10 jili 888
Published 5:58 pm Wednesday, December 4, 2024 By Data Skrive Ranked squads are on the Thursday college basketball schedule in seven games, including the Duke Blue Devils playing the South Carolina Gamecocks. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that "several" wounded North Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukrainian forces, as he accused Russia of throwing them into battle with "minimal protection". Ukraine and its western allies say North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to support Russia's army, in what is seen as a major escalation in the nearly three-year war following Moscow's 2022 invasion. "Today there were reports about several soldiers from North Korea. Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner. But they were very seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated," Zelensky said in an evening address posted on social media. South Korea's spy agency said earlier on Friday that a North Korean soldier who was captured while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine had died of his wounds. Zelensky did not specify how many North Koreans had died after being captured by Ukrainian troops. Zelensky had earlier said that nearly 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been "killed or wounded" so far as they joined Russia's forces in combat in its western Kursk border region, where Ukraine mounted a shock incursion in August. South Korea's intelligence service had previously put the number of killed or wounded North Koreans at 1,000, saying the high casualty rate could be down to an unfamiliar battlefield environment and their lack of capability to counter drone attacks. The White House on Friday confirmed the South Korean estimates, saying that Pyongyang's troops were being sent to their deaths in futile attacks by generals who see them as "expendable". "We also have reports of North Korean soldiers taking their own lives rather than surrendering to Ukrainian forces, likely out of fear of reprisal against their families in North Korea in the event that they're captured," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military ties since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A landmark defence pact between Pyongyang and Moscow signed in June came into force this month, with Russian President Vladimir Putin hailing it as a "breakthrough document". North Korean state media said Friday that Putin sent a New Year's message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying: "The bilateral ties between our two countries have been elevated after our talks in June in Pyongyang." Seoul's military believes that North Korea was seeking to modernise its conventional warfare capabilities through combat experience gained in the Russia-Ukraine war. NATO chief Mark Rutte had also said that Moscow was providing support to Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for the troops. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that Pyongyang is reportedly "preparing for the rotation or additional deployment of soldiers" and supplying "240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled artillery" to the Russian army. Pyongyang's involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine had prompted warnings from Seoul. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol, currently suspended, said in November that Seoul was "not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons" to Kyiv, which would mark a major shift to a long-standing policy barring the sale of weapons to countries in active conflict. hs/bjt/mlm/gv/rlpMorningstar executive chairman Joseph Mansueto sells $4.6 million in stock
The Detroit Lions have equaled the franchise record for most consecutive victories and stand alone atop the NFC standings. They still have plenty of obstacles to clear to remain at that perch. Even the NFC North remains up for grabs and they'll try to create a little more separation when they host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The Lions (11-1), who have won 10 straight, haven't been able to shake free from Minnesota (10-2) or Green Bay (9-3). Detroit will host Minnesota, which has won five straight, in the regular-season finale next month. The Packers have remained in contention by winning seven of their last eight, with the only loss coming at the hands of the Lions. Detroit opened up a 21-point lead early in the third quarter and held on for a 24-14 victory. Lions coach Dan Campbell says the fun really begins now. "The best part of all of this -- we're in playoff football right now, that's where we're at," he said. "We're in December, and our schedule says that. Man, we play tough opponent after tough opponent -- we've got plenty coming up. So, man, this is the type of stuff that you live for and it's also the type of stuff that gets you ready for the tournament. "So, yeah, we're a resilient bunch and nothing's going to change that. We've just got to worry about the one in front of us." Detroit is coming off a 23-20 win over Chicago on Thanksgiving Day in which it nearly blew a 16-point lead. The Bears' poor clock management cost them an opportunity to send the game into overtime and led to coach Matt Eberflus' firing. The Lions have been hit with a wave of injuries, particularly on the defensive side. They signed four players over the past week to fortify their depth. "I know the elephant in the room is all the injuries that have happened with us on the defensive side," defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. "Our personnel staff does a really good job of acquiring players that fit exactly who we are. I would say this, it's not the playbook that's the most important thing for these guys to come in and learn. It's the style of play that we have and that's easy to learn." Jared Goff has thrown for six touchdowns and zero interceptions in the past three games after tossing five picks against the Houston Texans on Nov. 10. The Packers also played on Thanksgiving, defeating Miami 30-17. Green Bay opened up a 24-3 halftime lead as Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed. Now the Packers face a Detroit team that has defeated them in five of the last six meetings. "With most good teams, they play the game the right way," Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. "Certainly, Detroit's been doing that for a couple years now. That's who they are and that's who we are as well. It should be a great game on Thursday night." The Packers might have to win via a shootout, considering the Lions are averaging a league-best 31.9 points per game (Green Bay ranks eighth at 26.5). Stopping the running game will be key, according to LaFleur. "They're two very dynamic backs. (David) Montgomery, he's going to beat you up physically and the other guy (Jahmyr Gibbs), you've got to try to corral because he can take it the distance," he said. "Jared (Goff) is playing at an MVP level, so they've got a really potent offense." Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and three defensive linemen -- DJ Reader (shoulder), Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwezurike (hamstring) -- didn't practice on Tuesday. Offensive guard Elgton Jenkins (knee), Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and cornerback Corey Ballentine (knee) missed the Packers' practice. --Field Level MediaKings test 3-game winning streak against nemesis Dallas
Trump's lawyers, seeking to dismiss hush money case, slam DA for 'thuggish tactics'Belichick's bid to reshape UNC football latest sign of pro influence on college levelThe Jacksonville Jaguars placed quarterback Trevor Lawrence (concussion) on injured reserve Wednesday, likely ending his season after a vicious illegal hit in last week's loss to the Houston Texans. Lawrence, slammed in the head and neck by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after giving himself up, would be eligible to return Week 18. However, the 2-10 Jags are already eliminated from playoff contention. Mac Jones will start for the Jags this week against the Tennessee Titans. Al-Shaair, meanwhile, was suspended three games by the NFL on Tuesday. Lawrence, 25, has thrown for 2,045 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 starts this season. He also missed time with a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury. Lawrence was carrying the ball and went into a feet-first slide at Houston's 45-yard line during the second quarter of Sunday's game. Al-Shaair launched into him and delivered a forearm shot near the quarterback's head and shoulder. More from this section Multiple skirmishes erupted as Lawrence lay prone on the field. Al-Shaair was ejected, along with Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones. Lawrence immediately displayed the hand motion known as the fencing posture that is associated with traumatic brain injury. However, he was able to stand after being attended to briefly, and he sat up while being taken to the locker room on a cart. Al-Shaair took to social media Monday to apologize but the NFL was unmoved, announcing the three-game suspension on Tuesday. He is appealing. Al-Shaair, 27, is a repeat offender this season, having just been fined $11,255 for a late hit on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was also fined $11,817 for punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson in a Week 2 game. That came after a sideline skirmish that began after Al-Shaair hit Bears quarterback Caleb Williams late out of bounds but wasn't flagged. Lawrence has thrown for 13,815 yards, 69 TDs and 46 INTs since being selected No. 1 overall by the Jags in the 2021 draft out of Clemson. --Field Level Media
Walz weighs in on canceled Minnesota cannabis license lottery: Litigation ‘happens in every state’
Football: Edward Little gauging interest in reclassifying to Class B‘I think the conditions saved them today’: Steelers’ reaction to 24-19 upset loss to the BrownsThe large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the Hawk air defence system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defence officials acknowledged that the US Defence Department may not be able to send all of the remaining 5.6 billion dollars (£4.5 billion) in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Mr Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many US and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he will not provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about 4.35 billion dollars (£3.46 billion). Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky decide it is time to negotiate. One senior defence official said that while the US will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until January 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about 1.2 billion dollars (£0.9 billion) remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the US will have provided more than 64 billion dollars (£50.8 billion) in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.
SYDNEY, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IREN Limited (NASDAQ: IREN) (ACN 629 842 799) (“IREN”) today announced its intention to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $300 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “notes”) in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). IREN also expects to grant the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase, for settlement within a period of 13 days from, and including, the date the notes are first issued, up to an additional $45 million principal amount of notes. The notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of IREN, will accrue interest payable semi-annually in arrears and will mature on June 15, 2030, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. Noteholders will have the right to convert their notes in certain circumstances and during specified periods. IREN will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as the case may be, cash, its ordinary shares or a combination of cash and its ordinary shares, at its election. The notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part (subject to certain limitations), for cash at IREN’s option, on or after December 20, 2027 and on or before the 30th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of IREN’s ordinary shares exceeds 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time and certain other conditions are satisfied. The redemption price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. If certain corporate events that constitute a “fundamental change” occur, then, subject to a limited exception, noteholders may require IREN to repurchase their notes for cash. The repurchase price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date. The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes will be determined at the pricing of the offering. IREN expects to use a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to fund the cost of entering into the capped call transactions and to fund the cost of entering into the prepaid forward transaction, each as described below. IREN intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds for general corporate purposes and working capital. In connection with the offering of the notes, IREN expects to enter into privately negotiated capped call transactions with one or more of the initial purchasers or their affiliates and/or one or more other financial institutions (the “option counterparties”). The capped call transactions are expected to cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, the number of ordinary shares of IREN that will initially underlie the notes. If the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional notes, then IREN expects to enter into additional capped call transactions with the option counterparties. The capped call transactions are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution to IREN’s ordinary shares upon any conversion of the notes and/or offset any potential cash payments IREN is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted notes, as the case may be, with such offset and/or reduction subject to a cap price. If, however, the market price per ordinary share of IREN, as measured under the terms of the capped call transactions, exceeds the cap price of the capped call transactions, there would nevertheless be dilution and/or there would not be an offset of such potential cash payments, in each case, to the extent that such market price exceeds the cap price of the capped call transactions. In addition, the capped call transactions will be solely cash settled until IREN receives shareholder approval to repurchase its ordinary shares pursuant to the terms of the capped call transactions or is otherwise permitted to repurchase its ordinary shares pursuant to the terms of the capped call transactions under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company retains flexibility to seek and/or renew such approval from time to time during the terms of the capped call transactions at a general meeting or future annual general meeting. IREN has been advised that, in connection with establishing their initial hedges of the capped call transactions, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates expect to enter into various derivative transactions with respect to IREN’s ordinary shares and/or purchase the ordinary shares of IREN concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the notes. This activity could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of IREN’s ordinary shares or the notes at that time. Any such trades by the option counterparties or their respective affiliates would be on a principal basis and without any agreement, arrangement or understanding between, or with, IREN on how those parties would hedge their own positions. In addition, the option counterparties and/or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to IREN’s ordinary shares and/or purchasing or selling IREN’s ordinary shares or other securities of IREN in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the notes and prior to the maturity of the notes (and are likely to do so (x) on each exercise date for the capped call transactions, which are expected to occur on each trading day during the 30 trading day period beginning on the 31st scheduled trading day prior to the maturity date of the notes and (y) following any early conversion of the notes or any repurchase of the notes by IREN on any fundamental change repurchase date, any redemption date or any other date on which the notes are repurchased by IREN, in each case if IREN exercises the relevant election to terminate the corresponding portion of the capped call transactions). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of IREN’s ordinary shares or the notes, which could affect the ability of noteholders to convert the notes, and, to the extent the activity occurs following a conversion or during any observation period related to a conversion of the notes, it could affect the number of IREN’s ordinary shares and value of the consideration that noteholders will receive upon conversion of the notes. In connection with the offering of the notes, IREN also expects to enter into a privately negotiated prepaid forward share purchase transaction (the “prepaid forward transaction”) with one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate (the “forward counterparty”), pursuant to which IREN will purchase up to $100 million of its ordinary shares (based on the last reported sale price of IREN’s ordinary shares on the pricing date), for settlement on the date that is shortly after the maturity date of the notes, subject to any early settlement, in whole or in part, of the prepaid forward transaction. The prepaid forward transaction will be solely cash settled until IREN receives shareholder approval to repurchase its ordinary shares pursuant to the terms of the prepaid forward transaction or is otherwise permitted to repurchase its ordinary shares pursuant to the terms of the prepaid forward transaction under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The prepaid forward transaction is generally intended to facilitate privately negotiated derivative transactions, including swaps, between the forward counterparty or its affiliates and investors in the notes relating to IREN’s ordinary shares by which investors in the notes will establish short positions relating to IREN’s ordinary shares and otherwise hedge their investments in the notes. As a result, the prepaid forward transaction is expected to allow the investors to establish short positions that generally correspond to (but may be greater than) commercially reasonable initial hedges of their investment in the notes. In the event of such greater initial hedges, investors may offset such greater portion by purchasing IREN’s ordinary shares on or shortly after the day IREN prices the notes. Facilitating investors’ hedge positions by entering into the prepaid forward transaction, particularly if investors purchase IREN’s ordinary shares on or shortly after the pricing date, could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of IREN’s ordinary shares and effectively raise the initial conversion price of the notes. In connection with establishing their initial hedges of the prepaid forward transaction, the forward counterparty or its affiliates may enter into one or more derivative transactions with respect to IREN’s ordinary shares with the investors of the notes concurrently with or after the pricing of the notes. Any such trades by the forward counterparty or its affiliates would be on a principal basis and without any agreement, arrangement or understanding between, or with, IREN on how those parties would hedge their own positions. IREN’s entry into the prepaid forward transaction with the forward counterparty and the entry by the forward counterparty into derivative transactions in respect of IREN’s ordinary shares with the investors of the notes could have the effect of increasing (or reducing the size of any decrease in) the market price of IREN’s ordinary shares concurrently with, or shortly after, the pricing of the notes and effectively raising the initial conversion price of the notes. Neither IREN nor the forward counterparty will control how investors of the notes may use such derivative transactions. In addition, such investors may enter into other transactions relating to IREN’s ordinary shares or the notes in connection with or in addition to such derivative transactions, including the purchase or sale of IREN’s ordinary shares. As a result, the existence of the prepaid forward transaction, such derivative transactions and any related market activity could cause more purchases or sales of IREN’s ordinary shares over the term of the prepaid forward transaction than there otherwise would have been had IREN not entered into the prepaid forward transaction. Such purchases or sales could potentially increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) or decrease (or reduce the size of any increase in) the market price of IREN’s ordinary shares and/or the price of the notes. In addition, the forward counterparty or its affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding one or more derivative transactions with respect to IREN’s ordinary shares and/or purchasing or selling IREN’s ordinary shares or other securities of IREN in secondary market transactions at any time following the pricing of the notes and prior to the maturity of the notes. These activities could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of IREN’s ordinary shares or the notes, which could affect the ability of noteholders to convert the notes and, to the extent the activity occurs following conversion or during any observation period related to a conversion of notes, it could affect the amount and value of the consideration that noteholders will receive upon conversion of the notes. The offer and sale of the notes and any of IREN’s ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or any other securities laws, and the notes and any such shares cannot be offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, the notes or any of IREN’s ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the notes, nor will there be any sale of the notes or any such shares, in any state or other jurisdiction (including the United States and Australia) in which such offer, sale or solicitation would be unlawful. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the anticipated terms of the notes being offered, the completion, timing and size of the proposed offering and the intended use of the proceeds. Forward-looking statements represent IREN’s current expectations, beliefs, and projections regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown uncertainties, risks, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are outside IREN’s control and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Among those risks and uncertainties are market conditions, including market interest rates, the trading price and volatility of IREN’s ordinary shares and risks relating to IREN’s business, including those described in periodic reports that IREN files from time to time with the SEC. IREN may not consummate the proposed offering described in this press release and, if the proposed offering is consummated, cannot provide any assurances regarding the final terms of the offering or the notes or its ability to effectively apply the net proceeds after funding the cost of entering into the capped call transactions and financing the prepaid forward as described above. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and IREN does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements included in this press release for subsequent developments, except as may be required by law. For a further discussion of factors that could cause IREN’s future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in IREN’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2024 and other risks described in documents filed by IREN from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. About IREN IREN is a leading data center business powering the future of Bitcoin, AI and beyond utilizing 100% renewable energy. Bitcoin Mining: providing security to the Bitcoin network, expanding to 50 EH/s in H1 2025. Operations since 2019. AI Cloud Services: providing cloud compute to AI customers, 1,896 NVIDIA H100 & H200 GPUs. Operations since 2024. Next-Generation Data Centers: 460MW of operating data centers, expanding to 810MW in H1 2025. Specifically designed and purpose-built infrastructure for high-performance and power-dense computing applications. Technology: technology stack for performance optimization of AI Cloud Services and Bitcoin Mining operations. Development Portfolio: 2,310MW of grid-connected power secured across North America, >2,000 acre property portfolio and additional development pipeline. 100% Renewable Energy (from clean or renewable energy sources or through the purchase of RECs): targets sites with low-cost & underutilized renewable energy, and supports electrical grids and local communities. Contacts
Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams‘Cinema Alchemy’ to honour 50 cine masters opens today
None
TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into an investigation of mysterious drone sightings that have been reported in New Jersey and nearby states. Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that state and local law enforcement remain “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counteract any nefarious activity of unmanned aircraft. He posted a copy of the letter on the social media platform X . “This leaves action surrounding the (drones) squarely on the shoulders of the federal government,” Murphy said. “More federal resources are needed to understand what is behind this activity.” Murphy and other officials have repeatedly stressed that there is no evidence that the aircraft pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus. The Pentagon also has said they are not U.S. military drones. The drones have drawn intense public concern and curiosity since residents first reported seeing them last month. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia said from four to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18, appearing from dusk till 11 p.m. The flying objects have been spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, but the number of reported sightings has grown greatly since then. Drones were also spotted in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region. The FBI, Federal Aviation Administration and other state and federal agencies involved in the investigation have not corroborated any of the reported sightings with electronic detection, and reviews of available images appear to show many of the reported drones are actually manned aircraft. They also say there have been no confirmed sightings in restricted air space. It’s also possible that a single drone has been seen and reported more than once, officials said. Some federal lawmakers have called on the military to “shoot down” the drones. The drones also appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker who was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security. In one case, a medevac helicopter was unable to pick up a seriously injured car accident victim in Branchburg Township in Somerset County late last month due to drones hovering near the planned landing zone, according to NJ.com. The FAA said Thursday that it does not have a report on this incident. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and FAA regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Witnesses say the drones they think they have seen in New Jersey appear to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists.Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Donald Trump looms large over Beacon Hill with new legislative session set to start National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 3, 2024-- Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust (the “Fund”), a closed-end fund traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FINS, today declared a distribution of $0.109 per share for the month of December 2024. The record date for the distribution is December 17, 2024, and the payable date is December 31, 2024. The Fund will trade ex-distribution on December 17, 2024. The Fund seeks to pay a distribution at a rate that reflects net investment income actually earned. A portion of each distribution may be treated as paid from sources other than net investment income, including but not limited to short-term capital gain, long-term capital gain, or return of capital. As required by Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, a notice will be distributed to shareholders in the event that a portion of a monthly distribution is derived from sources other than undistributed net investment income. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of these distributions will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during its fiscal year and will be made after the Fund’s year end. The Fund will send to investors a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will define how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. Angel Oak does not provide tax advice; shareholders should consult their tax advisor. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect a fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income.” ABOUT FINS Led by Angel Oak’s experienced financial services team, FINS invests predominantly in U.S. financial sector debt as well as selective opportunities across financial sector preferred and common equity. Under normal circumstances, at least 50% of FINS’ portfolio is publicly rated investment grade or, if unrated, judged to be of investment grade quality by Angel Oak. ABOUT ANGEL OAK CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC Angel Oak Capital Advisors is an investment management firm focused on providing compelling fixed-income investment solutions to its clients. Backed by a value-driven approach, Angel Oak Capital Advisors seeks to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns through a combination of stable current income and price appreciation. Its experienced investment team seeks the best opportunities in fixed income, with a specialization in mortgage-backed securities and other areas of structured credit. Information regarding the Fund and Angel Oak Capital Advisors can be found at www.angeloakcapital.com . Past performance is neither indicative nor a guarantee of future results. Investors should consider the investment objective and policies, risk considerations, charges and ongoing expenses of an investment carefully before investing. For more information please contact your investment representative or Destra Capital Advisors LLC at 877.855.3434. © 2024 Angel Oak Capital Advisors, which is the investment adviser to the Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203558524/en/ CONTACT: Media: Trevor Davis, Gregory FCA for Angel Oak Capital Advisors 443-248-0359 trevor@gregoryfca.comCompany : Randy Chrisman, Chief Marketing & Corporate IR Officer, Angel Oak Capital Advisors 404-953-4969 randy.chrisman@angeloakcapital.com KEYWORD: GEORGIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ASSET MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/03/2024 04:30 PM/DISC: 12/03/2024 04:30 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203558524/enAncient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures
Kings’ slumbering offense needs a jolt against SeattleHARD TO MISS Passers-by examine Christmas items displayed in the window at 43 Camden Passage, owned by Bob Borzello, in London on Dec. 20. —Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom — With its twinkling Christmas fairy lights and nostalgic array of vintage toys, the window of one London “shop” never fails to enchant passers-by. A Punch and Judy puppet, old board games, model trains and planes, papier mache masks adorn the window of Number 43, Camden Passage in the north London neighborhood of Islington. Would-be shoppers intrigued by the quirky collection immediately start searching for the entrance. But Number 43 is not a shop and nothing here is for sale—to the huge disappointment of the excited children who press their noses up against the glass. READ: Objects of desire The adjacent blue door with its festive wreath remains firmly closed and no one answers the bell. Sandwiched between a Chipotle Mexican grill and a jewelry store, neighboring shopkeepers say people are forever asking where the entrance is. In fact, the property is the former home of Bob Borzello, 88, and the window display is the result of a lifetime obsession with collecting, or “accumulating,” as he prefers to call it. “Everyone comes and says, ‘Oh look at that, I wonder when they’re open,’” his daughter-in-law Belle Benson, 51, who recently took over the displays with her daughter, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). “People just like it, especially little children,” added Borzello. The property was once home to a poster shop where Borzello and his former wife sold pin-ups of iconic figures like Che Guevara. Originally from Chicago, the former businessman and tabloid newspaper editor came to London in the 1960s to study at the London School of Economics. After a short spell back in Chicago he and his now ex-wife returned to settle in London in 1967 and ran the poster shop and a print business from the property. All along, however, Borzello was “accumulating” his vast collection of items picked up in antique shops and junk sales. “The fun of it is looking around and finding it... a lot of it is just things I find interesting,” he said. A decade ago Borzello began displaying the items, and the window in the property he still owns is now something of an Islington institution. The toy collection began with airplane models which are soon to be the subject of another themed display. As well as toys, Borzello has accumulated lots of souvenir items from the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Other collections include clocks, badges, wedding cake toppers, shop mannequins, his children’s old school reports, even his old COVID tests, which he has lined up next to his phone. The fireplace in Borzello’s nearby flat is surrounded by all things green, from glass vases and ornaments to ladies’ shoes, hats and necklaces. He says he thinks he picked up the “collecting gene” from his Italian-American mother and that his children are also collectors in different ways. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . “My daughter, she’s a ‘mudlark’ and she’s got her whole house filled with things that she’s got from the (River) Thames,” he said, referring to people who search for treasures on the shores of rivers. —Agence France-PresseDaily Post Nigeria Ogun govt empowers 150 persons living with disability Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Ogun govt empowers 150 persons living with disability Published on December 24, 2024 By Gift Oba Ogun State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has empowered about 150 People Living With Disabilities, PWD, in the state. The empowerment was part of the 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities themed, “Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future.” Items distributed at the event were Deep Freezers, Grinding Machines, Generating Sets, Clippers, Brail Machines, Walking Sticks, and Wheel Chairs among others. The Ministry’s Commissioner, Adijat Adeleye said the essence of the empowerment was to reaffirm the commitment of the present administration of inclusion and equity for persons with disabilities and ensure a significant impact in their lives. “As we commemorate this year’s Disability Day, I want to assure you that, Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration remains steadfast in its commitment to prioritising the needs of all persons with special needs”, she said. Earlier in her address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Adejumoke Adewole, urged PWD to invest in themselves, acquire needed skills for self-development, get new ideas and embrace technology as part of the requirements to thrive in today’s world. She reiterated the Ministry’s continued commitment to take every necessary step to support their growth and success. Speaking on the year’s theme, the former Chairman of the Nigeran Medical Association, NMA, Dr Kunle Ashimi, advised PWDs not to belittle themselves or be intimidated by their status but see themselves as the ones who could hold higher positions, noting that leadership is not by physical appearance but by brain, wisdom and intelligence. In their separate goodwill messages, the state Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, JONAPWD, Micheal Ebohor and Olori Aminat Matemilola, appreciated the state government for prioritising the welfare and well-being of PWDs by celebrating them, giving them job opportunities, among other things, so that they could be able to provide for their families and be self-independent. Related Topics: ogun PWD Don't Miss COAS charges troops to bring professionalism to bear in discharging their duties You may like Yuletide: Police beef up security, assures Ogun residents of peaceful celebration Ogun assures all year-round tree planting to promote green infrastructure Ogun to establish environmental task force to promote market hygiene 2025: Ogun Govt reveals readiness to build more housing estates Wife sets husband ablaze in Ogun Passenger dies, others injured in Ogun road accident Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdISU snaps three-game slide with win over Sacramento State to move into tie for second place in Big Sky
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Bill Belichick spent time after his NFL exit talking with college coaches wanting his thoughts on managing new wrinkles at their level that looked a lot like the pros. The two-minute timeout. The transfer portal as de facto free agency. Collectives generating name, image and likeness (NIL) money for athletes becoming like a payroll. The impending arrival of revenue sharing. It didn't take long for Belichick to envision how a college program should look based on his own NFL experience. "I do think there are a lot of parallels," Belichick said. And that's at least partly why the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach is now taking over at North Carolina. Years of rapid change at the have only increased the professionalization of college football across the country, with schools adjusting staffing to handle growing duties once seemingly more fitting for a pro team. UNC just happens to be making the most audacious of those bets, bringing in a 72-year-old who has never coached in college and asking him to build what amounts to a mini-NFL front office. But plenty could follow. "I really think there's going to be some of those guys that maybe don't have a job in the NFL anymore," Kansas State general manager Clint Brown said, "and now that this is going to be structured in a way where there is a cap that that's going to be something they're interested in." The rapid changes in college athletics have fueled that, notably with players able to transfer and play right away without sitting out a year and be paid through NIL endorsement opportunities in the past five years. Recruiting is now just as much about bringing in veteran talent through the portal as signing recruits out of high school, mirroring the NFL with free agency and the draft, respectively. And a bigger change looms with revenue sharing, the result of a $2.78 billion legal settlement to antitrust lawsuits. Specifically, that model will allow the biggest schools to establish a pool of about $21.5 million for athletes in the first year, with a final hearing in that case set for April 2025. It will be up to schools to determine how to distribute that money and in which sports, though football's role as the revenue driver in college sports likely means a prominent cut everywhere as a direct parallel to a professional team's salary cap. Throw all that together, and it's why coaches are adjusting their staffs like Florida's Billy Napier interviewing candidates to be the Gators' general manager. "We're built to do it now," Napier said. "The big thing here is that we're getting ready to be in a business model. We have a cap. We have contracts. We have negotiation. We have strategy about how we distribute those funds, and it's a major math puzzle. "We're going to build out a front office here in the next couple of months, and it's primarily to help us manage that huge math problem," Napier added. "There'll be a ton of strategy around that. I'm looking forward to it." Still, that also explains why Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, the former head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, said: "This job as a head coach is a juggernaut. There's way more to do here than I had to do in the NFL." And it explains why the Tar Heels are betting on Belichick to be the right fit for today's changing climate. "If I was 16 of 17 years old, a coach who came at you and won how many Super Bowls? And he said, 'Come play for me,'" said New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu, now in his third year out of UNC. "I mean, that's pretty hard to turn down now, especially in this day and age, he's telling you to come play for him and he's offering you some money, too. I mean, you can't go wrong with that choice." The timing worked for UNC with Belichick, who was bypassed for some NFL openings after leaving the New England Patriots last year and instead spent months taking a closer look at the college game. Those conversations with coaches — some in the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences, he said Thursday — made him understand how the changes in college aligned with his pro experience. "College kind of came to me this year," Belichick said. "I didn't necessarily go and seek it out." And his mere presence in Chapel Hill makes a difference, with athletic director Bubba Cunningham saying his "visibility" would likely allow the team to raise prices for advertising such as sponsorships and signage. Belichick is also hiring Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager and executive, as the Tar Heels' general manager. Cunningham also said the plan is for Belichick to continue his appearances on former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning's "Manningcast" broadcasts during Monday Night Football as well as ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" — all giving the coach the chance to promote himself and the program. Yet these steps to reshape football at North Carolina comes with a rising price. Belichick will make $10 million per year in base and supplemental pay, with the first three years of the five-year deal guaranteed, according to a term sheet released by UNC on Thursday. That's roughly double of former coach Mack Brown, whose contract outlined about $4.2 million in base and supplemental salary before bonuses and other add-ons. Additionally, Belichick's deal includes $10 million for a salary pool for assistant coaches and $5.3 million for support staff. That's up from roughly $8.1 million for assistants and $4.8 million for support staff for the 2022 season, according to football financial data for UNC obtained by The Associated Press. And those figures from 2022 under Brown were already up significantly from Larry Fedora's tenure with the 2017 season ($4 million for assistant coaches, $2.3 million for support staff). There is at least one area where the Tar Heels are set for Belichick's arrival: facilities. UNC spent more than $40 million on its football practice complex with an indoor facility (2018) as the biggest project, while other projects include $3 million in upgrades to the locker room and weight room (2019), $14.5 million on renovations to the Kenan Football Center (2022), even $225,000 on Brown's former office (2021). Now it's up to Belichick to rethink the approach to football here for the changing times. "We're taking a risk," Cunningham said. "We're investing more in football with the hope and ambition that the return is going to significantly outweigh the investment." AP Sports Writers Tom Canavan in New Jersey; Mark Long in Florida; and Eric Olson in Nebraska; contributed to this report. Get local news delivered to your inbox!HALIFAX - A Nova Scotia charity is serving at least 600 free traditional dinners over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to spread a little bit of holiday cheer. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * HALIFAX - A Nova Scotia charity is serving at least 600 free traditional dinners over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to spread a little bit of holiday cheer. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? HALIFAX – A Nova Scotia charity is serving at least 600 free traditional dinners over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to spread a little bit of holiday cheer. The Souls Harbour Rescue Mission is offering a sit-down turkey dinner with all the fixings for people who need “food or friends” at mission locations across the province. It’s the first time the group is serving the meals over the holidays since it started providing community service in 2010. Michelle Porter, the CEO, says the charity has been raising funds for Christmas festivities since November and estimates the cost for events during the holiday season is around $1 million. Meals will differ slightly at mission locations across the province, but Porter says all plates will have turkey, potatoes, cranberry, gravy and some vegetables. People who attend will also get a Christmas stocking that includes a mini hygiene set and a few treats like chocolate, gloves and socks. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. About 400 people will eat today in Lower Sackville, Bridgewater, Truro and Sydney Mines, while Porter estimates 200 people will share a meal together in Halifax on Christmas Day. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Hronek out eight weeks with lower-body injurySign up to our daily newsletter Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to Lancaster Guardian, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. Extraordinary talent can bud from anywhere, and one North West sixth form has committed to seeking it out - and nurturing it until it blossoms into something great. In our regional league tables measuring the performance of state-funded sixth form schools and colleges across the UK, the University of Liverpool Maths School took out the top spot in the North West , among some fierce competition. In the 2022/23 school year (the most recent data available, until this year’s data has been finalised and published), it had an exceptional A Level point score of 47.93 - giving it an average grade of A-. Advertisement Advertisement The school was also rated ‘outstanding’ across the board by Ofsted, the government’s education inspector, in its most recent review, which looks at quality of education, student behaviour and attitudes, school leadership and management, and student safeguarding. We caught up with headteacher Damian Haigh about the selective college’s unique curriculum, as well as what makes it a great place to be a student - and what it takes to secure a spot. This is what he told us: The University of Liverpool Maths School and its students The University of Liverpool Mathematics School is a specialist 16-to-19 sixth form school, housed in a university building on its central Liverpool campus. It’s fairly new, only having opened in September 2020. Mr Haigh, a maths teacher of nearly 30 years, has been the school’s headteacher since its inception - and worked on getting it up and running while it was still in the project stage. With just over a hundred students, the school is a pretty big contrast from his past life as an assistant head teacher at Wilmslow High School in Cheshire, which houses more than 2,000. Advertisement Advertisement The University of Liverpool Maths School is selective, meaning that while it is a fees-free state-funded school, it admits students based on how well they meet certain criteria. But Mr Haigh said they very rarely turned applicants away, with some eager young people travelling up to 40 kilometres each day to attend. “They have to be really keen on maths, because we do an awful lot of maths. But the students are really, really varied, actually,” he continued. “I really welcome applications from students from all over the region to places at the school. If they love maths and want to do maths A Levels, then they I would really encourage them to to check us out. “Most people who apply for a place get offered a place. The only reason that we wouldn't offer somebody a place would be if we thought they weren't going to enjoy it and weren't going to thrive here. Other than that, we're really keen to have everybody come and be part of what we do.” Standing out The University of Liverpool Maths School teaches just four A Levels; maths, further maths, physics and computer science, “plus a whole load of other stuff on top of that to some of the most amazing students across Merseyside and the North West”. But A Levels are just a small part of what the school offers, with a unique and varied curriculum that goes above and beyond - meeting its academically-advanced students where they stand. Advertisement Advertisement The titular university is one of the school’s key sponsors. It is currently housed in a university building - and all going well, may soon move to a more permanent home, a “lovely old building” in the north end of campus. But the institution is also vital in providing pupils with that extra academic challenge. “In the specialist maths school system, you're required to have a university with a strong maths department to support you in your work. And that's actually really important for us because our students are very high potential students,” Mr Haigh said. “Sometimes they're students who might come to us already having learned a lot of the content of A Level maths, sometimes even A Level further maths, and I will use university lecturers [and] researchers to help me with extending those students.” That meant young people might work with staff from the university on research projects, physics experiments, or even competitions. This classwork was supplemented with field trips to CERN and other major European research institutions - generously funded by donations for families who couldn’t otherwise afford it - and visits to top UK universities like Cambridge and Imperial College London. A great place to learn Part of what made the school such a great place to learn was the young people themselves, and their zeal for the subject. Advertisement Advertisement “If you go and listen in when our students are in a room with no staff around, if you just listen in at the door, then sometimes they'll be talking about the normal stuff that teenagers are talking about,” Mr Haigh said. “But a lot of the time, they're actually just doing maths and science together. And they're just genuinely having fun talking about how to code and how to solve problems and things like that. It's a brilliant peer group to be part of.” But this didn’t mean that they didn’t have to face or overcome any challenges, with the headteacher saying many pupils came to them very shy, or introverted, or lacking confidence. Some had even experienced bullying or social exclusion in their previous schools because they loved maths, and were seen as “different” by their peers. “When they come to us, suddenly they're in a much safer place. They're able to be themselves, and then we're able to take advantage of that newfound sense of safety in challenging them to go further with their maths, but also to go further with their team-working skills, their leadership skills and their communication skills,” he added. Stay up-to-date with the latest UK news and culture with our free UK Today newsletter. Advertisement Advertisement Community While the University of Liverpool Maths School didn’t tend to run as many community events as other schools might, they were no less present in the Merseyside and wider North West community. Part of that was outreach work - built on the recognition that great minds, and young people who will go on to change the world, can come from anywhere. “Every week we send teachers out from here to schools all over the region to run maths clubs or physics clubs, or do a bit of extra revision work for the top end of GCSE,” Mr Haigh said. “The reason that we do that is that we are very keen to identify talent in areas where there is disadvantage.” As a result, they had students come to them that have had a tough time in life, whether that be growing up in more deprived households, or having lived through serious and traumatic childhood experiences. They also had students coming to them who have had a great childhood, and “maths teachers who've been able to challenge them and support them”. “But they're not all like that,” he continued. “So we want to find the talent wherever it is so that we can nurture it, develop it, and send those students - whatever their starting points - we want to send them on to great success at university and to have great careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.” The University of Liverpool Maths School also made our list of the top 25 sixth form schools and colleges for A Levels in all of England. To learn more, check out our league table here .