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Bieber re-signs with GuardiansLSU's 65-point margin of victory was its largest since the Tigers beat Grambling by 75 (112-37) on Nov. 20, 1999 and is the third biggest against a Division-I opponent in program history. The 110 points were the most by LSU since a 119-108 win over North Florida on Dec. 12, 2015. Carter scored 11 points — including three 3-pointers — in the first six minutes to make it 18-6 and LSU led by double figures the rest of the way. The Delta Devils went 0 for 6 from the field and committed five turnovers as LSU scored 17 consecutive points to take a 28-point lead with 7:44 left in the first half and led 55-13 at halftime. The Tigers allowed the seventh-fewest points in a half by an opponent in program history. Mississippi Valley State (2-11) is averaging 46.2 points and is winless with a scoring margin of minus-44.2 in 11 games against Division-I opponents this season. LSU (11-2) has won three games in a row since a 74-64 loss to SMU at the Compete 4 Cause Classic in Frisco, Texas, on Dec. 14. Jordan Spears and Daimion Collins added 15 points apiece for the Tigers, who shot 66% (46 of 70) from the field and made 12 3s. Alvin Stredic led Mississippi Valley State with eight points. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballPITTSBURGH — The Steelers are expecting to play a regular season game in Ireland in 2025, their first international game in 12 years, according to team sources. Because the Steelers have nine home games in 2025, it is likely one of those games will be in Ireland. It would be the team's first international game since they lost to the Minnesota Vikings in London in Week 4 of the 2013 season. The NFL could make the announcement in the next couple weeks. This year, they announced the teams who would play international games — Chicago, Jacksonville, Minnesota and Carolina — on Jan. 11, 2024. The opponent and date would not be announced until the 2025 NFL schedule is released in the spring. The Steelers' association with Ireland goes beyond the global licensing agreement they have with the European country. The Rooney family has strong Irish ties, and Dan Rooney, the team's late owner/chairman, served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland from 2009-2012. Ireland is one of three countries in which the Steelers have a Global Markets Program license, along with Mexico and Germany. The license allows the team to participate in corporate sponsorship and merchandise sales in those countries, in addition to conducting in-person activities such as fan and youth football activities. The Steelers' 2025 home schedule includes games against the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, in addition to the three AFC North opponents. They also will play the corresponding team in the division standings from the AFC South and NFC West. As of right now, that would be the second-place teams — Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks — but that could change depending what happens in the final week of the regular season. Because the Steelers could be designated as the home team, they would be required to arrive in Ireland early in the week. When they played the Vikings in 2013, the Steelers were considered the road team and did not arrive in London until early Friday morning. Several players complained of jet lag and tired legs after a 34-27 loss to the Vikings, saying their bodies didn't have enough time to adjust to the five-hour time difference. NFL rules require the designated home team for each international game to have their home stadium reserved for use in the event that a game cannot be played at the international site. Decembers to forget December has not been a good month recently for the Steelers, not since Mike Tomlin uttered his ill-timed "going to unleash hell in December" remark in the 2009 season. After consecutive losses to the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs in an 11-day span, it marked the fourth time in the past six years the Steelers have lost three consecutive games in December. It is the fifth time in the past seven years they have lost three in a row after Thanksgiving. Those losing streaks caused them to miss the postseason in 2018 and 2019. If they don't beat the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, it will be the first time since 1999 they ended the regular season with at least four consecutive losses. The Bengals have won four in a row since a 44-38 loss to the Steelers on Dec. 1 and still retain hope they can make the postseason. They are averaging 32.25 points in their past eight games. But the Steelers had their best offensive performance of the season in the first meeting. They had 520 yards offense, 28 first downs and their most points in six years. "The adversity can break you down," said quarterback Russell Wilson, who threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns in Cincinnati. "The adversity can challenge you in such a way that you start thinking negatively, start speaking negatively, start thinking, 'Woe is me.' Or the adversity can challenge you in such a way that there's growth, and then adversity can challenge you in such a way that you try to find the next moment." ©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Victoria’s bushfire threat has finally eased after the massive blaze tore through more than 76,000 hectares in the Grampians National Park and Macedon Range. Support will become available for bushfire-affected workers on Monday afternoon after the blaze destroyed at least three homes and nearly a dozen outbuildings across the region over the Christmas period. The landmass burned is about the same size as Singapore. Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Introducing your Newsfeed Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Latest In Federal Fetching latest articles Most Viewed In PoliticsEx-UFC champion Eddie Alvarez has shed light on why Conor McGregor may find it challenging to break free from his UFC contract. McGregor has been absent from the UFC since 2021 when he suffered a broken leg in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier, having made history by becoming the first fighter in Dana White's promotion to hold two titles simultaneously after defeating Alvarez via knockout eight years ago at UFC 205. Following his loss of the lightweight title to McGregor, Alvarez parted ways with the UFC and made his debut in ONE Championship, although he's now collaborating with the Irishman once again as a key figure in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). "Realistically, I think he still has two fights left on his UFC contract," Alvarez shared with MMA Fighting on Wednesday. "I just know how difficult it is, especially when you're that valuable to a company. "I haven't been as valuable as Conor, but back when I was basically Bellator's main guy, I know how difficult it is to get out of those contracts. They don't make it easy." Alvarez is set to make his third appearance under the BKFC banner against Jeremy Stephens at KnuckleMania 5 in January 2025, and could well find himself up against McGregor further down the line following reports that the 36-year-old has been considering a move into the bare-knuckle promotion, which he became a part-owner of in April. However, the former two-division UFC champion recently announced on social media that he was in discussions with YouTuber-turned-WWE star Logan Paul for an exhibition boxing match, suggesting any UFC or BKFC commitment could be put on the backburner for now. Taking to social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter ) earlier this month, McGregor announced: "I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambrani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India. I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon." However, just two hours after his post, Jake Paul - younger brother of Logan and Mike Tyson's opponent last month - claimed that McGregor had initially reached out to him for a potential bout. "Now it all makes sense why Conor McGregor and his management team have been desperately trying to get MVP to negotiate for a fight between us," Jake revealed. "As we told them privately and I'm now saying it publicly... The only way we're willing to explore me vs Conor in a pro boxing/MMA fight is if Dana White/UFC are at the table directly or make it clear they are okay with discussions." "The Problem Child" then added: "Conor is washed. Needs the Paul's. Logan [to win] by however he wants." Jake and UFC President White have been embroiled in a bitter feud for years, with White previously stating he would never collaborate with either of the Paul brothers. This puts McGregor in a tricky position, as he would need White's approval to box against either Paul, much like when he fought Floyd Mayweather. Commenting on McGregor's potential move into BKFC, Alvarez conceded that such a transition is unlikely. "For him, making the company hundreds of millions of dollars, I don't think it's going to be an easy exit," he remarked. "I think he still has two more fights with the UFC, and I'm not sure how old Conor is, but he's not getting any younger. It's going to be tough for him to fight those fights out and move onto another contract. So realistically, I don't know if he could fight BKFC, and if he does, it'll be maybe when he's older." For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage . Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
CLEVLEAND — Shane Bieber's comeback with Cleveland has double meaning. The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians on Wednesday, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stay with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026. It seemed like a long shot that Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts, would return to Cleveland. He had turned down long-term offers in the past from the club, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely one on the West Coast. But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025. A two-time All-Star, Bieber was named MVP of the midsummer event in 2019 when it was held in Cleveland. He has the highest strikeout ratio per nine innings (10.2) and third-highest winning percentage (.660) in the franchise's 124-year history. Bieber is one of just three Cleveland pitchers to start five season openers, joining Stan Coveleski (1917-21) and Corey Kluber (2015-19). While Bieber had some elbow issues in the past, he didn't show any issues before being shut down. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Oakland on March 28, and followed that up with six more shutout innings at Seattle on April 2. DALLAS — Pitchers again dominated the big league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings, comprising 11 of the 15 unprotected players who were picked Wednesday. The 121-loss Chicago White Sox had the first pick and selected 24-year-old right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Smith was an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest when he was signed by Milwaukee in July 2021. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder has gone 13-7 with a 2.69 ERA and 203 strikeouts over 157 innings in 19 starts and 54 relief appearances over three minor league seasons. There were 14 teams who made picks in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft of players left off 40-man rosters after several minor league seasons. Only Atlanta made two selections, after making none since 2017. Atlanta chose right-hander Anderson Pilar from the Miami Marlins with the 11th pick, and then took infielder Christian Cairo from the Cleveland Guardians with the 15th and final pick in the MLB portion. The 26-year-old Pilar was original signed by Colorado as a minor league free agent in 2015 and has pitched in 213 minor league games that included 17 starts. He is 28-20 with a 2.86 ERA. Teams pay $100,000 to take a player in the major league portion. The players must stay on the big league roster all of next season or clear waivers and be offered back to their original organization for $50,000. Six of the 10 players selected during the Rule 5 draft last December — five of them right-handed pitchers — remained last season with organization that selected them. Two of the four position players taken Wednesday by other teams came from the Detroit Tigers organization: catcher Liam Hicks and third baseman Gage Workman. Miami drafted second after Colorado passed making a selection, and took Hicks. Workman was taken by the Chicago Cubs with the 10th pick. Baltimore lost two right-handed pitchers on back-to-back picks, Juan Nunez to San Diego with the 12th pick before Connor Thomas went to Milwaukee. DALLAS — Tom Hamilton, who has called Cleveland games on the radio for 35 seasons, won the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting on Wednesday. Hamilton, 70, joined the team's broadcast in 1990, when he was with Herb Score in the booth and part of the coverage of their World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997. Hamilton became the voice of the franchise when Score retired after that second World Series. Hamilton will be honored during the Hall of Fame’s induction weekend from July 25-28 in Cooperstown, New York. He was selected the hall's Frick Award 16-member committee as the 49th winner. There were 10 finalists on this year's ballot, whose main contributions came as local and national voices and whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card era. The other nine were Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ernie Johnson Sr., Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Sims and John Sterling. DALLAS — The Texas Rangers acquired slugging corner infielder Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday in a trade for three minor league players. Burger hit .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs in 137 games for the Marlins last season, with 150 strikeouts in 535 at-bats with 31 walks. He started 59 games at third base and made 50 starts at first. Five days of service time short of being eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, he will be eligible next winter and can become a free agent after the 2028 World Series. Miami got infielders Max Acosta and Echedry Vargas and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza. The acquisition of Burger comes about a month after the Rangers hired former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a senior adviser for baseball operations. Luis Urueta, Miami's bench coach the past two seasons, also was added recently to manager Bruce Bochy's on-field coaching staff for 2025. BRIEFLY WHITE SOX: Mike Tauchman is switching sides in Chicago. The White Sox announced a $1.95 million, one-year contract for the outfielder. Tauchman, 34, grew up in Palatine, Illinois, about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, and played college ball for Bradley in Peoria, Illinois. He spent the previous two seasons with the Cubs. TRADE: All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet was acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox for four prospects. Catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery are headed to Chicago. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Canadian Cabinet ministers meet with Trump's nominee for commerce secretary in bid to avoid tariffsSubscribe Search Search Sort by Relevance Title Date Subscribe ALBAWABA - Jordan's economic growth is expected to expand by 2.5% to 3% in 2025, propelled by better business conditions and increased investments, Jordan News Agency reports citing experts. Despite ongoing labor market difficulties, this rise is anticipated to marginally lower unemployment. Also Read Egypt and Jordan discuss collaborations in energy and natural gas The government's attempts to improve financial and social stability can be observed in important policies put into place in late 2024, such as tax cuts for electric cars and lighter fines for unregistered vehicles. These programs have increased economic activity and investor confidence, especially when combined with the continuing changes under the Economic Modernization Vision. Growth in GDP (current prices) between 2003-2023. 🇶🇦 Qatar: 893% 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: 395% 🇯🇴 Jordan: 373% 🇪🇬 Egypt: 368% 🇴🇲 Oman: 338% 🇦🇪 UAE: 310% 🇧🇭 Bahrain: 306% 🇮🇱 Israel: 297% 🇹🇷 Turkey: 265% 🇮🇷 Iran: 131% — The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) November 22, 2024 According to economic analyst Dr. Adli Kandah, Jordan's steady 2.5% growth rate over the last 10 years offers a solid basis for development. He pointed to the possible advantages of easing sanctions on Syria and emphasized the possibilities presented by regional changes, especially in trade and investment. Prof. Dr. Raad Al-Tal, who teaches economics at the University of Jordan, highlighted how the nation's political stability and structural changes have enabled it to successfully handle geopolitical problems, such as the Gaza conflict. “The tourism sector, in particular, has shown notable recovery, bolstered by improved regional security and increased visitor numbers,” Al-Tal said, as reported by the Jordan News Agency. He also acknowledged that the country's foreign reserves had been strengthened by remittances from Jordanian expats. Despite regional constraints, Jordan's economy has proven resilient, according to economic analyst Dr. Ahmad Al-Majali. He credited this to the benefits of the Economic Modernization Vision, which has promoted development in a number of industries, as well as prudent monetary measures that have preserved stability. Experts concur that while 2025 seems promising, sustainable improvement would need effective public expenditure, ongoing reforms, and capitalizing on local trends. Sustainable development will also depend on boosting export competitiveness and accelerating large projects, as Jordan Times reports. Jordan has shown resilience in the face of external problems, as seen by its strong foreign exchange reserves, shrinking trade deficit, and increasing export volumes. A passionate about the Gaming Industry with a career of over 5 years in the field, I write about current trends and news in the Game Development business and how it impact the industry and players. Laith has recently started a new position at Al Bawaba as a freelance business writer. Subscribe Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content Subscribe Now Subscribe Sign up to get Al Bawaba's exclusive celeb scoops and entertainment news Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content Subscribe Also Read Top 10 Indian Billionaires in 2022CLEVLEAND — Shane Bieber's comeback with Cleveland has double meaning. The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians on Wednesday, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stay with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026. It seemed like a long shot that Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts, would return to Cleveland. He had turned down long-term offers in the past from the club, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely one on the West Coast. But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025. A two-time All-Star, Bieber was named MVP of the midsummer event in 2019 when it was held in Cleveland. He has the highest strikeout ratio per nine innings (10.2) and third-highest winning percentage (.660) in the franchise's 124-year history. Bieber is one of just three Cleveland pitchers to start five season openers, joining Stan Coveleski (1917-21) and Corey Kluber (2015-19). While Bieber had some elbow issues in the past, he didn't show any issues before being shut down. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Oakland on March 28, and followed that up with six more shutout innings at Seattle on April 2. Pitchers dominate Rule 5 draft DALLAS — Pitchers again dominated the big league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings, comprising 11 of the 15 unprotected players who were picked Wednesday. The 121-loss Chicago White Sox had the first pick and selected 24-year-old right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Smith was an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest when he was signed by Milwaukee in July 2021. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder has gone 13-7 with a 2.69 ERA and 203 strikeouts over 157 innings in 19 starts and 54 relief appearances over three minor league seasons. There were 14 teams who made picks in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft of players left off 40-man rosters after several minor league seasons. Only Atlanta made two selections, after making none since 2017. Atlanta chose right-hander Anderson Pilar from the Miami Marlins with the 11th pick, and then took infielder Christian Cairo from the Cleveland Guardians with the 15th and final pick in the MLB portion. The 26-year-old Pilar was original signed by Colorado as a minor league free agent in 2015 and has pitched in 213 minor league games that included 17 starts. He is 28-20 with a 2.86 ERA. Teams pay $100,000 to take a player in the major league portion. The players must stay on the big league roster all of next season or clear waivers and be offered back to their original organization for $50,000. Six of the 10 players selected during the Rule 5 draft last December — five of them right-handed pitchers — remained last season with organization that selected them. Two of the four position players taken Wednesday by other teams came from the Detroit Tigers organization: catcher Liam Hicks and third baseman Gage Workman. Miami drafted second after Colorado passed making a selection, and took Hicks. Workman was taken by the Chicago Cubs with the 10th pick. Baltimore lost two right-handed pitchers on back-to-back picks, Juan Nunez to San Diego with the 12th pick before Connor Thomas went to Milwaukee. Hamilton wins Frick Award DALLAS — Tom Hamilton, who has called Cleveland games on the radio for 35 seasons, won the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting on Wednesday. Hamilton, 70, joined the team's broadcast in 1990, when he was with Herb Score in the booth and part of the coverage of their World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997. Hamilton became the voice of the franchise when Score retired after that second World Series. Hamilton will be honored during the Hall of Fame’s induction weekend from July 25-28 in Cooperstown, New York. He was selected the hall's Frick Award 16-member committee as the 49th winner. There were 10 finalists on this year's ballot, whose main contributions came as local and national voices and whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card era. The other nine were Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ernie Johnson Sr., Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Sims and John Sterling. Marlins send Burger to Rangers DALLAS — The Texas Rangers acquired slugging corner infielder Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday in a trade for three minor league players. Burger hit .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs in 137 games for the Marlins last season, with 150 strikeouts in 535 at-bats with 31 walks. He started 59 games at third base and made 50 starts at first. Five days of service time short of being eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, he will be eligible next winter and can become a free agent after the 2028 World Series. Miami got infielders Max Acosta and Echedry Vargas and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza. The acquisition of Burger comes about a month after the Rangers hired former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a senior adviser for baseball operations. Luis Urueta, Miami's bench coach the past two seasons, also was added recently to manager Bruce Bochy's on-field coaching staff for 2025. Mike Tauchman is switching sides in Chicago. The White Sox announced a $1.95 million, one-year contract for the outfielder. Tauchman, 34, grew up in Palatine, Illinois, about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, and played college ball for Bradley in Peoria, Illinois. He spent the previous two seasons with the Cubs. All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet was acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox for four prospects. Catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery are headed to Chicago.
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Xerox Is Buying LexmarkArticle content Alberta’s privacy commissioner has opened an investigation into the provincial government’s withholding of the results of its online survey about the potential creation of a provincial pension plan. The investigation comes following a request for review to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) from Postmedia who has filed five requests via the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) in an unsuccessful effort to view data or individual responses to the open question parts of the survey. One of those requests was filed on Jan. 10 and was returned Feb. 14 with nearly 400 pages that were entirely redacted. “Treasury Board and Finance has decided not to give you access to the records you requested,” stated a letter from TBF’s FOIP staff. Postmedia filed a request for review with the OIPC later the same day. On Dec. 5, both Postmedia and the office of Finance Minister Nate Horner received a notice from the OIPC that it was investigating the ministry’s use of Section 24(1) of the FOIP act to withhold the records. That section allows public bodies to not disclose information that “could reasonably be expected to reveal advice, proposals, recommendations, analyses or policy options developed by or for a public body or a member.” As noted in a 2008 privacy commissioner ruling , Section 24(2) of the act explicitly exempts public survey data from the preceding section. Horner’s office acknowledged the investigation in a statement to Postmedia. In the past, department officials have justified withholding the information by alternately claiming that summary data from the survey did not exist or cannot be released while the consultation is incomplete. Premier Danielle Smith echoed that last point in a year-end interview earlier this month when asked about the survey data. “We have to do more consultation on the Alberta pension plan because what we heard from people is, ‘I don’t have enough information to make a decision,’” she said. Smith also stressed the importance of the coming estimate by the office of the chief actuary regarding Alberta’s potential asset withdrawal, which was expected in the fall though no announcement has been made or scheduled. The pension survey was launched online on Sept. 21, 2023, the same day the province released its pension plan report that claimed Alberta would be entitled to 53 per cent of the Canada Pension Plan’s assets , some $334 billion, should it choose to withdraw and form its own provincial plan. More than 94,000 Albertans completed the survey between its opening and conclusion on Dec. 10 of last year. It drew criticism for not providing options in its multiple choice section to express opposition to the idea of leaving the CPP. Other government departments have shared the results of public engagement, including the Municipal Affairs ministry on local political parties, Forestry and Parks on the future of the provincial park system , and also the Preston Manning-led Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel . Others have been less willing, including the ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation which last month refused to disclose the results of its survey on renewable energy and agriculture. The OIPC has also indicated to Postmedia that it is in the process of assigning an investigator to two other requests for reviews — one regarding the availability of the pension survey data, the other about the withholding of responses to the government’s pension workbooks that were distributed after the survey closed. mblack@postmedia.com
The small modular nuclear reactor proposed by Appalachian Power on the James River in Campbell County, about 10 miles from Lynchburg, has received strong support from elected officials in central Virginia. At the recent “Pancakes and Policy” event sponsored by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, state Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, said “thank goodness we have APCo.” Appalachian Power, a subsidiary of Columbus, Ohio-based American Electric Power, estimates the SMR will need 140 people to run the plant once it begins operating. The project also is expected to create between 300 and 600 jobs during its construction phase. Del. Eric Zehr, R-Campbell, who represents the Joshua Falls area of Campbell County where the nuclear project would be located, and Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg, also have said they support Appalachian Power’s decision to move forward with the SMR project. “That’s going to be the future,” Walker said at the “Pancakes and Policy” event about SMR technology. If all goes as planned, the nuclear plant will be built on a portion of 670 acres along the James River that Appalachian Power has owned since 1977. Most of the acreage is located in Campbell County; 60 acres is located in Appomattox County. The site includes a 765-kilovolt substation and nearby roadways that can support moving the necessary equipment onsite. The Joshua Falls property is a short distance from where BWX Technologies and Framatome each have operations on Mt. Athos Road off U.S. 460. An SMR has yet to enter commercial operation in the U.S. In fact, the proposed SMR at Joshua Falls and others proposed across the U.S. are still many years away from coming online. Globally, there are only three operating SMRs: two in Russia and one in China. A fourth SMR is under construction in Argentina. AEP, owner of electric utility companies in 11 states, decided to choose Virginia for its first SMR because of projected increases in demand for electricity in the state. Electricity demand growth in Virginia in the coming years is likely to be driven by the construction of more data centers in the state. Northern Virginia is the largest data center market in the world. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts While elected officials in the Lynchburg area generally support the construction of a new nuclear power plant in the region, not all are in favor of how Appalachian Power plans to pay to develop it. During its 2024 session, the General Assembly passed a bill, HB 1491, that will allow Appalachian Power to seek approval from utility regulators at the State Corporation Commission in Richmond to charge customers for the costs of developing the SMR. Before the bill's final approval, Gov. Glenn Youngkin amended it by capping the annual cost recovery at $25 million and the total project development cost recovery at $125 million for Appalachian Power. The amendments were intended to address concerns about the bill's impact on ratepayers. The bill received strong bipartisan support, including from most elected officials in the Lynchburg area. Among its opponents was Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-11th District, who represents Amherst and Nelson counties. Deeds, who supports the use of nuclear power, especially due to its role in reducing carbon emissions, said he voted against the bill because he opposes passing on the risk of the SMR project to Appalachian Power's ratepayers instead of the company's shareholders. “The ratepayer is the taxpayer, and you’ve got to be very careful about the rates,” Deeds told The News & Advance. A similar bill, introduced by Sen. Dave Marsden, a Democrat from Northern Virginia, to allow Dominion Energy to request permission to recover SMR development cost also easily passed the General Assembly in the spring. SMRs might be small but they are not cheap. In 2023, Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, a group of local electric utilities in the western U.S., agreed to terminate a project to build what would have been the first SMR project in the U.S. due to rising costs. At the time it was canceled, the project in Idaho, subsidized by U.S. taxpayers, would have cost an estimated $9 billion to build. Appalachian Power said it plans to seek a share of $900 million in U.S. Department of Energy grant funding for SMRs to help reduce the cost of the project for its Virginia customers. Walker said the development of SMRs will benefit ratepayers in the long term. “It may not happen right away. You've got to invest the money to build the product,” he said at an open house hosted by Appalachian Power in Lynchburg in early December. “But we're also very mindful of the ratepayers." Walker said he feels comfortable with the development cost of the SMR because it is “a smart and a wise investment, certainly something that's going to help take care of our future needs.”How co-writing a book threatened the Carters’ marriageBy Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, Reporter PHILIPPINE STOCKS ended 2024 on a cautious note following a tumultuous year for the market as many global central banks began their monetary easing cycles. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slipped by 0.15% or 10.23 points to close at 6,528.79 on Friday, the last trading day of 2024, while the broader all shares index gained by 0.44% or 16.73 points to 3,748.51. Week on week, the PSEi rose by 1.9% or 122.41 points versus its 6,406.38 finish on Dec. 20. Year on year, the PSEi was higher by 1.2% or 78.75 points from its end-2023 finish of 6,450.04. The index posted its highest close for 2024 on Oct. 7, ending at 7,554.68. On the other hand, its worst showing this year was its 6,158.48 finish on June 21. “We managed to end the year higher versus the previous year, our first yearly gain since 2019. It’s a small win, but a win nonetheless,” AP Securities, Inc. Research Head Alfred Benjamin R. Garcia said in a Viber message. “Monetary policy was the key driver this year, with an almost laser focus on interest rates.” The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in August cut rates for the first time since 2020, reducing benchmark borrowing costs by 25 basis points (bps). It made two more 25-bp reductions at its October and December meetings that brought the policy rate to 5.75%. Meanwhile, the US central bank began its easing cycle in September with a big 50-bp cut and followed it up with 25-bp reductions at each of its November and December meetings, bringing the fed funds rate to 4.25%-4.5%. Seven of the world’s 10 major, developed-market central banks cut rates this year, with only Australia and Norway still on hold, Reuters reported. Japan, the outlier, is in hiking mode. The Bank of Japan delivered its first rate hike in 17 years in March, ending years of ultra-loose policy. “It was a bittersweet culmination to a volatile year marked by steep rallies and corrections as hope turned into caution,” Chinabank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo E. Colet added in a Viber message. “Just like 2023, this year again turned out to be fairly good for investors who were able to trade in and out of the major market waves.” Philippine stocks began 2024 on a positive note “because of falling inflation and optimism regarding the beginning of the rate cutting cycle,” COL Financial Group, Inc. Chief Equity Strategist April Lynn Lee-Tan said. “However, sentiment turned negative following the release of weaker than expected third quarter gross domestic product, disappointing third quarter earnings results, and concerns regarding the impact of a Trump presidency on Asian economies,” she said. Donald J. Trump is set to be inaugurated as the 47 th US President on Jan. 20. He has vowed to impose steep tariffs on goods coming from China, Mexico, and Canada and to raise levies on European Union nations. — with Reuters
Bloomberry sells shares for patronsKUWAIT CITY, Dec 29: The Public Prosecution has witnessed a notable increase in its caseload, receiving 20,612 cases in the first half of 2024, marking a 21.1 percent rise compared to the same period last year. The criminal cases topped the chart, comprising 28.6 percent of the total, while drug addiction cases were the least frequent, accounting for just 2.4 percent. The statistics, a copy of which has been received by the Al-Seyassah daily, reveal that the Prosecution dealt with 19,544 cases overall, resolving 18,833. The felony and commercial misdemeanor cases stood out as the most prominent categories, making up 30.8 percent and 30.5 percent, respectively, of cases handled. Banking crimes and drug-related offenses were the largest categories among newly received cases, each contributing approximately 29 percent. Despite the general rise in cases, there were notable declines in specific categories. Drug addiction cases fell by 33.6 percent, environmental misdemeanors by 4.3 percent, and juvenile offenses by 2.1 percent. The commercial misdemeanors saw the most dramatic surge, climbing 101.7 percent. The technology-related offenses followed with a 33.1 percent increase, reflecting the growing complexity of cybercrimes. The felony cases and check misdemeanors also rose by 7.9 percent and 9.2 percent, respectively. On the other hand, murder and assault cases experienced a sharp drop of 51.4 percent, while property crimes decreased by 24.7 percent. The cases involving assaults on honor and reputation fell by 15.6 percent and banking crimes decreased by 7.7 percent. The statistics underscore both challenges and achievements for Kuwait’s judicial system. The rise in drug and psychotropic substance crimes by 30.4 percent, along with a 3.1 percent increase in kidnapping and unlawful detention cases, highlights areas needing intensified focus. As Public Prosecution continues to tackle these evolving trends, the significant progress in reducing violent crimes, such as murder and assault, provides a silver lining to an otherwise busy year for law enforcement and judiciary authorities. By Jaber Al-Hamoud/Munif Naif Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff