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Jimmy Carter, the 39th president and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has died at 100Kansas City 30, Carolina 27Destination Jamaica to be streamed on several digital platformsBill Hall, 71, has been fighting for his life for 38 years. These days, he’s feeling worn out. Hall contracted HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS, in 1986. Since then, he’s battled depression, heart disease, diabetes, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney cancer, and prostate cancer. This past year, Hall has been hospitalized five times with dangerous infections and life-threatening internal bleeding. But that’s only part of what Hall, a gay man, has dealt with. Hall was born into the Tlingit tribe in a small fishing village in Alaska. He was separated from his family at age 9 and sent to a government boarding school. There, he told me, he endured years of bullying and sexual abuse that “killed my spirit.” Because of the trauma, Hall said, he’s never been able to form an intimate relationship. He contracted HIV from anonymous sex at bath houses he used to visit. He lives alone in Seattle and has been on his own throughout his adult life. “It’s really difficult to maintain a positive attitude when you’re going through so much,” said Hall, who works with Native American community organizations. “You become mentally exhausted.” It’s a sentiment shared by many older LGBTQ+ adults — most of whom, like Hall, are trying to manage on their own. Of the 3 million Americans over age 50 who identify as gay, bisexual, or transgender, about twice as many are single and living alone when compared with their heterosexual counterparts, according to the National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging. This slice of the older population is expanding rapidly. By 2030, the number of LGBTQ+ seniors is expected to double. Many won’t have partners and most won’t have children or grandchildren to help care for them, AARP research indicates. They face a daunting array of problems, including higher-than-usual rates of anxiety and depression, chronic stress, disability, and chronic illnesses such as heart disease, according to numerous research studies. High rates of smoking, alcohol use, and drug use — all ways people try to cope with stress — contribute to poor health. Keep in mind, this generation grew up at a time when every state outlawed same-sex relations and when the American Psychiatric Association identified homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder. Many were rejected by their families and their churches when they came out. Then, they endured the horrifying impact of the AIDS crisis. “Dozens of people were dying every day,” Hall said. “Your life becomes going to support groups, going to visit friends in the hospital, going to funerals.” It’s no wonder that LGBTQ+ seniors often withdraw socially and experience isolation more commonly than other older adults. “There was too much grief, too much anger, too much trauma — too many people were dying,” said Vincent Crisostomo, director of aging services for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. “It was just too much to bear.” In an AARP survey of 2,200 LGBTQ+ adults 45 or older this year, 48% said they felt isolated from others and 45% reported lacking companionship. Almost 80% reported being concerned about having adequate social support as they grow older. Embracing aging isn’t easy for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for LGBTQ+ seniors who are long-term HIV survivors like Hall. Of 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States, about half are over age 50. By 2030, that’s estimated to rise to 70%. Christopher Christensen, 72, of Palm Springs, California, has been HIV-positive since May 1981 and is deeply involved with local organizations serving HIV survivors. “A lot of people living with HIV never thought they’d grow old — or planned for it — because they thought they would die quickly,” Christensen said. Jeff Berry is executive director of the Reunion Project , an alliance of long-term HIV survivors. “Here people are who survived the AIDS epidemic, and all these years later their health issues are getting worse and they’re losing their peers again,” Berry said. “And it’s triggering this post-traumatic stress that’s been underlying for many, many years. Yes, it’s part of getting older. But it’s very, very hard.” Being on their own, without people who understand how the past is informing current challenges, can magnify those difficulties. “Not having access to supports and services that are both LGBTQ-friendly and age-friendly is a real hardship for many,” said Christina DaCosta, chief experience officer at SAGE , the nation’s largest and oldest organization for older LGBTQ+ adults. Diedra Nottingham, a 74-year-old gay woman, lives alone in a one-bedroom apartment in Stonewall House, an LGBTQ+-friendly elder housing complex in New York City. “I just don’t trust people,“ she said. “And I don’t want to get hurt, either, by the way people attack gay people.” When I first spoke to Nottingham in 2022, she described a post-traumatic-stress-type reaction to so many people dying of covid-19 and the fear of becoming infected. This was a common reaction among older people who are gay, bisexual, or transgender and who bear psychological scars from the AIDS epidemic. Nottingham was kicked out of her house by her mother at age 14 and spent the next four years on the streets. The only sibling she talks with regularly lives across the country in Seattle. Four partners whom she’d remained close with died in short order in 1999 and 2000, and her last partner passed away in 2003. When I talked to her in September, Nottingham said she was benefiting from weekly therapy sessions and time spent with a volunteer “friendly visitor” arranged by SAGE. Yet she acknowledged: “I don’t like being by myself all the time the way I am. I’m lonely.” Donald Bell, a 74-year-old gay Black man who is co-chair of the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging, lives alone in a studio apartment in subsidized LGBTQ+-friendly senior housing in Chicago. He spent 30 years caring for two elderly parents who had serious health issues, while he was also a single father, raising two sons he adopted from a niece. Bell has very little money, he said, because he left work as a higher-education administrator to care for his parents. “The cost of health care bankrupted us,” he said. (According to SAGE, one-third of older LGBTQ+ adults live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.) He has hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and nerve damage in his feet. These days, he walks with a cane. To his great regret, Bell told me, he’s never had a long-term relationship. But he has several good friends in his building and in the city. “Of course I experience loneliness,” Bell said when we spoke in June. “But the fact that I am a Black man who has lived to 74, that I have not been destroyed, that I have the sanctity of my own life and my own person is a victory and something for which I am grateful.” Now he wants to be a model to younger gay men and accept aging rather than feeling stuck in the past. “My past is over,” Bell said, “and I must move on.”
DAVIS, California — A scientist guides a long tube into the mouth and down to the stomach of Thing 1, a two-month-old calf that is part of a research project aiming to prevent cows from burping methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Paulo de Meo Filho, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis, is part of an ambitious experiment aiming to develop a pill to transform cow gut bacteria so it emits less or no methane. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.
Harris dismisses ‘project fear’ approach to Sinn FéinMusk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key electionsA bed and breakfast owner in Pontlliw has raised concerns that a proposed solar power plant which will be "50 metres away" from her son’s home will not only badly affect her business but also her and her family’s health. The proposed Penllergaer Solar Park will be spread over 107 hectares of land, across three parcels of land on the edge of the Penllergaer Forest, to the east of Pontlliw, south of Felindre and north of Tircoed and the M4 motorway. The developer behind the plant, Elements Green, claims that the proposed project has the potential to provide enough clean, affordable energy for more than 19,000 homes and avoiding more than 16,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year. But Christine Lannaghan, who runs the Brynawel Farm B&B which has been in her family for generations, is worried about the plant’s impact on her business. She said: “I run a very successful bed and breakfast, we get tourists from all over the world. We got 19 different nationalities this year alone, and they all come to enjoy and admire the views. Now, this proposed solar farm is absolutely enormous. It is taking over two complete farms and it's going to end up completely surrounding us. We are like an oasis in the middle of it. So it's going to absolutely decimate my business, that's the first problem I have with it." A spokesperson for Elements Green has stated: "As with all Elements Green projects, the visual impact of the proposed Penllergaer Solar Park is being carefully managed to minimise disruption to the natural beauty of the area, which is crucial for businesses reliant on tourism. The project incorporates a landscape-sensitive design, including low-profile and well-spaced solar arrays that follow the natural contours of the land. This approach avoids dense and uninterrupted blocks of panels, maintaining key sightlines.” They added that a ‘significant’ number of new native trees will be planted as a part of the development — increasing the number of trees at the site and around 2.7 kilometres of new native hedges will be planted to create green buffers, screening the solar park from view while enhancing biodiversity. For the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here . However, Christine is also worried about the potential health impact of the solar plant. She said: “The second problem I have with it is that we all live on the farm. We are three different families living on this farm. My son and his wife live in separate accommodation and this is going to be literally 50 metres away from their house.” “My daughter, who also lives here with her family, has three small children. The eldest is 11, and they go down to six. Now, I've been researching this situation, and it's recommended, it's not a law, but it's recommended that a small solar farm should not be closer than 200m from dwellings and larger ones should not be closer than 500m from dwellings. This is going to be 50 meters from our dwellings... and it is also suggested that it's not good for young children to be close to them for a length of time when my grandchildren are living here,” she added. An Elements green spokesperson said: “The proposed site is primarily surrounded by agricultural and forestry land, ensuring minimal impact on residential areas. To protect residential amenity, no noise-generating equipment will be placed within 50 metres of homes. Careful site planning and preventative measures are being implemented to preserve the tranquillity and character of the area for nearby residents.” They also asserted that the plant will not have an adverse health effect. They said: “The solar panels proposed for Penllergaer will fully comply with all industry standards and safety regulations. Comprehensive research and scientific studies have consistently shown no evidence of adverse health effects from solar panels or battery energy storage systems (BESS). The project prioritises community safety and health, ensuring that all technologies used are thoroughly tested and adhere to the highest standards of environmental and public health protection.” However, Christine said she felt there hasn’t been proper public consultation regarding the project. She said: “I have had an email off them last week, but I'm sure that's only because I got the MP involved in it. But they still haven't made arrangements to have a meeting. They wanted to do it through Teams and I told them no. I wanted face to face. I want them to stand here and see exactly how close everything is going to be.” Upon being contacted by WalesOnline regarding Christine’s request, Elements Green spokesperson said: “Elements Green has been made aware of the resident you mention and will be reaching out to meet with them at their residence, as requested.” Christine added: “We have a big village hall and we have meetings. Well, they didn't intend to have a meeting. They were going to have meetings in two other villages which are not going to be as impacted as Pontlliw, but they reckon that they couldn't get a suitable time. I’m positive that's not true. I think they just didn't want to have the meeting because they're trying to keep people in the dark about it. They have now said that they are going to have a meeting in the new year.” An Elements Green spokesperson said:” Consultation with the local community and neighbours of a development site is of great importance to us. This is why we have met with local Community Council’s several times so far, as part of the early planning preparation process, including Pontlliw and Tircoed Community Council. We would never progress a planning application without first appropriately consulting with the public. We consider both venue availability and accessibility when choosing the locations for our consultation events.” “We will be holding community consultation events early in the New Year where the development proposals will be on display and our development team will be available to meet and discuss the proposals. We are of course open to making amendments to the scheme where it can be improved from a local perspective. We have not yet finalised dates or times for these events, but we certainly recognise the importance of consulting with the residents of Pontlliw and very much want to meet with them,” they added. Christine said her priority would be to not have the farms too close by, as she explained: “I want them not to put them in the fields right next door to me because they're too close and they're not safe. And, you know, that's just literally that's all we'll see. I think they're going to get some of it through, I'm sure they are. But I don't think they should have them on the fields right beside the road, because up above us then, they’re going to have them on two fields right on the side of the commons. That's all you'll be able to see,” she said. She added that she will be urging her fellow villagers to attend the consultation meetings when take place. An Elements Green spokesperson said: “The opinions of residents will help shape this project, ensuring we get this right now and in the future. With this at front of mind, in October 2024 we introduced the project to local residents in a form of a postcard sent to everyone who lives within 3km of the proposed site boundary and in December 2024, these same people will be sent a newsletter when the statutory consultation launches. In 2024 our Elements Green team met with political figures, including county councillors and community councils, as well as local groups such as Penllergare Valley Woods.” They added: “As consultations are essential for shaping solar projects by bridging community input with development planning. They gather residents' opinions, address concerns such as visual impact, biodiversity, and flood risks, and foster local engagement through events and feedback mechanisms. They are a vital element of a solar project's success for all, ultimately, help creating projects that are both sustainable and community-focused. “Recently we have taken the decision to delay the beginning of the statutory consultation process to ensure that all voices are heard and that we deliver the best possible proposal. We appreciate that some of these dates have been mentioned externally and apologise for any confusion this may have caused. Please refer to the Penllergaer Solar Park website ( penllergaersolar.com ) which will have the most up-to-date information.”
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A migrant woman spent more than a month in solitary confinement due to a language barrier, after she asked for feminine hygiene products and couldn’t understand officers’ English commands, according to a complaint detailing “inhumane conditions” at a northern Florida detention facility. Ana, a pseudonym for the woman, was denied clean clothes, feminine products, showers and medical care while detained in the Baker County Detention Center in Florida in 2023, a complaint filed by the ACLU of Florida and the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights nonprofit. The facility is about a 30-mile drive west from Jacksonville. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.Titans' 1st-year coach Brian Callahan focused on future, not job security after latest loss
Manipur: Ban on mobile internet in 9 districts extended till Dec 9
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Reports Record Sales and Earnings Increases Quarterly Cash Dividend by 20% to $0.12 per Common Share LAKEWOOD, Colo. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC ) today announced results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 and provided its outlook for fiscal 2025. Highlights for Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Net sales increased 9.3% to $322.7 million ; Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.1%, and increased 14.0% on a two-year basis; Net income increased 53.2% to $9.0 million , with diluted earnings per share of $0.39 ; and Adjusted EBITDA was $22.6 million . Highlights for Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023 Net sales increased 8.9% to $1.24 billion ; Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.0%, and increased 10.6% on a two-year basis; 21 st consecutive year of positive comparable store sales growth; Net income increased 46.0% to $33.9 million , with diluted earnings per share of $1.47 ; Adjusted EBITDA was $83.3 million ; and Opened four new stores and relocated/remodeled four stores. "Our outstanding fourth quarter and fiscal year results underscore our customers' appreciation for our commitment to the exceptional quality, value and convenience provided by our innovative business model along with consumers' increasing prioritization of products that support health and sustainability," said Kemper Isely , Co-President. "Our commitment to offering the highest quality products at Always Affordable SM prices is distinctive in the market and has been pivotal to our success. Fourth quarter results were broadly positive with daily average comparable store sales growth of 7.1% and 14.0% on a two-year basis, as well as a 53% increase in net income. We are particularly pleased with the balanced nature of our sales growth in fiscal 2024, including increases in transaction counts and items per transaction, modest price inflation and sales contribution from new stores." Mr. Isely continued, "The combination of consumer trends and our focus on customer engagement and operational initiatives have driven our sustained growth. Over the previous five years we have grown net sales by 37%, and diluted earnings per share have more than tripled. Furthermore, during this period we returned $108 million in capital to our stockholders through $4.76 of cumulative cash dividends per common share. As we look forward to fiscal 2025, we expect to build upon our momentum by continuing to execute to our founding principles, leveraging our differentiated model and emphasizing operational excellence to drive profitable growth." In addition to presenting the financial results of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company is also presenting EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. The reconciliation from GAAP to these non-GAAP financial measures is provided at the end of this earnings release. Operating Results — Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Net sales during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $27.6 million , or 9.3%, to $322.7 million , compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, due to a $21.0 million increase in comparable store sales and a $6.6 million increase in new store sales. Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.1% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, comprised of a 3.6% increase in daily average transaction count and a 3.4% increase in daily average transaction size. The increase in net sales was driven by increases in transaction counts, items per transaction, retail prices and new store sales. Sales growth was driven by enhanced customer engagement with our {N}power ® rewards program, compelling offers, marketing initiatives, and increased sales of Natural Grocers® brand products. Gross profit during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $11.0 million , or 13.1%, to $95.4 million , compared to $84.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Gross profit reflects earnings after product and store occupancy costs. Gross margin increased 100 basis points to 29.6% during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to 28.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase in gross margin was driven by store occupancy cost leverage and higher product margin. Store expenses during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 10.2% to $72.6 million , primarily driven by higher compensation expenses and long-lived asset impairment charges related to a planned store closure. Store expenses as a percentage of net sales were 22.5% during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, up from 22.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase in store expenses as a percentage of net sales was primarily driven by higher long-lived asset impairment charges partially offset by expense leverage. Administrative expenses during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 4.4% to $10.2 million . Administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 3.2% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, down from 3.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 56.0% to $12.1 million . Operating margin during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was 3.7%, up from 2.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $9.0 million , or $0.39 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $5.9 million , or $0.26 diluted earnings per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $22.6 million , compared to $16.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating Results — Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023 Net sales during fiscal 2024 increased $101.0 million , or 8.9%, to $1,241.6 million , compared to fiscal 2023, due to an $83.0 million increase in comparable store sales and a $22.6 million increase in new store sales, partially offset by a $4.6 million decrease in sales related to closed stores. Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.0% in fiscal 2024, comprised of a 3.8% increase in daily average transaction count and a 3.1% increase in daily average transaction size. The increase in net sales was driven by increases in transaction counts, retail prices, items per transaction and new store sales. Sales growth was driven by enhanced customer engagement with our {N}power rewards program, compelling offers, marketing initiatives including market-specific campaigns, and increased sales of Natural Grocers brand products. Gross profit during fiscal 2024 increased $37.9 million , or 11.6%, to $364.8 million . Gross profit reflects earnings after product and store occupancy costs. Gross margin increased 70 basis points to 29.4% during fiscal 2024, compared to 28.7% in 2023. The increase in gross margin was primarily driven by store occupancy cost leverage and higher product margin attributed to effective pricing and promotions. Store expenses during fiscal 2024 increased 7.8% to $277.4 million , primarily driven by higher compensation expenses, depreciation expenses and long-lived asset impairment charges. Store expenses as a percentage of net sales were 22.3% during fiscal 2024, down from 22.6% in fiscal 2023. The decrease in store expenses as a percentage of net sales primarily reflects expense leverage. Administrative expenses during fiscal 2024 increased 7.6% to $38.7 million , driven by higher compensation expenses. Administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 3.1% for fiscal 2024, down from 3.2% in fiscal 2023. Operating income for fiscal 2024 increased 48.3% to $47.0 million . Operating margin during fiscal 2024 was 3.8%, up from 2.8% in fiscal 2023. Net income for fiscal 2024 was $33.9 million , or $1.47 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $23.2 million , or $1.02 diluted earnings per share, for fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2024 was $83.3 million , compared to $63.4 million in fiscal 2023. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow As of September 30, 2024 , the Company had $8.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, and no amounts outstanding on its $75.0 million revolving credit facility. During fiscal 2024, the Company generated $73.8 million in cash from operations and invested $38.6 million in net capital expenditures, primarily for new and relocated/remodeled stores. Dividend Announcement Today, the Company announced the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per common share, a 20% increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend. The dividend will be paid on December 18, 2024 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 2, 2024 . Growth and Development During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 the Company opened one new store, ending the fourth quarter with 169 stores in 21 states. A total of four new stores were opened during fiscal 2024. Fiscal 2025 Outlook The Company is introducing its fiscal 2025 outlook. The Company expects: Earnings Conference Call The Company will host a conference call today at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time ( 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time ) to discuss this earnings release. The dial-in number is 1-888-347-6606 (US) or 1-412-902-4289 (International). The conference ID is "Natural Grocers Q4 FY 2024 Earnings Call." A simultaneous audio webcast will be available at http://Investors.NaturalGrocers.com and archived for a minimum of 20 days. About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC ) is an expanding specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries, body care products and dietary supplements. The products sold by Natural Grocers must meet strict quality guidelines and may not contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners, or partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils. The Company sells only USDA certified organic produce and exclusively pasture-raised, non-confinement dairy products, and free-range eggs. Natural Grocers' flexible smaller-store format allows it to offer affordable prices in a shopper-friendly, clean and convenient retail environment. The Company also provides extensive free science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. The Company, founded in 1955, has 168 stores in 21 states. Visit www.NaturalGrocers.com for more information and store locations. Forward-Looking Statements The following constitutes a "safe harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except for the historical information contained herein, statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" and are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global, national, regional or local political, economic, inflationary, deflationary, recessionary, business, interest rate, labor market, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, and other risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, except as may be required by the securities laws. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Form 10-K and the Company's subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Investor Relations at 303-986-4600 or by visiting the Company's website at http://Investors.NaturalGrocers.com . Investor Contact: Reed Anderson , ICR, 646-277-1260, [email protected] EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of financial performance under GAAP. We define EBITDA as net income before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA as adjusted to exclude the effects of certain income and expense items that management believes make it more difficult to assess the Company's actual operating performance, including certain items such as impairment charges, store closing costs, share-based compensation and non-recurring items. The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, dollars in thousands: EBITDA increased 31.4% to $20.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $15.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. EBITDA increased 28.6% to $77.9 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 compared to $60.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2023 . EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 6.2% and 5.2% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 6.3% and 5.3% for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA increased 41.0% to $22.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $16.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA increased 31.4% to $83.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 compared to $63.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2023 . Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 7.0% and 5.4% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 6.7% and 5.6% for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Management believes some investors' understanding of our performance is enhanced by including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide additional information about: (i) our operating performance, because they assist us in comparing the operating performance of our stores on a consistent basis, as they remove the impact of non-cash depreciation and amortization expense as well as items not directly resulting from our core operations, such as interest expense and income taxes and (ii) our performance and the effectiveness of our operational strategies. Additionally, EBITDA is a component of a measure in our financial covenants under our credit facility. Furthermore, management believes some investors use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental measures to evaluate the overall operating performance of companies in our industry. Management believes that some investors' understanding of our performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for comparing our ongoing results of operations. By providing these non-GAAP financial measures, together with a reconciliation from net income, we believe we are enhancing investors' understanding of our business and our results of operations, as well as assisting investors in evaluating how well we are executing our strategic initiatives. Our competitors may define EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently, and as a result, our measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be directly comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA of other companies. Items excluded from EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of operating performance that do not represent and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations are: EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any depreciation or interest expense for leases classified as finance leases; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt; Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect share-based compensation, impairment charges, and store closing costs; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our tax expense or the cash requirements to pay our taxes; and although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements. Due to these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental information. SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?
Nova Scotia Tories appear safe with close battle for second between Liberals and NDPPublished 5:38 pm Wednesday, November 27, 2024 By Data Skrive Ranked teams are on Thursday’s college basketball schedule for three games, including the South Carolina Gamecocks playing the Iowa State Cyclones. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.The other day, the duo met at a ‘power dinner’ in New Delhi. Both gentlemen have graced the Union Cabinet of ministers as members of opposing coalitions. They fielded identical questions: What would be the outcome of the Maharashtra polls? I humbly fielded a counter question: Please enlighten me, as both of you are the quintessential political insiders. The member of the ruling dispensation asserted that his coalition would return to power, insisting that he was convinced that Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi possesses a siddhi (magic wand) that helps him wriggle out of the tightest of situations. This election will be another testimony to that “magic”. The opposition leader, on the other hand, threw up his hands in exasperation and said: “I have given up election forecasts after the Haryana results. I don’t know what ‘secret sauce’ the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) uses to cast a spell on the electorate in the last few days of the campaign and all our calculations go for a toss.” Incidentally, he had returned from Mumbai the same day after attending a marathon election campaign review. Pay attention to the words of the two veterans — siddhi and secret sauce. What does it mean? The member of the ruling coalition wasn’t talking about PM Modi’s special spiritual powers, instead, he was referring to his brilliant political skills and uncanny ability to read people’s minds. That’s the reason the BJP workers believe even if the party’s seats diminish in any election, it will more than make up in the next. This belief not only fills them with confidence but inspires them to soldier on as a tight-knit unit. The election results in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have proved that the ghosts of setbacks in the general election have been laid to rest. The BJP suffered an electoral humiliation in both the states just a few months ago. The Opposition leader’s statement betrays the fact that the Congress-led INDIA bloc is facing a crisis of confidence to secure an electoral victory. The Maharashtra victory wasn’t scripted easily. The task was tough and the challenges were many. Ever since Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar severed the umbilical cords from their parent organisations to chart their own course, experts thought the public would punish these villains for their betrayal. Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar tried to milk the element of sympathy but failed miserably. The reason was the Mahayuti government was able to successfully stall the Maratha consolidation which led to their poor showing in the general election. Similarly, Ajit Pawar, was encouraged to win over the Muslim votes. This proved to be the death knell for Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA). The Ladki Bahin scheme introduced four months before the assembly elections proved to be the game-changer as it hit the right chord with women voters. The women are continually increasing their electoral clout with each passing election. In Jharkhand, they threw their weight behind Hemant Soren. Even Soren made inroads in half of the electorate with the Maiya Samman (mother’s pride) scheme. These elections have made it clear that sympathy and legacy aren’t enough to ensure victory. You need to work on the ground. In Maharashtra, the BJP didn’t make any mistakes. The tricky task of ticket distribution and coalition partner management was handled with care and a lot of wisdom under the leadership of Union home minister Amit Shah. And the results speak for themselves. The BJP with a strike rate of 88.6%, Shinde’s Shiv Sena with 71.3%, and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party’s 69.5% have all contributed to the landslide victory. Now that the results are out, the names of Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar may pop up as possible chief minister (CM) candidates. During the election campaign, they desisted from making any loose comments. On the contrary, the MVA leaders were all over the place making contradictory statements. So, why did the BJP juggernaut fail in Jharkhand? There are many reasons. Unlike in Maharashtra, there weren’t heavy-weight leaders in the NDA in Jharkhand. In the INDIA bloc, there was no one to challenge Hemant Soren’s stature. So, there was no confusion in the rank and file as well as among the voters. His arrest, a few months before elections, subsumed anti-incumbency. The BJP did attempt a Maharashtra-like defection but Champai Soren couldn’t repeat the feats of Eknath Shinde or Ajit Pawar. Another trend that became visible in these elections is the Congress Party is steadily losing its ability to win in the Hindi heartland on its own. It can help Soren, Tejaswi Yadav, or Akhilesh Yadav win but in the bargain, it’s losing its vote base. Even after the setback in Jharkhand, it is clear that the BJP will prepare for the coming elections with renewed gusto. Another benefit will be that the NDA partners will work with the PM with greater deference. It will help PM Modi expedite his agenda and schemes. We can also hazard a guess as to what will happen to Eknath Shinde. He has held his own against Uddhav Thackeray, but he still has to emerge as Balasaheb Thackeray’s natural heir. If he’s unable to retain the CM’s post, he may have to face new challenges in the future. As far as the Opposition is concerned, it can brush off the drubbing, insisting that it has won two out of four states that have held assembly elections since June. Priyanka Gandhi has won her election from Wayanad. Will she be able to provide a fresh lease of life in the Congress along with her brother Rahul Gandhi? It’s clear the Opposition has received a big jolt, yet they have enough room to rest and recuperate. This is the beauty of Indian democracy. There’s always space for everyone. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. The views expressed are personal
West Virginia knocks off No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in overtime in the Battle 4 AtlantisMicrosoft refutes accusations of training AI on customer data Microsoft says "connected experience" has been on by default since it was made available in April 2019 Microsoft has denied allegations that it uses customer data from its Microsoft 365 applications, such as Word and Excel, to train artificial intelligence models, Reuters reported. The company’s statement, issued on Wednesday, came in response to social media posts where users claimed that the “connected experiences” feature—enabled by default—was being used to train AI models. A Microsoft spokesperson clarified in an emailed statement to Reuters : "These claims are untrue. Microsoft does not use customer data from Microsoft 365 consumer and commercial applications to train foundational large language models." The spokesperson further explained that the "connected experiences" feature is responsible for functions like co-authoring and cloud storage, and is unrelated to how Microsoft trains its AI models. Despite this clarification, concerns about data privacy persist on social media, with some users expressing unease over their data being potentially used for AI training without explicit consent. Additionally, Microsoft told BleepingComputer that the "connected experiences" feature has been on by default since its introduction in April 2019. The feature enables tools such as real-time grammar suggestions and web-based resources, and Microsoft emphasised that users have full control over their settings and can opt out at any time. How were Mars's moons formed? What exciting update is WhatsApp rolling out? Australian Senate backs social media ban for children VPN demand soars amid stricter social media curbs in Pakistan
Jimmy Carter, the 39th president and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has died at 100Court Order Delays Microsoft's Plans to Allow Xbox Games to Be Purchased Directly in the Xbox App on Android - IGNPsychiatry Year in Review: 2024
Logistical issues meant that thousands of Namibians were still waiting to vote in pivotal presidential and legislative elections late on Wednesday as the polling stations were scheduled to close. The vote could usher in the desert nation's first woman leader even as her party, the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) faces the strongest challenge yet to its 34-year grip on power. Some voters told AFP they queued all day, for up to 12 hours, blaming technical problems which included issues with voter identification tablets or insufficient ballot papers. According to Namibia's electoral law, those in the queue before the polls closed -- scheduled at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) -- should be allowed to vote. "We have the obligation to make sure that they pass their vote," said Petrus Shaama, chief officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). The main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has blamed the ECN for the long lines and cried foul play. "We have reason to believe that the ECN is deliberately suppressing voters and deliberately trying to frustrate voters from casting their vote," said Christine Aochamus of the IPC. She said the party had "started the process" of approaching a court "to order the ECN to extend the voting time". At one polling station inside Namibia's University of Science and Technology in the capital Windhoek, hundreds of people were still in line at 09:00 pm despite some having arrived at 6:00 am, an hour before polls opened. It was a similar situation at the Museum of Independence, according to an AFP reporter, where one voter said he arrived 12 hours earlier and was still in line with hundreds of others. SWAPO's candidate and current vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was one of the first to vote and called on Namibians "to come out in their numbers". An estimated 1.5 million people in the sparsely populated nation had registered to cast their ballot. SWAPO has governed since leading mineral-rich Namibia to independence from South Africa in 1990 but complaints about unemployment and enduring inequalities could force Nandi-Ndaitwah into an unprecedented second round. Leader of the IPC, Panduleni Itula, a former dentist and lawyer said he was optimistic he could "unseat the revolutionary movement". "We will all march from there and to a new dawn and a new era of how we conduct our public affairs in this country," the 67-year-old told reporters after voting. Itula took 29 percent of votes in the 2019 elections, losing to SWAPO leader Hage Geingob with 56 percent. It was a remarkable performance considering Geingob, who died in February, had won almost 87 percent five years before that. Namibia is a major uranium and diamond exporter but not many of its nearly three million people have benefitted from that wealth. "There's a lot of mining activity that goes on in the country, but it doesn't really translate into improved infrastructure, job opportunities," said independent political analyst Marisa Lourenco, based in Johannesburg. "That's where a lot of the frustration is coming from, (especially) the youth," she said. Unemployment among 15- to 34-year-olds is estimated at 46 percent, according to the latest figures from 2018, almost triple the national average. For the first time in Namibia's recent history, analysts say a second round is a somewhat realistic option. That would take place within 60 days of the announcement of the first round of results due by Saturday. "The outcome will be tight," said self-employed Hendry Amupanda, 32, who queued since 9:00 pm the night before to cast his ballot. "I want the country to get better and people to get jobs," said Amupanda, wearing slippers and equipped with a chair, blanket and snacks. Marvyn Pescha, a self-employed consultant, said his father was part of SWAPO's liberation struggle and he was not going to abandon the party. "But I want SWAPO to be challenged for better policies. Some opportunistic leaders have tarnished the reputation of the party, they misuse it for self-enrichment," the 50-year-old said. While lauded for leading Namibia to independence, SWAPO is nervous about its standing after other liberation-era movements in the region have lost favour with young voters. In the past six months, South Africa's African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority and the Botswana Democratic Party was ousted after almost six decades in power. clv/br/lhd/sbkDespite the stellar numbers in its latest earnings report , Nvidia Corp NVDA stock slipped 3% in after-hours trading on Wednesday. In premarket Thursday, Nvidia shares swung between gains and losses, ultimately opening 5% higher before losing steam. By mid-morning, Nvidia shares were down 1.23%, trading at $144.10—a move many attribute to the priced-for-perfection environment surrounding the AI giant. It seems the market's insatiable appetite for upside surprises left even Nvidia's blockbuster results struggling to impress. See Also: Nvidia Analysts See Stock ‘Best Positioned In AI,’ Not Worried About Guidance: ‘All Systems Go For Blackwell Ramp’ Nvidia Stock’s Underlying Resilience The Santa Clara, California-based company reported an 8% beat on earnings per share and a nearly 6% revenue beat compared to estimates . Revenue soared 93.71% year-over-year, reaching $35.1 billion, fueled by the relentless demand for AI chips. Despite Thursday’s volatile trading, Nvidia's technical indicators suggest underlying resilience. Chart created using Benzinga Pro Read Also: US Futures Head Lower As Nvidia Earnings Fail To Impress Investors: Expert Says Market Weakness Is ‘Perfectly Normal,’ But Late November Rally Is Still Possible The stock is trading above its eight-day, 20-day, 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages, signaling a strong bullish foundation: 8-day SMA: Nvidia sits at $145.29, above its $145.20 SMA, generating a short-term bullish signal. 20-day SMA: The stock's $145.29 price exceeds the $142.79 average, reinforcing the bullish narrative. 50-day SMA: Nvidia's $145.29 eclipses its 50-day average of $133.52, pointing to solid momentum. 200-day SMA: At $110.41, the 200-day average remains far below current levels, reflecting long-term bullish strength. The MACD (moving average convergence/divergence) indicator also supports a bullish outlook with a reading of 3.19, while the RSI (relative strength index) at 56.51 shows the stock is comfortably neutral, leaving room for further upward movement without triggering overbought alarms. Can Nvidia Break Free? Nvidia's fundamentals remain as robust as its AI ambitions, but the question lingers: Can the stock sustain its high-altitude trajectory amid sky-high expectations? Investors will be watching closely as Nvidia tries to stabilize after its earnings-induced turbulence. Read Next: Nvidia Vs. Bitcoin: Jensen Huang-Led Chip Giant’s Stock Outperformed The Top Cryptocurrency Over 5 Years. Here’s How They Compare On Other Metrics Image: Unsplash © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.artisteer/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis I rate Ciena Corporation ( NYSE: CIEN ) a hold due to its decelerating growth, especially over the last three quarters both in the top and bottom lines. Despite the stock gaining 56.84% over the last year to outperform Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Lawyers, loyalists and Wall Street executives: a look at who's on Trump's tariff teamOscar Health EVP Quane sells $271,293 in stockPresident-elect Donald Trump has filled the key posts for his second term in office, prioritizing loyalty to him after he felt bruised and hampered by internal squabbling during his first term. Some of his choices could face difficult confirmation fights in the Senate, even with Republicans in control, and one candidate has already withdrawn from consideration. Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz was Trump's initial pick for attorney general, but he ultimately withdrew following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation he was embroiled in. Here's a look at Trump's choices: Trump would turn a former critic into an ally as the nation's top diplomat. Rubio , 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate before the slot went to JD Vance. Rubio is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His selection punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator once called a “con man" during his own unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. Hegseth , 44, was a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends Weekend” and had been a contributor with the network since 2014. He developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth served in the Army National Guard from 2002 to 2021, deploying to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011 and earning two Bronze Stars. He lacks senior military and national security experience and would oversee global crises ranging from Europe to the Middle East. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report recently made public. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and has denied any wrongdoing. Bessent , 62, is a former money manager for George Soros , a big Democratic donor, and an advocate for deficit reduction . He founded the hedge fund Key Square Capital Management after having worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, Bessent would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. Gabbard, 43, is a former Democratic House member from Hawaii who has been accused of echoing Russian propaganda. She unsuccessfully sought the party’s 2020 presidential nomination and left the party in 2022. Gabbard endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him. Gabbard has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades and deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. If confirmed she would come to the role as an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, spent several years in top national security and intelligence positions. Bondi , 59, was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist , Bondi also has served with the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-allied group that has helped lay the groundwork for his future administration. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush-money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appeared on Fox News and has been critical of the criminal cases against him. The Republican U.S. House member narrowly lost her reelection bid on Nov. 5 but had received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer would oversee the department's workforce and budget and put forth priorities that affect workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of a few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act that would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and penalize companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws in more than half the states. Lutnick heads the brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and is a cryptocurrency enthusiast. He is co-chair of Trump's transition operation, charged along with Linda McMahon, a former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration, with helping the president-elect fill key jobs in his second administration. As secretary, Lutnick would play a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. He would oversee a sprawling Cabinet department whose oversight ranges from funding new computer chip factories and imposing trade restrictions to releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. Noem is a well-known conservative who used her two terms as South Dakota's governor to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions like other states, instead declaring South Dakota “open for business.” More recently, Noem faced sharp criticism for writing in her memoir about shooting and killing her dog. She is set to lead a department crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda as well as other missions. Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Ratcliffe , a former U.S. House member from Texas, was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump’s first term. He led U.S. government’s spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. If confirmed, Ratcliffe will have held the highest intelligence positions in the U.S. Kennedy , 70, ran for president as a Democrat, then as an independent before he dropped out and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 during his own presidential campaign. Kennedy's nomination alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Rollins , 52, is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for Trump's second administration. She is a Texas attorney who was Trump's domestic policy adviser and director of his office of American innovation during his first term. Rollins previously was an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry , who also served in Trump's first term. Rollins also ran the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years , sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential campaign, but was acquitted by the Senate. Collins also served in the armed forces himself. He is a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. The North Dakota governor , 68, is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump after he dropped out of the running. Burgum then became a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice in part because of his executive experience and business savvy. He also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump said Burgum would chair a new National Energy Council and have a seat on the National Security Council, which would be a first for the Interior secretary. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Wright is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. He also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. Wright said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. McMahon, a billionaire professional wrestling mogul , would make a return appearance in a second Trump administration. She led the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019 in Trump’s first term and twice ran unsuccessfully in Connecticut as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University. She has expressed support for charter schools and school choice. Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI" and "we will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.” Trump often attacked the Biden administration’s promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referred to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often said his administration would “drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Greer is a partner at King & Spalding, a Washington law firm. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be responsible for negotiating directly with foreign governments on trade deals and disputes, as well as memberships in international trade bodies such as the World Trade Organization. He previously was chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, who was the trade representative in Trump's first term. Wiles , 67, was a senior adviser to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. She has a background in Florida politics , helping Ron DeSantis win his first race for Florida governor. Six years later, she was key to Trump’s defeat of him in the 2024 Republican primary. Wiles’ hire was Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and one that could be a defining test of his incoming administration considering her close relationship with him. Wiles is said to have earned Trump’s trust in part by guiding what was the most disciplined of Trump’s three presidential campaigns. Waltz is a three-term Republican congressman from east-central Florida. A former Army Green Beret , he served multiple tours in Afghanistan and worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Hassett, 62, is a major advocate of tax cuts who was chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in the first Trump term. In the new role as chairman of the National Economic Council, Trump said Hassett will play an important role in helping American families recover from inflation as well as in renewing and improving tax cuts Trump enacted in 2017, many of which are set to expire after 2025. Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. He led the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Trump's first administration. Democrats have criticized Homan for defending Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings in the first term, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Vought, 48, held the position during Trump’s first presidency. He the founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought also was closely involved with Project 2025 , a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that Trump tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump’s priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump’s first term. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump’s policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation’s economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people living illegally in the U.S. Scavino was an adviser in all three of the president-elect's campaigns and was described by the transition team as one of “Trump’s longest serving and most trusted aides." He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino previously ran Trump’s social media profile in the White House. Blair was political director for Trump’s 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and an assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump’s economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump’s 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Leavitt , 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. McGinley was Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and they were golfing at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Kellogg , 80, is a highly decorated retired three-star general and one of the architects of a staunchly conservative policy book that lays out an “America First” national security agenda for Trump's second term. He has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues and served as national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence . Kellogg also was chief of staff of the National Security Council under Trump and stepped in as an acting national security adviser for Trump after Michael Flynn resigned the post. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests. Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Huckabee has rejected a Palestinian homeland in territory occupied by Israel. His daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, served as White House press secretary in Trump's first term. Stefanik, 40, is a U.S. representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders dating to his first impeachment trial. She was elected chair of the House Republican Conference in 2021, the third-highest position in House leadership, after then-Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after she publicly criticized Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. A former acting attorney general during Trump's first administration and tight end on the University of Iowa football team, Whitaker , 55, has a background in law enforcement but not in foreign policy. A fierce Trump localist, Whitaker, is also a former U.S. attorney in Iowa and served as acting attorney general between November 2018 and February 2019 without Senate confirmation, until William Barr was confirmed for the role. That was when special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference was drawing to a close. Whitaker also faced questions about his past business dealings, including his ties to an invention-promotion company that was accused of misleading consumers. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. Oz , 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime TV talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz’s bid for elected office. Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor on Fox News. Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative after cardiac arrest, state should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Bhattacharya , 56, is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. As head of the NIH, the leading medical research agency in the United States, Trump said Bhattacharya would work with Kennedy Jr. to direct U.S. medical research and make important discoveries that will improve health and save lives. Bhattacharya is professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and was one of three authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, an October 2020 open letter maintaining that lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic were causing irreparable harm. Gaetz, 42, withdrew from consideration to become the top law enforcement officer of the United States amid fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed by the Senate. In choosing Gaetz, Trump had passed over more established lawyers whose names had been floated as possible contenders for the job. Gaetz resigned from Congress after Trump announced him on Nov. 13. The House Ethics Committee has been investigating an allegation that he paid for sex with a 17-year-old. Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Zeke Miller, Farnoush Amiri, Lolita C. Baldor, Jill Colvin, Matthew Daly, Edith M. Lederer, Adriana Gomez Licon, Lisa Mascaro, Chris Megerian, Michelle L. Price, Will Weissert and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Announces Fiscal 2024 Fourth Quarter and Full Year ResultsKUWAIT CITY, Dec 07: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) received the award of “Best Foreign Exchange Provider in Kuwait” for 2025, marking its 13th consecutive win, in Global Finance’s annual survey based on the input from industry analysts, corporate executives and technology experts around the world. The criteria for choosing the Foreign Exchange Providers Award winners included transaction volume, market share, scope of global coverage, customer service, competitive pricing and innovative technologies. Global Finance also considered bank submissions, input from industry analysts, corporate executives and technology specialists. “In a time of global economic uncertainty and rapid technological advancement, Global Finance’s Best Foreign Exchange Banks 2025 have demonstrated exceptional expertise, resilience, and innovation in the FX sector, consistently delivering value and reliability to their clients worldwide, and excelling in a dynamic and challenging market environment,” mentioned Global Finance. Global Finance magazine has named the winners of its 25th annual World’s Best Foreign Exchange Banks chosen in 87 countries, territories and districts, seven regions and multiple global categories. This prestigious award reaffirms NBK’s position as a local and regional leader in providing top-notch innovative banking solutions to its clients, reaping the rewards of the huge investments in developing its infrastructure to offer high-quality services as well as its investments in high-caliber banking professionals. This helped the bank ensure providing clients with highly competitive rates, top-notch customer service, and innovative solutions tailored to their individual needs. Global Finance, founded in 1987 and headquartered in New York, is one of the most reputable magazines specialized in finance and economics. It has a circulation of 50,000 readers in 193 countries around the world, including senior corporate and financial officers responsible for making investment and strategic decisions at multinational companies and financial institutions. The magazine conducts various surveys annually about innovation and profitability for banks and financial institutions all over the world, based on which it selects top performers on the regional and international levels.West Virginia knocks off No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in overtime in the Battle 4 Atlantis
Bills clinch the AFC's No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the undisciplined Jets