
jax10289 Dear readers/followers, I've been a fairly heavy investor in Mercedes-Benz Group AG ( OTCPK:MBGAF ) for a number of years now. The company, like many automotive manufacturers in Germany that I also invest in such as Volkswagen AG ( The company discussed in this article is only one potential investment in the sector. Members of iREIT on Alpha get access to investment ideas with upsides that I view as significantly higher/better than this one. Consider subscribing and learning more here. Wolf Report is a senior analyst and private portfolio manager with over 10 years of generating value ideas in European and North American markets. He is a contributing author and analyst for the investing group iREIT®+HOYA Capital and Wide Moat Research LLC where in addition to the U.S. market, he covers the markets of Scandinavia, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Eastern Europe in search of reasonably valued stock ideas. Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MBGAF, BMWKY, VWAGY either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. While this article may sound like financial advice, please observe that the author is not a CFA or in any way licensed to give financial advice. It may be structured as such, but it is not financial advice. Investors are required and expected to do their own due diligence and research prior to any investment. Short-term trading, options trading/investment and futures trading are potentially extremely risky investment styles. They generally are not appropriate for someone with limited capital, limited investment experience, or a lack of understanding for the necessary risk tolerance involved. I own the European/Scandinavian tickers (not the ADRs) of all European/Scandinavian companies listed in my articles. I own the Canadian tickers of all Canadian stocks I write about. Please note that investing in European/Non-US stocks comes with withholding tax risks specific to the company's domicile as well as your personal situation. Investors should always consult a tax professional as to the overall impact of dividend withholding taxes and ways to mitigate these. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Elon Musk’s Grok AI can now explain complicated memes in secondsHouse approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minors
TFL Introduces New Way to Support Student-Athletes With NIL SeatsBlinken meets Jordan’s King Abdullah in Syria diplomacy pushPerson accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
US lawmakers voted Wednesday after fraught negotiations to move forward with a contentious 2025 defense budget that raises troops' pay but blocks funding of gender-affirming care for some transgender children of service members. The centerpiece of the $884 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) -- which was green-lit by the Republican-led House of Representatives but still needs Senate approval -- is a 14.5 percent pay increase for junior enlisted service members and 4.5 percent for other personnel. But talks over the 1,800-page-plus text were complicated by a last-minute Republican intervention to prevent the military's health program from covering gender-affirming care for children of service members if it results in "sterilization." "Citizens don't want their tax dollars to go to this, and underaged people often regret these surgeries later in life," Nebraska Republican Don Bacon told CNN. "It's a bad hill to die on for Democrats." Gender-affirming health care for children is just one of multiple fronts in the so-called "culture wars" that polarize US politics and divide the country, with Republicans using the issue as a cudgel against Democrats in November's elections. The funding block angered progressives, and prompted the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee to come out against the legislation. "As I said a few days ago, blanketly denying health care to people who need it -- just because of a biased notion against transgender people -- is wrong," Adam Smith, who represents a district in Washington state, said in a statement. More from this section "The inclusion of this harmful provision puts the lives of children at risk and may force thousands of service members to make the choice of continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can get the health care they need." Smith slammed House Speaker Mike Johnson for pandering to "the most extreme elements of his party" by including the transgender provision. The must-pass NDAA -- a bill that Congress has sent to the president's desk without fail every year since 1961 -- cleared the chamber in a 281-140 vote and now moves to the Senate, with final passage expected next week. The topline figure is one percent above last year's total and, with funding from other sources, brings the total defense budget to just under $900 billion. Some foreign policy hawks on the Republican side of the Senate wanted $25 billion more for the Pentagon but they are still expected to support the bill. "The safety and security of the American people is our top priority, and this year's NDAA ensures our military has the resources and the capabilities needed to remain the most powerful fighting force on the planet," Johnson told reporters. ft/mlmArizona WR Tetairoa McMillan to enter 2025 NFL Draft
Is Belichick Official Move Why Jerry Might Keep McCarthy?With a new year ahead and the holiday fanfare behind, this is a great time to set money goals, especially if you recently spent a lot on gifts and travel and want to get your finances in shape. You’d be in good company, too — according to a January 2024 survey from the Pew Research Center, of the 30% of Americans who made at least one New Year’s resolution, 61% had a goal that was money-related. Right now, you may be highly motivated to solve every single one of your money issues in the next few months, but daily life is guaranteed to get in the way. Your financial to-do list, once so full of promise, can eventually get stuffed in the back of a drawer while you manage more pressing matters. The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions go unfulfilled. So how can you improve your odds of success? It comes down to accepting that you won’t have the time or energy to complete every task to perfection. Creating a system where you can prioritize, plan ahead and hold yourself accountable can help. Many start by setting a goal to trim frivolous costs, which can certainly be helpful, but there are other ways to make a big difference. Taylor Schult — a certified financial planner and founder of Define Financial, an advisory firm in San Diego — recommends starting with a few overlooked financial tasks. Freezing your credit is a quick, easy way to guard yourself against identity theft. It’s free to do, and you can temporarily lift the freeze when you’re applying for a loan or credit card. Schulte also suggests looking into umbrella insurance , which offers additional coverage beyond what your auto, homeowners and other insurance policies provide. This coverage can spare you from massive out-of-pocket costs in the event you get sued. Basic estate planning, including creating a will, is another thing to put high on your list. Putting off this task can create a major headache for your loved ones if something happens to you unexpectedly. “I know it’s a pain point and it’s often kicked down the road,” Schulte says. Paying attention to your spending is always important, but don’t neglect taking steps to protect your money, yourself and your loved ones. So many money goals are born out of social pressure. You “should” want to save up to own a home, even if you’re happily renting. You “should” sacrifice short-term needs and wants to stash away as much as possible for retirement, even though it leaves you feeling deprived. But money goals should be tied to the things that matter most to you. If they aren’t, you’ll quickly lose interest. “If you don’t know what goals to choose, go back to your values and have them guide the goals you set,” says Eric Roberge, a certified financial planner and founder of Beyond Your Hammock, a financial advisory firm in Boston. You can combine goal-setting with a little planning, so expenses are less likely to creep up on you throughout the year. Think about what expected costs will be coming up in the next six to 12 months, like recurring bills, vacations, anticipated home or car repairs, and other expenses. This approach allows you to set money aside each month to put toward planned costs, as well as longer-term goals. Forgetting your goals can be far too easy, so to make something stick, write it down . It can be as simple as a handwritten list you keep on the fridge, or online calendar reminders that will nudge you every so often. For time-sensitive goals, set deadlines. One tactic is to make multiple lists based on what you need to complete within the next week, month or three months. As time passes and you check off items, you can update the list. Enlist others’ help, too. Weekly or monthly household money meetings are useful if you’re completing financial tasks as a group. Or share your goals with a trusted friend or family member who can serve as an accountability partner. Looping in loved ones can help keep you on track. “We don’t mind letting ourselves down,” Schulte says. “But we hate to let other people down.” It’s easy to get stuck in decision-making mode when trying to pick a high-yield savings account, credit card or possible investments, but eventually, you need to make a good-enough choice . Taking action now can have more of a positive effect on your life than waiting until you’ve painstakingly considered each option. Roberge says that though he’d prefer to optimize every financial decision, he doesn’t because if he did, he wouldn’t get things done. “Everything in moderation is one of the things that I live by,” he says. “Going to extremes in any one thing, at the detriment of other things that are important, doesn’t work long-term.” The article Got Money Goals for the New Year? Stay on Track With These Tips originally appeared on NerdWallet.Rumble ( RUM -6.82% ) stock is seeing big sell-offs in Friday's trading. The company's share price was down 8.1% as of 1 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite index were down 1.7% and 2.2%, respectively. Stocks are seeing relatively thin trading volume today. Along with investors selling shares for tax-harvesting and profit-taking purposes, this is causing a significant pullback across the market. In addition to broader selling pressures, Rumble is losing ground as its recent meme-stock momentum fades. Rumble is volatile amid recent meme-stock surge Last Friday, Rumble announced that it had formed a deal to receive a large investment from Tether, the company responsible for the Tether ( USDT -0.04% ) stablecoin cryptocurrency. The streaming video specialist will sell $775 million of new stock to Tether at a price of $7.50 per share. In turn, Rumble will use $250 million of the proceeds to fund its existing business operations and pursue new growth opportunities. The remainder of the cash from the stock sale will be used to buy back shares from other large investors at a price of $7.50 per share. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025. The announcement kicked off a massive rally for Rumble, and its share price is up 105.5% over the last week even with today's pullback. Tether's investment effectively turned Rumble into one of the latest hot meme stocks, but the explosive gains also set the stage for volatility. With downward pressure for the broader market and investors taking profits on the streaming-video company's recent surge, shares are trending lower today. What comes next for Rumble? Securing a new capital injection is good news for Rumble. The company posted a net loss of $31.5 million on sales of $25.1 million in the third quarter, and it closed out the period with $132 million in cash and equivalents. After executing its proposed stock buyback, the cash from Tether's investment should allow Rumble to fund its current operations for roughly two years based on its current rate of spending. On the other hand, recent gains for the stock appear to be largely disconnected from the foundations of the deal. Some investors are betting that Tether will become an active partner in steering Rumble in a new direction, while others are simply seeking big short-term gains in conjunction with surging meme-stock status. While it's possible that Rumble will continue rocketing higher, the company's valuation looks risky right now.WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, as the Biden administration pushes to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defense officials acknowledged that that the Defense Department may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6 billion in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin . Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he won't provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion. Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate. One senior defense official said that while the U.S. will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until Jan. 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about $1.2 billion remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the U.S. has provided more than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.
World News | Iceland Votes for a New Parliament After Political Disagreements Force an Early ElectionBrock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injuryTrump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to become US ambassador to France
NoneSCOTCH PLAINS, N.J. -- The case of the mystery drones over New Jersey is still a big unknown. State and federal officials say they are no closer to finding out who's behind them, and that has prompted some people to ask for the military to help out. All of it has prompted Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden to call on Gov. Phil Murphy to declare a state of emergency and issue an executive order banning recreational drone use during nighttime hours. If you're wondering who is behind the drones hovering over homes, reservoirs, and even military bases , you are not alone. New Jersey State Police and the state's Office of Homeland Security briefed mayors and local elected officials on Wednesday, but had very little to report. "They don't have any information," state Sen. Jon Bramnick said. Bramnick said state leaders are baffled by the drones, which have been reported all over the Garden State . Officials say the drones appear to be sophisticated, and the state lacks the resources to track them. "Apparently, it's only the Department of Defense that has the sophisticated technology that could find out where these drones are from and where they're going. And that's what I said to the state police today -- bring in the Department of Defense because they have the technology. Otherwise, we're spinning wheels," Bramnick said. The FBI is leading the drone investigation, but appears to be equally as perplexed. Assistant Director of Critical Incident Response Robert Wheeler Jr. testified before Congress on Tuesday. "We do not attribute that to an individual or a group yet. We're investigating, but I don't have an answer for who's responsible for that," Wheeler said. Wheeler said he doesn't think the public is at risk. "There is nothing that is known that would lead me to say that, but we just don't know and that' the concerning part," Wheeler said. "They don't know if there is a threat or not. There was one incident where apparently a state police helicopter had a large drone underneath it while it was flying. And then that drone turned off its lights and took off," Bramnick said. Pentagon officials say the drones do not belong to the U.S. Military, and they do not appear to be coming from a foreign adversary. Nick Caloway is a multi-skilled journalist who was thrilled to join the CBS News New York news team in August 2019. Since then, Nick has covered crime, politics, the pandemic and more across the Tri-State Area.Ducks starting to ‘play with an identity’ ahead of hosting Ottawa
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Players from Swiss team Young Boys held up teammate Meschack Elia's shirt as a tribute during their Champions League game at Stuttgart after his son died this week. Lukasz Lakomy gave Young Boys the lead with a powerful long-range shot in the sixth minute Wednesday and ran toward the sideline, where he held up Elia's shirt as his teammates gathered around him. Young Boys said in a statement earlier Wednesday that one of Elia's sons had “died completely unexpectedly following a short illness” in Elia's home country of Congo. The 27-year-old Elia had been informed Tuesday evening and was on his way to Congo to be with his family, the club added. Both teams wore black armbands during the game, and there was a moment of silence before kickoff. Stuttgart won the game 5-1 to leave the Swiss champion with its sixth loss from six games. Young Boys captain Loris Benito said the game and the result meant little to his team in the circumstances. “I honestly have to tell you that this evening is not about sport at all for us, but about the tragedy that we experienced yesterday,” Benito told broadcaster DAZN. “It is so unimaginable and everything else is irrelevant when you experience this.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerLast hope of Royal Mail rescue lies in... Brussels
With a new year ahead and the holiday fanfare behind, this is a great time to set money goals, especially if you recently spent a lot on gifts and travel and want to get your finances in shape. You’d be in good company, too — according to a January 2024 survey from the Pew Research Center, of the 30% of Americans who made at least one New Year’s resolution, 61% had a goal that was money-related. Right now, you may be highly motivated to solve every single one of your money issues in the next few months, but daily life is guaranteed to get in the way. Your financial to-do list, once so full of promise, can eventually get stuffed in the back of a drawer while you manage more pressing matters. The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions go unfulfilled. So how can you improve your odds of success? It comes down to accepting that you won’t have the time or energy to complete every task to perfection. Creating a system where you can prioritize, plan ahead and hold yourself accountable can help. Many start by setting a goal to trim frivolous costs, which can certainly be helpful, but there are other ways to make a big difference. Taylor Schult — a certified financial planner and founder of Define Financial, an advisory firm in San Diego — recommends starting with a few overlooked financial tasks. Freezing your credit is a quick, easy way to guard yourself against identity theft. It’s free to do, and you can temporarily lift the freeze when you’re applying for a loan or credit card. Schulte also suggests looking into umbrella insurance , which offers additional coverage beyond what your auto, homeowners and other insurance policies provide. This coverage can spare you from massive out-of-pocket costs in the event you get sued. Basic estate planning, including creating a will, is another thing to put high on your list. Putting off this task can create a major headache for your loved ones if something happens to you unexpectedly. “I know it’s a pain point and it’s often kicked down the road,” Schulte says. Paying attention to your spending is always important, but don’t neglect taking steps to protect your money, yourself and your loved ones. So many money goals are born out of social pressure. You “should” want to save up to own a home, even if you’re happily renting. You “should” sacrifice short-term needs and wants to stash away as much as possible for retirement, even though it leaves you feeling deprived. But money goals should be tied to the things that matter most to you. If they aren’t, you’ll quickly lose interest. “If you don’t know what goals to choose, go back to your values and have them guide the goals you set,” says Eric Roberge, a certified financial planner and founder of Beyond Your Hammock, a financial advisory firm in Boston. You can combine goal-setting with a little planning, so expenses are less likely to creep up on you throughout the year. Think about what expected costs will be coming up in the next six to 12 months, like recurring bills, vacations, anticipated home or car repairs, and other expenses. This approach allows you to set money aside each month to put toward planned costs, as well as longer-term goals. Forgetting your goals can be far too easy, so to make something stick, write it down . It can be as simple as a handwritten list you keep on the fridge, or online calendar reminders that will nudge you every so often. For time-sensitive goals, set deadlines. One tactic is to make multiple lists based on what you need to complete within the next week, month or three months. As time passes and you check off items, you can update the list. Enlist others’ help, too. Weekly or monthly household money meetings are useful if you’re completing financial tasks as a group. Or share your goals with a trusted friend or family member who can serve as an accountability partner. Looping in loved ones can help keep you on track. “We don’t mind letting ourselves down,” Schulte says. “But we hate to let other people down.” It’s easy to get stuck in decision-making mode when trying to pick a high-yield savings account, credit card or possible investments, but eventually, you need to make a good-enough choice . Taking action now can have more of a positive effect on your life than waiting until you’ve painstakingly considered each option. Roberge says that though he’d prefer to optimize every financial decision, he doesn’t because if he did, he wouldn’t get things done. “Everything in moderation is one of the things that I live by,” he says. “Going to extremes in any one thing, at the detriment of other things that are important, doesn’t work long-term.” More From NerdWallet Sara Rathner writes for NerdWallet. Email: srathner@nerdwallet.com . Twitter: @sarakrathner. The article Got Money Goals for the New Year? Stay on Track With These Tips originally appeared on NerdWallet.United Airlines travelers with lost luggage have a new tool to track their bags. If the lost bag has an Apple AirTag in it, that information can now be passed directly to United, the airline announced Thursday. The new feature, called Share Item Location, allows travelers with an AirTag or other Find My network accessory to share the location with the airline’s customer service team to help locate their luggage in the event it’s misplaced. United says more than 99% of its customers pick up their luggage without a hitch. The feature is now available with iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 or macOS 15.2. “Apple’s new Share Item Location feature will help customers travel with even more confidence, knowing they have another way to access their bag’s precise location with AirTag or their Find My accessory of choice,” said David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer. Travelers on United whose bags do not arrive at their destination can file a delayed baggage report with United and share the link to the item’s location either through the United app or via text message. After the report has been submitted, customer service agents will be able to locate the item on an interactive map alongside a timestamp of a recent update. The shared location will be disabled after a customer has the bag, and customers can also stop sharing the location of the item at any time on their own. The location link will also automatically expire after seven days. Using AirTags or other tracking devices on luggage is increasingly popular among frequent travelers, with a significant boom following the 2022 Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown , which displaced thousands of travelers over Christmas and into 2023, alongside much of their belongings. United says lost bags are rare, with more than 99% of its customers arriving with their bags. It says the new technology will help those with lost bags to recover them more quickly because the airline will have more information about them. Apple previously announced the new service will also be integrated at other air carriers, including Delta Air Lines. Others include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
"(It was) a little too close for my comfort with my family being in the house,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “So we got personal security to take care of all of that. When we're on the road, we've got someone with my wife, got someone also at the house, surveying the house.” Tagovailoa, speaking days after the home of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow was broken into while the Bengals were playing a Monday night game at Dallas, also noted his security is armed, "so I hope that if you decide to go to my house, you think twice.” Burrow's home was the latest targeted in a string of burglaries of pro athletes' homes in the U.S., which included the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Mahomes' and Kelce's homes were broken into in October, prompting the NFL to issue a security alert to teams and the players' union warning that the houses of numerous pro athletes were “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups," according to a memo previously obtained by The Associated Press. Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Tagovailoa's personal security has been in place since long before this string of break-ins. No one was injured in the Monday night break-in at Burrow's home, but it was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.’s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information, and the NBA later issued its own memo revealing that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. Tagovailoa, who just signed an extension with the Dolphins last offseason, said he doesn't necessarily feel like a target, "but I wouldn't want to play the chances with my family and kids sleeping, my wife sleeping, me sleeping at the house.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflHolstein Kiel will hope to use their home crowd at Holstein-Stadion to spur them to victory against Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on Sunday, as they continue their quest for survival. The hosts have just five points from 10 games and are second last in 17th place, four points and two positions from automatic safety, while Karnevalsverein are 10th with 13 points after 10 matchweeks and beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 on November 9. The home team lost 2-1 against Werder Bremen on November 9, a match in which Holstein Kiel faced three big chances while only creating one of their own. Manager Marcel Rapp chose to remain positive despite the fact his team conceded the winner against Werder Bremen in the 89th minute, saying: "I'm satisfied with the second half, of course not with the goal we conceded, we have to clarify that better." The Storks have managed to prevent their opponents from scoring fewer than two goals in just one of their 12 matches this term, and their record of 25 Bundesliga goals conceded is the second-worst tally in the top flight. Rapp's side emerged as 1-0 victors against Heidenheim on November 2, but that was their only win in their 11 most recent outings, with the club losing four of their past five games. Holstein Kiel have also been defeated in four of their five home fixtures this season, conceding on 14 occasions and netting just four times. As for the visitors, they were deserving winners against Borussia Dortmund given they created six big chances in comparison to BVB's one, though they were aided by the fact Emre Can was sent off in the 27th minute. Prior to their clash against Dortmund, Mainz had only created 15 big chances in nine league games, and their match against Nuri Sahin 's side was just the second time in their last five games that they had managed to score at all. Karnevalsverein head coach Bo Henriksen will be pleased with the result given it took his team five points clear of 16th-placed St Pauli, who occupy the division's relegation playoff spot, and perhaps the boss can look forward to challenging higher up the table considering the club are only three points from the Conference League qualification spot in sixth place. Henriksen will hope their triumph over Dortmund can mark the beginning of a sustained period of strong results, with the win being the team's first in their most recent five games. Mainz' form on the road has been excellent this campaign, and the club are unbeaten in their five away matches, winning three and drawing two. Holstein Kiel will be unable to start midfielder Magnus Knudsen as a result of accumulating too many yellow cards, while centre-backs Carl Johansson and Colin Kleine-Bekel are absent due to injuries. Rapp could field a back three of Marko Ivezic , Patrick Erras and Max Geschwill behind a midfield trio of Lewis Holtby , Nicolai Remberg and Armin Gigovic . Attacking midfielder Andu Yobel Kelati has been ruled out until early December, as has striker Benedikt Pichler , so expect Steven Skrzybski and Phil Harres to feature in a front two. Meanwhile, Mainz have a relatively healthy squad barring backup striker Nelson Weiper , who is not scheduled to return until early next month due to a muscle injury. Paul Nebel scored against Dortmund, and he is likely to appear in the forward line alongside Lee Jae-sung and Jonathan Burkardt . Henriksen may deploy a double pivot of Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri in front of centre-backs Dominik Kohr , Moritz Jenz and Maxim Leitsch . Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup: Weiner; Ivezic, Erras, Geschwill; Becker, Holtby, Remberg, Gigovic, Puchacz; Skrzybski, Harres Mainz 05 possible starting lineup: Zentner; Kohr, Jenz, Leitsch; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt Given Holstein Kiel's poor defensive displays this season, they could concede at least twice once again on Sunday. Additionally, Mainz have been strong away from home in 2024-25, and they should be considered favourites. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .
Advertisements for prescription-only medications for weight loss and other treatments are not allowed in all forms of media, the health authorities told The Straits Times. This is after a spate of online ads appeared on social media to promote weight-loss treatments available on telehealth platforms. In response to ST queries in early August, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Nov 14 that they were reviewing the advertisements on weight-loss drugs flagged by ST and would take appropriate action for any breaches. “These advertisements may not be conveyed in any form of media, including digital media such as websites, social media platforms and telehealth platforms,” they said in a joint statement. ST has seen telehealth operators promoting their weight-loss programmes, along with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook since mid-July. GLP-1 drugs, initially developed to treat diabetes, have gained widespread attention after doctors found them effective in helping patients shed the kilos. In Singapore, these drugs are available only by prescription from a registered medical practitioner or pharmacist. They can also be prescribed via telemedicine, with Saxenda being the most common GLP-1 drug offered by telehealth platforms here. It is a daily injectable drug and is administered using a pen. Advertisements for such prescription-only medicine are not allowed under the Health Products (Advertisement of Specified Health Products) Regulations 2016. HSA published a document on Nov 7 for telemedicine providers on regulations regarding the advertisements of health products. In it, the authority said that publication of any information that promotes the sale or use of a health product, whether directly or indirectly, is considered an advertisement. The reference to any health products or the featuring of such products – whether named, through an image or implied through descriptions of a specific health product – may constitute an advertisement, it said. In the online advertisements seen by ST, the telehealth operators either featured the Saxenda pen with its label covered, or used a blue pen that resembles the product. Some operators called it a “skinny pen” or “weight-loss pen”, or referred to it as “Sxnda”. MOH and HSA said: “Publication of information that promotes the sales or use of specific brands of medicines, whether directly or indirectly (for example, using acronyms, misspellings, creative naming or product images with masked identifiers), is also disallowed.” Some of the telehealth operators offer the GLP-1 drugs as part of a weight-loss programme. Their advertisements highlight the potential weight loss from the use of the medication, as well as health benefits in areas such as metabolism and energy levels. Some also promote buy-now, pay-later services for the purchase of the drugs. The health authorities said that advertisements of licensable healthcare services must contain factually accurate information and be capable of being substantiated. However, they must not solicit or encourage the use of such services. “Information about discounts and payment by instalments cannot be included in the advertisements,” said the agencies. When asked why they ran the GLP-1 weight-loss ads despite the risk of violating regulations, operators approached said they were committed to complying with the rules. Dr Sue-Anne Toh, co-founder of Novi Health, said: “We are committed to fostering open dialogue with regulators to ensure that our practices align with the public’s best interests.” A spokesman for Ora Group, which runs platforms andSons and Ova, said the company will “work closely with (regulators) if there are new rules or clarifications required”. Mr Sean Low, founder of Ordinary Folk, which operates Noah and Zoey, said the company regularly reviews its content creation policies and guidelines on social media and other platforms, and has adequate staff training. “If any content is found to unintentionally overstep these guidelines, we welcome feedback and are committed to making immediate corrections and further enhancing our compliance oversight,” said Mr Low. Elevate’s co-chief executive, Mr Rio Hoe, said that the company has “established an understanding” with HSA on what constitutes an advertisement and what sort of content is permitted. The company has “carefully complied with the guidance we have been provided, as well as industry norms”, he added. Beyond the legal risks, the advertisements have raised concerns about the potential of encouraging people who do not need weight-loss drugs to seek them out. One such group is patients who struggle with eating disorders such as anorexia, said Dr Tina Tan, a senior consultant psychiatrist at Better Life Clinic. “In the vast majority of cases, one of the primary desires of such patients is to lose weight, which means they may be tempted to take supplements or medications that they perceive as helping them to rapidly achieve that goal,” said Dr Tan. “However, such consumption does not address the underlying psychological issues these patients are dealing with, and can potentially cause harm to the person who consumes them in an inappropriate manner.” While Dr Tan acknowledged the role of marketing in promoting the potential benefits of GLP-1 drugs, especially for those who truly need them, she said that the advertisements should have clear disclaimers on who can use the medications and who should avoid them.
Michigan Player Deletes Tweet Detailing What Happened to Him After Ohio State Brawl
Off the couch and into the fire