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If you've been following the currents of online culture over the past couple of weeks, there's a good chance you've heard about Bluesky with increasing frequency. The microblogging site, which was founded by a former Twitter CEO, has been skyrocketing in popularity since the presidential election earlier this month, in which Donald Trump won his second term in the White House. Some users of X (formerly known as Twitter), many of whom were already growing frustrated with the many changes made by its owner, Trump mega-donor Elon Musk, are finally jumping ship to Bluesky. Aside from being less politically fraught, Bluesky is fundamentally different from X/Twitter in a few key ways. Its decentralized structure means users have more freedom with their data, and it has several features that make it easier to find the kind of content you're looking for — or avoid the content you're not. But can this brash new upstart really unseat X as the de-facto microblogging site? To find out, we took Bluesky through its paces and spoke to experts. Bluesky was founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey , along with a number of people interested in decentralized technology — tech designed so that it isn't subject to the whims of a single company or its owner. The idea was that anyone could host their own instance of Bluesky, leaving the company responsible only for its own app and not for the platform as a whole. It may seem strange for the head of a company to work on a potential competitor, but Dorsey has a reputation as an iconoclast within Silicon Valley. In fact, further Twitter alumni got in on the ground floor of Bluesky, including Parag Agrawal, the CEO whose tenure stretched from Dorsey's exit to Elon Musk's arrival at the company. But when it came time to launch as its own company, Dorsey and Agrawal tapped Lantian "Jay" Graber, a promising young developer, as Bluesky's CEO. The decision to keep Bluesky independent of Twitter proved prophetic. When Elon Musk took over the latter company in late 2022, he promptly nullified a prior agreement that would have seen Twitter folded into the decentralized web of platforms using Bluesky's technology and fired the people working to incorporate that tech. However, as Twitter changed under its new owner and was eventually rebranded as X, Bluesky continued to develop in the background. After a beta period during which sign-ups were available via invite only, Bluesky opened its doors to the general public in early 2024. Since then, it has grown slowly, but the platform began to explode in mid-November 2024. On the surface, Bluesky may look like just another Twitter clone, but under the hood, it's a very different platform. Just as on Twitter, you can post, repost, quote, and like posts. The difference is that Bluesky is decentralized, meaning anyone can host their own data and take their account with them to another instance of the platform. By default, a new user will appear as @username.bsky.social, but if you don't like that, you can use your own domain. For example, SlashGear could theoretically rehost an account on its own domain, giving it a username like @username.slashgear.com. (At the time of this writing, SlashGear does not have a Bluesky account.) Another unique aspect of Bluesky is algorithmic choice. On Twitter, Threads, and many other social media sites, users are shown content based on a secretive algorithm closely guarded by the platform. On Twitter and Threads, you can choose between letting a proprietary algorithm decide what you see or sorting your timeline into pure chronological order. Bluesky, by contrast, lets you select between multiple open-source algorithms, giving users far more control over how their content gets sorted. This algorithmic control manifests most clearly in the Feeds feature, which lets users create and subscribe to custom timelines based on particular topics, sets of users, or other criteria. When creating a Feed, you can choose which algorithm you want to rank the posts and even select how much weight the algorithm will give to the recency of any given post. This feature helped Bluesky to take on a life of its own, with a community-curated DIY culture that feels both fresh and distinct from other Twitter-like competitors. Buzz around Bluesky spread quickly through tech and media circles at its initial launch, hitting a million app installs last year . Now, it's taken on new life since the 2024 presidential election. With X owner Elon Musk having thrown his weight behind President-elect Donald Trump, many X users who don't align with Musk's politics now see the platform as politically hostile. That feeling was egged on by the explosion of hate speech that coincided with Musk's loosened moderation on the site, some of which Musk himself has engaged with. SlashGear reached out to journalist and Internet culture expert Taylor Lorenz, who says of X, "It's a very intense political environment on the app, and Elon has removed user controls that used to protect people." The result has been a mass exodus of users, which has been Bluesky's gain. At the time of this writing, Bluesky is the number one app on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, where it has remained for several days. Bluesky is not the only alternative to X. Meta's Threads platform integrates seamlessly with Instagram and has already scored 175 million users as of July 2024. However, given that the point of leaving X was to escape from under the thumb of a tech billionaire, it's understandable that Threads, which is ultimately tied to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, would prove nearly as unpalatable for a large portion of expatriated X users. "Threads ended up going crazy with the content moderation," Lorenz said, "and now I think people are realizing that Bluesky is the best alternative. Bluesky offers a very comparable experience to kind of the original Twitter." While Bluesky is benefitting from the X exodus, whether the current spike in growth can continue as a long-term trend remains to be seen. Lorenz suggested that, due to Elon Musk's entrenchment in the incoming Trump administration, X will remain an important part of the media landscape. "I think political people are so incredibly addicted to Twitter," Lorenz says. "And now with Trump in office, Twitter is going to remain a politically relevant platform that keeps journalists on there because they're going to want to see what Elon says." Lorenz points out that X also remains the de-facto platform for Congresspeople and other public figures. However, she's not willing to write Bluesky off in that regard just yet. "If lawmakers and pundits and journalists all do go to Bluesky, then I think it could replicate what Twitter had," Lorenz says. Some public figures have already decamped to Bluesky from X, including journalists like New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie and celebrities like "Star Wars" star Mark Hamill. According to award-winning author Charlie Jane Anders, who referred SlashGear to a public statement on the subject, her final straw was a reported proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on X. "I feel the need to make a clean break from Twitter at this point," she wrote. "After all of the proliferation of hate speech, and the random shutdowns of progressive accounts that challenge the owner's rigid orthodoxy, I was already wanting to make a break for it. But after the latest scandals involving CSAM, I really feel as though I have no choice." Whether or not Bluesky becomes the new Twitter, it's clearly promising what many people crave: a fresh start.
AN ARTIST has used artificial intelligence to create what he claims is the most realistic image of a teenage Virgin Mary before she gave birth to Jesus. The tech expert said he reconstructed the face of Virgin Mary as she mysteriously appeared on a piece of cloth more than 700 years ago in Mexico. 3 Image created by AI shows what could be the 'most realistic' image of Mother Mary in her teenage Credit: Anahuac Encyclopedia 3 The AI model spent weeks studying the picture Credit: Anahuac Encyclopedia 3 The original picture of Our Lady of Gualalupe Credit: Getty Miguel Ángel Omaña Rojas, from Mexico, said he spent weeks studying the intricate facial features as they appeared in the original picture of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. He analyzed her facial structure, skin tone and expression to "capture gestures and expressions in a dynamic way", the DailyMail reports. The tech expert then used his artificial intelligence models - which were previously trained to study large sets of data about human faces and bodies - to recreate the life-like photos. He said in a YouTube video: "This is the most faithful approximation that artificial intelligence was able to carry out." read more on Jesus HOLY MESSAGE Ancient ‘Jesus is God’ inscription is ‘greatest find since Dead Sea Scrolls’ BIBLE BOMBSHELL Bible 'DISPROVED' as 'two of Jesus' miracles may be explained by science' The Virgin of Guadalupe, also known as the Our Lady of Guadalupe, is a Catholic title given to Mary, mother of Jesus which has been linked to her mysterious supernatural appearance to a Mexican peasant named Juan Diego. Catholics believe that Mary left a miraculous image of her appearance on his cactus fibre cloak, which still exists today in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The picture of Mother Mary on the cloak is depicted with golden rays of light shining behind her, representing the sun. It comes after artificial intelligence revealed what could be the true face of Jesus after analysing the mysterious Shroud of Turin. Most read in Science HIT AND RUN Car 'deliberately' ploughs into fans outside Premier League stadium after match PHIL THE HEAT Latest on Philippe Clement's future at Rangers amid swirling sack rumours TRAGIC FIND Body found on Scots island in search for missing woman, 28, as family informed REST EASY Andy Murray flooded with messages as he shares heart-breaking family update Scientists made a shocking new discovery saying the historic relic - a burial cloth claiming to show an imprint of Christ when he died - could be real. Believers claim Jesus was wrapped in the shroud after he was crucified and that the markings left behind resemble his injuries from the cross. Using the marks on the cloth, The Sun asked AI to reimagine what the son of God might have looked like. Clever AI tool Gencraft was given the prompt "face of Jesus based on the Shroud of Turin" and returned some fascinating results. Scientists make shock Shroud of Turin discovery as new evidence suggests burial cloth ‘showing imprint of Jesus’ is real It shows Jesus as having hazel eyes and a gentle complexion. The man in the picture has a well-kept beard, clean eyebrows and long brown hair going past his shoulders. Under his tired eyes, he has clear signs of weariness. Researchers who have studied the real cloth have made their own impersonations in the past. Many have agreed that the person wrapped in the cloth was a man with sunken eyes who was between 5ft 7in to 6ft tall and had plenty of facial hair . Some claim markings on the body resemble horror crucifixion wounds. Signs of wounds from a thorny crown on the head, injuries to the arms and shoulders and lacerations to the back have all been reported by scientists. The Bible says Jesus was whipped by the Romans, made to wear the agonising headpiece and forced to carry his cross before he was left to die. It comes as the latest evidence around the shroud suggests the cloth was made around 2,000 years ago - the same period when Jesus was said to have lived and died. Most estimates say Jesus was crucified in AD 33, based on the Julian calendar, Bible passages and gospels from the time - 1,991 years ago. Italian researchers used specialist x-ray technology to examine the linen sheet and determine its age. The Institute of Crystallography of the National Research Council studied eight small samples of fabric to uncover tiny details of the linen's structure and cellulose patterns. They used specific ageing metrics like temperature and humidity to determine the results. The Turin Shroud was first displayed publicly in 1350 and since 1578 has been preserved in the royal chapel of the cathedral of San Giovanni Battista in Turin, Italy - hence its name. But it has been at the centre of religious debates for centuries with many describing the idea it was used by Jesus as a hoax. Researchers in 1988 even claimed to have debunked the relic and proved it was from the Middle Ages - hundreds of years after Jesus. Dr Liberato De Caro, lead author of the latest study, said the old research - which used carbon dating to estimate the shroud was made between the years 1260 and 1390 - was unreliable. Read more on the Scottish Sun REST EASY Andy Murray flooded with messages as he shares heart-breaking family update COUGH UP Motorhome park owner shuts after guests leave without paying using shock trick Meanwhile, an atheist filmmaker who once set out to prove the Shroud of Turin was a hoax is now convinced it's real. David Rolfe used to be a sceptic when he began filming a documentary on the mysterious cloth but ended up converting to Christianity during the project. What is the Shroud of Turin? THE Shroud of Turin is a mysterious piece of linen cloth which has left researchers debating its origins for centuries. Many have suggested the cloth was used to wrap around Jesus before his burial following the crucifixion. Others have said it was produced far too late to be used by Jesus. The burial cloth has captivated the minds of historians, church chiefs and religious sceptics since it was first shown publicly in the 1350s. Esteemed French knight Geoffroi de Charny gave it to the dean of a church in Lirey, France. It was later dubbed the Holy Shroud when the suggestions that it was used for Jesus came about. Many of these theories relate to how it features brown marks across it resembling a person's face and body. Scientists have said the feint markings could possibly belong to the son of God. It is 14ft 5in long and 3ft 7in in width and actually features some burn marks. The shroud was damaged in a fire in 1532 in the chapel in Chambéry, France and was later repaired by nuns. Scientists have long been studying the Shroud of Turin with hopes of solving the long-standing mystery. More than 170 peer-reviewed academic papers have been published about the linen since the 1980s. Despite a variation of findings many do believe it was used to bury Jesus.
Officers were called at 10.44pm on Friday, November 22, following reports of two men fighting with knives on Muschamp Road. Officers quickly attended the scene and detained the two individuals involved. Despite the initial report, no knives were found on the males or in the surrounding area. No arrests were made at the time. A witness claimed on social media that they saw two men arguing loudly in the area, with one of them allegedly carrying a large knife. A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called 22:44hrs on Friday, 22 November to reports of two males fighting with knives. “Officers attended and detained the two males. No knives were found on them or the surrounding area. “No arrests were made.”
The 2024–25 summer of sport is here, and Seven is setting the pace with an impressive lineup that blends tradition, technology, and some clever storytelling. From cricket to the NFL playoffs, Seven is making sure its coverage isn’t just watched but truly experienced. Rob Maclean , Seven’s national sport sales director, says the secret to Seven’s success is inclusivity. “At its core, Seven’s sport content is for everyone. We tell stories that draw in the first-time viewer while keeping the die-hard fans engaged.” And it’s not just about the broadcast anymore. Seven is putting digital platforms like 7plus front and centre. “We know people’s time is limited, so we offer highlights, minis, and social content for those who want a quick fix,” Maclean explains. But it’s the live-streaming options that really stand out. “Our Hindi feed for the Australia vs. India Tests reached 74,000 viewers, and we’re introducing alternate commentary like The Grade Cricketer for the Big Bash League. It’s all about catering to different fan segments.” Maclean is confident that the future of sports broadcasting is evolving into a more curated, entertainment-driven experience, and Seven is strategically positioning itself at the forefront of this shift. When it comes to integrating sponsors into its coverage, Seven knows that subtlety is key. “Sports fans are smart—they know when something feels forced,” says Maclean. That’s why Seven’s 7RED division works closely with producers to make sure brands genuinely enhance the experience. “The best integrations are entertaining, informative, or insightful,” he says. “We’re always asking, ‘Does this add value for fans?’ For example, we’ve got brands collaborating with us to create unique content that our producers actually love.” It’s a strategy that’s clearly working, with strong advertiser interest across the summer slate. “The NRMA Insurance Test Series between Australia and India is a standout. It ticks all the boxes—big audiences, cultural relevance, and perfect timing leading into Christmas.” Maclean also notes the growing appeal of international sports like the NFL and NBA. “Younger Australians are tuning in more because accessibility has improved. It’s easy to follow now, and that’s opening up new opportunities for brands to connect.” Seven’s coverage wouldn’t be the same without its all-star commentary teams. Chris Jones , Seven’s director of sport, says this summer is particularly exciting with the addition of Aaron Finch. “Having Aaron on board gives us so much flexibility. And we’re still rolling out Ricky Ponting—he’s the world’s best cricket commentator, hands down.” But it’s not just about who’s on the mic—it’s also about how they deliver. “We’ve made a conscious decision to focus on the action on the field. Our commentators aren’t here to reminisce about the ‘good old days.’ We aim to educate, inform, and entertain every time we go to air,” Jones says. And then there’s the tech. Seven is pushing boundaries with new offerings like virtual sets and partnerships with companies like Quidich in India. “We’re doing player tracking and even taking viewers inside players’ helmets so they can see what the athletes are seeing,” says Jones. “This summer, we’re also mic-ing players live and non-live across all forms of cricket, including Tests. It’s game-changing.” With such a packed schedule, Seven isn’t just delivering sport—it’s delivering moments. “The Big Bash League will carry us through January, and we’ll wrap up the cricket season with the Women’s Ashes, including the first-ever day-night Test at the MCG,” says Maclean. “Then, February kicks off with the Super Bowl, LIV Golf Adelaide, the Supercars championship, and Australian thoroughbred racing every Saturday.” And it’s not just sport pulling viewers in. Seven’s entertainment offering is firing too. “Home and Away is back mid-January, and our FAST channels are packed with local and international content from partners like NBCUniversal and Disney,” says Maclean. With more people streaming than ever, Seven’s strategy seems to be paying off. “Since adding cricket to 7plus, we’ve already seen over 70,000 new users register on the platform,” Maclean says. “It’s about giving people reasons to stay engaged—not just with the sport, but with everything else we offer.” Whether it’s short-form highlights, live-streamed alternate feeds, or Ricky Ponting breaking down the action, this is sport as it should be—inclusive, innovative, and downright entertaining. Keep on top of the most important media, marketing, and agency news each day with the Mediaweek Morning Report – delivered for free every morning to your inbox.Welcome to the Week 12 NFL fantasy and betting cheat sheet, a one-stop shop for The Athletic ’s game previews, injury and weather updates, and expert analysis. Bookmark this page and check back often, as we offer regular updates to assist with fantasy lineups and betting decisions. Player rankings (PPR) referenced in this article are current as of Nov. 24. For updated rankings, see the “Fantasy football player rankings” section. Advertisement The latest NFL news and headlines Last updated: 6:50 p.m. ET, Nov. 25 Injury news | Week 12 takeaways Featured games Week 12 recap | Fantasy football player rankings Injury news Updated through 6:50 p.m. ET, Nov. 25 Ladd McConkey , WR, Chargers (shoulder) — Active McConkey was limited at practice on Friday but is active for Monday Night Football. In Weeks 10 and 11 combined, Will Dissly led the Chargers with 12 targets; McConkey had 11, Quentin Johnston saw 10, and Joshua Palmer was targeted six times. Jake Ciely has McConkey as WR18 this week and Johnston as WR23 . Rashod Bateman , WR, Ravens (knee) — Active Bateman didn’t practice Friday due to a knee injury but is active for Week 12. While many thought Diontae Johnson ’s arrival in Baltimore could affect Bateman’s targets, it hasn’t. Since being traded to the Ravens in Week 9, Johnson has had only four total targets and one reception, and his highest PPR total in Baltimore is 1.6. In that time, Bateman has had 11 receptions on 17 targets. In Week 10, he scored 17.4 PPR points, but in each of Weeks 9 and 11, he scored only 5 PPR points. Jake Ciely’s Week 12 fantasy football player rankings Find out Jake’s top QB, RB, WR and TE for the week! Get Ciely’s full Week 12 analysis. Plus sleepers and projections . Featured games Game-specific previews and live updates are available on the day of the game. Baltimore Ravens (7-4) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) Coming off a tough Week 11 loss to the Steelers , the Ravens are favored by less than a field goal on the road against the Chargers in this AFC matchup that has head coaches Jim and John Harbaugh meeting for the first time since Super Bowl XLVII. The Jim Harbaugh-led Chargers have been rolling lately. Justin Herbert is throwing more and ranks sixth in passer rating (102.1), J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are handling backfield work, and Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston lead the Chargers’ wide receivers in targets, receiving yards and yards after the catch. Advertisement Lamar Jackson has had an MVP season for Baltimore (excluding last week’s poor performance), but Derrick Henry has taken a step back lately with under 80 net yards in three of his last four games. Zay Flowers continues to impress (though somewhat inconsistently), while Diontae Johnson has become a fantasy drop, averaging two targets and 0.5 receptions per game. The Chargers defense is tough, and Tuli Tuipulotu has led the NFL over the past three weeks with six sacks, but Jackson has the third-most time to throw in the league. This Harbaugh brothers matchup is full of talent and intrigue. Read the full preview . Statistics in this section come from TruMedia. Fantasy football Week 12 takeaways Michael Salfino recaps Week 12’s action through a fantasy lens. Jayden Daniels had a good game again, accounting for three TDs, fueled mostly by one late miracle play. But I don’t understand why he’s such a heavy favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year over Bo Nix . Nix has the same record as Daniels and has 16 TD passes and just two picks in his past nine games, plus two games with at least 61 rushing yards. Jaylen Waddle punished us for benching him, though the byes hopefully forced your hand. But now we have a Tyreek Hill problem. His 17-game pace in 2024: 76-882-5. Yikes. De’Von Achane is averaging 4.3 yards per carry, which his believers would have found unfathomable in August. However, the catches and five receiving TDs have made him worthy of his ADP anyway. I will be fading this receiving production in 2025, you can be certain. — Salfino Read all of Salfino’s Week 12 takeaways Fantasy football Week 12 recap KC Joyner answers lingering Week 12 fantasy football questions. Barkley racked up an incredible 46.2 points against the Rams on Sunday night. It marked only the ninth time since the 2020 season that a running back has posted 46 or more points in a game. He now leads the league in games with 32-plus points, which he’s had in two straight weeks. He and Derrick Henry are the only running backs to put up back-to-back performances of over 30 PPR points this season. Advertisement This incredible scoring largesse leads one to ask if Barkley can break LaDainian Tomlinson’s all-time record for RB fantasy points in a season. Tomlinson tallied 481.1 with the San Diego Chargers in a 16-game season in 2006. Barkley currently has 265.9 points, which means he needs to score at least 215.3 points in the Eagles’ remaining six games to break Tomlinson’s record. Some quick math shows that is a 35.9-point per-game pace, a figure Barkley has only surpassed once this year (Sunday night against the Rams). Evidence would suggest Barkley cannot break this record, but the Eagles have four green-rated rush defenses left in those six games. If Barkley can rack up a couple of 40-plus point games (a difficult but not impossible proposition), he still has a puncher’s chance at overtaking LT for the best RB season in fantasy football history. — Joyner See all of Joyner’s Week 12 notes . (Photo of Ladd McConkey: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)Christmas: ACF urges Christians to pray against nepotism, insecurity, corruption
Ravens LB Roquan Smith inactive vs. Chargers
Boston, MA, Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiniLuxe Holding Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV: MNLX) today announces that as part of its standard disclosures, the Company has granted 1,103,269 options (against ~145M fully diluted shares) to certain leadership team members of the Company as part of its ongoing incentive program to award equity of options in lieu of cash compensation. The average strike price for these options is .36 CDN reflecting the price of MNLX at the time cash compensation was forgone by employees. In certain cases of senior leadership, equity-based options make up to 30 to 100 percent of an executive’s base salary compensation. Any new option awards continue to draw from the existing employee incentive pool with no net new incremental dilution to shareholders. There was delay in the formal announcement and grant of the options given that the Company was waiting for options to be returned to the pool to avoid any shareholder dilution that might come from an expansion of the pool. The options are subject to a 1-year cliff vesting schedule and are exercisable for subordinate voting shares of the Company for a period of 10 years following the date of grant. About MiniLuxe MiniLuxe , a Delaware corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. MiniLuxe is a lifestyle brand and talent empowerment platform servicing the beauty and self-care industry. The Company focuses on delivering high-quality nail care and esthetic services and offers a suite of trusted proprietary products that are used in the Company’s owned-and-operated studio services. For over a decade, MiniLuxe has been elevating industry standards through healthier, ultra-hygienic services, a modern design esthetic, socially responsible labor practices, and better-for-you, cleaner products. MiniLuxe aims to radically transform a highly fragmented and under-regulated self-care and nail care industry through its brand, standards, and technology platform that collectively enable better talent and client experiences. In addition to creating long-term durable economic returns for stakeholders, MiniLuxe is expanding its reach through franchising, offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to partner with a brand recognized as the best nail salon franchise . MiniLuxe seeks to empower one of the most diverse and largest hourly worker segments through professional development, economic mobility, and ownership opportunities. For its clients, MiniLuxe offers best-in-class self-care services and better-for-you products, and for nail care and beauty professionals, MiniLuxe seeks to become the employer of choice. Since its inception, MiniLuxe has performed over 4 million services. For further information Christine Mastrangelo Investor Relations, MiniLuxe Holding Corp. cmastrangelo@MiniLuxe.com MiniLuxe.com
Jharkhand: Tribal identity at risk due to Bangladeshi infiltration
Trump's first actions to test stock marketIsrael cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was murdered, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Israeli strikes in central Beirut kill at least 20 as diplomats push for a cease-fire BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanese officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 20 people and injured dozens in central Beirut, as the once-rare attacks on the heart of Lebanon’s capital continue without warning. Diplomats are scrambling to broker a cease-fire but say obstacles still remain. The current proposal calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon in the months of fighting that have turned into all-out war. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles WASHINGTON (AP) — During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had hailed what would become Project 2025 as a conservative roadmap for “exactly what our movement will do." Trump pulled an about-face when Project 2025 became a political liability. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans, even though some were written by his former aides and many allies. Now, after winning the 2024 election, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the effort he temporarily shunned. Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy. Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pick WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members. It's a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members. They're a key part of the Democratic base but are gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. Will a winter storm hit the US over Thanksgiving week? Here's what forecasts show so far WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — The U.S. is reeling from snow and rain while preparing for another bout of bad weather ahead of Thanksgiving that could disrupt holiday travel. California is bracing for more snow and rain this weekend while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia also started the weekend with heavy precipitation. Meanwhile, thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Saturday afternoon after a “bomb cyclone” storm system roared ashore the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Pakistan partially stops mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan says it is suspending mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns” as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan gear up for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Sunday's protest is to demand Khan's release. He has been in prison for more than a year but remains popular. His supporters rely heavily on social media and messaging apps to coordinate with each other. Pakistan has already sealed off Islamabad and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with Khan's power bases. Here's what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. But it’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Japan holds Sado mines memorial despite South Korean boycott amid lingering historical tensions SADO, Japan (AP) — Japan held a memorial ceremony on Sunday near the Sado Island Gold Mines despite a last-minute boycott of the event by South Korea that highlighted tensions between the neighbors over the issue of Korean forced laborers at the site before and during World War II. South Korea’s absence at Sunday’s memorial, to which Seoul government officials and Korean victims’ families were invited, is a major setback in the rapidly improving ties between the two countries, which since last year have set aside their historical disputes to prioritize U.S.-led security cooperation. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump.
BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. ( NYSE:BBAI – Get Free Report )’s stock price shot up 9.1% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $4.21 and last traded at $4.07. 38,057,001 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 266% from the average session volume of 10,397,423 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.73. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $3.00 price objective on shares of BigBear.ai in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $3.50 price objective on shares of BigBear.ai in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on BigBear.ai BigBear.ai Stock Down 5.4 % BigBear.ai ( NYSE:BBAI – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The company reported ($0.05) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.07) by $0.02. The company had revenue of $41.51 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.04 million. BigBear.ai had a negative net margin of 109.90% and a negative return on equity of 138.35%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.03 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. will post -0.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at BigBear.ai In other news, CEO Amanda Long sold 200,000 shares of BigBear.ai stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.25, for a total transaction of $850,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 2,583,254 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,978,829.50. This trade represents a 7.19 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, Director Bbai Ultimate Holdings, Llc sold 572,817 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.78, for a total transaction of $1,019,614.26. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 143,713,297 shares in the company, valued at $255,809,668.66. The trade was a 0.40 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 782,892 shares of company stock worth $1,887,246 in the last 90 days. 1.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On BigBear.ai Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fortis Group Advisors LLC increased its position in BigBear.ai by 26.9% in the 2nd quarter. Fortis Group Advisors LLC now owns 66,735 shares of the company’s stock worth $101,000 after purchasing an additional 14,134 shares during the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd grew its position in shares of BigBear.ai by 57.9% in the third quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 61,011 shares of the company’s stock valued at $89,000 after purchasing an additional 22,363 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its position in BigBear.ai by 135.0% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 41,073 shares of the company’s stock worth $62,000 after buying an additional 23,597 shares during the period. Sovereign Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in BigBear.ai during the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in BigBear.ai in the 3rd quarter worth $61,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 7.55% of the company’s stock. About BigBear.ai ( Get Free Report ) BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc provides artificial intelligence-powered decision intelligence solutions. It offers national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions. The company also provides data ingestion, data enrichment, data processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, and predictive visualization solutions and services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BigBear.ai Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BigBear.ai and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .MELVILLE, N.Y. and DAVIDSON, N.C. , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE: MSM) , a premier distributor of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) products and services to industrial customers throughout North America , today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.85 per share. The $0.85 dividend is payable on January 29, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 15, 2025 . Contact Information Investors: Media: Ryan Mills, CFA Zivanai Mutize Head of Investor Relations Head of Corporate Communications Rmills@mscdirect.com Zivanai.mutize@mscdirect.com About MSC Industrial Supply Co. MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE:MSM) is a leading North American distributor of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services. We help our customers drive greater productivity, profitability and growth with approximately 2.4 million products, inventory management and other supply chain solutions, and deep expertise from more than 80 years of working with customers across industries. Our experienced team of more than 7,000 associates works with our customers to help drive results for their businesses - from keeping operations running efficiently today to continuously rethinking, retooling and optimizing for a more productive tomorrow. For more information on MSC Industrial, please visit mscdirect.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that MSC expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements about results of operations and financial condition, expected future results, expected benefits from our investment and strategic plans and other initiatives, and expected future growth, profitability and return on invested capital, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "may," "believes," "anticipates," "thinks," "expects," "estimates," "plans," "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. In addition, statements which refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, statements involving a discussion of strategy, plans or intentions, statements about management's assumptions, projections or predictions of future events or market outlook and any other statement other than a statement of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. The inclusion of any statement in this press release does not constitute an admission by MSC or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. In addition, new risks may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict such risks or to assess the impact of such risks on our business or financial results. Accordingly, future results may differ materially from historical results or from those discussed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, the reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions in the markets in which we operate; changing customer and product mixes; volatility in commodity, energy and labor prices, and the impact of prolonged periods of low, high or rapid inflation; competition, including the adoption by competitors of aggressive pricing strategies or sales methods; industry consolidation and other changes in the industrial distribution sector; the applicability of laws and regulations relating to our status as a supplier to the U.S. government and public sector; the credit risk of our customers; our ability to accurately forecast customer demands; customer cancellations or rescheduling of orders; interruptions in our ability to make deliveries to customers; supply chain disruptions; our ability to attract and retain sales and customer service personnel; the risk of loss of key suppliers or contractors or key brands; changes to trade policies or trade relationships; risks associated with opening or expanding our customer fulfillment centers; our ability to estimate the cost of healthcare claims incurred under our self-insurance plan; interruption of operations at our headquarters or customer fulfillment centers; products liability due to the nature of the products that we sell; impairments of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets; the impact of climate change; operating and financial restrictions imposed by the terms of our material debt instruments; our ability to access additional liquidity; our ability to realize the desired benefits from the reclassification of our Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock; the significant influence that our principal shareholders will continue to have over our decisions; our ability to execute on our E-commerce strategies and maintain our digital platforms; costs associated with maintaining our information technology ("IT") systems and complying with data privacy laws; our ability to remediate a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures in the future; disruptions or breaches of our IT systems or violations of data privacy laws, including such disruptions or breaches in connection with our E-commerce channels; risks related to online payment methods and other online transactions; the retention of key management personnel; litigation risk due to the nature of our business; failure to comply with environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations; and our ability to comply with, and the costs associated with, social and environmental responsibility policies. Additional information concerning these and other risks is described under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, respectively, and in the other reports and documents that we file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/msc-industrial-supply-co-declares-regular-quarterly-dividend-302335377.html SOURCE MSC Industrial Supply Co.Amie Just: Could the Big 12 be left out of CFP? And, is Ohio State better than Oregon?
Illumina ILMN has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 10.11% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 18.44%. Currently, Illumina has a market capitalization of $21.57 billion. Buying $100 In ILMN: If an investor had bought $100 of ILMN stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $2,976.69 today based on a price of $135.99 for ILMN at the time of writing. Illumina's Performance Over Last 20 Years Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Wash’Em Clean Expands Into Restoration Services, Becoming Boston’S Trusted Partner For Emergency And Property RecoveryFans are already bursting with excitement for the halftime show of the Christmas Day game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans on Netflix, and they were given another reason to be hyped on Tuesday. Pop superstar and halftime performer Beyoncé dropped a video on social media on Christmas Eve teasing her epic show: This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .
A Bunch of Great Laptops Are on Sale Before Black Friday
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu has a strained right calfGeordie Shore star Kyle Christie is a married man - having officially tied-the-knot with girlfriend of six-years Vicky Turner. The happy duo have been a couple since 2018 and became engaged in September last year when 32-year-old Kyle got down on one knee to pop the question to 28-year-old Vicky. And now the pair have made true of their promise to swap vows and become husband and wife - having become married on Christmas Eve. Taking to social media on Tuesday, Kyle and Vicky shared romantic photographs of themselves wearing their wedding attire. Vicky stunned in a sleeveless cream outfit, with her golden blonde hair styled into a sleek pose with a luxurious veil hanging behind her. While Kyle - who has been a star on MTV's Geordie Shore since 2014 - looked handsome and smart in a black tuxedo and tie. The couple were joined by their three-year-old son Crew, who also looked smart in a suit of his own. Sharing snaps via their Instagram grids, the newlyweds shared a simple message to announce their nuptials, writing: "Legally Mr & Mrs Christie, next stop Rome." Fans, followers and fellow reality stars rushed to congratulate the couple, leaving messages of support in the comments section. James Tindale, who appeared on the first 10 seasons of Geordie Shore from 2011 until 2016, and has featured again since season 20 in 2019, was among the first to comment on the post. He gushed: "You both look incredible! Congratulations can’t wait for the Rome wedding" - and added a champagne emoji and hands to the sky emoji. Nathan Henry, who has starred on the show since the beginning of season 10 in 2015, also commented, writing: "Awwww love this congratulations" - alongside a string of red heart emojis. While many other fans also left encouraging messages, with one writing: "Oh my days yous look amazing . Congratulations." And another typed: "Congratulations!! So excited to watch the next chapter." While further comments have suggested the couple plan to swap vows again in a second ceremony in the Italian capital. Kyle and Vicky have often updated fans on their major private life moments - not least when their baby boy arrived two years ago. Sharing a snap of the baby at the time, Kyle gushed via social media: “Crew Jax Christie. Born: 15:57, 13th September 2021 Weighing: 8 pounds 6 oz. Welcome to the world Crew you are so loved, we couldn’t of asked for a more perfect little boy. Mam & Dad love you so much. “They say 13 is unlucky for some but he was always destined to be, judging by my tattoo. Thank you to @vickelizabethx for bringing this perfect little man into our lives, you honestly have done an extraordinary job from start to finish. I honestly don’t know how you women do it, you’re all incredible.....my little family.” Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.
Year in review: What the Pa. Legislature achieved in 2024
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu has a strained right calf and will be reevaluated in 10 days. Dosunmu got hurt during Monday night’s 112-91 loss to Milwaukee. The Bulls provided an update on his injury on Saturday. Dosunmu, who turns 25 on Jan. 17, is averaging 12.6 points and 4.8 assists in his fourth NBA season. He has appeared in 30 games, including 17 starts. The Chicago native was selected by the Bulls in the second round of the 2021 draft. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Sunday, Dec. 29 COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) Noon BTN — Indiana St. at Ohio St. 1 p.m. PEACOCK — Penn at Penn St. 1:30 p.m. PEACOCK — Northeastern at Northwestern 2 p.m. BTN — Chicago St. at Illinois PEACOCK — Morgan St. at Minnesota 3 p.m. ESPNU — Buffalo at Temple PEACOCK — NJIT at Washington 4 p.m. BTN — Winthrop at Indiana 6 p.m. BTN — Toledo at Purdue 8 p.m. ACCN — Campbell at North Carolina BTN — W. Kentucky at Michigan COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) Noon ACCN — Virginia at Notre Dame, Noon SECN — Alabama A&M at Vanderbitl 1 p.m. ESPN2 — South Florida at Rice 2 p.m. ACCN — Louisville at Boston College SECN — Wofford at South Carolina 4 p.m. ACCN — North Carolina at Miami SECN — Texas Rio Grande Valley at Texas 6 p.m. ACCN — Clemson at NC State 10 p.m. BTN — Michigan at Southern Cal HORSE RACING 3 p.m. FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races IIHF HOCKEY (MEN’S) Noon NHLN — World Junior Championship Group Stage: Switzerland vs. Sweden, Group B, Toronto 2:30 p.m. NHLN — World Junior Championship Group Stage: U.S. vs. Finland, Group A, Ottawa, Ontario 5 p.m. NHLN — World Junior Championship Group Stage: Czechia vs. Slovakia, Group B, Toronto 7:30 p.m. NHLN — World Junior Championship Group Stage: Canada vs. Germany, Group A, Ottawa, Ontario NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL 2 p.m. NBATV — Osceola at Raptors 905 NFL FOOTBALL 1 p.m. CBS — Regional Coverage: N.Y. Jets at Buffalo, Carolina at Tampa Bay, Tennessee at Jacksonville FOX — Regional Coverage: Las Vegas at New Orleans, Indianapolis at N.Y. Giants, Dallas at Philadelphia 4:05 p.m. CBS — Miami at Cleveland 4:25 p.m. FOX — Green Bay at Minnesota 8:20 p.m. NBC — Atlanta at Washington PEACOCK — Atlanta at Washington NHL HOCKEY 8:30 p.m. ESPN — Dallas at Chicago SOCCER (MEN’S) 10 a.m. USA — Premier League: Nottingham Forest at Everton 12:15 p.m. USA — Premier League: Liverpool at West Ham United 12:40 p.m. CBSSN — English League Championship: Leeds United at Derby Country TENNIS 6 a.m. TENNIS — Brisbane-ATP/WTA Early Rounds 6:30 p.m. TENNIS — United Cup: Britain v. Argentina; Brisbane-ATP/WTA Early Rounds; Hong Kong-ATP, Auckland-WTA Early Rounds 6 a.m. (Monday) TENNIS — Brisbane-ATP/WTA Early Rounds The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .