San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will not play Sunday and head coach Kyle Shanahan said the lingering discomfort is a concern. Purdy sat out Friday after he participated in the start of Thursday's practice with the 49ers, then retreated indoors for what Shanahan said was a treatment session. Brandon Allen, 32, will start in Purdy's place, and the 49ers are also without defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique). Shanahan said players believe in Allen, even if he's an unknown. "Outside of here people haven't seen a lot of Brandon. But it's his second year (with the 49ers)," Shanahan said. "Obviously guys want Brock up, but guys are excited to see Brandon play." Shanahan said they are "a little surprised" Purdy experienced tightness and discomfort in his shoulder after an MRI exam on Monday that showed no long-term cause for concern. "The way it responded this week, it's really up in the air for next week," Shanahan said of Purdy. Allen is familiar to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who was an assistant coach with the Rams during Allen's two-year run in Los Angeles. Allen broke into the NFL in 2016 with the Jaguars and is 2-7 in nine career starts. He went 1-2 with the Broncos in 2019 and 1-5 in six starts over two years with the Bengals in 2020 and ‘21. Shanahan said Allen's confidence grew throughout the week and he doesn't anticipate a major change in how he calls the offense. Left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) also missed practice for the third consecutive day. Without disclosing the nature of the ailment to Purdy's throwing shoulder, general manager John Lynch confirmed Friday an MRI exam took place to determine the severity of any injury. Allen worked with the first team most of Thursday and Friday with Joshua Dobbs also taking snaps. Lynch described Purdy's status for the 49ers (5-5) this week as "tenuous." "Hopefully, he makes progress, and we can have a shot at this weekend, but we'll see," Lynch said in an interview with KNBR in San Francisco. "I think it's tenuous." When Purdy was on the field this week, he primarily worked on the side in position-specific drills with QB coach Brian Griese. Williams played through an ankle injury last week after being listed as questionable but exited the stadium with an exaggerated limp on Sunday. Run game coordinator Chris Foerster said the 49ers aren't where they want to be at 5-5 because they haven't won close games, not because of injuries. "Seven games left is like an eternity," Foerster said. "So much can happen. Do the math. What was our record last year? It was 12-5. I was on a 13-win team that was nowhere near as good as the team last year." With or without Purdy, Foerster said the challenge for the 49ers is not to give up the ball to a defense that has 19 takeaways. The 49ers have 13 giveaways this season. --Field Level MediaSubhashree Sahu to star in web series 'The Worse of Social Side'
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay’s team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” RELATED COVERAGE The Darnold-Jefferson connection is thriving for the surging Vikings Patriots coach Jerod Mayo believes narrow loss to Bills shows potential of his young team Garrett’s comments about his future add wrinkle to Browns’ worst season since 0-16 in 2017 The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don’t stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they’ve mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other’s weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay’s fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. What’s working Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams’ offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. What needs help Stafford’s 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday’s weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Stock up Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. Stock down CB Cobie Durant didn’t play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA’s first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon’s recent play when asked why Durant didn’t get on the field in New Jersey. Injuries The Rams’ improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee’s successful season debut. Key number 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. Next steps The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can’t clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC’s third seed, but that doesn’t matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North’s two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLAlexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Declares Cash Dividend of $1.32 per Common Share for 4Q24, an Increase of 2 Cents Over 3Q24, and an Aggregate of $5.19 per Common Share for 2024, an Increase of 23 Cents, or 5 Percent, Over 2023A Tennessee man is convicted of killing 2 at a high school basketball game in 2021
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BOGOTÁ, Colombia -- One of Colombia’s legendary drug lords and a key operator of the Medellin cartel has been deported back to the South American country, after serving 25 years of a 30-year prison sentence in the United States. A short while later, Fabio Ochoa was again a free man. Ochoa arrived in Bogota on a deportation flight on Monday afternoon, wearing a modest grey sweatshirt and carrying his personal belongings in a plastic bag. After stepping out of the plane, Ochoa was met by immigration officials in bullet proof vests. There were no police on site to detain him. Immigration officials took his fingerprints and confirmed through a database that Ochoa is not wanted by Colombian authorities. The country's immigration agency said on the social media platform X that Ochoa was “freed so that he could join his family.” “I was framed,” Ochoa claimed as reporters at Bogota’s El Dorado Airport asked if he regretted his actions. The former cartel boss smiled as he hugged his daughter, whom he had not seen in seven years, and said he would go to Medellin to live with his family. “The nightmare is over” said Ochoa, 67. Ochoa and his older brothers amassed a fortune when cocaine started flooding the U.S. in the late 1970s and early 1980s, according to U.S. authorities, to the point that in 1987 they were included in the Forbes Magazine’s list of billionaires. Living in Miami, Ochoa ran a distribution center for the cocaine cartel once headed by Pablo Escobar . Escobar died in a shootout with authorities in Medellin in 1993. Ochoa was first indicted in the U.S. for his alleged role in the 1986 killing of Barry Seal, an American pilot who flew cocaine flights for the Medellin cartel, but became an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Along with his two older brothers, Juan David and Jorge Luis, Ochoa turned himself in to Colombian authorities in the early 1990s under a deal in which they avoided being extradited to the U.S. The three brothers were released from prison in 1996, but Ochoa was arrested again three years later for drug trafficking and was extradited to the U.S. in 2001 in response to an indictment in Miami naming him and more than 40 people as part of a drug smuggling conspiracy. He was the only suspect in that group who opted to go to trial, resulting in his conviction and a 30-year sentence. The other defendants got much lighter prison terms because most of them cooperated with the government. Ochoa’s name has faded from popular memory as Mexican drug traffickers take center stage in the global drug trade. But the former member of the Medellin cartel was recently depicted in the Netflix series Griselda, where he first fights the plucky businesswoman Griselda Blanco for control of Miami's cocaine market, and then makes an alliance with the drug trafficker, played by Sofia Vergara. Ochoa is also depicted in the Netflix series Narcos, as the youngest son of an elite Medellin family that is into ranching and horse breeding and cuts a sharp contrast with Escobar, who came from more humble roots. Richard Gregorie, a retired assistant U.S. attorney who was on the prosecution team that convicted Ochoa, said authorities were never able to seize all of the Ochoa family’s illicit drug proceeds and he expects that the former mafia boss will have a welcome return home. “He won’t be retiring a poor man, that’s for sure,” Gregorie told The Associated Press earlier this month.Former has taken aim at Usman Khawaja's decision to allow rookie opener Nathan McSweeney to face the first ball in , calling on the veteran to "own the moment". McSweeney lasted just four balls before being trapped lbw by Jasprit Bumrah, precipitating a collapse that saw Australia lose 3-12 in pursuit of an unachievable 534 at Perth Stadium. India should wrap up the first Test on Monday, completing a humiliating rout of a listless, tardy and severely deflated Australia side. The home side simply ran out of ideas on day and fight on day three as and a back-to-form Virat Kohli piled on the misery with centuries before a late declaration. Many fans saw the move to allow debutant McSweeney to face the first ball of the second innings as symptomatic of Australia's lack of planning and general cricket smarts. Clarke was astounded by the decision. "A lot of people don't like taking first ball, so the opening batters rotate," he told Sky Sports' Big Sports Breakfast. "Khawaja took the first ball in the first innings and now they're saying it's McSweeney (for the second innings). "But I think Uzzie should have said, 'youngster, get down the other end, even though we're going to rotate, even though I don't like taking it, it's my time'. (He should have said) 'I'm a senior player. I'm 38 years of age in a week's time. Listen here, youngster, I know you want to do it (but) get down there. It's my turn'. I think Uzzie should have owned that moment." Clarke was also critical over the lack of fight when India batted a second time, accusing Australia of going through the motions. He said: "It was like we just expected to knock India over again for not many – there was no intent. They were right in our faces but I didn't see any of our bowlers give it to any (India) batsmen. Our intent, our energy...it all looked a bit flat for the first Test of the summer." Things went from bad to embarrassing in the final half hour of play as the Aussies lost McSweeney (0), Pat Cummins (2) and Marnus Labuschagne (3). McSweeney fell victim to Bumrah for the second innings in a row, completing a nightmare Test debut for the 25-year-old. But many were left questioning why veteran teammate Khawaja didn't show more leadership by facing the first ball of the innings. Khawaja faced the first ball in the first innings, but in the second dig the Aussie openers switched it around (which is customary for openers). But given McSweeney was on debut and the incredible Bumrah was bowling in fading light, many felt Khawaja should have shown some leadership and fronted up himself. The 37-year-old Khawaja has played 73 Tests, and many fans and commentators felt it was 'poor' for him to allow McSweeney to expose himself to Bumrah straight away. Others countered by saying McSweeney would have had to face Bumrah at some stage anyway, and openers shouldn't need protecting. But the sight of Khawaja standing at the non-striker's end while Bumrah cannoned a ball into McSweeney's front pad left a sour taste in many people's mouths. And Khawaja lets the debutant face Bumrah. Pathetic. 👎 — The Cricket Camera (@CricketCamera) Surely as the senior opener Khawaja has to take the first ball... harsh on McSweeney — Johnny Amos (@JohnnyA988) Really poor from Khawaja and the Aussie brains trust. Should’ve shown leadership and seniority and taken the first over. Instead he’s left McSweeney to face the music. Gets a low one and is gone. — Phil Schultz (@philschultz11) Usman ‘The People’s Champ’ Khawaja making debutant McSweeney face up first ball in a massively tricky period before close is a joke — Alasdair 🇳🇦🇳🇿 (@Alasdair333) Khawaja literally sent debutant McSweeney to face the first ball from Bumrah. Disgraceful 😭😭 — Nash (@NashvSant) Shame on Usman Khawaja, being the senior partner, to let the debutant take the first ball. Absolutely mind-boggling cricket by cover this topic. Cracks appearing in the Australian team more than the Perth pitch. — Dragon K (@kevinriemers23) Cummins then showed some brilliant leadership by coming out to bat at No.3, protecting Labuschagne and Steve Smith from having to bat in the tricky conditions. But once he departed, Labuschagne decided to come out at No.4 anyway. And it immediately backfired as the struggling batter lasted just five balls. Many were left wondering why the Aussies would send Labuschagne out at No.4 if they didn't send him out at 3, with some suggesting a second nightwatchman in Nathan Lyon should have batted instead. If the Aussies were going to be three down at stumps, surely you'd rather they be Cummins and Lyon in the shed rather than McSweeney and Labuschagne. And to make matters worse for Labuschagne, he burned a review on his way back to the pavilion. The Aussie batter got it horribly wrong when he shouldered arms and watched the ball from Bumrah thud into his pads. After a discussion with Khawaja he opted to use DRS, and replays showed the ball was thundering into his off stump. Labuschagne's decision to use a review when he didn't even play a shot was labelled 'selfish' by many cricket pundits on social media. What an absolutely disgraceful challenge from Marnus. Utterly selfish and egotistical. Needs to be dropped — Ronny Lerner (@RonnyLerner) Marnus needs a spell from top level. He looks all at sea. Has not made a ton in 18 months. One score over 10 in last 10 innings. — Croz🔟 (@croz_10) What about the selfish referral by Marnus? — Peter Chivers (@PeterChivers41) The Aussies are no chance of chasing 534, but you'd like to have all your reviews in hand in case the umpire makes a howler. Labuschagne's dismissal continued his horror run of form, in which he hasn't made a Test century in the last 18 months. There's renewed questions about how much longer the Aussies can afford to keep Labuschagne in the team, although there doesn't appear to be many options to replace him. With scores of 2 and 3 in Perth, he hasn't reach double figures in his last 10 innings. And selectors might have to bite the bullet and make a call before it's too late.
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The 'Costco Guys' bring the 'Boom' to AEW in victory over Q.T. MarshallPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley knew the Eagles season rushing record could be his on Sunday with the type of stellar performance that has become the standard during his first season in Philadelphia. As for the exact moment Barkley hit the milestone, he wasn't sure — until the “MVP!” chants echoed throughout the Linc after a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter . “The records are great, they put a smile on your face,” Barkley said, “but the season is far from over.” Needing 109 yards to break LeSean McCoy's record, Barkley rushed for 124 yards and pushed his season total to 1,623 in a 22-16 victory over Carolina . Barkley needed just 13 games to pass McCoy, who rushed for 1,607 yards in 2013. He also overtook Wilbert Montgomery, who had 1,512 yards in 1978. “I never wrote the goal down to break it,” Barkley said. “You're always aware of it. That's how I train. That's how I operate in the offseason. I want to be great.” Barkley also maintained his pace to break Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams. “That would be extremely cool to do,” Barkley said. “If it happens, it happens, and not with the mindset of, I'm scared to go try to do it. Whatever it takes to win football games.” Barkley is averaging 124.8 yards per game. At that pace and with one more game to play than Dickerson, he would become the top single-season rusher in NFL history. He needs 483 yards yards over the final four games to top Dickerson’s 40-year-old record. He averaged 6.2 yards on 20 carries against the Panthers to help the Eagles win their ninth straight game. McCoy, who was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame this season, remains the franchise’s rushing leader with 6,792 yards. Referencing his old uniform number, McCoy congratulated Barkley on social media with “a lot of love, coming from 2-5." “Being a fan of Shady's growing up, and seeing the spectacular things he was able to do with the ball in his hand, to be able to have my name mentioned with him definitely means a lot,” Barkley said. Barkley left the New York Giants in the offseason and signed a three-year deal worth $26 million guaranteed to join the Eagles, who made him the highest-paid running back in franchise history. The 27-year-old has been worth every dollar. Barkley is among the favorites for league MVP, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was the only player with better MVP odds entering Sunday. Barkley has a franchise-record nine 100-yard rushing games in a season. Although he was held out of the end zone Sunday, he began the day leading the league with four rushing touchdowns of 25-plus yards. Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, topped 1,000 yards three times in his six seasons with the Giants. He finished with 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022 and rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 scores as a rookie. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who had been unwilling to spend on elite running backs, pounced on Barkley and the decision was celebrated as a success in Philly from the first game of the season. Barkley rushed for two scores and caught a TD pass in the opener against Green Bay. His three touchdowns were the most by an Eagles player in his debut since Terrell Owens in 2004. Barkley only soared in production and popularity from there, his highlight reel stamped by a reverse leap over the head of a Jacksonville defender last month. He's since vaulted over every running back ahead of him on the Eagles rushing list — and has a chance at NFL history. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Dan Gelston, The Associated PressLibfx.com: A Trusted Financial Platform Focused on Protecting User Assets 12-24-2024 12:54 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Stones_PR In the dynamic world of online financial platforms, security is the foundation on which trust is built. Libfx.com, a long-established and globally recognized internet financial platform, has been committed to safeguarding user assets for years. With a reputation for reliability and user-centric services, Libfx.com continues to prioritize the security and protection of its clients' funds, ensuring a safe and transparent trading environment. Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/94baf06c74847647fdb07e516d3fcfa9.jpg A Legacy of Security and Trust Libfx.com has established itself as a comprehensive financial platform, offering a range of services including trading, investment solutions, and wealth management. The platform serves a wide spectrum of clients, from individual traders to high-net-worth investors, all of whom entrust their financial assets to Libfx.com due to its proven track record in security and reliability. By continuously enhancing its security infrastructure, Libfx.com has built a strong reputation for being a platform where users can confidently manage and grow their financial portfolios. Advanced Encryption and Secure Data Storage One of the key features of Libfx.com security infrastructure is its use of cutting-edge encryption protocols. All data transmitted between the platform and its users is encrypted with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. 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What Does Christmas Mean to Lawyers?"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
Luke Humphries retained his Players Championship trophy by beating rival Luke Littler 11-7 in a final marred by whistling. 'Cool Hand Luke' survived a scare in Minehead on Sunday night to scoop his seventh major title. Humphries threatened to run away with the final after stumbling to a 4-1 lead, before Littler fought back to make it 8-7 in the former's favour. But Humphries reeled off three consecutive legs to show to fans why he is the world No.1 and one of the favourites for the PDC World Championship last month. However there can be no rematch between the defending champion and Littler in the final again with the duo both drawn in the same half, meaning a mouthwatering semi-final could be on the cards. And should that happen, the duo will be desperate for fans to behave themselves - unlike a select few in the Players Championship final. Some supporters in attendance could be heard whistling as Humphries prepared to throw, with it obvious that it was affecting his rhythm. As the whistles got louder and more consistent when Humphries approached the oche, referee Charlie Corstorphine intervened in the 14th leg to deliver a message to the crowd. Loudly, he simply announced: "Stop whistling, thank you." That appeared to do the trick, as whistles soon turned to cheers, with fans treated to a world class affair. Social media was quick to applaud Corstorphine for how he handled the incident which restored order in the final. Taking to X, one fan posted: "Lot of respect for Charlie Corstorphine there." Another messaged: "Fair play Charlie Corstorphine telling them d***heads whistling to shut up." A third added: "Charlie Corstorphine showing some serious b******* calling out to the crowd, how it should be done every single time, if continues take players off the stage until security chuck the t****** out." Meanwhile this user simply stated: "Big up Charlie Corstorphine." Humphries, who has now won five TV titles in 2024, was jubilant in his post-match interview after banking the £120,000 winners' cheque. He told ITV: "This [trophy] was in my living room a couple of months ago and now I have it back! “I didn’t feel myself this weekend. I was a dart behind. “Luke drives me on, he makes me want to be a better player. I enjoy playing him. “I am proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. It was a fantastic game again with Luke, he’s a special talent. “Luke is probably the best player in the world right now. “I told him I have to win these trophies before he starts to do so. “These big games are what I live for, dream of, and to be a champion is why I do this, why I travel the world. “I never give up. I know I can beat Luke. This is the best way to go into the worlds.”
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Iowa QB Cade McNamara slams 'ridiculous' rumorsChina’s new hobbies will be bad news for most retailers. A fad for biking, hiking, and other physical endeavours has helped companies like $10 billion Amer Sports AS.N tempt shoppers, and the maker of trail shoes and skis is growing sales despite a sluggish economy. But a yen for adventure won’t necessarily be a boon for other brands. Amer, known for its Arc’teryx, Salomon and Wilson brands, will report results for the three months to the end ofSeptember on Tuesday. Quarterly revenue from Greater China is forecast to top $280 million and account for around a fifth of the total, according to the average of analysts’ forecast collected by Visible Alpha. That puts the region’s sales growth on track to hit 40% this year – outpacing other markets. Since Amer’s New York listing in January, its shares have sprinted ahead 50% and now trade on 28 times earnings for the next 12 months, a premium to pure-play consumer stocks like LVMH LVMH.PA and Chinese liquor giant Kweichow Moutai 600519.SS, which both trade on 20 times. Other outdoorsy bets are also enjoying a good run. Sales of Lululemon LULU.O athletic apparel, Shimano 7309.T bike gear and Deckers Outdoor’s DECK.N Hoka sneakers are all climbing. Events such as marathons and even ultra marathons are increasingly common, and popular: only 15% of applicants for the Beijing Marathon nabbed a spot last year. The market for sports clothing and footwear could expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9% between 2022 and 2027, per Euromonitor research cited in Amer’s prospectus. To compare, luxury sales in the world’s second-largesteconomy areforecast to fall by a fifth or more this year, according to a recent Bain & Companyreport. However, overall consumer goods and services aren’t generally keeping up with niche outdoor brands. True, retail sales grew 4.8% year-on-year in October, the fastest pace since February. But government stimulus and incentives flattered the figures by temporarily boosting purchases of big-ticket items like cars and electronics, according to Tommy Wu, an economist at Commerzbank. E-commerce giants Alibaba 9988.HK and JD.com 9618.HK reported tepid earnings last week. Returning retail sales growthto pre-pandemic norms around 10% will be a slog. One reason is that many shoppers now value experiences more than material acquisitions against a gloomy economic outlook. This trend also explains recent phenomena such as so-called “special forces travel” – eschewing once-popular shopping destinations like Paris or Hong Kong for domestic tourist hotspots on a minimal budget – and the rise of camping and road trips. If that’s the trend, China’s big spenders could be more inclined to splurge on hostels and hiking poles thanLouis Vuitton handbags. Some might not buy anything at all: a recent rage for nocturnal cycling involvesstudents spendingthe equivalent of a few dollars each to borrow bikes. Investors can find consumer bright spots, but the retail sector isn’t out of the woods. Source: Reuters Breakingviews (Editing by Robyn Mak and Aditya Srivastav)Debifi Secures Funding in Successful Seed Round 12-24-2024 12:44 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/7947a4df07ae2bd776f34ac1416ad513.png Lugano - December 23, 2024 - Debifi [ https://debifi.com/ ], the leading platform for secure, non-custodial Bitcoin-backed lending solutions, is pleased to announce the successful closure of its seed round. Led by Timechain, this round brings together a diverse group of esteemed investors and visionary individuals who share Debifi's commitment to transforming the Bitcoin lending market. Empowering Bitcoin Holders: "Don't Sell, Borrow" Debifi's mission is deeply aligned with the principles of long-term Bitcoin holders. As Michael Saylor famously said: "Bitcoin is a long-term asset, and the key to preserving its value is to never sell it." Key Participants in the Investment Round * Lead Investor: Timechain * Other Participating Investors: Axiom BTC Capital Fulgur Ventures Plan B Fund Epoch VC Cep Private Equity Exodus I GmbH Willy Woo Brad Mills Chris Hunter Giacomo Zucco Investors' Perspective Alexander Mann, Partner at Timechain: "At Timechain we are delighted to be leading the seed round for Debifi. As we have seen, Bitcoin backed loans are easy to get wrong. Therefore, it is important to architect a solution with integrity and Debifi, a true pioneer in the space, have done exactly that. We expect their implementation to become the standard, globally." Allen Farrington, Partner at Axiom BTC Capital: "Bitcoin is gradually becoming integrated into capital markets, and Debifi is well-positioned to capitalize on this shift, if not drive it forward. Their approach to scaling up the overcollateralized Bitcoin-backed lending market is thrilling to Axiom, and we are proud to support their journey." Eric Yakes, Epoch VC: "Bitcoin lending will be one of the most rapidly growing markets in the world and Debifi provides a solution in the goldilocks zone with ideal UX and ideal counterparty assurances." Willy Woo "Bitcoin is the world's fastest growing asset, both in adoption and in returns. With a return profile that easily outstrips the cost of borrowing by a factor of 8x, holders want borrow against their BTC rather than selling. My investment in Debifi is a vote towards building robust BTC loan infrastructure without rehypothecation." Debifi's Vision Max Keidun, CEO of Debifi, expressed his excitement over this milestone: "Debifi's mission is to revolutionize Bitcoin-backed lending by making it secure, transparent, and globally accessible. We are happy to successfully close our seed round. Although Debifi.com is at the very beginning of its journey, we already have solid results and have been generating revenue since week one of our launch. This fundraiser will help us speed up our development, promote our solution and more importantly launch new Bitcoin-backed credit products. Some of them are already coming out of stealth mode in Q1 2025. Our vision for Debifi is that there is a need to match institutional liquidity with Bitcoin holders all over the world and we are working relentlessly to make this vision come true. We believe that there is a need for non-custodial, no-rehypothecation Bitcoin-only lending solutions, and we are here to ensure that we can provide the best service on the market. Bitcoin lending must be transparent and globally accessible. Bitcoin is a super collateral, and we want to put every lender on Bitcoin standard by providing them with a simple, non-custodial lending solution. And of course we want to ensure that Bitcoin holders have options not to sell their Bitcoin and keep holding. Strategic Use of Funds The raised capital will support several strategic priorities: * Team Growth: Expand technical and business development teams to meet growing demand. * Market Expansion: Establish a presence in new markets globally. * Product Innovation: Launch new Bitcoin-backed credit products, focusing on non-custodial and no-rehypothecation solutions. * Marketing Initiatives: Drive awareness and user adoption through targeted campaigns. Impressive Market Traction Since its beta launch, Debifi has demonstrated remarkable growth: * Loan originations have doubled every quarter, both in quantity and size. * The launch of the Debifi iOS app accelerated growth further, showing 2x monthly user expansion in recent months. Institutional Lender Growth * During the last quarter, we observed a 4.5x increase in requests from institutional lenders. * Additionally, our onboarding rate surged by 250% compared to Q3. Broader Market Alignment As the financial world increasingly embraces Bitcoin, Debifi is strategically positioned to capitalize on key trends: 1. Bitcoin as a "Super Collateral": With Bitcoin's price appreciation, holders are seeking alternatives to selling their assets, preferring to borrow against them instead. 2. Institutional Adoption of Bitcoin: A growing number of corporations are adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets, recognizing its unmatched qualities as collateral for borrowing. What's Next for Debifi Debifi plans to launch a suite of groundbreaking Bitcoin-backed credit products, coming out of stealth mode in early 2025. These products will redefine the standard for non-custodial lending, further cementing Debifi's reputation as a pioneer in the industry. For more information on Debifi's solutions or to learn about investment opportunities, visit Debifi.com [ http://www.debifi.com/ ]. About Debifi Debifi is a non-custodial lending platform designed to unlock Bitcoin's true potential as a superior form of collateral. Through secure multisig escrow arrangements and a focus on transparency, Debifi provides unmatched borrowing solutions for individuals and institutions alike. Founded by Bitcoin industry leaders, Debifi is setting the standard for Bitcoin-only lending. Press release URL: https://debifi.com/publications/funding-round-success Our social media: https://x.com/debificom and https://linkedin.com/company/debifi Media Contact Company Name: Debifi SA Contact Person: Sergejs Ponomarjovs PR & Media Relations Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=debifi-secures-funding-in-successful-seed-round ] Country: Switzerland Website: https://debifi.com This release was published on openPR.
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