
Spanish GROINN Unveils Its Initiative To Drive Kazakhstan's Agricultural Modernization (Exclusive)Market correction nearing end; new highs likely in new year, says Ramesh Damani
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Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X . “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont , last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’" AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing Lindsey Vonn Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Ange Postecoglou relishing Tottenham’s key run of fixtures before Christmas
ATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala told Parliament there is a sinister campaign aiming to create division and conflict between the North and the South of the country, highlighting the manipulative intent behind the false narratives. Making a special statement in Parliament on Wednesday (December 4), the Minister said an organised politically bankrupt group had orchestrated the campaign, confirming that investigations had identified their involvement. He said that several arrests have already been made in connection with the dissemination of false information which also includes a political activist from Boralesgamuwa who had contested the last general election under the Cylinder symbol. The Minister said that the photographs from the past LTTE Mahaviru commemorations that were held even in other countries in 2017 and 2022 had been circulated on social media, to create the impression that similar events were taking place in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka in 2024 under the current administration. Minister Wijepala said of the 244 Mahaviru commemoration events held in the Northern Province from November 21 to 27, LTTE-related symbols were displayed at 10 of them. The Police had taken action in response to these incidents. The Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court had reported about two such incidents while the Point Pedro Magistrate’s Court had reported four similar incidents. In addition, the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court had reported one such incident. A person from Chunnakam had also been arrested for attempting to promote the LTTE. Fake post on Mahaviru commemoration Social activist Kelum Jayasumana who was arrested for sharing a post related to the Mahaviru commemoration on social media was granted bail after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (December 4). During the trial, the officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) told court that the suspect had downloaded and reposted a picture which was initially posted by a French woman on Facebook that contained proscribed symbols of the LTTE organisation. They said that this had disrupted public order and ethnic harmony, and that no such event had been held in the North. Since the investigation has not been completed, the officers of the CID requested that the suspect be further remanded. Subsequently, Colombo Magistrate Thilina Gamage questioned the CID officers whether statements confirming that public order had been violated due to this act had been recorded and submitted to the court. In response, the CID officers said that no such statements had been recorded. Questioning how the suspect could be further remanded without evidence confirming that a public disturbance had occurred, the Magistrate said the suspects cannot be remanded further without proper evidence. Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered the suspect to be released on two surety bails and ordered the case to be taken up again on April 3, 2025. Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament on Wednesday (December 4), that a new political culture has emerged in the country and that is peace building and social cohesion. The country will never move forward unless there is an effort by the Government with peace building and social cohesion. Our international friends have worked with us so long providing us resources, sharing their knowledge and expertise. But how much have we achieved when it comes to social cohesion and peace building? We have not progressed that much. If that is the case then this society must reject all forms of racism outright. But still we feel there are certain elements in the society who are continuing it because old habits die hard. Most of the Governments in power had only paid lip service to the concept of peace building and social cohesion. It was merely a show either to appease Geneva or to get a donation or just to plead some international donor. But this Government doesn’t consider peace building and social cohesion as a mere show. It is our main project and we will push Government policies forward to that end. The Minister said, “We understand we are culturally different and we have different ethnic identities and cultural identities. We respect them all and the Government will make policies to encourage and preserve each other’s cultural identities. No matter how many laws you bring in and whatever the policies speak about to build peace, social cohesion and friendship, the bridge of friendship must be built first. It should start in our minds. Still, we geographically speak about the North and the South. That mindset has to be settled first and that is a serious problem. We are here to represent Sri Lankans of all ethnic origins, races and casts. No matter whatever the divisions, we have to create a unified Sri Lanka. Social inclusion, gender equality and inclusive principles, respecting cultural diversity is essential. Otherwise, this country will not go forward. I am happy to say that my Ministry of National Integration takes this job seriously and encourages all those stakeholders in the Government as well as non-Government to be hopeful and work with us on peace building and social cohesion because this Government is very serious about it.” Right to commemorate the dead Minister Nanayakkara said some of these old habits die hard. As Minister Ananda Wijepala had told Parliament false information was circulated in the media about the Mahaviru commemorations held in the North. We admit the fact that in a civilised society the relatives of those who died have the right to commemorate them or invoke blessing on them. However, that did not happen when it came to the North. When we were in the Opposition we were subjected to state suppression and their stringent laws, violating our human rights. Therefore, as a party, we will not introduce any law to restrict the freedom of expression of the people or violate their rights to engage in politics. We govern with the mandate of the public will. The law is not so essential to a Government which has a clear public mandate and we always appear on behalf of the people. There is an accepted law in the country. As a policy we admit that the PTA should be abolished. However, even in developed countries, they have legislation to face global terrorism. We should formulate a counter terrorism act to suit international best practices and definitions. Definition given to the word ‘terrorism’ in all those recently introduced bills had restricted the freedom of expression of the people which has been enshrined in the Constitution. Until we formulate new laws, if any form of racism or religious extremism emerges, we will have to deal with such incidents in keeping with the prevailing laws. He said, “I admit the fact that freedom of expression is essential and this Government will take positive action to ensure that. However, the freedom of expression and committing a crime are two closely related facts. People can post anything on Facebook and that is their freedom of expression. However, Minister Ananda Wijepala had clearly explained what had really happened. One person who had got involved in that incident was a DNF candidate. He had circulated fake social media posts on Mahaviru commemorations that were not held in the North. What is their ulterior motive? Is it just an attempt to exercise their right legally? Otherwise, is this an attempt to create a division and conflict between the North and the South, paving the way to emerge yet another ethnic conflict in the country? I would like to appeal before writing songs and poems on the freedom of expression, please look into this aspect as well. We are new to govern but we are not new to politics. It is normal for the Opposition to test our strengths and limits from time to time and that is something we expect. They can clash with us ideologically and differ from us politically. We would respond to them democratically and politically. But any citizen in this country who thinks that race and religion could be used again for political gain, I tell you to think again and again.” No racism or religious extremism The Minister said, “This Government will not stand for racism or religious extremism in any form or the other. It will be defeated with whatever the laws we have enforced. If we are in the Government or the Opposition, we all are against racism and religious extremism. We all can join hands from that particular point but we will not be able to do so in some other matters. However, as the new Parliament, we all should join hands for this particular aspect by setting a new example. Although we have different political ideologies, all MPs who represent this Parliament are against racism and religious extremism. If we can take this message to the bottom level, there will be true social cohesion and peace building. So, I am inviting all Parliamentarians to help the Government with that initiative. Yes, we can fight politics another day on another topic. But let’s unite for this because the country has suffered enough and more. Enough tears had been shed in the North and the South and enough blood had run through this land. It has to come to an end and that can only happen by respecting one another’s cultural identities and diversities.” Minister Nanayakkara said the laws belong to the people and that laws are there to protect the people and their interest. Laws are essential for those who are marginalised, weak and poor. Our laws must focus not only on the making of them or even the implementation to make sure that their rights are protected. Three Bills, Proceeds of Crime Bill, Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency Bill and amendments to the Audit Act will be presented to Parliament in the first quarter of next year. The whole idea of this is to recover stolen assets, trace the proceeds of crimes with one law and to effectively deter money laundering, drug trafficking and all related vices. The Audit Act and Insolvency Bill are there to improve the creditor’s confidence and to protect the debtor’s right to bring some uniformity and update. So, this Government is serious about what is said about it. Let’s build this country together. Let’s fight politics and that’s another matter. But I invite you all, let’s uphold the rule of law. There are so many law delays causing massive issues. Some of the delays are due to lack of resources and some human and technical errors. There are over one million court cases in the entire court system. At present, the ease of doing business in the country is very low-ranking and the rule of law far less. SJB Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara told the Sunday Observer that his personal opinion is that nobody can prevent the right of a person to light a lamp in memory of a deceased person. Since 2009, we have been maintaining this stance. However, it was not allowed those days. These Mahaviru commemorations have been held since 2011. The issue is these commemorations are held during the Mahaviru week. It was LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran who declared the Mahaviru week. Should these commemorations be held during the Mahaviru week? A circular has been issued in 2011 specifying guidelines as to how these commemorations should be held. A large number of Mahaviru commemorations were held by violating the guidelines in that particular circular. Except for two persons, those who violated the circular had not yet been arrested. However, a person in the South who shared information of those incidents took place in the North was arrested under the PTA. But those who violated the law have not been arrested. Outdated law It is completely wrong to arrest people under the PTA. The PTA is an outdated law in the country. I would like to say that anybody should not be arrested or detained under the PTA and it should be implemented equally to North and the South. However, the PTA is used to arrest people in the South and the ordinary law is used to deal with the incidents that take place in the North. This is the issue I raised in Parliament. As the JVP holds Il Maha Viru Samaruma to commemorate their fallen comrades, the people in the North also have the right to talk about the deaths of their people and conduct Mahaviru commemorations. We should also keep in mind that thousands of war heroes and police personnel sacrificed their lives to safeguard the motherland. In addition, a large number of people had died and some became disabled due to LTTE bomb attacks. Therefore, they also might feel hurt when such incidents occur. I told Parliament that the Government should seriously consider this issue. There are some extremist groups in all parts of the country including North, East and the South. However, there is a law in the country to prevent any form of extremist acts and I would like to say that the law should be implemented equal to everybody. The new political transformation in the North is a very positive development. The people in the North and the East who were trapped by Tamil and Muslim parties had voted for a national political party in the South. It is a very significant development and it was unable to do so over the past many years. I think it is the responsibility of all of us to safeguard the trust and mandate given by the people in the North and the East.
NEW YORK, Nov 23 — Donald Trump made his name in the world of reality TV, and is now looking to stars of the small screen to handpick ultra-loyal celebrity newscasters and hosts to staff his incoming administration. Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick to run the Pentagon, plies his trade on Fox News during the weekend, while the billionaire’s choice to oversee the sprawling public insurance system is none other than TV medic “Dr. Oz.” Trump’s education secretary will be Linda McMahon, a long-time star and executive of the staged and scripted WWE wrestling brand, whereas Sean Duffy, an MTV reality star turned Fox Business host, will run the transportation department. All four are better known for their media profiles than their track records in public service, which could prove a liability when the Senate considers the cabinet secretary appointments. Trump “is a creature of media — he’s existed in tabloid media since the 1980s. His claim to fame was his reality show on network TV ‘The Apprentice.’ He was successful at constructing himself in TV as a successful businessman and leader,” said Reece Peck, City University of New York associate professor and author of “Fox Populism.” “The lesson Trump takes from that is media power is political power. I don’t think there’s ever been a politician in American history that follows that philosophy more than Trump. “People are mocking him but I think for the most part, his theory of political power has been proven correct.” Left-leaning industry monitor MediaMatters criticised the “revolving door” between Fox News, part of mogul Rupert Murdoch’s sprawling empire, and the White House. Alongside Hegseth and Duffy at the cabinet table will be Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar” tasked with overseeing the promised mass-expulsion of undocumented migrants, who became a vocal defender of Trump’s immigration policies on Fox after his stint leading the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency during Trump’s first term. “It says that Fox News has a great deal of influence — it is a network that supports him to the fullest. It functioned during his administration as a kind of state TV outlet that was constantly praising him and attacking his enemies,” said Matthew Gertz, a MediaMatters senior fellow. Fox News declined to comment. ‘Central position’ The well-worn, two-way street between the media and the White House is just as potent during Democratic presidencies, with a number of former staffers finding berths at Trump-critical outlets CNN and MSNBC. But Trump’s intimate involvement with Fox News, many of whose commentators share his zeal for anti-elite rhetoric and populist ideals, is without precedent. Sometimes fawning in his praise, sometimes witheringly critical of the broadcaster, Trump is consistently an insatiable viewer of the channel which he quotes at length on social media. During his first White House term, he would invite himself onto the flagship show “Fox and Friends.” When he pardoned military officers accused of war crimes, he credited Hegseth, who campaigned on their behalf on the network. Another towering figure at the channel is Sean Hannity, who is sometimes compared to a shadow White House chief of staff because of his direct access to the President-elect. During the 2020 presidential election, Rupert Murdoch’s network infuriated the Trump camp by correctly calling the key state of Arizona for President Joe Biden before all of its media competitors. In the weeks that followed, Fox News faithfully echoed Trump’s conspiracy theories that the election had been rigged for the Democrat, which led the company to pay an eye-watering US$787.5 million settlement to voting machine manufacturer Dominion, the target of the false claims. Fox News, which denies claims it preys on viewers’ fears around national security and immigration, saw its ratings rise in the wake of the presidential election — widening its lead on rivals CNN and MSNBC. This campaign saw an expanded role for social media influencers and podcasters at the expense of the big cable channels. Media analyst Peck said “Fox News still occupies the central position in the conservative media landscape” — and continues to set the agenda. — AFPMaverick McNealy birdies the last hole at Sea Island to finally become PGA Tour winner
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(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Sunday, Dec. 22 COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) 1 p.m. ESPN — Illinois vs. Missouri, St. Louis SECN — Kent St. at Alabama 2 p.m. ACCN — American U. at Virginia BTN — Detroit at Wisconsin 3 p.m. ESPN — Brown at Kansas ESPN2 — Diamond Head Classic: Oregon St. vs. Charleston, Quarterfinal, Honolulu 3:30 p.m. SECN — Charleston Southern at Georgia 4 p.m. ACCN — Rider at NC State BTN — Southern U. at Southern Cal 5:30 p.m. ESPN2 — Diamond Head Classic: Loyola of Chicago vs. Oakland, Quarterfinal, Honolulu 6 p.m. ACCN — LeMoyne at Notre Dame 7 p.m. FS1 — Georgetown vs. Seton Hall, Newark, N.J. 9 p.m. ESPN — Diamond Head Classic: Nebraska vs. Murray St., Quarterfinal, Honolulu 11:30 p.m. ESPN2 — Diamond Head Classic: Charlotte vs. Hawaii, Quarterfinal, Honolulu COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S) 3 p.m. ABC — NCAA Tournament: Louisville vs. Penn St., Championship, Louisville, Ky. GOLF 11:30 a.m. GOLF — PGA Tour: The PNC Championship, Day 2, Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Fla. 1:30 p.m. NBC — PGA Tour: The PNC Championship, Day 2, Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Fla. HORSE RACING 3 p.m. FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL 10:30 a.m. NBATV — Winter Showcase: Indiana vs. Texas, Orlando, Fla. 1 p.m. NBATV — Winter Showcase: College Park vs. Osceola, Orlando, Fla. 7:30 p.m. ESPN2 — Winter Showcase: TBD, Championship, Orlando, Fla. NFL FOOTBALL 1 p.m. CBS — Regional Coverage: Tennessee at Indianapolis, L.A. Rams at N.Y. Jets, Cleveland at Cincinnati FOX — Regional Coverage: N.Y. Giants at Atlanta, Detroit at Chicago, Philadelphia at Washington, Arizona at Carolina 4:05 p.m. FOX — Minnesota at Seattle 4:25 p.m. CBS — Regional Coverage: New England at Buffalo, Jacksonville at Las Vegas, San Francisco at Miami 8:20 p.m. NBC — Tampa Bay at Dallas PEACOCK — Tampa Bay at Dallas NHL HOCKEY 12:30 p.m. NHLN — Carolina at N.Y. Rangers 8 p.m. NHLN — Seattle at Colorado SNOWBOARDING 4:30 p.m. NBC — FIS: World Cup, Copper Mountain, Colo. SOCCER (MEN’S) 8:35 a.m. FS2 — The French Cup: Olympique de Marseille at AS Saint-Étienne, Round of 64 9 a.m. USA — Premier League: Chelsea at Everton 11:30 a.m. USA — Premier League: Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Noon CBSSN — Serie A: Empoli at Atalanta 2:50 p.m. FS2 — The French Cup: Paris Saint-Germain at RC Lens, Round of 64 TENNIS 11 a.m. TENNIS — Next Gen ATP Finals: Final The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV . Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Ange Postecoglou knows the next month will be “significant” for Tottenham, but is confident they will improve and not be mid-table at Christmas. Spurs travel to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday reeling from a disappointing home loss to Ipswich before the international break. The club’s problems have multiplied during the past fortnight with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur handed a seven-match domestic ban on Monday and Cristian Romero (toe) joining a lengthy list of absentees. However, Postecoglou remains bullish about Tottenham’s progress and acutely aware of the scrutiny set to come his way if they stay 10th. “Christmas is a joyous occasion, irrespective, and I think it should be celebrated. If we’re still 10th then people won’t be happy, I won’t be happy, but we might not be 10th,” Postecoglou pointed out before nine games in 30 days. “Certainly for us I think it’s a significant period because you look at those games and we’ve got the league where we’ve got to improve our position and a couple of important European fixtures that can set us up for the back half of the year, also a Carabao Cup quarter-final. “At the end of that period we could be in a decent position for a strong second half of the year, so for us it is an important period. “You know there’s no more international breaks, so the full focus is here. You can build some momentum through that, or if things don’t go well you could get yourself into a bit of a grind. Ready for #MCITOT 👊 Go behind the scenes of training ahead of our trip to Manchester 🎥⤵️ pic.twitter.com/4jFZTCIwSz — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 22, 2024 “Of course if we had beaten Ipswich, we’d be third and I reckon this press conference would be much different wouldn’t it? “I’m not going to let my life be dictated by one result, I’m sorry. I take a wider perspective on these things because I know how fickle it can be, but we need to address our position for sure. “And if we’re 10th at Christmas, yeah it won’t be great. There’d be a lot of scrutiny and probably a lot of scrutiny around me, which is fair enough, but that’s not where I plan for us to be.” Tottenham’s immediate efforts to move up the table will require them ending City’s two-year unbeaten home run in the Premier League. The champions have lost their last four matches in all competitions, but have some key personnel back for Saturday’s clash and will aim to toast Pep Guardiola’s new contract with a victory. Postecoglou was pleased to see Guardiola commit to a further two seasons in England, adding: “I love the fact that there’s a massive target out there that can seem insurmountable. “I look at it the other way. I go, ‘imagine if you knock him off, that’d be something’. “I’m at the stage of my life where I’d rather have the chance of knocking him off than missing that opportunity. “When greatness is around, you want to be around it. And hopefully it challenges you to be like that as well.” Saturday’s fixture will be Postecoglou’s 50th league game in charge of Spurs and he knows what is required to bring up three figures. A post shared by Premier League (@premierleague) “No European football, significant player turnover, change of playing style. Where did I think we’d be after 50 games? God knows. “It could have been a whole lot worse, but when you look at it in the current prism of we’re 10th, you’re going ‘it doesn’t look good’ and I understand that and we have to improve that. “But over the 50 games, I think there’s enough there that shows we are progressing as a team and we are developing into the team we want. “The key is the next 50 games, if they can be in totality better than the first 50? First, that means I’m here but second, I think we’ll be in a good space.”NoneRise of Flash Sales on Black Friday: Pros and ConsParis: French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump to Paris on Saturday with a full a dose of presidential pomp as the two men resumed the relationship they established during Trump's first term after a four-year hiatus. Trump, the once and future American president, said the two would be discussing a world that's gone "a little crazy" as they met one on one before a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Trump's visit to France comes as Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump's favour and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defence against Russia's invasion. Macron's office said that would be discussed as well as the wars in the Middle East. As Trump arrived at the Elysee Palace, the official residence of the French president, Macron went out of his way to project an image of close ties, posing for multiple handshakes interspersed with plenty of back-patting. Trump said it was "a great honour" and talked about the "great relationship" they have had. At the palace, a grand red carpet was rolled in the same way the French welcome sitting American presidents. Before they went inside, Trump said, "It certainly seems like the world is, going a little crazy right now. And we'll be talking about that." 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The trio posed for a picture but made no further public comment before starting the talks. Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine swiftly but has not specified how, raising concerns in Kyiv about what terms may be laid out for any future negotiations. Macron, who has had an up-and-down relationship with Trump, has made a point of cultivating a relationship since the Republican defeated Democrat Kamala Harris last month. But Macron's office nonetheless played down the significance of the invitation, saying other politicians not now in office had been invited as well. The red carpet treatment, however, was a sign of how eager both Macron and other European leaders are to win Trump's favour and placate him even before he takes office. Democratic President Joe Biden was invited as well but will not attend. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cited a scheduling conflict and said first lady Jill Biden will represent the United States. 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( MENAFN - AFP) Japan's government on Friday approved a record budget for the next fiscal year, ramping up spending on social welfare, as the population ages, and defence to tackle regional threats. The 115.5 trillion yen ($730 billion) budget for the year from April 2025, greenlighted by the Cabinet, includes 8.7 trillion yen in defence spending. It also includes social security spending of around 38.3 trillion yen -- up from 37.7 trillion the previous year. The defence Ministry said in a briefing document that Japan was facing its "toughest and most complex security environment" since World War II, repeating a warning from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Japan has a pacifist post-war constitution, which limits its military capacity to ostensibly defensive measures. But it updated key security and defence policies in 2022, explicitly outlining the challenge posed by China, and committed to double its defence spending to the NATO standard of two percent of GDP by 2027. The 8.7 trillion yen approved Friday will help pay for measures to help attract recruits to Japan's Self-Defense Forces, and to improve relations between the US and Japanese militaries with locals in Okinawa. It will also go towards a system to collect satellite information on ballistic missiles, such as those fired by North Korea, and the movement of vessels in waters around Japan, including territories disputed with China. "Strengthening our defence capabilities is something we're actively working on," Ishiba said at an event organised by the Yomiuri newspaper on Thursday. "Now matter how great our military tanks or vehicles are, it's pointless if we don't have enough people to move them," said the prime minister, who has pledged to fix a shortage of new troops. Another challenge facing the country is its ageing population caused by chronically low birth rates and a cautious approach to immigration. Japan is one of the world's oldest societies, and this year the proportion of its people aged 65 or over reached a record 29.3 percent. The draft budget needs to be approved by the parliament, and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its smaller coalition partner Komeito will need cooperation from opposition parties, having lost their majority in an October snap election. Ishiba has stayed on as prime minister despite leading the coalition to its worst general election result in 15 years. A vote to elect parliament's upper house will be held in summer 2025. MENAFN26122024000143011026ID1109033786 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.
Spanish GROINN Unveils Its Initiative To Drive Kazakhstan's Agricultural Modernization (Exclusive)Avior Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF ( NYSEARCA:TPLC – Free Report ) by 16.4% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 4,012 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 564 shares during the period. Avior Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF were worth $177,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF in the second quarter worth $41,000. Mather Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $42,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its position in Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF by 27.8% during the second quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 2,797 shares of the company’s stock worth $113,000 after purchasing an additional 608 shares during the period. Finally, Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $194,000. Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF Trading Up 1.0 % Shares of Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF stock opened at $45.89 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $44.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $42.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $257.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.29 and a beta of 0.87. Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF has a 1-year low of $35.65 and a 1-year high of $45.90. Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF Cuts Dividend Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF Profile ( Free Report ) The Timothy Plan US Large\u002FMid Cap Core ETF (TPLC) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in large cap equity. The fund tracks a volatility-weighted index of US large-cap stocks screened for Christian values. TPLC was launched on Apr 29, 2019 and is managed by Timothy. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TPLC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF ( NYSEARCA:TPLC – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Year in review: What the Pa. Legislature achieved in 2024Firefighters have successfully contained a blaze that broke out at the Piha RSA in West Auckland late Thursday night. The incident, described as “devastating” by local officials, began in a small smoking area adjacent to the main building. Thanks to the swift response of local volunteers and crews from Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), the fire was prevented from engulfing the entire structure. RSA Auckland district president Graham Gibson expressed relief, stating that initial videos of the fire led him to fear the worst for the building. However, the rapid and efficient action of the firefighting teams ensured the main building was spared significant damage. The Piha RSA leadership lauded the firefighters’ quick response, saying it was crucial in saving the building from what could have been a catastrophic outcome. In a social media statement, the Piha RSA acknowledged the severity of the fire, which severely damaged the outside area next to the building, and expressed gratitude for the efforts that contained the blaze. The RSA will remain closed until further notice. A FENZ spokesperson reported receiving multiple emergency calls just before midnight, with fire crews arriving on the scene within ten minutes. Five fire trucks, a ladder truck, two support vehicles, and a command unit were deployed to tackle the fire. The last team left the site around 3:30 am on Friday. Fiona Anderson, a manager at the nearby Piha Campground, noted that the fire seemed to start in the RSA’s smoking room. She mentioned that the RSA was already closed at the time of the fire, aligning with their usual Thursday closing time of 11 pm. Concerned by a glow from the smoking room area that seemed unusual, witnesses promptly alerted the fire brigade. Fire investigators are expected to be on site today to determine the cause of the fire.
Lawsuit for Investors who Lost over $100,000 in shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) between May and Nov. 2024 announced by Shareholders FoundationFifteen minutes before the doors opened Friday morning, a dozen people waited outside the Rapid City Public Library. Young children holding their parent's hand. Elderly patrons with a cane in one hand and a book in the other. Some carried bags of books, backpacks and laptops. The two-story building on Quincy Street in downtown Rapid City offers more than just books — it's a community hub, a shelter for knowledge regardless of class, status or ability to pay — and a free one at that. The entrance to the Rapid City Public Library at 610 Quincy St. The Rapid City Public Library saw nearly a million items checked out in 2023, according to its most recent annual report. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff "I talk to people in the community and they'll say, 'Well, I haven't been to the library since I had young kids taking them to story time,' and I'm like, 'You really need to come and check it out,' because we are always evolving to meet our community's needs," said Laurinda Tapper, public relations coordinator for the library. That evolution has expanded the library far beyond books. Patrons in Rapid City can check out books, of course, but also puzzles, board games and video games. There are kits — everything from tools to fishing rods to disc golf sets — available for use. A makerspace houses specialized equipment like 3D printers, laser engravers and lamination machines. The makerspace at Rapid City Public Library, which includes laser engravers and a 3D printer. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Computers and free wifi are available throughout the facility, and librarians can help users create emails, cover letters and utilize a number of research databases. Visitors can obtain free state park passes and Journey Museum passes, free notary services and test proctoring, as well as attend numerous free events year-round. South Dakota has 130 public library outlets, including 106 central libraries, 18 branches and six bookmobiles. According to data from the 2023 South Dakota Library Services Survey , South Dakotans checked out 5.5 million items and accessed the internet from library computers and wifi 1.7 million times. The same data showed state libraries hosted more than 290,000 people at 15,000 programs — and 66% of those attending in-person events were children. The Rapid City Public Library alone saw nearly a million items checked out in 2023, according to its annual report , along with issuing 4,100 new library cards and almost doubling attendance at community events. In her proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget , Gov. Kristi Noem asked the state legislature to cut funding to the State Library, which falls under the state Department of Education, by $1,030,267. She also asked to cut full-time employees by 12.5; the State Library only employs 19 people. An excerpt from Gov. Kristi Noem's proposed FY2026 budget showing her plan to cut 12 full-time employees from the State Library. South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management According to the State Library's Five Year Plan , 57% of the state's libraries serve communities of less than 2,500. Eighty-three percent are automated, but only 73% have online catalogs connected to the internet. "By cutting library funding, we are not considering the educational needs of kids kindergarten all the way through college," Tapper said. "In these smaller schools, in these smaller libraries, the research databases that the State Library funds, that is all they have access to. Google is not enough to meet these needs, and without these, there is going to be a cut in education." Data from the State Library shows local governments contributed $32.8 million to library funding in 2023. Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun proposed $4,480,084 for the local library in his 2025 budget presentation , a 1.86% increase over 2024. Should the state slash library funding, Rapid City will see a significant impact in the state's courier service — the coordination of materials between larger and smaller library collections statewide. "Consider these smaller libraries. They're losing their databases; they're losing access to materials," Tapper said. "So it is actually going to really isolate those smaller communities and deprive them access to education and resources, and this is going to have a huge impact to our community." "We shouldn't teach great books, we should teach a love of reading" reads a quote from B.F. Skinner displayed at the Rapid City Public Library. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Noem's budget proposal is just a recommendation. State legislators will convene in Pierre for the 100th legislative session beginning Tuesday, Jan. 14. A vehicle downtown spreads Thanksgiving cheer on Thursday morning. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Snow greeted Rapid City residents on Thanksgiving morning. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Expect temperatures in the mid-30s to lower 40s this weekend. More snow is possible on Thursday, according to AccuWeather. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Lyndon B. Johnson braves the snow while wearing a stocking cap on Thursday, Nov. 29 in downtown Rapid City. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Darsha Dodge, Journal staff
US markets close higher, with Dow hitting new high