cockfighting app
I’m a Celebrity fans celebrate ‘wholesome’ bond between Richard Coles and GK BarryFirefighters and passengers hurt after train hits fire truck on crossing
Angel Reese and Ben Simmons spark Internet frenzy with viral collaboration rumorGeorge Mason University student accused of plotting terror attack on Israeli consulate in NYCAlyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City.
Porter's 26 lead Middle Tennessee over South Florida 95-88( MENAFN - Caribbean News Global) TAIPEI, (Taiwan Today ) – The government of Taiwan will draft the 2025-2028 national science and technology development plan based on the results of the recently concluded 12th National Science and Technology Conference, says premier Cho Jung-tai on December 26, 2024. According to the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), the policy goals will promote smart technology and create an innovative Economy while balancing social development, net-zero emissions and sustainability. Premier Jung-tai made the remarks after listening to the briefing on the conference by the National Science and Technology Council at the Executive Yuan. “To advance smart technology, the government will continue the promotion of the five trusted industry sectors action plan and expand artificial intelligence applications in various sectors,” the NSTC said. In addition,“Taiwan's semiconductor sector would further integrate cutting-edge technology such as drones, robots and satellites,” the council added. To create an innovative economy, the NSTC urged the government to accelerate digital and green transformation for small- and medium-sized enterprises, adding that the public and the private sectors should work together to cultivate diverse personnel. “The long-term care plan 3.0 and smart medical care needed to be taken into consideration to achieve balanced social development,” the NSTC said.“The government should also work to balance urban and rural development while committing to preservation and revitalization of cultural assets.” The NSTC said the government should promote low-carbon technology and green energy, while strengthening infrastructure to provide stable electricity in the pursuit of net-zero emission goals. The circular economy is also an important element in realizing green production and consumption, the council advised. Premier Jung-tai added that the 2025 science and technology budget will top NT$196.5 billion (US$60 billion), with a flagship project launched by the government to enhance Taiwan's municipal infrastructure with over 140 essential projects in six areas around Taiwan. Meanwhile, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) unveiled its 2025 development strategies in response to new geopolitical challenges and economic uncertainties. TAITRA chair James C.F. Huang said that given Taiwan's key position in the global supply chain, the inauguration of US president Donald J. Trump will have a major effect on global tariffs, trade and logistics. “ The country's small- and medium-sized enterprises need to formulate new strategies since they will feel the greatest impact,” Huang added.“As a result, in 2025 TAITRA will step up research on geoeconomics and the US market; promote the five Trusted Industry Sectors unveiled by president Lai Ching-te in his inauguration speech in May; implement the ministry of economic affairs' export promotion campaigns; and initiate a raft of events, such as trade shows at home and abroad, to help local firms stay ahead of technological development trends and tap into related business opportunities,” Huang said. Equally important, Huang said the council will continue to conduct geoeconomic surveys for its TAITRA Index, and include its global network for data collection. TAITRA announced new initiatives for 2025 including: The post Taiwan's smart technology and innovative economy core to national development plan and development strategies appeared first on Caribbean News Global . MENAFN28122024000232011072ID1109038198 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.AAP FACTCHECK – Jaguar’s stock price did not hit an all-time low following its recent rebrand, despite claims on social media. The car manufacturer has made headlines in recent weeks following its “ Copy nothing ” advertisement relaunch as it looks to enter the electric vehicle market. While the advert has been widely ridiculed, Jaguar’s stock price did not hit an all-time low in the aftermath. In fact, the Jaguar brand does not have a stock price. The claim appears to have originated from an article published by The People’s Voice, a site AAP FactCheck has debunked numerous times. A Facebook post shows a photograph of the article, with its headline: “Jaguar Stock Price Plummets to All-Time Low Following Woke Rebrand.” The article provided no evidence to support the claim in the headline. The Jaguar advertisement , released on November 18, highlighted the brand’s shift towards electric with the clip designed to express abstract and avant-garde themes. It features strikingly dressed models but does not show any cars. Critics have branded it the latest in “woke” marketing, with many likening it to an April 2023 advert for Bud Light in which a transgender influencer promoted the product. The claims in the article and posts are nevertheless false. Stephen Taylor , an expert in financial econometrics at Lancaster University in the UK, explained that Jaguar does not have its shares. Instead, the brand is owned by the Indian conglomerate Tata Motors . Professor Taylor said Tata’s share price is influenced by various factors, with the company owning several brands beyond Jaguar, including Land Rover. Peter Swan , a banking and finance expert at UNSW, said Jaguar makes up a tiny part of Tata’s total sales, adding: “Good or bad news about the brand has very little impact on the Tata price.” Professor Swan said Tata’s share price following the announcement was far from its all-time low. “From the 18th to 19th, Tata Motors price actually rose slightly (781.75 to 799.90 [Indian rupees]) and has remained at that level until today [November 26],” he told AAP FactCheck . “Tata has been much lower in the past (November 28, 2023) at 677.45 and much higher (August 12, 2024) at 1079.90.” Tata’s most recent (December 3) share price was 801.25. All information, text and images included on the AAP Websites is for personal use only and may not be re-written, copied, re-sold or re-distributed, framed, linked, shared onto social media or otherwise used whether for compensation of any kind or not, unless you have the prior written permission of AAP. For more information, please refer to our standard terms and conditions .
NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia's attack with new hypersonic missile
Top footie clubs, players and agents cough up £800million after HMRC blitzIs Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughingAn elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron.
Lithuania's Defense Minister Laurinas Kasciunas and Ukraine's Defense Minister have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a mechanism to support the security and defense forces. The new round of cooperation will facilitate investments in the Ukrainian defense industry. In particular, the memorandum will open up new opportunities for Lithuanian investment in the Ukrainian defense industry. This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov. The head of the defense ministry emphasized that the memorandum envisages a long-term agreement, under which the first tranche of EUR 10 million has already been agreed. In particular, Umerov noted that the Lithuanian side is already working on finalizing bureaucratic procedures, and the first tranche to support Ukrainian DeepStrike will be transferred in the near future. "In addition to signing the memorandum, we discussed our key priorities for 2025: training and equipping Ukrainian brigades, providing ammunition, air defense systems, and developing cooperation in the defense industry. We thank Lithuania for its support and trust in Ukrainian technologies," Umerov said. As a reminder, Switzerland has banned the export of ammunition to a Polish company after about 645,000 Swiss-made small-caliber shells entered Ukraine. Earlier it was reported that Canada had handed over another NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine. The air defense system was ordered from the United States in 2023. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
What is it? The Zoom MS-50G+ is a compact pedal offering guitarists 100 different effects, including overdrives, reverbs, fuzzes, filters, delays, modulations and more. It’s an update of the previous Multistomp MS-50G pedal and now includes four additional buttons alongside the main footswitch, as well as preamps and IR technology. There are dozens of affordable multi-effects pedals on the market now, so does the MS-50G+ do anything different or special to separate it from its competition? As I find out, it’s certainly got a lot going for it. Specs Launch price: $129/£129/€149 Type: Digital multi-effects pedal Controls: 100 effects, up to six simultaneously, 100 patches, stereo output, multi-colour LCD screen, built-in tuner Features: The key features the pedal offers e.g number of amp and effects models Connectivity: Input, output (L&R), power in, USB-C Bypass: True, buffer, both (switchable) Power: 9V DC (500mA), USB-C, 2 x AA batteries Dimensions (LxWxD): 133mm x 79mm x 61mm Weight: 353g Contact Zoom Build quality Build quality rating: ★★★1⁄2 The MS-50G+ Multistomp metal casing certainly gives a sturdy first impression. But it’s interesting that one of the pictures on Zoom’s website shows someone wearing some very heavy-duty boots while stamping on one of the four Cross Key buttons that surround the main footswitch. For me, these are the only potential weak point as far as build is concerned as they’re made from plastic. The four encoder knobs that sit in a slight dip on the top of the pedal make them a little more awkward to get to, but also means you’re not accidentally nudging them with your foot. One consideration to make before you buy this pedal is how you’re going to power it as there are three options. You can use two AA batteries, or a USB-C plug, in addition to the more traditional 9V power supply, though it’s worth bearing in mind that is has a draw of 500mA, and the pedal doesn’t really accommodate for right-angle power supplies because the socket is recessed. Usability Usability rating: ★★★★1⁄2 The four knobs control different parameters depending on what effect you’re on. You find out what those parameters are when you tweak a knob. It would perhaps be more useful if these were already labelled before having to touch anything, as it feels like there’s definitely room on the LCD screen. When it comes to crafting your sounds, you might think that a small multi-FX pedal that allows you to hold up to six effects per patch but only has one proper footswitch would be awkward to use. It really isn’t. Personally, I would ere on the delicate side with the four plastic cross key navigation buttons, but you can access different effects using these with your feet – just maybe opt for Converse instead of Dr Martens. You can flick through the different sounds you’ve got saved in your patch and easily switch them on or off using the main footswitch. The up/down button switches then allow you to scroll through your patches – so you can essentially access all of your sounds without having to bend down. What’s particularly useful about this design, and indeed the others in the Multistomp series, is the color-coded display screen. There’s a different color background for each effect type so you can quickly determine where you’re at – very useful for making changes on the fly in a live situation. Sounds Sounds rating: ★★★★★ With a unit this affordable, are the effects any good? Yes! They really are; some of them are great, plus is an audience member going to know (or care) that you’re using a digital emulation of an analogue delay over the real thing? Probably not, and at $149, neither am I. I'm especially impressed with a lot of the chorus and modulation effects – you’ve got a few different types allowing you to dial in a lush, thick warble or a more dramatic, harsh wobble and anything in between. The delays and reverbs are great too, whether you want to use them as a subtle ‘always on’ addition to your sound, or something more extreme. The selection of effects really is very good here. For those who want to get super experimental, there’s enough here, but for players who just want a few select effects to augment their sound, the pedal represents a compact and affordable solution. Sometimes digital pedals can fall short with drive sounds, but there really are some good options here. There are gentle overdrives that can play nicely with a tube amp , but personally I found it a more useful tool as an overall tone-shaper for a clean solid-state amp . The names of the preamps make it obvious what they’re trying to do, for example, MS 1959 is going for a Marshall Plexi sound. It’s not particularly close to the real thing, especially against the significantly higher-priced modeling competition, but it’s certainly in the right ballpark. In the context of value here it's part of a highly impressive suite. Verdict With 100 effects, nearly split into categories such as modulation, reverb, drive, preamp (with IRs loaded), there’s enough to get your teeth into without being completely overwhelmed. For a beginner looking to explore the world of effects, or even a more seasoned player seeking a compact solution to requiring a plethora of different sounds, I’d definitely recommend it. The Zoom MS-50G+ Multistomp is really intuitive and easy to use, though you do have to be quite precise with your feet. Guitar World verdict: The MS-50G+ is a very reasonably priced multi-effects unit that’s smaller (and cheaper) than some single-effect pedals. With 100 different effects and a tuner built in, it’s hard to knock it. Also try Hands-on videos TheSuperFunAwesomeHappyTimePedalShow Guitar BonedoFirefighters and passengers hurt after train hits fire truck on crossing
The crash happened at 10.45am in crowded downtown Delray Beach, multiple news outlets reported. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks, its front destroyed, about a block away from the Delray Beach fire rescue truck, its ladder ripped off and strewn in the grass several yards away, The Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue said in a social media post that three Delray Beach firefighters were in stable condition at a hospital. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue took 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries. Emmanuel Amaral rushed to the scene on his golf cart after hearing a loud crash and screeching train brakes from where he was having breakfast a couple of blocks away. He saw firefighters climbing out of the window of their damaged truck and pulling injured colleagues away from the tracks. One of their helmets came to rest several hundred feet away from the crash. “The front of that train is completely smashed, and there was even some of the parts to the fire truck stuck in the front of the train, but it split the car right in half. It split the fire truck right in half, and the debris was everywhere,” Mr Amaral said. Brightline officials did not immediately comment on the crash. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said it was still gathering information about the crash and had not decided yet whether it will investigate. The NTSB is already investigating two crashes involving Brightline’s high-speed trains that killed three people early this year at the same crossing along the railroad’s route between Miami and Orlando. More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 – giving the railroad the worst death rate in the United States. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline has not been found to be at fault in those previous deaths.
By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70
WASHINGTON — Drivers and airline passengers without reindeer and sleighs better make a dash for it: it's beginning to look like another record for holiday travel in the U.S. The auto club AAA predicts that more than 119 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday and New Year’s Day, which would top the previous holiday-season high set in 2019. The two weekends on either side of Christmas look to be some of the most crowded times on the road and at airports. Trade group Airlines for America also foresees record travel , saying it expected U.S. airlines to carry 54 million passengers during a 19-day period that started Thursday and ends Monday, Jan. 6. The number would represent a 6% increase over last year. A government shutdown that could start as soon as Saturday would likely be too close to the holidays to immediately affect flights and airport operations, but that might change if a shutdown dragged on. What will be the busiest travel days? Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Friday and Sunday, and on Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 29. Flight traffic is expected to be light on both Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The slowest U.S. air-travel day this year — by a wide margin — was Thanksgiving Day. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through January 2. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. “Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.05 a gallon, down from $3.08 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation’s highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C., are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. Weather and other wildcards Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. And any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have “interline agreements” that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. That's because finding a last-minute flight on another airline yourself tends to be very expensive. “When they rebook you, they will pay for the fare difference. If my flight to visit grandma that I booked six months ago for $200 gets canceled, and I turn around and book a flight four hours from now for $400, I have to pay that difference,” said Sally French, a travel expert at consumer-affairs company Nerdwallet. People traveling on budget airlines with fewer flights and no partnerships with other carriers may face a difficult choice in the event of a canceled flight . “They will put you on the next outgoing Spirit or Frontier flight, but that could be a while from now. Sometimes waiting three days for that next flight is not going to work for you," and paying more to rebook on a big airline might be worthwhile, French said. Some airlines are taking advantage of a provision in the new Transportation Department rule that defined a significant delay as three hours for a domestic flight and six hours for an international flight. According to Brett Snyder, who runs the Cranky Flyer website, airlines that previously issued refunds for shorter delays — Delta, United and JetBlue, for example — are now using the government standard. Delayed flights increase the risk that bags will get lost. Passengers who get separated from their bags should report it to the airline and ask what the airline will cover. Links to the customer-service plans of major U.S. airlines are at the bottom of this page . Would a government shutdown affect flights and airports? A government shutdown could occur if Congress doesn’t pass a funding bill with a midnight Friday deadline . Most TSA workers at airports, air traffic controllers and customs agents are considered essential and would be required to work without pay in the event of a shutdown. More uncompensated workers might call out sick the longer a shutdown lasts, which could lead to longer security lines and other delays. That appeared to be the case several weeks into a government shutdown that started in December 2019. "While our personnel have prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports,” TSA spokesman Carter Langston said in a statement. AAA advises travelers to “continue with their holiday plans, even if the shutdown materializes,” spokesperson Diaz said. “Airport operations will continue as normal, but perhaps run a bit slower than usual, so travelers should be aware of that.” Planning ahead for 2025 Airline fares were up 4.7% in November, compared with a year earlier, according to U.S. government figures. But early 2025 is a good time to start planning next year's trips, including for spring breaks and summer vacations. “Because travel is so popular, you're not going to find anything that feels very rock-bottom, but January and February are great times to plan for March, April and May,” Laura Motta, an editor at travel-guide publisher Lonely Planet, said. “If you want to go to Paris in the spring, you need to be thinking about that in January." ___ AP Reporters Mae Anderson in Nashville, Tennessee, and Mike Pesoli in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.
Is Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughingClockwise, starting from upper left, Tiger Woods, Nelly Korda, Rory McIlroy and Charley Hull. Getty Images Why , I keep asking myself, as my head looks toward the ceiling, and my back lies flat against the ground. Why did I play golf six-straight days while on vacation this summer, with a couple of those rounds followed by a run? Why didn’t I pause in between? Why didn’t I at least stretch? Why didn’t I stop when I felt *something* early on in the lower right side of my back? Why, why, why, why ? Well, honestly, if we’re on a true fact-finding mission, it’s because I’m stupid. If you’ve clicked on stories on these pages previously, you’re aware of that. But yeah, in mid-August, after the last of those aforementioned jogs, an almost electrical-shock feeling hit me. Afterward, I could barely walk. I couldn’t bend over. Sleep was difficult. Running was over. Golf, too. Turns out, I had severely pulled a back muscle. (In full disclosure, the doctor never used the word “severely” in their diagnosis, but damn it, it hurt.) Through pain comes joy, though — my tragedy works well as a lead to an article where I’m offering holiday wishes, 24 of them in all. No. 1, then, is obvious: Listen to your bodies, friends. Indulge. But don’t gorge. As for me? After a wonderfully detailed stretching and weight program — most of which involved lying flat on the ground, as noted in paragraph one — I’m recently back to full health. Back to running. Back to golf. Oh, did tee ball No. 1 feel sublime, despite where it ended up. Didn’t matter. Without question, I’ve gotten a healthy dose of perspective and appreciation and all that through all of this. With that, let’s continue this annual piece. There are 23 more wishes left, and an obvious bonus one. 2. For Scottie Scheffler, more wins and fewer run-ins with the law are the obvious picks, but let’s go with more dry humor. If you missed it, his latest crack came earlier this month, at the Hero World Challenge, where he was asked this by a reporter: “I saw Tiger joined you for a little bit during the pro-am. What do you guys talk about when he’s out there and is it a little bit surreal that here you are just kind of shooting it with Tiger Woods especially after the season you’ve had, how you just elevated your career?” To which Scheffler responded: “Yeah, I think most of the time we just talk about money and how the purses need to be bigger. Today we really grinded on the Ryder Cup and how it’s just such BS that we’ve never gotten paid. Tiger was really frustrated. He feels like he hasn’t made enough money in his career. I feel the same way. I feel like last year I didn’t get paid enough for what I did. Mostly that, just a bunch of griping.” (Stocking stuffer: A complete recovery from his Christmas Day accident .) 3. For Rory McIlroy , another major, at long last, and it comes unsurprisingly at the PGA, which is being played at Quail Hollow, where McIlroy’s being king. (He’s won at the Charlotte club four times.) The stocking stuffer, of course, is a Masters win, but not even Santa can stop Scheffler there, it seems. 4. For McIlroy and Shane Lowry, more karaoke . Should wish No. 3 happen, “Finally” by Ce Ce Peniston makes sense. 5. For the previously mentioned Tiger Woods , a new Sun Day Red logo. You see, the current one has 15 stripes, one for each of his major victories, so yeah, another win at one of the big four would call for a redesign. Either that, or some sight of the career finish line. (Stocking stuffer: A win at the fifth major, the PNC Championship.) 6. For Bryson DeChambeau , clicks, views and subscribers. Wait, that’s on my list. 7. For Xander Schauffele , a victory stogie at Augusta, but I think it comes at Oakmont. 8. For Charley Hull , a victory heater at the Evian. 9. For Nelly Korda, attention to the level of Caitlin Clark, or more. Korda will take care of her play. But let’s get some eyeballs on her. Let’s get her a rival, too. We’d love to see a Korda- Jeeno Thitikul Sunday back-nine battle next summer at the U.S. Open at Erin Hills. 10. For Lydia Ko , another major. Let’s make it the Women’s PGA, which would leave her just a U.S. Open title away from the career grand slam. 11. For Lexi Thompson, peace. Her words at the U.S. Women’s Open , after she announced her retirement from full-time golf, struck me. “I just think, especially with what’s happened in golf, as of recently, too, a lot of people don’t realize what we go through as a professional athlete,” Thompson said. “I’ll be the last one to say, throw me a pity party. That’s the last thing I want. We’re doing what we love. We’re trying the best every single day. You know, we’re not perfect. We’re humans. Words hurt. It’s hard to overcome sometimes.” Stocking stuffer: One more win. 12. For the LPGA, a commissioner with friends in the TV and web-broadcasting game. Stocking stuffer: a Ryder-Cup-like team event featuring men and women. 13. For the Ryder Cup, a 13.5-13.5 score on Sunday, and playing captain Keegan Bradley leading Tyrrell Hatton 1-up on 18 at Bethpage. Stocking stuffer: Sahith Theegala wins 2 and 1 over Robert MacIntyre to get us to this point. 14. For Ryder Cup fans, the money to be able to see wish No. 13. 15. For Tom Kim , decades (plural) more of Presidents Cup fire. 16. For the PGA Tour, for the Strategic Sports Group, for LIV Golf, for the DP World Tour, for everyone involved in this tug of war, an ending. Does that mean coming together? Does that mean staying apart? Let’s see some resolution. 17. For the new TGL league, interest after the first couple of weeks. Will viewers continue to tune in? Will players continue to care as big events start popping up on the PGA Tour schedule? 18. For pro golf TV broadcasts, something new. A golf-style “Manningcast” would be gold. Think of it — two or three former pros as hosts who discuss shots, tell stories, interview everyone and B.S. along the way. I’d watch. 19. For Angel Yin, a spot on this show. She was one of the best interviews I had this year. 20. For Willie Mack III, a PGA Tour win. I was fortunate to share his story this year. 21. For Tracy Phillips, a Champs tour win. I was fortunate to share his story this year, too. 22. For the men’s majors, deserving champions. OK, so far we’ve got McIlroy winning the PGA and Schauffele winning the U.S. Open. So let’s go with Ludvig Aberg at the Open Championship, and your newest green jacket wearer will be Akshay Bhatia . 23. For the women’s majors, deserving champions. Here, we’ve already wished for Ko to win the PGA, and Hull the Evian. So let’s go with Lauren Coughlin at the Chevron, Thitikul at the U.S. Open, and Korda at the Women’s Open. 24. For my nephew, scores in the 70s, if only so I can ask Korda next year how to get below that number. Nelly Korda shares her two best tips for golfers trying to break 80 for the first time. 👇 pic.twitter.com/fBFIa86VUg Bonus! For golf fans, same as always. And forever. The ability to cut out at noon on Friday and play until the sun sets. And eat a brat at the turn. And win the Masters ticket lottery. And go on a fall golf trip. The good stuff. Editor’s note: This year, I also wrote observations after each of the four men’s majors and the Presidents Cup. The Masters article can be read here , the PGA Championship article here , the U.S. Open article here , the Open Championship article here and the Presidents Cup article here . Latest In News Golf.com Editor Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for editing, writing and developing stories across the golf space. And when he’s not writing about ways to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game, hitting the ball left, right and short, and drinking a cold beer to wash away his score. You can reach out to him about any of these topics — his stories, his game or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.
Dearborn County names two Lilly Scholars
HC Wainwright restated their buy rating on shares of Protagonist Therapeutics ( NASDAQ:PTGX – Free Report ) in a report released on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. HC Wainwright currently has a $50.00 target price on the stock. A number of other research firms have also commented on PTGX. JMP Securities dropped their price target on shares of Protagonist Therapeutics from $45.00 to $43.00 and set a “market outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $58.00 price objective on shares of Protagonist Therapeutics in a report on Monday, November 4th. Truist Financial initiated coverage on shares of Protagonist Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, September 9th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $60.00 target price for the company. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Protagonist Therapeutics to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Protagonist Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Protagonist Therapeutics has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $53.57. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on PTGX Protagonist Therapeutics Stock Up 11.5 % Insider Activity In related news, insider Arturo Md Molina sold 1,906 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.98, for a total value of $78,107.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 46,444 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,903,275.12. This trade represents a 3.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, Director William D. Waddill sold 8,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.00, for a total value of $360,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 12,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $540,000. This represents a 40.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 24,109 shares of company stock worth $1,069,999 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 5.40% of the company’s stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Protagonist Therapeutics Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky acquired a new stake in shares of Protagonist Therapeutics during the third quarter worth $909,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Protagonist Therapeutics by 0.3% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,374,697 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,873,000 after acquiring an additional 3,528 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its stake in Protagonist Therapeutics by 223.6% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 126,995 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,714,000 after purchasing an additional 87,755 shares in the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in Protagonist Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter valued at about $666,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP acquired a new position in shares of Protagonist Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,354,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.63% of the company’s stock. About Protagonist Therapeutics ( Get Free Report ) Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, develops peptide-based drugs for hematology and blood disorders, and inflammatory and immunomodulatory diseases. It is developing Rusfertide (PTG-300), an injectable hepcidin mimetic that completed phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of polycythemia vera and other blood disorders; and JNJ-2113, an orally delivered investigational drug to block biological pathways that completed phase 2b clinical trials for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis; and PN-943, an orally delivered, gut-restricted alpha 4 beta 7 specific integrin antagonist completed a phase 2 clinical trials in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Protagonist Therapeutics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Protagonist Therapeutics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .PlayersTV Acquires Cloud Media Center, Integrates Sports-AI Ad Technology to Surpass 1B Monthly Impressions
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