**RIA Eyewear Welcomes Golf Legend Rocco Mediate as New Brand Ambassador**FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SaferWatch, a leader in advanced safety and security solutions, has unveiled its comprehensive Executive Protection service , designed to provide unmatched security for high-profile individuals and their teams. With state-of-the-art LTE panic buttons, 24/7/365 professional monitoring, and direct connection to local law enforcement, SaferWatch is setting a new standard in personal and professional safety. At the heart of this service are the SaferWatch LTE panic buttons, which allow users to communicate live with local law enforcement and the SaferWatch monitoring center at any time, from anywhere in the United States . These discreet, portable devices ensure that assistance is only a button press away, providing peace of mind in any situation. Key features of SaferWatch's Executive Protection solution include: "Executive protection requires a level of reliability and precision that traditional security methods often cannot provide," said Geno Roefaro , CEO of SaferWatch. "With our integrated solutions, we're empowering individuals and their security teams to stay connected, protected, and prepared, no matter where they are." SaferWatch's innovative approach not only enhances physical security but also integrates seamlessly with existing protocols, making it an indispensable tool for executives, public figures, and other high-risk individuals. For more information about SaferWatch's Executive Protection service or to schedule a demo, visit www.saferwatchapp.com . About SaferWatch SaferWatch is a leading safety and security platform dedicated to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities with innovative tools to enhance safety. From schools and businesses to law enforcement and personal protection, SaferWatch delivers reliable, technology-driven solutions that save lives. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/saferwatch-elevates-executive-protection-with-247365-monitoring-live-communication-and-direct-law-enforcement-connectivity-302324321.html SOURCE SaferWatch
Hezbollah fires about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in heaviest barrage in weeksHezbollah fires about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in heaviest barrage in weeksAn engineering vehicle fetches ice cubes to be used in the construction of the 26th Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province on Nov 26, 2024. – Xinhua photo HARBIN (Dec 6): Trucks laden with massive ice blocks are making their way through freshly fallen snow, heading for the Ice-Snow World site in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. These massive blocks, preserved from last winter, will be transformed into spectacular sculptures for the 26th edition of Harbin Ice-Snow World, set to open in mid-December. The event marks the return of one of China’s most iconic winter theme parks, expected to draw millions of visitors and make a significant impact on the region’s winter tourism industry. In order to ensure the beauty of the ice-construction landscape, the ice blocks will go through a strict inspection on thickness, length and cleanliness before being used, said Yang Liu with Harbin Ice and Snow World Park Co Ltd. More than 10,000 ice construction workers and nearly 1,000 pieces of mechanical operation equipment will enter the park for the construction process. This year’s park will feature a large-scale upgrade and is expected to break the Guinness World Record again, reaffirming its position as the largest ice-and-snow theme park in the world. According to sources with Harbin Ice-Snow World, the park will expand from 810,000 square meters to a massive 1 million square meters. The amount of ice and snow used will also increase to 300,000 cubic meters, further enhancing its scale and grandeur. The number of popular ice slides will increase from 16 to 24, offering even more excitement for visitors, said Sun Zemin, deputy director of the sales and marketing department of Harbin Ice-Snow World Park Co Ltd. He added that the ice sculptures and snow constructions this year will feature elements from the upcoming 2025 Asian Winter Games, adding a unique touch to the experience. Harbin, known as the “Ice City,” has garnered attention on social media due to its rich ice-and-snow resources, as well as its vibrant winter tourism scene. Last year, Harbin Ice-Snow World attracted over 2.7 million visitors with its stunning ice sculptures and winter-themed attractions. The city has long been investing in winter resources and hosting events such as winter sports games and ice lantern fairs, aiming to transform these resources into a thriving economy. It serves as a vital economic hub in northeast China and as a barometer of the nation’s snow-and-ice industry. In addition to Harbin, the “Snow Town” in the city of Mudanjiang, located about 280 kilometers from Harbin, has also become a must-see destination for winter tourism. Known for its long winter season and unique mushroom-shaped snow formations, Snow Town attracted over 500,000 visitors last winter. This year, the town has expanded its offerings, adding a forest pathway and riverside commercial street, and will host snow marathons and outdoor disco-dancing competitions, providing even more activities for winter lovers. Boasting more than 50 ski trails of varying difficulty levels, the Yabuli Ski Resort is one of China’s premier ski resorts. In preparation for the upcoming Asian Winter Games, the resort has undergone significant upgrades to its ski slopes, dining facilities and infrastructure. Yang Xiaodong, head of the culture and tourism department at the Yabuli administrative committee, said that the resort is collaborating with other tourist destinations to create several “golden” ice-and-snow tourism routes. This winter, the resort will also introduce large snow-based entertainment activities, such as alpine snow circles, snow carnivals and night skiing, to attract even more tourists. According to Qi Bin, deputy director of the Heilongjiang provincial department of culture and tourism, the peak winter tourism season this year will coincide with the 9th Asian Winter Games, which is expected to further drive interest in winter sports and ice-and-snow tourism. Heilongjiang is committed to supporting the ice-and-snow economy and generating growth opportunities for the local economy, Qi added. The surge in winter tourism in Harbin is part of a broader trend across China’s booming ice-and-snow industry. Experts attribute the rising popularity of winter sports to the success of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which significantly boosted interest in winter sports and tourism. China has unveiled an ambitious plan to grow its ice-and-snow economy, targeting winter sports, tourism and equipment manufacturing as key drivers of economic growth, with a projected value of 1.5 trillion yuan (about US$208.7 billion) by 2030. – Xinhua
‘EARTHQUAKE for corporate America’: The viral post that ‘decodes’ words on ammunition used to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian ThompsonSherwin-Williams Co. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors‘Pet sitter' dominates the list of the most trendy roles for workers in Singapore, according to Indeed
‘EARTHQUAKE for corporate America’: The viral post that ‘decodes’ words on ammunition used to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian ThompsonTottenham keen to sign Ligue 1 defensive prospect; €15m-20m transfer fee touted
This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . Winning week for markets Major U.S. indexes rose on Friday to end the week in the green , despite mega-cap stocks Nvidia and Alphabet shares dropping. Europe's regional Stoxx 600 advanced 1.18%. The banking index, which lost 2%, was the only sector to fall . Euro zone business activity was in contraction territory in November after remaining static in October. Trump nominates Treasury secretary U.S. President-elect Donald Trump intends to nominate Scott Bessent , founder of the hedge fund Key Square Group, as his Treasury secretary. Like Trump, Bessent is in favor of gradual tariffs and deregulation to support domestic business and address trade imbalances. Bessent was chosen over former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh and private equity executive Marc Rowan. Amazon doubles investment in Anthropic Amazon announced it would invest an additional $4 billion in Anthropic , an artificial intelligence startup founded by ex-OpenAI employees. That brings Amazon's total funding in Anthropic to $8 billion, though it will remain a minority investor, said Anthropic. The AI company's flagship product is Claude, a chatbot like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Climate deal at COP29 At the COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan, developed nations pledged to provide $300 billion annually to poorer countries to tackle climate change. This deal replaces an earlier commitment to provide $100 billion a year. Meanwhile, Sir Richard Branson, billionaire founder of Virgin, said that "we can overcome climate change" if "everybody focused together." [PRO] Interest rates back in focus This week, the October personal consumption expenditures price index, out Wednesday, will dominate attention . "This might be one of the last big key pieces of data" for the U.S. Federal Reserve before its December meeting, said a fund manager. Minutes for the November meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, releasing a day prior, will give investors more insight into the pace of future rate cuts. Big-name tech and chip stocks faltered last week. Despite almost doubling its third-quarter revenue , compared with a year earlier, Nvidia shares fell 3.2% on Friday, capping off a bumpy week during which the stock fluctuated between the red and the green. Google-parent Alphabet , meanwhile, ended the week almost 5% lower after the U.S. Department of Justice recommended the company divest its Chrome browser as a remedy to its antitrust case. And Amazon , its Big Tech counterpart, retreated 3.4% during the week. That said, major indexes managed to reverse the previous week's dip. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was 2% higher for the week and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both climbed around 1.7%. Even though other Magnificent Seven stocks did contribute to that, the indexes mostly have companies less in the spotlight, like Super Micro Company , to thank. Likewise, small-cap stocks, which have languished behind their bigger cousins for years, seem to be staging a comeback as interest rates fall and Trump is poised to reenter the White House. The Russell 2000 ended the week 4.5% higher, outperforming the above three indexes. "Investors are rotating out of the previous high flyers of large-cap communication services and technology and into other cyclical sectors of consumer discretionary, industrials, and financials, as well as mid- and small-cap stocks," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research. And bitcoin , once dismissed by most mainstream investors and institutions as an esoteric plaything that did not seem to have any inherent value, is close to shattering the $100,000 ceiling. That said, this inversion isn't likely to last. "On the back of strong expected revenue growth in 2025, we maintain our positive view on the AI compute industry and NVIDIA in particular," UBS analyst Sundeep Gantori wrote in a Thursday note. Despite a temporary dip, the AI play will likely remain the main theme for the markets next year. — CNBC's Pia Singh, Alex Harring and Jesse Pound contributed to this report.Earlier this morning, it was announced that former NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski had prostate cancer . The news was shared months after the legendary reporter stepped away from ESPN in a sudden move. Read more: Longtime NBA Reporter Adrian Wojnarowski Reveals He Has Prostate Cancer It was announced that Wojnarowski would be stepping away to become the St. Bonaventure men's basketball's general manager. St. Bonaventure is his alma mater and it seemed that Wojnarowski just wanted to do something different with his life. So this reveal from the longtime reporter came as a shock to everyone. Wojnarowski received all kinds of messages of support and decided to respond to it all on social media. "Appreciate all the kind words and concern but I'm going to be fine. My goal in sharing a prostate cancer diagnosis is to encourage screening and testing among men. Early diagnosis will make all the difference for me —- and many others too." Appreciate all the kind words and concern but I'm going to be fine. My goal in sharing a prostate cancer diagnosis is to encourage screening and testing among men. Early diagnosis will make all the difference for me —- and many others too. https://t.co/7xiGfC5RNw In the Sports Illustrated article that shared his diagnosis, Wojnarowski expressed gratitude for his job at ESPN. But at the same time, decided that it was best for him to step away to focus on what was important. "It made me remember that the job isn't everything," Wojnarowski said . "In the end, it's just going to be your family and close friends. And it's also, like, nobody gives a s---. Nobody remembers [breaking stories] in the end. It's just vapor." The longtime reporter also gave some information about his thoughts when he first heard the words cancer. "When you hear cancer, you think about it going through your body like Pac-Man," Wojnarowski told Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix . "Prostate cancer, it generally stays confined to your prostate and is typically slow growing." The NBA has kept going without Wojnarowski but his presence in the reporting game is missed. The veteran remains engaged in what goes on with the games but has other things to worry about nowadays. "I didn't want to spend one more day of my life waiting on someone's MRI or hitting an agent at 1 a.m. about an ankle sprain," he said. "What I was doing, it just wasn't fulfilling anymore. I was just done. This is what gets me excited. To learn something new, to be part of something like this. It's a whole new challenge." His new chapter will push him in different ways but as always, Wojnarowski seems up for the challenge. For more NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports .
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SaferWatch, a leader in advanced safety and security solutions, has unveiled its comprehensive Executive Protection service , designed to provide unmatched security for high-profile individuals and their teams. With state-of-the-art LTE panic buttons, 24/7/365 professional monitoring, and direct connection to local law enforcement, SaferWatch is setting a new standard in personal and professional safety. At the heart of this service are the SaferWatch LTE panic buttons, which allow users to communicate live with local law enforcement and the SaferWatch monitoring center at any time, from anywhere in the United States . These discreet, portable devices ensure that assistance is only a button press away, providing peace of mind in any situation. Key features of SaferWatch's Executive Protection solution include: 24/7/365 Monitoring Center : A dedicated team of professionals available around the clock to respond to emergencies, coordinate with law enforcement, and ensure rapid action when every second counts. Direct Connection to Local Law Enforcement : When activated, SaferWatch LTE panic buttons send alerts directly to law enforcement agencies, ensuring immediate attention and response. LTE Panic Buttons : Equipped with live audio communication, these devices are ideal for immediate, direct contact with local law enforcement and the monitoring center. Nationwide Coverage : SaferWatch's technology is designed to function seamlessly across the United States , offering unparalleled mobility and reliability. Integrated Mobile Application : Users gain access to the SaferWatch App, which offers additional features like real-time alerts, geo-located tips, and direct reporting capabilities. "Executive protection requires a level of reliability and precision that traditional security methods often cannot provide," said Geno Roefaro , CEO of SaferWatch. "With our integrated solutions, we're empowering individuals and their security teams to stay connected, protected, and prepared, no matter where they are." SaferWatch's innovative approach not only enhances physical security but also integrates seamlessly with existing protocols, making it an indispensable tool for executives, public figures, and other high-risk individuals. For more information about SaferWatch's Executive Protection service or to schedule a demo, visit www.saferwatchapp.com . About SaferWatch SaferWatch is a leading safety and security platform dedicated to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities with innovative tools to enhance safety. From schools and businesses to law enforcement and personal protection, SaferWatch delivers reliable, technology-driven solutions that save lives. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/saferwatch-elevates-executive-protection-with-247365-monitoring-live-communication-and-direct-law-enforcement-connectivity-302324321.html SOURCE SaferWatchGenetic Testing Market Growth Outlook by 2031 Bio-Rad Laboratories, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Myriad Genetics, QIAGEN, Quest Diagnostics
Mexico president will ask Trump to deport non-Mexican migrants directly to their home countries
Ben Fordham left stunned as top professor exposes what Australia got wrong during Covid Professor casts doubt of Covid measures Said they were 'madness' and 'disgraceful' READ MORE: Mother blames Covid vaccine for her daughter's death By DAVID SOUTHWELL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 20:46 GMT, 24 November 2024 | Updated: 20:48 GMT, 24 November 2024 e-mail View comments A visiting UK professor of medicine stunned radio host Ben Fordham by taking a blistering aim at Covid lockdowns, quarantine, masks, and vaccines. Angus Dalgleish, a professor of oncology at the prestigious St George's University in London who also sits on the European Commission Cancer Board, told Fordham Australia's Covid response was 'absolutely appalling', 'madness' and 'disgraceful'. His unconventional views go against the recent Covid Response Inquiry verdict that 'Australia fared well relative to other nations that experienced larger losses in human life, health system collapse and more severe economic downturns'. But Prof Dalgleish insisted Australia bungled its Covid response. He was also scathing about Britain's handling and said 'Australia, New Zealand and Canada all over-reacted exactly the same'. 'The only people who got it right long-term were Sweden ,' Prof Dalgleish said. 'They didn't have any lockdown mandates, they had no other mandates, the vaccines were for people over 70 and they have the lowest excess death rates in the Western world.' Sweden relied on voluntary social distancing, mask-wearing, working from home and avoiding public transport, with 80 per cent of the country saying they complied. Angus Dalgleish, a professor of oncology at the prestigious St George's University in London has taken blistering aim at almost all the Covid measures employed by Australia and other countries Prof Dalgleish attacked mandated masks being worn outdoors. 'That's absolute madness, the only reason you get people to wear masks is to instil a state of fear in them,' he said. 'I said right at the very beginning with the very best mask the smallest hole is three times bigger than the largest virus. There is no science behind it whatsoever. 'You wear masks in (operating) theatres to stop you coughing into someone's abdomen, it's not for viruses.' He also believed lockdowns achieved next to nothing. 'We know it is respiratory, so lockdowns make no sense whatsoever, particularly when there is no quarantine [which there wasn't in Britain at the start of their lockdown]'. He believed hotel quarantine was a 'complete waste of money' and didn't think it 'saved any lives whatsoever' because it only delayed the natural herd immunity, which was always the best defence against Covid. 'You get the virus naturally you can build up an innate immunity to it, and they denied this,' Prof Dalgleish said. Professor Dalgleish said he did not believe lockdowns, quarantines, masks or even vaccines saved lives Fordham asked whether lockdowns were necessary to protect the elderly, but Prof Dalgleish hailed the Swedish approach as far more pragmatic. 'They say "your grandmothers and people are at risk just be careful, don’t go too close to them",' Prof Dalgleish said. 'They didn’t lock everybody down, so society wasn’t strangled at the neck. 'And it worked very well. Why did you have to lock up young, fit people who couldn’t work?' He also slammed the controversial vaccine mandates. 'I think it was absolutely disgraceful. It was totalitarian, it was descent into an Orwellian dystopia,' he said. 'Especially as we knew when the vaccines were rolled out, the virus had changed completely. 'I don’t believe [the vaccines] had any beneficial effect whatsoever because the virus changes, mutates so quickly. Sydney radio talkback king Ben Fordham was clearly taken aback by some of the professor's claims 'We know that when our vaccine program was rolled out, the wave of infection was falling off naturally. It didn’t need any help to damp the wave,' he said. 'It was the same with the lockdown - we introduced the lockdown as the first wave was flattening out and if you had done no lockdown, there would have been no difference.' A clearly taken aback Fordham asked Prof Dalgleish if he thought the vaccine saved no lives. 'They came in too late they gave the appearance of saving lives because they were coming in on a wave of people doing in and dying,' he replied. 'There might have been a very few, it might have been under one or two percent but not significant compared to what they wanted to do with them. '(That was) roll them out to everybody and have mandated vaccines when there was no evidence it prevented transmission at a time when the disease was killing 0.085per cent of the population with an average age of 82. 'It was complete utter blindness and madness.' London Ben Fordham Sweden Canada Share or comment on this article: Ben Fordham left stunned as top professor exposes what Australia got wrong during Covid e-mail Add commentSeattle (7-5) at Arizona (6-6) Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Cardinals by 2 1/2. Series record: Seahawks lead 28-22-1. Against the spread: Seahawks 5-6-1, Cardinals 8-4. Last meeting: Seahawks beat Cardinals 16-6 on Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. Last week: Seahawks beat Chargers, 26-21; Cardinals lost to Vikings, 23-22. Seahawks offense: overall (16), rush (28), pass (2), scoring (15). Seahawks defense: overall (18), rush (21), pass (12), scoring (12). Cardinals offense: overall (11), rush (6), pass (22), scoring (17). Cardinals defense: overall (17), rush (13), pass (18), scoring (11). Turnover differential: Seahawks minus-6, Cardinals minus-1. DT Leonard Williams has been one of the most dominant players in the league over the past two weeks. Williams had 2 1/2 sacks, four tackles for loss and three quarterback hits two weeks ago against the Cardinals. Williams sacked Aaron Rodgers twice and scored his first career touchdown on a 92-yard pick-6. QB Kyler Murray has had some good moments over the past two games and completed 31 of 45 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings. But he also threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter which proved costly. QB Geno Smith vs. Arizona's defense. Smith has had another solid season and now he'll face an Arizona defense that's been vastly improved over the past 1 1/2 months. The Cardinals have been much more productive in the pass rush with 23 sacks over the past six games. That ranks third in the NFL over that span. Coach Mike Macdonald said he is optimistic that P Michael Dickson (back spasms) will be able to play this weekend, but bringing in another punter this week is “on the table.”.. LB Uchenna Nwosu has a chance to play this week. Nwosu missed the first four games of the season with a knee injury, then injured his thigh in his first game back in Week 5, and has been on injured reserve since. ... The Cardinals are relatively healthy. DLs Darius Robinson (calf) and Dante Stills (back) have been limited in practice this week. The Seahawks have won six straight games in the series going back to 2022. The Cardinals last won 23-13 on Nov. 21, 2021. The Cardinals haven't won at home against the Seahawks since 2020. The Seahawks' next win will be the 400th in franchise history. ... Since Week 9, Seattle’s defense ranks fifth in the NFL with 17.5 points allowed per game, 299 yards allowed per game, and 84.3 rushing yards allowed per game, while ranking sixth in the league with 18.8 first downs allowed. ... The Seahawks have two pick-6s in the past two games, the first time the team has done so since 2012. ... The Seahawks have held three straight opponents to under 300 yards, and fewer than 100 rushing yards. ... Seattle has outscored its opponents by 37 points in the final two minutes of halves this season, the best in the NFL. .. WR DK Metcalf needs one receiving TD to pass Steve Largent for the most in a player’s first six seasons in franchise history with 47. ... Smith needs one 300-yard game to tie Russell Wilson for the most 300-yard games in a single season in franchise history with five. ... WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Needs 171 yards for his first 1,000-yard season, and to become the 10th player in franchise history to reach that mark. ... Arizona has won three straight games at home. The Cardinals outscored those opponents 77-30 while scoring nine touchdowns and allowing none. ... TE Trey McBride has caught 12 passes in two straight games, which is the first time a tight end has had at least 12 receptions in two straight games in NFL history. ... Arizona's six losses have come to teams with a combined 55-18 record this season entering Week 14. ... S Budda Baker has 114 tackles this season, which ranks sixth in the league. ... McBride's caught 73 passes this season. He needs just nine more catches over the next five games to break his franchise record for a tight end. ... WR Marvin Harrison Jr. has caught seven TD passes this season, which leads all NFL rookies. ... The Cardinals have been flagged for 61 penalties this season, which is the fewest in the NFL. But the team was flagged 10 times in last week's loss to the Vikings. Arizona's defense is a strong play at home. The Cardinals are giving up just 17 points per game at State Farm Stadium, which is second in the league behind Pittsburgh. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Thereport, which includes 100 of the world’s top sportsorganisations, teams, apparel, leagues, broadcasters andtechnology companies, looks at the influence and impact oftechnology in sport across all aspects. Leading therankings in #1 spot was the NBA, followed by McLaren Formula1 team, Apple, AWS ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand whoranked 5th ahead of 95 other powerhouses of the sportingtechnology industry. Emirates Team New Zealand CEOGrant Dalton said, “It brings the team great pride to berecognised so significantly in the Sports Technology PowerList specifically for the technological and innovativeaspect of what the team does. On one perspective weare a sailing team, but to be successful in that regard weare ultimately a technology company. Furthermore, inour role as current Defender of the America’s Cup anddriver of the technology at the pinnacle event of our sport,it is through the innovation that we have a significantinfluence across sailing which also extends to a number ofindustries like marine, sustainability, broadcast ande-sports." Emirates Team New Zealand have had a busyfew years as part of the Defence of the 37th America’s Cupwhich they won for the third time in a row in October ofthis year achieving a diverse number of design and sportingmilestones including: HYDROGEN BOATS Designed,built, successfully launched and implemented the inclusionof Hydrogen powered foiling chase boats, across the eventand teams of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’sCup WIND-POWERED LAND SPEED WORLDRECORD Designed, built and set a new Wind-powered LandSpeed World Record of 222.43km/h in their land yacht‘Horonuku’ with Glenn Ashby in Lake Gairner, SouthAustralia AC40 Design and development of theAC40 class which won World Sailing Boat of the Year and wasused as the foundation of the Women’s and YouthAmerica’s Cups in Barcelona AC SAILING E-SPORTSGAME Developed and launched AC Sailing E-Sports Gamebased of the team’s proprietary in-house simulator andAmerica’s Cup design tools AMERICA'S CUP WINNINGAC75 Designed and built the America’s Cup winningAC75 ‘Taihoro’ which sailed to victory for the thirdtime in a row in Barcelona The report’s maincontributors are immersed in using and understandingtechnology as an integral part of their roles in the sportsindustry. They engage daily with tech companies, sportsscientists, business leaders, coaches and athletes, andsports brands of all types and sizes. Rebecca Hopkins,CEO of The STA Group reflects on Emirates Team NewZealand’s top 5 ranking, “The Sports Technology PowerList is the ultimate industry guide to the brands shapingthe future of sport and sports innovation. It’s the listthe industry watches—and aspires to be on. Thisyear’s rankings were determined through a rigorous processthat combined AI-powered analysis of all past results,expert insights from The STA Group team, and a final verdictfrom a small yet distinguished jury. Being featured isa testament to the groundbreaking innovation and impactEmirates Team New Zealand brings to sports technology.Brands like this are redefining the future ofsport.”Lea Miller-Tooley hopped off a call to welcome the Baylor women’s basketball team to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, where 80-degree temperatures made it easy for the Bears to settle in on Paradise Island a week before Thanksgiving. About 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men's teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley , the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men's and women's tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time — and staff and families — that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four's most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event's relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence — they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina . It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn , No. 4 Auburn , No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo's Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021 . “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii. AP Sports Writers Pat Graham in Colorado and Larry Lage in Michigan contributed to this report. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballHonest and critical yet hopeful and optimistic -- that's how the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are viewing their current predicament. The Panthers, who are set to host the Washington Capitals on Monday night in Sunrise, are 1-5-0 over their past six games. 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