n the week leading up to people receiving retirement support, as well as will receive payments for the months of November and December that are a relief for a season of rising prices and inflation in the shopping season. For many payments were disbursed as early as October, but the November schedule has a different payment cycle than the rest of the year. In fact, the scheduled payments for November 1, specifically for: This is because payments scheduled for November 3 are normally brought forward when they fall on a weekend. This benefit applies to both and , so beneficiaries can expect their payments on November 1, 13, 20 or 27, depending on their circumstances, while will receive their December payment as early as November 29, an advantage for holiday shopping. Payments will be applied to retirees, people with disabilities and recipients of . Meanwhile, the has scheduled an additional payment for Friday, November 29 that will benefit 7.5 million SSI recipients. Social Security bonus payments before Black Friday In addition to the November 1 payment, there are three other payment dates scheduled in November for retirees and SSDI beneficiaries. These payments are based on the beneficiary's birthday, ensuring that everyone receives their check before Black Friday, which this year will fall on November 29. Here is the payment schedule for November: Many will receive their December payment on , November 29, because December 1 also falls on a Sunday, causing the to bring payments forward a few days earlier than usual. For many retirees, the average payment will be around $1,920, while high-income retirees can expect payments of up to $4,873. Whatever the amount, it will be a relief for the holiday season, especially for those whose resources make them feel the effects of inflation more acutely. However, the authority reminds beneficiaries that these payments are advanced, so it is necessary to manage them correctly to reach comfortably until the next payment, without having to resort to credit cards, otherwise the effect will be counterproductive to the objective of these payments, in a context of rising prices. Setting aside a portion of your payment is critical to covering holiday shopping or even essential purchases. Keeping track of your payments will help you better plan your additional purchases for both and the holiday season, but consider that this is not a bonus or an additional payment.
President Donald Trump's recent statements regarding the situation in Ukraine have caused quite a stir, with President Volodymyr Zelensky now responding to Trump's claims. In a recent press conference, Zelensky revealed the actual death toll of Ukrainian military personnel in the ongoing conflict, which has raised questions about the accuracy of Trump's comments.In conclusion, while the recommended 7 hours of sleep for adults is a helpful guideline, it is important to recognize that individual sleep needs can vary. Factors such as age, lifestyle, and health conditions all play a role in determining how much sleep a person requires. By paying attention to their own sleep patterns and prioritizing quality rest, individuals can ensure that they are getting the amount of sleep that is best for them. Remember, 7 hours of sleep may not be suitable for everyone, so listen to your body and adjust your sleep routine accordingly.
Campaign finance records show Harris' $1 million payment to Oprah's production companyTULSA, Okla. (AP) — Michael Jacobs' 19 points off of the bench helped lead Southern to a 70-66 victory over Tulsa on Saturday. Jacobs shot 7 of 15 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Jaguars (4-4). Cam Amboree added 10 points while going 3 of 5 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) while they also had five rebounds. Derrick Tezeno shot 4 of 6 from the field to finish with 10 points. The Golden Hurricane (4-6) were led by Keaston Willis, who recorded 23 points and seven rebounds. Tyshawn Archie added 17 points, four assists and two blocks for Tulsa. Ian Smikle also had 11 points and eight rebounds. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
"I have returned," he declared, his words ringing with a sense of determination and purpose. "The road may have been long and arduous, but I stand before you today with renewed vigor and enthusiasm. The challenges we face may be great, but so too are the opportunities that lie ahead."
NoneCHATHAM, N.J. (AP) — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey? It’s unclear if it’s drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward. Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving, reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights. This week seems to have begun a new, higher-profile chapter: (but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what’s behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X. But perhaps the most fantastic development is the dizzying proliferation of conspiracies — none of which has been confirmed or suggested by federal and state officials who say they’re looking into what’s happening. It has become shorthand to refer to the flying machines as drones, but there are questions about whether what people are seeing are unmanned aircraft or something else. Some theorize the drones came from an Iranian mothership. Others think they are the Secret Service making sure President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property is secure. Others worry about China. The deep state. And on. In the face of uncertainty, people have done what they do in 2024: Create a social media group. The Facebook page, , has nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. People are posting their photo and video sightings, and the online commenters take it from there. One video shows a whitish light flying in a darkened sky, and one commenter concludes it’s otherworldly. “Straight up orbs,” the person says. Others weigh in to say it’s a plane or maybe a satellite. Another group called for hunting the drones literally, shooting them down like turkeys. (Do not shoot at anything in the sky, experts warn.) Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings. She said she first posted photos online last month wondering what the objects were and became convinced they were drones when she saw how they moved and when her son showed her on a flight tracking site that no planes were around. Now she’s glued to the Mystery Drones page, she said. “I find myself — instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning my house — checking it,” she said. She doesn’t buy what the governor said, that Murphy told Biden on Friday that residents need answers. The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” “How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.” Then there’s the notion that people could misunderstand what they’re seeing. William Austin is the president of Warren County Community College, which has a drone technology degree program, and is coincidentally located in one of the sighting hotspots. Austin says he has looked at videos of purported drones and that airplanes are being misidentified as drones. He cited an optical effect called parallax, which is the apparent shift of an object when viewed from different perspectives. Austin encouraged people to download flight and drone tracker apps so they can better understand what they’re looking at. Nonetheless, people continue to come up with their own theories. “It represents the United States of America in 2024,” Austin said. “We’ve lost trust in our institutions, and we need it.” Federal officials echo Austin’s view that many of the sightings are piloted aircraft such as planes and helicopters being mistaken for drones, according to lawmakers and Murphy. That’s not really convincing for many, though, who are homing in on the sightings beyond just New Jersey and the East Coast, where others have reported seeing the objects. For Seph Divine, 34, another member of the drone hunting group who lives in Eugene, Oregon, it feels as if it’s up to citizen sleuths to solve the mystery. He said he tries to be a voice of reason, encouraging people to fact check their information, while also asking probing questions. “My main goal is I don’t want people to be caught up in the hysteria and I also want people to not just ignore it at the same time,” he said. “Whether or not it’s foreign military or some secret access program or something otherworldly, whatever it is, all I’m saying is it’s alarming that this is happening so suddenly and so consistently for hours at a time,” he added. ___ Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report. Mike Catalini, The Associated Press
By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares edged lower on Monday as high Treasury yields challenged lofty Wall Street equity valuations while underpinning the U.S. dollar near multi-month peaks. Volumes were light with the New Year holiday looming and a rather bare data diary this week. China has the PMI factory surveys out on Tuesday, while the U.S. ISM survey for December is due on Friday. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.2%, but is still 16% higher for the year. Japan's Nikkei eased 0.2%, but is sitting on gains of 20% for 2024. South Korea's main index has not been so fortunate, having run into a storm of political uncertainty in recent weeks, and is saddled with losses of more than 9% for the year. It was last off 0.35%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures were both off 0.1%. Wall Street suffered a broad-based sell off on Friday with no obvious trigger, though volumes were just two-thirds of the daily average. .[.N] The S&P 500 is still up 25% for the year and the Nasdaq 31%, which is stretching valuations when compared to the risk-free return of Treasuries. Investors are counting on earnings per share growth of just over 10% in 2025, versus a 12.47% expected rise in 2024, according to LSEG data. Yet yields on 10-year Treasuries are near eight-month highs at 4.631% and ending the year around 75 basis points above where they started it, even though the Fed delivered 100 basis points of cuts to cash rates. "The continued rise in bond yields, driven by the reassessment of less restrictive monetary policy expectations, creates some concern," said Quasar Elizundia, a research strategist at broker Pepperstone. "The possibility that the Fed may keep restrictive monetary policy for longer than expected could temper corporate earnings growth expectations for 2025, which could in turn influence investment decisions." Bond investors may also be wary of burgeoning supply as President-elect Donald Trump is promising tax cuts with few concrete proposals for restraining the budget deficit. Trump is expected to release at least 25 executive orders when he takes office on Jan. 20, covering a range of issues from immigration to energy and crypto policy. Widening interest rate differentials have kept the U.S. dollar in demand, giving it gains of 6.5% for the year on a basket of major currencies. The euro has lost more than 5% on the dollar so far in 2024 to last stand at $1.0429, not far from its recent two-year trough of $1.0344. The dollar held near a five-month top on the yen at 157.71, with only the risk of Japanese intervention preventing another test of the 160.00 barrier. The strength of the dollar has been something of a burden for gold prices, though the metal is still 28% higher for the year so far at $2,624 an ounce. [GOL/] Oil has had a tougher year as concerns about demand, particularly from China, kept a lid on prices and forced OPEC to repeatedly extend a deal to limit supplies. [O/R] Brent fell 37 cents to $73.80 a barrel, while U.S. crude lost 17 cents to $70.43 per barrel. (Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)It is imperative that individuals educate themselves about the dangers of car loan fraud and remain vigilant against deceptive practices. By staying informed and questioning offers that seem too good to be true, individuals can protect themselves from falling victim to these insidious schemes.CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tate McCubbin had 20 points and Austin Peay cruised to a 93-46 victory over Brescia on Sunday. McCubbin also contributed eight rebounds for the Governors (5-8). Anton Brookshire scored 15 points while going 5 of 13 (5 for 12 from 3-point range). Isaac Haney went 5 of 9 from the field (4 for 8 from 3-point range) to finish with 14 points. The win broke a six-game slide for the Governors. Damian Garcia led the way for the Bearcats with 17 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Shaken Pep Guardiola admits title race could be over NEXT WEEK as ‘fragile’ Man City suffer fifth defeat in a rowPITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby will take the help. Make that the helper . But it was a victory, not staking claim to another of Mario Lemieux’s franchise records, that mattered most to Crosby on Sunday night. Thanks in no small part to his historic assist early in the second period, Crosby’s Penguins downed the New York Islanders 3-2 at PPG Paints Arena. This victory doesn’t undo a loss to the Islanders in New York on Saturday night, but it does allow the Penguins to finish the calendar year with momentum. Advertisement The Penguins are 10-4-1 dating to Thanksgiving Eve when they sat at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Their winning ways have reinserted the Penguins into the Stanley Cup playoffs picture, and they’ll wrap up 2024 against the Red Wings , tied for last in the Eastern Conference, in Detroit on Tuesday night. Crosby’s top priority is returning his Penguins to the postseason after a two-year absence. He’s driven to win more than collect individual accolades. Still, it’s momentous when a Penguin does one better than Lemieux at anything. Crosby has made a career of doing exactly that. “Honestly, I don’t think about it a whole lot,” Crosby said on Sunday night. “I appreciate those moments probably more and more. But so far as looking at the lists and all that, it’s not something I think about. “I have a lot of appreciation for what the guys have done — especially Mario, what he means to the city, the organization. But all the guys who have played prior to me, it’s really nice to be part of that company.” SIDNEY STANDS ALONE! Congratulations on becoming the Penguins' all-time assist leader, Captain 👏 pic.twitter.com/TLRYFq70hH — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 29, 2024 Crosby joked on Sunday night that he needed “what, like, 500 more games” than Lemieux to establish a Penguins record for assists. Not quite that many, but point taken. Lemieux’s talent is perhaps unmatched. The same may be true of Crosby’s doggedness. The Penguins have retired only three numbers. Lemieux’s 66 is one. There is only one statue of a hockey player in Pittsburgh. It’s of Lemieux. Crosby’s No. 87 will one day hang from the rafters wherever the Penguins play their home games. At the outdoor plaza where Lemieux’s statue stands, a spot is reserved for one to honor Crosby. They are forever linked, with Crosby having succeeded Lemieux as Penguins captain a couple of seasons after playing alongside him. Yet they are not equals, even if Crosby has inched closer to Lemieux in terms of adoration in Pittsburgh than any reasonable person would have thought possible. Advertisement Unless he leads a group to buy the Penguins out of a third bankruptcy and becomes a player-owner after retiring for three-plus seasons, Crosby will never fully skate out of Lemieux’s Paul Bunyan-like shadow. However, Crosby is casting a wide shadow of his own for the Penguins — so large that supplanting Lemieux as the Penguins’ assists leader long ago seemed a foregone conclusion. Lemieux predicted Crosby would break each of his franchise records a few days after Crosby’s first assist — a primary helper on a Mark Recchi power-play goal against the Devils in New Jersey on Oct. 5, 2005. As if deemed serendipitous by the hockey gods, Crosby’s first and record assists for the Penguins were both the primary on a goal scored by a player wearing the No. 8. All these years later — seasons that delivered three Cup wins and an NHL Awards haul, but also a larger chunk of his prime wiped out because of injuries — Crosby’s 1,034th assist also came on a power play. On this one, he won a puck battle behind the net and quickly backhanded a pass to Michael Bunting , whose sure shot was never in danger of being denied by the Islanders’ Marcus Hogberg . Assist 1,034... a work of art. pic.twitter.com/on0qQTWiFp — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 30, 2024 Coach Mike Sullivan deadpanned “I think so” when pressed about whether he had seen similar setups by Crosby. “He’s one of the best players ever to play on his backhand,” Sullivan said. “He makes so many plays on his backhand. He’s just so creative.” It looked as though many among a holiday crowd began to stand in anticipation as the puck went from Crosby to Bunting. Few fans are more adept at celebrating individual greatness as those of the Penguins, one of only three non-Original Six franchises with four 1,000-point scorers — not to mention 15 individual scoring champions. In Pittsburgh, they know when something special is about to happen. They know because they’ve witnessed Lemieux and Crosby regularly make the extraordinary look ordinary. The two greatest players in franchise history have captivated generations in succession while rewriting the record books in Pittsburgh. Advertisement So when Bunting’s shot ended up behind Hogberg at 1:36 of the second period on Sunday night, fans recognized the significance of the moment. The same was true of those on the ice with Crosby, including Evgeni Malkin , who appeared to enjoy the milestone more than his close friend. Crosby often comes off as nonplussed after moving up the NHL scoring charts. The times when he’s topped something Lemieux accomplished for the Penguins have garnered less muted reactions, but Crosby has typically resisted getting caught up in a moment of his own. There are exceptions. He teared up during the pandemic during a pregame ceremony honoring his 1,000th game. There were no waterworks Sunday night, though a loud ovation that followed public address announcer Ryan Mill noting the achievement did not go unnoticed by Crosby. “Definitely appreciate it,” Crosby said. “I’ve had some special moments here at home over the years. To get that kind of reception ... it means a lot.” Sid gets a standing ovation from the Penguins faithful as they announce his record-breaking assist 🍎👏 pic.twitter.com/dD1cwf7AbA — Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 29, 2024 The moment merited a statement from Lemieux, who chimes in on matters about as often as it snows in South Florida. “I want to congratulate Sid on setting the team’s assist record,” Lemieux said in a post on the Penguins’ social media accounts. “He’s an amazing player and we’re so fortunate to have him in Pittsburgh. I look forward to even more great things from him.” Crosby signed a two-year extension with the Penguins in September, only a few days before training camp opened. He has vowed to play only for the Penguins, and his contract should allow him to pass Lemieux’s marks for goals (690) and points (1,723). After Sunday night, Crosby needs 89 goals and 88 points to become the Penguins’ all-time leader in each category. Advertisement Despite a slow start to this season, Crosby has been no stranger to milestone moments. He recorded his 1,600th point and 600th goal in home games. Crosby’s pursuit of those marks has resulted in his parents, Troy and Trina, again becoming regulars at Penguins games. They were here for the assist record, and Crosby said he would give the puck to his father, who was a mainstay in Pittsburgh in his son’s early seasons. Crosby, of course, spent those seasons living in Lemieux’s guest house. The Kid who became The Man for a generation of hockey fans in and outside of Pittsburgh, Crosby’s intensity contrasts with Lemieux’s laissez-faire personality. Eddie Johnston, who drafted and coached Lemieux (and played with Bobby Orr), said Crosby “of course is right there with those guys.” “Mario, Orr, (Wayne) Gretzky, (Jean) Béliveau, and Sid,” Johnston said. “I don’t care what order if you’re talking about the greatest players, boy, it’s those five guys. “What’s special here in Pittsburgh is Mario and Sid are Penguins. They’re ours.” (Photo: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)
Key pivot foreseen in macro strategy
UCF will attempt to shake off a dreadful offensive performance when it collides with LSU on Sunday afternoon in the third-place game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The Knights (4-1) couldn't get anything going against No. 19 Wisconsin on Friday, going 21-for-62 from the field (33.9 percent) and just 2-for-17 from 3-point range (11.8 percent) en route to an 86-70 loss. Jordan Ivy-Curry finished with 13 points while Keyshawn Hall and Dior Johnson added 11 apiece for UCF, which never led and fell behind by as many as 23. Knights coach Johnny Dawkins is hoping that his team's struggles don't carry over into the meeting with the Tigers (4-1). "We have to do better offensively," Dawkins said. "We have to space the floor better. We have to balance our offense between our perimeter and our bigs. Those are things that we didn't do consistently (on Friday)." LSU also needs to clean things up after committing 15 turnovers in a 74-63 setback against Pitt on Friday. Tigers forward Jalen Reed doesn't believe giving the ball away will be a lingering issue. "I feel like a lot of our turnovers were more on us than them," Reed said. "I feel like a lot of the turnovers were careless, but we're a better team than that and I feel like we'll take care of the ball better moving forward." Reed and Vyctorius Miller each posted 14 points in the loss to the Panthers, with Reed also hauling in seven rebounds. Cam Carter chipped in 11 points. Carter is putting up a team-leading 16.4 points per game. Jordan Sears (12.0 points per game), Reed (11.0) and Miller (10.2) also have scoring averages in double figures. Ivy-Curry (16.8 points per game), Hall (16.2) and Darius Johnson (13.0) have been leading the way for UCF. Sunday marks the first-ever meeting between the Knights and Tigers. --Field Level MediaTORONTO — The Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts signed American running back Kevin Brown on Friday. The five-foot-nine, 205-pound Brown rushed for 522 yards on 101 carries in 12 games last season with the Edmonton Elks. He added 22 catches for 138 yards before finishing the '24 campaign on the CFL club's practice roster. In 2023, Brown ran for 1,141 yards and four TDs with Edmonton. He also had 28 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown. Brown, 28, spent three seasons with the Elks, running for 2,149 yards (six-yard average) and five TDs. He added 74 catches for 536 yards and a touchdown in 37 regular-season games. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. The Canadian PressNone
At the same time, tapping into the full potential of individuals and organizations is crucial for achieving breakthroughs and advancements. By providing opportunities for people to showcase their talents and skills, organizations can benefit from fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a heightened sense of motivation. This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity, creativity, and overall success.EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Babacar Faye's 19 points helped Western Kentucky defeat Evansville 79-65 on Saturday. Faye had 12 rebounds for the Hilltoppers (5-3). Don McHenry scored 17 points and added three steals. Julius Thedford shot 4 for 7 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line to finish with 16 points. The Purple Aces (3-6) were led by Cameron Haffner, who posted 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Gabriel Pozzato added 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals for Evansville. Tayshawn Comer finished with 12 points. Western Kentucky used a 10-0 run in the second half to build a 14-point lead at 55-41 with 12:30 remaining before finishing off the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .