Direct Line has rejected a £3.3bn takeover offer from its bigger UK rival Aviva , the second time it has rebuffed a suitor this year. Aviva, the UK’s largest insurer, said it offered 250p a share, made up of cash and Aviva shares, in a non-binding proposal on 19 November. This was rejected by Direct Line on Wednesday, which has declined to engage further with Aviva, according to the statement. The announcement came after markets shut. Aviva’s share price closed 1.6% higher at 489.5p, while Direct Line shares slipped by 0.2% to 158.7p. Its share price has fallen by 14% this year, giving the company a market value of £2.1bn. By contrast, Aviva’s shares are nearly 13% higher, valuing it at £13.2bn. “Aviva believes that an acquisition of Direct Line would be consistent with its strategy to accelerate growth in its UK businesses and further pivot the group towards capital-light business lines,” the insurer said. It added that it would create a more efficient platform from which to serve existing and new customers, and would allow Direct Line customers to “benefit from Aviva’s breadth, scale and financial strength”. However, Direct Line, known for its motor insurance, said it had considered the proposal with its advisers and concluded that it was “highly opportunistic and substantially undervalued the company”. It added: “The board has considerable conviction in the capabilities of our newly established leadership team and stands firmly behind their delivery of our strategy. Under this strategy, the company continues to make early progress towards our financial targets, and expects to deliver attractive growth in profitability, capital generation and shareholder returns.” The Kent-based company said earlier this month that it plans to cut 550 jobs as part of a turnaround plan aimed at saving £50m next year. It lost nearly 400,000 car insurance customers in the past year. Adam Winslow joined as chief executive in March from Aviva, where he ran the general insurance business in the UK and Ireland. In February, Direct Line rejected a £3.1bn takeover approach from Belgian insurer Ageas , saying it was “uncertain and unattractive” for shareholders. The company was spun out of Royal Bank of Scotland in 2012 and listed on the London Stock Exchange two years later. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Aviva has sold businesses in France, Italy, Asia and elsewhere to focus on the UK, Ireland and Canada under chief executive Amanda Blanc. In March, it announced it was returning to the Lloyd’s insurance market through the £242m purchase of Probitas and completed the deal in July. Under UK takeover rules, Aviva has until 5pm on 25 December to announce a firm intention to make an offer or walk away.
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Over an evening of discovery and dialogue, Information & Computer Systems Technology students from Camosun College presented their capstone projects Dec. 12 to clients, potential employers and other visitors. The projects ranged in topics from streamlining manufacturing workflows to building a management system for a dance studio. Students also engaged with guest speakers at Fort Tectoria on Fort Street. “We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication our students have shown,” noted Saryta Schaerer, program chair of the computer science department at Camosun College, in a news release. “The symposium not only showcases their technical abilities but also their capacity to innovate and solve complex challenges. It’s a testament to the high calibre of education and training they’ve received here at Camosun.” Camosun student Ryan Kim explained that the project involved working with a sponsor to develop a project to address their business needs. Kim, along with two other students, worked with Victoria-based dance studio Raino Dance to create a studio management tool. "They were dissatisfied with their current studio management tool, so we came in, we gathered their requirements, and we determined their use cases and the pain points with their current solution. We prototyped a new solution that can answer those concerns," said Kim. "We get a chance to work in a business setting, in a development setting with a team, and get our feet wet by being professional developers." Now that the team has finished the first phase of the Khoreia Studio Management System, they hope to eventually shop the software to other studios as a solution to management woes. The capstone projects are part of Camosun's strategic plan to offer more students an applied learning opportunity including capstones, service learning, work-integrated learning and apprenticeships.By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 27: The government has concluded that the agreement between India and China to open the route to Kailash Manasarovar is not a matter of concern for Nepal. Speaking at a press meet organised to make public the Cabinet decisions on Thursday, government spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said that the agreement does not affect Nepal’s sovereignty. "Our sovereignty, which is non-negotiable, has not been impacted," he said. "It’s a technical matter that has existed since before. The Cabinet discussed the issue and concluded that the agreement does not warrant concern." "There was an extensive discussion in the Cabinet regarding this," he said. "The conclusion is that the agreement was not made in a way that questions our sovereignty or raises concerns for us. Therefore, we do not need to worry." About a week ago, in a meeting in Beijing, India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, reached an agreement to resume the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimages that had been halted due to COVID-19. Travel to the area involves passing through Nepal’s Lipulek and Kalapani regions. Nepal had previously objected to the agreements made by the two countries citing that the two took the decision without consulting Nepal. Lipulek and Kalapani are Nepali territories and new the route to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet, China, passes through them.
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By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.
Fresh off the back of a humiliating 7-0 defeat against Benfica in the Taca de Portugal, Estrela Amadora journey to the Estadio de Sao Luis to face SC Farense on Friday. The Leoes de Faro side head into the midweek clash unbeaten in their last five games against the visiting side since August 2021 and will be looking to extend this dominant three-year streak. © Imago Farense booked their spot in the fifth round of the Taca de Portugal as they picked up a 2-1 victory over Arouca when the two sides squared off at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca last Saturday. Dario Poveda and Elves Balde scored either side of Alfonso Trezza 's 16th-minute equaliser to hand the visitors a first-half lead before they turned in a solid defensive display in the second half to see out the win. Farense now turn their focus to the Primeira Liga, where they have gone three straight games without a win, losing twice and claiming one draw, and have managed just one win in their last 14 matches, losing 10 and claiming two draws since mid May. Off the back of a 10th-placed finish last season, Toze Marreco 's men have stumbled into the 2024-25 campaign and find themselves rooted to the bottom of the league standings , having picked up just five points from their 11 league matches so far. Farense's slow start to the campaign has been owing to their struggles at the attacking end of the pitch, where they have scored the fewest number of goals so far (5) — one fewer than any other side in the division. © Imago Estrela Amadora, on the other hand, were condemned to their biggest defeat of the season last time out when they were thrashed 7-0 by Benfica in their Taca de Portugal fourth-round clash. Veteran forward Angel Di Maria turned in a clinic at the Estadio da Luz as he netted a hat-trick, including a fifth-minute overhead kick, while setting up one goal to inspire As Aguias to an emphatic victory. Prior to that, Farense moved out of the bottom three in the Primeira Liga on November 10, when they picked up a 2-0 victory over Nacional at the Estadio Jose Gomes courtesy of late goals from Paulo Moreira and Kikas . Jose Faria 's men have managed just two wins from their 11 league matches this season while losing six and claiming three draws to collect nine points and sit 15th in the table, level on points with 14th-placed Boavista and one point above 16th-placed Arouca. While Farense will be looking to bounce back from Saturday's humbling against Benfica, results away from home offer little optimism as they have failed to win any of their 15 games on the road since the turn of the year. Next up is the challenge of an opposing side whom they have failed to get the better of in any of their last five encounters, losing twice and claiming two draws since a 3-1 victory in August 2021. © Imago Farense remain without the services of veteran forward Tomane , who has missed each of the last eight matches since picking up an injury back in September. He is joined on the club's injury table by 25-year-old midfielder Filipe Soares , who is set to sit out his seventh consecutive game after coming off injured against AVS on September 30. With his strike against Arouca, Poveda now has a goal contribution in each of his last three games and the former Getafe man will be looking to deliver the goods once again. Meanwhile, Estrala Amadora remain without first-choice goalkeeper Bruno Brigido , who was forced off injured midway through the game against Nacional on November 10. Off the back of shipping seven against Benfica, former Porto man Francisco Meixedo should start between the stick, with Danilo Veiga , Ferro , Ruben Lima and skipper Miguel Lopes teaming up at the defensive end of the pitch. SC Farense possible starting lineup: Velho; Africo, Jorge, Moreno; Pastor, Falcao, Menino, Victor; Merghem, Poveda, Balde Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup: Meixedo; Veiga, Ferro, Lopes, Lima; Bucca, Jesus, Cordeiro, Nilton; Pinho, Cabral Off the back of a 7-0 hammering at the hands of Benfica, Estrela will head into Friday's clash looking to retire some pride and push clear of the danger zone. However, we predict Farense will do just enough to force a share of the spoils and extend their unbeaten run against Faria's men to six games. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .
The Chicago Blackhawks need to fix a problem. Connor Bedard is the face of the franchise because of his previous domination in the levels leading up to the NHL. He was the number one pick in the 2023 NHL Draft with the hype of being generational. Following a rookie season that won him the Calder Trophy, there has been somewhat of a sophomore slump so far this year. His assist total (12) is fine but he only has three goals and has gone 11 straight without one. Things have been bad in other areas of the game as well. While he was on the ice against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night, the Hawks were outshot 10-0. Luckily, he was able to be a passenger for a big win over the defending champions. After practice on Thursday, Bedard spoke and had some things to start that you don’t want to hear from a young superstar. Connor Bedard looked the most discouraged I've ever seen him after practice today. "I could name 100 things [I could do better]. I don't know, man. It's been frustrating, for sure. I just don't feel like I'm really doing anything. Keep chipping away at it, I guess, and hopefully... — Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) Bedard is incredibly down on himself. Your confidence isn’t always going to be at the highest level but this is a new low. It isn’t good that he feels like he’s doing nothing at all. Whether it’s GM Kyle Davidson, head coach Luke Richardson, captain Nick Foligno, or anyone in the organization, one of these elders must get in Bedard’s head and feed him positivity. If they don’t, it’s going to be a long season for the 19-year-old. Bedard’s next chance to find the back of the net will come in a Saturday matinee. They are off to Philly to take on the Philadelphia Flyers. This is a one-game road trip before returning home ahead of Thanksgiving. Earlier in the week, Teuvo Teravainen had similar comments about his lack of confidence. One day later, he came out and scored. Now, Bedard would like the same thing to happen to him. He has too much talent to feel like this.Bali, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta Target to Welcome More Than 16 Million International Holidaymakers, Expecting to Create 25.8 Million Tourism Industry Jobs
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Jurors in New Mexico have awarded a man more than $412 million in a medical malpractice case that involved a men’s health clinic that operates in several states. The man’s attorneys celebrated Monday’s verdict, saying they are hopeful it will prevent other men from falling victim to a scheme that involved fraud and what they described as dangerous penile injections. They said the jury award for punitive and compensatory damages is likely the largest in history for a medical malpractice case. The award follows a trial held in Albuquerque earlier this month that centered on allegations outlined in a lawsuit filed by the man's attorneys in 2020. NuMale Medical Center and company officials were named as defendants. According to the complaint, the man was 66 when he visited the clinic in 2017 in search of treatment for fatigue and weight loss. The clinic is accused of misdiagnosing him and unnecessarily treating him with “invasive erectile dysfunction shots” that caused irreversible damage. “This out of state medical corporation set up a fraudulent scheme to make millions off of conning old men by scaring them with a fake test,” Nick Rowley, the man's attorney, wrote in a social media post that detailed the verdict. Rowley went on to say that the scheme involved clinic workers telling patients they would have irreversible damage if they didn't agree to injections three times a week. NuMale Medical Center President Brad Palubicki said in a statement issued Tuesday that the company is committed to high-quality and safe patient care. He said NuMale disagrees with the verdict and intend to pursue all available legal remedies, including an appeal. A message seeking additional comment was left Wednesday with the company and its attorney. NuMale also has clinics in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Nebraska, North Carolina and Wisconsin. According to court records, jurors found that fraudulent and negligent conduct by the defendants resulted in damages to the plaintiff. They also found that unconscionable conduct by the defendants violated the Unfair Practices Act.6,000 inmates escape from a high-security prison as post-election violence roils MozambiqueCowboys EVP Stephen Jones reacts to Dallas players hitting club scene after losses
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A YouTube creator is accusing of fraudulent behavior tied to the internet browser extension , which advertises finding and applying coupon codes for . YouTube creator posted a video titled, on Dec. 21 accusing Honey, which is owned by PayPal, of deceiving consumers and influencers by hijacking links that pay influencers for products they promote, providing limited coupon options and publishing inaccurate advertisements. The 23-minute , the first in a three-part series, according to MegaLag, had more than 9.4 million views, as of Thursday morning. The video concludes with what appears to be a tease for a follow-up. "I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up going down as one of the most aggressive, shameless marketing scams of the century," MegaLag said in the . In response to the video, PayPal Chief Corporate Affairs and Communications Officer Amy Bonitatibus provided USA TODAY with the following response: “Honey is free to use and provides millions of shoppers with additional savings on their purchases whenever possible. Honey helps merchants reduce cart abandonment and comparison shopping while increasing sales conversion. Honey follows industry rules and practices, including last-click attribution." MegaLag denied to comment when contacted by USA TODAY. Here's what to know about the accusations made by MegaLag and where they line up with industry standards. Honey is a free browser extension that claims to find coupon codes during online shopping checkout. Honey was released in 2012 and PayPal purchased it in 2020 for approximately $4 billion, according to a . When PayPal acquired Honey, said the shopping tool served about 17 million monthly active users and helped consumers save about $1 billion annually. After purchasing Honey, PayPal launched PayPal Rewards, which incentivizes using the Honey extension. PayPal users earn points when using the browser extension, even if they don't redeem any coupons, according to the Those points can be used to redeem cash back, PayPal shopping credit or gift cards. In the video, MegaLag called this rewards program a The creator proceeded to provide an example of how much money he earned through an affiliate link versus PayPal Rewards cashback when making the same purchase. MegaLag provided an example completed through Honey Gold, Honey's former rewards program utilized before PayPal purchased it. When purchasing a NordVPN standard package (about $95) through his own affiliate link, MegaLag reported making about $35 from the sale. When purchasing the same package but activating PayPal Rewards, rather than using his affiliate link, MegaLag reported earning about 89 cents in cashback. In the video, MegaLag mentions that upon conducting research about Honey, there was virtually no other information on the topic. However, since the video has gained traction, during a Twitch stream in 2020 has resurfaced. Mark Fischbach (the creator behind Markipiler) did not get into much detail, but he did voice his "distrust" for the shopping tool. "I think they've even offered me (a brand deal) and I said no because I just don't trust Honey," Fischbach said during the . "I have a feeling in like a couple years there's going to be the great Honey conspiracy of like 2022." The day after MegaLag's video published, Fischbach reposted his stream clip to X with the comment, In the video, MegaLag accuses Honey of breaching affiliate links. MegaLag sets up the following example: If a consumer clicks an affiliate link in the description of a YouTube video, the consumer will be taken to the corresponding website. Without using Honey, if the consumer makes a purchase from that link, the YouTube creator will earn a commission. Thinking in real-world scenarios, an affiliate link is similar to a salesperson helping a customer at a store. For example, if a department store salesperson helps a customer find and purchase a piece of jewelry, the salesperson earns commission. If a consumer has the Honey browser extension installed and accepts a Honey pop-up − whether it be a coupon the shopping tool offers or just a message indicating that Honey didn't find any coupons - Honey will earn a commission from the online purchase. The YouTube creator, whose affiliate link the consumer originally followed, will not receive a commission. This model is called last-click attribution, which gives credit to the last touchpoint a user interacts with before making a purchase. Though there are other types of attribution − such as first-click, which provides a commission to the first touchpoint interacted with − last-click is considered the industry standard. In the , MegaLag claims Honey is "exploiting" last-click attribution. When it comes to content creator versus content creator, MegaLag says last-click attribution is usually fair, but when it is content creator versus Honey, "there's no real competition." "Honey pops up right at the end of your purchasing journey, virtually guaranteeing they'll win that last click," MegaLag says in the . "They, of course, know this and do anything they can to get that last click. Even where there's no coupon codes to offer." Another industry standard when it comes to affiliate marketing is the . This policy, implemented by host sites, in this case a retailer, requests that browser extensions respect affiliate marketing. If a retailer utilizes a stand-down policy, extensions like Honey cannot claim credit, even if they are the last touchpoint, according to , a fintech company that offers white-label cashback services. In response to the MegaLag video, YouTube creator Hank Green released a video, on Dec. 25. In his video, Green discussed how affiliate marketing functions in the "small business ecosystem." Green said the ecosystem of small business creators looking to make money and being attracted to affiliate marketing is "How responsible should creators be for understanding the business models of the companies that they do brand deals for?" Green posed in his . "I am certain that many creators aren't really savvy enough or have the time to do that work. The brand deal ecosystem, it's where, for most creators, where most of the money comes from, so it can be really hard to say no and it can be really easy to try to not think too hard about how things work." Ultimately, like MegaLag, Green claimed Honey and PayPal are taking advantage of content creators. USA TODAY has reached out to experts for more context on best practices in the industry. MegaLag also accused Honey of offering limited coupon codes, not providing customers with all of the best options. In the , MegaLag said he was often able to find redeemable coupon codes from other shopping tools like RetailMeNot when Honey indicated no coupons could be found. PayPal's Bonitatibus told USA TODAY that merchants ultimately decide what coupons are offered to consumers through Honey. When it comes to sourcing its coupons, Bonitatibus said they are manually gathered by Honey's team, sourced from deal networks, made available through merchant partnerships and sourced from users who share codes with Honey. In the , MegaLag also accused Honey of releasing dishonest advertisements claiming the shopping tool searches for all available coupon codes, implying that a customer who uses Honey does not need to search for their own coupons. In 2020, the National Advertising Division opened an inquiry into a Honey advertisement that claimed, "With just a single click, Honey will find every working code on the internet and apply the best one to your cart," according to a . However, Honey informed the National Advertising Division, after the inquiry was opened, that it had been in the process of discontinuing the ad for "business reasons," according to a . Honey also agreed to permanently discontinue the related advertisements. Thus, the National Advertising Division inquiry was closed. is a New Zealand YouTube creator who had 508,000 subscribers, as of Monday afternoon. Self-identified as a tech investigative journalist, the creator, who confirmed to USA TODAY his first name is Jonathon, is known for his videos that "expose" companies or experiment with different technology.EMPOLI, Italy (AP) — Scotland international Che Adams scored from almost the halfway line as Torino ended a run of poor form to win at Empoli 1-0 in Serie A on Friday. Adams replaced Antonio Sanabria in the 64th minute and made his mark almost immediately. With 70 gone, he spotted the Empoli goalkeeper off his line and lobbed the ball over his head from inside the center circle. The goal ended his personal eight-game drought in spectacular fashion, and will ease pressure on coach Paolo Vanoli. The Turin club was unbeaten in its first five league games and topped the table for a time. But it has won only one of 10 games since, back in late October. Friday's win lifted Torino into 12th place, two places and three points behind Empoli. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Sunday afternoon the Vikings take to the field at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals. It is Minnesota’s first home game in nearly a month. Winners of four in a row with the last three coming on the road, Minnesota’s continued strong play has allowed them to maintain a firm hold on a playoff spot in the NFC through 11 games. They also sit just one game behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North. This past Sunday, Sam Darnold and the Vikings scored 30 points in a game for the first time since Week 4. Sam Darnold threw for 330 yards and 2 TDs, but neither was to All Pro Justin Jefferson who is without a TD reception in the last five games and with only one on the season since Week 4. Bettors are wondering if he is due to breakout or if they should continue loading up on TJ Hockenson and Jordan Addison. Kyler Murray and Arizona were held to a season-low six points this past Sunday in a 16-6 loss at Seattle. It was their lowest point total of the season and snapped a four-game winning streak for the Cardinals. The Seahawks sacked Kyler Murray five times. Afterwards, Murray spoke with reporters and said Arizona was “physically dominated” by the Seahawks. Can Murray and co. turn things around on the road against Brian Flores’ Top 10 defense? Fun Fact: The Vikings’ defense is No. 1 in the NFL against the run and No. 5 in points allowed. Listen to the Bet the Edge podcast as hosts Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick provide listeners with sharp actionable insight, market analysis and statistical data to help bettors gain more information before placing their wagers. So, whether you’re targeting spreads and totals, looking for value in futures markets or circling player props, give their podcast a listen to give you that extra edge. Game details and how to watch Cardinals at Vikings · Date : December 1, 2024 · Time : 1 PM ET · Site : U.S. Bank Stadium · City : Minneapolis, MN · TV/Streaming : FOX Latest Game Odds for Cardinals at Vikings The latest odds courtesy of DraftKings: · Moneyline : Arizona Cardinals (+154), Minnesota Vikings (-185) · Spread : Vikings -3.5 · Total : 45.5 The line has moved 1 full point towards the Cards since it opened. The Total has dropped 1 full point as well with money doubting just a little the ability of Sam Darnold and Kyler Murray to finish drives with touchdowns. NBC Sports Bet Best Bets Expert picks & predictions for Cardinals at Vikings Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NFL calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, betting trends, and weather forecasts. Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager. Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Sunday’s game between Arizona and Minnesota: · Moneyline : NBC Sports is leaning towards a play on the Vikings on the Moneyline · Spread : NBC Sports is staying away from a play ATS. · Total : NBC Sports is leaning towards a play on the Total UNDER 45.5. Cardinals at Vikings Stats and Betting Trends · The Cardinals are 7-4 against the spread this season. · The Cardinals are 4-6-1 to the OVER this season. · The Cardinals have covered the spread in 4 of their last 5 games · The Vikings are 7-3-1 against the spread this season. · The Vikings are 4-7 to the OVER this season. · The Cardinals have lost 11 straight to the Vikings on the road. · The OVER is 4-1 in the Vikings’ last 5 matchups against NFC teams Quarterback Matchup for Cardinals at Vikings · Arizona: Kyler Murray – completed 24 of 37 passes for 285 yards but could not find the endzone in Sunday’s 16-6 loss in Seattle. · Minnesota: Sam Darnold – threw for a season-high 330 yards with 2 TDs Sunday in the Vikings’ OT win over the Bears. Cardinals at Vikings Injury Report Arizona S Jalen Thompson (ankle) is questionable for Sunday’s game. Arizona DE Darius Robinson (calf) is probable for Sunday’s game. Minnesota S Jay Ward (elbow) is questionable for Thursday’s game. Minnesota OT Cam Robinson (foot) is questionable for Thursday’s game. Minnesota LB Ivan Pace Jr. (hamstring) is questionable for Thursday’s game. Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest and tools for the NFL, including game predictions, player props, futures, and trends! Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: · Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) · Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) · Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) · Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’NAPLES, Fla. — Sophia Popov woke up at 6 a.m. Thursday fired up to get to the first tee. She wasn’t nervous about the narrow opening shot at Tiburon Golf Club, however, because this time, she didn’t have to hit it. Popov, 32, instead had on a headset as she went to work as an on-course commentator for the first time for ESPN. The 2020 AIG Women’s British Open champion is part of this week's Featured Groups coverage at the LPGA’s season-ending . She has twice commentated in the booth for other networks during the 2015 and 2024 Solheim Cups. : | “I’ve always thought about this as a career and I really want to do it,” said Popov, "and I think this is definitely where I see my future. But at the same time, I feel like my game has actually kind of come together towards the end of the year. I definitely would like to play another year and then kind of see how the year goes, and ease out of playing and more into broadcast and not make it a hard stop.” Popov gave birth to daughter Maya Mae Mehles in June 2023 and returned to the tour in March. Will Haskett and Amanda Blumenherst are in the studio for this week’s Featured Groups coverage while Chantel McCabe joins Popov on the course.BOILING SPRINGS, N.C (AP) — Leo Colimerio scored 27 points and Queens University held off Gardner-Webb 85-83 on Saturday. Colimerio shot 8 for 12 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line for the Royals (6-5). He made two foul shots with 9 seconds left to give the Royals a four-point lead. Malcolm Wilson scored 11 points, finishing 5 of 6 from the floor. Nasir Mann shot 3 for 6, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with nine points. Darryl Simmons II finished with 23 points and two steals for the Runnin' Bulldogs (4-7). Jamaine Mann added 18 points and seven rebounds. Pharell Boyogueno had nine points and four assists. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
The biopharma industry is a dynamic environment. To succeed in it and thrive, companies must be innovative and must constantly re-evaluate their strategies. This will help them to navigate the challenges of drug development and entry into the market. This article provides winning strategies that can help biopharma companies stay ahead of the curve. Performing clinical trials on new drugs and making them available to patients is long, complex, and capital-demanding. To increase your chances of clinical success with a new drug pipeline, your Research and Development (R&D) efforts must be collaborative, streamlined, and effective. Invest in the R&D pipeline to maximize your organization’s opportunities for innovative therapies and minimize your risks. This might require collaboration with biotech startups, technology providers, and academic institutions to help expand your capabilities. One way that biopharma companies can boost patient’s access to investigational medication is through the use of an expanded access program. Through an Early Access Care program, biopharma companies can better understand local regulatory compassionate use pathways and new FDA legislations pertaining to investigational drugs. Such programs often work with doctors directly, helping them understand all the documentation requirements for obtaining investigational medications for patients who are not responding to conventional treatments, expediting the entire process. When a broader population of patients receives promising therapies before full approval, there is a higher potential for developing real-world data, ultimately accelerating adoption. One strategy leaders in the biopharma industry use to stay ahead of the curve is advanced data analytics and AI. Advanced analytics help deliver valuable insights by identifying biochemical pathways and technologies that could attract investor and scientific attention even before preclinical evidence is available. Biopharma companies obtain data from numerous sources, including those from clinical trials, surveys that gather patient feedback, sales data, online forums, and social media that help them better understand public sentiments. This helps them harness real-world data to predict market trends, streamline drug discovery, and optimize clinical trials, ultimately lowering development costs and improving patient outcomes. Scouting and ranking investment options using AI and advanced analytics do not replace the conventional ways of nurturing relationships through collaborations. So, you must be open to forming alliances with other leaders in the industry, healthcare providers, and contract research organizations. This creates the opportunity for sharing expertise, resources, and risks. Using advanced analytics, you can augment your approaches and widen your geographic net. To maximize the value of external assets and partnerships, you need to adopt an activist approach. Track your internal and external assets using the same rigor and evaluation metrics. Such metrics include the level of evidence, value to patients, enrollment rates, and the timely completion of trials. Doing this ensures a level playing ground when making investment decisions. Not only does this help you maximize your company’s assets, but it also helps you decide which assets to progress. To stay competitive in the biopharma industry, you must invest in workforce development and address any skill gaps promptly. This ensures that your employees are knowledgeable enough to operate innovative digital technologies emerging in their fields, promoting automation in your company’s operations. Companies that invest in reskilling their workforce can retain top talent and their business advantage while fulfilling their obligations to their employees. In addition to providing growth opportunities for your workforce, ensure that your company culture promotes diversity and innovation. Investors don’t just look at the products that are offered to them. They also look at who is offering those opportunities to them. To boost investor confidence in your company, create a credible and strong team and emphasize your track record of success and ability to steer the organization towards success. Your approach should strategically combine expert insights, transparency , and simplicity. Break down scientific jargon into easily understandable terms, showcase your strong management team, and engage with expert consultants in the field to help you build sustainable relationships with investors. Use graphics and other pictorial illustrations when showcasing your solutions to potential investors. As a biopharma company, your products must meet high safety and efficacy standards. Ensure compliance in the dynamic regulatory landscape and stay ahead of your competitors by staying updated on evolving regulations that affect your industry. Having regulatory expertise helps you streamline your development processes and effectively bring your products to the market. Ensure you engage with regulatory agencies early during your drug development process to clarify expectations and receive guidance to help you align your approach to clinical trials and submissions for approval.As 2024 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect. In my first article of the year, I presented a personal financial success recipe that revolves around seven essential elements, known as the 7 S’s. These ingredients were meant to guide you toward building wealth, stability, and peace of mind. Now, let’s take stock. How did you do? And how can you make 2025 an even better year for your finances? 1. Solid Income Goal At the start of 2024, you set an income target. Did you hit it? Did you exceed it? Or did it remain a wish rather than a plan? Reflection: If you didn’t reach your goal, was it too ambitious, or did you lack a clear strategy? For 2025: Set SMART goals—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Break your target into quarterly milestones, as well as short-, mid-, and long-term goals, and celebrate every win along the way. 2. Second and Third Income Streams Diversifying income was a major focus this year. Did you create additional revenue streams, or are you still relying on just one? Reflection: If you managed to start a side gig or passive income project, how did it perform? If not, what held you back? For 2025: Explore accessible options like freelance work, digital products, or investing in dividend-paying stocks. Even a small start can grow into a significant income booster. 3. Smart Spending This year, we emphasised the importance of budgeting and tracking expenses. Did you stick to your plan, or did unexpected spending derail you? Reflection: Were there habits or purchases that didn’t serve your financial goals? For 2025: Create a budget that allows for flexibility but prioritises saving and investing. Use the “50-30-20” rule: 50% for needs, 20% for wants, and 30% for savings and investments. 4. Savvy Investments Investing was a key ingredient in growing your wealth this year. Did you make any investments, or were you held back by fear or lack of knowledge? Reflection: If you invested, how did your portfolio perform? Did you diversify? For 2025: Commit to learning more about investments. Start small if you’re hesitant—consider mutual funds, ETFs, or real estate investment trusts. If you’re already investing, assess what worked and adjust for better results. 5. Simple Tracking App Keeping track of your finances is crucial for managing your finances effectively. Did you embrace technology this year? Reflection: If you used an app, did it help you achieve clarity? If not, why didn’t it work for you? For 2025: Find a user-friendly app that aligns with your lifestyle, or even basic spreadsheets can help you track income, expenses, and investments. The goal is to simplify—not complicate—your financial management. Check out the WealthSync app by Smart Stewards. 6. Serious Commitment Financial success requires discipline. How well did you stick to your goals amidst challenges or temptations? Reflection: Were there moments when you lost focus or motivation? What triggered those lapses? For 2025: Develop systems that keep you accountable. For example, automate your savings and set calendar reminders for financial check-ins. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who encourage consistency. 7. Supportive Circle We cannot overstate the power of community. Did you have a strong support system this year—friends, mentors, or accountability partners? Reflection: Did your circle uplift and challenge you to do better? If not, it may be time to reassess. For 2025: Intentionally seek out people who share your financial aspirations. Join communities like Smart Stewards or professional networks that align with your goals. Looking Ahead to 2025 2024 was a chapter filled with lessons, wins, and opportunities for growth. As you prepare for the new year, don’t just focus on what didn’t go well—celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Financial success isn’t achieved in a single year; it’s a journey of continuous improvement. Take these reflections as your guide into 2025, tweak your strategy, and stay committed to building the life you desire. Here’s to a prosperous and fulfilling 2025. Happy New Year in advance!
The Yomiuri Shimbun 5:00 JST, November 28, 2024 The Yomiuri Shimbun will establish a new stock price index, The Yomiuri Stock Index, in March 2025. The index, also dubbed the Yomiuri 333, will indicate the movement of stock prices and is aimed at expanding the range of options for investors by developing a new benchmark for the Japanese economy. With the new project designed to encourage domestic and foreign investment in Japanese companies, The Yomiuri Shimbun will make a contribution to a virtuous economic cycle that widely returns the fruits of corporate growth to the people in addition to investors. The Yomiuri 333 will be provided in collaboration with a major financial group, and will be composed of 333 companies that represent Japan and are among the names listed on stock exchanges in the country. Along with the Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) and the Nikkei Stock Average (Nikkei 225), the Yomiuri 333 will become a stock index demonstrating Japan’s economic strength. The unit of measurement for the new index will be the Japanese yen. The key feature of the Yomiuri 333 is that it will adopt the equal weighting method in calculating the index, in which all 333 companies’ stocks are incorporated in the same proportion. The new index will exhibit average price movements of the constituent stocks, making it less susceptible to the movements of large corporations or specific companies by equally incorporating the movements of all the 333 companies’ stocks. Equal-weighted indices have been used overseas but have not been widely adopted in Japan. TOPIX is a capitalization-weighted index, which tends to reflect the size of a company’s market capitalization, and the price movements of large companies have a significant impact on it. The Nikkei 225 is a price-weighted index, which can be influenced by the price movements of certain stocks with high share prices because it is calculated using the share price of each constituent stock. Unlike these indices, the Yomiuri 333 aims at equally reflecting the price movements of a wider range of stocks. Investors will be able to grasp the degree of economic growth in Japan through the Yomiuri 333 if the economy continues to grow over the long term. For investors, the available options for asset building will be broadened by using the Yomiuri 333 as it will become a new benchmark for understanding economic trends in the country. A major asset management company is preparing to develop financial products linked to the Yomiuri 333, including investment trusts, from the spring of 2025 or later. The Yomiuri Shimbun also aims for the Yomiuri 333 to be an index that will be used for the new NISA, or Nippon Individual Savings Account, a tax-exempt program for small investments by individuals. Investment trusts linked to the index are also expected to be created. The Yomiuri Shimbun supports long-term, stable asset creation for the people by offering an index corresponding to long-term, cumulative and diversified investments.
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