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Nittany Lions will face No. 1 Oregon next Saturday in Indianapolis
Thousands of Afghans on Thursday attended the funeral of the refugees minister, AFP journalists saw, after he was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul the day before in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. The Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, was killed on Wednesday afternoon in a suicide bombing at the ministry's offices in the Afghan capital. Thousands of men, many of them armed, gathered for Haqqani's funeral in his home village of Sarana, in a mountainous area of Paktia province, south of Kabul. The funeral included heavy security, with armoured vehicles, snipers and personnel manning the area and the road from Kabul, which was jammed with hundreds of cars as mourners travelled from surrounding provinces. Senior Taliban officials, including the Chief of Army Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, and Maulawi Abdul Kabir, political deputy of the prime minister's office, attended the funeral, according to an AFP team on site. The deceased's nephew, the powerful interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, also attended, along with foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. In a speech there, Muttaqi said the latest IS attacks had been planned "abroad", denouncing, without naming them, "countries harbouring" the organisation. "We call on all nations to work together to stop the common enemy, which does not recognise any kind of morality." In September, the Taliban authorities said IS had training camps in Balochistan province of Pakistan, which also regularly faces jihadist attacks. Haqqani, the highest ranked member of the Taliban government to be killed in an attack since their return to power, "was a big loss for us, the system and the nation", said Paktia resident Hedayatullah, 22. More from this section "May God protect our other leaders and keep them victorious." "Our leader... who had his life brutally taken away, achieved martyrdom," said Bostan, 53, haranguing the "cowardly attack" that killed Haqqani. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan condemned the attack on Thursday, offering condolences to the victims' families. "There can be no place for terrorism in the quest for stability," the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on X. The European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the attack, along with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran. Haqqani -- who is on US and UN sanctions lists and never appeared without an automatic weapon in his hand -- was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the feared Haqqani network responsible for some of the most violent attacks during the Taliban's two-decade insurgency. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a bomber detonated an explosive vest inside the ministry, according to a statement on its Amaq news agency, as translated by the SITE Intelligence Group. Taliban authorities had already blamed IS for the "cowardly attack" -- the first targeting a minister since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Violence has waned in Afghanistan since the Taliban forces took over the country that year, ending their war against US-led NATO coalition forces. However, the regional chapter of IS, known as Islamic State Khorasan, is active in Afghanistan and has regularly targeted civilians, foreigners and Taliban officials with gun and bomb attacks. bur-qb-sw/nro
In the latest Italian Serie A standings, Udinese has finally put an end to their 5-match winless streak, gaining momentum as they closely trail behind AC Milan by just a 2-point difference. The recent performance of Udinese has been nothing short of impressive, showcasing their resilience and determination to climb up the league table.
The timing of the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th CCDI is significant as it comes at a time when China is facing complex domestic and international challenges. By reaffirming the party's commitment to discipline and integrity, the meeting aims to strengthen the party's leadership, boost public confidence, and foster a clean and efficient government.Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown could miss 2025 season after latest knee injury, coach says
Spears' 31 lead UTSA past Houston Christian 78-71
LOS ANGELES — The partnership between the NFL and Jay-Z and his entertainment company, Roc Nation, won't change despite a woman accusing the rapper and business mogul of raping her when she was 13 years old, league commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, was added as a defendant Sunday to a civil lawsuit filed against fellow hip-hop star Sean "Diddy" Combs in U.S. District Court in New York. The complaint, originally filed in October, now alleges that the two men raped the 13-year-old at a party after the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000. Combs and Jay-Z have denied the accusations, with the latter issuing a lengthy statement Sunday vowing to fight the "idiotic" charges. Goodell addressed the issue with reporters following the conclusion of the NFL owners meetings in Irving, Texas. "We're aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z's really strong response to that," Goodell said. "And we know obviously the litigation's happening now. And from our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl." In 2019, Roc Nation signed a deal with the NFL to consult on live music entertainment and social justice issues. The partnership has resulted in several well-received Super Bowl halftime shows — including performances by the Weeknd, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez as co-headliners, Rihanna and a West Coast hip-hop lineup that featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and more — and was renewed in October. Kendrick Lamar, the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper who had three Billboard No. 1 hits in 2024, will be the halftime performer at Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Music superstar Beyoncé, who is Jay-Z's wife, will perform during halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas Day on Netflix. "I think they're getting incredibly comfortable with not just the Super Bowl but other events they've advised us on, helped us with," Goodell said of Roc Nation. "They've been helpful in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They've been great partners that have provided a lot of great value for us." Combs has been charged by federal prosecutors with crimes including sex trafficking and racketeering. No co-conspirators have been named, but the prosecutors have stated their investigation is ongoing. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.As Amazon's Global Store division continues to grow and evolve, the opening of the Nanjing office marks a significant milestone in the company's journey to better serve its Chinese customers. By providing a seamless shopping experience, a diverse product selection, and exceptional customer service, Amazon is well-positioned to solidify its position as a preferred destination for online shopping in China.
The donation from ByteDance has been welcomed by scholars, students, and cultural enthusiasts across China. Many have praised the company for its commitment to supporting academic research and cultural preservation. By investing in projects like the compilation of "The Analects," ByteDance is not only helping to preserve China's cultural heritage but also promoting dialogue and understanding between different cultures.Making a $1B investment in the US? Trump pledges expedited permits — but there are hurdles WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is promising expedited federal permits for energy projects and other construction worth more than $1 billion. But like other Trump plans, the idea is likely to run into regulatory and legislative hurdles, including a landmark law that requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impact before deciding on major projects. Environmental groups called the plan a clear violation of the National Environmental Policy Act. The chief policy advocacy officer at the Natural Resources Defense Council says Trump should be careful what he wishes for. She said, "What if someone wants to build a waste incinerator next to Mar-a-Lago or a coal mine next to Bedminster golf course?” Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named Andrew Ferguson to be the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission. Ferguson is already one of the FTC's five commissioners. He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday evening that Ferguson has “a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country.” The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. Proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons is halted by federal, state judges The proposed $24.6 billion merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons floundered on Tuesday after judges overseeing two separate cases both halted the merger. A federal judge in Oregon temporarily blocked the proposed merger until an in-house administrative judge at the Federal Trade Commission considers it. Shortly afterward, a judge in Washington state issued a permanent injunction barring the merger in that state, saying it lessens competition. Kroger and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history. But the Federal Trade Commission and the state of Washington sued earlier this year. Kroger and Albertsons said Tuesday they are disappointed in the decisions and are reviewing their options. Biden says he was 'stupid' not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he was “stupid” not to put his own name on pandemic relief checks in 2021, like Donald Trump had done in 2020. He noted Tuesday in a speech at the Brookings Institution that Trump likely got credit for helping people out through this simple, effective act of branding. Biden did the second-guessing as he defended his economic record and challenged Trump to preserve Democratic policy ideas when he returns to the White House next month. Trump’s decision to add his name to the checks sent by the U.S. Treasury to millions of Americans struggling during the coronavirus marked the first time a president’s name appeared on any IRS payments. Former chairman of state-owned bank China Everbright Group jailed for 12 years for corruption BEIJING (AP) — Chinese official broadcaster CCTV says a former chairman of the state-owned bank China Everbright Group has been jailed 12 years for embezzlement and bribery. Tang Shuangning, who had also held senior posts at the People’s Bank of China and the China Banking Regulatory Commission, was arrested in January, part of a wider wave of prosecutions of senior officials accused of financial crimes. A court in the city of Tangshan, about 100 miles east of Beijing, found him guilty of taking advantage of his position at the state-owned bank in “seeking convenience for others” in jobs and loans, in exchange for illegal payments. The court said he had accepted illegal property with a total value of more than $1.5 million. Trustee over Infowars auction asks court to approve The Onion's winning bid A trustee who oversaw the bankruptcy auction of Alex Jones’ Infowars is asking a judge to approve The Onion’s winning bid for the conspiracy-filled platform. Trustee Christopher Murray took the stand Tuesday in the second day of testimony at a hearing where a judge is scrutinizing the satirical news outlet’s winning offer. He told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston that he was there asking a court to approve the sale of Infowars’ parent company to The Onion’s parent company. It is not clear how quickly Lopez will rule. The Onion wants to turn Infowars’ website and social media accounts into parodies. GM to retreat from robotaxis and stop funding its Cruise autonomous vehicle unit DETROIT (AP) — General Motors says it will retreat from the robotaxi business and stop funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. Instead the Detroit automaker will focus on development of partially automated driver-assist systems like its Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. In a statement Tuesday, GM said it would get out of robotaxis due to what it described as the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market. What did you Google in 2024? From the elections to Copa América, here's what search trends show NEW YORK (AP) — Remember what you searched for in 2024? Google does. Google has released its annual “Year in Search," rounding up 2024's top trending searches. It shows terms that saw the highest spike in traffic compared to last year. Sports — particularly soccer and cricket — dominated overall search trends, led by queries for Copa América, the UEFA European Championship and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, the U.S. election led news-specific searches worldwide. Queries about excessive heat and this year’s Olympic Games followed. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump topped searches in Google’s people category this year — followed by Catherine, Princess of Wales, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. US defense secretary in Japan to support alliance as Osprey aircraft safety causes concern TOKYO (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has met with officials in Japan to reaffirm the importance of their alliance and Washington's commitment to regional security as threats rise from China and North Korea. Austin’s visit on Tuesday also came amid growing concerns over the safety of Ospreys. The military aircraft have been grounded in the United States following a near crash at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico last month. The incident was caused by weakened metal components. It was similar to a fatal crash off southwestern Japan last year. The U.S. measure prompted the suspension of Ospreys operated by Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force. Small businesses plan events, start marketing earlier to deal with shorter holiday shopping season The holiday shopping season is underway, and this year small businesses have less time to capitalize on the busy shopping period. Only 27 days separate Thanksgiving and Christmas — five fewer than last year. But there are still ways to make the most of a shorter season. One key strategy is for owners to promote deals to customers wherever they can, from social media to physical ads. The National Retail Federation predicts that retail sales will rise between 2.5% and 3.5% compared with same period a year ago. Online shopping is expected to grow too. Adobe Digital Insights predicts an 8.4% increase online for the full season.
AP Business SummaryBrief at 6:36 p.m. EST
Keep Those Leftover Ham Bones To Enhance Winter's Most Comforting DishMeanwhile, the other customers in the shop were abuzz with chatter. Some whispered excitedly to their friends, while others stole glances at Zhang Zuo, trying to play it cool but unable to hide their admiration. Cameras flashed as people captured the moment, eager to document this unexpected encounter.APPLE has the slowest revenue growth among Big Tech stocks and is facing tariff-related risks going into Donald Trump’s second term. None of that is holding back the stock. The shares are up almost 10 per cent in the past month, making Apple one of the best performers in the so-called Magnificent 7 after Tesla during the period. The recent gains come despite a tepid response to the latest iPhone model and a disappointing earnings report in late October. Investors seem remarkably calm about these headwinds, with the CBOE Apple VIX – which tracks estimated future volatility – recently touching its lowest in nearly a year. “It is definitely a head scratcher that the stock is doing so well with China being in the state it’s in, and with the geopolitical face-off we are entering,” said Andrew Choi, portfolio manager at Parnassus Investments. “It’s surprising the stock has not been more volatile given these are existential issues involving a material part of its business.” The severity and timing of tariffs under president-elect Trump remains unclear, but restrictions are expected to particularly target China, where the majority of Apple’s devices are made. While there is optimism that chief executive officer Tim Cook will manage this risk, as he did during Trump’s first term, Jefferies analysts calculated that a worst-case scenario could add US$256 of cost per iPhone. Any extra tariff-related costs would come at a bad time for Apple, which has seen lukewarm demand for its artificial intelligence (AI) powered iPhone, dashing hopes that the new models would lead to a long-awaited re-acceleration of growth. Revenue growth has been negative in five of the company’s past eight quarters. While it’s expected to pick up next year, the pace is seen below that of other megacaps, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. “The hoped-for iPhone 16 replacement cycle boost has not materialised, with expectations pushed back to the iPhone 17 now,” said Richard Clode, a portfolio manager for Janus Henderson Investors’ Global Technology Leaders Fund. “The market, having skewed too bearish earlier this year, is probably a bit too optimistic here.” Some Apple investors do not seem fazed. They are betting that Apple will ultimately come out as a winner from AI and that Cook will again manage to dodge most of the tariffs imposed on China. They also like the stock’s defensive traits. The company is not dedicating as much in capital expenditures towards AI, especially in comparison with Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, and Amazon.com, which are dropping tens of billions of US dollars building out their AI infrastructure. Instead, Apple is expected to benefit from others’ spending, as major AI platforms vie to be incorporated into Apple’s ecosystem. “Apple is going to be how AI is brought to millions of consumers,” Parnassus Investments’ Choi said. “It is so advantaged by owning the chokepoint between AI and the consumer.” The company also offers significant quality characteristics, including massive free cash flow and steady buybacks, according to Greg Halter, director of research for the Carnegie Investment Counsel. He counts Apple as his largest position, though said he has been trimming it given concerns over its valuation and growth. He’s also sceptical on AI iPhone demand. “It is expensive, and I don’t see how you can argue that it isn’t, unless you really believe a supercycle in AI iPhones is going to really bump up revenue and earnings growth over the coming years,” Halter said. “Really, what is going to drive the stock higher from here?” The shares trade at nearly 33 times forward earnings, more than 50 per cent above their 10-year average. In a sign of how the multiple is causing some to sour, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has been slashing its stake in Apple, as have hedge funds. Meanwhile, fewer than two-thirds of analysts tracked by Bloomberg recommend buying the stock, making it significantly less popular than other megacaps. And while only three of 60 analysts recommend selling, the average price target near US$243 suggests that Wall Street does not see the stock, which was trading modestly lower at US$246.38 on Tuesday (Dec 10), going anywhere over the next 12 months. BLOOMBERG