No. 24 Arizona is coming off consecutive defeats for the first time in the Tommy Lloyd era when it faces undefeated Davidson on Wednesday to begin the Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Arizona (2-2) lost at Wisconsin 103-88 on Nov. 15 and followed that with a home loss against Duke 69-55 on Friday. The Wildcats have dropped 15 spots in the Associated Press Top 25 poll in two weeks. Arizona's record is .500 this early in a season for the first time since it was 3-3 to start the 2017-18 schedule. "I've got work to do, so let's get to work," said Lloyd, in his fourth year as Arizona's head coach. "Let's see where we're at in a month, and if we're still struggling, you know what I'll do? I still got work to do, but I'm gonna get to it." Arizona shot 39.6 percent from the field against Duke, and just 26.1 percent (6 of 23) from 3-point range. The Wildcats were outrebounded by 43-30 and their 15 turnovers led to 19 points. Jaden Bradley led Arizona with 18 points and KJ Lewis added 12. Preseason All-American Caleb Love had eight points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field, including 1-of-9 from 3-point range. Arizona made only one field goal in the last 5:39 as Duke pulled away after its lead was trimmed to six points. "We didn't play great," Lloyd said. "Now we need to take a step back and figure out why. Are there some schematic problems? Are there some problems with how our personnel is kind of put together? "We got to figure out what our certainties are, and the things we have to have, and then over the course of the next couple of days, if there's adjustments we need to make, we need to figure out what those are." Davidson is 4-0 after a 15-17 record last season, in which it lost its last six games to put an end to postseason hopes. A 93-66 win over visiting VMI on Friday followed a 91-85 win at Bowling Green and 76-70 victory over visiting East Tennessee State. The two wins by 10 points or fewer are important because Davidson was 6-12 in such games last season. It was 4-11 in games decided by five points or fewer. "The goal (is) to get better," Davidson head coach Matt McKillop said after the season opener. "We talk about fighting to win every possession. I think we had to figure out what that really felt like with the lights on." Davidson made 13 shots from 3-point range in the win over VMI. Reed Bailey had 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Bobby Durkin added 19 points, including 17 of them and a career-best five 3-pointers in the first half. Bailey leads Davidson in scoring (19 points per game) and rebounding (7.8). Durkin is shooting 57.9 percent (22 of 38) from the field and 54.2 percent (13 of 24) from 3-point range. By contrast, Arizona's Love is shooting 32 percent (16 of 50) from the field and 21.4 percent (6 of 28) from beyond the arc. Bradley leads Arizona with 15.5 points per game. He is shooting 50 percent (24 of 48) from the field and is 35.7 percent (5 of 14) from 3-point range. --Field Level Mediais set to make his debut as a Fox NFL announcer this Thanksgiving, calling the vs. game. This marks his first holiday season in the broadcast booth after signing a lucrative ten-year, 375- million-dollar contract with the network. However, 's journey into his first Thanksgiving game didn't come without a bit of surprise. During Fox's The OT postgame show on Sunday, host playfully informed Brady that he would be working on the holiday, just like former Fox Sports analyst did in his first year. Brady feigned shock, only to later share his true excitement with fans on social media. "I'm fired up for some football!!! See you tomorrow!" tweeted. His lighthearted response suggested that, despite the surprise, he's eager to take on the job and experience his first Thanksgiving as part of the Fox NFL team. Brady won't be with his children during holidays While Brady is set to work, his two children, Benjamin and Vivian, will be spending Thanksgiving with their mother, . The supermodel and her partner, Joaquim Valente, have taken the children to Costa Rica for the holiday. This arrangement reflects the co-parenting plan that Brady and Bündchen have maintained since their split. "Tom is supportive and that's the arrangement he and Gisele have agreed upon. He's going to be calling the game for Fox that day and will be tied up with work, but he will still have plenty of time to spend with his children during the holiday season," a source told Page Six. 's first season in the broadcasting world has had its ups and downs. His early appearances were met with mixed reviews, with some viewers critiquing his tone and delivery. As Thanksgiving approaches, 's debut as a commentator is another exciting milestone in his post-NFL life. His commitment to his new role, even during the holiday season, highlights his drive to succeed in this next chapter.
Colorado voters felt optimistic leading up to Election Day, poll showsTORONTO — Canada's main stock index ended Tuesday narrowly in the red, weighed down by losses in energy and base metals stocks, while U.S. markets moved higher. Investors digested the latest news from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, who threatened sweeping new tariffs of 25 per cent on products from Canada and Mexico. The “sizable” tariff promise likely shocked markets somewhat right off the bat, said Mike Archibald, vice-president and portfolio manager with AGF Investments Inc. “But I think as people have kind of digested they've thought that this is probably a starting position from a bargaining standpoint,” he said. The announcement was in line with Trump’s tactics used during his first presidency, said Archibald. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 5.21 points at 25,405.14. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 123.74 points at 44,860.31. The S&P 500 index was up 34.26 points at 6,021.63, while the Nasdaq composite was up 119.46 points at 19,174.30. A few Canadian companies saw their share prices drop because of the outsized impact such a tariff could have on certain sectors, said Archibald. These included Bombardier, BRP, Linamar and Magna International. “You can see the biggest losers on the market today are generally those that manufacture in either Canada and/or Mexico,” he said. But higher tariffs could also be inflationary for the U.S., said Archibald. Markets have been paring back their bets for interest rate cuts in the U.S. in the wake of the election in anticipation of potentially higher inflation. “It’s a bit too early to know,” said Archibald. Despite the uncertainty, he said markets are still poised to do well in the coming months thanks to Trump’s overall pro-business bent. “I still think the market is in a very good position to rally ... into the end of the year,” he said. “The S&P 500 is still going to do fairly well relative to other markets around the world.” The loonie fell to a four-year low before clawing back some of its losses later in the day, he noted. The Canadian dollar traded for 71.01 cents US compared with 71.53 cents US on Monday. The January crude oil contract was down 17 cents at US$68.77 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up three cents at US$3.47 per mmBTU. The December gold contract was up US$2.80 at US$2,621.30 an ounce and the March copper contract was down four cents at US$4.12 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press
The Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr Pius Akutah has said low adoption of modern technology in port operations is hindering operational efficiency and transparency. Speaking at the recent annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists in Lagos, organized by First Mediacon Network and Shippers’ Council; he disclosed that the NSC is tasked with promoting the digitalization of port processes, but challenges such as inadequate internet infrastructure, resistance to change among stakeholders, and a lack of skilled personnel in the tech field is hindering progress in this area. Akutah who was represented by Council’s Director, Special Duties, Mustapha Zubairu, noted that the absence of a port economic regulator from 2006-2014 when the private sector took over the operations of terminals had left the ports without a regulator, “And they all set their tariffs which determined their standard of service deliveries regardless of whether it meets the industry quality standard or not.” Akutah emphasized the need for a strong legal framework for the Council as it is the nation’s Port Economic Regulator. Speaking on political interference and bureaucracy, he said changes in government, shifting political priorities, and bureaucratic hurdles delays/disrupt the implementation of policies meant to improve port operation. The NSC CEO said Nigerian ports have poor infrastructure, including outdated cargo handling equipment, inadequate road networks, and insufficient storage facilities. Other challenges he listed include lack of coordination among stakeholders, high cost of doing business, port congestion and inefficiency, limited private sector participation, security and corruption issues. Akutah for said that NSC is an agency constantly in transition which has transited from being an agency primarily responsible for protecting the interest of shippers on matters relating to international trade transaction, to trade facilitator, through the promotion of the development of Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) and other cargo logistics across the 6 geo-economic zones in Nigeria, he recommended that passing the Port Economic Regulatory Agency bill, implementing Cargo Tracking Note, operating a National Single Window, implementing an Enterprise Management System, digital transformation and E-Commerce, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), regional trade expansion, sustainability of the global shipping industry and Green Shipping will go a long way in solving the problems faced by the Council. “The tasks of correcting the service providers to comply with the standard rules have become an issue which NSC is still battling with up till now. “There is an urgent need for the passage of the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill 2023 which seeks to repeal the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act and establish a regulatory agency for the Nigerian ports. “The NSC’s ability to drive reforms and improve port operations is constrained by the broader infrastructural deficiencies within the port system. “Effective port regulation requires close coordination between the NSC, the NPA, customs, terminal operators, shipping companies, and other stakeholders. However, there is often a lack of synchronization among these entities, leading to inefficiencies, conflicting policies, and a fragmented regulatory environment. “Changes in government, shifting political priorities and bureaucratic hurdles delays/disrupt the implementation of policies meant to improve port operations. “High tariffs, port charges, and inefficiencies at the ports increase the cost of doing business in Nigeria. While the NSC is responsible for overseeing tariff structures and pricing, it faces the challenge of balancing the interests of port operators, shippers, and the government while trying to make the ports competitive. “Nigerian ports continue to struggle with congestion and inefficiency, despite efforts to streamline operations. “While the NSC has the mandate to regulate and foster private sector involvement, there remains limited participation from private investors due to regulatory uncertainty, inadequate infrastructure, and challenges related to port security and safety, Security and Corruption Issues. “Security challenges, including cargo theft, piracy, and general lawlessness, persist at Nigerian ports. These security risks negatively affect port operations and increase the cost of shipping. Additionally, corruption among port officials and stakeholders remains a problem, with illegal fees, bribery, and rent-seeking behavior complicating the NSC’s regulatory functions and undermining reforms,” Akutah said. CEO, First Medicaon Network Ltd/Facilitator, Sesan Onilemo, disclosed that the 2024 edition of the seminar was tailored to educate maritime journalists and stakeholders on the issues affecting NSC. “Currently, the rating of ease of doing business in the ports is low. “This year, we deliberately narrowed-down our focus to a topic that can offer a dual opportunity for maritime journalists and content owners to acquire knowledge about the emerging dispensation at the NSC, and also understand the apprehension of direct stakeholders about The Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill 2023, which is in the last stage of being enacted. “I appeal to other agencies and players in the Nigerian maritime industry to emulate the golden initiative of the NSC and join us to espouse capacity building for maritime journalists and content owners,” Onilemo said.
Lone Star Fresh: Lewisville Welcomes Tide Laundromat
London, Nov 30 (PTI) High achievers facilitating cross-border partnerships between India and Europe were among leading entrepreneurs who received awards at the annual Indo-European Business Forum (IEBF) meet at the House of Lords complex in London. The 2024 IEBF Global Business Meet on Friday, themed as the ‘Viksit Bharat Investment Summit', was aimed at spotlighting the many business and investment opportunities offered by India's goal of moving towards a developed economy by 2047. Also Read | Relations with India Changed After August 5, Says Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Mohammed Touhid Hossain. "To me, the thing that ties the UK and India together most closely is that we are two countries chasing the future," said Kanishka Narayan, the Welsh Indian Labour MP who recently returned from a visit to India as part of a parliamentary delegation for bilateral exchanges. "As we talk about the Viksit Bharat vision of a developed India to 10x (10 times) its GDP over the course of the period from now until 2047, the government's primary mission here (in the UK) is economic growth... so the interest we have is a deeply shared interest. The symmetry of what we are trying to do is pretty complete," he said. Also Read | Pakistan Government and PTI Spar Over Casualties, Fresh Row Over Plans To Ban Imran Khan's Party. Among those honoured at the event, Ashesh Jani, Co-founder and CEO of Ribbon Plc, named Fintech of the Year for his efforts to "support millions of Indian students and professionals navigating the complexities of international financial systems". Shreeram Iyer collected the Global Firm of the Year award as Chairman and CEO of Prisma.ai for "revolutionising the field of AI-driven visual recognition, providing cutting-edge solutions for image and video analysis". Narnolia, one of India's leading firms in fund management, investment advisory, and investment banking, was awarded the Top Fund Manager of the Decade, while Manish Tiwari was named British Indian of the Year for his promotional efforts within the India-UK corridor through his firm Here and Now 365. "This year's event comes against the backdrop of Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi announcing the relaunch of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks, which IBEF has been engaging with and is hopeful that a deal will be signed by next year," said IEBF Founder Vijay Goel. "The goal of our forum, launched in 2007, is to build on the vision of a 'new strategic partnership' between India and the UK focusing on security, education, technology and climate change and also promote Prime Minister Modi's Viksit Bharat mission across Europe. "Economic partnerships thrive on trust and shared understanding and this annual event is designed to foster that trust across sectors," he said. Also, at the event Karnataka's labour minister Santosh Lad made a special pitch for his state as a prime investment destination with its investor-friendly policies. "Karnataka is a great opportunity because we stand number one in IT; it has great potential, with a ready skill set waiting for you," he said. Hosted by British Indian peer Baroness Sandy Verma, as a key member of the IEBF Advisory Board, the event brought together a range of parliamentarians, diplomats and business chiefs. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)