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HALIFAX — A veteran federal fisheries officer has been suspended for 10 days without pay for his role in arresting two Mi'kmaq elver fishers late at night and releasing them in only their stocking feet. Kevin Hartling and Blaise Sylliboy, both in their 20s, were arrested on March 26 as they fished for baby eels near Shelburne, N.S. They said three fisheries officers confiscated their phones and hip waders before leaving them at a gas station about a 45-minute drive from where they had been fishing. Hartling has said that after the two men were asked to leave the gas station, they walked in the cold without boots along a highway in southern Nova Scotia for hours before they were able to borrow a cellphone to reach a friend, who came and picked them up. After the incident became public in April, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it “extremely troubling” and promised a complete investigation. The Canadian Press verified the penalty imposed on the veteran officer but was unable to confirm what sanctions were imposed on the two more junior fishery officers. The supervisory officer's release of the men without footwear is described in the administrative investigation as a breach of the department's code of values and ethics. It was also considered a failure to "assume responsibility for care and control" of people under arrest, as detailed in the department's standard operating procedures. The discipline imposed considered the officer had no prior disciplinary breaches and "demonstrated remorse." The time without pay began on Wednesday and was to continue until the end of Christmas Day. Hartling, who spoke to The Canadian Press on Wednesday by text message, said he finds the penalty insufficient. "It seems like a pretty light penalty in my personal opinion. He should also have to do a behavioural course, so he isn’t doing this to more people," he wrote. "I would rather have had them take me to jail or at least cut our (hip) waders so we could have had something left on our feet." However, a source who didn't want to be identified due to potential employment repercussions reported that many federal Fisheries Department enforcement officers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick booked off on mental health leave Wednesday to protest the penalties imposed. The source said many officers believe the supervisor followed arrest procedures in taking the men to a location of their choice — a gas station — and dropping them off. It is normal procedure for DFO officers to seize hip waders and cellphones when making arrests in suspected illegal fishing, and the officers do not bring people they arrest to jail in these circumstances, the source said. The source said the officers made some efforts to retrieve Sylliboy's and Hartlings' boots before they departed the scene of the arrest. "The expectation to drive somebody home when they live eight hours away (in Cape Breton) is not a realistic expectation. How do we go and buy or purchase these guys boots late at night? What options do the officers have to try to accommodate them?" asked the source. The Union of Health and Environment Workers, which represents the officers, declined comment Wednesday on the sanctions and on the officers' protest. Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier also declined comment, saying the finding is a human relations matter, and a spokeswoman for the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs said they had no comment on an "internal DFO matter." Lebouthillier announced in July she had ordered an external review into the matter that would look at "procedures to eradicate the potential for systemic biases or racism." A spokesman said on Wednesday that the review hasn't started yet. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024. Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press
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Dallas Cowboys star guard Zack Martin is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders due to ankle and shoulder injuries. Martin didn't practice at all this week. He also physically struggled during Monday night's loss to the Houston Texas. Martin, who turned 34 on Wednesday, has started all 162 games played in 11 seasons with the Cowboys. He's a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a seven-time first-team All-Pro. Tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion) and safety Markquese Bell (shoulder) have been ruled out. Neither player practiced this week after being hurt against the Texans. Cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) practiced in full this week and will make his season debut. He was injured in August. Star wideout CeeDee Lamb (back/foot) was a full practice participant on Friday and is good to go. Cornerback Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) are among six players listed as questionable. The others are offensive tackle Chuma Edoga (toe), guard Tyler Smith (ankle/knee), defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (knee) and linebacker Nick Vigil (foot). --Field Level MediaAfter delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff
US says terror designation doesn't bar talks with Syrian rebel group
There's something magical about Christmas - it's inexplicable and infectious - as if stardust and joy have been sprinkled in the very air we breathe and Santa is indeed flying in a gilded sleigh through our skies on his way to us . Growing up in cosmopolitan Mumbai and being nurtured at a convent, I find my association with Christmas is far more contextual than any other festival. Like many Mumbaikars caught in the enchanting web of yuletide spirit, I decked up my Christmas tree way before the much-celebrated eve, and I find most of my friends - Hindu, Muslim, Parsi and all - embrace the season with Christmas décor, festive soirées, and Christmas pressies making their merry way to my doorstep. While Deepak Parekh's iconic Christmas party that commandeered most of the Taj was once legendary before it drew to a close, the torch of grand Christmas celebrations has been gracefully passed on. Jimmi Kapur's Christmas lunch Many friends host their signature Christmas brunch but I chose to attend Jimmi Kapur and her daughter Tina's lunch party that sparkles with traditional Christmas splendor - a feast fit for the season with prime rib, baked ham, and roast turkey accompanied by scalloped potatoes swimming in cream and that essential tang of cranberry sauce. The Honey-Glazed Ham, green bean casserole, and Yorkshire Pudding at their do would make any British chef proud. And oh, the piece de resistance - their delectable Christmas pudding and mince pies transport you straight to a Victorian Christmas! Mumbai society turns out in their green and red Christmas finest, adding glamour to the warmth of tradition. Anirudh & Malvika Kohli Christmas Mumbai's beloved Dr. Anirudh Kohli, CEO of Breach Candy Hospital, and dermatologist Malavika Kohli's iconic Christmas celebration in Alibaug drew medical luminaries and close friends from the Alibaug circuit - of which I'm an honorary member thanks to my fam Pankaj and Vinny Mehra. The evening saw guests hopping onto speed boats, the sea breeze carrying promises of festive cheer. Their verdant lawns transformed into an enchanted garden, with trees wrapped in twinkling fairy lights and red crystal baubles catching the starlight like frozen drops of Christmas magic. The outdoor buffet table embellished with crystal snowflake and miniature santas offered an inspired contrast - traditional Maharashtrian delicacies alongside charred gourmet burgers - perfectly embodying Mumbai's ability to blend traditions with contemporary flair. Nikhil Chaganlal’s birthday art extravaganza Speaking of treasured Christmas memories, there's only one friend who has ever visited me at 9 am and casually instructed my cook to whip up two omelettes! That impromptu breakfast meet remains my favorite memory of famed artistic Nikhil Chaganlal, whose artistic journey I've watched unfold with wonder. His passion for painting led him from the bustling streets of Mumbai to the serene shores of Alibaug and eventually to Goa's artistic haven. His recent exhibition and birthday celebration rolled into one at Shanti Chopra’s quaint colaba wooden cottage like gallery Art Musings, curated by Sangeeta Chopra, surpasses all his previous shows. Accompanied by a stunning coffee table book showcasing his latest works - a perfect Christmas gift for art aficionados- the show was buzzing until the wee hours. This Christmas, I find Mumbai absolutely radiant - strings of lights on streets turning the city into a tapestry of stars. As a friend remarked, it's perhaps a reflection of the good times and political stability blessing India. May these blessed times continue for our beloved Bharat - whether we're celebrating Eid, Diwali, or Christmas. There's something profound about how our city embraces every festival with equal joy, making each celebration our own. As the carol goes, "Peace on Earth, goodwill to all" - may we forever hold onto this spirit of celebrating together as one great Indian family, our unique customs making our festivities only richer and more meaningful. (Write to Nisha JamVwal at nishjamwal@gmail.com)In a bittersweet twist during the Eagles’ 37-20 victory over the Rams on Sunday night, Philadelphia may have witnessed the final snap of Brandon Graham’s illustrious career. The veteran defensive end suffered a torn triceps, an injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. At 36, Graham's potential farewell comes not in a celebratory final game but in the midst of yet another impactful campaign, a testament to his enduring consistency. Over 15 seasons with the Eagles, Graham built a résumé worthy of admiration: a Super Bowl champion, Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2016, a Pro Bowl selection in 2020, and a career defined by relentless effort and leadership. His stats reflect his all-around contribution: 487 total tackles, 76.5 sacks, 22 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, 11 pass deflections, and one defensive touchdown. Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Nicknamed "BG," Graham’s career is defined by more than numbers. Since 2012, he has graded above 78.0 in every healthy season per Pro Football Focus (PFF), demonstrating a level of consistency few edge rushers have achieved. His versatility as a pass rusher and run defender made him indispensable to the Eagles’ defense, and his ability to deliver in critical moments elevated him to legendary status. Graham’s defining moment came in Super Bowl LII, where his strip-sack of Tom Brady sealed the Eagles' first-ever championship. That iconic play showcased his relentless pursuit and ability to deliver when it mattered most, cementing his place in Philadelphia sports lore. Beyond his on-field heroics, Graham's loyalty to the Eagles made him a rare breed in modern sports. In an era where player movement is the norm, Graham spent all 15 seasons in midnight green. Drafted 13th overall in 2010, his career began with adversity, including early struggles and injury setbacks. Critics labeled him a bust after his first two seasons, but Graham’s resilience transformed him into one of the most respected figures in franchise history. His leadership extended far beyond his play. Graham’s infectious personality, mentorship of younger teammates, and unwavering commitment to the team embodied the spirit of Philadelphia. Few players in the league combine elite talent with such genuine charisma, making him beloved by fans and teammates alike. The 2022 season showed Graham still had plenty left in the tank, as he recorded a career-high 13 sacks during the Eagles' Super Bowl run. Even in 2023, at 36, Graham remained productive, tallying sacks in each of his final three games before his injury. His 702 regular-season pressures rank fifth among all edge defenders since he entered the league in 2010, placing him alongside legends like Von Miller and J.J. Watt. Related: Eagles Ex Faces 50 Years in Prison for COVID Fraud While Graham’s Hall of Fame candidacy may be debated in Canton, his place in Eagles history is secure. He stands as one of the most influential defenders in the history of the franchise, a player who embodied Philadelphia’s blue-collar spirit with every play. If this truly is the end of Brandon Graham’s career, it is the end of an Eagles era as he leaves an indelible legacy defined by passion, persistence, and an ever-present smile that became as iconic as his sack celebrations. His impact will be felt not only for what he achieved but for the way he inspired a city with his relentless drive and undeniable heart. Related: Cowboys Ex Edge Rusher Signed After Eagles Legend’s Injury
Shohei Ohtani likely to win his third MVP award and Aaron Judge his second NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is expected to win his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge is likely to earn his second AL honor when the Baseball Writers’ Association announces its balloting. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels. He signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title. Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left leg Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks. The Washington Capitals confirmed Ovechkin’s injury and prognosis Thursday after he was evaluated by doctors upon the teams’ return from a three-game road trip. This prolonged absence puts a pause on Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. He scored 15 goals in his first 18 games this season to move just 27 away of passing Gretzky. Ovechkin was on pace to break the record in February before his shin-on-shin collision with Utah’s Jack McBain on Monday night. NFL issues security alert to teams and the players' union following recent burglaries The NFL has issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets. QB Daniel Jones disagrees with the Giants' decision to bench him and says he wants to play EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — With tears occasionally welling in his eyes, Daniel Jones disagreed on Thursday with the New York Giants' decision to bench him earlier this week and perhaps end his five-plus tenure as the team’s quarterback. The 27-year-old Jones said he gave the team everything he had after being taken sixth overall in the 2019 draft and he believes he still has a future in the NFL. He held himself accountable for the Giants making the playoffs once in his tenure as the starter. Penn State wins trademark case over retailer's use of vintage logos, images PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage logos and images. A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages earlier this week over products made and sold by the firms Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc. Penn State accused the firms of selling counterfeit clothing and accessories. The defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with Penn State. At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, but the Pennsylvania case was the first to go to trial. Defense lawyers declined to comment on the verdict and whether they planned an appeal. Guardiola signs a 2-year contract extension at Man City and eyes 'more trophies' MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking time with Manchester City is far from over. The City manager has signed a two-year contract extension ending speculation about his future by agreeing to a deal that would prolong his tenure to 11 seasons. Guardiola’s contract was due to expire at the end of this season. The four-time defending Premier League champions announced the deal Thursday. The Catalan coach has overseen a period of unprecedented dominance since joining City in 2016. He has gone on to win six Premier League titles in seven years and also lifted the Champions League among 15 major trophies at the club. Jannik Sinner leads Italy back to the Davis Cup semifinals and a rematch against Australia MALAGA, Spain (AP) — No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner has led defending champion Italy to a comeback victory over Argentina for a return to the Davis Cup semifinals. A rematch of last year's championship matchup against Australia now awaits in the final four on Saturday in Malaga, Spain. Italy fell behind 1-0 in the quarterfinals when Argentina's Francisco Cerúndolo defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1. But two-time Grand Slam champion Sinner overwhelmed Sebastián Báez 6-2, 6-1. Then Sinner teamed with Matteo Berrettini in the deciding doubles match to win 6-4, 7-5 against Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez. Australia eliminated the U.S. to reach the Davis Cup semifinals for the third consecutive year. Drama surrounds final 3 races of F1 season as drivers voice displeasure with recent FIA decisions LAS VEGAS (AP) — There’s three races remaining in the Formula 1 season and Max Verstappen is inching so close to a fourth consecutive world championship he could wrap it up Saturday night at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. But all is not smooth sailing headed into this final month of racing. There’s a new race director following the shock sacking of Niels Wittich that blindsided the Grand Prix Driver’s Association so badly they created an Instagram account to rebuke the lack of FIA transparency. It’s the lone post on the account. Greg Maffei, the CEO of Liberty Media said last week he was stepping down from his position and F1 furiously denied over the weekend that Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One Management, was also on the move. Colorado's 2-way star Travis Hunter eyes Big 12 title and more before 'for sure' entering NFL draft DENVER (AP) — Travis Hunter made a pair of proclamations when he announced he’s for sure turning pro after this season, but not until he sees Colorado all the way through the College Football Playoff should the Buffaloes make it there. The first was a given for the junior who plays both receiver and cornerback. The second is a risk-reward play for a projected first-round draft pick who averages around 120 snaps a game. In years past, it took two extra postseason wins to capture a national title. Now, it could take up to four additional contests. That’s more of a chance to shine, but also more chance for an injury. 76ers' star Paul George sidelined the next 2 games with bone bruise in left knee PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George has a bone bruise on his left knee and will miss two games, the team said. The 76ers said George did not suffer any structural damage when he injured the same knee that he hyperextended during the preseason in Wednesday night’s loss at Memphis. George will miss home games Friday against Brooklyn and Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The team says George will be evaluated again on Monday.
The winners of the 25th annual Grantham Journal Business Awards were crowned at a glittering ceremony tonight (Friday, November 22). The awards ceremony took place at Arena UK Allington this evening (Friday, September 27) and was attended by the finalists, main partners, sponsors and judges - nearly 250 guests in total. Eleven trophies were preseted during the event, which also featured a delicious three-course meal and the chance to party afterwards with The Mesh Band. The event, which was sponsored by Pentangle and Enva, celebrates business successes and recognise commitment to outstanding customer service. The winners were: Best New Start-Up (sponsored by Mark Bates Ltd) - Mum Made Meals Finalists: Bear and Bee Garage and the National Bereavement Advice Service. Apprentice of the Year category (sponsored by Specialist Engineering Plastics) - Sam Letchworth of Iconic Engineering Solutions Finalist - Ellie Clubb of Belvoir Group. Businessperson of the Year - Sam Vidler of CrossFit Grantham Finalists - Rachel Buckley of Domestic Bliss Specialist Cleaning Services Limited, and Tony Ruby of Tony Ruby Exquisite Homes Limited. Employee of the Year - Lee Carratt of Belton Park Golf Club Finalist - Abi Wainwright of the National Bereavement Advice Service Business Innovation (sponsored by South Kesteven District Council) - Mark Bates Limited Finalists - Farrow Friends and Harlaxton Engineering Services Limited Environmental Champion category, (sponsored by Enva) - Vale Clearances Finalists - Andy's Man and Van, Harlaxton Engineering Services Limited Business of the Year (sponsored by Downtown) - Mark Bates Limited Finalist - Farrow Friends John Cussell Independent Retailer of the Year category - MD Jewellers Limited Finalists - Hatties Tearoom and J&J Filipino Foods. Customer Care - MD Jewellers Limited Finalists - Inara Systems and Prime Therapy Clinic Best Social Enterprise (sponsored by PVS Media) - Be The Silver Lining Finalists - BEHIVE - South Lincolnshire Blind Society and Outwood C.I.C. Judge’s Prestige Award - Inara Systems A drinks reception started the evening before guests heard a few words from Journal editor Kerry Coupe. She told guests: “Hearing your success stories at this ceremony always makes me feel very proud about the area in which I live and work and I hope you feel the same sense of pride in the room tonight.” The awards ceremony itself was hosted by former BBC radio presenter Melvyn Prior and supported by MC Keith Reading. As well as celebrating business success, the generosity of guests in the room also led to hundreds of pounds being raised for Grantham ARK, a charity that helps provide temporary accommodation to homeless people in the area. More details will be online over the weekend and a special supplement will be in next week’s Journal, out on Friday, October 4, and available by subscribing to our digital edition here . Use promo code HALFPRICE to get the annual digital subscription for less than half price. With grateful thanks to our headline sponsors Pentangle and Enva, category sponsors Enva, Downtown, PVS Media, South Kesteven District Council and Specialist Engineering Plastics, event programme sponsor Hood Parkes and Co, drinks reception sponsor Lister, entertainment sponsor Grantham College, winner’s champagne sponsor Reflect Recruitment, trophy sponsor Iconic Engineering and table sponsor Belvoir Grantham.
J.K. Dobbins' knee injury could be tough news for the Chargers offenseWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump named Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General, as the United States Attorney General on Thursday, just hours after his other option, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from the list of candidates. PUBLICIDAD Bondi is a long-time ally of Trump and was one of his attorneys during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused —but not convicted— of abusing his power by attempting to condition U.S. military assistance to Ukraine in exchange for that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden. PUBLICIDAD Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump in his criminal trial in New York for hush money, which ended in May with a guilty plea on 34 felony charges. She has served as the chair of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established by former members of the Trump administration. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been used against me and other Republicans. That ends now,” declared Trump in a social media post. “Pam will refocus the department on its original purpose of fighting crime and making America safe again.” Donald Trump Jr., the son of Trump, told Fox Business on Sunday that the transition team had alternatives in mind for their controversial nominees in case they failed to be confirmed. The swift selection of Bondi occurred about six hours after Gaetz withdrew. That announcement capped a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to leverage his decisive electoral victory to force Republican senators to accept controversial selections such as that of Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being selected last week to lead it. The decision could increase scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including the Pentagon candidate, Pete Hegseth, who faces accusations of sexual assault that he denies. "Although the impulse was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unjustly becoming a distraction for the crucial work of the Trump/Vance Transition," Gaetz, a Republican from Florida who met with senators a day earlier in an attempt to gain their support, said in a statement. "There is no time to waste in an unnecessarily prolonged dispute in Washington, so I will withdraw my name from the list of those considered to serve as Attorney General. The Trump Department of Justice must be established and ready from day one," he added. Hours later, Gaetz posted on social media that he hopes to "continue the fight to save our country," and added, "Maybe from a different position." In a social media post, Trump said: "Aprecio mucho los recientes empeños de Matt Gaetz con el fin de buscar la aprobación para ser secretario de Justicia. Lo estaba haciendo muy bien pero, al mismo tiempo, no quería ser una distracción para el gobierno, por el cual tiene mucho respeto. ¡Matt tiene un futuro maravilloso, y espero ver todas las grandes cosas que hará!". Last week, Trump appointed personal attorneys Todd Blanche, Emil Bove, and D. John Sauer to high positions in the department. On Wednesday, it was announced that Matt Whitaker, another potential contender for Attorney General, will be the United States ambassador to NATO. Bondi has also been loyal to Trump for a long time. She has openly criticized the criminal cases against Trump, as well as Jack Smith, the special prosecutor who indicted Trump in two federal cases. In a radio appearance, Bondi criticized Smith and other prosecutors who have charged Trump, calling them "horrible" people who, she said, were trying to make a name for themselves by “attacking Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system.” If the Republican-led Senate confirms her, Bondi would instantly become one of the most closely watched members of Trump's cabinet, given the Republican's desire to retaliate against those he considers his adversaries, and the concern among Democrats that she will seek to bend the Department of Justice to his will. A recent Supreme Court opinion not only granted broad immunity to former presidents but also reaffirmed the exclusive authority of a sitting president over the investigative functions of the Department of Justice. Bondi would inherit a Department of Justice that is expected to change drastically regarding civil rights, enforcing companies to comply with the law, and the trials of hundreds of Trump supporters charged in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot in the United States, whom Trump has promised to pardon. It is unlikely that Bondi will be confirmed in time to coincide with Smith, who presented two federal indictments against Trump expected to conclude before the incoming president takes office. Special prosecutors are expected to draft reports on their work that historically are made available to the public, but it remains unclear when such a document could be released. In 2013, while serving as Florida's attorney general, Bondi publicly apologized for requesting a delay in the execution of a man convicted of murder because it coincided with a campaign fundraising event. Bondi said she was wrong and regretted having asked then-Governor Rick Scott to postpone the execution of Marshall Lee Gore for three weeks. Before running for state attorney general in 2010, Bondi worked for the state attorney's office in Hillsborough County. Lo siento, pero no has proporcionado ningún artículo para traducir. Por favor, proporciona el texto que deseas que traduzca al inglés, y estaré encantado de ayudarte. The journalists from The Associated Press Zeke Miller, Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, and Adriana Gómez Licón contributed to this report. Sure! Please provide the text you need to be translated. This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool.The U.S. stock market has demonstrated a strong performance in 2024, with the benchmark S&P 500 posting a total return of about 25% as the year nears its end. Not surprisingly, the technology sector, especially artificial intelligence (AI) powered stocks, has been at the heart of this bull rally. There has been some increase in market volatility in December 2024 due to the Federal Reserve's indication of fewer-than-expected interest rate cuts in 2025. Despite these headwinds, there are some high-quality, fundamentally strong stocks to watch out for in 2025. Against this backdrop, these stocks can prove to be compelling picks for astute investors in 2025. Here's why. Nvidia Nvidia ( NVDA -2.09% ) has emerged as a standout stock in 2024, demonstrating exceptional financial performance and technological prowess. It is indisputable that the company's AI-optimized ecosystem (hardware, software, partners) has been at the heart of this dramatic growth trajectory. Nvidia's revenue soared by a solid 94% year over year to $35.1 billion in the third quarter of its fiscal 2025 (ended Oct. 27), driven mainly by 112% year-over-year growth of the AI-focused data center segment. The top-line growth trajectory may continue for several quarters, thanks to the staggering demand for the company's full-stack, full-infrastructure, and highly customizable AI data center scale Blackwell systems. The company has already shipped 13,000 samples of its next-generation Blackwell systems to customers including ChatGPT developer OpenAI. After dominating the AI training market, Nvidia now stands to benefit dramatically from the growing demand in the inference market (deploying complex AI models in the production environment) due to its large installed base and robust software ecosystem. The company has successfully transitioned its hardware chips and software from training to inferencing workloads -- implying that existing customers will not have to switch to competition. Nvidia's enterprise AI software solutions are also being increasingly adopted by prominent companies such as Salesforce , SAP , and ServiceNow . All these trends have helped to strengthen Nvidia's moat further. Considering Nvidia's diverse growth catalysts in the AI market and the excellent financial growth prospects, the company is well-positioned to deliver solid returns in 2025. Advanced Micro Devices Being the second-most prominent AI chip maker globally, Advanced Micro Devices ( AMD 0.10% ) is all set to benefit significantly in the rapidly expanding AI market (with a target addressable market estimated to be worth $500 billion by 2028). The company's data center revenue soared by 122% year over year to $3.5 billion in the third quarter, driven mainly by solid uptake of its Instinct GPUs and EPYC server CPUs. AMD now expects data center GPU revenue to be over $5 billion in 2024, an upgraded estimate from the previous $4.5 billion guidance provided in July 2024. Hence, although it's behind Nvidia, AMD is steadily expanding its presence in the AI market. Microsoft uses AMD's MI300X chips to power multiple copilot services. Meta Platforms has also chosen these chips to power its inferencing infrastructure at scale, especially for its most demanding open-source Llama model. AMD is also focusing on performance improvements to further boost adoption of its GPUs. The recently launched MI325X GPUs have demonstrated 20% better inferencing performance than H200 chips. AMD is also gearing up for the launch of the upcoming MI350-series GPUs scheduled in the second half of 2025. Looking ahead to 2025, analysts expect AMD's revenue to be around $32.56 billion, implying year-over-year growth of 26.88%. Plus, the company is profitable and free-cash-flow positive. Hence, AMD may be a worthwhile stock to watch out for in 2025. Alphabet Alphabet ( GOOG -1.55% ) ( GOOGL -1.45% ) has emerged as a formidable player in the AI space and is already earning money from its AI offerings. Although the company faces multiple headwinds, including antitrust challenges and adverse Department of Justice rulings (including a recent one wanting divestiture of its Chrome browser and Android mobile operating system), Alphabet's fundamentals are pretty strong. Google is still a leader in the global search market with an 89.9% share. Furthermore, the company has introduced AI Overview features in Search across 100 new countries and territories that will reach over a billion users every month. This translates into increased frequency and complexity of search queries -- which means more user engagement for the company's search business. Google Search revenue was up 12% year over year to $49.4 billion and represented 57% of the company's total revenue in the third quarter. Google Cloud is also becoming a major catalyst, with revenue growing an impressive 35% year over year to $11.4 billion and operating income soaring by nearly 631% year over year to $1.9 billion in the third quarter. Robust adoption of AI infrastructure and generative AI technologies across industries and use cases has played a pivotal role in Google Cloud's growth. Hence, Alphabet looks like an attractive pick based on market leadership in the AI-powered search market and growth prospects in the cloud business.Thursday Night Football: Isaac Guerendo, Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw are active for 49ers