Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he is taking a “project truth” approach to calling out Sinn Fein’s spending pledges as fears over future economic threats took centre stage in the Irish General Election campaign. Election results on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean have set the background for the final stretch of campaigning for Irish parties ahead of polling day on Friday. Donald Trump’s presidential election victory in the US has brought heightened concern that his administration’s proposals around corporation tax and tariffs would significantly impact Ireland’s economic model. Mr Harris, leader of Fine Gael, has argued Ireland and other EU countries need to prepare for the possibility of trade shocks as he criticised the scale of Sinn Fein’s spending pledges as well as their saving plans. He said: “I think that is irresponsible, I think it is dangerous and I think it is reckless.” He accused Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald of not being able to say what her party was prepared to do in the event of an economic crash, adding that Fine Gael would borrow and stop putting money towards a rainy-day fund. Asked if the party was engaging in “project fear” to dissuade voters against Sinn Fein, Mr Harris said: “I call it ‘project truth’. It’s telling people what’s being discussed right across European capitals.” Ms McDonald told an RTE interview on Wednesday morning that a Sinn Fein government would also be prepared to start borrowing in the event of an economic downturn. Both Mr Harris and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who were partners in the last coalition government in Ireland, have made clear they will not countenance Sinn Fein as a potential partner in the next administration in Dublin. One day after the only three-way debate featuring the leaders of the main parties, Mr Martin accused Sinn Fein of being “dishonest” about how they will fund their manifesto plans. Speaking in Dublin on Wednesday, he said he is anxious to get clarity on the issue. “I think Sinn Fein have been very dishonest, frankly, in terms of the funds, because if you go through their figures, and this is a matter of fact, not opinion, they’re predicting a surplus of a billion in 2026, a billion in 2027. “Even in 2025, they’re talking about a mini budget, which would mean reducing the surplus that we’re anticipating in 2025. “There’s a legislative obligation now on any new government to put 0.8% of GDP to one side, and into the funds. There’s no way you can do that with a surplus of a billion in 2026 or 2027, and we would argue they would not have enough funds next year either to put into the funds.” He added: “It means they have no room to manoeuvre if things go wrong, if there’s headwinds come externally, or there are shocks internationally, Sinn Fein is not allowing any headroom at all in terms of room to respond or to move it.” Ms McDonald accused the other two parties of conspiring to keep Sinn Fein out of government and prevent change in Ireland. She said the two men were now “indistinguishable” from each other as she claimed they were suffering “acute amnesia” in regard to their records in government. On a visit to Naas fire station in Co Kildare, she said: “To listen to them, you’d imagine they had just arrived on the scene and that they were going to come up with all of these solutions. “They have had ample chances, ample opportunity, to make things better, and they have failed, and in between the two of them I make the case that now we ask for our chance, with our plans, with our team, to demonstrate how change can happen, how your community, your family, yourself, can be supported when the government is actually on your side.” Mr Martin’s and Mr Harris’ coalition partner Roderic O’Gorman, the leader of the Greens, issued a warning to the public over a future government without his party. On Wednesday, he said it is looking likely that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will be returned to government – but cautioned they may not want the Greens to continue “fighting hard” on policies. He told reporters: “My sense is certainly the mood music from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael is that they’d like an easier life in the next government – and my concern is they use these small populist parties and right-wing independents.” Mr O’Gorman argued that the Greens could continue to provide stability to government at a time when economic shocks may be around the corner. As the Green leader suggested that relying on independents would be unstable, Mr Martin has also argued that “too much fragmentation would lead to incoherence in government”. Reflecting on Tuesday night’s debate, the Fianna Fail leader said the race remained “too close to call” while Mr Harris said it is “all to play for”. The leaders of Ireland’s three main political parties clashed on housing, healthcare and financial management in the last televised debate before Friday’s General Election. The tetchy debate, which was marked by several interruptions, saw the parties set out their stalls in a broadcast that commentators said did little to move the dial before polling day. The latest opinion poll on Wednesday put the parties in a tight grouping, with Fianna Fail slightly ahead of Sinn Fein and Fine Gael in joint second. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland’s Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power – with the Greens as a junior partner. From 2016 to 2020, Fianna Fail had supported Fine Gael in power through a confidence-and-supply arrangement from the Opposition benches in the Dail parliament. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government.
Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles make their second-to-last road trip of the regular season Sunday to face Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens. The NFC East-leading Eagles (9-2) have won seven in a row and play four of their final six games in Philadelphia, traveling only about 125 miles to visit the Ravens (8-4) this weekend and the Washington Commanders in Week 16. Sunday's game features the NFL's two leading rushers. Barkley (1,392 yards) and Henry (1,325) are far ahead of Green Bay's Josh Jacobs (944) in third place. Henry leads the league with 13 rushing touchdowns. Barkley (10) is tied for fourth and Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts (11) tied for second. The matchup also features two of the top candidates for Most Valuable Player honors entering Week 13 in Barkley and Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who won his second MVP award last season. Their competition includes quarterbacks Josh Allen of Buffalo and Jared Goff of Detroit, with Allen widely considered the favorite. "Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are phenomenal football players that help their team win football games, and Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley are phenomenal football players that help their team win football games," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. "Excited about the opportunity this week because it's our next one. It will be a really good opponent, really well coached, good players, good atmosphere that will be there. Excited about the opportunity this week. And we're going to have to be on it against a really good team." The showdown at M&T Bank Stadium also pits Baltimore's No. 1 offense (426.7 yards per game) and No. 2 scoring offense (30.3 points per game) against Philadelphia's No. 1 defense (274.6) and No. 6 scoring defense (18.1). The Eagles have held seven consecutive opponents to under 300 total yards, while the Ravens have gained at least 329 yards of offense in all 11 games. Philadelphia is coming off a 37-20 road win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night in which Barkley smashed the franchise record with 255 rushing yards. Baltimore also earned a prime-time win in Los Angeles, defeating the Chargers 30-23 in the "Harbaugh Bowl" on Monday night behind Jackson's three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). Jackson said he's looking forward to the Barkley and Henry show. "I've known Saquon from high school. We were in the all-star game together and he jumped over somebody's head," Jackson recalled Wednesday. "So I've pretty much seen him before I even got to the league, college, anything. I've been knowing about Saquon, but Derrick Henry -- King Henry -- I'm with him every day and I'm seeing what he's capable of, so it's going to be a great matchup." Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith practiced Wednesday after sitting out Monday with a hamstring issue. Nose tackle Michael Pierce (calf) was designated to return from injured reserve. Tight end Charlie Kolar (broken arm) is out for several weeks and cornerback Arthur Maulet (calf) did not practice. The Eagles lost veteran defensive end Brandon Graham to a season-ending triceps injury Sunday. Wideout DeVonta Smith (hamstring) missed the win over the Rams and did not practice Wednesday. Neither did cornerbacks Darius Slay (concussion) or Kelee Ringo (calf). Philadelphia is 5-1 away from home this season -- 6-1 if you count their season-opening "home" victory against the Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Baltimore is 4-1 at home. The Ravens hold a 3-2-1 lead in the series with the Eagles. They haven't met since Baltimore's 30-28 win in Week 6 at Philadelphia in 2020. --Field Level Media
After a move higher of almost 30%, shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. WSM are trading a little lower on Thursday. This is mostly because of two dynamics. One is profit-taking. The second is remorseful buyers taking advantage of the move to exit their losing positions at breakeven. This is why it is our Stock of the Day. The shares gapped higher after the company posted strong earnings . A “gap” occurs when a stock closes at one price and opens the next day at a price that is much higher. As you can see, that was the case with Williams-Sonoma yesterday. The closing price on Tuesday was $137.24. The opening price on Wednesday was $172.02. Because there were no trades in between these two levels, there is a blank space or “gap” on the chart. Investors bought aggressively because not only did the company report earnings that were better than estimates, it also raised its operating margin guidance. This was probably more important than the earnings beat. Read Also: Eli Lilly Stock Tumbles As Kennedy Targets Weight Loss Drugs Operating margin is the percentage of profit a company makes after all its costs and expenses. In the quarter, the operating margin was 17.8%. This means that for every dollar of sales, the company earned 17.8 cents. Going forward, Williams raised its operating margin guidance to a range of 17.8% to 18.2%. If operating margins are increasing, it means the company is becoming more efficient. But the move higher has stalled out. There are two reasons for this. The first is profit-taking. Whenever a stock makes a large move higher, there are traders and investors who will take advantage of the move to lock in profits. The second reason is “buyer's remorse.” As you can see on the chart, the stock made a large move higher in May and formed a peak around the $172.50 level. Some of the investors and traders who bought at the peak came to regret their decision to do so after the price plummeted. They have held onto a losing position ever since. Now that they have a chance to exit their positions at breakeven, they are placing sell orders. These orders and the orders from the profit takers have, at least for now, made the rally stall out or maybe even end. There is a chance the stock will head lower. Read Next: • International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrants For Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Gallant For War Crimes Photo: JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
The Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear cases that examine whether Palestinian groups can be sued in U.S. courts over terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens abroad, and when prisoners are barred from petitioning courts to review their convictions. The justices consolidated two cases dealing with long-running lawsuits filed by families of U.S. victims killed or injured in terrorist attacks in Israel that allegedly were perpetrated by the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority.By Jay Berry SEC teams may find themselves battling snow and freezing temperatures in the Midwest as the college football postseason approaches. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is known for its warm-weather football, but when its teams travel north to the Midwest, they face unfamiliar winter conditions. There has been much talk and opinion on the college football playoff rankings. Some of these concerns concern the perceived media bias supporting the SEC. Depending on how the playoff rankings shake out, there could be some interesting games in the Midwest. Depends on where they play. Might actually see the SEC schools have to travel outside of the South and freeze their arses off for once. Just sayin' There is still much to play out, but the weather could be a fun factor in the first round of games. As of Thursday morning, these were the weather conditions at locations that northern colleges could potentially host a first-round playoff game as much of the Midwest got hit with their first snowfall of 2024. Ohio State: 32 degrees and snowing. Penn State: 35 degrees and raining. Indiana: 32 degrees and snowing. Notre Dame: 31 degrees and snowing. Weather right now at the schools that would currently be hosting the College Football Playoff in one month: Ohio State: 32 degrees and snowing Penn State: 35 degrees and raining Indiana: 32 degrees and snowing Notre Dame: 31 degrees and snowing pic.twitter.com/vQ81ZDNktF The first 12-team college football playoff should be nothing short of entertaining, especially given the regular season parody we’ve seen so far. A team like Georgia or Alabama could rise to the top in the most important games. That makes this playoff intriguing, especially if we get some winter-weather matchups with southern teams not prepared for the cold. With two weeks left in the regular season, there is still much to decide. This weekend, Ohio State and Indiana will play in a huge Big Ten matchup in Columbus , Ohio. With Oregon already securing a spot in the Big Ten championship game, the Buckeyes-Hoosiers game is huge for the conference. There is also a lot to work out in the SEC, with quite a few two-loss teams. Also, the conference championship game, Even Though Lane Kiffin thinks the game is too much of a risk for the team to lose and potentially be out of the playoffs. Maybe Ole Miss will make it in and play a first-round Midwest game. They would need quite a bit of the Hotty Toddy.
SAN FRANCISCO , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced the appointment of Janesh Moorjani as the company's chief financial officer, effective December 16, 2024 . Moorjani brings over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, with deep expertise in driving growth and efficiency at scale. Most recently, Moorjani served as CFO and COO of Elastic NV (NYSE: ESTC), the Search AI Company. Reporting to chief executive officer Andrew Anagnost , Moorjani will lead and oversee Autodesk's global finance organization. Moorjani will succeed interim chief financial officer Elizabeth "Betsy" Rafael, who will serve as an advisor to the company through the end of fiscal 2025 and will continue to serve on Autodesk's Board of Directors, resuming her status as an independent director following the transition period and end of her employment by the company. "We are excited to welcome such a high-caliber and seasoned CFO in Janesh," said Andrew Anagnost , president and CEO of Autodesk. "His deep finance and software experience will be instrumental in supporting Autodesk's continued momentum with sustained growth and enhanced profitability. I look forward to partnering with Janesh to drive Autodesk's successful path forward and continue creating additional value for our stockholders. I also thank Betsy for stepping into the interim CFO role at an important time for Autodesk, and for her continued contributions both through the transition and as a qualified and experienced board member moving forward." Moorjani brings strong experience leading dynamic public software companies. He recently was CFO of Elastic since 2017 and assumed the additional responsibilities of COO in 2022. Prior to Elastic, he served in executive and leadership roles at Infoblox, VMware, Cisco, PTC, and Goldman Sachs. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cohesity, a leading AI-powered data security and data management company. "I am thrilled to join Autodesk and work with Andrew, the company's strong management team and the Board to capitalize on the compelling growth opportunities we have ahead," said Moorjani. "Autodesk has established a clear leadership position as a technology innovator by providing differentiated and connected solutions that allow customers across industries to design and make anything. I look forward to working with the team to build on Autodesk's strong financial foundation to drive continued growth, profitability and free cash flow to ultimately deliver sustainable stockholder value." ABOUT AUTODESK The world's designers, engineers, builders, and creators trust Autodesk to help them design and make anything. From the buildings we live and work in, to the cars we drive and the bridges we drive over. From the products we use and rely on, to the movies and games that inspire us. Autodesk's Design and Make Platform unlocks the power of data to accelerate insights and automate processes, empowering our customers with the technology to create the world around us and deliver better outcomes for their business and the planet. For more information, visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk. #MakeAnything Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including quotations from management, statements regarding our strategies, performance, results, growth, profitability and free cash flow, and all statements that are not historical facts. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including: our strategy to develop and introduce new products and services and to move to platforms and capabilities, exposing us to risks such as limited customer acceptance (both new and existing customers), costs related to product defects, and large expenditures; global economic and political conditions, including changes in monetary and fiscal policy, foreign exchange headwinds, recessionary fears, supply chain disruptions, resulting inflationary pressures and hiring conditions; geopolitical tension and armed conflicts, and extreme weather events; costs and challenges associated with strategic acquisitions and investments; our ability to successfully implement and expand our transaction model; dependency on international revenue and operations, exposing us to significant international regulatory, economic, intellectual property, collections, currency exchange rate, taxation, political, and other risks, including risks related to the war against Ukraine launched by Russia and our exit from Russia and the current conflict between Israel and Hamas; inability to predict subscription renewal rates and their impact on our future revenue and operating results; existing and increased competition and rapidly evolving technological changes; fluctuation of our financial results, key metrics and other operating metrics; our transition from up front to annual billings for multi-year contracts; deriving a substantial portion of our net revenue from a small number of solutions, including our AutoCAD-based software products and collections; any failure to successfully execute and manage initiatives to realign or introduce new business and sales initiatives, including our new transaction model for Flex; net revenue, billings, earnings, cash flow, or new or existing subscriptions shortfalls; social and ethical issues relating to the use of artificial intelligence in our offerings; our ability to maintain security levels and service performance meeting the expectations of our customers, and the resources and costs required to avoid unanticipated downtime and prevent, detect and remediate performance degradation and security breaches; security incidents or other incidents compromising the integrity of our or our customers' offerings, services, data, or intellectual property; reliance on third parties to provide us with a number of operational and technical services as well as software; our highly complex software, which may contain undetected errors, defects, or vulnerabilities; increasing regulatory focus on privacy issues and expanding laws; governmental export and import controls that could impair our ability to compete in international markets or subject us to liability if we violate the controls; protection of our intellectual property rights and intellectual property infringement claims from others; the government procurement process; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; our debt service obligations; and our investment portfolio consisting of a variety of investment vehicles that are subject to interest rate trends, market volatility, and other economic factors. Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial results of Autodesk are included in Autodesk's Form 10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q, which are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Autodesk disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/autodesk-appoints-janesh-moorjani-as-chief-financial-officer-302316577.html SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
Alexis Mac Allister and substitute Cody Gakpo got the goals as Liverpool beat Champions League holders Real Madrid 2-0 at Anfield to make it five wins from as many games in the league phase for Arne Slot’s men. The Reds took the lead when Mac Allister played a one-two with Conor Bradley and slotted past Thibaut Courtois seven minutes into the second half. Real had the chance to equalise with a penalty just past the hour, but Kylian Mbappe saw his strike saved by Caoimhin Kelleher. 🛑🛑🛑 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) There was then an unsuccessful spot-kick from the hosts as Mohamed Salah missed from 12 yards, before Gakpo popped up with a 76th-minute header from Andy Robertson’s cross as the Merseysiders recorded a first win over Real in 15 years and gained some revenge for their defeats in the 2018 and 2022 finals. While Liverpool top the table, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real are down in 24th place – the final play-offs berth – with just six points from their five matches. Aston Villa are outside the top eight on goal difference after a 0-0 draw with Juventus in which Morgan Rogers had a stoppage-time finish for the hosts ruled out for a foul, with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez having earlier made a fantastic save to deny Francisco Conceicao. Celtic, lying 20th, drew 1-1 at home with Club Brugge thanks to a curling Daizen Maeda strike that cancelled out a remarkable own goal by Cameron Carter-Vickers, who passed back without looking to send the ball into the net. Borussia Dortmund moved into the top eight with 3-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb, where Jamie Gittens, Ramy Bensebaini and Serhou Guirassy got on the scoresheet. A point apiece on matchday five in the Champions League. || — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) Monaco dropped to eighth after suffering their first loss of the league phase, 3-2 at home to Benfica. Despite having Wilfried Singo sent off just prior to the hour mark, the French side took the lead for a second time via Soungoutou Magassa in the 67th minute, only for late goals from Arthur Cabral and Zeki Amdouni to give Benfica all three points. Lille, in 12th, have the same amount of points as Monaco and Villa thanks to a 2-1 win at Bologna, with Ngal’Ayel Mukau notching a brace. PSV Eindhoven, now 18th, produced a dramatic late turnaround to beat 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2 at home. The visitors led 2-0 through Danylo Sikan and Oleksandr Zubkov before having Pedrinho sent off in the 69th minute, and PSV then hit back with three goals in the closing stages, Malik Tilman scoring in the 87th and 90th and Ricardo Pepi then notching the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Red Star Belgrade registered their first win of the league phase by thrashing Stuttgart 5-1, as did Sturm Graz, beating Girona 1-0.
Liz Hatton, who tenderly shared a hug with the Princess of Wales last month has sadly died from cancer at the age of 17. The teenager had met with Prince William and Kate on 2 October after the Prince of Wales invited her to take photographs during an investiture ceremony. Liz had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer in January and made a photography bucket list. Liz's mother, Vicky Roboyna shared on X: "Our incredible daughter Liz died in the early hours of this morning. She remained determined to the last. Even yesterday, she was still making plans. We are so very proud of the kindness, empathy and courage she has shown in the last year. "She was not only a phenomenal photographer, she was the best human and the most wonderful daughter and big sister we could ever have asked for. No-one could have fought harder for life than she did. There is a gaping Liz-shaped hole in our lives that I am not sure how we will ever fill." Vicky also offered thanks to those who helped Liz to achieve her dreams, concluding: "You ensured Liz's last two months were her very best. She flew high until the end." Following their meeting of Liz, the Prince and Princess tweeted: " A pleasure to meet with Liz at Windsor today. A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both. Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us. W&C." Liz also took to social media to share the photos and share her thanks to the royals for their kindness. "Such a lovely, genuine and kind people, I'm over the moon that my family and I had this experience." William invited Liz to take the photos after he learned of her story through the London Air Ambulance Charity. Liz's story touched many, and during an interview on Good Morning Britain following her meeting with William and Kate, presenter Robert Rinder ended up in tears. Towards the end of the interview, Rob asked Vicky how proud she was of her daughter, to which she said: "We're proud of her every single day. She's faced this with such determination. She always says she's not scared of dying , she doesn't want to leave us behind but she's not scared. "She gets up and lives each day and I'm not sure I could do it if I was her. She's amazing," added Vicky, holding back tears. When the camera cut back to Rob and his co-host Kate Garraway in the studio, the barrister was in tears. "Thank you so much," he said.Race to fill Rep. Michael Waltz’s congressional seat shapes up in Florida
Logistical issues meant that thousands of Namibians were still waiting to vote in pivotal presidential and legislative elections late on Wednesday as the polling stations were scheduled to close. The vote could usher in the desert nation's first woman leader even as her party, the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) faces the strongest challenge yet to its 34-year grip on power. Some voters told AFP they queued all day, for up to 12 hours, blaming technical problems which included issues with voter identification tablets or insufficient ballot papers. According to Namibia's electoral law, those in the queue before the polls closed -- scheduled at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) -- should be allowed to vote. "We have the obligation to make sure that they pass their vote," said Petrus Shaama, chief officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). The main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has blamed the ECN for the long lines and cried foul play. "We have reason to believe that the ECN is deliberately suppressing voters and deliberately trying to frustrate voters from casting their vote," said Christine Aochamus of the IPC. She said the party had "started the process" of approaching a court "to order the ECN to extend the voting time". At one polling station inside Namibia's University of Science and Technology in the capital Windhoek, hundreds of people were still in line at 09:00 pm despite some having arrived at 6:00 am, an hour before polls opened. It was a similar situation at the Museum of Independence, according to an AFP reporter, where one voter said he arrived 12 hours earlier and was still in line with hundreds of others. SWAPO's candidate and current vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was one of the first to vote and called on Namibians "to come out in their numbers". An estimated 1.5 million people in the sparsely populated nation had registered to cast their ballot. SWAPO has governed since leading mineral-rich Namibia to independence from South Africa in 1990 but complaints about unemployment and enduring inequalities could force Nandi-Ndaitwah into an unprecedented second round. Leader of the IPC, Panduleni Itula, a former dentist and lawyer said he was optimistic he could "unseat the revolutionary movement". "We will all march from there and to a new dawn and a new era of how we conduct our public affairs in this country," the 67-year-old told reporters after voting. Itula took 29 percent of votes in the 2019 elections, losing to SWAPO leader Hage Geingob with 56 percent. It was a remarkable performance considering Geingob, who died in February, had won almost 87 percent five years before that. Namibia is a major uranium and diamond exporter but not many of its nearly three million people have benefitted from that wealth. "There's a lot of mining activity that goes on in the country, but it doesn't really translate into improved infrastructure, job opportunities," said independent political analyst Marisa Lourenco, based in Johannesburg. "That's where a lot of the frustration is coming from, (especially) the youth," she said. Unemployment among 15- to 34-year-olds is estimated at 46 percent, according to the latest figures from 2018, almost triple the national average. For the first time in Namibia's recent history, analysts say a second round is a somewhat realistic option. That would take place within 60 days of the announcement of the first round of results due by Saturday. "The outcome will be tight," said self-employed Hendry Amupanda, 32, who queued since 9:00 pm the night before to cast his ballot. "I want the country to get better and people to get jobs," said Amupanda, wearing slippers and equipped with a chair, blanket and snacks. Marvyn Pescha, a self-employed consultant, said his father was part of SWAPO's liberation struggle and he was not going to abandon the party. "But I want SWAPO to be challenged for better policies. Some opportunistic leaders have tarnished the reputation of the party, they misuse it for self-enrichment," the 50-year-old said. While lauded for leading Namibia to independence, SWAPO is nervous about its standing after other liberation-era movements in the region have lost favour with young voters. In the past six months, South Africa's African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority and the Botswana Democratic Party was ousted after almost six decades in power. clv/br/lhd/sbk
Genpact Signs Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Accelerate AI Adoption
AUTODESK, INC. ANNOUNCES FISCAL 2025 THIRD QUARTER RESULTSNEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 3, 2024-- MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, today announced that Chris Concannon, Chief Executive Officer, and Ilene Fiszel Bieler, Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the Goldman Sachs Financial Services Conference on December 11, 2024. Mr. Concannon and Ms. Fiszel Bieler will participate in a fireside chat at 8:40 a.m. ET. The live webcast and replay for the fireside chat will be available on the events and presentations section of the MarketAxess Investor Relations homepage, https://investor.marketaxess.com/events-and-presentations . About MarketAxess MarketAxess (Nasdaq: MKTX) operates a leading electronic trading platform that delivers greater trading efficiency, a diversified pool of liquidity and significant cost savings to institutional investors and broker-dealers across the global fixed-income markets. Over 2,000 firms leverage MarketAxess’ patented technology to efficiently trade fixed-income securities. MarketAxess’ award-winning Open Trading® marketplace is widely regarded as the preferred all-to-all trading solution in the global credit markets. Founded in 2000, MarketAxess connects a robust network of market participants through an advanced full trading lifecycle solution that includes automated trading solutions, intelligent data and index products and a range of post-trade services. Learn more at www.marketaxess.com and on X @MarketAxess . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203298277/en/ CONTACT: INVESTOR RELATIONS Stephen Davidson MarketAxess Holdings Inc. +1 212 813 6313 sdavidson2@marketaxess.com MEDIA RELATIONS Marisha Mistry MarketAxess Holdings Inc. +1 917 267 1232 mmistry@marketaxess.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FINTECH PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: MarketAxess Holdings Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/03/2024 04:30 PM/DISC: 12/03/2024 04:28 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203298277/enAlicia Ojeda and her young daughter sat in the giant Ticket Concourse hall in Union Station with hundreds of others, anxiously awaiting the start of the holiday festivities on Monday night, Nov. 25. The mother and daughter came from South Los Angeles to see Santa switch on the 30-foot Christmas tree, listen to music from Los Rebeldes Romanticos, and sip hot chocolate in the historic train station’s north patio, said Ojeda. Her daughter, however, was wishing for something else. “Cats,” said Anastasia, twice. “Cats.” To which her mother quickly answered: “Oh, she just loves cats.” An angel lights up the main ticket area at Union Station at the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The 9th annual Tree Ceremony included live music, Santa and elves, milk and cookies, and crafts for children. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Ferenando Dutra, Metro Board Member and Stephanie Wiggins, Metro CEO pose with Santa at the tree lighting ceremony at Union Station on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The 9th annual Tree Ceremony included live music, Santa and elves, milk and cookies, and crafts for children. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) The stars come out for the tree lighting ceremony at Union Station on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The 9th annual Tree Ceremony included live music, Santa and elves, milk and cookies, and crafts for children. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Angela Ransfer, right, and her girls Kashmir, 9, and Malani, 6, pose with Santa and his elves at the tree lighting ceremony at Union Station on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The 9th annual Tree Ceremony included live music, Santa and elves, milk and cookies, and crafts for children. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Children wait for Santa to light up the Christmas Tree at Union Station in Los Angeles on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The 9th annual Tree Ceremony included live music, Santa and elves, milk and cookies, and crafts for children. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) The Kingston SKA Orchestra performs at the tree lighting ceremony at Union Station on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The 9th annual Tree Ceremony included live music, Santa and elves, milk and cookies, and crafts for children. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) An angel lights up the main ticket area at Union Station at the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The 9th annual Tree Ceremony included live music, Santa and elves, milk and cookies, and crafts for children. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Well, the night may have disappointed Anastasia, but the crowd seemed to enjoy the 9th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony put on by Metro Arts and LA Metro. There were no cats, per se, but there were fairies and angels adorned with electric white lights swirling their wings, and golden stars dancing in the moonlit patio — both performed on stilts — who stirred the imagination of tiny tots with eyes all aglow. Two elves in green were dwarfed by a large pot-bellied Santa in a red suit who wondered how the tree would light just by the touch of a wireless button on stage. “I don’t see any cables. Do you think it will work?” he mused, then touched the button and added golden, twinkling lights to the tree, sending oohs from the patient crowd. LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins and Whittier City Councilmember and Metro vice chair Fernando Dutra greeted the large crowd and helped with the tree-lighting. After getting a hug from St. Nick, Wiggins thanked him for her greatest gift so far this season. “I’ve been on the good list, Santa, all year long. We now have 1 million people riding Metro every day,” she announced. She was referring to September and October ridership on the vast Metro system surpassing the one million mark for the first time since before the pandemic, with average weekday ridership at 1,025,262 in October, the latest figures available. The standing-only crowd craned their necks to see the band, who revived the Los Angeles Bolero movement with their melodic Latin American ballads and cumbias. In between, they snuck in some Christmas classics singing in English, “Let It Snow,” a wish that, well, wasn’t happening in balmy Los Angeles. Even the clouds had parted outside, chasing away intermittent rain sprinkles. Can Los Angeles properly celebrate the holidays without snow, weather that’s frightful, or chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Just ask Yolanda McClamb, who came from Culver City riding the Metro E Line train to attend her first-ever holiday celebration in Union Station. “There are many events across Los Angeles that have that kind of holiday spirit,” McClamb said. She has attended other shows in the 1939 building, celebrating its 85th year anniversary. Union Station serves Metro’s A, B and D lines and a fleet of Metrolink and Amtrak trains, and a bus plaza, where folks can get across the city and to and from LAX. Many parents and children waited in long lines to greet Santa and have their pictures taken. Just before the event, those exiting the A Line train received free tamales from a vendor, as part of the festival. McClamb mentioned other events she’s experienced at Union Station, including the model train show and a video game extravaganza event in the recent past. But on Monday night, she discovered a new band and Boleros music. And she drew hope and encouragement from the crowd to begin the holiday season. “We just love the spirit, the camaraderie and the amazing music selection,” she said. Dutra expressed a wish of togetherness for the season during this difficult political season for many in Southern California. “I want Angelenos to have a happy, safe Christmas. I want everyone to come together, put politics aside and focus on the reason why we are here for the Christmas season,” he said in an interview after the tree lighting. Los Angeles Conservancy will be conducting 90-minute “Holidays at Union Station” tours on Dec. 5, 12 and 19 starting at 5:30 p.m. The guided tours will take visitors through the historic station at night highlighting the holiday décor. To register for tours go to: Tours & Events – LA Conservancy.
MARA Holdings, Inc. Completes $850 Million Offering of Zero-Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2031American Airlines expands crackdown on frustrating travel habit to more than 100 airportsThousands still queuing to vote after Namibia polls close
By ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday reached a required agreement with President Joe Biden’s White House to allow his transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The congressionally mandated agreement allows transition aides to work with federal agencies and access non-public information and gives a green light to government workers to talk to the transition team. But Trump has declined to sign a separate agreement with the General Services Administration that would have given his team access to secure government offices and email accounts, in part because it would require that the president-elect limit contributions to $5,000 and reveal who is donating to his transition effort. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. The agreement is a critical step in ensuring an orderly transfer of power at noon on Inauguration Day, and lays the groundwork for the White House and government agencies to begin to share details on ongoing programs, operations and threats. It limits the risk that the Trump team could find itself taking control of the massive federal government without briefings and documents from the outgoing administration. As part of the agreement with the White House, Trump’s team will have to publicly disclose its ethics plan for the transition operation and make a commitment to uphold it, the White House said. Transition aides must sign statements that they have no financial positions that could pose a conflict of interest before they receive access to non-public federal information. Biden himself raised the agreement with Trump when they met in the Oval Office on Nov. 13, according to the White House, and Trump indicated that his team was working to get it signed. Trump chief of staff-designate Susie Wiles met with Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients at the White House on Nov. 19 and other senior officials in part to discuss remaining holdups, while lawyers for the two sides have spoken more than a half-dozen times in recent days to finalize the agreement. “Like President Biden said to the American people from the Rose Garden and directly to President-elect Trump, he is committed to an orderly transition,” said White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma. “President-elect Trump and his team will be in seat on January 20 at 12 pm – and they will immediately be responsible for a range of domestic and global challenges, foreseen and unforeseen. A smooth transition is critical to the safety and security of the American people who are counting on their leaders to be responsible and prepared.” Without the signed agreement, Biden administration officials were restricted in what they could share with the incoming team. Trump national security adviser-designate Rep. Mike Waltz met recently with Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan, but the outgoing team was limited in what it could discuss. “We are doing everything that we can to effect a professional and an orderly transition,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. “And we continue to urge the incoming team to take the steps that are necessary to be able to facilitate that on their end as well.” “This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” said Wiles in a statement. The Trump transition team says it would disclose its donors to the public and would not take foreign donations. A separate agreement with the Department of Justice to coordinate background checks for vetting and security clearances is still being actively worked on and could be signed quickly now that the White House agreement is signed. The agency has teams of investigators standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers once that document is signed. That would clear the way for transition aides and future administration appointees and nominees to begin accessing classified information before Trump takes office. Some Trump aides may hold active clearances from his first term in office or other government roles, but others will need new clearances to access classified data. Trump’s team on Friday formally told the GSA that they would not utilize the government office space blocks from the White House reserved for their use, or government email accounts, phones and computers during the transition. The White House said it does not agree with Trump’s decision to forgo support from the GSA, but is working on alternate ways to get Trump appointees the information they need without jeopardizing national security. Federal agencies are receiving guidance on Tuesday on how to share sensitive information with the Trump team without jeopardizing national security or non-public information. For instance, agencies may require in-person meetings and document reviews since the Trump team has declined to shift to using secure phones and computers. For unclassified information, agencies may ask Trump transition staff to attest that they are taking basic safeguards, like using two-factor authentication on their accounts.By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS — Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel came to Indianapolis in July with a purpose. He wanted a sense of what Lucas Oil Stadium was like before making what he hoped would be a return trip in December. On Saturday night, he’ll be back on the same turf. Plenty has changed for Gabriel and the Ducks since they came to town all those months ago for their inaugural Big Ten media day appearance. No. 1 Oregon sits atop the playoff seedings, remains the last unbeaten team in major college football and Gabriel has a new title – Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. It’s been a dream season in every way for the soon-to-be 24-year-old Gabriel, right down to leading the Ducks into the conference championship game he’s been expecting. “If we didn’t think we’d be there, I wouldn’t have attended,” Gabriel said. “But I just felt really good about it. I was glad we were able to go see it (Lucas Oil), feel it, smell it. It was a good experience. Now that we’re going back with the whole squad, everyone’s excited.” Winning a conference title in his final season – and Oregon’s first season in its new league – would be the cherry on top for Gabriel now that both teams are virtual locks to make the first 12-team College Football Playoff. The winner likely earns a first-round bye, while the loser probably hosts a first-round game. There is big money at stake: The Big Ten stands to get $4 million for each school that makes the CFP and the payouts escalate beginning with the semifinals to $6 million per school; a conference whose school makes a run from the first round to the title game gets $20 million. The CFP also provides millions to cover expenses. While Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten, No. 1 CFP) was a preseason favorite to be back in town this weekend, No. 3 Penn State wasn’t supposed to make it after losing to then-No. 4 Ohio State. But the Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1, No. 3 CFP) rebounded by winning their last four and got help last weekend when Michigan upset the Buckeyes. It’s the first time Penn State has reached a Big Ten championship title game since beating Wisconsin in 2016 – and they don’t intend to go home empty-handed this time, either. “Being from Pennsylvania, seeing that game from 2016, like I always imagined being in these shoes, being in that moment, trying to win a Big Ten championship,” running back Nick Singleton said. “Being in that moment right now feels good, but we’ve got to go out there and win it.” Gabirel concurred. “When you walk in that building everyone is excited to do stuff and ready to go,” he said. “So it’s about execution, playing clean and being who we are.” Under pressure? Though Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and Gabriel are ranked seventh and eighth in FBS passing efficiency this season, both could be under serious pressure Saturday. Defensive ends Matayo Uiagalelei of Oregon and Abdul Carter of Penn State are two of the nation’s premier pass rushers. Uiagalelei is tied for ninth nationally with 101⁄2 sacks while Carter is tied for 12th with 10. The Ducks also have another fearsome pass rusher in defensive end Jordan Burch (81⁄2). It will be a major challenge for both offensive lines, especially if Oregon right guard Marcus Harper II is out (knee). Penn State certainly isn’t complaining about playing for a trophy, but it scrambled the schedule. It began with Coach James Franklin calling an audible during last Saturday’s postgame speech, announcing that Sunday’s scheduled off-day had been scrapped so they could start cramming for Oregon. That was just the start. “It was going to be a week for rest and recovery, some strategic practices,” he said Sunday. “But we always have to be prepared for these different scenarios. So right after the game I told them, ‘We’re going to practice Sunday.’ Now it’s back to a normal week.” Franklin will be chasing his 100th win in his 11 seasons with the program. And he could be doing it with some familiar faces around him. Oregon special teams coordinator and nickel back coach Joe Lorig first worked with Franklin at Idaho State and then Franklin hired Lorig in 2019. After three seasons, though, Lorig headed to the West Coast where he opted to work for another old friend, Oregon coach Dan Lanning. Franklin doesn’t believe Lorig’s inside information will make much difference in this game. “The coordinators have all changed,” Franklin said. “So I think we both probably have a similar amount of information on each other.” The game also will be a homecoming of sorts for Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen and injured Oregon offensive lineman Matthew Bedford. Allen is an Indiana native who spent the previous seven seasons as the Indiana head coach. Bedford also was a five-year starter for Allen’s Hoosiers. And the Duzansky family is doubling up Saturday: Penn State long snapper Tyler Duzansky and Oregon long snapper Nick Duzansky are brothers. What: Big Ten championship game When: Saturday, 5 p.m. Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis TV/radio: CBS (Ch. 2), 570 AM Line: Oregon by 31⁄2 points Series record: Penn State leads 3-1 Oregon run defense vs. Penn State ground game: Nittany Lions running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen have been a dynamic combination this year, rushing for a total of 1,431 yards and 12 scores. The emergence of tight end Tyler Warren and backup quarterback Beau Pribula has added other elements to Penn State’s rushing attack. Oregon has been stout against the run all season, allowing just 112.2 yards per game (22nd in FBS) but if the Ducks struggle to contain Singleton and Allen, the Nittany Lions could keep the ball away from their offense – a potentially decisive twist. Oregon: Quarterback Dillon Gabriel. In a game featuring two of the nation’s most efficient quarterbacks, all eyes will be on Gabriel. The Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year has been the catalyst for Oregon’s high-octane offense. The 23-year-old and FBS career leader in total TDs (183) is playing in his first conference championship game. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow Hawaiian star Marcus Mariota by leading the Ducks to a national championship game. Related Articles Penn State: Defensive end Abdul Carter. The athletic junior has been a menace to opponents all year, and the Nittany Lions need him to equally effective. Carter leads the Nittany Lions with 10 sacks, is tied for third in passes defensed (three) and is fourth in tackles (54), but stats don’t tell the whole story. His presence frees up others to make plays, which could be a key factor in slowing the Ducks. This will be the first meeting in this series since Penn State completed its perfect season by winning the 1995 Rose Bowl, 38-20. ... It also will be the first Big Ten title game that does not feature division champs. ... Oregon has been ranked No. 1 for seven straight weeks and was a unanimous choice this week. It also is the last remaining unbeaten FBS team this season. It’s the Ducks’ first 12-0 season since 2010. ... The Nittany Lions made only one other Big Ten championship game appearance, beating Wisconsin, 38-31, in 2016. ... Gabriel will be making his 62nd career start, an FBS record. He leads the league in yards passing (3,275) while wide receiver Tez Johnson’s nine touchdown catches rank third in the conference. ... Warren broke the Big Ten’s single-season record for receptions by a tight end with 81. ... Oregon defensive ends Matayo Uiagalelei and Jordan Burch have combined for 19 sacks. ... Franklin’s next win will be his 100th in the 11 seasons since taking the Nittany Lions job.
Shiffrin confirms she'll miss Beaver Creek World Cup races
Hilgers, other GOP AGs sue BlackRock, other investment firms over ‘woke’ climate action effortsNCDIT Celebrated for Tech Innovation and Cybersecurity Efforts at NC TECH Gala in Raleigh
COPPELL, Texas & LEWISVILLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 26, 2024-- Lovett Industrial, a Houston-based real estate investment firm is excited to announce the recent groundbreaking of 121 Logistics Park, a 27-acre urban infill development consisting of 339,280 square feet across two Class A logistics facilities in Coppell and Lewisville, Texas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126678656/en/ 121 Logistics Park Rendering provided by Meinhardt & Associates Architects Located directly off State Highway 121, 121 Logistics Park offers immediate access to one of the major transportation arteries in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The business park will offer above-standard specifications in both buildings. Building 1, a 257,591 square foot rear loader with a 36-foot clear height, 7-inch reinforced concrete slab, 49 dock-high doors, 185-foot truck court, and at least 67 trailer parks. Building 2 will be an 81,689 square-foot front loader offering a 32-foot clear height, 6-inch reinforced concrete slab, 18 dock doors, 130 -185-foot-deep truck court, and 12 trailer parks. “With high barriers of entry, close proximity to executive housing, and ample blue-collar labor, the North DFW Airport submarket is considered not only to be one of the most desirable infill submarkets in the Dallas Fort Worth industrial market but one of the most desirable industrial submarkets in the United States,” said Bennett See, Dallas-Fort Worth Market Leader. “This opportunity became a reality through a fantastic partnership with the City of Coppell and the City of Lewisville, and we feel incredibly fortunate to be able to work with two great cities that shared our vision for this land.” 121 Logistics Park is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025 and will cater to tenants ranging from 85,000 SF to 339,000 square feet in size. Marketing and leasing efforts for 121 Logistics Park will be exclusively handled by Adam Graham and Alex Wilson of Lee & Associates. Construction financing is being provided by Comerica Bank. Bob Moore Construction is the General Contractor, Meinhardt & Associates Architecture is the lead architect, and Kimley-Horn & Associates is serving as the project’s civil engineer. 121 Logistics Park is Lovett Industrial’s ninth industrial development in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. Other projects include Trinity West Phases I & II, Innovation Ridge Logistics Park, Wylie Business Center, Addison Innovation Center, Lovett 35 Logistics Park, Garland Innovation Center, and Texport Logistics Center. Together, these projects comprise over 5.4 million square feet of completed or under-construction product in Dallas-Fort Worth. About Lovett Industrial: Founded in 2020 and based in Houston, Texas, Lovett Industrial is a privately held vertically integrated logistics real estate investment platform that seeks to develop and acquire industrial real estate assets that are differentiated by their quality, location, and functionality. Currently active in over 15 markets across the United States, Lovett Industrial’s portfolio comprises approximately 17 million square feet of completed, acquired, and under-construction warehouses and over 10 million square feet of warehouses planned for future development. Lovett Industrial’s founders have combined over 60+ years of experience in the commercial and industrial real estate sectors. For more information, visit https://lovettindustrial.com/ and follow @Lovett_industrial on social media. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126678656/en/ CONTACT: Lily Aguilar Liliana.aguilar@lovettindustrial.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE OTHER CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY OTHER TRANSPORT RETAIL AIR BUILDING SYSTEMS TRANSPORT REIT LOGISTICS/SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SOURCE: Lovett Industrial Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/26/2024 04:00 PM/DISC: 11/26/2024 04:02 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126678656/enNone