Toll Brothers Announces Cash Dividend
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.Expert Ratings For BILL HoldingsBUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — Incredible news for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo and many cancer patients with the creation of a new cell and gene therapy unit at Roswell is being called a game-changer. 7 News Senior Reporter Eileen Buckle was there for the announcement to learn how this will provide cutting-edge technology to treat certain cancers. “A milestone moment for Roswell Park and New York State and actually the world,” announced Dr. Candace Johnson, president & CEO, Roswell Park. Roswell Park leaders and Governor Kathy Hochul announced the new $98 million Roswell Park Cell and Gene Therapy Center Monday, the largest in the nation. “What a great day for Buffalo,” declared Governor Hochul. “This scientific revolution is changing lives already." The state has funded $30 million toward this new center, and it is expected to generate an economic benefit to the region and initially create 61 new jobs. Right now, this state-of-the-art facility concentrates on the treatment of those with blood cancers. The CAR-T Cell therapy means your T-cells are removed from your body, sent into these labs, and genetically modified. “So, when they put them, transplant them back in me, they’re programmed really to attack any lymphoma cells,” explained Christopher Vogelsang, Roswell patient. Vogelsang of Buffalo has been a patient at Roswell for 15 years for treatment of lymphoma. But he underwent the new therapy and rang the famous Roswell bell because he is “cancer-free”. A post shared by Eileen Buckley (@eileen.buc1) “I'm doing really well. Just back being busy with my life and activities, playing golf and tennis, and doing a lot of walking, and really just back to normal. It feels pretty darn good,” reflected Vogelsang. Initially, CAR-T Cell therapy is focused on blood cancers but will eventually focus on other cancers as well. “But the real challenge is to be able to apply this technology to much more common cancers and it's a bit more complicated with solid tumors, which are more common, but that's what Candace and that's what Roswell has committed to do,” stated Dr. Renier Brentjens, deputy director & Chair of the Department of Medicine at Roswell Park. There are also plans to expand cell therapy to treat ALS and Parkinson’s and other diseases. "CAR-T is just a phenomenal move in science just the evolution of science to get to this point,” Vogelsang remarked.John Fetterman offers his office bathroom to Sarah McBride as she says she’ll follow GOP rules on restroom usage
Juan Soto gets free luxury suite and up to 4 premium tickets for home games in $765M Mets deal DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract that was finalized Wednesday. Ronald Blum, The Associated Press Dec 11, 2024 3:06 PM Dec 11, 2024 3:20 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message FILE - New York Yankees' Juan Soto speaks during media day for the baseball World Series, Oct. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract that was finalized Wednesday. The Mets also agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. Major League Baseball teams usually provide security for player families in seating areas at ballparks. New York also agreed to assist Soto's family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed Soto will have uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses. Soto's suite will be valued at the Mets' prevailing prices, presumably for tax purposes, and after 2025 he can by each Jan. 15 modify or give up his suite selection for the upcoming season. He can request the premium tickets, to be used by family members, no later than 72 hours before the scheduled game time. The Yankees had refused to offer Soto a free suite. “Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites they buy them ... whether it's CC (Sabathia), whether it’s (Aaron) Judge, whether it’s (Gerrit) Cole, whether it’s any of these guys," general manager Brian Cashman said. "We've gone through a process on previous negotiations where asks might have happened and this is what we did and we’re going to honor those, so no regrets there." Cashman said the Yankees have a shared suite for player families and a family room with babysitting. Soto gets a $75 million signing bonus, payable within 60 days of the agreement’s approval by the commissioner’s office. The deal for the 26-year-old, which tops Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers, was reached Sunday pending a physical that took place Tuesday. Soto receives salaries of $46,875,000 each in 2025 and 2026, $42.5 million in 2027, $46,875,000 apiece in 2028 and 2029 and $46 million in each of the final 10 seasons. Soto has a contingent right to opt out of the agreement within three days of the end of the 2029 World Series to become a free agent again, but the Mets have the an option to negate the opt-out provision by increasing the yearly salaries for 2030-39 by $4 million annually to $50 million and raising the total value to $805 million. If the club exercises its option to negate the opt-out provision, Soto can make his opt-out decision by the fifth day after the World Series. He has a full no-trade provision and gets a hotel suite on road trips. Soto would receive a $500,000 bonus for winning his first Most Valuable Player award and $1 million for each MVP award. He would get $350,000 for finishing second in the voting and $150,000 for finishing third through fifth. Soto was third in the AL voting this year. He would earn $100,000 for each All-Star selection and Gold Glove, $350,000 for World Series MVP and $150,000 for League Championship Series MVP. Soto would get $100,000 for selection to the All-MLB first or second team, $150,000 for Silver Slugger and $100,000 for the Hank Aaron Award. Award bonuses are to be paid by the Jan. 31 after the season in which the bonus is earned. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb Ronald Blum, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Baseball Shane Bieber says bonds led to re-signing with Guardians after he missed '24 following elbow surgery Dec 11, 2024 3:19 PM MLB Remaining Free Agents List Dec 11, 2024 3:07 PM MLB Free Agent Signings List Dec 11, 2024 3:07 PM
Cowboys vs. Commanders: Old Friends, New Rivals, Big Injuries
FBI whistleblower who brought down global drug cartel slams Mark Wahlberg for painting him as a ‘crook’ in upcoming docThankfulness
Novak Djokovic had a busy first day upon arriving in Brisbane for his first tournament of the year. The Serbian was seen arriving at the center court to train with Jakub Mensik , although he took the time to joke around with Grigor Dimitrov , play media day games, and was outdone by none other than Mirra Andreeva . In a new Daily Dose of Social Media , we take a look at the steps of the top stars from the ATP and WTA Tours who are already beginning the 2025 season in the Australian Swing. Aryna Sabalenka , Jasmine Paolini, Matteo Berrettini, and Ashleigh Barty were among the stars captured on the last day. Novak Djokovic’s eventful day at Brisbane International Novak Djokovic is ready to kick off the 2025 season, arriving in Brisbane, Australia, for his first tournament of the year. The 24-time Grand Slam champion chose to start the season at an ATP 250 event to fine-tune his game ahead of the Australian Open and will be the first seed in a draw featuring three former champions. A video captured Djokovic’s arrival at the Patrick Rafter Arena, where he was seen greeting world No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov at the stadium entrance. Djokovic and Dimitrov shared a few moments of conversation and a friendly hug before the tournament. The Serbian leads their head-to-head record 12-1, with their last meeting at the 2023 Paris Masters final, where Djokovic secured a straight-sets victory. Una publicación compartida de Brisbane International (@brisbaneinternational) Una publicación compartida de Brisbane International (@brisbaneinternational) Djokovic wasted no time and scheduled his first practice session with the 2024 Newcomer of the Year, 19-year-old Jakub Mensik (world No. 48). The Czech player was thrilled to hit the court with the former world No. 1. “Back in Brisbane! and feeling the heat☀️... the 2025 season kicks off soon! Great to see some familiar faces and practice with @djokernole. Idemoo volino! ,” Mensik posted. Nole is set to debut on Monday against local player Rinky Hijikata, who received a wild card to enter the draw. Additionally, on the same Monday, he will team up with Nick Kyrgios to play in the doubles draw, an exciting partnership as both look to find their best form ahead of the Australian Open. Una publicación compartida de Jakub Menšík (@mensik.jakub) Djokovic also made time to participate in promotional activities ahead of the tournament, including the ‘racquet grip challenge.’ In a video, the 37-year-old was seen quickly gripping his racquet in just 9.8 seconds, although it wasn’t enough to take first place. “In your face, Grigor,” he jokingly shouted. “I didn’t end up the last part, it’s okay. And there’s a little hole here, but it’s okay.” Later, Djokovic joked again with Dimitrov when they met in the stadium hallway. “Guys, officially it’s going under second place after (Mirra) Andreeva, and I’m gonna give it to the guy who is in the 3rd place to put this little sticker here, thank you so much.” “No way, so she beat us all?” replied in surprise the Bulgarian who had put Djokovic's sticker in the first place, but the Serb was quick to correct him. “No, it’s not there. No, she was better. She got 7 seconds,” Nole said, returning the Russian teenager’s name to the top of the leaderboard. Una publicación compartida de Brisbane International (@brisbaneinternational) From Sabalenka to Barty: Brisbane mascot welcomes tennis stars The ATP and WTA stars posed for photos with the official mascot ‘Bounce’ of the Brisbane International . Several players participating in the tournament took pictures with the iconic Brisbane International plush. One of them was World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka , returning to the tournament where she was a finalist in 2024 (losing to Elena Rybakina). Similarly, Paula Badosa , Ons Jabeur, and Matteo Berrettini also took photos with the mascot, as did former player and three-time Grand Slam champion Ashleigh Barty. Barty is present as a tournament ambassador and will participate in an exhibition this Sunday — alongside Jabeur, Pat Rafter, and Frances Tiafoe — as part of a campaign raising awareness for the Ash Barty Foundation. The former World No. 1 recently announced her second pregnancy. Una publicación compartida de SaqueAce (@saqueace) Kyrgios and Tiafoe joke around during training session Nick Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe shared a fun moment joking around during a practice session ahead of the Brisbane International. In a video shared by the Australian star, both players can be seen having fun from the baseline of Pat Rafter Court. “...... what were we talking about though ️️” posted the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up, who received a response from Big-Foe: “My guy ✊✊” he commented. Kyrgios will debut this Monday against World No. 31 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 21, who will be making his tournament debut. The Australian will also join Djokovic in the doubles draw. On Tiafoe’s side (No. 21), he will debut the same Monday against local wildcard Adam Walton (No. 93). Una publicación compartida de Nick Kyrgios (@k1ngkyrg1os) Katie Boulter shares Sydney postals before her United Cup debut Katie Boulter shared a series of photos from her first few days in Sydney while waiting for her debut at the United Cup. The British No. 1 will take the court on December 30 in the opening match of the tie against Argentina. The South Americans come off a surprising win over Australia and have the chance to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Boulter will face former French Open semifinalist Nadia Podoroska in the opening match, and then Billy Harris, replacing Jack Draper as the male singles player, will face World No. 39 Tomas Martin Etcheverry. In the photos posted by Boulter, she can be seen both playing on court and posing with several of her colleagues. First, she is with Iga Swiatek , Jasmine Paolini, and Olivia Gadecki with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background. She also posed on court with her coach Biljana Veselinovic and her teammate Jodie Burrage, among other snapshots. Una publicación compartida de Katie Boulter (@katiecboulter) Jasmine Paolini shares fun surfing moments in Sydney Jasmine Paolini shared a fun series of photos from her days in Sydney ahead of her first match at the United Cup. The Italian was spotted surfing, in addition to participating in media day activities alongside her Italian teammates, including World No. 31 Flavio Cobolli . The two-time Grand Slam runner-up also posted a video of her attempt at surfing in the Australian city. Paolini’s first match will be on December 29 against Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Belinda Bencic, who is returning after a year-long maternity break. The Swiss player had a brilliant win on the first day against France’s Chloe Pacquet. On Cobolli’s side, he will face Dominic Stricker, who will aim to secure Switzerland’s spot in the semifinals. Una publicación compartida de Jasmine Paolini (@jasmine_paolini) Una publicación compartida de Jasmine Paolini (@jasmine_paolini) This article first appeared on TennisUpToDate.com and was syndicated with permission.You know the drill. It's time to shop for internet , but you only have one or two options, and neither sounds very appealing. You've heard the woes from friends who signed up with Spectrum and were surprised by two price increases within the same year -- and there's a good chance that Spectrum is one of the two options available at your address. So what can you do? First, let's do a little research Type your address into the Federal Communication Commission's broadband map . That way, you can find a list of seven to 10 internet providers, each an alternative to Spectrum if that's a provider you're trying to avoid. But let's say you're trying to stick to a high-speed internet option. Maybe you have a smart TV you use for streaming in crisp 4K , a roommate who games religiously in their room or you're a student who uses Zoom pretty regularly. Whatever the reason, a good rule of thumb is to aim for speeds of 300 megabits per second or higher for average internet usage. You can use the FCC broadband map to find a list of internet providers that service your address. The FCC defines " broadband " as an internet connection with speeds of 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up . Using that definition, go back to the FCC broadband map and rule out each provider with advertised speeds of 100Mbps or less. Why? Even though an ISP advertises that speed, you probably won't get it consistently because of how your router and Wi-Fi work . Locating local internet providers For most people, at this stage in internet shopping, there are only one to three decent options left, and if one of them isn't Spectrum, it's most likely AT&T , Cox , T-Mobile Home Internet or Xfinity . While I don’t personally have anything against Spectrum (and CNET ranks it as one of the better cable ISPs out there), there are some people who do . The leading cause of those frustrations is usually price increases . It’s frustrating not only because your bill increases while your speeds remain the same, but also because not having another internet option means you can’t switch . Locating local internet providers According to the FCC, there are only seven internet providers available at my address. If I eliminate ISPs with speeds of 300Mbps or lower, there are only two. At this point, your head is probably spinning. Why is shopping for internet providers such a headache? Will those other internet options be any good? Why can’t you get more than one decent option at your address? Internet monopolies are far too common Just 10 years ago, our definition of broadband vastly differed from the FCC's take today (it was previously just 4Mbps down and 1Mbps up ). Our conversations about home internet needing to be more accessible, affordable and sustainably fast for average household needs are a relatively recent development. "The amount of money the average American is spending [on internet] relative to their income is about the same [compared to 10 years ago]," said Blair Levin, a policy analyst from New Street Research and former executive director at the FCC. "In that sense, we have a much faster, better product at about the same price point. Sure, you could say that's good. Does that mean it's affordable? Not for a lot of Americans, it is not affordable, and affordability is a key problem." According to data collected by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in 2020, approximately 83 million Americans have access to the internet through a single internet provider. Only 14 major ISPs have a national availability equal to or greater than 2% of households nationwide, according to June 2024 data from the FCC . Of these 14, Spectrum ranks fourth, with about 30% coverage, making it the second-largest cable provider in the country after Xfinity. Due to various factors, including geographically diverse terrain, high infrastructure costs and the daunting task of competing with prices from a much bigger ISP, it can be costly for smaller businesses to get a foot in the door without significant funding. What does that mean for you? Since you likely have only one or two options for internet at your address, your internet provider can keep inflating your monthly bill and you can’t really do anything about it. "Because of the way that we classify broadband service providers, the FCC has very little authority over prices, which means that [ISPs] can pretty much do whatever they want," Christopher Ali, a telecommunications professor at Penn State, told CNET. Although there are thousands of local internet providers, our options often boil down to one or two of the ISP giants in the country. Admittedly, CNET often reviews those top providers and may recommend several of them as viable internet options. And it's true, those ISP giants aren't necessarily always bad options: They offer an efficient cost per Mbps especially compared with plans from local ISPs, which are typically DSL or fixed wireless options with much slower speeds targeted to rural homes. In rural areas that may not have a big ISP presence, internet options are sorely limited and people usually have to fall back on the slow speeds and high costs of satellite internet . Although satellite internet offers extensive availability, it tends to average less than 100Mbps in download speeds, not quite fast enough for average to above-average internet usage. According to data from the FCC, Xfinity (red) and Spectrum (purple) are the two largest cable internet providers in the country. Although competition among ISPs is often limited, there are pockets of regions where competition -- and fast, cost-efficient internet options -- thrive. In some cases, municipal broadband networks (like the community-owned fiber networks in Wilson, North Carolina or Chattanooga, Tennessee) and public middle-mile networks offer much faster speeds for lower prices than a private-owned ISP. This effectively creates what Ali calls a "Swiss cheese pattern of broadband availability" throughout the country. Still, those success stories aren't ubiquitous, and all too often, people face high price increases, limited high-speed options and inconsistent connectivity with home internet. Even in urban areas, which typically have higher concentrations of internet serviceability, some neighborhoods may see much slower speeds and fewer options at their address than a neighborhood across town . A study conducted by the University of Chicago in 2022 zeroed in on the trend of inequitable internet access across neighborhoods with marginalized or low-income communities, raising questions about "digital redlining" by ISPs. Why the difference in the US? You may find it surprising that the high cost of the internet in the US isn’t necessarily replicated in other countries. According to a study by the New America Foundation , US consumers pay the highest average costs for broadband compared across all studied regions. The average cost of internet service in the UK sits at around £27 ($34) a month, while the US averages $63 in monthly internet costs -- not including hidden fees , equipment costs and those yearly price hikes. Some researchers point to the concentration of US markets compared to the UK, noting that the concentrated telecommunication industry warrants high internet costs and low capital expenditures from both a consumer and investor perspective. Others point to the tendency of US policy to favor larger ISPs, limiting competition and driving up prices. “According to the New America Foundation, Americans pay the most for broadband in any country in the OECD," Dr Ali told CNET. "We’re averaging somewhere between $74 and $84 a month – and there is no technological reason why costs are this high. Zero. It is entirely price-gouging.” The size of internet companies like AT&T, Google , Verizon and T-Mobile is staggering when you consider not only how sizable their footprints are but also how much of the infrastructure (from undersea cables to vast middle-mile fiber networks) they own. Although there are countless other local providers, many have to pay network fees to larger providers to use parts of the "middle mile" for internet services. Plus, it's often easier for those bigger companies to buy out another company and merge their networks than to build out a new network. For example, Verizon purchased Frontier Fiber earlier this year in an attempt to expand its Verizon Fios fiber internet brand. Brightspeed edged into the playing field by buying parts of CenturyLink’s DSL network in 2022, and Charter (Spectrum) bought Time Warner Cable in 2016. Fixed wireless internet services might make a difference So far, we’ve mostly discussed wired internet services, which are tricky networks to establish because of zoning, equipment and labor costs. What about other internet connection types , like satellite or 5G home internet ? Although a fixed wireless internet service is generally touted as a solution to broadband accessibility, since it’s easier to establish than a wired network, there are only a handful of big companies that dominate the fixed wireless internet market, namely, Starlink , T-Mobile and Verizon. Starlink, which edged into the satellite internet market in 2020, established itself as a top name in satellite internet by deploying roughly 6,000 low-Earth-orbit satellites and offering speeds up to 220Mbps and relatively low latency (the time it takes for data to get to the server and back). In contrast, competitors Hughesnet and Viasat fall behind with speeds that top out at 100 and 150Mbps, respectively. T-Mobile presents a popular alternative to rural internet with its network of high-powered cell sites and licensed 5G frequencies. To date, T-Mobile has the largest footprint of any single US internet provider, thanks to the reach of those frequencies. The catch? Starlink costs roughly $120 a month, not including the hefty up-front cost of satellite equipment, which runs $349 for the basic package. By comparison, T-Mobile offers a much more competitive price. For $50 monthly, you can get speeds typically around 72 to 245Mbps. There’s no equipment rental charge, just the $35 activation fee you pay when you start service. But although both Starlink and T-Mobile are popular choices for people with limited internet access, neither provider can offer a consistent speed of 300Mbps over a fixed wireless internet connection, which is why, though neither provider enforces a data cap , your speeds will likely be throttled during peak congestion periods. You won’t see the quick, consistent gigabit speeds that you’d get from a cable or fiber internet provider ( or at least, not yet ). Additionally, over 1 million people are on a waitlist for T-Mobile services, delayed due to network capacity. The internet services offered by Starlink and T-Mobile are an attractive alternative to solving internet accessibility in underserved or hard-to-reach areas, but the quality of those internet connections and the affordability of monthly prices, equipment and additional fees, are an imperative consideration. What does this all mean for you and me? So, what’s being done to ease internet connectivity and affordability? How can we ensure that people have more than one or two options for internet service and that the costs of that internet stay low? No one really has the answers yet. Since the ILSR published its findings on telecom and cable internet monopolies, Congress portioned $90 billion towards bridging the digital divide. That money was split among various groups, including the Tribal Connectivity Program , but most of it has been funneled into the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program -- the largest investment that the federal government has made in internet accessibility. The Affordable Connectivity Program , which offered over 23 million low-income Americans a monthly discount between $30 to $75 monthly, was perhaps the most significant attempt at ensuring accessible, high-speed internet nationwide. After the ACP ended in May 2024, policymakers disagreed over how to ensure ISPs offer low-cost plans to their customers. So far, BEAD funding has become tangled with competing interests about how best to use it -- including disagreements with the organization tasked with administering BEAD funding, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration . The NTIA set guidelines for ensuring a low-cost plan with a baseline cost of $30 monthly, but many states have already planned a price increase for that baseline . Besides, with the incoming Trump presidency, many Republican lawmakers have urged the FCC to halt new BEAD work, while others still have promised to overhaul program efforts entirely . Plus, Musk's unique position as a satellite internet company owner and incumbent governmental advisor presents Starlink with an obvious advantage going forward. “Elon Musk will be the most important force in telecom regulation," Levin told CNET. "He owns a satellite company. So what is it that the satellite company wants out of the BEAD program?” While a new administration prepares to take the reins, the plight of internet monopolies, high monthly internet costs and lack of adequate connectivity still hangs in the balance. In the meantime, the most you can do to trim down your monthly internet costs is to either reduce your monthly data consumption or switch internet providers entirely, if you can.Kroger and Albertsons' plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history crumbled Wednesday, with Albertsons pulling out of the $24.6 billion deal and the two companies accusing each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through. Albertsons said it had filed a lawsuit against Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger said the claims were “baseless” and that Albertsons was not entitled to the fee. “After reviewing options, the company determined it is no longer in its best interests to pursue the merger,” Kroger said in a statement Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after two judges halted the proposed merger in separate court cases. U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson in Oregon issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday blocking the merger until an in-house judge at the Federal Trade Commission could consider the matter. An hour later, Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson in Seattle issued a permanent injunction barring the merger . Ferguson ruled that combining Albertsons and Kroger would lessen competition and violate consumer-protection laws. The companies could have appealed the rulings or proceeded to the in-house FTC hearings. Albertsons' decision to pull out of deal instead surprised some industry experts. “I’m in a state of professional and commercial shock that they would take this scorched earth approach,” said Burt Flickinger, a longtime analyst and owner of retail consulting firm Strategic Resource Group. “The logical thing would have been for Albertsons to let the decision sink in for a day and then meet and see what could be done. But the lawsuit seems to make that a moot issue.” Albertsons is unlikely to find another merger partner because it has significant debt and underperforming stores in most of its markets., Flickinger said. Consumers will feel the most immediate impact of the deal's demise, he said, since Albertsons charges 12% to 14% more than Kroger and other grocery rivals. “They had so much debt they had to pay it off it's reflected in their pricing and promotional structure,” Flickinger said. Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran testified during the federal hearing in September that his company might consider “structural options” like laying off employees, closing stores and exiting certain markets if the merger with Kroger didn’t go through. “I would have to consider that,” he said. “It’s a dramatically different picture with the merger than without it.” But in a statement Wednesday, Sankaran said Albertsons would “start this next chapter in strong financial condition with a track record of positive business performance." In the company's most recent quarter, Albertsons' revenue rose 1% to $18.5 billion and it reported $7.9 billion in debt. Kroger said it would also move forward in a strong financial position, with revenue down slightly to $33.6 billion in its most recent quarter. The company announced a $7.5 billion share buyback program Wednesday after a two-year pause. Kroger and Albertsons first proposed the merger in 2022 . They argued that combining would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, which are gaining an increasing share of U.S. grocery sales. Together, Kroger and Albertsons would control around 13% of the U.S. grocery market. Walmart controls around 22%. Under the merger agreement, Kroger and Albertsons — who compete in 22 states — agreed to sell 579 stores in places where their locations overlap to C&S Wholesale Grocers , a New Hampshire-based supplier to independent supermarkets that also owns the Grand Union and Piggly Wiggly store brands. But the Federal Trade Commission and two states — Washington and Colorado — sued to block the merger earlier this year, saying it would raise prices and lower workers' wages by eliminating competition. It also said the divestiture plan was inadequate and that C&S was ill-equipped to take on so many stores. On Wednesday, Albertsons said that Kroger failed to exercise “best efforts” and to take “any and all actions” to secure regulatory approval of the companies’ agreed merger transaction. Albertsons said Kroger refused to divest the assets necessary for antitrust approval, ignored regulators' feedback and rejected divestiture buyers that would have been stronger than C&S. “Kroger’s self-serving conduct, taken at the expense of Albertsons and the agreed transaction, has harmed Albertsons’ shareholders, associates and consumers,” said Tom Moriarty, Albertsons’ general counsel, in a statement. Kroger said that it disagrees with Albertsons “in the strongest possible terms.” It said early Wednesday that Albertsons was responsible for “repeated intentional material breaches and interference throughout the merger process.” Kroger , based in Cincinnati, Ohio, operates 2,800 stores in 35 states, including brands like Ralphs, Smith’s and Harris Teeter. Albertsons , based in Boise, Idaho, operates 2,273 stores in 34 states, including brands like Safeway, Jewel Osco and Shaw’s. Together, the companies employ around 710,000 people. Kroger sued the FTC in August in federal court in Ohio, claiming that the federal agency’s in-house administrative hearings were unlawful because the FTC was also able to challenge the merger in federal court in Oregon. In paperwork filed Wednesday, the FTC said it expected to update the court on its next steps in that case by Dec. 17. In Colorado, which also sued to block the merger, Attorney General Phil Weiser said Tuesday that he still was awaiting a decision from a state judge. In that case, Colorado also was challenging an allegedly illegal no-poach agreement Kroger and Albertsons made during a 2022 strike. Shares of Albertsons fell 1.5% Wednesday, while Kroger's stock was up 1%.
The Boxing Day Test is currently slightly tilted in Australia's favour, but India managed to pull things back on Day 3. The IND vs AUS 4th Test 2024 is being played at The Melbourne Cricket Ground and starts at 4:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST). The broadcasting rights for the IND vs AUS Test 2024 are with Star Sports Network and will provide live telecast viewing options on Star Sports TV channels. Fans can switch over to the Disney+Hotstar for the live streaming viewing option of IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 of the BGT 2024-25 series on their app and website, which will need a subscription. ‘One of The Best Centuries Under Pressure’: Fans Praise Nitish Kumar Reddy For His Heroic Century During IND vs AUS 4th Test 2024 . #NitishKumarReddy 's scintillating 💯 highlights Day 3 of the #BoxingDayTest ! 🙌🏻 #AUSvINDOnStar 👉 4th Test, Day 4 | SUN, 29th DEC, 4:30 AM | #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/HG9PoGTJWu — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 28, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
The Louisville Cardinals host a ranked team for the second time this week when the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils pay a visit on Sunday, and the Cardinals hope for a better outcome in the teams' Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Louisville (5-3) has lost two straight, including an 86-63 thrashing at home by No. 23 Ole Miss in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Tuesday. The visiting Rebels shot 56.7 percent and dominated inside with a 48-26 edge on points in the paint. Tuesday's game was the first for coach Pat Kelsey's team without Kasean Pryor, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Oklahoma in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game. The 6-foot-10 senior wing, a transfer from South Florida, was a key player early on for Louisville, averaging 12 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and blocking eight shots in seven games. Pryor is the latest Cardinals player to go down with an injury. Before the season started, the school announced center Aly Khalifa and guard Kobe Rodgers would redshirt due to injuries. Then just two games into the season, Aboubacar Traore broke his arm and Koren Johnson injured his shoulder. Traore is expected back this season, but Johnson announced earlier this week that he would also redshirt this season and undergo surgery. Besides the injuries, the Cardinals are also struggling to hit 3-point shots, a key facet to Kelsey's offense. Louisville entered Saturday 340th nationally in 3-point shooting percentage at 27.3 percent and seventh nationally averaging 31.6 attempts per game. Despite the woes, Kelsey told reporters after the Ole Miss loss that he doesn't plan to change his offense, adding that he believes in his players. "The percentages even themselves out," he said. "This has happened before. I just don't want our guys to lose confidence, because I really, really believe in them. They'll bounce back and be better on Sunday." The Blue Devils (6-2) won their SEC/ACC Challenge game on Wednesday, beating No. 2 Auburn 84-78 in Durham. Duke overcame a 13-2 deficit to get the Quadrant 1 victory on its resume. Coach Jon Scheyer's team shot 50 percent from the field and committed just four turnovers. It was just the 14th time in program history the Blue Devils had four or fewer turnovers in a game. Freshman Cooper Flagg, a preseason All-American and a contender for national player of the year awards, leads the Blue Devils in scoring (16.6 ppg), rebounding (8.6 rpg), assists (4.1 apg) and blocked shots (1.4 per game). He scored 22, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out four assists in the win against the Tigers, but it was another freshman who stole the show. Isaiah Evans came off the bench to score 18 points and hit 6 of 8 3-point shots. The guard averages 9.4 points per game but has only played in five games and has yet to play more than 17 minutes in a contest. Scheyer told reporters after the win that Evans provided a "special moment" when his team needed a lift. "To have that amazing courage to come into this game and do what he did -- I'm not sure if I've ever been a part of something like that in my years here," Scheyer said. --Field Level Media
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NoneThe Ministry of Labour (MoL), in collaboration with Microsoft, announced the launch of MOL360 Initiative, on Wednesday. This marks a key milestone in the Ministry's digital transformation journey and a significant step towards achieving the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030. This strategic collaboration underscores the MoL's commitment to revolutionizing labour market operations and setting new standards for excellence in public sector innovation. By leveraging Microsofts state-of-the-art cloud and AI technologies, including the advanced capabilities of Azure OpenAI, the MOL360 Initiative will introduce a comprehensive, secure platform designed to provide unprecedented insights into the labour market. Furthermore, enabling data-driven decision-making and forecasting future trends will enhance workforce planning, improve employment services, and promote transparency across Qatar's labour sector. Assistant Undersecretary for Migrant Labour at the Ministry of Labour, Sheikha Najwa al-Thani, emphasized that the MOL360 initiative represents a significant milestone in the journey toward digital excellence and innovation, underlining that by leveraging the latest technological advancements in collaboration with Microsoft, MoL is empowering Qatar's labour market with the tools to drive efficiency, enhance transparency, and foster informed decision-making. This initiative also aligns with Qatar's broader vision for digital transformation and reaffirms our commitment to building a sustainable and future-ready workforce. The MOL360 Initiative includes the implementation of the 360 Platform, a unified system designed to seamlessly integrate internal and external services for ministry employees and clients. This platform will enable ministry employees to manage their daily tasks more efficiently, including human resources, IT support, and correspondence, all within a centralized system. It will also provide personalized services tailored to the unique needs of individuals and organizations, offering features such as real-time communication with the ministry via live chat and surveys, as well as automated reminders for critical requirements such as Qatarisation levels. Additionally, the platforms advanced analytics capabilities will deliver valuable insights into the labour market, empowering organizations to make data-driven decisions. To safeguard sensitive information, Microsoft has implemented robust privacy and security measures, ensuring strict compliance with international best practices and local regulatory requirements, she highlighted. General Manager of Microsoft Qatar, Lana Khalaf, said she is thrilled to collaborate with MoL on the MOL360 initiative, emphasizing that this groundbreaking platform harnesses the power of Microsoft's latest cloud and AI technologies to revolutionize labour market operations in Qatar. Additionally, by providing a secure and data-driven environment, MOL360 will empower MoL to make informed decisions, enhance service delivery, and create a more agile and responsive labour market. This initiative aligns perfectly with Qatar's National Vision 2030 and the National Digital Agenda, setting new standards for excellence in public sector innovation. Strategic Planning and Digital Transformation Advisor at the Ministers Office, Salim al-Barami, explained that this initiative represents a transformative approach to conceptualizing and implementing government portals, placing human experience at the centre. He noted that by harnessing cutting-edge technologies such as Large Language Models (LLMs) and graph knowledge, the solution caters to a wide spectrum of users, including Ministry employees, citizens aspiring to join the private sector, and expatriates managing or owning businesses. The 360 Platform personalizes its services to each users role and needs, ensuring a seamless, user-centric experience that fosters innovation, inclusivity, and efficiency. Related Story Microsoft unveils new features to increase Edge’s Overall Performance