Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has said he is "devastated" after suffering a fresh injury setback. Shaw has only just returned from injury and has made substitute appearances in each of Ruben Amorim's three games in charge. Editor's Picks Arteta: Amorim fingerprints already on Man United 7h James Olley Amorim tells United fans: 'I don't like my chant' 12h Rob Dawson Arsenal vs Man United: Time, how to watch, stats, news, injuries 11h ESPN A source has told ESPN that his latest problem, picked up in training, is set to rule him out for a number of weeks. In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday, Shaw said it was his "toughest period." "It's hurting a lot having to write this as I really thought I had got through my recent struggles and was on a positive path going forward, but unfortunately I've had a small setback," Shaw said. "I've been through a lot of ups and downs but this has definitely been my toughest period. I'm absolutely devastated and it's extremely tough to come to terms with reality at this moment in time." Shaw has come in for criticism from some United fans after missing the end of last season with a hamstring injury but returning to play for England in the Euro 2024 final in July. Another injury picked up after the Euros saw him miss the first three months of the current campaign. The 29-year-old has started just four Premier League games for United in 2024. "I understand there are going to be people frustrated, angry, disappointed and I understand all of that," Shaw said. "There is no one feeling that more than me at this moment in time. "But what I can promise is I will do everything I can to come back better soon to help this club achieve its ambitions this season. Thank you to everyone for the support. It really doesn't go unnoticed and I really do appreciate it."Abee's 25 lead UNC Asheville over Saint Andrews 120-64Hyderabad: Three drug peddlers were arrested after the special operations team (SOT), LB Nagar zone along with Choutuppal police busted an interstate drug peddling racket on Tuesday, December 24. Around 14 kg of contraband ganja worth Rs 4 lakh were seized from them. The three accused – Chelluri Nagavenkata Krishnaveni, 39, a resident of Narsipatnam; Adduri Prasad, 29 and Kimudu Prashanth, 25, both auto drivers from Andhra Pradesh – were caught while transporting ganja from Narsipatnam in Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad, police said. They had purchased ganja from a man named Muthem Prasad in Narsipatnam at a price of Rs 5000 per kg and intended to sell it for Rs 12000 per kg in the city. Concealing the drugs in a luggage bag, the three men boarded a bus at Narsipatnam but decided to deboard at Choutuppal after they grew fearful of police checks. They decided to wait for further instructions from their Hyderabad handler, Tribhuwan Gopal Rewar. However, they were caught by the police at the Choutuppal bus stand. The three men turned drug peddlers in the hope of earning easy money after facing financial issues. All three have also spent jail time in the past for various crimes, police said.
Happy Tuesday! Rising stress in unsecured lending tightens the ropes for digital loan startups. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch. Also in the letter: ■ BookMyShow profit jumps ■ IT sector spending seen rising ■ Uber's strategic loyalty move Higher borrowing costs leave a strain on new-age NBFC profits The growing stress in the unsecured consumer lending industry is making life tough for digital lending startups which typically offer unsecured personal and business loans to consumers who are not catered to by banks and traditional lenders. Headline numbers: The net profit reported in the September quarter results by new-age non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) have shown either a decline from last year or mostly remained flat, as the macroeconomic situation in the country shows signs of stress. Be it consumer lending startups like Kreditbee and Fibe or business lending players like Kinara Capital and Lendingkart, profits have been harder to come by in the second quarter of this fiscal. Also Read: ETtech Exclusive: Inside the cash crisis, big valuation cut at Lendingkart Sectoral impact: A slowdown in the fintech lending sector might have two major impacts: It might push many borrowers into informal financing channels as demand for loans remains high. It will also disrupt other businesses like credit bureaus, account aggregators and technology service providers who depend on fintech lenders for business. Higher cost of doing business: Industry insiders told us that fintech lenders have seen their borrowing costs go up anywhere between 150 and 300 basis points (bps) across the spectrum. 100 bps is equivalent to 1%. Rating agencies have also built in this increase in the cost of borrowing in their calculations while underwriting these firms. For players operating in the secured credit space, costs have remained steady or climbed up slightly. Also Read: Digital lending sector sees slowdown in growth, higher bad loans as regulator increases scrutiny Prosus in talks to lead $50 million round in fintech firm Jar L-R, Misbah Ashraf and Nishchay AG, cofounders, Jar Prosus, the Dutch-listed investment fund from South Africa’s Naspers, has picked its next fintech bet , adding to new investments in India. Let’s get you the details. Deal brewing: The Swiggy and Meesho backer is in advanced talks to lead a $50 million funding round in for Jar, a fintech startup specialising in digital gold savings. This marks Prosus’ third significant deal in the Indian fintech and financing sector this year, following investments in Mintifi and Vastu Housing Finance . India in focus: Despite a turbulent run with Byju’s—leading to a $500 million write-off—Prosus is increasing its deal activity in India. CEO Fabricio Bloisi has doubled down on the market, reaffirming plans to back early-to-late-stage startups and eye IPO opportunities over the next 12-18 months. Besides the fintech bets, it also backed IPO-bound jewellery maker Bluestone this year , as first reported by ET. What’s Jar: Started in 2021, Bengaluru-based Jar enables users to save small amounts for digital gold investments. Its gross sale run-rate touched Rs 100 crore in October for its newly launched jewellery brand Nek. Also Read: Tiger Global leads fresh funding in fintech startup Jar, valuing it at $300 million Beyond gold: With its foray into Nek, which also sells lab-grown diamonds, Jar is tapping into the investment-oriented buying patterns of middle-class India. It will scale its lending business–through partners–next year once the round closes. Also Read: ETtech Exclusive | Closing new deals in India despite Byju's debacle: Prosus CEO Fabricio Bloisi BookMyShow FY24 revenue jumps 43% on live events growth; online ticketing drives profitability Ashish Hemrajani, founder, BookMyShow Online entertainment ticketing platform BookMyShow posted a 43% year-on-year (YoY) increase in its scale, primarily led by the nearly two-fold growth in its live events segment. More details: The Mumbai-based company, which turned profitable in FY23 , saw its net profit expand during FY24 mainly because of rapid topline growth. The company posted operating revenue of Rs 1,397 crore, and net profit of Rs 109 crore in FY24, according to its financial statements sourced from Tofler. Driving factors: Online ticketing remains the largest contributor to BookMyShow's revenue and profit. Live events, reported a loss of Rs 138 crore in FY24. Advertising and marketing revenue surged 107% to Rs 83 crore, up from Rs 40 crore and food and beverage sales jumped 800% to Rs 9 crore, compared to Rs 1 crore in FY23. Total revenue climbed 39% to Rs 1,430 crore in FY24, from Rs 1,026 crore in FY23. Growing competition: Going ahead, BookMyShow, the current leader in India's entertainment ticketing market with a 75% market share, may face strong competition from Zomato, which recently acquired Paytm's ticketing business for Rs 2,048 crore. On September 5, ET reported that this acquisition created uncertainty regarding KKR's planned investment of $250-300 million in BookMyShow to acquire a significant minority stake. Indian IT sector eyes revival with boost in client spending India's $254 billion IT services sector anticipates a modest recovery in client spending despite global uncertainties, with banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and digital transformation leading the way. Driving the news: IT spending is projected to grow by 1-3% in the January to March quarter (Q4) for BFSI, retail/consumer packaged goods (CPG), hi-tech and public sector digital transformation, according to research firm UnearthInsight. Keeping tabs: Infosys and HCLTech revised revenue guidance upward, reflecting early signs of recovery. Mid-tier firms like Persistent Systems and Coforge are expected to outperform tier 1 peers, driven by emerging tech like generative AI and cybersecurity. Sector watch: Gartner forecasts 11.2% growth in Indian IT spending for 2025, propelled by software, IT services, and technologies like data analytics and cybersecurity. IT hiring trends reversed, with 17,500 additions in Q2, reflecting sector optimism. Other Top Stories by Our Reporter Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO, Uber Uber to hitch a ride on its loyalty plan to stay ahead: Uber’s move to bring its global membership programme to India could help the ride-hailing platform boost its competitive position, at a time when it is facing increasing rivalry from the likes of WestBridge-funded Rapido, BluSmart and Google-backed Namma Yatri, mobility industry executives and investors said. India to address low representation in global internet governance fora, says minister Jitin Prasada: Correcting India’s underrepresentation in global internet governance fora where key decisions are made is a priority for the government, as India has one of the world’s largest internet user bases, minister of state for electronics and information technology Jitin Prasada said on Monday. Global Picks We Are Reading ■ China launches antitrust probe into Nvidia ( FT ) ■ Taking on the Tyranny of the Tech Bros (Wired) ■ How WhatsApp ate the world ( Rest of World )
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will celebrate Christmas aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with a gourmet feast in spite of being stranded in space since the month of June of the year 2024, reported People. ET Year-end Special Reads It's all Gucci for Indians' luxury craving even as economy shows wrinkles Investing in 2025: Will domestic funds continue to counter FPI sell-offs amid rising valuations? 2024 exposed the underbelly of India's Silicon Valley According to People, their festive menu will be including delicacies like smoked oysters, crab, duck foie gras, pate, cranberry sauce, atlantic lobster, croquettes and smoked salmon. The astronauts will enjoy a day off which will allow them to connect with their families through emails and internet phone calls, asserted People. NASA Flight Director Chloe Mehring noted that while isolation can be challenging, the crew in space still remains professional and positive. Their return to Earth has been delayed until the month of March of the year 2025which has been pushed back from the original February timeline. This delay is due to NASA and SpaceX teams needing additional time to process a new Dragon spacecraft, noted People. Suni Williams, who is the ISS Commander, expressed her severe excitement about spending the holidays with her six crewmates. At the same time, the crew will maintain their fitness routines and enjoy special holiday provisions delivered in a recent SpaceX shipment which included festive items like Santa hats and a small Christmas tree. 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NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will celebrate Christmas aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with a gourmet feast in spite of being stranded in space since the month of June of the year 2024. What will be included in the festive menu of Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore at the ISS? The festive menu of Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will be including delicacies like smoked oysters, crab, duck foie gras, pate, cranberry sauce, atlantic lobster, croquettes and smoked salmon. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )AlmaLinux Day Tokyo Returns on December 14, 2024 - Showcasing Enterprise Success and Innovations
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Out-of-form New Zealand opener Devon Conway will miss the third test against England in Hamilton to remain at home for the birth of his first child this week, the team said on Monday. Conway, who scored just 21 runs over four innings as the Black Caps suffered heavy losses in the first two tests, will be replaced in the squad by uncapped all-rounder Mark Chapman. "Family comes first in this environment and we're all really excited for Dev and his wife Kim to welcome their first child," said coach Gary Stead. "Mark was with the test squad in India recently and returned to the Plunket Shield by scoring an impressive 276 - so it's a good time for him to be joining us." The absence of Conway might also give the ultra-loyal Stead the opportunity to bring Will Young into the batting line-up for the final test of the series, which starts at Seddon Park on Saturday. Young scored 244 runs and was named Player of the Series when New Zealand stunned the cricketing world by sweeping India 3-0 in late October and early November but was dropped for Kane Williamson for the England series. Conway's wife Kim went public on social media after suffering a miscarriage at the start of the year, saying she did not want to feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. "We will have our miracle one day and we will love them with everything," she wrote in a post on Instagram.PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — The Rose Bowl is the next stop on No. 1 Oregon's national championship quest. And Ohio State or Tennessee will be the Ducks' opponent in the 111th edition of the Granddaddy of Them All. Oregon (13-0) received the top seed in the first 12-team College Football Playoff on Sunday, sending the Ducks to celebrate the new year in Pasadena for the ninth time in school history as they continue to fight for their school's first national title. “Being on this side of the country, this is a game you dream of the opportunity to coach in,” said Oregon coach Dan Lanning, who will be in his first Rose Bowl. “It’s certainly a thrill for me. Obviously, a big fan of our program and influence in our program is Phil Knight, and Phil always told me his No. 1 goal is, ‘Can we get to the Rose Bowl?’ So I’m extremely ecstatic that our team gets to be a part of such a historic game.” But first, the eighth-seeded Buckeyes (10-2) and the ninth-seeded Volunteers (10-2) will meet in Columbus on Saturday, Dec. 21, to determine Oregon's opponent in the Rose Bowl Game, which is also a playoff quarterfinal. Tennessee is in the playoff for the first time, and coach Josh Heupel believes the Vols are ready. “It’s the next step for our program,” Heupel said. “This is something that our players have worked towards since last January, and you earn the right to be in a game like this. Proud of what we’ve done through the course of the regular season. The new season starts here. There was an expectation inside of our program to earn the right to play in a game like this.” As for the idea of an SEC team traveling north to frigid central Ohio, Heupel points out that Knoxville isn't exactly Southern California. “Not sure what the temperature will be up there, and I know it won’t be sunny and 85,” Heupel said. “We played in 30-degree weather a week ago (against Vanderbilt). For us, a lot of our practices are in the morning. (When) we’re outside, it’ll be similar temperatures to what you get up there. Our guys will be able to handle anything that comes at them.” The first-round matchup pits a pair of college football powerhouses with little history together. The Volunteers beat the Buckeyes 20-14 in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 1996, in the schools' only previous meeting. Ohio State got home-field advantage despite missing out on a Big Ten title game date with Oregon after a humiliating 13-10 loss at home to Michigan last month. The Buckeyes also lost a 32-31 thriller to the Ducks in Eugene in October, but they might still get that rematch in California. Oregon is clearly the class of this jumbled college football season, finishing as the only undefeated team in the FBS and the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 after holding off Penn State 45-37 to win its first Big Ten championship. The Ducks' road to a title looks fairly daunting with two elite opponents vying for their quarterfinal shot, and social media filled up Sunday with fans and commentators bemoaning the relative difficulty of Oregon's path. The rough road doesn't bother Lanning, however. “What an opportunity, right?” Lanning said on ESPN. “We focus on the things that you can control, and winning a national championship isn’t supposed to be easy. If our path is a little bit tougher, kudos to us if we go through it and take care of business.” For decades, the Rose Bowl cherished its position as a near-annual meeting of teams from the Big Ten and the West Coast conference most recently known as the Pac-12. The breakup of the Pac-12 and the permanent change in the Rose Bowl's postseason position happened simultaneously over the past year, throwing the bowl's future into flux. But Oregon's familiar presence in Pasadena next month will smooth that change significantly — and if the Ducks' opponent is Ohio State, the traditionalists will still get exactly what they crave out of this game anyway. Oregon and Ohio State met in the Rose Bowl in 1958 and again on Jan. 1, 2010, with Terrelle Pryor leading the Buckeyes to a 26-17 victory. Oregon is 4-4 in its previous trips to the Rose Bowl, and the modern Ducks have spent their holiday in Pasadena four times since 2010. They’ve won in their past three appearances in the Granddaddy, most recently beating Wisconsin 28-27 in Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s final game for his hometown school in 2020. Ohio State has made 16 previous appearances in the Rose Bowl, third-most in the game's history behind USC (34) and Michigan (21). The Buckeyes have won their last four games in Pasadena, most recently beating Washington in 2019 and Utah in 2022 . A trip to Pasadena would be a treat for Tennessee's vast fan base. The Vols made two trips to the Rose Bowl during the 1940s, but they haven't been back there since 1945. Oregon and Tennessee have faced each other twice, with the Ducks winning both matchups in 2010 and in 2013. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballEmbiid scores 31 in triumphant NBA return for 76ers
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As Ghana concluded its 2024 general elections, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development and its fact-checking subsidiary, DUBAWA, have restated their commitment to ensuring transparent, credible, and inclusive elections. Ghana’s former president John Drahami Mahama won a historic comeback election victory on Sunday after the ruling party accepted defeat with voters appearing to punish them for the government’s handling of an economic crisis. According to AFP, following Saturday’s election, New Patriotic Party candidate Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia on Sunday conceded Ghanaians wanted change after he failed to shake off widespread frustration over high costs of living. His defeat ended eight years in power for the NPP under President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose last term was marked by the country’s worst economic turmoil in years, high inflation and a debt default. CJID deployed 19 observers, fact-checkers, and OSINT analysts to monitor and verify information circulating ahead of the and during the December polls. The personnel worked through the organisation’s Media in National Elections initiative and verification campaigns, focusing on countering misinformation and disinformation that could undermine public trust in the electoral outcome. In its earlier two reports, CJID provided insights into citizens’ perceptions of the electoral environment as well as patterns and threats posed by misinformation and disinformation. Related News INEC chair commends Ghana poll, highlights lessons for Nigeria Jonathan leads West Africa Elders Forum to Ghana election Ghana’s deputy finance minister pulls gun on youths in self-defence Additionally, CJID’s Digital Technology, AI, and Information Disorder Analysis Centre identified online trends threatening electoral integrity. In the latest article published by DUBAWA Ghana (“Agyapadie Circus: A Make-Believe Toxic Politico-Ethnic Document for Election”), DUBAWA found evidence of political propaganda spreading on social media ahead of the polls. DUBAWA Ghana also successfully debunked AI-generated deepfake content circulating on social media platforms, further exposing the novel tactics used to manipulate public opinion. To address these challenges, the CJID collaborated closely with the Ghana Fact-checking Coalition, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, and tech partners, including META and TikTok. Three situation rooms were established in Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi, enabling real-time monitoring, rapid verification, and prompt responses to misleading claims that could sway voters or incite tension. “Our goal is to strengthen trust, encourage informed participation, and ensure a peaceful electoral environment,” said the Director of Programs at CJID, Akintunde Babatunde. “By working together, citizens and institutions can uphold democratic values and safeguard Ghana’s longstanding reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies.”The need for online privacy is growing, which is why most people are turning towards VPNs to secure their internet activity. These tools offer significant benefits, but they aren’t a complete shield. Here is what a VPN actually protects and what remains exposed. A VPN is a tool that helps you stay private and secure when browsing the internet. It works by hiding your data and routing it through a secure server in a different location, which makes it difficult for others to monitor your online activity. For example, let’s say you connect to a public Wi-Fi network at a cafe. If you are using a VPN, it will encrypt your data, hide your details, and make sure no one can see what you are doing online. Without one, anyone could potentially intercept your data and steal your details over such a network. One of the common VPN-related misconceptions is that it makes you completely anonymous. This is not entirely true, though it does a good job of protecting and hiding specific types of data. Here’s a closer look at the types of data a VPN helps keep under wraps. Your ISP (internet service provider) can see more than you might think when you’re browsing online without a VPN. This includes: When you use a VPN, it encrypts all of this data before it leaves your device. This means that your ISP will be able to see that you are connected to a VPN server, but nothing beyond that. Your IP address shows where you’re connecting from and links your online activity to your location. This information might seem trivial, but it can reveal quite a lot, which websites, advertisers, and even hackers can use to target you. A VPN masks this data, and replaces your IP with one from its own server. This way, websites and trackers cannot link your activity back to your real identity or location. One of the reasons you see ads for local businesses or have websites adjust their content for your area is because your IP address reveals your location. Since a VPN hides your IP address, it also hides where you are connecting from. For example, if you are choosing a server in the USA while sitting in Japan, it will look like you are connected to the internet from the USA instead of your actual location. Beyond hiding your identity, it can also help you access region-specific content and avoid certain location-based ads. Your bandwidth usage is the amount of data you send and receive while online. This includes everything from streaming, downloading, and even simply browsing. Your ISP monitors this data, and often uses it to check how much bandwidth you’re consuming and for what purpose. For instance, if you’re streaming videos or downloading large files, they might slow down your connection (also known as throttling). Since a VPN encrypts this data, your ISP won’t be able to determine if you are streaming, browsing, or doing anything else. Your ISP can see that you are using a VPN, but some of the most reputable VPNs have features to make this less obvious. They offer obfuscation tools that make VPN traffic look like normal traffic. This can be helpful if you’re on a network that restricts VPN usage or if you want to ensure even greater privacy. Now that we know what exactly VPNs hide, let’s take a look at what they don’t (and can’t). Firstly, VPNs don’t mask the information that you share online voluntarily. This can include logging into your socials or entering your private information (location, phone number) somewhere else. Similarly, they don’t hide cookies, which are small files that websites use to track your activity and remember your preferences. Cookies are usually stored on your device, so even with a VPN, websites can still recognize you if those cookies aren’t cleared. Another thing to keep in mind is that a VPN doesn’t make your device invisible. Apps or services that require GPS access, like maps or ride-sharing platforms, can still determine your physical location. And let’s not forget; not all VPN providers are trustworthy. Some might have access to certain data of yours, such as the servers you connect to or the times you’re online. This information could potentially be shared or exposed. To stay safe, consider a VPN that has a no-log policy. This makes sure that your data remains as private as possible. In conclusion, while a VPN is a great tool for protecting your privacy, it is not a complete solution. Even when you are using one, pair it with good practices like clearing cookies regularly and being cautious about the personal information you share. There are quite a few practices you should follow when choosing a VPN for a better online experience. You have the option to pick between several paid and free VPN options out there. Alternatively, you can use VPN together with a proxy . Image credit: Pixaby Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox Zainab is an Actuarial Sciences graduate from Pakistan with a passion for technology. When she's not busy writing insightful pieces on Windows and the latest tech trends, you'll find her with her nose buried in a productivity book, always on the lookout for ways to optimize her workflow and stay ahead of the curve.
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By Abby Badach Doyle, NerdWallet It won’t be impossible to buy a house in 2025 — just be prepared to play on hard mode. According to a November 2024 report from ICE Mortgage Technology, the monthly principal and interest payment on an average-priced home is $2,385. While that’s not the highest it’s ever been, it’s still a sharp increase — nearly 80% — from just three years ago. In November 2021, when mortgage rates averaged 3%, the monthly principal and interest on an average-priced home was $1,327 per month. So here’s the key to buying in 2025: Look ahead, not back. Regret won’t help you budget for today’s new normal. And with this year’s election also in the rearview mirror, so is some uncertainty among buyers and sellers that historically slows the market during every presidential election cycle. “People have just been kind of sitting waiting to see what’s going to happen,” says Courtney Johnson Rose, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, an industry group for Black real estate agents. “I’m hopeful that the new year will bring more attention to real estate, more excitement to real estate, and more opportunities for first-time home owners to get in the game.” Preparing to buy a house is a lot like dressing for the weather. It’s easier when the outlook is sunny — but with some planning, you can gear up to face any condition. Here’s what housing market experts are forecasting for the upcoming year. Related Articles Travel scams that can hurt your credit or finances For some FSA dollars, it’s use it or lose it at year’s end Savings rates stay strong despite dips: A 2024 recap and what’s next for 2025 Are religious people more generous than non-religious people? What new study finds How to avoid financial stress during the holiday season First, home prices: We’ll likely see more modest growth in 2025, a change from skyrocketing prices in recent years. After 16 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases, the median existing-home sales price hit $407,200 in October, according to the National Association of Realtors. In 2025, with more supply trickling in to temper price increases, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun forecasts a median existing-home sales price of $410,700, up just 2% over this year. Next, housing inventory: Demand still outpaces supply. While we don’t expect a return to a buyer’s market, competition should be less cutthroat. Realtor.com forecasts a balanced market in 2025 with an average 4.1-month supply of homes for sale, up from an average 3.7-month supply so far in 2024. That would make 2025 the friendliest market for buyers since 2016, which had an average 4.4-month supply. Finally, mortgage rates: After topping 8% in October 2023, the 30-year mortgage rate has slowly eased into the 6.5%-7% range this year. Rate cuts from the Federal Reserve have helped nudge that downward. Despite earlier optimism, forecasters’ latest consensus is for rates to effectively plateau above 6% throughout 2025. That said, every year has its wild cards. In 2025, it’s still uncertain how President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican-led Congress might shake up regulations and tax policies that affect the U.S. housing market. National forecasts don’t analyze what matters most: Your personal cash flow. To get ready to buy, first meet with a financial advisor or use an online calculator to determine how much house you can afford . You can also get free or low-cost advice from a housing counselor sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Next, look into down payment and closing cost assistance from state housing finance agencies, local governments, nonprofits and mortgage lenders. Your employer or labor union might offer assistance, too. First-time buyers with income below their area median have the most options, but repeat or higher-income borrowers can qualify for some programs as well. “I think that there’s a lot of free money being left out there,” Rose says. Your not-so-secret weapon for buying in 2025 just might be an experienced buyer’s agent. “Anybody can write a contract,” says Sharon Parker, associate broker with Tate & Foss Sotheby’s International Realty in Rye, New Hampshire. “But you need somebody who’s seen the market, the ups and downs, who knows how to get creative because every transaction is different.” Following a settlement with the NAR , buyers can now negotiate their agent’s compensation up front. (Previously, home sellers took on that task.) While new norms are still shaking out, Rose says she hasn’t seen too much drama since the change took effect in August. “So as long as buyers remember that we have to talk about this in the beginning of our relationship, everything typically works out fine,” she says. Finally, it’s time to shop for a mortgage. To get the best interest rate, get a quote with at least three different lenders. You could also delegate the shopping to a mortgage broker, who can compare quotes and even negotiate a lower rate on your behalf. Though brokers charge a fee, their access to more mortgage options and lower rates can often mean net savings overall. With a mortgage preapproval in hand, it’s go time. And you don’t have to wait until spring: If you’re ready to buy now, buyers have less competition and more negotiating power from December through February, so you could snag a deal. “The people who are selling and the people who are buying in the off season are very serious,” Parker says. “They’re not just lookie-loos.” However, lower inventory means fewer choices for buyers. So start your search prepared to compromise — a “good enough” house will still help you build equity. If a down payment or monthly mortgage payment is financially out of reach, there’s no shame in postponing your search to pad your savings. And owning a home isn’t the right lifestyle choice for everyone, with the ongoing commitment of money and time. But once you’re ready to buy — whether for the first time, or to upgrade or downsize — avoid the trap of waiting for a dip in mortgage rates. “Nobody can predict what the market, or the world, is going to do,” Parker says. “There is no better time than right now.” Mortgage rates will always fluctuate, and if they drop significantly, you can refinance. For first-time buyers, homeownership is a major financial glow-up — and the sooner you jump in, the longer you’ll have to build home equity. “Time value of money is really, really critical when it comes to real estate,” Rose says. “So I would always encourage somebody to buy as soon as you can and get the clock ticking.” More From NerdWallet Abby Badach Doyle writes for NerdWallet. Email: abadachdoyle@nerdwallet.com. The article Buying a House in 2025: Your How-To Guide originally appeared on NerdWallet .
A trigger-happy policeman in Delta State has been identified, arrested and detained for reportedly gunning down a 17-year-old boy, Emeka Odogwu, in Ozoro community, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state. The gory incident was said to have occurred on Saturday night when policemen stormed the area after having found fireworks, otherwise known as knockout, in the victim’s possession. PUNCH Metro gathered that efforts by the security operatives to arrest the teenager were resisted and when he attempted to escape, one of the policemen reportedly opened fire and killed him. When contacted on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident noting, “The policeman has been identified and detained.” The PPRO also said that the state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, has waded into the matter. “The CP has assured the family of justice”, Edafe affirmed. Related News 29 states spent N2tn on travels, others — Report Young professionals rise against cultism, others in Delta community Delta won’t borrow to execute 2025 budget – Commissioner In a swift reaction, a human rights group, Initiative For Social Rights Concerns And Advancement a.k.a. “No Justice, No Peace”, has strongly condemned the alleged killing of the young boy by the policeman. The group’s National Coordinator, Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, in a statement, urged the Delta State Police Command, to “carry out a thorough investigation on the matter and bring the erring officer to justice.” While condoling with the deceased’s family, Agberen also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians especially indigenes of Ozoro community to “be civil in their approach at all times, especially when dealing with armed police officers.” He said, “I sympathise with the family of the young boy who was allegedly shot by a police officer at Ozoro last night, arising from knockouts (fireworks) that were found in his possession. “It was alleged that the young man resisted arrest and while he was running, he was shot by one of the police officers. “I condemn in strong terms, the unprofessional conduct of the police operative alleged to have perpetuated the act.”
16 Days of Activism: Ogun commits to safety for women, girlsBy JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
When measuring the impact of creatives, marketers typically rely on circumstantial evidence. Brand awareness and sales trends are important and provide useful KPI numbers, but they reflect the entire campaign. They don’t tell you what part of the creative is connecting with people. Is it the copy, the images, the audio? And while A/B testing can shed some light, it doesn’t get to a granular level. It doesn’t tell you if some parts are more effective than others. This explains why only 36% of marketers in a recent survey said they are ‘very confident’ in their ability to track creative performance effectively. The survey, from Plus Company, gathered information from 350 senior marketing professionals at B2B and B2C organizations in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Germany with more than 1,500 employees. Sixty-eight percent said difficulties in assessing creatives lead to inefficient resource allocation, and 44% said they missed opportunities for growth because of it. Fortunately, there is now a tool that is seemingly designed for measuring creative impact: artificial intelligence. “AI is good at breaking something into its component parts,” said Michael Cohen, chief data & analytics officer for Plus Company and the study’s co-author. “In the classic image recognition problem, it’s fundamentally breaking it down to be able to answer the question.” Multiple data sources The ability to do that makes it possible to tag aspects of the creatives. The AI can then find the common elements in the highest-performing campaigns. That information can be used in campaign iterations. The data can be enriched with information about individual reactions to the creative that lead to successful interactions. “You have the knowledge about who is seeing a particular creative in a particular configuration and who is not,” said Cohen. “So you learn how effective that creative was in a particular communication moment for a particular individual.” This would be a huge step up from how marketers are currently gathering information to improve their campaigns. Three-quarters of those in the Plus Company survey say that still rely on methods like lift studies, media mix and attribution modeling, and incrementality testings. These time and labor-intensive approaches mean missed opportunities and reduced competitiveness in an increasingly fast-paced market. This gap in real-time access can seriously impact a brand’s ability to stay relevant. Something marketers are keenly aware of: 58% of those surveyed cited a lack of real-time data and insights as hindering their ability to adapt creative strategies on the fly. A new power of connection “It comes down to AI unlocking this new power of connection that has been a really broken part of our category for a pretty long time,” said Crystalyn Stuart-Loayza, the study’s other co-author and chief digital officer for two of Plus Company’s agencies. “Historically, experiments have been done in silos as opposed to really integrated, fulsome motions that let us test and experiment with all facets of a program and have real-time learnings.” Marketers seeking to use AI to measure creative impact are going to face non-technological hurdles. Even though 88% of marketers say AI is valuable for generating responsive content, only 52% have fully integrated it into workflows. A common barrier? Resistance to change, 45% of marketers say is a significant problem, a figure that rises to 71% in smaller companies. This reluctance to adopt new technologies combines with less interest in AI at higher levels of organizations. Mid-level marketing professionals are the most enthusiastic about AI, with 57% calling it“very helpful.” However, at the VP level, that enthusiasm drops to 49%, largely due to very reasonable concerns about costs. The full survey can be found (no registration required). Email:Eagles seek 7th straight win while Rams try to keep pace in crowded NFC West race
Ravens coach John Harbaugh mum on suspended WR Diontae JohnsonAP News Summary at 6:44 p.m. EST