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Digital ID for age verification in alcohol sales gets varied guises in Delhi, Istanbul, UKLike its predecessor, “ Gladiator II ” is inspired by history. That doesn’t mean it’s bound by actual historical facts, however. Now in theaters, Ridley Scott’s follow-up to his 2000 epic “ Gladiator ” follows Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Russell Crowe’s warrior Maximus, during the reign of twin emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). It features characters based on real historical figures as well as those created for the film. Much like its predecessor, “Gladiator II” centers on spectacular gladiatorial games held at the Colosseum, which pits captive warriors like Lucius against other men as well as animals in combat. In honor of the wild contests featured in the film, we asked experts what types of outrageous events actually happened in the Colosseum. There may not have been sharks, but there were sea battles The Colosseum today might not appear to be a site that could have hosted water battles, but experts say they happened. “Sometimes there would be a naval battle that was staged” as part of the games, says Andrew Scott, a professor of classical studies at Villanova University. “That was maybe a little bit rare, but there is a lot of attestations of that.” He explained that when the Colosseum was opened during the reign of emperor Titus, historical reenactments of naval battles from the 5th century BC were staged. But even before then, the first Roman emperor Augustus is said to have staged sea battles involving thousands of participants at a different venue. The presence of sharks at these battles (called naumachiae) is quite unlikely, however. “I can’t think of an instance where an ancient source talks about that sort of wildlife,” says Scott. According to the book “The Colosseum,” by Keith Hopkins and Mary Beard, historian Cassius Dio wrote that “horses and bulls and other domesticated animals” were brought out as part of Titus’ aquatic show. Semi-aquatic wildlife, such as crocodiles, were involved in other spectacles: “The Colosseum” mentions Dio’s account of one of Augustus’ animal hunts featuring “36 crocodiles.” In fact, all sorts of animals were part of the show Historians say many more animals than humans were involved in entertainment events at arenas like the Colosseum. They were generally used in staged hunts, as well as public executions. They were also pitted against each other. According to Scott, such events allowed an emperor to show off what sort of animals could be procured from the far reaches of the empire that people in Rome had never seen before. The animals said to have been featured in various Roman spectacles include hippopotamuses, elephants, rhinoceroses, bears, ostriches and big cats like lions and tigers. “Historian Cassius Dio talks about an animal that he refers to as a cameleopard,” says Scott. A cameleopard may evoke the image of a mysterious exotic big cat, but it’s what ancient Romans called giraffes based on their appearance. Sometimes emperors were gladiators, too Generally, emperors sponsored gladiatorial games to boost their popularity and to showcase their might. But at least one emperor participated in the arena spectacles in order to further bask in the public’s attention. Commodus, the emperor who was the basis for the character in “Gladiator” (2000), was “an emperor we are told actually performed in the arena,” says Scott. “There’s this long section in a book by the Roman historian Cassius Dio where he talks about how Commodus participated in the hunting games [and] performed as a gladiator.” The real-life counterparts to “Gladiator II’s” emperors were a slightly different story. “I don’t think we have direct evidence of Caracalla participating in the games, but there’s a lot of talk in the ancient sources about how he liked to drive his chariot,” said ”I think in this period, there can be sort of a melding of this emperor persona with the popularity of an arena performer.” Hollywood has nothing on ancient Romans’ own Colosseum stories It’s no surprise that blockbusters like “Gladiator II” embellish historical facts to make sure audiences are entertained. But Hollywood storytellers aren’t the only ones. Ancient Roman historians and poets alike wrote about the thousands of people and animals involved in various arena events. But the most shocking (at least to modern sensibilities) might not have been a combat or hunting simulation. According to “The Colosseum,” the ancient Roman poet Martial wrote that the opening events of the amphitheater included reenactments from mythology. Supposedly, the story of how the half-human/half-bull Minotaur came to be was acted out in the arena between a woman and a live animal. But whether Martial meant this literally or was using a little creative license of his own is up for readers to debate.
IT entrepreneur David Steward is the wealthiest African American man in the nation. According to Forbes , his net worth is at a record $11.4 billion dollars, making him part of the only one percent of Black entrepreneurs or executives on the impressive list. The multi-billionaire has a true “rags to riches” story, but his fight and dedication to technology, family, and all people sets him apart from others in the business. This is the evolution of David L. Steward. A version of this article originally appeared on The Root. 2 / 19 Born Born Steward was born in Chicago, but his family moved to Missouri when he was a child, according to NMSDC . He was raised in the segregated South with his seven siblings. His father worked as a mechanic, janitor, and trash collector to support his family. 3 / 19 College College The Central Missouri University alumnus graduated in 1973 with a Bachelors of Science in business. 4 / 19 Pursuing Sales Pursuing Sales Soon after graduating, the Missouri native pursued a career in sales with Missouri Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific, and FedEx. He was even named salesman of the year at FedEx. 5 / 19 Marriage Marriage Steward and his wife, Thelma, married in 1977. The couple has been married for almost 50 years. 6 / 19 Stepping Into Business Stepping Into Business In 1983, the businessman bought his first business, an auditing company named Transportation Business Specialists, with several loans from local banks across Missouri. 7 / 19 Hard Times Hard Times Steward co-founded World Wide Technology (WWT) in 1990. During the early years of the company, he faced financial hardships, at times forgoing a paycheck and witnessing his car being repossessed from the office parking lot. 8 / 19 Living in the Land of the Free Living in the Land of the Free Despite the setbacks, the 73-year-old billionaire businessman said “The breadth and depth of opportunities we have here [in the U.S.], coupled with a culture that allows you to be all you can be, makes it possible for anyone to be successful,” according to the Horatio Alger Association. 9 / 19 Expansion Expansion WWT soon expanded to offer full-scale technology solutions— “ranging from cloud computing and data analytics to cybersecurity and digital transformation services,” according to Black Engineer. 10 / 19 Big Break Big Break When the company secured contracts with government agencies and Fortune 500 companies, it positioned itself as a trusted technology leader. 11 / 19 Growing to Billions Growing to Billions Now, the company employs over 10,000 people and rakes in over $20 billion in annual revenues and over $6 million in international income. 12 / 19 Steward as an Author Steward as an Author In 2004, Steward penned his first book with the help of author Robert L. Shook. Their book, “Doing Business by the Good Book,” is described as “an indispensable volume that shows how to succeed in business by using the Bible and its lessons as a source of inspiration and guidance,” according to Amazon . 13 / 19 Supporting Sen. Tim Scott Supporting Sen. Tim Scott The billionaire is no stranger to supporting political campaigns. In 2023, Sen. Tim Scott tapped Steward to be the finance chair of Scott’s 2024 presidential campaign, according to CNBC . 14 / 19 Joining Other Organizations Joining Other Organizations He serves on the Executive Committee of Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the boards of National Academy Foundation (NAF), United Way of Greater St. Louis, Concordance Academy, Washington University, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, Boy Scouts of America and many other organizations. 15 / 19 Honorary Degrees Honorary Degrees Steward holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Washington University. He also has an Honorary Doctorates in Humane Letters from several colleges and universities. 16 / 19 Family Family The businessman has two children, Kimberly and David II. Kimberly is an Oscar-nominated film producer, and David II leads Lion Forge Animation, a media company dedicated to diverse storytelling. 17 / 19 Philanthropy Philanthropy The David and Thelma Steward Family Foundation— named after the billionaire and his wife— provides millions in donations to causes related to education, youth development, military families, and underserved communities, according to Black Engineer. 18 / 19 Now Surpassing Robert Smith Now Surpassing Robert Smith This year, Steward beat out Vista Equity Partners founder Robert Smith for the no. 1 spot on Forbes’ Richest Black People list. Smith, who’s net worth comes in at $10.8 billion, ranks no. 88 on Forbes 400 list. Steward comes in at no. 84 19 / 19NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted amid mixed trading Monday, ahead of this week’s upcoming meeting by the Federal Reserve that could set Wall Street’s direction into next year. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, coming off its first losing week in the last four . The Nasdaq composite climbed 1.2% to a record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was a laggard and fell 110 points, or 0.3%. Broadcom leaped 11.2% to help lead the S&P 500 for a second straight day after delivering a profit report last week that beat analysts’ expectations. The technology company is riding a wave of enthusiasm about its artificial-intelligence offerings in particular. The market’s main event, though, will arrive on Wednesday when the Federal Reserve will announce its last move on interest rates for the year. The widespread expectation is that it will cut its main rate for a third straight time, as it tries to boost the slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its target of 2%. The question is how much more it will cut rates next year, and Fed officials will release projections for where they see the federal funds rate ending 2025, along with other economic indicators, once their meeting concludes. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will also answer questions in a press conference following the meeting. For now, the general expectation among traders is that the Fed may cut a couple more times in 2025, according to data from CME Group. But such expectations have been shrinking following reports suggesting inflation may be tougher to get all the way down to 2% from here. Besides last month’s slight acceleration in inflation, another worry is that President-elect Donald Trump’s preferences for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation down the line. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle has dropped his earlier forecast of a cut by the Fed in January, for example. Beyond the possibility of tariffs, he said Fed officials may also want to slow their cuts because of uncertainty about exactly how low rates need to go so that they no longer press the brakes on the economy. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year and is heading for one of its best years of the millennium . The economy has held up better than many feared, continuing to grow even after the Fed hiked the federal funds rate to a two-decade high in hopes of grinding down on inflation, which topped 9% two summers ago. On Wall Street, MicroStrategy jumped as much as 7% during the day as it continues to benefit from the surging price for bitcoin , which set another all-time high. But its stock ended the day down by les than 0.1% after bitcoin’s price pulled back below $106,000 after setting a record above $107,700, according to CoinDesk. The software company has been building its hoard of the cryptocurrency, and its stock price has more than sextupled this year. It will also soon join the Nasdaq 100 index. Bitcoin’s price has catapulted from roughly $44,000 at the start of the year, riding a recent wave of enthusiasm that Trump will create a system that’s more favorable to digital currencies . Honeywell rose 3.7% after saying it’s still considering a spin-off or sale of its aerospace business, as part of a review of its overall business. It said it plans to give an update with the release of its fourth-quarter results. They helped offset a drop for Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into AI. Its stock fell 1.7%. Because it’s grown so massive, with a total value topping $3 trillion, it was the single heaviest weight on the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 22.99 points to 6,074.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 110.58 to 43,717.48, and the Nasdaq composite rose 247.17 to 20,173.89. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.39% from 4.40% late Friday. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, eased to 4.24% from 4.25%. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly across much of Europe and Asia. They sank 0.9% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai after China reported lackluster economic indicators for November despite attempts to strengthen the world’s second-largest economy. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.2% as law enforcement authorities pushed to summon impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree, and the Constitutional Court met to discuss whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
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
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The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) — All Wright had 26 points in Valparaiso’s 93-77 victory against Central Michigan on Saturday night. Wright shot 7 for 16 (4 for 8 from 3-point range) and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Beacons (5-4). Tyler Schmidt scored 21 points and added six rebounds. Jefferson Monegro had 16 points and shot 3 for 5 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. The Chippewas (5-4) were led in scoring by Anthony Pritchard, who finished with 20 points and six rebounds. Ugnius Jarusevicius added 18 points and six rebounds for Central Michigan. Jakobi Heady had 13 points, six rebounds and three steals. Valparaiso led Central Michigan 36-31 at the half, with Wright (13 points) its high scorer before the break. Valparaiso took the lead for what would be the final time on Schmidt’s 3-pointer with 10:13 remaining in the second half. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Stock market today: Nasdaq hits a record as Wall Street drifts ahead of Federal Reserve's meetingThe right watch can become the defining piece of any outfit, but you don't even need to shell out millions of dollars for one of the most expensive watches ever sold . Even a stunning luxury watch doesn't have to break the bank. With that being said, there's a ton of misinformation out there concerning luxury watches, and it's important to separate fact from fiction before spending that kind of money. Some luxury watch myths were once true, but advancing technology has made them moot points. Other myths might make you think you need to spend more money than you actually need to. A superb watch should cost more than what you'll spend on one from Temu, but the industry doesn't live and die by Rolex's standards, either. Watches are like any other collector's item out there, from purses, to fine art, to clothing. People are willing to spend a lot of money on them, and certain sellers will be more than happy to exploit myths to get consumers to spend even more. Even if a particular myth is pretty harmless, learning what's factual will make you seem like a more informed buyer when the time comes to shell out dough for an exceptional timepiece. When most people think of luxury watches, the first name to come to mind is undoubtedly Rolex. And that's not without reason; Rolex crafts excellent timepieces with immaculate designs and precise engineering. The company has been around for over a century, and it's certainly earned its spot within the pantheon of great watches. However, the conversation surrounding luxury watches shouldn't end with Rolex. There are numerous other brands out there, and depending on who you ask, some might be seen as better than Rolex. When SlashGear ranked every major luxury watch brand , Patek Philippe actually came out on top. That brand also uses the highest-grade materials in its products (and charges a pretty penny), but even if you don't want to spend a fortune, there are plenty of other names that may be more your speed without sacrificing much in the way of quality. There's rarely an objective "best" of anything — usually there's simply whatever's best for you. A Rolex may not be the best option for your personal style, and you have to be aware that Rolexes are frequently counterfeited, so you should be careful, especially if you're buying from a secondhand source. Besides, Rolex watches can be seen as more of a status symbol than anything else, so if you don't feel the need to brag about how much money you have, another option may be preferable. Even ignoring luxury watches that go for millions of dollars, some folks may believe they have to shell out an annual salary to get a great item, and indeed some higher-end watches can go for $30,000 or even more. However, there's no reason to spend that much if it's out of your budget. Naturally, these aren't going to be Fossil watches you can get for under $100 a piece, but after some research, you should discover you don't have to pick between a watch or a new car. There are numerous affordable luxury watch brands out there, including Oris, Bulova, Seiko, and Tissot, to name a few. Seiko has been around since the 19th century, and some its watches sell for only a few hundred dollars. It's a brand name people trust but with options that don't require taking out a bank loan. You can also save money by looking into the used market. This can involve browsing through local thrift shops or seeing what refurbished models are available from major retailers. Even Walmart sells preowned watches, including Rolexes, that are a fraction of the price of what they would go for used. Plus, you can always lie, so no one ever has to know you bought your fancy new watch from Walmart. To luxury watch aficionados, "Swiss made" is a critical signifier. Switzerland has become synonymous with exceptional watch-making thanks to centuries of honing the craft, so for anyone who wants a timepiece they can proudly show off to the highest rung of society, having it be "Swiss made" is vital. However, that phrase has created a bit of confusion as to how much of a given watch was actually manufactured in Switzerland. You may think it indicates 100%, but that's far from the case. In order for a company to market a watch as "Swiss made," only about 60% of the work actually needs to have taken place there. Testing and assembly need to occur in Switzerland, while the manufacturer has to make at least half of the components there. A good amount of the work definitely needs to happen in Switzerland, but it's certainly not all. With that in mind, you may see some watches marketed as being "100% Swiss Made." That means every last detail happened in Switzerland, so knowing the difference can help you decide if a truly Swiss watch is worth the price for you. Those familiar with watch-making history may have heard of the Quartz Crisis. Throughout the 1970s and '80s, quartz watches overtook the industry with the promise of more accurate time-telling and cheaper production. This opened up the market to a new demographic and nearly tanked the entire Swiss watchmaking industry. Of course, Swiss manufacturers were able to rebound, but the myth persists that quartz luxury watches are always preferable to mechanical. Again, this really comes down to personal preference. Quartz watches utilize batteries to keep track of time while mechanical pieces utilize a mainspring. If you don't regularly wind a mechanical watch, it'll become less accurate and eventually stop working entirely. However, mechanical watches can still be perfectly accurate, which is incredibly impressive considering it's relying on a system of tiny springs, gears, and screws to showcase the time. Some consumers may prefer the more ornate design of a mechanical watch over a more simplistic quartz option. There's also the personal preference over whether you want your watch to tick every second with a quartz watch or simply make a smooth sweeping motion, which is what you get with mechanical. There's no right answer here, but that means one can't make generalized statements over a certain type being "better." Another difference to be aware of when looking at luxury watches is automatic versus mechanical. Automatic watches become wound through the natural movement of your wrist winding up the mainspring whereas mechanical watches require manual winding. Mechanical watches can be overwound, which is why users should stop winding them as soon as they begin to feel resistance from the internal components. Seeing as mechanical watches existed before automatic, the idea of becoming overwound seems to have extended to the automatic variety, even when that's not the case. There's no real way to overwind an automatic watch by moving your wrist around too often. This is thanks to the inclusion of a rotor mechanism that prevents the mainspring from getting wound up too much through wrist movements. You could flap your arms around all day without worrying of internal damage to the watch. However, that doesn't mean automatic watches are indestructible. They can still come with a manual winding crank, which turning too much could damage the mainspring, but you shouldn't need to do that as long as you wear it regularly. It's a good idea to wear such a watch often so that it receives the necessary movement to keep track of the time. Lastly, you should keep your automatic watches away from magnets, as they can disrupt the sensitive materials inside. No matter how much you spend on a watch, you'll still need to service it often. Even the sophisticated Apple Watch requires routine cleaning to work , and luxury watches with all sorts of tiny moving parts do too. Ideally, this won't happen too often, particularly with excessively expensive luxury watches that are designed with the utmost care. Most Rolex watches require maintenance every five to 10 years, but you should be aware of premature signs of degradation so that you can take it into an expert right away. Hearing a rattling sound inside your watch likely means one of the small components has become loose and needs to be put back in place. You should also be aware of condensation forming underneath the glass plate over the clockface, as moisture could wreak havoc. And if you have a mechanical watch, you should ideally go about 36 to 48 hours between each wind. If you find yourself needing to do that more often, it could be a sign the watch is breaking down. Luxury watches require lubrication so that all of the components work as they should. Over time, that material will wear out, and you'll need a touch-up so that your watch doesn't break entirely. With routine maintenance, which may only be required once every few years, you can keep your watch viable for decades and help it retain its value long after you purchase it. With the rise of smartwatches, one may wonder if old-school luxury watches even have a place in the world anymore. The shifting tide has caused some watch manufacturers to change their approach, such as Tag Heuer making expensive smartwatches that may be too pricey for anyone actually to buy . With smartwatches offering so many extra features, it's not hard to envision a world where luxury watches become a thing of the past. Fortunately, based on sales figures over the last couple of decades, it definitely seems like these watches are here to stay. Sales of luxury watches have only grown since 2003, and it's possible that smartwatches only got people more invested in wearing any kind of watch since they've become more commonplace. One area where luxury watches are really soaring is in the pre-owned market. Vintage items have become trendy accessories, and they're often more affordable than getting a brand new Patek Philippe watch. And every so often, a watch manufacturer makes headlines for jumping on some contemporary trend, like when Romain Jerome put out a luxury watch adorned with Pokémon characters . As is the case with any industry, luxury watchmakers just need to adapt with the times. However, the rise of smartwatches certainly hasn't diminished luxury watch sales all that much. There's an episode of "The Simpsons" where a teacher showing off how successful he is displays a watch so crammed with jewels it doesn't work properly. In real life, while jewels are certainly pretty, they don't always equate to inherent value. To be fair, when people talk about jewels in watches, they're usually referring to interior jewels that help reduce friction within the moving components. These tend to be synthetic sapphires and rubies. Ideally, this helps the watch work better, which is more intrinsic in determining its overall value. Since they're usually synthetic anyway, they wouldn't automatically be as valuable as straight-up sapphires and rubies, so it won't always cost as much. For the most part, watch jewels that aid with movement are largely worthless. Cracking open a watch to try to sell those jewels probably isn't going to net you much of anything, but it can be neat to say how there are rubies inside yours. While you should definitely conduct a bit more research, preowned luxury watches can be a great option for people just starting out. You can typically get something for far cheaper, and as long as you take care of it, it'll retain its value so you can one day sell it and make back a good amount of money. Whether you're buying a used luxury watch from a thrift shop, pawn store, or private seller, keep a few things in mind to avoid getting ripped off. There are plenty of counterfeits out there, so ideally, the watch should still have its original box and paperwork confirming its authenticity. You should inspect the movements to ensure everything looks the way it should. If you really want to be certain, you can hire an appraiser to confirm the watch is legitimate before buying. Looking at preowned luxury watches is a great option, especially if you want to get your first timepiece. You may even feel like trying your hand at restoring a luxury watch and learning about what to look for in a used piece when that's your goal. Plus, buying used opens up a greater variety than what's been most recently released, and you may find something with a certain vintage charm. You still get a high-quality item, and you're doing your part for the environment by giving a watch a second lease on life. Luxury watches are some of the only accessories men have traditionally worn as a signifier of wealth or status, but, obviously, women can wear luxury watches, too. Many of the top brands now offer more options than ever before primarily targeting women. Patek Philippe, Cartier, and Bulgari, among others, offer luxury watches with women in mind. Of course, women aren't confined to watches designed for them. Many women have begun opting for timepieces for men, as there tends to be some aesthetic differences that may appeal to some women. Men's watches tend to come with thicker straps and larger clockfaces. They're also more likely to come in darker (i.e. more "masculine") colors. Women may very well want those features for themselves. And as the world has become less bound by gender norms, there's no reason for people to feel confined to a singular box. Luxury watches are meant for everyone, and with so many options out there, watches exist for people from all walks of life. The most important thing is making sure the watch feels good. No one should place an unnecessary strain on their wrist with a watch that doesn't fit right, no matter how expensive it was.
Jaland Lowe flirted with a triple-double as Pitt improved to 6-0 with a 74-63 win over LSU on Friday afternoon at the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Lowe finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists for the Panthers, who have won their first six games of a season for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign. It would have been the second straight triple-double for Lowe, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against VMI Monday. Ishmael Leggett chipped in 21 points and Cameron Corhen supplied 14, helping Pitt outshoot the Tigers (4-1) 44.4 percent to 37.3 percent overall. Vyctorius Miller and Jalen Reed recorded 14 points apiece for LSU, with Reed also snatching seven boards. Cam Carter contributed 11 points. Pitt took control in the first four-plus minutes of the second half, opening the period on a 13-0 run to build a 40-28 lead. The Tigers were held scoreless following the break until Carter converted a layup with 13:13 to go. It was still a 12-point game after Zack Austin hit a pair of free throws with 12:50 remaining, but LSU then rallied. Corey Chest, Reed and Jordan Sears each had a bucket down low for the Tigers during an 8-1 spurt that made it 43-38. However, Lowe stemmed the tide, answering with back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Panthers up 49-38 with 9:31 left. Miller did everything he could to keep LSU in contention, scoring eight points in a span of 1 minute, 23 seconds, with his four-point play getting the Tigers within 56-52 with 6:03 to play. But Pitt never let LSU get the upper hand, and it led by at least six for the final 5:05 of the contest. The Tigers had a 28-27 edge at intermission after ending the first half on an 8-2 run. LSU overcame a quick start by the Panthers, who raced out to a 12-6 advantage and led by as many as eight in the first 20 minutes of action. --Field Level MediaWelcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk , an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today’s edition, Robert F. Kennedy begins meeting with senators in Washington, while Donald Trump holds his first post-election news conference. Plus, senior political editor breaks down a key underlying factor that led to Kamala Harris' November defeat. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. RFK Jr. begins meeting with senators as he seeks to lead HHS By Kate Santaliz, Sahil Kapur and Brennan Leach Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be Health and Human Services secretary, plans to meet with over two dozen Republican senators on Capitol Hill this week, according to a source familiar with his plans. Kennedy is poised to face questions about his long history of anti-vaccine rhetoric , his vision for reshaping the health care industry and his support for abortion rights . The list of senators includes John Thune, R-S.D., who will be Senate majority leader next year, and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who will be the majority whip, as well as soon-to-be Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, whose committee will oversee and vote on Kennedy’s planned nomination. His first sit-down was with Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who called it a “great meeting” and said, “I’m completely supportive of what he wants to accomplish, and I wish him the best of luck.” Scott said he and Kennedy both want “transparency” on vaccines. Other notable names on Kennedy’s expected meeting list are moderate Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who faces re-election in 2026; and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a senior member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that will also review his nomination. One key senator to watch in Kennedy’s battle for confirmation is Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is stepping down from GOP leadership after 18 years in the top job but staying on as a senator. McConnell, a polio survivor, fired a warning shot Friday in response to a New York Times report that a Kennedy adviser once asked the FDA to rescind approval of the polio vaccine. “The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives and held out the promise of eradicating a terrible disease,” McConnell said in a statement. “Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed — they’re dangerous.” A Kennedy spokesperson told The New York Times that he and the adviser in question had not discussed the adviser’s push to revoke approval of the polio vaccine. Kennedy spokeswoman Katie Miller told NBC News on Friday, “The Polio Vaccine should be available to the public and thoroughly and properly studied.” Asked Monday if he supports the polio vaccine, Kennedy told reporters, “Yeah, I support it.” During a news conference Monday, Trump said that he was a “big believer” in the polio vaccine and that Kennedy is a “very rational guy.” Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said he will have “questions” for Kennedy on his abortion views. “Obviously, HHS under the first Trump administration was very clear on the issue of abortion conscience protections and all those things. But [President Joe] Biden’s team unwound all of that,” Lankford said in a recent interview. “Those are questions I’m going to ask.” Read more → In his first post-election news conference, an upbeat Trump boasts of his popularity with CEOs By Rebecca Shabad and Rob Wile President-elect Donald Trump was upbeat Monday at his first post-election news conference, saying there was a big difference between now and when he took office in 2016: Some of his former adversaries are now being nice to him. “Everybody wants to be my friend,” he said about how he’s being treated by CEOs of major technology companies, whom he has portrayed as adversaries in the past. “I don’t know, my personality changed or something.” During the Mar-a-Lago event, the first he has hosted himself since November, Trump said that one of the biggest differences over the last four years is that “everybody was fighting me.” “The biggest difference is that people want to get along with me this time,” he added. Trump referred to recent meetings with Apple CEO Tim Cook, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai and former Alphabet President Sergey Brin. He also said he plans to meet with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos later this week. Several major tech companies, including Amazon, Meta and OpenAI have already donated $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. Trump and the head of the Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank, Masayoshi Son, also announced a $100 billion investment effort designed to spur artificial intelligence and related infrastructure projects. A few of the other notable moments from Monday’s news conference: Read more → The real reason why Democrats lost in 2024 By Mark Murray In the six weeks since the 2024 presidential election, there have been plenty of explanations for Democrats’ defeat. Some argue Kamala Harris and her party were too progressive. Others believe they weren’t progressive enough. And others point the finger at culture , “neoliberalism,” media consumption , podcasts , immigration and, of course, inflation . But from the polling data, there’s an even more fundamental reason why Harris lost to Donald Trump: Joe Biden’s presidency was historically unpopular. And Harris, as the sitting vice president, was unable to separate herself from Biden, or incapable of it. Just look at Gallup’s historic presidential job approval ratings . Every modern president with a job rating at 45% or lower before the election saw their party lose that race. And the task for a sitting vice president has been even harder. Only one modern sitting VP, George H.W. Bush, has succeeded the president under which he or she served. Bush 41 did it when Ronald Reagan’s approval rating was at 58% before the 1988 election. In 2000, Al Gore got oh-so-close to winning the White House when Bill Clinton’s approval rating was at 57%. But Harris’ situation is more comparable to Hubert Humphrey’s in 1968. Back then, President Lyndon Johnson’s approval rating was at 42%, and VP Humphrey lost the popular vote to Richard Nixon by nearly 1 percentage point. Guess what: Heading into last November’s presidential election, Biden’s approval was at 41%. And Harris — similar to Humphrey — lost the popular vote by nearly 1.5 percentage points. Now the reasons for Biden’s low approval rating are up for debate. How much of it was the border? Or the Afghanistan withdrawal? Or inflation? Or his age? Or a combination of all of the above? Yet no matter how you slice it, he was unpopular for much of his presidency. And an unpopular president is a chief reason why a political party can lose control of the White House. That’s all from the Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback — likes or dislikes — email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if you’re a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here .
( MENAFN - GetNews) Folsom Tech Week 2025: Northern California's Newest Innovation Event Announced, February 24-28, 2025 - Folsom, California FOLSOM, CA - The Granite City Entrepreneurship Foundation is thrilled to announce the launch of Folsom Tech Week 2025 , a four-day celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. Taking place February 24-28, 2025 , in the heart of Northern California, the event promises to bring together thought leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs, government officials, and investors to explore transformative solutions for today's challenges. With the theme “Doing More with Less,” Folsom Tech Wee 2025 focuses on how technology, particularly AI, can revolutionize industries, enhance government efficiency, and empower entrepreneurs to innovate responsibly and effectively. Event Highlights Include: Matthew Loughran, Board Chair of the Granite City Entrepreneurship Foundation, expressed his excitement about the event's potential to inspire collaboration and drive innovation:“Folsom Tech Week is more than just an event-it's a movement to bring people together to tackle real-world challenges with creative solutions. By bridging the gap between public and private sectors, we're creating a platform where ideas become action, and innovation has a lasting impact on our communities.” The event will host some of the brightest minds in technology and innovation, including government officials, industry pioneers, and venture capitalists. Folsom Tech Week 2025 headquarters at Granite City CoWorking offers a rare opportunity for attendees to build connections, learn from experts, and contribute to shaping the future of technology and public service. Sponsorship and Participation Opportunities: Folsom Tech Week is currently welcoming sponsors, panel speakers, hackathon participants, and pitch competition applicants. About Granite City Entrepreneurship Foundation The Granite City Entrepreneurship Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and community growth. Through events like Folsom Tech Week and TEDxFolsom, the Foundation empowers individuals and organizations to collaborate and create meaningful impact. MENAFN16122024003238003268ID1109000042 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 22, 2024-- In recognition of its local collaboration, commitment to modernizing the electric system and support of clean energy goals, Eversource and its local partner BXP have been selected to receive a 2024 Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Annual Visionary Award for their partnership on the innovative Greater Cambridge Energy Program (GCEP), which includes the development of a first-of-its-kind underground electrical substation. The Visionary Awards & Gala took place on November 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122421270/en/ Eversource and BXP accept the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Annual Visionary Award. (Photo: Business Wire) Among other innovative technologies, GCEP will include the nation’s largest underground substation—a 35,000-square-foot facility 120 feet beneath a public green space at BXP’s Life Sciences Center in Kendall Square. It will also feature eight underground transmission lines spanning 8.3 miles across Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston, plus 48 distribution lines and significant upgrades to local substations or clean energy hubs to enhance power reliability, resilience, and support for a growing electric demand driven by the electrification of transportation and heating. “Our dedicated employees work every day to ensure a reliable, more sustainable energy future, and we are truly honored to receive this award from the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce,” said Bill Quinlan, Eversource President of Transmission and Offshore Wind Projects. “This recognition emphasizes the critical role of collaboration and compromise in delivering innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of the communities we serve. We’re pleased to have had the opportunity to collaborate with BXP, the City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, as well as the City of Somerville and Allston/Brighton on this important project. By investing in advanced technologies and infrastructure, we aim to meet the evolving energy needs of our customers in an environmentally responsible way, creating a cleaner, more resilient, and efficient grid for the future.” The Visionary Awards recognize innovators from the business, institutional, and non-profit communities who are truly effecting change in Cambridge and beyond. This special evening is an opportunity for the Cambridge business community to celebrate these change agents and their extraordinary impact on improving the lives of others. Additional information about the project is available on the company’s Greater Cambridge Energy Program’s web page. More information on the energy company’s year-round work to strengthen and modernize the electric system for customers can be found on the reliability page of Eversource's website . Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is among the top energy companies in Newsweek ’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2024 and recognized as a Five-Year Champion , appearing in every edition of the list. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 1.8 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.47 million electric customers in 140 communities, 639,000 gas customers in 117 communities, and 11,500 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 10,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com , and follow us on X , Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn . For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122421270/en/ CONTACT: Kyle Costa 774-464-8185 kyle.costa@eversource.com KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: GREEN TECHNOLOGY ENERGY ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY UTILITIES SOURCE: Eversource Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/22/2024 01:34 PM/DISC: 11/22/2024 01:34 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122421270/en