super ace 888
Fans are spellbound by this utterly unhinged, tearful ‘Wicked’ interview
On Dec. 12, the U.S. Census Bureau released new data that provide information about the wellbeing of Granite Staters during 2019 to 2023. These insights build on less detailed one-year data released earlier and collected only during 2023, and offer a deeper look into New Hampshire’s economy, poverty levels and housing challenges. Here are seven quick takeaways from the one-year and five-year American Community Survey datasets that provide greater understanding about the lives of Granite Staters: 1. Median household income growth outpaced inflation in 2023 after slipping behind in 2022. In 2023, New Hampshire’s median household income grew to about $97,000, which was an increase from approximately $90,000 in 2022. Even after adjusting for inflation and accounting for statistical uncertainty, the median Granite State household experienced a boost in the real purchasing power of the median household in 2023. Incomes had previously slipped behind inflation in 2022, and 2023’s increase brought inflation-adjusted income to about the 2021 level, the prior peak, rather than growing to a new high. 2. Coos County median household income was about half of Rockingham County’s level. During the 2019-2023 period, median household income in Coos County, the northernmost and least populous county in the state, was about $58,000 in inflation-adjusted 2023 dollars, which was the lowest among the counties in the state. Rockingham County, the second-most populated New Hampshire county and the closest to metropolitan Boston, had a median household income of about $114,000, which was the highest in the state and nearly double that of Coos County. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator estimated that the cost of living in Rockingham County for two working adults and one child was $105,005 in 2024, while in Coos County the same household would face living costs of $79,714. 3. Poverty rates were higher in northern and western counties. In the 2019-2023 period, poverty rates were highest in Coos County (12.9 percent) and Sullivan County (10.8 percent) in west-central New Hampshire. Uncertainty in these survey-based data renders these two poverty rates statistically indistinguishable from each other, but both reflect that rural areas in northern and western New Hampshire faced higher concentrations of poverty. 4. While it had the lowest poverty rate, Rockingham County had the second-highest number of people in poverty among the state’s counties. About 15,000 people lived in poverty in Rockingham County, behind only Hillsborough County’s 27,000 people, in the 2019-2023 period. While Coos County had a much higher poverty rate than either Rockingham or Hillsborough County, the total population in poverty was likely just under 4,000 people, based on available data. 5. About 98,000 people in the state lived in poverty in New Hampshire during 2023. The Official Poverty Measure is based on income and household composition. Poverty thresholds for 2023 varied by household size and composition: in 2023, poverty level incomes were $15,852 for a single person under 65 years old, $21,002 for a household with one adult under 65 and one child, $24,526 for two adults and one child, and $30,900 for two adults with two children. Poverty thresholds varied based on other adjustments for different household compositions. In 2023, an estimated 98,000 people (7.2 percent) lived with incomes below Official Poverty Measure poverty thresholds, including about 20,000 children under 18 years old and 21,000 adults over age 64 years. 6. More than half of renters were cost-burdened by housing, and renters with lower incomes faced even more significant hurdles paying for a place to live. The term “cost-burdened,” used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development describes households that pay more than 30 percent of their income toward housing. In 2023, approximately 51 percent of New Hampshire’s 157,000 renter households met the criteria of being housing cost-burdened, compared to about 28 percent of the 258,000 owner households paying a mortgage and about 20 percent of 155,000 owner households without a mortgage. More granular data for the 2019-2023 period shows that about 31 percent of New Hampshire’s renter households had annual incomes below $35,000 per year. Among these households, about three quarters were cost-burdened, and more than half were billed at least half of their income in rent and utilities. 7. Poverty rates varied substantially among Granite Staters by race, ethnicity, disability status, and family structure. Reflecting long-standing structural barriers to opportunity and success that are more profound for some Granite Staters than others, poverty rates varied substantially by population group in New Hampshire in the 2019 to 2023 period. Female Granite Staters were more likely to be in poverty than male residents. Compared to the statewide rate of 7.2 percent, about one in five residents without a high school degree were in poverty, as were nearly one in 10 residents who had a high school degree or the equivalent with no further formal education. The estimated poverty rate for Hispanic or Latino Granite Staters was about twice as high as for non-Latino white residents. About one in 10 Granite Staters who identified as Black or African American, as well as those identifying as two or more races, were in poverty. Approximately one in six New Hampshire residents with a disability lived in poverty. Nearly one quarter of households with children headed by a single woman without a partner present had incomes below poverty levels as well. These U.S. Census Bureau data can reveal key trends related to income and poverty, health coverage, housing and other aspects of life in New Hampshire. Further analysis, particularly from the new five-year data covering 2019-2023, will provide additional insights into the wellbeing of different communities throughout the Granite State. For more research and information, subscribe to the N.H. Fiscal Policy Institute’s newsletter at nhfpi.org .CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's two stuck astronauts just got their space mission extended again. That means they won't be back on Earth until spring — 10 months after rocketing into orbit on Boeing's Starliner capsule. NASA announced the latest delay in Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' homecoming Tuesday. The two test pilots planned to be away just a week or so when they blasted off June 5 on Boeing's first astronaut flight to the International Space Station. Their mission grew from eight days to eight months after NASA decided to send the company's problem-plagued Starliner capsule back empty in September. FILE - This image made from a NASA live stream shows NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference from the International Space Station on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (NASA via AP, File) Now the pair won't return until the end of March or even April because of a delay in launching their replacements, according to NASA. A fresh crew needs to launch before Wilmore and Williams can return and the next mission was bumped more than a month, according to the space agency. NASA's next crew of four was supposed to launch in February, followed by Wilmore and Williams' return home by the end of that month alongside two other astronauts. But SpaceX needs more time to prepare the new capsule for liftoff. That launch is now scheduled for no earlier than late March. NASA said it considered using a different SpaceX capsule to fly up the replacement crew in order to keep the flights on schedule. However, it decided the best option was to wait for the new capsule to transport the next crew. NASA prefers to have overlapping crews at the space station for a smoother transition, according to officials. Most space station missions last six months, with a few reaching a full year. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Get local news delivered to your inbox!
EXCLUSIVE I've travelled the world with my family of six and saved £41,000 on accommodation over the years thanks to secret holiday hack Fionnuala Brennan has travelled to 87 destinations over ten years READ MORE: My six nights in the Loire... for the price of a bottle of Sancerre: Here's how the home-swap market can be an absolute bargain By ALANAH KHOSLA Published: 10:49 EST, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 10:55 EST, 27 December 2024 e-mail 14 shares 1 View comments A mother-of-four has revealed how she has saved an estimated €50,000 (£41,487) pounds while travelling the world over a period of 16 years with her family. Fionnuala Brennan, 53, from Tramore, Ireland, has managed to holiday around the globe, including in America, Australia, and Italy , by exchanging her home. The 53-year-old, a lecturer at Southeast Technological University in Waterford, has completed 87 exchanges since starting, saving her thousands of pounds. Fionnuala's preferred platform, HomeExchange, works in two ways: the Classic Exchange, where two families swap homes, either simultaneously or on different dates. Or tourists can use 'guest points', which means they can stay in a home without giving their own abode up, and earn points at a different time by letting people stay at their property. Despite Fionnuala hearing about the platform from a friend when she was 30, she didn't use the website until after she had her fourth child in 2008, which made travelling via hotels too expensive. 'With four kids, we felt it was just too expensive to go anywhere, so we decided to give it a go,' she told Femail. Now, the mother-of-four has made lasting memories with her husband and children around the globe and even favours it over other travelling arrangements due to the authentic experience it provides. Fionnuala Brennan (pictured centre right), 53, from Tramore, Ireland, and her family (pictured) have travelled around the globe via HomeExchange The mother-of-four, who is a university lecturer, first decided to travel via HomeExchange to save money Fionnuala and her family's first HomeExchange holiday was in France: 'We flew to Nantes and stayed in the Vendee in a little seaside town. 'We live in a little seaside town in Ireland - so, we were swapping an Irish seaside town for a French one and our own family home for a family home in France, which was perfect. 'They had young children like ours. Their house was full of Lego and all the toys; the kids had a really great time. 'It was a very easy holiday, and they were very relaxed, with a garden and swings, slides, and we were within walking distance to the beach.' 'When we started doing it in 2008, it was all direct exchanges. So that's more challenging because you need to find somebody interested in coming to the southeast of Ireland, and that's what we did for the first number of years.' 'We were doing European exchanges for the first few years, and it was mainly French families who were on the Home Exchange website and then we started going to different places. After having four children together, staying in hotels when on holiday became too expensive for Fionnuala and her husband Fionnuala believes that travelling with HomeExchange can offer a more authentic way to experience a foreign country The family have enjoyed trips across the globe together, including in America, Australia, France, Italy 'We went to America, Australia, Spain, Italy, and other European destinations. So those were direct home exchanges...and we often swapped cars as well. 'Of course, because we have four kids, we needed a seven-seater car and often swapped with similarly sized families and that worked well.' By saving on accommodation, Fionnuala and her family can splash out on other parts of the holiday, such as airport transfers to make the route as easy as possible for her family. But while holidaying in a hotel typically takes a small amount of preparation, arranging a home exchange can take a little while longer. Fionnuala explained: 'So we would get our house ready, and there's always work to do in that, getting things fixed and doing all the repairs, cleaning up, and leaving the place lovely and neat and tidy. 'So that's a challenge and perhaps not everybody's on for doing that before they go on their holidays, but I will say there is huge pleasure in coming back into your home and everything's fixed and working and in great shape.' She added: 'We've never had one where anybody left the house in a worse condition than they got it. 'They leave it just as clean and tidy as we left it and often in better condition, so that has never been a concern. There's a huge amount of trust in it because you're in their home while they're in yours.' Without HomeExchange, Fionnuala and her family would not have been able to experience as many countries The houses Fionnuala and her family visit are often equipped with bikes and toys for the children While the family saves money by exchanging their home, the biggest benefit for Fionnuala is the authentic experience. She explained: 'I was in Estonia, in Tallinn, a beautiful city, for a work conference, and I didn't want to stay in a hotel. Read More My six nights in the Loire... for the price of a bottle of Sancerre: Here's how the home-swap market can be an absolute bargain 'I was there for the week, and I stayed in a little studio apartment beside a family home. 'I was able to have coffee in the garden and the family was there and it just felt safe and comfortable and it was a much more authentic experience than staying in a hotel. She added: 'I was with Estonian people and [I had] a great sense of comfort. You feel like you're traveling and getting to know somewhere else in a real way.' The mother-of-four said that exchanging homes is also often a sociable way to travel, saying: 'Often people will let their neighbours know that you're coming or their relations will drop in and check in that you're OK. 'There's a great sense of community... you get to know different people and how they live and it's a really positive thing.' Elsewhere, the family have enjoyed trip in Rome, France, America, Malaga, Lucca, Lake Como, Cadiz, and Venice to name few. Fionnuala warned that holidaying via exchanging homes might not be suitable for those who are super house proud The mother-of-four said that HomeExchange can be a good route when travelling with children because people's homes are typically more equipped than hotels A highlight for her children was spending Christmas in Sydney in a home exchange, with a family who spent the 25th December in Ireland. Fionnuala's top tips for holidaymakers interested in HomeExchange.... Be honest about your home and expectations for the holiday: 'It's not like you're trying to sell it...all everybody wants is a functioning comfortable home.' Tidy the house before an exchange : 'Have it tidy, organised, clean, [with] fresh sheets, fresh towels. She added: 'You do want to prepare it and have it nice for visitors that are coming.' Try something new : 'I would say give it a go... there's an exchange for everybody, [whether] you live in a little studio apartment or you live in a big detached house with a garden, there's somebody out there who is interested in coming to where you are Advertisement While it's hard for Fionnuala to give an exact breakdown of how much she's saved in total, in the past one year alone, she's saved £6,700. 'While I'm estimating the cost of what we might have gone for otherwise, the quality of accommodation we stayed at with the swaps was much better than the hostels, Airbnbs or whatever we might have opted for, and a few of the trips would not have happened if we had to pay for accommodation. 'So, how I would put it is that we travel like people who are much better off than we are. 'We manage to travel and stay in beautiful places, beautiful homes in beautiful locations and we do that regularly. 'So, to put a number on it, it's difficult, but over the 16 years you can be sure that we have saved more than €50,000 no doubt.' While she still stays in the occasional hotel or Airbnb, Fionnuala finds home comforts are often unbeatable. 'There's great comfort in staying in a home that just has everything in it. If you cut your finger, you're going to find the first aid kit or you're going to find the parasol for when it's a hot day.' However, the mother-of-four warned that home exchange might not be for everybody. She said: 'I've recommended it to lots of friends and it hasn't worked for everybody. 'It does work for most people, [but] it's not inclined to work if people are very precious about their house, and it makes them uncomfortable to have strangers stay in their home. 'So, I think if you feel like that, then don't, don't put yourself through it,' she said. How does HomeExchange work? How do I get started? 1. Create your listing and fill out your profile Introduce yourself and pick you ideal destinations Promote your home by adding photographs Add your availability 2. Look for homes in destinations that interest you and send exchange requests 3. Become a member and finalise the exchange The membership costs $220 (£173.99) for a year of unlimited exchanges What kinds of exchange holidays can I do? The Classic Exchange Here, two families exchange each other's homes, either simultaneously or on different dates Exchange with GuestPoints If you find a member with an available home, but they don't want to stay at your home in return, you can offer them GuestPoints that they can use to go and stay at another member's home in a destination of their choice An example on HomeExchange reads: 'You and your family go on a six night vacation to France and stay at another member's home for 100 guest points per night. 'You would give your host 600 guest points for this vacation. Your host can use these 600 GPs to organize their vacation. ' Source - HomeExchange Advertisement Italy France Share or comment on this article: I've travelled the world with my family of six and saved £41,000 on accommodation over the years thanks to secret holiday hack e-mail 14 shares Add comment
By ERIC TUCKER WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Related Articles National News | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National News | US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people National News | OpenAI whistleblower death: Parents want to know what happened to Suchir Balaji after apparent suicide National News | Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds National News | Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Marcus Adams Jr.'s 19 points helped CSU Northridge defeat Denver 89-60 on Monday night. Adams also added 11 rebounds for the Matadors (5-1). Keonte Jones added 17 points while shooting 4 of 6 from the field and 8 for 8 from the line and also had five rebounds and three blocks. PJ Fuller shot 2 of 8 from the field, including 0 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the line to finish with 10 points. Nicholas Shogbonyo led the way for the Pioneers (3-4) with 15 points. Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente added 10 points and two blocks for Denver. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Infosys founder Narayan Murthy, Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath, billionaire Anand Mahindra and others pay tributes to former PM Manmohan SinghBiden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons and first lady gets Christmas tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Separately, first lady Jill Biden received the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens are traveling to New York later Monday for an early holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard. Couple charged in ring suspected of stealing $1 million in Lululemon clothes MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Connecticut couple has been charged in Minnesota with being part of a shoplifting ring suspected of stealing around $1 million in goods across the country from upscale athletic wear retailer Lululemon.Jadion Anthony Richards and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, both of Danbury, Connecticut, were charged this month with one felony count of organized retail theft. Both went free last week after posting bail bonds of $100,000 for him and $30,000 for her. They're also suspected in thefts from Lululemon stores in Colorado, Utah, New York and Connecticut. They're due back in court next month. Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 will expand the grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a federal investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, who has since stepped aside. The 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer. Naeher is on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year's Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. Megachurch founder T.D. Jakes suffers health incident during sermon at Dallas church DALLAS (AP) — The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter's House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, was hospitalized after suffering what the church called a “slight health incident.” Jakes was speaking to churchgoers after he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him Sunday at the church. Jakes' daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts said in a statement on social media late Sunday that Jakes was improving. The 67-year-old Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter's House in 1996 and his website says it now has more than 30,000 members with campuses in Fort Worth and Frisco, Texas; and in Denver. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Pilot dies in plane crash in remote woods of New York, puppy found alive WINDHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and at least one dog he was transporting died when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though a puppy on the flight was found alive with two broken legs. The Greene County sheriff’s office says Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in a remote area. Officials believe the pilot died from the impact. The surviving dog was hospitalized, while a third dog was not located. The flight was connected with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road.
Stock market today: Wall Street slips as technology stocks drag on the marketHONDA and Nissan are in talks to deepen ties, two people said on Wednesday (Dec 18), including a possible merger, the clearest sign yet of how Japan’s once seemingly unbeatable auto industry is being reshaped by challenges from Tesla and Chinese rivals. A combined Honda and Nissan would create a US$54 billion company with annual output of 7.4 million vehicles, making it the world’s third-largest auto group by vehicle sales after Toyota and Volkswagen. The two firms already forged a strategic partnership in March to cooperate in electric vehicle development, but Nissan’s deepening financial and strategic trouble in recent months has added more urgency for closer cooperation with larger rival Honda. Nissan announced a US$2.6 billion cost savings plan last month that includes cutting 9,000 jobs and 20 per cent of its global production capacity, as slumping sales in China and the US led to an 85 per cent plunge in second-quarter profit. “This deal appears to be more about bailing out Nissan, but Honda itself is not resting on its laurels,” said Sanshiro Fukao, executive fellow at Itochu Research Institute. “Honda’s cash flow is set to deteriorate next year and its EVs (electric vehicles) haven’t been going so well.” Shares of Nissan closed nearly 24 per cent higher in Tokyo trade on Wednesday, while shares of Honda, whose market value of US$43 billion is more than four times bigger than that of Nissan, declined 3 per cent. Shares of Mitsubishi Motors, in which Nissan is the top shareholder with a 24 per cent stake, gained nearly 20 per cent. The automakers have been grappling with challenges from EV makers, particularly in China, where BYD and others have surged ahead. The talks between Honda and Nissan, first reported by the Nikkei newspaper, could allow the companies to cooperate more on technology and help them create a more formidable domestic rival to Toyota. The discussions are focused on finding ways to bolster collaboration and include the possibility of setting up a holding company, said the people, who declined to be identified because the information has not been made public. The companies are also discussing the possibility of a full merger, according to one of the people, as well as looking at ways to cooperate with Mitsubishi. Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi said that no deal had been announced by any of the companies, though Nissan and Mitsubishi noted the three automakers had said previously they were considering opportunities for future collaboration. French automaker Renault, a major Nissan shareholder, said it had no information and declined to comment. Renault shares jumped 6.5 per cent. The three Japanese automakers are expected to hold a joint news conference in Tokyo on Monday, according to a source familiar with the matter. Taiwan’s Foxconn, which manufactures Apple’s iPhones and has been seeking to expand its nascent EV contract manufacturing business, approached Nissan about a bid but it was rejected by the Japanese firm, two separate sources familiar with the matter said. Bloomberg News reported earlier on Wednesday that Foxconn had approached Nissan to take a controlling stake. Foxconn did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while a Nissan spokesperson declined to comment on Foxconn. Over the past year, an EV price war launched by Tesla and BYD has intensified pressure on any automakers losing money on the next-generation vehicles. That has put pushed companies like Honda and Nissan to seek ways to cut costs and speed vehicle development, and mergers are a major step in that direction. “In the mid- to long-term, this is good for the Japanese car industry as it creates a second axis against Toyota,” said Seiji Sugiura, a senior analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory. “Constructive rivalry with Toyota is a positive for the rather stagnating Japanese car industry when it must compete with Chinese automakers, Tesla and others.” Any merger would face significant US scrutiny and President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take a hard line on imported vehicles, including threatening 25 per cent tariffs on vehicles shipped from Canada and Mexico. He could seek concessions from Honda and Nissan to approve any deal, auto industry officials pointed out. Honda and Nissan both produce cars in Mexico for export to the United States. Honda and Nissan would also have to work out how to integrate their different corporate cultures if they proceed with a merger, analysts said. “Honda has a unique, technology-centric culture with strengths in powertrains, so there should be some internal resistance to the merger with Nissan, a competitor with a different culture that is now faltering,” said Tang Jin, a senior researcher at Mizuho Bank. REUTERS
Monport Laser Unwraps the "Christmas Laser Bonanza" - Spark Your Creativity with Unbeatable Festive OffersLONDON – Brighton had most of the chances but could not find the net in a 0-0 draw with Brentford that extended the south coast club’s winless run in the Premier League to six games on Friday. It was a frustrating night for the home side and especially Julio Enciso. The Paraguay striker had a host of opportunities to score but couldn’t make them count. Recommended Videos Along with Southampton, Brentford has the worst away record in the league with seven losses and two draws and it was easy to see why in this toothless performance. Brentford had an early goal from Yoane Wissa ruled out for offside and, although it came a bit more into the game in the second half, it failed to pressure Icelandic goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson, who made his Premier League debut eight minutes before halftime when Mark Flekken went off with a thigh injury. One bright spot for the home side was the return of winger Solly March. He came on as a late substitute to make his first appearance for Brighton since injuring a knee against Manchester City 14 months ago. The result leaves Brighton in 10th place with 26 points, one spot and two points ahead of the Bees. Arsenal was hosting Ipswich in Friday's other game in the Premier League, ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerTrump picks Pam Bondi for next attorney generalFetterman rips Democrats’ ‘freakouts’ about his tentative support for Oz
Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgenderPrime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking some time to reflect after Chrystia Freeland’s bombshell resignation as finance minister, Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Tuesday. That comes as the number of Liberals who are calling for Trudeau to step aside appears to have grown. “The prime minister, as I understand it, a number of caucus colleagues have said that the prime minister has said that he will reflect on both the decision that minister Freeland made, but also what he’s heard from members of his own caucus,” Jonathan Wilkinson said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “I think we all need to give him a little time to reflect, and I respect that fact that he’s going to take some time to reflect.” The House of Commons is now on its holiday break, giving Trudeau a few weeks to decide on his next move before MPs return to Ottawa on Jan. 27. Freeland’s decision to walk away from the top cabinet job came three days after Trudeau had informed her she would be moved out of the finance portfolio in the next cabinet shuffle. The news came out just hours before she was set to present the government’s fall economic statement in the House of Commons. That kicked off a day of turmoil on Parliament Hill that began with an unexpected cabinet meeting, followed by hours of confusion about which minister might table the important financial update, or if it would be introduced at all. Several Liberal MPs demanded an emergency caucus meeting, and during that evening gathering, some of them called for Trudeau to step aside as party leader. New Brunswick MP Wayne Long, one of 23 caucus members who signed a letter back in October calling for Trudeau to quit, remains adamant that it’s time for Trudeau to go. He said this time “is so different than times before.” “We certainly have more MPs than last time. So, if I had to guess how many more right now, I’d say we’re probably at 40 to 50 right now,” Long said. The attempt to oust Trudeau earlier in the fall ultimately failed to garner support from anyone in cabinet. This time, Long said, at least five cabinet ministers believe it’s time for a change at the top — though he did not identify them. “I certainly am one to say to my colleagues, to ministers in particular: ‘Let’s come out of the shadows,’” Long said. “Let’s openly, once and for all, state how we feel and let’s move forward with what we know has to happen.” Several former cabinet ministers have called for Trudeau to go, including former environment minister Catherine McKenna on Tuesday. “Every Liberal MP should be calling on the prime minister to resign,” she said in a post on social media. “The surest way to elect a Conservative majority and lose all the progress we’ve made is for him to stay. And we need to focus on tariff threat from the U.S. It’s over.” But most current cabinet ministers, when asked, have backed the prime minister publicly. Before question period on Tuesday Treasury Board President Anita Anand and Diversity Minister Kamal Khera, replied “yes” when asked if they support the prime minister. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said the same. Prince Edward Island MP Sean Casey isn’t convinced this attempt to push Trudeau out will work any differently than when he and 22 colleagues asked the prime minister to resign in October. At the time, Liberal MPs told reporters that Trudeau pledged to reflect on what was said. The very next day, he publicly stated his intention to stay on as leader. Casey does not think the prime minister will take a walk in the snow now, either. “There’s not a single indicator in anything that he says or does that would tell me otherwise. He seems to be absolutely committed and he has throughout the piece, he’s been remarkably consistent,” Casey said. Whenever Trudeau has been asked if he intends to lead the Liberals in the next election the response has been an unambiguous “yes.” Trudeau typically holds a cabinet retreat before the return of Parliament and a long-anticipated cabinet shuffle is likely to come soon. He replaced Freeland immediately with longtime friend and ally Dominic LeBlanc, who officially is now the minister of public safety, finance and intergovernmental affairs. Anand also holds two portfolios, juggling Treasury Board with transport, which she took on after Pablo Rodriguez stepped aside to prepare a run for the Liberal leadership in Quebec. There are also at least five sitting ministers who do not plan to run in the next election, including Housing Minister Sean Fraser, whose announcement on Monday about his future was completely overshadowed by Freeland’s bombshell. It has been a tumultuous fall for the government. The Liberals survived three non-confidence votes in the House of Commons and have struggled to advance legislation because of a filibuster on a Conservative privilege motion related to misspending at a now-defunct green technology fund. On Tuesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre once again called on NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to topple the government. Poilievre said Canada needs an election because U.S. president-elect Donald Trump “can spot weakness from a mile away” and the Trudeau government is weak. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet also said a new Parliament is needed “as soon as possible,” and he wants to see an election called in January. Blanchet said Trudeau has lost the political, moral and ethical authority to govern. On Monday, Singh called for Trudeau to step down but did not make a firm comment on whether the NDP would vote non-confidence in the Liberal government, saying only that “all options are on the table.” The NDP, which ended a formal supply-and-confidence agreement to support the Liberals in September, has since voted with the government on all three non-confidence motions, trying to spin it as voting against the Conservatives rather than with the Liberals. Singh has repeatedly said a Poilievre-led Conservative government would cut things New Democrats have fought for like dental care, pharmacare and other social programs.