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online poker game with friends Even before the French and German governments collapsed, Europe’s economy had enough difficulties. Tepid growth and lagging competitiveness versus the U.S. and China. An auto industry that's struggling. Where to find billions for defense against Russia? And now Donald Trump threatening tariffs. Solutions will be harder to find while the two countries that make up almost half of the eurozone economy remain stuck in political paralysis well into 2025. Where once there was the so-called French-German axis to push Europe ahead, now there’s a vacuum. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned Thursday after losing a vote of confidence, and while President Emmanuel Macron will appoint a successor, the new head of government will lack a majority. Elections are not constitutionally permitted until at least June. Germany's coalition led by Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats fractured in November, triggering an early election on Feb. 23. Talks to form a new government could last into April. At least Germany's likely new chancellor, conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz, appears open to loosening constitutional restrictions on borrowing to enable pro-growth spending and investment, said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director Europe at Eurasia Group. France, however, could be facing “complete paralysis on the economic question," Rahman said. “It's highly unlikely they're going to get a political equilibrium that has a mandate to implement a credible fiscal course correction." "And that's obviously a problem for Europe because it means the great potential of the European economy is not what it otherwise should be, because you don't have France and Germany firing on all cylinders," he said. Then there's Europe's lagging business environment, dissected by former European Central Bank head Mario Draghi in a report that contains recommendations such as common borrowing to support public investment; EU-wide industrial policy; and integrating financial markets to help startups raise capital. Yet “nothing can move in Europe without Franco-German alignment,” Rahman said. Meanwhile, Europe's auto industry has sought a review of tough EU emissions standards in 2025 instead of 2026, saying slackening demand for electric cars means they won't be able to avoid heavy fines and that the money would be better used to develop new electric vehicles. Anne-Laure Delatte, a French economist and head of research at the National Center for Scientific Research, said financial markets remain cautious but are not overly alarmed by France’s political instability. But economic weakness in France and Germany could have broader implications for the European Union. “This could either weaken Europe’s position globally or shift power and influence to other European countries like the Netherlands or Spain, which are performing well at the moment,” she said. France is expected to see growth of 1.1% this year and 0.8% next year, while Germany’s economy is expected to shrink 0.1% this year, the second consecutive year of contraction, and rebound modestly with 0.7% next year. Germany faces headwinds from a shortage of skilled labor, excessive bureaucracy and higher energy prices, and efforts to address those issues have been stalled by squabbling in Scholz’s coalition. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU’s executive arm, is equipped with serious powers, especially on trade, a key EU authority delegated to Brussels by member countries. But there’s only so much von der Leyen can do without political backing from the two biggest member countries, whose national budgets are bigger than the EU's. The most urgent matter may be how to respond to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office Jan. 20. European officials are trying to defuse a potential trade conflict involving new U.S. tariffs or import taxes on European goods that would seriously ding the continent’s export-focused economy. Europe could decide not to retaliate to any U.S. tariffs, thus avoiding a mutually destructive tit-for-tat cycle. The bloc could also commit to buying U.S. liquefied natural gas to mollify Trump, or spend billions more on defense for Ukraine to answer his complaint that European countries don't meet NATO commitments on defense spending. Europe is seeing only modest growth as consumers pummeled by inflation remain cautious about spending. The economy is expected to expand 0.8% this year and 1.3% next year for the 20 EU member countries that use the euro currency, according to the European Commission. While the direct impact on growth is small, the political logjam means Europe is missing an important opportunity to engage Trump, said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank. "It would be ideal if Europe — at the moment when Trump is not yet in office — would prepare a big offer for Trump, such as: We spend significantly more on defense, if on trade and on Ukraine you don’t disappoint us. This is unfortunately not happening.” “The risk is that Trump on trade might be tougher on us than otherwise because Germany and France are missing in action," he said. Von der Leyen can offer to get countries to purchase more U.S. natural gas and remind Trump that the EU could retaliate, but “the offer that Europe can make to Trump is small, rather than a big offer where there would be German and French money behind it.” The EU commission estimates that as much as 500 billion euros ($528 billion) will be needed over the next decade to help meet the bloc’s security needs. Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has indicated common defense bonds could raise that enormous sum. But moving ahead without Germany, the bloc's biggest member, is hard to imagine. The big issues such as defense and competitiveness “require the fiscal and parliamentary resources of the biggest member states and the question is whether Germany and France are in a position to enable that at the European level," said Rahman. “I think the answer is probably yes, but I feel a bit less certain than I would have had Germany and France not had this very difficult political time.”Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Pipeline 2024: Clinical Trials Assessment, FDA Approvals, Therapies, and Key Companies Involved by DelveInsight | Tenaya Therapeutics, Shandong Suncadia Medicine, MyoKardia, Imbria Pharma, Cytokinetics, Bristol-Myers{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-11-24T11:32:54+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-11-24T11:32:54+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-11-24T11:32:53+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22071/sports/psychology-will-play-a-crucial-role-in-world-chess-championship-2024-viswanathan-anand", "headline": "Psychology will play a crucial role in World Chess Championship 2024: Viswanathan Anand", "description": "Arjun Erigaisi’s historic leap past the 2800 Elo rating in classical chess and D. Gukesh’s emergence as the youngest World Championship challenger has...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22071/sports/psychology-will-play-a-crucial-role-in-world-chess-championship-2024-viswanathan-anand" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/24/64699.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/24/64699.jpg" }, "articleBody": "Arjun Erigaisi’s historic leap past the 2800 Elo rating in classical chess and D. Gukesh’s emergence as the youngest World Championship challenger has propelled Indian chess to unprecedented heights. Add R. Praggnanandhaa’s run to the World Cup final in 2023 and the historic double gold in the Budapest Olympiad this year make it even more special. As Viswanathan Anand’s brightest proteges continue to make their mark on the global stage, the legendary five-time World Champion shared his thoughts in an exclusive conversation with Sportstar. Anand delved into Arjun’s remarkable rise, the evolving chess landscape, and the challenges and innovations shaping the sport, including Gukesh’s collaboration with mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton. Excerpt: Q. Arjun became only the second Indian after you to cross 2800, the youngest Indian, and the third youngest ever after Alireza Firouzja and Magnus Carlsen. How would you summarise the magnitude of this achievement? For me, this fixation on a number obscures the point. Had he stopped at 2799, would it be any less impressive? What stands out is the journey. He started the year almost 80 points behind and climbed steadily, navigating high-stakes tournaments with razor-thin margins for error. ALSO READ: World Chess Championship final 2024: All you need to know about Gukesh vs Ding Arjun lost one game in the Bundesliga against a young Turkish prodigy by pushing too hard, and it cost him nine rating points—that’s the margin of error he works with. Most days, he wins and gains just one point or even less. Losing a game could set him back by nine. It’s like one step back equals nine steps forward. The way he’s done it, with such consistency and single-minded focus, is what makes it so impressive. Yes, crossing 2800 places him in an elite group, but it’s the path he took to get there that really stands out. Q. What makes Arjun special? Arjun is trying this new approach of really raising the stakes in every game. He provokes a struggle, sometimes even accepting an inferior position, essentially telling his opponent, ‘Let’s solve problems on the board, and I’m confident I’ll do it better than you. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy. When it works, it’s brilliant. But when it doesn’t, it can go badly wrong. Even so, he’s been testing the boundaries of chess in almost every game. Nonetheless, it is quite striking that he’s even leading the FIDE Circuit leaderboard, so his approach stands out. It has been quite unique and there are other players who also try to do it but in a more slow and steady fashion. Certainly, you can say that Gukesh also takes a fair amount of risk as well, but Arjun is really pushing the limits of that. He plays almost provocative setups in every game. I don’t know how long this can last. Eventually, people will react to this and maybe when they play against him, they’ll only prepare for this kind of stuff. Q. Does Arjun’s ability to adapt in shorter time formats give him an edge over Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, and Praggnanandhaa? Arjun’s style doesn’t change much across formats, but this year, I feel all of them have prioritised classical chess. It’s like they all want to show their chops there and then. They seem focused on excelling in this format, even if their results in rapid and blitz, particularly in the Grand Chess Tour, haven’t been exceptional. Maybe things will change by the end of the year. Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and Arjun seem to have made up their mind that they want to do exceedingly well in classical chess, which is nice because they have all the time in the world to try different things and they have shown impressive progress. Praggnanandhaa was very similar to Arjun and he has also gone near 2800. Gukesh has also been very impressive. Pragg has struggled a bit more, but I think his attitude is completely correct. He is pushing, pushing, pushing and I feel in the end this will have to pay off. Q. As FIDE’s Deputy President, how do you address concerns that qualifying for the Candidates has become too complicated, particularly with the FIDE Circuit rating? I still think so. What we try to do is broaden the number of players who would have a realistic chance and the FIDE circuit was the one way to bring in the Open tournaments and give a broader base of players a chance to think. But it’s true that things have turned out differently and then you have to adapt to the system. I don’t think it’s a big deal. We will keep tinkering with the system, but I still like the fact that we have a FIDE circuit, which involves so many tournaments. If you look at it, the qualification for the World Cup is fairly democratic and in an open tournament, a lot of people get a chance. The Grand Swiss as well, have tried to move in this non-invitational way. Slightly out of that Invitational frame into broader categories. But there were things we couldn’t anticipate or we didn’t fully appreciate like that tournaments would be held only to get FIDE circuit ratings. It’s not like we didn’t realise it would happen, but it will be this obvious we could not realise. But I think these are problems that can be fixed. So for the moment, I hope we will be able to keep improving the program. Q. With tournaments like the Chennai Grandmasters and Tata Steel Chess India, do we need more invitational events to elevate chess in India? It’s fantastic that Chennai and Kolkata now host prestigious tournaments. These events, especially ones like Tata Steel Chess India with Carlsen’s participation, are excellent for the game’s growth. Open tournaments are practical, but Chennai’s addition of a Challengers section is commendable — it gives more players opportunities to shine. India now has many young players in the 2650–2700 range who can benefit from these formats. As Indian chess continues to grow, round-robin events and initiatives like the Global Chess League will be crucial in making the game more accessible and popular. Q. Freestyle chess has gained attention recently, with tournaments like the one in Weissenhaus. What’s your take on this trend? I’m thrilled about these developments. Events like the Global Chess League, supported by Tech Mahindra, are promising for the sport. Freestyle chess introduces a fresh dynamic to the game, and I’m looking forward to participating in the Weissenhaus event next year. These initiatives are great for chess, expanding its reach and appeal. Q. Cheating in chess is a persistent issue, with allegations involving players like Kiril Shevchenko and Daniel Naroditsky. Can it ever be fully addressed? It is going to be an arms race. I still want to believe that our current measures are effective, as they’ve caught offenders, but the challenge is ongoing. Because this is a technological issue, we must constantly update our methods. While it’s speculative to gauge how widespread cheating is, we can’t ignore its perception as a threat. Maintaining control is critical for the integrity of the game. Q. Gukesh recently teamed up with Paddy Upton, a renowned mental conditioning coach. Considering Ding Liren’s struggles in this area, how do you see this matchup shaping up? Psychology will undoubtedly play a crucial role. Both players will pay close attention to this aspect, and its impact will become clear as the match unfolds.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Agencies" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }

O’Malley called to testify in Congress about Social Security remote work policyCadbury's Roses fans left fuming over 'shocking' lack of favourite chocolate

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OTTAWA - A Liberal MP says his committee colleagues are wasting time by launching a third inquiry into the former employment minister instead of focusing on important legislation for Indigenous Peoples. Jaime Battiste, who is Mi’kmaq, said there has been an “attack” on fellow Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault, who left his position as employment minister on Wednesday after allegations of shifting claims of Indigenous identity and questions around his past business dealings. Boissonnault has been the subject of two ethics committee probes, and Battiste said a third one by the Indigenous and northern affairs committee is “a waste of time, and it seems to be the Conservatives’ way of ensuring that nothing gets done in the House of Commons.” The Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Québécois all supported pushing ahead with the third study, even after Boissonnault left cabinet. Though Liberal MPs did not object to the motion Thursday, Battiste said the committee’s time would be better spent studying legislation on important issues such as First Nations policing, a modern treaty commissioner and clean water for First Nations. “It’s very much my fear and frustration that politics is now becoming more important at the Indigenous and northern affairs committee than actually Indigenous Peoples that we’re there every day to try to make life better for,” he said. NDP MP Lori Idlout, who is a member of the committee, said Canadians deserve answers and she doesn’t expect the probe to cut into the committee’s other work. “It’s not a waste of time to have MP Boissonnault answer for why his identity kept changing. Pretending to be Indigenous is a serious matter and we need to have him be transparent to all Canadians.” Boissonnault came under intense scrutiny after the National Post reported that a company he previously co-owned described itself as wholly Indigenous-owned in order to apply for government contracts set aside for Indigenous businesses. He has been described as Indigenous multiple times in communications from the Liberal party, and in 2018 referred to himself as “non-status adopted Cree” — a statement he has repeated on other occasions. He also said his great-grandmother was a “full-blooded Cree woman.” He has since clarified that his adoptive mother and brother are Métis, and he apologized for his shifting claims last Friday. The House ethics committee has separately investigated Boissonnault’s past business dealings after media reports alleged he remained involved in the company he co-founded after he was re-elected in 2021 and joined the federal cabinet. Opposition MPs passed a motion in the House of Commons on Tuesday — a day before Boissonnault left cabinet — for the employment minister to appear as a witness to discuss his claims to Indigenous identity. But because Boissonnault is no longer in cabinet, the Liberal chair of the committee ruled Thursday that newly minted Employment Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor is technically the person the motion called to testify. “I figured this might happen,” said Conservative MP and committee member Jamie Schmale. “If there are games to be played here and we have Minister Petitpas Taylor attend, I don’t think that goes to the spirit of the House order. I don’t think it would be very responsible to go against that ... It’s Randy Boissonault that the House determined it needs and is ordered to appear along with several other witnesses. That’s who we expect to be in that seat.” A new motion from the Conservatives calls directly for Boissonnault to appear at the committee. One of the key concerns raised about Boissonnault in recent weeks is related to the government’s Indigenous business procurement strategy. A directory provides the federal government with names of businesses it could consider using to meet its Indigenous procurement target, which states a minimum five per cent of the total value of government contracts should be held by Indigenous-owned businesses. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu told a House of Commons committee on Tuesday that the company Boissonnault founded was not listed on that directory. Battiste suggested the committee will now be in a position of determining who is eligible for Indigenous programming and determining who is Indigenous, and as a First Nations person he does not agree with that. “I have a lot of concern because no First Nations, Métis or Inuit in this country are asking committees — who are filled with non-Indigenous Peoples — to determine our identity, who we are.” Schmale and Bloc MP Sebastian Lemire, who is also a member of the committee, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version stated that MPs on the Indigenous and Northern affairs committee passed a motion to have the employment minister appear as a witness at the committee.CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Miami probably was one win away from getting into the College Football Playoff. Iowa State definitely was one win away. Their consolation prize of sorts: playing one another. The Hurricanes and Cyclones — a meteorological matchup — have accepted bids to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, to be played Dec. 28 in Orlando, Florida. Iowa State (10-3) is looking for its first 11-win season in the program's 133-year history, and Miami (10-2) is seeking its first 11-win season since 2003. Miami's loss at Syracuse to close the regular season wound up being the game the Hurricanes could point to as the reason they missed out on the CFP. Iowa State could have played its way in and lost the Big 12 title game to CFP-bound Arizona State on Saturday. “I think everyone that doesn't get in feels disappointment,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “We feel the onus of just doing better. Just do better, go forward, have an opportunity to get better.” It's essentially the same task for both teams: regrouping after seeing the playoff slip away. “I think that’s what’s made Iowa State football really special is our ability to have great resiliency," Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said. "And I know our kids are super-excited about the opportunity to finish off. Obviously (Saturday) was disappointing. But this group and this football team has the opportunity to just continue to fight.” A big question for Miami: whether quarterback Cam Ward will play. The likely Heisman Trophy finalist has thrown for 155 touchdown passes in his career at Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami. That’s tied for the most by anyone in Division I (FBS and FCS) history; Case Keenum threw 155 in his career at Houston. Many draft-bound players not in the playoff will be opting out of bowl games over the coming weeks. There's been no indication from Miami yet that Ward or any other draft-bound player has made a decision. “I think it’s important that our guys, anyone playing and closing out the season, understands the importance of that next step for a program like ours," Cristobal said. "And I think our guys do.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballWACO, Texas (AP) — Georgia's Dasha Vidmanova and Columbia's Michael Zheng won NCAA singles tennis titles on Sunday. Vidmanova, a 21-year-old senior from the Czech Republic, beat DJ Bennett of Auburn 6-3, 6-3 for the Bulldogs' first women's singles championship since 2010. Zheng, a 20-year-old junior from Montville, New Jersey, beat Ozan Baris of Michigan State 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to become the first Ivy League player to collect an NCAA men's singles crown since 1922. The final between Zheng and Baris was the first men's NCAA tennis singles final between two Americans since 2017. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

In South Korea’s crisis playbook, currency stability is paramount

Giving it our best shots

The Qatar Travel Mart offers a key platform for industry stakeholders to connect, share insights, and drive the growth of the tourism sector. In a world characterised by globalisation and increased connectivity, the importance of travel and tourism cannot be overstated. Events like the Qatar Travel Mart in Doha serve as vital platforms that bring together industry stakeholders, forge meaningful connections, and stimulate growth in the tourism sector. As we evaluate the significance of such exhibitions, it becomes evident that they play a crucial role in defining the future of travel both regionally and globally. The Qatar Travel Mart is destined to become an established hub for showcasing not only Qatar’s diverse offerings but also the best destinations from around the world. Participants will engage in valuable discussions about the latest trends across various tourism sectors, including Sports, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), Business, Cultural, Leisure, Luxury, Medical, and Halal Tourism. This breadth of focus is not only beneficial for attendees but also promotes a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of travel today. One of the standout objectives of the Qatar Travel Mart is to position Qatar as the gateway to the Arabian Gulf. With its strategic geographical location, rich cultural heritage, and world-class hospitality infrastructure, Qatar has the potential to become a central travel and tourism hub. Events like this provide a definitive platform to showcase these attributes, enabling international buyers and visitors to discover what makes Qatar unique and inviting. Moreover, the gathering of diverse entities including Destination Management Companies (DMCs), hotels, tour and cruise operators, travel agencies, travel technology firms, and tourism boards creates a holistic ecosystem for collaboration. Such collaboration can lead to innovative partnerships and new strategies that enhance the visitor experience. By coming together in this way, stakeholders can share knowledge, best practices, and ideas that propel the industry forward. Sustainable travel practices A significant advantage of events like the Qatar Travel Mart is the opportunity for networking. Face-to-face interactions foster stronger relationships and often lead to fruitful collaborations. Building trust and rapport is paramount in the travel industry, and having a dedicated forum for these interactions can help create lasting connections that benefit all parties involved. Additionally, discussions on relevant trends and innovations in travel can pave the way for enhancing the way we approach tourism. For example, with the rise of eco-tourism and sustainable travel practices, the event will offer a platform for attendees to explore how to adapt their offerings to meet these growing consumer demands. As travelers become more conscious of their environmental impact, the industry must respond with viable solutions and experiences that prioritise sustainability without compromising quality or luxury. Furthermore, showcasing Qatar’s extensive offerings from its rich cultural sites to modern attractions will help foster interest in the destination. This is especially significant as Qatar prepares to host major events, including the FIFA World Cup. The travel mart can serve as a springboard for promoting the country on an international stage, where visitors can experience firsthand the warm hospitality that Qataris are known for. In conclusion, the Qatar Travel Mart presents an invaluable opportunity for industry stakeholders to connect, share insights, and contribute to the development of a flourishing tourism industry. By bringing together a diverse array of participants and focusing on the latest trends, this event will not only elevate Qatar’s position in the global tourism landscape but will also ensure that the region is well-prepared to welcome and impress travelers from around the world. As we embrace this vibrant future, I firmly believe that Qatar has the potential to become a leading travel destination, captivating visitors with its unique blend of tradition, luxury, and innovation. This article is an opinion piece by Maryam AlJassim and does not necessarily reflect the views of Doha News, its editorial board, or staff. Maryam AlJassim is a marketing professional dedicated to strategising the marketing and communications sector to new heights while preserving and celebrating the cultural heritage and community pride that propel Qatar. 0 0

Adam Pemble, AP journalist whose compassionate lens brought stories to life, dies at 52None

Closing the gap in overseas remittances for Filipinos

GLENNS FERRY — Glenns Ferry senior Gabe Muilenburg didn’t know for certain. Neither did many Glenns Ferry faculty members. Glenns Ferry head wrestling coach Cody Fisher thought about it before he found the answer. More than two decades marked the most recent time a Glenns Ferry wrestler signed with a collegiate program. That changed Thursday as two-time 2A (now 3A) state champion Muilenburg signed his National Letter of Intent with NCAA Division II Colorado State University Pueblo. “It is a big dream of mine,” Muilenburg told the Times-News . “I have always wanted to go to the next level and wrestle so it is achieving something that I didn’t think was possible a couple years ago.” Muilenburg signed in front of the middle school and high school student body as part of the school’s monthly assembly. Orange, black, red and blue balloons — representing the school colors of GFHS and CSU Pueblo — adorned a small table. Muilenburg marks the Pilots’ first college wrestling signee since two-time state champion Adam Mars signed with Adams State in 1999. Mars became the 2001 NCAA Division II 125-pound national champion. It’s the latest step in Muilenburg’s budding wrestling career, which started when he was 6 at the Mountain Man Wrestling Club in Mountain Home. He saw the sport as something to “keep me busy” until he fully immersed himself in the sport in eighth grade, Muilenburg said. He conquered physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy as a toddler. He overcame constant bullying in school and a found success in the sport after a previous coach said wrestling wasn’t a sport for Muilenburg. He wrestled for the Glenns Ferry Wrestling Club in eighth grade then fully moved to Glenns Ferry High School as a freshman because his parents work in the district. “I think a thing that is a separator for Gabe is his perseverance and his fight,” Fisher told the Times-News . “Gabe has struggled with wrestling over the years at times to where he has taken some really tough losses and has had lows. It has happened in every season I have coached him. He has just persevered through that. He has stuck with the process and he has trusted and asked questions and wants to be coachable. Wants to be coached and pushed.” Muilenburg always finds a way to wrestle in the season’s last match. He won the 2022 2A 98-pound state championship, the 2023 2A 106-pound state champion and the 2024 2A 120-pound runner-up. Muilenburg, a three-time district champion, is projected to wrestle collegiately at 125-133 pounds. He could become the school’s first three-time state champion. “I try and clear my head before I get in the match so that way I am not in my head before the match,” he said. “I don’t think about winning or losing. I just go out and wrestle. Try to do the best I can do against each opponent.” Muilenburg plans to obtain his bachelor’s degree in construction management and master’s degree in business administration. The Thunderwolves compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and qualified one for the 2024 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. The roster includes Wendell’s Remington Winmill. “It doesn’t matter if you come from a small school,” Fisher said. “Big school. If you are willing to push and willing to work, you can achieve a lot.” Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you don’t miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Don’t have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Adam Engel is the sports editor at the Times-News . He can be reached via phone at 208-735-3288, via Adam.Engel@magicvalley.com or via X @AdamEngel9. Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sports Editor {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Georgia's Dasha Vidmanova, Columbia's Michael Zheng win NCAA singles titles

The Nigerian currency, the naira, has witnessed rapid gains in the foreign exchange markets in recent weeks Data from the FX markets shows that the naira has gained over N300 in the last three weeks The development is due mainly to the introduction of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) by CBN CHECK OUT: Don't let unemployment hold you back. Start your digital marketing journey today. Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade. The Nigerian currency, the naira , has appreciated steadily since the Eurobond sales and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the Electronic Matching System on Monday, December 2, 2024. Information from the CBN shows the naira appreciated N1,533 from N1,570 on Friday, December 6, 2024. Naira gains N300 against the dollar in three weeks The naira has gained more than N300 since the second week of November 2024, when it hit an all-time low of N1,689 per dollar. Read also Again, CBN crashes dollar for Customs duty rate as naira appreciates for three consecutive days PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng Needs Your Help! Take our Survey Now and See Improvements at LEGIT.NG Tomorrow Experts have disclosed that the naira will continue to rally until January 2025. They say that the naira’s gains are due to the FX market's transparency, which the introduction of the EFEMS has boosted. The new FX trading platform helps tackle speculations and improve transparency in Nigeria’s FX market. The functions of the EFEMS It automatically matches buy and sell orders and promotes fairness and efficiency in forex trading. Analysts have expressed hope about the EFEMS’ potential to curtail persistent challenges affecting the naira and Nigeria’s FX reserves. The new platform allows authorised dealers, including banks, to place buy and sell orders in real-time. Transactions are automatically matched based on predetermined rules to ensure rapid execution and real-time visibility for participants and regulators. Experts predict new rates for the naira Experts have lauded the CBN’s initiative, saying the naira is now finding its value via the new platform. Senior banker and economist Janet Ogochukwu disclosed that the new platform enabled the naira to perform well against major currencies, defying the dire predictions against it. Read also CBN crashes dollar for importers to clear goods as naira records massive gains in 24 hours “I think the new system has been seen as transformative in shaping the true value of the naira. Now, we are seeing the true rates in which the local currency can trade,” she said. According to her, the move has defied naysayers who predicted the worst for the naira. She said that if the move is sustained, the naira could revert to N1,300 by January 2025. CBN crashes dollar for importers Legit.ng earlier reported that the CBN had crashed the dollar for Nigerian importers as the value of the naira rose. The apex bank reduced the Customs exchange rate for cargo clearance from N1,588 to N1,533 per dollar as of Saturday, December 7, 2024. The development means importers opening Form M will pay N55 less to clear cargoes from Nigeria's ports. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ngTagovailoa carves up Pats with 4 TDs, Dolphins win 3rd straight game with 34-15 rout of New EnglandAfter playoff chances slip away, Miami and Iowa State looking to regroup at Pop-Tarts Bowl