises when old people stop to be dynamic and when people continue to stick to old solutions to new problems. But in the company that she founded, the young people at the helm are allowed to make mistakes and learn from these. Joji Ilagan Bian So, from the four-classroom school when it started, what is now the Joji Ilagan Career Center Foundation Inc. has grown into the Joji Ilagan Bian (JIB) International Schools, a network of learning centers in Davao City and General Santos City, and a call center. As Bian gradually retreats, the new generation takes the helm of the family business. About 90 percent of the business had been turned over to the new generation, Bian said, with daughter Nicole, now the chief executive officer of JIB International Schools, while son Michael runs Six Eleven Global Services Inc., which this year was cited as the fastest-growing Davao-based IT company and one with the best employee engagement. The award was given during the recent Innovation Summit organized by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. and ICT Davao. “These accolades reflect not only our rapid growth but also our unwavering commitment to excellence in everything we do,” said Michael, CEO of Six Eleven. For him, every business aims to be profitable, but “true, sustainable profit is built on a foundation of strong ethical principles—understanding what is right and wrong.” “These core values guide our decision-making and shape how we engage with our partners, employees and customers,” he added. By adhering to these principles, the company ensures that their success is not only measured by financial performance but also by the positive impact on those they work with. “Our values help us foster meaningful relationships, prioritize integrity in all our dealings and create an environment where both employees and customers are valued and cared for. This commitment to doing what is right drives us to succeed, not just for the bottom line but for the long-term well-being of everyone involved,” he said. Six Eleven started at the time when the call center industry was just emerging, and the JIB Group offered specialized training courses to prepare individuals for careers in the sector. But there were few local call centers in Davao City, so most of the JIB graduates had to relocate to Cebu or Metro Manila in search of jobs. Michael founded Six Eleven to address this gap so that trained graduates no longer had to leave their home region, but could now find rewarding careers right in Mindanao. “Our journey began with just 20 graduates, who made up the first batch of agents hired by Six Eleven. Since then, we’ve experienced tremendous growth. Today, we proudly employ over 5,000 call center agents and BPO professionals, working with top-tier, internationally recognized companies,” Michael said. Now, his company is the largest independently owned and locally operated BPO company in Mindanao. Michael said there were moments when they were tempted to prioritize rapid growth over their mission and vision. “While this approach might offer short-term advantages, we recognize that it’s not a path that leads to long-term success,” he said. “We believe that true sustainable growth requires us to look beyond immediate gains and focus on building a solid foundation and [the] infrastructure that will support us for the long haul. By staying true to our core values and long-term objectives, we ensure that our growth is not just fast, but also lasting and meaningful towards the community,” he added. These principles, according to Michael, could be behind the recognition that the relatively young company had been getting. Bian observed the changes her children had initiated in running their family businesses, which reflected on how the core values remain even as the company navigates the digital age. “A lot has changed [in the business] after my children took over,” she said, particularly citing the organizational setup. “Before, the structure used to be authoritarian with the boss on top [and] the people below. But things have changed,” she said. “They initiated change, they created teams, they reorganized the whole way of doing business. When they started, they looked at the people, studied the organization charts and combined functions.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . “During my time, the office had walls. Every time you needed me, you had to knock. But in the digital era, offices no longer have walls. Now, you see open spaces, everyone is connected to each other seamlessly, no longer as compartmentalized as before. Then, if you’re the top, you’re the top; if your work is B, you’re B.” INQWaste Bins Market Analysis By Top Keyplayers - Rubbermaid, IKEA, W Weber, Busch Systems, Perstorp, Bigbelly, OTTO, Helesi, Sabalan Plastic, Shanghai AOTO
As businesses in Johannesburg gear up for 2025, aligning workforce strategies with organizational objectives is paramount. Partnering with the right recruitment agency can significantly enhance talent acquisition efforts, streamline recruitment processes, and ensure access to top-tier candidates. This guide offers insights into selecting a recruitment agency in Johannesburg that aligns with your company's goals. Understanding your workforce needs in 2025 As Johannesburg businesses prepare for a rapidly evolving market in 2025, understanding the city's unique workforce dynamics is crucial. Tailoring your recruitment strategy to meet these demands ensures your organization remains competitive and agile. Identify emerging skill gaps Analyse your industry's trends and determine the critical skills needed to align with future objectives. In Johannesburg, sectors like technology, finance, and logistics are experiencing high demand for specialized expertise. Define flexible workforce models Evaluate whether permanent, temporary, or contract roles are most suited to your goals. Balancing these options can help you stay adaptable in an unpredictable business environment. Account for seasonal hiring trends Johannesburg's economic landscape often includes seasonal peaks, particularly in retail, tourism, and manufacturing. Planning for these fluctuations will help you secure the right talent when it's needed most. Taking these steps ensures that your hiring approach aligns seamlessly with Johannesburg's workforce landscape in 2025. Evaluating recruitment agencies Choosing the right recruitment agency is a critical step toward building a workforce that supports your business objectives. In Johannesburg, where industries are diverse and competitive, a... Partnered ContentJudge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgender
Pubs warn Guinness being limited could 'cripple' their business
None1 Stock to Buy, 1 Stock to Sell This Week: Oracle, AutoZoneThe ultimate guide to choosing the right recruitment agency in Johannesburg for 2025