Indian Railways to launch first hydrogen train trials in December
Andy Murray enters new chapter with Novak Djokovic as coach of long-time rivalKashmir, endowed with rich natural resources and breathtaking landscapes, is uniquely positioned to harness renewable energy. With abundant sunlight, flowing rivers, and favorable wind conditions, the region holds vast potential for renewable energy production. Strategic investments in these resources could transform Kashmir into a hub of sustainable economic growth, providing employment opportunities and resilience for its people. My vision for Kashmir centers on seizing this opportunity to foster economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and social progress. Government Policies: Laying the Foundation for Renewable Growth Renewable energy has been identified as a cornerstone of India’s broader energy strategy, and Jammu & Kashmir stands to benefit immensely from this focus. The National Solar Mission aims to capitalize on the region’s abundant sunshine, while the Hydro Energy Policy emphasizes harnessing the power of Kashmir’s rivers for clean electricity. At the state level, initiatives such as subsidies for solar installations and public-private partnerships reflect a commitment to fostering renewable growth and making sustainable energy accessible to all. Despite these policies, there remain challenges in bringing renewable projects to fruition, primarily due to logistical issues and implementation delays. These obstacles, however, are not insurmountable, and with increased focus on localized execution, the potential for renewable energy adoption in Kashmir is boundless. Solar and Hydropower: Pillars of Sustainability in Kashmir The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) has recently taken significant strides towards solarisation by issuing e-tenders for installing 344 MW of solar rooftop plants across the Union Territory. This includes 70 MW for 8,548 government buildings under Capex mode and 238 MW for 9,877 buildings under RESCO mode. To date, 36 MW of solar capacity has already been installed, marking meaningful progress in the region’s renewable energy journey. These developments underscore the region’s potential to lead in solar power production and serve as a model for renewable energy adoption. Hydropower continues to be a cornerstone of Kashmir’s renewable energy potential. The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy announced that the energy deficit in Jammu & Kashmir has dropped from 17.8% in 2018-19 to just 1.5% in 2023-24, thanks to ongoing renewable energy projects. Four major hydroelectric projects—Kiru (624 MW), Ratle (850 MW), Kwar (540 MW), and Karnah (12 MW)—have been launched since 2019, with a combined capacity of 2,026 MW. Over the next 8 to 10 years, an additional 7,000 MW of hydropower capacity is expected to be added, significantly boosting the region’s energy security and economic prospects. The Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC) has also generated over 48,808 million units of energy since 2014-15 from 13 hydropower projects. This focus on hydropower is not only transforming the local energy landscape but also creating jobs in economically underdeveloped areas, contributing to the socio-economic development of the region. While existing hydroelectric plants contribute to the local grid, there remains vast potential for expansion. A focus on micro-hydel projects could provide reliable electricity to remote villages, ensuring energy access even in the most isolated areas. Public-private partnerships and investments will be pivotal in scaling these solar and hydro initiatives to meet both local and regional energy needs. E-Rickshaws: Green Mobility and Economic Empowerment One of the initiatives I have spearheaded through KYARI (Kashmir’s Yumberzal Applied Research Institute) is the introduction of e-rickshaws in Srinagar, in collaboration with Stairs – Empowering Youth. This project promotes sustainable transportation while uplifting economically disadvantaged communities. E-rickshaws, powered by renewable energy, provide an eco-friendly alternative to conventional vehicles, significantly reducing emissions and contributing to a cleaner, healthier urban environment. Beyond transportation, the e-rickshaw initiative is a powerful tool for social empowerment, providing livelihoods to economically marginalized individuals. Many young people have seized this opportunity, securing stable incomes while contributing to a greener Kashmir. This initiative is a testament to the dual impact of renewable energy—addressing environmental concerns while driving economic empowerment—and highlights the transformative potential of community-driven green solutions. Empowering Women and Youth: The Heart of Renewable Growth For renewable energy to truly benefit the people of Kashmir, it must be inclusive. At KYARI, we have focused on ensuring that women and youth are at the center of these renewable projects. Empowering women through initiatives like community solar installations is crucial to transforming their economic status and enabling them to participate in the decision-making process within their households. In the past year, we have seen women leading solar initiatives, training others in maintenance, and forming cooperatives to sustain these projects. Similarly, the youth of Kashmir hold immense potential, and renewable energy projects present them with the opportunity to develop skills, engage in meaningful work, and build a sustainable future. From training in solar panel installations to participating in micro-hydel projects, young people have taken charge of their economic destiny, showcasing resilience and creativity. Challenges on the Path to Renewable Energy Adoption While the opportunities are vast, implementing renewable energy projects in Kashmir is not without its challenges. Logistical challenges pose a significant hurdle. The mountainous terrain and difficulty in accessing remote areas make transporting materials and building infrastructure a complex task. Connectivity issues further hinder the implementation of large-scale projects in the valley, particularly in villages that are not easily accessible. Financial challenges are also a key concern. Funding renewable projects requires a concerted effort from both public and private sectors. Limited access to financing options and high upfront costs are significant barriers for smaller players who wish to contribute to the renewable energy landscape. Addressing these financial barriers with subsidies, incentives, and favorable loan schemes is essential to driving growth in this sector. Policy implementation gaps also present a challenge. Although there are several policies aimed at fostering renewable energy, the gap between policy formulation and on-ground implementation often results in stalled projects. Streamlined, effective execution is necessary for these policies to bring about tangible change in the region. Opportunities Ahead: Charting the Course for Renewable Growth The future of renewable energy in Kashmir is filled with opportunities, and the roadmap to realizing this potential will require coordinated efforts. Increased collaboration between the government and private sectors can catalyze the growth of renewable energy, providing the needed capital and technological expertise. Moreover, emerging technologies such as advanced solar panels, efficient battery storage, and smart grid systems hold promise for making renewable energy projects more viable and scalable. Cross-border renewable energy trade could also be a future possibility for Kashmir. Sharing renewable energy resources with neighboring regions would not only bolster local economies but also foster a spirit of cooperation and mutual growth. By investing in research and development, the region can innovate and find unique solutions to the challenges faced in implementing renewable energy. Realizing a Sustainable Future for Kashmir Harnessing renewable energy is an opportunity to transform Kashmir’s economy, environment, and society. It is a path to sustainability, resilience, and inclusive growth. By focusing on solar, hydroelectric, and green transportation initiatives such as e-rickshaws, we can pave the way for a future where Kashmir thrives not only as a beautiful tourist destination but also as a beacon of sustainable development. Together, by working across sectors and embracing innovative approaches, we can make renewable energy the foundation of a prosperous and self-sufficient Kashmir—a place where opportunities are limitless, and progress is shared by all. About the Author Arhan Bagati is a distinguished Kashmiri Pandit and a prominent figure in social work and public policy, focusing on the development of Jammu & Kashmir. He has a notable academic background, with studies at Pomona College, the University of Cambridge, and currently at Harvard, pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy. Arhan’s leadership extends beyond academia, particularly through his role as the Awareness and Impact Ambassador for the Paralympic Committee of India, and as the founder of KYARI, which addresses critical issues in Kashmir, from education to sustainable development.Autonomix Medical, Inc. Announces Closing of $10.0 Million Underwritten Public Offering Including Partial Exercise of Over-Allotment Option
By James Royal, Ph.D., Bankrate.com Cryptocurrencies are enormously volatile, but that volatility can create opportunities for profit if you’re looking to trade these digital assets. Cryptos such as Bitcoin and Ethereum have risen a lot since their debut — but they’ve also experienced tremendous boom-bust cycles along the way. Experienced traders have been speculating on cryptocurrencies for years, but how can you get started if you’re new to the crypto market? Here’s how to start investing in cryptocurrency and the significant risks you need to watch out for. First things first, if you’re looking to invest in crypto, you need to have all your finances in order. That means having an emergency fund in place, a manageable level of debt and ideally a diversified portfolio of investments . Your crypto investments can become one more part of your portfolio, one that helps raise your total returns, hopefully. Pay attention to these five other things as you’re starting to invest in cryptocurrencies. 1. Understand what you’re investing in As you would for any investment, understand exactly what you’re investing in. If you’re buying stocks, it’s important to read the annual report and other SEC filings to analyze the companies thoroughly. Plan to do the same with any cryptocurrencies , since there are literally thousands of them, they all function differently and new ones are being created every day. You need to understand the investment case for each trade. In the case of many cryptocurrencies , they’re backed by nothing at all, neither hard assets nor cash flow of an underlying entity. That’s the case for Bitcoin , for example, where investors rely exclusively on someone paying more for the asset than they paid for it. In other words, unlike stock, where a company can grow its profits and drive returns for you that way, many crypto assets must rely on the market becoming more optimistic and bullish for you to profit. Some of the most popular coins include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana , Dogecoin and Tether (a stablecoin) . So before investing, understand the potential upside and downside. If your financial investment is not backed by an asset or cash flow, it could end up being worth nothing. 2. Remember, the past is past A mistake that many new investors make is looking at the past and extrapolating that to the future. Yes, Bitcoin used to be worth pennies, but now is worth much more . The key question, however, is “Will that growth continue into the future, even if it’s not at quite that meteoric rate?” Investors look to the future, not to what an asset has done in the past. What will drive future returns? Traders buying a cryptocurrency today need tomorrow’s gains, not yesterday’s. 3. Watch that volatility The prices of cryptocurrencies are about as volatile as an asset can get. They could drop quickly in seconds on nothing more than a rumor that ends up proving baseless. That can be great for sophisticated investors who can execute trades rapidly or who have a solid grasp on the market’s fundamentals, how the market is trending and where it could go. For new investors without these skills — or the high-powered algorithms that direct these trades — it’s a minefield. Volatility is a game for high-powered Wall Street traders, each of whom is trying to outgun other deep-pocketed investors. A new investor can easily get crushed by the volatility. That’s because volatility shakes out traders, especially beginners, who get scared. Meanwhile, other traders may step in and buy on the cheap. In short, volatility can help sophisticated traders “buy low and sell high” while inexperienced investors “buy high and sell low.” 4. Manage your risk If you’re trading any asset on a short-term basis, you need to manage your risk , and that can be especially true with volatile assets such as cryptocurrency. So as a newer trader, you’ll need to understand how best to manage risk and develop a process that helps you mitigate losses. And that process can vary from individual to individual: Newer traders should consider setting aside a certain amount of trading money and then using only a portion of it, at least at first. If a position moves against them, they’ll still have money in reserve to trade with later. The ultimate point is that you can’t trade if you don’t have any money. So keeping some cash in reserve means you’ll always have a bankroll to fund your trading. It’s important to manage risk, but that will come at an emotional cost. Selling a losing position hurts, but doing so can help you avoid worse losses later. 5. Don’t invest more than you can afford to lose Finally, it’s important to avoid putting money that you need into speculative assets. If you can’t afford to lose it — all of it — you can’t afford to put it into risky assets such as cryptocurrency, or other speculative assets, for that matter. Whether it’s a down payment for a house or an important upcoming purchase, money that you need in the next few years should be kept in safe accounts so that it’s there when you need it. And if you’re looking for an absolutely sure return, your best option is to pay off high-interest debt. You’re guaranteed to earn (or save) whatever interest rate you’re paying on the debt. You can’t lose there. Finally, don’t overlook the security of any exchange or broker you’re using. You may own the assets legally, but someone still has to secure them, and their security needs to be tight. If they don’t think their cryptocurrency is properly secured, some traders choose to invest in a crypto wallet to hold their coins offline so they’re inaccessible to hackers or others. Remember that investing in cryptocurrency can be part of a broader investment strategy, but shouldn’t be your only one. While investing directly in cryptocurrency is popular, traders have other ways to get into the crypto game, some more directly than others. These include: Each of these methods varies in its riskiness and exposure to cryptocurrency, so you’ll want to understand exactly what you’re buying and whether it fits your needs. How much money do I need to start investing in cryptocurrency? In theory it takes only a few dollars to invest in cryptocurrency. Most crypto exchanges, for example, have a minimum trade that might be $5 or $10. Other crypto trading apps might have a minimum that’s even lower. However, it’s important to understand that some trading platforms will take a huge chunk of your investment as a fee if you’re trading small amounts of cryptocurrency. So it’s important to look for a broker or exchange that minimizes your fees. In fact, many so-called “free” brokers embed fees — called spread mark-ups — in the price you pay for your cryptocurrency. How does a blockchain work? Cryptocurrency is based on blockchain technology . Blockchain is a kind of database that records and timestamps every entry into it. The best way to think of a blockchain is like a running receipt of transactions. When a blockchain database powers cryptocurrency, it records and verifies transactions in the currency, verifying the currency’s movements and who owns it. Many crypto blockchain databases are run with decentralized computer networks. That is, many redundant computers operate the database, checking and rechecking the transactions to ensure that they’re accurate. If there’s a discrepancy, the networked computers have to resolve it. How do you mine cryptocurrency? Some cryptocurrencies reward those who verify the transactions on the blockchain database in a process called mining. For example, miners involved with Bitcoin solve very complex mathematical problems as part of the verification process. If they’re successful, miners receive a predetermined award of Bitcoins. To mine Bitcoins , miners need powerful processing units that consume huge amounts of energy. Many miners operate gigantic rooms full of such mining rigs in order to extract these rewards. As of October 2024, running the Bitcoin system burned as much energy per year as the country of Poland. How can I invest in Bitcoin? If you’re looking to invest in Bitcoin, you have a variety of ways to do so, and you can work with a number of companies, including: If you’re looking to buy Bitcoin, pay particular attention to the fees that you’re paying. Here are other key things to watch out for as you’re buying Bitcoin . An altcoin is an alternative to Bitcoin. Many years ago, traders would use the term pejoratively. Since Bitcoin was the largest and most popular cryptocurrency, everything else was defined in relation to it. So, whatever was not Bitcoin was lumped into a catch-all category called altcoins . While Bitcoin is still the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization by far, it’s no longer the only game in town. Other altcoins such as Ethereum and Solana have grown in popularity, making the term altcoin somewhat outmoded. Now with a reported 15,000 or more cryptocurrencies in existence, it makes less sense than ever to define the industry as “Bitcoin and then everything else.” Cryptocurrency is a highly speculative area of the market, and many smart investors have decided to put their money elsewhere. For beginners who want to get started trading crypto, however, the best advice is to start small and only use money that you can afford to lose. Bankrate’s Brian Baker contributed to an update of this story. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
KyKy Tandy scored a season-high 21 points that included a key 3-pointer in a late second-half surge as Florida Atlantic roared back to beat Oklahoma State 86-78 on Thursday in the opening round of the Charleston Classic in Charleston, S.C. Florida Atlantic (4-2) advances to play Drake in the semifinal round on Friday while the Cowboys square off against Miami in the consolation semifinal contest, also Friday. Oklahoma State led by as many as 10 points in the first half before securing a five-point advantage at halftime. The Owls surged back and moved in front with four and a half minutes to play. It was part of an 11-1 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Tandy that made it 75-68 with 2:41 remaining. Ken Evans added 14 points for Florida Atlantic, with Leland Walker hitting for 13 and Tre Carroll scoring 11. The Owls went 35-of-49 from the free throw line as the teams combined for 56 fouls in the game, 33 by Oklahoma State. Khalil Brantley led Oklahoma State (3-1) with 16 points while Robert Jennings added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Cowboys, who hit one field goal over a 10-minute stretch of the second half while having three players foul out. The Owls were up by as many as seven points in the early minutes and by 13-10 after a layup by Carroll at the 11:32 mark of the first half. Oklahoma State leapfrogged to the front on Abou Ousmane's layup off a Brantley steal, fell behind again on a 3-pointer by Evans and then responded on a 3-pointer by Jennings to take a 17-16 lead. From there, the Cowboys stoked their advantage to double digits when Jamyron Keller canned a shot from beyond the arc with five minutes to play in the half. Florida Atlantic got a layup and a monster dunk from Matas Vokietaitis and a pair of free throws from Walker in a 6-2 run to end the half to pull within 39-34 at the break. Jennings and Ousmane tallied seven points apiece for Oklahoma State over the first 20 minutes, as the Cowboys led despite shooting just 33.3 percent from the floor in the half. Carroll and Vokietaitis scored seven points apiece to pace the Owls, who committed 11 turnovers that translated to seven points for Oklahoma State before halftime. --Field Level MediaGOG’s preservation program lets you keep playing games after they’re delisted1. A portable extendable power strip to save your technologically-dependent butt when you end up in a hotel with one (1) measly outlet. Even if it's an absurd distance from the bed, this will extend so your gadgets are all close by, and easily charge all of them at once. Promising review: "This is the best extension cord, especially for travel. It's compact and you can use plugs or USB with several ports. You'll never need a bunch of outlets again." — Paula A. Austin Get it from Amazon for $15.11 . 2. A weighted eye mask that's basically like a weighted blanket for your human eyes, designed to decrease stress and encourage ~deep sleep~. They also feature a 3D contour, so they're hollowed out in the middle and won't rest right on top of your eyes. Promising review : "Love these . These are soft and very comfortable, and they seriously black out every bit of ligh t. I love them. I would highly recommend. I’ll probably never sleep without them again." — AJ Get a pack of two from Amazon for $16.99 (available in seven sets). 3. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount designed for use on all airlines — not only can you mount it to the tray table of an airplane seat, but to the arm of a chair or any flat surface, so you'll be able to stream content easy as pie wherever you roam. Reviewers have used it on everything from their car dashboards to carry-on handles to office desks to bedside tables. Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go. Promising review : "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multi-leg, ultra-long-haul trip, and it more than held up the entire duration . I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes, and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table . It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers." — Earendil Get it from Amazon for $12.97 . 4. A newly-updated AirFly , a handy gadget you can use to connect your wireless headphones to the headphone jacks on flights so you can stream The Fault in Our Stars and bawl thousands of feet in the air again without dealing with the poor quality of the airline's headphones or shelling out $$ for them. Bonus: you can use these to connect to audio jacks on gym equipment and gaming devices, too! Here's what BuzzFeeder Chelsea Stuart has to say about them: "Last year I splurged on some AirPod Maxes and for the amount of money I threw down on them, I was determined to get as much use out of them as possible and that included on plane rides. With the AirFly Pro, I can connect my headphones via Bluetooth and use the seat-back screen without having to fiddle with the free wired headphones they hand out that 1.) have horrible sound quality and 2.) don't fit my ears in the slightest. (I swear my ear canals are tiny or something??)" Promising review : "I saw this on TikTok and bought it instantly for an upcoming trip. I wish I knew about this sooner so I could enjoy inflight entertainment without needed additional headphones. This allows for that, which is great. It works so well, my husband bought one as well. Highly recommend." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in four styles and two colors). 5. A set of feather-light, super durable compression packing cubes you can use to significantly decrease the bulk of your clothing to save space on trips. This particular set is a cut above the others because it comes with a mesh outside that allows you to see what's in each bag without popping them all open to find something. Pro-tip: When you use compression packing cubes, it's more effective to lay them flat than to roll them! It helps with the compression (and keeps your clothes from getting too wrinkled). Promising review : "These packing cubes helped to keep my clothing organized in my suitcase. They compressed my items and gave me a little more room in suitcase. They are mesh construction so you can see what is inside. Easy zippers. Expandable. Sturdy." — Mary Get a set of six from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four colors). 6. Plus a set of rainbow day-of-the-week packing cubes for mitigating some of the inevitable chaos of packing with kids, and help prevent any of their teensy wardrobe pieces from falling through the cracks on either end of the trip. (Psst — adults also use the larger size for their own outfits!) Promising review: "This is the coolest organizer for kids. The size is perfect for a standard carryon luggage. Helps kids put their outfits together, day by day, for travel. Super fun colors, great quality, easy flow zippers, and lightweight fabric. This makes it really easy for parents and starts the kids getting organized, at a young age . Get these, the kids will love it!" — Skylar James Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in two sizes). 7. A pair of investmentworthy Loop Quiet 2 "hidden" earplugs designed with traveling in mind — this newly updated version is lightweight and flexible for a barely there fit that still manages to effectively muffle noise, whether you're trying to get some shut-eye on a flight, focus during a work trip, or relax in a noisy city hotel. Psst — Loop makes a variety of "hidden" earplugs for concerts, focus, and even for kids. Check them all out on Loop's Amazon storefront ! Promising review : "These are my third pair of Loop earplugs . I like using them in the car, on planes, at concerts, in class, and while sleeping. This is my first pair of the silicone ones which were much more comfortable to sleep in which I appreciated. If you are more sensitive to noises, I definitely recommend keeping these on you." — Cash Tieman Get it from Amazon for $27.95 (available in ten colors). 8. Plus a set of silicone "EarPlanes" with a twist-on structure to help relieve pressure that hurts your ears during altitude changes during landing and takeoff. Reviewers also swear by these for driving through altitude changes in the mountains and for helping with sinus pressure pain! Promising review: "This product has changed my life. I travel fairly frequently and always have issues with ear pressure on the plane. My ears will be clogged up, and it is painful to swallow for a day or two after short-distance flights. But now, I use these and fly incident-free. You are supposed to insert them before the plane takes off and then before landing. I have found that it works best if I leave them in the entire flight from before takeoff until landing, but they work almost as well if you take them out once you reach cruising altitude. " — Thomasina Get it from Amazon for $7.29 (available in multipacks). 9. A set of affordable, highly popular wireless Bluetooth earbuds reviewers compare to AirPods, but better — not only are they noise cancelling and waterproof, but but you can listen to music during your flight, car ride, or even while you're sleeping *without* your ears feeling like they've been beaten up. These come equipped with several sizes of earbuds so you can get your perfect, painless fit. These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 14 hours of charge (with the earbuds able to play for four-plus hours with each full charge). The earbuds are also sweatproof and waterproof so you can use them during workouts or runs or even in the shower, and have a built-in mic so you can chat on the phone. Psst — these are also a great option for going outside in a mask, since they don't have wires that'll get tangled in the mask straps. Promising review: "So many things to rave about with these! Quality of the design and feel of these is amazing. I could literally wear these all night while on vacation with a roommate who snored, they were that comfortable and good at noise cancelling. I use these most often to listen to music and the sound quality is superb. I have a pair of AirPods that I was *thankfully* gifted and I hardly ever use them because they just aren't as good as my Tozos!" — Alexis Arnold Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in five colors). 10. A hands-free portable phone charger that sticks right onto your phone plug and chills there so easily that you might forget it's there in the first place. This mini charger is designed to give you one full iPhone battery per charge, making it a lifesaver for busy humans, particularly ones who love traveling. Check out a TikTok of the charger in action. Promising review: "I used these several times for the past year, traveling for business and leisure. It is always a challenge to find an outlet at the airport since some airports do not offer a charging station. Using those types can also be a security risk. That's why I love using these portable chargers. They are lightweight and fit in my travel handbag/or small backpack pocket. The portable chargers take about 30–35 minutes to fully charge if dead. Once charged, they charge fast and hold a charge for many hours." — J Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in six colors). 11. A magnetic folding pill organizer with conveniently visible pill windows for easy access. Each has six small compartments for little pills, plus a large compartment for capsules and vitamins, making it ideal for trips where you might need a lil' emergency pharmacy in your backpack but don't want to take up space. Promising review: "I purchased this because I saw them all over TikTok. As someone with chronic illness I honestly carry around like 10 different pill bottles for 'just in case' situations. This little pill box is a great size, I love that it’s magnetic and each little compartment fits a good amount of pills . It won’t fit a ton of Tums if that’s what you’re looking for, but the amount of space this has saved in my bag is amazing!" — Jasmin Salas Get it from Amazon for $7.99 . 12. A fully waterproof tricked out travel backpack complete with *deep breath* two laptop sleeves, a shoe compartment, a secret anti-theft pocket, a USB charging port, and a "wet bag" to keep sweaty clothes or liquids away from your tech. Oh, and it's cute as a BUTTON to boot. Who gave this backpack the right to flex on other backpacks this hard??? Promising review: "I recently took a cross-country flight with my three kids. I really didn't want to worry about checked bags getting lost so maximizing our carry-ons was a priority. This backpack fit an unfathomable amount of stuff! Lots of zippers and compartments for everything from shoes to laptops/iPads, easy access compartments for cell phones and boarding passes, I fit tons of neatly folded clothes. The best part was that fully loaded it easily slid under the seat." — Kindle Customer Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two sizes and 30 styles). 13. And a hanging cosmetic bag whose motto is "No beauty product left behind!!" This clear-pocketed compact bag fans out so you have all your beloved makeup and skincare at your disposal, converting any hotel bathroom into home sweet home. I will scream this thing's virtues on every corner of this earth. I used this on an eight-day international trip. It fit a veritable arsenal of products — all of my skincare, makeup, hair supplies, toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant were wedged in the different pockets, and still compacted easily and went right into my carryon backpack . It made setting up at the hotel a two-second process of hanging it up and having all my products instantly accessible to me and easy to put away. I cannot imagine traveling without it, especially now that I've used it on a multi-city trip where it was so handy to fold back up and take through multiple hotels. At one point, I forgot to properly close a lotion, and it exploded a bit, and the bag was super easy to clean from the inside! Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and 11 colors). 14. A set of delightfully ~~tingly~~ self-heating soothing foot masks made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint perfect for anyone whose step count while traveling is "too many." Now instead of dealing with aching feet all night, you can get ahead of the situation with some ~self-care~. Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. I'm a long-ish distance runner, and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and, after a few minutes, feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn't quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that, my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they're usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days! Promising review: "Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation, and they definitely felt good on our feet!" — KS2018 Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $14.37 . 15. A stainless steel Memobottle , a true travel MVP — these insulated, leakproof bottles come in four very specific sizes with a flat-shaped design to be packed as easily and efficiently as possible, based on your needs. It also features a flask-style mouthpiece designed for faster hydration, and is dishwasher-safe. Promising review : "I believe this has been my best purchase of 2023. This water bottle is well designed, holds water well and brings unnecessary attention but it’s welcomed 😈. It creates a different drinking experience and it’s unique yet awkward design fits in all bags. Even fits in my Vespa perfectly. I want to say the price is a little steep in my opinion, but after weeks of use, I get it." — Aaron V. Get it from Amazon for $49+ (clip the $6 off coupon on the product page for this price; available in two colors and four sizes). 16. A roll-on migraine stick made with peppermint, spearmint, and lavender oils to help you soothe away headaches, which frankly have a lot of audacity interrupting your travel plans. Basic Vigor is a US-based small business specializing in all-natural migraine relief products. Read more about aromatherapy and stress and tension at Johns Hopkins . Promising review: "I’ve had migraines all my life — I’m 31 now. I’ve been on all kinds of prescriptions that work, but make me so sleepy... I’ve been using this stick for one week now, and it’s amazing! I rubbed it on at the first hint of a headache/migraine and it takes care of it fast. I haven’t taken a prescription migraine since I started using it. " — Amanda Braswell Read BuzzFeed's review of the migraine stick for more deets! Get it from Amazon for $12.95 . 17. A digital luggage scale perfect for anyone who likes to play chicken with the weight limits on various airlines. This gizmo will quickly and accurately let you know in pounds *or* kilograms how much your suitcase weighs just by attaching it to the handle and lifting — no clunky floor scales required. Promising review: "I was looking for a lightweight luggage scale to ensure that when returning from vacation, my luggage was not overweight. This works amazing. Super lightweight and extremely accurate." — Taziree Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in seven styles and in a two pack). 18. A compressible memory foam pillow so you can feel like you're sleeping on a cloud in a 5-star resort even when you've booked a motel with a "pillow" that's older than you are. This even comes in a small camping version to keep the wilderness cozy! Suck it, cold hard ground. Promising review : "I bought this pillow for a very long airplane ride and wound up using it during the entire three-week trip. Seriously, it goes in and out of the little cover easily, and it made a real difference in my ability to rest on the trip. My husband is getting one now for our next trip. Get it! You won’t be disappointed." — Hattybrd Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in a camping size as well as Standard, Queen, and King sizes). 19. And a Vesta Loop travel pillow that's basically like a personalized pool noodle for your neck — this firm pillow twists (and stays PUT) to support you as evenly as possible, whether you're upright on a flight, conking out on the road, or need extra support when the hotel pillows aren't up to snuff. Promising review : "I’ve had the S-shaped flight pillow for a week now and have tried it in various situations. I've loved it! The S shape of this travel pillow distinguishes it from all other flight pillows. It can be easily adjusted to fit my needs so I can rest my head comfortably. Because of its S shape, the pillow is compact and can be easily folded to a smaller size and fits into my backpack. The material is very soft and of great quality. I’m excited to use it on my long-distance flight!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $59.40 (also available in three other styles). 20. A Benzene-free, travel-friendly applicator of I Dew Care's dry shampoo powder so easy to use that you can just dab it on your hairline and rub it in for an instant, oil-absorbing refresh. Now you don't have to waste nearly as much of your precious vacation time re-styling your hair! Check out a TikTok of the dry shampoo in action. Promising review: "I've had the best results from this dry shampoo than any other. It's a small container, but it lasts a very long time because a little really does go a long way! I also do this the night before so the powder-y look goes away by morning and it's more absorbed, you can also add a light oil to your ends and work it up if it feels too dry. There's no scent either and it is very convenient for travel! This is the only thing that still makes my hair look 'clean' on the no-hair-wash days !" — Alice Get it from Amazon for $18 (available in five shades, including brunette and black options, plus refills). 21. A subtle amber reading light that's 99.94% free of blue spectrum light — aka, the light that signals to your brain that it's daytime and keeps you up and attem. Now you can read your book at during the flight further without disrupting your circadian rhythms *or* bugging your neighbors with the harsh overhead. Promising review: "This is a fantastic light! I use it every evening to continue reading while my son sleeps, it does not wake him or impede my sleep after I’m ready to go to bed. Great product." — Brian Masters Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . 22. A pack of Alpine Start instant coffee packets so you always have a back-up plan in case you can't find a coffee shop near your hotel — these brew hot *and* cold, and taste so much like the "real thing" that you'll do a caffeinated double take after your first delicious sip. Alpine Start is a small business that specializes in instant coffee, lattes, matcha, and creamers. I'm picky about coffee, but I love these. I picked them up at the recommendation of a friend because the BuzzFeed Shopping Team wakes up long before dawn on Prime Days , and I knew I was going to want something quick and fast to guzzle to wake myself up. I wasn't expecting it to also be DELICIOUS?? I have made sure my pantry is stocked with it ever since, and I always take one traveling when I'm in hotels and don't know the lay of the land. Going out to get my coffee every morning is my favorite "treat" of the day, but this is so delicious that it cushions the blow on days I can't. Promising review: "Great product! Had both hot and with slightly coolish water, and both times it tasted great. Having a cup of coffee on the summit of a mountain was great, and adding in coffee that tastes good is even better! Will buy for future backpacking trips for sure." — Kelley Hemminger Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $9.99. 23. An Airplane Pocket tray cover that slides seamlessly over an airplane tray to create an instant, deeply convenient hub — this comes with a number of pockets so you can keep track of all your devices, snacks, and other odds and ends without rooting around for them in the gross back pocket or your carry-on the whole flight. Bonus: This bb is an excellent way to prevent touching a germ-y tray, and it's fully machine washable. Check out a TikTok of the Airplane Pockets tray table cover in action. Airplane Pockets is a small business that specializes in sanitary, portable travel organization products. I used this on a roundtrip from NYC to Tokyo, both with connecting flights in Canada, and cannot sing its praises enough. It fit all four of the different tray tables I used it on and was so ridiculously handy for keeping track of all my littler odds and ends like AirPods, the plane's headphones, earplugs, a sleep mask, a book, gum, a scrunchie, and little snacks. The hanging end of it easily tucked into the built-in sleeve of the seat in front of me for takeoff and when other passengers needed to scoot past me in my aisle seat. Usually, I feel like a hot mess and get frustrated rooting around in the grimy sleeve for my stuff, and this was such a refreshing solution! Several flight attendants even asked where I got it to buy one for themselves! Get it from Amazon for $29.99. 24. A UV-protective mini umbrella so compact and lightweight that you'll forget it's even in your bag until you need it. Take THAT, whoever keeps feeding the weather app lies about the chances of rain! Promising review: "Perfect, affordable, useful. Comes in attractive, carrying case. Has a protective sleeve. Opens to a good size." — Holly West Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in 15 colors). 25. A cup phone holder that basically turns your cup holder into a handy phone stand without any installation needed — perfect for drivers who are using their phone's map to navigate, or backseat humans just trying to stream 100+ episodes of The Office in peace. Cell Phone Seat is a small business that specializes in car accessories. It's specially designed to hold your phone vertically or horizontally, with space for a charger cable to fit! Promising review: "I love how it fits in my cup holder in my car and securely holds my phone at the perfect level. I also like that I can still be charging my phone and I can still put a bottle of water in the holder. This design is brilliant!" — Mocindy Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in nine styles and a two-pack). 26. And a cup holder tray you can snap into your car for some *instant* fast food luxury — now instead of eating your McDonald's out of your lap, you can set it on this tray and feel like a full-fledged human no matter how long you've been on the road. It even had a spot to hold your phone upright if you want to eat and stream something! Promising review: "Don’t hesitate. We’re retired and travel a lot from a few miles to many miles. This thing is so cool!!! Perfect, easy to install, secure, and I love the fact it holds my iPhone! Great item!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $29.90 . 27. An airplane footrest , because yes, it IS possible to sit comfortably on a plane — all you have to do is hook this onto the tray table, and boom, instant elevation (and a LOT less foot swelling to deal with post-flight!). Promising review: "This is a game changer when flying! Immediately takes the pressure off your legs and adds tons of comfort. I used it on an 11-hour red-eye flight for the first time and it was the best experience, aside from being in first class. Highly recommend! Even for short flights." — Isa V. Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three colors). 28. A set of homeopathic jet-lag pills to show all time zones and weary post-travel limbs who's boss. This doesn't have any side effects and won't mess with your *actual* attempts to sleep, but may help you feel more refreshed after long flights or (sighs deeply) red-eyes. According to the instructions, you should take them at take off and then every two hours and then again once you arrive to help with relaxation and combat sleepiness. Promising review: "I heard about this product from my cousin who used it for a trip to Japan and it was very effective. I used it for a trip to Washington, DC, that had a number of stops and delays — total of 15 hours to get to my destination. I was comfortable upon arrival. The next morning I was ready for a work day." — ELEANORE Get a pack of 32 pills from Amazon for $15.59 . 29. A bar of natural, plastic-free solid shampoo you can easily slide into your carry-on without worrying about it getting flagged at TSA *or* exploding mid-flight and drowning your laptop in Garnier Fructis. Promising review: "First time I bought this soap it was for traveling. Lugging around large bottles of shampoo for six people for a 4–6 week vacation is just not an option, and buying shampoo is sketchy since a couple of us have soap allergies. The little bar packs up perfectly in a little baggie and takes the smallest amount of luggage space. One bar washed six heads of hair for five weeks!! Every day!! Suds well and cleans well." — Dominique B. Get it from Amazon for $13.50+ (available in 14 scents). 30. A pair of compression socks for anyone whose feet and legs are prone to swelling on long flights — these are a chic solution to keep you ready for action once you land. Physix Gear Sport is a family-owned small business that specializes in gear for sports, travel, comfort, and business. Read more about compression socks and long flights at Cleveland Clinic . Promising review: "I have been traveling almost every week for business for the past six years and about five years in, I realized my legs would often hurt after some longer flights. I was told by my physician to try to wear compression socks while flying. After using this product for many months and wearing them on a few international flights, I have to say this is definitely worth the money! They are very comfortable and do not feel too suffocating while on longer flights." — Lopa Desai Get it from Amazon for $14.46+ (available in 13 colors and sizes S–XXL). 31. A durable bag strap gripper that not only keeps you hands-free when you've got extra shopping bags, jackets, and other accessories to cart around, but prevents you from forgetfully LEAVING said items in places where you will simply never see them again. (RIP to that one lost water bottle we're all still mourning.) Promising review: "I bought two straps to use for my trip. It was so worth it! It held my family's light jackets and kids travel neck pillow. We also used it to hold our water bottles on our hikes. I wish I knew about these sooner!" — Lisa H Get it from Amazon for $7.49+ (available in three colors). 32. A set of clear reusable shoe bags to keep the grime from your beloved sneakers and boots off your other clothes. This is especially handy if you've been somewhere muddy or rainy and don't have time to dry out your shoes before you head home! Promising review: "Love these! These are sturdy and large. I used them on a recent trip to pack boots and sneakers that I didn't want to touch my clothes. They also came in handy for putting in my backpack on hikes to keep food and drinks separate and safe from leaking . I used one for storing a wet bathing suit after a swim. So many uses and take up little space!" — Amazon Customer Get a pack of five for $5.80 (available in four colors and ten-packs). 33. A compact travel cable organizer with two different pocketed compartments to keep your cords, earbuds, and chargers organized and safe — this is waterproof, so even if *you* get waterlogged on a trip or on your way to work, your gadgets and gizmos won't. Promising review: "This case has been amazing for storing my earbuds, various loose cable connectors, chargers, etc . I am using it right now on a trip, and it has been fantastic for keeping these items in one convenient, organized place . It is lightweight and fits easily into my one carry-on item when boarding the many flights I am taking. I’m pretty sure I will still be using it to keep all these items together and more easy to locate when I return home! I am so glad I bought this !" — V. Elia Get it from Amazon for $9.85+ (available in 11 styles). 34. A blister-preventing balm that basically magics an extra layer between your skin and your shoe, so you can trek through the airport or go on all your hikes or long walks around new cities without worrying about getting big ole blisters on your feet without a bandage in sight. BodyGlide is a small business that specializes in chafe-preventing personal care products. Promising review: "Wow. I took this on vacation, during which we walked about 20,000 steps daily. And, of course, my shoes begin to rub against parts of my feet, terribly. But I smeared this on, and it was amazing . I did have to reapply a few times a day, in public, but I highly recommend this!! I used it on my toes, ankle area, etc., and my feet felt great (normal)." — Y. Get it from Amazon for $8.99 . 35. A pack of LeakLocks Toiletry Skins to keep things from going "kaboom!!" in your carryon as soon as you reach altitude. These extend to fit both full-size and travel-size toiletries like shampoo, sunscreen, foundation, or any other liquids you'd rather not find spilled all over your socks and underwear post-flight. Rinseroo is a small business specializing in problem-solving cleaning, pet, and travel products. Promising review : "These covered various sizes of products — hair care, body wash, etc. Nothing leaked out of these whatsoever, even after a lid popped open during a flight. These prevented it from leaking out on the other contents of my luggage. Easy to use. Not flimsy. Very flexible. LOVE THESE!" — TAG Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in three styles and also in packs of eight). 36. A rechargeable itty bitty mini white noise maker with 15 nonlooping sounds that is an absolute space-saving *godsend* for parents or anyone traveling somewhere noisy. Pop this baby on in the hotel room and get the good night's sleep you deserve. Promising review: "I am a flight attendant and sometimes have a hard time falling asleep while away in my hotels without my home white noise maker. This is compact and rechargeable, so it is super easy to keep with me on my trips! It also has a great volume range from very low to quite loud! I would recommend even for home use if you don’t have a ton of space but want to use a white noise machine." — Faith Morris Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in 10 colors, in packs of two, and in a travel case). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Consumers in the United States scoured the internet for online deals as they looked to take advantage of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon with Cyber Monday. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people's regular routines and the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday — a term coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation — has become the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to the deals and the hype the industry has created to fuel it. Adobe Analytics, which tracks online shopping, expected consumers to spend $13.2 billion Monday — a record, and 6.1% more than last year. That would make it the biggest shopping day for e-commerce for the season — and the year. Online spending was expected to peak between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday night, per Adobe — reaching an estimated $15.7 million spent every minute. For several major retailers, a Cyber Monday sale is a dayslong event that began over the Thanksgiving weekend. An Amazon Prime delivery person lifts packages while making a stop Nov. 28, 2023, in Denver. Amazon kicked off its sales event right after midnight Pacific time on Saturday. Target's two days of discount offers on its website and app began overnight Sunday. Walmart rolled out its Cyber Monday offers for Walmart+ members Sunday afternoon and opened it up to all customers three hours later, at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Consumer spending for Cyber Week — the five major shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — provides a strong indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays. Many U.S. consumers continue to experience sticker shock after the period of post-pandemic inflation, which left prices for many goods and services higher than they were three years ago. But retail sales nonetheless remain strong, and the economy kept growing at a healthy pace. At the same time, credit card debt and delinquencies are rising. More shoppers than ever are also on track to use "buy now, pay later" plans this holiday season, which allows them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items. Many economists also warned that President-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs next year on foreign goods coming into the United States would lead to higher prices on everything from food to clothing to automobiles. A FedEx delivery person carries a package from a truck Nov. 17, 2022, in Denver. The National Retail Federation expects holiday shoppers to spend more this year both in stores and online than last year. But the pace of spending growth will slow slightly, the trade group said, growing 2.5% to 3.5% — compared to 3.9% in 2023. A clear sense of consumer spending patterns during the holiday season won't emerge until the government releases sales data for the period, but some preliminary data from other sources shows some encouraging signs for retailers. Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, noted that discounts from Thanksgiving onward "exceeded expectations" and online spending throughout Cyber Week is on track to cross a record $40 billion mark combined. U.S. shoppers spent $10.8 billion online on Black Friday, a 10.2% increase over last year, according to Adobe Analytics. That's also more than double what consumers spent in 2017, when Black Friday pulled in about $5 billion in online sales. Consumers also spent a record $6.1 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, Adobe said. Meanwhile, software company Salesforce, which also tracks online shopping, estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $17.5 billion in the U.S. and $74.4 billion globally. Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks in-person and online spending, reported that overall Black Friday sales excluding automotive rose 3.4% from a year ago. A United Parcel Service driver sorts deliveries July 15, 2023, on New York's Upper West Side. E-commerce platform Shopify said its merchants raked in a record $5 billion in sales worldwide on Black Friday. At its peak, sales reached $4.6 million per minute — with top categories by volume including clothing, cosmetics and fitness products, according to the Canadian company. Toys, electronics, home goods, self-care and beauty categories were among the key drivers of holiday spending on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, according to Adobe. "Hot products" included Lego sets, espresso machines, fitness trackers, makeup and skin care. Other data showed physical stores saw fewer customers on Black Friday, underscoring how the huge crowds that were once synonymous with the day after Thanksgiving are now more than happy to shop from the comfort of their homes. RetailNext, which measures real-time foot traffic in stores, said its early data showed store traffic on Friday was down 3.2% in the U.S. compared to last year, with the biggest dip happening in the Midwest. Sensormatic Solutions, which also tracks store traffic, said its preliminary analysis showed retail store traffic on Black Friday was down 8.2% compared to 2023. Grant Gustafson, head of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions, noted that in-store traffic was getting spread across multiple days since many retailers offered generous discounts before and after Black Friday. "Some of the extended Black Friday promotions really ended up leading to a little bit of a softer day-of traffic than expected," Gustafson said. In 2024, staying small on purpose seems to be paying off big for small businesses. They're keeping operations small and targeting niche, highly specialized customers. And some business owners find this strategy results in more time, energy, and money to intentionally capitalize on unique, small cap opportunities. The data tells the story of growth in small businesses for the year. According to NEXT , the Small Business Administration (SBA) reports awarding 38,000 SBA 7(a) loans under $150,000: double the amount they awarded in 2020. Here are the related small-business trends paying off in 2024. Commercial real estate agent Ryan Beckenhauer of Market Real Estate in Boulder, Colorado, has noticed that small businesses are growing smaller, and that their office and warehouse spaces are starting to reflect that as they shop for business space. In commercial real estate, many small business owners gravitate toward industrial condos and other flexible spaces. These are small-scale industrial spaces with a 90:10 or 80:20 split of warehouse to office. "More individuals are leveraging skills acquired at larger organizations to venture out on their own," explains Beckenhauer. And he goes on to say that they don't need a large commercial space as they make that leap to start a business. His clients include engineers, consultants, builders and other tradespeople. Beckenhauer's clients like the flexibility of being out of an office and being close to their inventory and workshop space. "The clients want to see and touch the finishes," he says. Small business owners both rent or buy these spaces. But he's seeing his clients opt to own industrial condos to stabilize costs due to rent increases in Boulder. And because these spaces are smaller, it can be easier for new buyers to qualify for financing. Mariana Alvarez, owner of Controller Works , an online bookkeeping and advisory firm, has noticed that small business owners outsource financial support services because they don't want to increase headcount. "Outsourcing gives them the possibility of having access to the knowledge and the skills of a CFO without having to pay for the salary," she says. "They don't have to manage or deal with the workload, employment taxes , and all that comes with it," says Alvarez. Additionally, many small business owners in fields like construction are family-owned, and this makes it easier for business owners to hand off delicate financial work to a trusted person with financial experience. Every small business has recurring tasks that can benefit from some level of artificial intelligence automation . And Alvarez sees a lot of value in using AI for small business bookkeeping. She explains that you can automate the data entry on Quickbooks. "When you create rules, as long as you create the rules correctly, it pretty much does itself," says Alvarez. From there, you can lean on financial experts to help you analyze the data and make more informed decisions. She uses AI as a background resource when guiding her accounting clients. "I believe that we still need the human-to-human interaction that comes with more perspective for financial analysis," she explains. According to the SBA , 77% of consumers feel that human interaction is still required for a positive customer experience. People turn to small businesses every day for a human experience. According to Arvind Rongala, CEO of Edstellar , small business workers can show up for their customers but still use AI for routine tasks like customer queries. "This balance allows companies to scale their operations without losing the personal touch that makes them unique. It's important to remember that AI isn't there to replace the human element—it's there to enhance it," he says. "By really focusing on one very small weakness that Amazon has, I've been able to carve out a successful business by offering something different," says Lou Harvey owner of Tank Retailer , a retailer of commercial water and fuel tanks. "When you read our customer reviews, many of them actually mention me by name because of how much we focus on customer service and go the extra mile." One of Harvey's most successful business strategies this year has been to lean into his small, niche market and offer the kind of customer experience that large retailers like Amazon don't. "Any small weaknesses that Amazon has (however small those weaknesses may be) needs to become a strength of a smaller business focusing on a niche market," says Harvey. Harvey has his company's customer service phone number front and center on the website to help earn customer trust. "I prominently feature our phone number, and a real person always answers the phone (usually it's me)," says Harvey. Lucie Voves, CEO and founder of Church Hill Classics , an online, woman-owned diploma framing company that uses sustainable materials, has noticed an uptick in customers seeking services from a business on a mission. "This year, we've seen a growing inclination for consumers to actively seek out and support small businesses owned by women and minorities," says Voves. When consumers shop small, they choose to make their dollars count. "Customers are fueled by a desire to promote social impact through purchasing power," says Voves. Long gone are the days of online retailers "building it and they will come." In 2024 we've seen more small businesses than ever turn to social commerce to sell directly on social media platforms like Instagram Shopping , Facebook Marketplace , and TikTok . Small business owners are turning toward influencers, social media ads, and organic content to target their customers. Mike Vannelli of Envy Creative creates online ads for businesses, and he has seen his clients succeed on TikTok of late. "I've seen businesses, especially in retail, use TikTok's short-form video format to make their products go viral. Think of it as word-of-mouth marketing on steroids," says Vannelli. He uses the platform's algorithm to push a company's content to the right audiences, and it works because TikTok loves storytelling. "I know small brands that use behind-the-scenes videos, customer testimonials, and even playful challenges that tap into trends to humanize their products and build trust," explains Vannelli. To stand out on TikTok, he says, smaller brands need to embrace authenticity and emotional connection. Show your team, share your journey, and involve your community in content creation. This story was produced by NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.Novak Djokovic says his rivalry with Andy Murray has “one final chapter” after his long-time adversary joined him as his coach for the upcoming Australian Open. Murray – Britain’s greatest ever player – retired after this summer’s Olympics at the age of 37 after finally admitting defeat in his battle against his body. Many in the game expected the Scot would one day return to tennis and become a coach, particularly due to his love of the sport, hard work and his tactical acumen. He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) But it came with some degree of shock on Saturday afternoon when a social media post from Djokovic, playing on Murray’s light-hearted tweet upon his departure, read: “He never liked retirement anyway”. The attached video announced Murray, who he lost to in two Slam finals but beat in four Australian showpieces, would coach him over the winter and through January’s Open in Melbourne. “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of pushing each other to our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in in our sport. They called us gamechangers, risk-takers, history-makers,” Djokovic said. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard, coach Andy Murray.” Murray, who beat Djokovic to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013, says he wants to help the 24-time grand slam champion achieve his goals. “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open, he said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic, a week younger than his new coach, added: “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. “Looking forward to the start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.” Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals as well as the French Open final in 2016. It was after he unseated Djokovic at the top of the rankings in 2016 that Murray suffered the hip injury which ultimately derailed his career. Since his retirement, Murray has been playing golf with the same dedication he pursued his tennis but will now return to his natural habitat. Djokovic, who split with coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, hopes that adding Murray to his team will help him get back to the top of the game after he went through a calendar year without winning a grand slam for the first time since 2017. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have developed a stranglehold at the top of the men’s game and Djokovic, who has seen Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all retire in recent years, is still hoping to move clear of the record 24 grand slams he shares with Margaret Court.
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Cruise into this holiday season with a non-traditional vacationEmpowered Funds LLC Buys 12,998 Shares of ARC Document Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:ARC)
VenHub Global, Inc. is an emerging AI and robotics technology company that has developed a 24/7 fully-autonomous retail Smart Store, headquartered in Pasadena, CA, and has amassed a robust pre-order backlog of 1,000+ stores with potential revenue of more than $300 million 1 VenHub's innovative solution offers low building and operating costs and advanced security features, empowering store owners to deliver a seamless customer experience VenHub's proprietary robotic arms technology and cutting-edge vision system ensures precise product delivery, while its AI-driven platform is expected to optimize store operations VenHub intends to build strategic partnerships, diversify product offerings, and advance its technology for future growth The proposed business combination with Target Global Acquisition I Corp. values VenHub at a pro forma enterprise value of $715 million 1 and is targeted to close in Q2 2025 PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN – VenHub, a disruptive AI and robotics company ("VenHub" or the "Company"), and Target Global Acquisition I Corp. TGAA ("TGAA"), a NASDAQ-listed special purpose acquisition company, today announced they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement, dated as of December 2, 2024 (the "Business Combination Agreement"). The proposed business combination (the "Proposed Business Combination") is expected to be completed (the "Closing") in the second quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory and shareholder approvals. The combined company will operate as VenHub Global Holdings, Inc. following the Closing and is expected to list on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "VHUB". As one of the leading providers of a 24/7 autonomous smart store, VenHub has introduced and developed a solution with the potential to transform how consumers interact with technology in retail environments. Powered by proprietary software and unique robotics arms technology, VenHub's product offering can provide a seamless customer experience. Manufactured by a leader in the global robotics industry, the innovative robotic arms technology can differentiate VenHub from traditional retail solutions and well-positions the Company in the automated retail space. Additionally, VenHub's cutting edge vision system adds precision and reliability to its product offering, and the efficiency and security of the Smart Stores are enabled by VenHub's intellectual property portfolio. Founded in 2023, VenHub is addressing challenges facing traditional retail stores, including inefficient inventory management, limited hours, high labor costs, and security concerns. The Smart Stores are designed to utilize data-driven inventory management, a self-service delivery system, and advanced security protection, all of which reduce labor costs and collectively enhance sales and growth potential. Through these potential competitive advantages, VenHub has secured over 1,000 customer pre-orders across 48 states, with potential revenue of more than $300 million 1 in pre-order value. This pre-order book demonstrates market confidence in VenHub's smart store technology. VenHub's growth strategy focuses on geographic and store format expansion to meet the growing demand for autonomous retail solutions, as well as product diversification to enhance VenHub's market presence and operational efficiency. The Company's CapEx-light business model has the potential to create value for stakeholders, and its diversified business model with potential for recurring revenue can allow VenHub to achieve its expansion plan. Key Investment Highlights Disruptive AI & Robotics Technology – innovative product with potential to revolutionize consumer behavior. Sizeable Total Addressable Market – over $2 trillion 1 end-market across convenience stores, traditional retail, and gas stations, which is global in nature. Large Pre-order Book with Deliveries Beginning this Year – over $300M 2 in potential revenue from customer pre-orders with production beginning in Q4 2024 and targeted delivery of the first Smart Stores in Q1 2025. Attractive Financial Profile – unit level economics driven by immediate positive gross profit and EBITDA margins. Leadership Expertise – accomplished management team with strong automation, logistics, supply chain, robotics, and retail experience. Management Commentary Shahan Ohanessian, Chief Executive Officer of VenHub, commented : "This is day one for VenHub on a larger stage," Shahan Ohanessian, CEO of VenHub, remarked. "We're at the starting line of what I believe will be a remarkable journey, turning our vision into reality and expanding our reach on a global scale. We're not just joining the market; we're aiming to pioneer a new frontier in smart retail that enhances how businesses and consumers connect." Mike Minnick, Chief Executive Officer of TGAA, added : "We are excited to partner with Shahan and the VenHub team. VenHub's efficient, capital-light business model, combined with strong near-term projected positive cash flow generation, positions the Company for sustainable growth. This approach enables strategic expansion into multiple geographic markets while leveraging internally generated cash flow and maintaining disciplined resource allocation." Proposed Business Combination Overview The Proposed Business Combination implies a pro forma enterprise value of $715 million, which assumes an estimated equity value of $650 million, $26 million in new cash to the balance sheet (assuming 100% redemptions by TGAA public shareholders), and $0.6 million in existing cash. The Proposed Business Combination is expected to provide net cash to VenHub of up to $14 million to support VenHub's continued geographic expansion and product diversification. Cash proceeds raised will consist of TGAA's approximately $20.4 million cash in trust, net of redemptions. The cash in the TGAA trust account is anticipated to support the Company's growth capital needs, including VenHub's production, marketing and sales efforts. It is intended that 100% of existing VenHub stockholders will roll over their equity and, assuming no redemptions and full rollover, own approximately 89% of the pro forma equity of the combined company in connection with the transaction. The Proposed Business Combination has been approved by the boards of directors of both VenHub and TGAA and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, subject to shareholder approvals and other customary closing conditions. For a summary of the material terms of the Proposed Business Combination, as well as a supplemental investor presentation, please see the Current Report on Form 8-K filed today by TGAA with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Additional information about the Proposed Business Combination will be described in TGAA's proxy statement relating to the Proposed Business Combination, which it will file with the SEC. Advisors Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC, is serving as the exclusive financial advisor, capital markets advisor and placement agent to VenHub. Smith Eilers PLLC is serving as legal counsel to VenHub. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is serving as legal counsel to TGAA. Travers Thorp Alberga is serving as legal counsel to TGAA with respect to Cayman Islands law. About VenHub VenHub Global, Inc., f/k/a Autonomous Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is reshaping the retail industry with its groundbreaking autonomous and robotic-operated Smart Stores. Leveraging advanced AI and smart inventory management systems, VenHub offers a seamless shopping experience that operates 24/7. This approach not only increases revenue but also significantly reduces operational costs compared to traditional retail setups. VenHub's modular design allows for quick installation and easy customization to meet a wide range of consumer needs. The company operates across three main retail formats: fixed Smart Stores for permanent locations, mobile Smart Stores for flexibility and broader accessibility, and innovative solutions that upgrade existing retail spaces and shopping centers into advanced Smart Shopping environments. With its forward-thinking strategy, VenHub is poised to transform the retail landscape, providing an efficient and accessible shopping experience that anticipates the future of commerce. About Target Global Acquisition I Corp. TGAA Acquisition I Corp. is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Island exempted company and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. TGAA's units, Class A ordinary shares and warrants trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbols "TGAAU," "TGAA," and "TGAAW" respectively. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. TGAA's and VenHub's actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, TGAA's and VenHub's expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the Proposed Business Combination, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the Proposed Business Combination and the timing of the completion of the Proposed Business Combination. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside TGAA's and VenHub's control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement, (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against TGAA and VenHub following the announcement of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; (3) the inability to complete the Proposed Business Combination, including due to failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of TGAA or other conditions to closing in the Business Combination Agreement; (4) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement or could otherwise cause the Proposed Business Combination to fail to close; (5) the amount of redemption requests made by TGAA's shareholders; (6) the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the post-business combination company's common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC following the Proposed Business Combination; (7) the risk that the Proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Proposed Business Combination; (8) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; (9) costs related to the Proposed Business Combination; (10) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (11) the possibility that VenHub or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (12) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the proxy statement relating to the Proposed Business Combination, including those under "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" which will be set forth in a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed by TGAA and the Company and in TGAA's other filings with the SEC. Some of these risks and uncertainties may be amplified by future events and there may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. TGAA cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. TGAA cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. TGAA does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based . Additional Information and Where to Find It This press release relates to a proposed transaction between the Company and TGAA. This document does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. TGAA and the Company intend to file a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement/prospectus of TGAA. The proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all TGAA shareholders. TGAA also will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. Before making any voting decision, investors and security holders of TGAA are urged to read the registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction as they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by TGAA through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov . In addition, the documents filed by TGAA may be obtained free of charge from TGAA's website at https://tgacquisition1.com/ or by written request to TGAA at: Target Global Acquisition I Corp., PO Box 10176, Governor's Square 23, Lime Tree Bay Avenue, Grand Cayman KY1-1102, Cayman Islands. Participants in the Solicitation TGAA and the Company and their respective directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from TGAA's shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about TGAA's directors and executive officers and their ownership of TGAA's securities is set forth in TGAA's filings with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of those persons and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed transaction may be obtained by reading the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph. No Offer or Solicitation This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase any security of TGAA, VenHub or any of their respective affiliates. No such offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom. The contents of this press release have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction. INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. Investor Relations Contact IR@VenHub.com 888-585-4999 Wire Service Contact : IBN Los Angeles, California www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com 1 Grand View Research, "GVR Report cover Convenience Stores Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Cigarettes & Tobacco, Foodservice, Packaged Beverages, Center Store, Low Alcoholic Beverages), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 – 2028", May 2022 2 Based on management estimates. As of September 30, 2024. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
( MENAFN - Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA)) São Paulo – The Palestinian Minister of Religious and Islamic Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash, told ANBA on Monday (2) that Brazil plays an influential role on the global stage and that this influence can be leveraged to garner more support for the Arab country's causes. Al-Habbash, along with the Palestinian ambassador and dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben; Al-Habbash's advisor, Hamza Daana; Judge Maher Khudeir; and the embassy's minister-counselor, Ahmed Al Assad, visited the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC ) on Monday morning. They were welcomed by the institution's president, Osmar Chohfi, and secretary-general and vice president of international relations, Mohamad Mourad. Al-Habbash reiterated that Palestine seeks to join the BRICS group of developing countries, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia. “Palestine has good relations with all the countries in the group. China, South Africa, and Russia are historically friendly nations to the Palestinian people. We have requested membership in the group and submitted a request to join the NDB (New Development Bank, the BRICS bank),” he said, noting that while BRICS is an economic cooperation bloc, economics and politics cannot be separated. The minister also said that Palestine seeks a“just peace” in the Middle East and advocated for the existence of two states: Israel and Palestine. He added that the president of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, is expected to visit Brazil in the second half of 2025, noting that Abbas and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva share a good personal relationship. During his visit to Brazil to attend the 37th Annual Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Muslims, held from November 29 to last Sunday (1), Al-Habbash was scheduled to meet with São Paulo authorities on Monday as well. In the afternoon, he was set to meet with the State Secretary of Government and Institutional Relations of São Paulo Gilberto Kassab, along with State Representative Maurici Morais, who chairs the International Relations Committee at the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly. Read more: Brazil joins humanitarian conference on Gaza Translated by Guilherme Miranda The post Palestinian minister: Country seeks to join BRICS appeared first on ANBA News Agency . MENAFN02122024000213011057ID1108948999 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.NoneGOG’s preservation program lets you keep playing games after they’re delisted
Philadelphia (8-2) at Los Angeles Rams (5-5) Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC/Peacock BetMGM NFL odds: Eagles by 3. Against the spread: Eagles 6-4; Rams 4-6. Series record: Eagles lead 23-20-1. Last meeting: Eagles beat Rams 23-14 in Inglewood, Calif. on Oct. 8, 2023. Last week: Eagles beat Washington 26-18; Rams beat New England 28-22. Eagles offense: overall (5), rush (1), pass (22), scoring (7). Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (2), scoring (6). Rams offense: overall (17), rush (26), pass (T-7), scoring (21). Rams defense: overall (23), rush (18), pass (22), scoring (22). Turnover differential: Eagles plus-2; Rams plus-4. RB Saquon Barkley. Barkley combined for 198 scrimmage yards and two scores, rushing 26 times for 146 yards (5.6 average) while adding two receptions for 52 yards against Washington. With 1,137 rushing yards through 10 games, Barkley only trails Baltimore’s Derrick Henry for the NFL lead. He had his sixth 100-plus yard rushing game this season, which is the most in the NFL. S Kam Kinchens. The rookie third-round pick from Miami had eight tackles, one tackle for loss, an interception and a forced fumble against the Patriots as he continues to come on strong. Kinchens has three picks in the past three games. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts vs. Rams’ defensive line. Hurts shredded Los Angeles for 303 yards passing and 72 yards rushing last season despite the presence of superstar DT Aaron Donald. After Donald retired, the Rams turned to a committee approach to get after the passer, and it has worked with rookie OLB Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske fitting in well next to second-year OLB Byron Young and DT Kobie Turner. But they can only unleash their excellent pass rush skills by limiting Philadelphia on early downs. Hurts has been at his dual-threat best over the past five games, accounting for 15 total touchdowns (six passing, nine rushing) against two turnovers. Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff had surgery on his left wrist on Thursday, a move that could allow him to return toward the end of the season. ... WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and DT Milton Williams (foot) each missed practice this week. ... Rams RT Rob Havenstein (ankle) looks to be trending toward a return this week. Havenstein sat out the previous two games because of the ailment. The Eagles have won all three games in Los Angeles since the Rams moved back in 2016. ... Overall, Philadelphia has won seven of the past eight. The only setback came in Week 2 of the 2020 pandemic season. Barkley has passed 100-plus scrimmage yards in eight of 10 games. That is tied with LeSean McCoy (2011) and Brian Westbrook (2007) for the most by an Eagle through 10 games. His 198 yards were his second most as an Eagle (199 in Week 9). ... The Eagles have allowed two passing touchdowns during their winning streak. Only one opponent has topped 200 passing yards against them in this stretch, with Cincinnati throwing for 222 in Week 8. ... Hurts leads all NFL quarterbacks with 11 touchdown runs and is second only to Henry's 13 scores for the Ravens. ... WR A.J. Brown leads the league in receptions of 30 yards or longer. He is averaging 18.7 yards per catch, the best mark of any player with at least 30 grabs. ... Even before he hurt his wrist, Huff struggled in his first season in Philadelphia with just 2 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits. His snap count has dipped since he was injured ahead of a game earlier this month against Jacksonville. Huff had 17 1/2 sacks in four seasons with the Jets before he signed a three-year, $51 million free-agent deal with the Eagles. ... Philadelphia has run for at least 150 yards and two touchdowns in five straight games, something it hadn't accomplished since 1949. ... Rams WR Puka Nacua caught his first touchdown of the season in New England. He has at least seven receptions and 98 yards in three of his past four games, with only a second-quarter ejection in Seattle having limited Nacua since he returned from a knee injury. ... WR Cooper Kupp has 614 receptions through his first 98 games, which is fourth most in NFL history through 100 games. Julio Jones (619) is third. ... RB Kyren Williams averaged a season-high 5.7 yards per carry, finishing with 86 yards on 15 attempts versus the Patriots. ... Verse has 11 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks through his first 10 games. Verse is pressuring the quarterback on 20.2% of pass rush snaps, which ranks second in the league overall. ... The Rams were 2 of 8 (25%) on third down against New England, their third straight game converting 25% or worse. ... QB Matthew Stafford has not been sacked in each of Los Angeles’ past three wins. Don’t be discouraged using Stafford, Kupp and Nacua against Philadelphia's pass defense. All three put up solid fantasy numbers in last season’s meeting, even as the Eagles sat on the ball for nearly 38 minutes. Stafford had 222 yards and two scores, finding Kupp eight times for 118 yards and Nacua seven times for 71 yards and a touchdown, so they'll find ways to produce. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLNovak Djokovic announced on social media Saturday that Andy Murray will be joining his coaching team for the offseason and Australian Open. Murray, who retired following the 2024 Olympic Games , will team up with his former on-court competitor in this new role. “We played each other since we were boys. Twenty-five years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport,” Djokovic said in the video posted to social media . “They called us game changers, risk takers, history makers. I thought our story may be over, turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome on board coach Andy Murray.” Djokovic has won the most men’s grand slam titles of any player with 24 and will be hoping that Murray can help him reach a record-extending 25th title at the Australian Open in January. “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach,” said Djokovic in a statement, per the Associated Press. “Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy, with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.” Murray shared Djokovic’s excitement around the new role. “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the offseason, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open,” Murray said, per AP. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Murray enjoyed a successful playing career, winning three grand slam titles and two Olympic gold medals.The attack on Enugu Rangers in Jos
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Thursday that middle linebacker Roquan Smith, who is dealing with a hamstring injury he suffered Sunday in Pittsburgh, is “not ruled out by any stretch” for Monday night’s prime-time matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Smith hasn’t practiced this week and was absent again Thursday but is “working hard to get healthy,” Harbaugh said. The Ravens have an extra day of practice this week because they play on “Monday Night Football.” Whether Baltimore’s leading tackler returns Friday could be more telling about his status for Week 12. Should Smith miss Monday’s game, safety Kyle Hamilton would likely wear the green dot, which signifies who relays the defensive play calls, in his place. “I’ve had it in my helmet pretty much every day in practice for the past 12 weeks,” Hamilton said, insinuating he’d be comfortable with that role. “They never told me I had the mic in my helmet until Day 1 of practice and I was hearing [defensive coordinator Zach Orr] in my ear.” Defensive lineman Travis Jones (ankle) was another notable absence from the first full practice of the week. He was a limited participant last week, then appeared to shuffle in and out of Sunday’s game with a noticeable limp. His status for Monday has not yet been determined. Wide receiver Nelson Agholor didn’t practice because of illness. Running back Justice Hill, who was seen wearing a red noncontact jersey and Guardian cap during the open portion of practice, was limited as he works through concussion protocol. Neither cornerback Arthur Maulet (calf) nor safety Sanoussi Kane (ankle) practiced Thursday. Maulet, who did not play in Pittsburgh, was wearing a boot in the locker room. Kane, a rookie primarily playing on special teams, left Sunday’s game early and did not return. Hamilton and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh were listed with neck injuries but practiced fully. Related Articles The team on the other side of the “Harbowl” included a few notable names on their injury report, too. Chargers outside linebacker and four-time Pro Bowl selection Joey Bosa was limited with a hip injury, but he hasn’t missed a game. Outside linebacker Khalil Mack (groin) did not play Sunday night against the Bengals but was limited Thursday, which could signify he’s nearing a return. The Chargers’ report is an estimation because they did not practice. Both wide receiver Ladd McConkey (shoulder) and cornerback Cam Hart (concussion/ankle) missed practice, as did safety AJ Finley (ankle) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin). Outside linebacker Bud Dupree (foot), safety Derwin James Jr. (groin) and tackle Trey Pipkins III (ankle) were listed as limited participants on Los Angeles’ first injury report of the week.I'm A Celeb star GK Barry's girlfriend Ella Rutherford looks in great spirits as she laughs with Coleen Rooney's dad at Surfers Paradise hotel after TikToker shared hopes of a bridge reunion kissLOS ANGELES (AP) — After struggling to run the ball consistently all season, the Los Angeles Rams finally made some progress on the ground in New Orleans. Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum carried the Rams (6-6) to a 21-14 win that kept them squarely in the playoff race for another week. Los Angeles racked up a season-high 156 yards rushing against the Saints, with Williams going for 104 yards and a touchdown while Corum added 42 yards on a season high-tying eight carries. The game was the inverse of most afternoons this season for the Rams, who came into the week averaging fewer than 100 yards rushing per game. The running game was sturdy and productive, while Matthew Stafford and his receivers struggled to get into a rhythm at the Superdome. Coach Sean McVay always prefers to use his run game to set up the pass, and it finally worked for once this season. “I thought Kyren ran really well," McVay said. “I thought Corum ran really well. I thought our offensive line set the line of scrimmage in the run game. We really started slow in the pass game, but I thought Matthew was excellent in the second half. We were able to get some different things off of those run actions going, and that ended up being the difference in the game.” Not coincidentally, the Rams' running game worked well on the Sunday when the offensive line finally had a starting five uncompromised by injuries or suspension for the first time all season. Right tackle Rob Havenstein returned from an ankle injury, making the group whole around rookie center Beaux Limmer, who has beaten out high-priced free agent Jonah Jackson for a starting job. The Rams still had yet another slow start in a season full of them. They ran only three plays in the entire first quarter, and they were held scoreless in the first half when their other two drives resulted in a turnover on downs and a punt. But Los Angeles rebounded with an 11-play scoring drive to open the second half featuring seven runs by Williams. He eventually moved up to fifth in the NFL with 926 yards rushing despite averaging just 4.2 yards per carry — nearly a yard less than he had last season, and the lowest average among the league's top 10 rushers this season. The Rams have thrived without a strong rushing attack before: They averaged just 99.0 yards per game on the ground, ranking 25th in the NFL, during their Super Bowl championship season in 2021-22. But McVay prefers his first option to be a strong running attack, which he had during his first three seasons in charge with Todd Gurley in the backfield and Andrew Whitworth at left tackle. “Anytime the guys up front are moving them, and (Williams) is making great reads and moves on the second level, then that is a fun feeling for the offense," Stafford said. “It’s great when you can hand the ball off and get big creases. We converted when we needed to in short-yardage stuff. I thought our guys did a really great job up front, and Kyren ran it great.” The Rams have struggled in the red zone all season, but they scored touchdowns on all three trips in New Orleans. They did it by committing to the run game up the middle, setting up TD passes on the outside to Demarcus Robinson and Puka Nacua. Alvin Kamara racked up 112 yards rushing in the latest strong game by an opposing running back. Los Angeles is 28th in the league against the run, allowing 144.2 yards rushing per game — including 194 per game over the past three weeks. Rookie edge rusher Jared Verse had another outstanding game, racking up five tackles, three quarterback hits and numerous big plays that don't show up on stat sheets. He capped the performance by hitting Derek Carr from behind and forcing an incompletion from the Los Angeles 9 on New Orleans' final play. Cornerback Darious Williams gave up a touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the ensuing 2-point conversion pass to Dante Pettis early in the fourth quarter, capping a second straight rough week for the free-agent signee. Williams is the Rams' best cornerback, but they haven't had an above-average shutdown pass defender since trading Jalen Ramsey. Los Angeles added cornerback depth Monday, claiming 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Washington. Robinson injured his hand during the game, and Stafford incurred a lateral ankle sprain. McVay said he doesn't expect either injury to affect the veterans' preparations this week. 17 — Cooper Kupp's yards receiving. That's his lowest total in a game in which he didn't get injured since Oct. 18, 2020. Kupp had only six targets, few downfield routes and curiously scant chances to make big plays. The Rams are home underdogs this week against powerhouse Buffalo, followed by a Thursday night game at San Francisco. Getting even one win out of these two matchups will be difficult, but probably necessary to keep pace with Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL