Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition review: Neat features, good specs, a bit of a plain Jane designNick Kyrgios has described Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s positive doping tests as “disgusting” ahead of his return to tennis. The controversial Australian has played only one match in more than two years because of injury but that has not stopped him being an outspoken presence on social media during a difficult few months for the sport. First it was announced in August that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March but was cleared of fault, while in November Swiatek was handed a one-month ban for a failed test caused by contaminated medication. Feels good getting these consecutive days training in the bank man.... Wrist re construction and back out here... blessed..................Without failing any drug tests 🙂↕️🙏🏽 be proud kygs doing it the right way 😩😂 pic.twitter.com/J8l21lnTdI — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 5, 2024 Kyrgios has been particularly vociferous in his criticism of Sinner, who could yet face a ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the finding of no fault or negligence in his case. At a press conference ahead of the Brisbane International, Kyrgios told reporters: “I have to be outspoken about it because I don’t think there’s enough people that are speaking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug. “I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport. Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look. “The tennis integrity right now – and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it – it’s awful. It’s actually awful. And it’s not OK.” Kyrgios initially underwent knee surgery in January 2023, returning to action in June of that year, but he played only one match before pulling out of Wimbledon due to a torn ligament in his right wrist. He has not played a competitive match since, and it appeared doubtful that he would be able to return, but the 29-year-old will make his comeback in Brisbane this week. Kyrgios will take on France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in singles, while he will also team up with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster doubles pairing. “It’s good to be back,” said Kyrgios. “I honestly never thought I’d be back playing at this level. Even entering an event like this, preparing, doing all the right things. A post shared by Nick Kyrgios (@k1ngkyrg1os) “I’m really excited to just go out there and play, just play tennis. I saw Novak in the gym, playing doubles with him, a lot to be excited about that I’m able to get out there and compete again.” Asked whether he could get back to the same level that saw him reach the Wimbledon final in 2022, Kyrgios said: “I still believe I can, whether or not that’s factual or not. There was another player who was like, ‘You have to be realistic’. That’s not how I am. I always back my ability.” The new tennis season is already under way, with the United Cup team event beginning on Friday. Great Britain, who are weakened by the absence of Jack Draper through injury, begin their campaign against Argentina in Sydney on Monday before facing hosts Australia on Wednesday. That could pit Katie Boulter against fiance Alex De Minaur, with the pair having announced their engagement last week. A post shared by Katie Boulter (@katiecboulter) “Obviously some incredible news from our side, but I think we kind of wanted it to die down a little bit before matches started,” said Boulter of the timing. “My private life is out in the public a little bit at the moment. But, in terms of the stuff that I’m doing on the court, I’ll be doing the best I can every single day to stay in my own little bubble.” Billy Harris has taken Draper’s place, with the British number one facing a race against time to be fit for the Australian Open because of a hip problem. Emma Raducanu is the sixth seed at the ASB Classic in Auckland and will begin her season with a match against Robin Montgomery, while Cameron Norrie takes on another American, Learner Tien, at the Hong Kong Open.
None(The Center Square) – A range of pressures motivated lawmakers to act on social programs and legislation to ease the burdens on families in 2024. The state introduced initiatives aimed to aid strained systems, which have suffered from economic challenges, institutional neglect, and sometimes outdated rationale. Children Pennsylvanians have cited child care costs as a major financial stressor. The legislature considered a bill that would give tax credits to employers who contributed to their employees’ child care while families saw their first tax returns with an expanded dependent care credit. The state also made an $11.5 million investment in its Building Opportunity through Out-of-school Time, or BOOST, program which aims to reduce violence by providing after school and camp activities. A bill was signed into law to help children who stutter by expanding insurance coverage to speech therapy for the issue. Girls who experience period poverty will be able to access required menstrual care products at school with new funding for schools to make them available. At-Risk Communities Special focus was given to particularly at-risk communities. The state saw a bipartisan effort to end the common practice of allowing county officials to collect disability, social security and veterans benefits on behalf of children in the foster care system and dump them into the municipality’s general fund. Lawmakers also met to better understand the difficulties counties face in finding temporary placements for neglected and special needs children. Current conditions are both costly and leave children exposed to further trauma. The state has sought to erect barriers around practices that put the elderly at risk for financial abuse. Older Pennsylvanians have been the primary targets of several different scams in recent years. Additionally, the commonwealth established an Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Related Disorders office under the Department of Aging. The office should help patients and caregivers navigate the largely siloed collection of providers and resources for those with the disease. Victims of crime received a glimmer of hope with an $80 million boost to crime reporting and victim support services. Due to their victim-centered approach and trauma-informed training, these services often have an easier time making inroads with victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking. Opioid Crisis As the fentanyl crisis continues, the legislature considered ways to broaden harm reduction for those suffering with substance use disorder. Safe syringe programs were floated in the legislature, and a $600,000 investment was made in recovery homes overseen by the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Though there’s an appetite to use the state’s opioid trust funds established through national settlements, movement has been slow. Only $70 million of over $200 million has been spent. Housing The cost and availability of homes has been a focal point as the national housing crisis continues. Over $6 million in Emergency Solutions Grants was awarded to Pennsylvania counties to address homelessness. The House also saw a set of bills intended to support first time home buying and property tax relief, and lawmakers raised concerns about the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which hasn’t seen an audit since the 1980s. Popular initiatives like the federally funded Whole Home Repairs program and HOME Investment Partnership program helped local communities bring new life to old homes. Zoning reform was frequently debated, especially as it pertains to mixed use housing, which is also the target of a new set of grants through the PA SITES program. Economy There was no shortage of imagination this year in workforce development strategies, with the labor shortage perhaps being the most pressing issue facing Pennsylvania’s aging population, impacting every facet of life. Lawmakers considered a bill that would ban employers from running unnecessary credit checks on prospective employees. Meanwhile the Shapiro administration’s efforts to make state agencies more efficient led to a 60% reduction in call wait times for unemployment claims. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER With 2 million residents using food stamps, the state waived the work requirement for able-bodied adults to SNAP eligibility through August of next year, while the Department of Agriculture issued $2 million in grants to food banks across the commonwealth. Medical debt erasure offered another bright spot for financial relief.
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The funding of the horse and greyhound industries via a levy on gambling came into sharp focus as the Premier Sports channel put together an election debate on sports ahead of Friday’s General Election. Six politicians from various parties joined host Matt Cooper for the program on Monday night though, notably, the sitting Minister with overall responsibility for sport Catherine Martin with Cooper reporting that she was unavailable. The funding of the horse and greyhound racing industries was discussed in both parts of the 90 minute live show. The industries, through state support from the Department of Agriculture, benefit to the tune of around €100m per annum via the betting tax. A number of party manifestos have suggested raising the betting tax to help fund other sporting infrastructure though Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats insisted greyhound racing should be scrapped in its entirety. “In our manifesto we have the phasing out of greyhound racing, now I’d actually do it overnight if I had my way,” Gannon said. “I think it is a cruel sport that serves very few. I don't like the idea that dogs are killed because they won't run fast enough. “I disagree with some analysis that it brings in billions, I don’t think it does, I think it’s sustaining an industry that couldn’t sustain itself without it and I don’t want to be complicit in what is effectively in what the murder of 6,000 dogs a year.” Fine Gael’s Neale Richmond pointed out those industries generate significant revenue and jobs for the country. “The horse racing industry for example is worth over €2bn to the economy. I have Leopardstown race course in my constituency and it’s not just about the horse racing, it’s a fantastic facility and going to be the site of new public housing in combination as well,” he said. “And the greyhound industry we see up to 10,000 people work in that industry in a part- and full-time basis.”
NEW YORK (AP) — More shoppers than ever are on track to use ‘buy now, pay later’ plans this holiday season, as the ability to spread out payments looks attractive at a time when Americans still feel the lingering effect of inflation and already have record-high credit card debt. The data firm Adobe Analytics predicts shoppers will spend 11.4% more this holiday season using buy now, pay later than they did a year ago. The company forecasts shoppers will purchase $18.5 billion worth of goods using the third-party services for the period Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, with $993 million worth of purchases on Cyber Monday alone. Buy now, pay later can be particularly appealing to consumers who have low credit scores or no credit history, such as younger shoppers, because most of the companies providing the service run only soft credit checks and don’t report the loans and payment histories to the credit bureaus, unlike credit card companies. This holiday season, buy now, pay later users can also feel more confident if a transaction goes awry. In May, the CFPB said buy now, pay later company must adhere to other regulations that govern traditional credit, such as providing ways to demand refunds and dispute transactions. To use a buy now, pay later plan, consumers typically sign up with bank account information or a debit or credit card, and agree to pay for purchases in monthly installments, typically over eight weeks or more. The loans are marketed as requiring no or low interest, or only conditional fees, such as for late payment. Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm are three of the biggest buy now, pay later companies. But consumer advocates warn that shoppers who sign up for the payment plans using a credit card can be hit with more interest and fees. That's because individuals open themselves up to interest on the credit card payment, if it's carried month to month, on top of any late fees, interest, or penalties from the buy now, pay later loan itself. Experts advise against using a credit card to pay for these plans for this reason. Consumer watchdogs also say the plans lead consumers to overextend themselves because, for example, not paying full price up front leaves, in the shopper’s mind at least, more money for smaller purchases . They also caution consumers to keep careful track of using multiple buy now, pay later services, as the automatic payments can add up, and there is no central reporting, such as with a credit card statement. “Buy now, pay later can be an innovative tool for purchases you’re going to make anyway,” said Mark Elliott, chief customer officer at financial services company LendingClub. “The challenge is that it does fuel overspending.” For merchants, that’s part of the appeal. Retailers have found that customers are more likely to have bigger cart sizes or to convert from browsing to checking out when buy now, pay later is offered. One report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York cited research that found customers spend 20% more when buy now, pay later is available. “The reality is that the increased cost-of-living and inflation have put more people in a situation where they’re already relying on revolving credit,” Elliott said. “The psychographics of ‘buy now, pay later’ may be different — people don’t think of it as debt — but it is.” If a consumer misses a payment, they can face fees, interest, or the possibility of being locked out of using the services in the future. Emily Childers, consumer financial expert for personal-finance technology company Credit Karma, said that internal data shows member credit card balances are up more than 50% for Gen Z and millennial members since March 2022, when the Fed started raising interest rates. “Young people are entering this holiday season already in the red,” she said. “And, based on what we’re seeing in the data, they’re continuing to bury their heads in the sand and spend.” The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.The controversial Australian has played only one match in more than two years because of injury but that has not stopped him being an outspoken presence on social media during a difficult few months for the sport. First it was announced in August that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March but was cleared of fault, while in November Swiatek was handed a one-month ban for a failed test caused by contaminated medication. Feels good getting these consecutive days training in the bank man.... Wrist re construction and back out here... blessed..................Without failing any drug tests 🙂↕️🙏🏽 be proud kygs doing it the right way 😩😂 pic.twitter.com/J8l21lnTdI — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 5, 2024 Kyrgios has been particularly vociferous in his criticism of Sinner, who could yet face a ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the finding of no fault or negligence in his case. At a press conference ahead of the Brisbane International, Kyrgios told reporters: “I have to be outspoken about it because I don’t think there’s enough people that are speaking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug. “I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport. Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look. “The tennis integrity right now – and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it – it’s awful. It’s actually awful. And it’s not OK.” Kyrgios initially underwent knee surgery in January 2023, returning to action in June of that year, but he played only one match before pulling out of Wimbledon due to a torn ligament in his right wrist. He has not played a competitive match since, and it appeared doubtful that he would be able to return, but the 29-year-old will make his comeback in Brisbane this week. Kyrgios will take on France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in singles, while he will also team up with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster doubles pairing. “It’s good to be back,” said Kyrgios. “I honestly never thought I’d be back playing at this level. Even entering an event like this, preparing, doing all the right things. A post shared by Nick Kyrgios (@k1ngkyrg1os) “I’m really excited to just go out there and play, just play tennis. I saw Novak in the gym, playing doubles with him, a lot to be excited about that I’m able to get out there and compete again.” Asked whether he could get back to the same level that saw him reach the Wimbledon final in 2022, Kyrgios said: “I still believe I can, whether or not that’s factual or not. There was another player who was like, ‘You have to be realistic’. That’s not how I am. I always back my ability.” The new tennis season is already under way, with the United Cup team event beginning on Friday. Great Britain, who are weakened by the absence of Jack Draper through injury, begin their campaign against Argentina in Sydney on Monday before facing hosts Australia on Wednesday. That could pit Katie Boulter against fiance Alex De Minaur, with the pair having announced their engagement last week. A post shared by Katie Boulter (@katiecboulter) “Obviously some incredible news from our side, but I think we kind of wanted it to die down a little bit before matches started,” said Boulter of the timing. “My private life is out in the public a little bit at the moment. But, in terms of the stuff that I’m doing on the court, I’ll be doing the best I can every single day to stay in my own little bubble.” Billy Harris has taken Draper’s place, with the British number one facing a race against time to be fit for the Australian Open because of a hip problem. Emma Raducanu is the sixth seed at the ASB Classic in Auckland and will begin her season with a match against Robin Montgomery, while Cameron Norrie takes on another American, Learner Tien, at the Hong Kong Open.Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR) Shares Acquired by Principal Financial Group Inc.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Image: PA Wire/PA Images) The UK Government is “not minded to fund the North correctly”, Mary Lou McDonald claimed as she defended Sinn Fein’s record in the power-sharing Executive. Ms McDonald made the remarks as she seeks to lead Sinn Fein to victory in the Republic of Ireland’s General Election on Friday, and become the country’s Taoiseach. The Sinn Fein leader was responding to questioning on how the party could stand over pledges on housing delivery on the Republic of Ireland, given under supply in Northern Ireland . READ MORE: Simon Harris says ‘all to play for’ in Irish General Election despite Fine Gael polling slide READ MORE: Mary Lou McDonald tells students their best years will be in a united Ireland The housing portfolio north of the border is held by Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey. Ms McDonald said Ms Hargey had set out a “hugely ambitious, transformational plan”. However, she added: “The Tories, sadly, who unfortunately hold the purse strings, and now the successor government, under (Sir) Keir Starmer, are not minded to fund the North correctly. That’s at the root of the problem.” Ms McDonald said the picture of the public service in Northern Ireland is generally “not good”, adding that to compare the two jurisdictions is like comparing apples and oranges. Speaking on RTE’s Six One News, she added: “North of the border, there is not the capacity to raise or vary taxes. You are looking at an entirely different scenario and I regret that deeply. I’m a united Irelander, but sadly, at this point in time, our country is partitioned.” Ms McDonald said First Minister Michelle O’Neill and other Sinn Fein members of the Executive “aim high” when making demands from the UK Government, adding that they are “constantly putting pressure on the Treasury”. She said: “It’s a matter of great frustration to me as a Republican and a united Irelander, that on the one hand the British government, the system, insists that it remain and hold jurisdiction in the North, and yet it won’t fund the place correctly.” Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein has “delivered in spades in very challenging circumstances” in the multi-party power-sharing arrangement. She argued that this showed Sinn Fein’s ability to “hold things together”. Asked about complaints that Northern Ireland’s health service is not provided adequate funding by the Sinn Fein Finance Minister, Ms McDonald said Caoimhe Archibald can not do a “loaves and fishes job”. She added: “She’s a brilliant, brilliant woman and a brilliant minister but she does not have the power of miracles, unfortunately.” For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow BelfastLive Facebook Twitter Comment More On Conservative Party Sinn Fein Republic of Ireland Politics Stormont Michelle O'Neill
Is Outlook down? Thousands of Microsoft 365 users report outage issuesAP Business SummaryBrief at 2:40 p.m. EST