super. ace

super. ace High school recruiting isn't the only way to build a winner in the transfer portal eraMILAN, Dec 13 (Reuters) - UniCredit (CRDI.MI) , opens new tab on Friday filed its buyout offer for rival Banco BPM BAMI.MI with Italy's market regulator, and CEO Andrea Orcel said the price was adequate. The filing makes the 10-billion-euro ($10.5 billion) all-share offer, which UniCredit announced on Nov. 25, binding and sets a price floor. UniCredit also applied to relevant authorities for regulatory approval. Shares in Banco BPM closed at 7.846 euros on Friday, well above the 6.657 euros a share UniCredit is offering based on the bid's exchange ratio, indicating investors are betting on an improvement of the proposal. "We consider our initial offer to Banco BPM shareholders to be fair and appropriate," Orcel said in a statement. Any deal must create shareholder value and be superior to the return from any UniCredit share buyback, he said. An M&A veteran, Orcel has said he wants any deal to return at least 15%. In announcing the bid , opens new tab for BPM, Orcel had signalled that UniCredit could consider topping it up with cash down the road. "We remain committed to our disciplined approach to all M&A, with any transaction having to prove a strategic fit and meeting, or exceeding, our core financial metrics," he said. While BPM has long been a target for UniCredit , Orcel, who built his fortune as a bank merger adviser, resisted buying BPM until now in part because of the M&A premium built into BPM's share price, sources previously told Reuters. Accelerating domestic consolidation forced his hand. Orcel said BPM investors would fare better holding UniCredit shares due to "its far greater resiliency and diversification going into a challenging year and two-times higher total distribution yield." UniCredit is offering 175 newly issued shares for every 1,000 BPM shares, a premium of just 0.5% to BPM share price prior to the bid. UniCredit says the terms are a 15% premium to BPM's share price before BPM bid for fund manager Anima Holding (ANIM.MI) , opens new tab on Nov. 6, a move that triggered gains in the stocks of both Anima and BPM. "Given the robustness of our approach, (the) premium put forward and the situation remaining the same to that existing at the time of our original offer, we are moving forward at such terms", Orcel said. UniCredit has also invited BPM's biggest shareholder Credit Agricole (CA) (CAGR.PA) , opens new tab to sit down for talks that are widely expected to focus on commercial partnerships . CA partners with both BPM and UniCredit. To strengthen its negotiating position, CA has applied to the ECB to reach a 19.99% holding in BPM and used derivatives to raise its BPM stake to 15% from just below 10%. "We are in continuous discussions with all relevant stakeholders," Orcel said. ($1 = 0.9528 euros) Sign up here. Reporting by Valentina Za; Editing by Cynthia Osterman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

Breyten Breytenbach, who died Sunday, was one of South Africa's most honoured writers, who found beauty in his Afrikaans language but was horrified at the white supremacy imposed by his government. The poet, author and painter had not lived in South Africa for decades, leaving in the early 1960s to settle in Paris, where he became a global voice against apartheid. What was intended to be a short and secret trip back in 1975 led to him spending seven years in jail, two in solitary confinement, after he was betrayed and arrested. French president Francois Mitterrand helped secure his release in 1982 and he returned to France to become a citizen. He travelled back to South Africa regularly, according to his daughter Daphnee Breytenbach, who confirmed his death to AFP. "My father, the South African painter and poet Breyten Breytenbach, died peacefully on Sunday, November 24, in Paris, at the age of 85," she said. "Immense artist, militant against apartheid, he fought for a better world until the end." Breytenbach was born in the small Western Cape town of Bonnievale in 1939 at a time when Afrikaans was emerging with a distinct identity as a language, having been derided as "kitchen Dutch". When in 1964 Breytenbach published his first volume of poetry -- "Die ysterkoei moet sweet", or The Iron Cow Must Sweat -- Afrikaans was not just ascendent but had given the name "apartheid" to South Africa's brutal system of racial segregation. With Afrikaners in power, their language became ever more associated with the regime. "I'd never reject Afrikaans as a language, but I reject it as part of the Afrikaner political identity. I no longer consider myself an Afrikaner," he said in an interview with The New York Times the following year. In his language and politics, Breytenbach pushed back against the strictures of the country in which he was born. He travelled around Europe in his early 20s, eventually settling in 1962 in Paris, where he met his wife, Yolande Ngo Thi Hoang Lien, who was born in Vietnam and raised in France. She was refused a visa to visit South Africa in the late 1960s as she was considered "non-white" by the apartheid system. Breytenbach returned to the country in the early 1970s on a false passport to deliver money to the anti-apartheid struggle and meet white activists. But he was discovered and sentenced to nine years in prison, serving seven. Of his more than 50 books, most are in Afrikaans. His acclaimed 1984 prison memoir, "The True Confession of an Albino Terrorist", is in English. In the book, he recalls the horrors of hearing fellow inmates being hanged, often for political crimes. "Very often –- no, all the time really –- I relive those years of horror and corruption, and I try to imagine, as I did then with the heart an impediment to breathing, what it must be like to be executed. What it must be like to be. Executed," he wrote. His path crossed once, briefly, with another famous inmate. Nelson Mandela was for a time transferred from Robben Island to Pollsmoor prison in Cape Town, where Breytenbach was serving his time. The writer was tasked with preparing new prison clothes for the future president. Breytenbach eventually turned to painting to portray surreal human and animal figures, often in captivity, with his art displayed in Johannesburg, Brussels, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Paris. His literature gathered several prizes, including the international Zbigniew Herbert International Literary Award (2017), the Mahmoud Darwish Literature Prize (2010) and the Van der Hoogt prize for Dutch literature (1972). "His poems are rich in metaphors and are a complex mixture of references to Buddhism, Afrikaans idiomatic speech, and memories of the South African landscape," according to the Hague-based Writers Unlimited foundation. For all his activism, when democracy arrived in 1994, the older and gray-bearded Breytenbach did not return to embrace the new South Africa. He wrestled with the failings of the democratic government, even with Mandela, despairing at what he called in Harpers magazine in 2008 the "seemingly never-ending parade of corrupt clowns in power at all levels". Breytenbach also taught at the University of Cape Town, the Goree Institute in Dakar and New York University. zm-gs-br/lhd/jsWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that the U.S. military should stay out of the escalating conflict in Syria as a shock opposition offensive closes in on the capital, declaring in a social media post, "THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.” With world leaders watching the rapid rebel advance against Syria's Russian- and Iranian-backed president, Bashar Assad, President Joe Biden's national security adviser separately stressed that the Biden administration had no intention of intervening. “The United States is not going to ... militarily dive into the middle of a Syrian civil war," Jake Sullivan told an audience in California. He said the U.S. would keep acting as necessary to keep the Islamic State — a violently anti-Western extremist group not known to be involved in the offensive but with sleeper cells in Syria's deserts — from exploiting openings presented by the fighting. Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria sped faster Saturday, reaching the gates of Damascus and government forces abandoning the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that Assad had fled the country. Trump's comments on the dramatic rebel push were his first since Syrian rebels launched their advance late last month. They came while he was in Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral . In his post, Trump said Assad did not deserve U.S. support to stay in power. Assad's government has been propped up by the Russian and Iranian military, along with Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied militias, in a now 13-year-old war against opposition groups seeking his overthrow. The war, which began as a mostly peaceful uprising in 2011 against the Assad family's rule, has killed a half-million people, fractured Syria and drawn in a more than a half-dozen foreign militaries and militias. The insurgents are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , which the U.S. has designated as a terrorist group and says has links to al-Qaida, although the group has since broken ties with al-Qaida. The insurgents have met little resistance so far from the Syrian army, the Russian and Iranian militaries or allied militias in the country. The Biden administration says Syrian opposition forces' capture of government-held cities demonstrates just how diminished those countries are by wars in Ukraine , Gaza and Lebanon. “Assad’s backers — Iran, Russia and Hezbollah — have all been weakened and distracted," Sullivan said Saturday at an annual gathering of national security officials, defense companies and lawmakers at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. “None of them are prepared to provide the kind of support to Assad that they provided in the past,” he later added. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria, including U.S. forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Gen. Bryan Fenton, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, said he would not want to speculate on how the upheaval in Syria would affect the U.S. military’s footprint in the country. “It’s still too early to tell,” he said. What would not change is the focus on disrupting IS operations in Syria and protecting U.S. troops, Fenton said during a panel at the Reagan event. Syrian opposition activists and regional officials have been watching closely for any indication from the incoming Trump administration, in particular on how the U.S. would respond to the rebel advances against Assad. Robert Wilkie, Trump's defense transition chief and a former secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, said during the same panel that the collapse of the “murderous Assad regime” would be a major blow to Iran's power. The United Nations' special envoy for Syria called Saturday for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition” in Syria. In his post, Trump said Russia “is so tied up in Ukraine” that it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” He said rebels could possibly force Assad from power. The president-elect condemned the overall U.S. handling of the war but said the routing of Assad and Russian forces might be for the best. “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” he wrote in Saturday's post. An influential Syrian opposition activist in Washington, Mouaz Moustafa, interrupted a briefing to reporters to read Trump’s post and appeared to choke up. He said Trump’s declaration that the U.S. should stay out of the fight was the best outcome that the the Syrians aligned against Assad could hope for. Rebels have been freeing political detainees of the Assad government from prisons as they advance across Syria, taking cities. Moustafa pledged to reporters Saturday that opposition forces would be alert for any U.S. detainees among them and do their utmost to protect them. Moustafa said that includes Austin Tice , an American journalist missing for more than a decade and suspected to be held by Assad. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham renounced al-Qaida in 2016 and has worked to rebrand itself, including cracking down on some Islamic extremist groups and fighters in its territory and portraying itself as a protector of Christians and other religious minorities. While the U.S. and United Nations still designate it as a terrorist organization, Trump's first administration told lawmakers that the U.S. was no longer targeting the group's leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani. ___ Copp reported from Simi Valley, California. Ellen Knickmeyer, Will Weissert And Tara Copp, The Associated PressNew 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns

US regulator places Google Payment Corp under supervisionHigh school recruiting isn't the only way to build a winner in the transfer portal eraTexas A&M signed the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class three years ago believing it had built a potential national title contender. Plenty of players from that heralded 2022 class could indeed be participating in the first 12-team College Football Playoff this month. They just won’t be doing it for the Aggies, who no longer have nearly half their 2022 signees. The list of 2022 recruits now with playoff contenders elsewhere includes Mississippi defensive lineman Walter Nolen, Oregon wide receiver Evan Stewart, Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton, SMU offensive tackle PJ Williams and injured Boise State receiver Chris Marshall. Texas A&M has done all right without them, going 8-4 as transfers filled about half the starting roles. Texas A&M represents perhaps the clearest example of how recruiting and roster construction have changed in the era of loosened transfer restrictions. Coaches must assemble high school classes without always knowing which of their own players are transferring and what players from other schools could be available through the portal. “It used to be you lost 20 seniors, you signed 20 incoming freshmen,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “You just had your numbers right. Now you might lose 20 seniors, but you might lose 20 underclassmen. You just don’t know.” Coaches emphasize that high school recruiting remains critical, but recent results suggest it isn’t as vital as before. The last two College Football Playoff runners-up – TCU in 2022 and Washington in 2023 – didn’t sign a single top-15 class in any of the four years leading up their postseason runs, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. This year’s contenders have shown there’s more than one way to build a championship-caliber roster. About half of No. 1 Oregon’s usual starters began their college careers elsewhere. No. 5 Georgia, which annually signs one of the nation’s top high school classes, has only a few transfers making major contributions. Colorado’s rise under Deion Sanders exemplifies how a team can win without elite high school recruiting. None of Colorado’s last four classes have ranked higher than 30th in the 247Sports Composite. Three ranked 47th or lower. “If anybody ever did the homework and the statistics of these young men – people have a class that they say is the No. 1 class in the nation – then five of those guys play, or four of those guys play, then the rest go through the spring and then they jump in the portal,” Sanders said. “Don’t give me the number of where you rank (in recruiting standings), because it’s like an NFL team," he added. "You always say who won the draft, then the team gets killed all year (and) you don’t say nothing else about it. Who won the draft last year in the NFL? Nobody cares right now, right?” Wisconsin's Christian Alliegro tries to stop Oregon's Evan Stewart, right, during the first half of a Nov. 16 game in Madison, Wis. Star quarterback Shedeur Sanders followed his father from Jackson State to Colorado in 2023, and Heisman Trophy front-runner Travis Hunter accompanied them. According to Colorado, this year’s Buffaloes team has 50 transfer newcomers, trailing only North Texas’ 54 among Bowl Subdivision programs. Relying on transfers comes with caveats. Consider Florida State's rise and fall. Florida State posted an unbeaten regular-season record last year with transfers playing leading roles. When those transfers departed and Florida State's portal additions this year didn't work out, the Seminoles went 2-10. “There has to be some type of balance between the transfer portal and high school recruiting,” said Andrew Ivins, the director of scouting for 247Sports. “I compare it to the NFL. The players from the transfer portal are your free agents and high school recruiting is your NFL draft picks.” A look at the composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports for the 2020-22 classes shows at least 40 of the top 100 prospects each of those years ended up leaving their original school. Coaches must decide which positions they’re better off building with high school prospects and which spots might be easier to fill through the portal. “The ones that have a ton of learning to do - tight end, quarterback, interior offensive line, inside linebacker, safety, where they are the communicators - they are the guys that are processing a lot of information,” Florida’s Billy Napier said. “Those are the ones in a perfect world you have around for a while. “It’s easier to play defensive line, edge, corner, receiver, running back, tackle, specialists. Those are a little bit more plug-and-play I’d say, in my opinion," Napier said. "Either way, it’s not necessarily about that. It’s just about we need a certain number at each spot, and we do the best we can to fill those roles.” Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, right, congratulates place kicker Cristiano Palazzo after he kicked an extra point during the second half of Friday's game against Oklahoma Stat in Boulder, Colo. Power Four programs aren’t the only ones facing a balancing act between recruiting high schools and mining the transfer portal. Group of Five schools encounter similar challenges. “We’re recruiting every position and bringing in a high school class,” Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton said. “That’s not going to be maybe 24 scholarship guys like it used to be. It might be more like 16. It’s not four d-linemen necessarily, right? It might be three. It might not be three receivers. It might be two. And it might not be five offensive linemen. It’s two to three.” The extra hurdle Group of Five schools face is the possibility their top performers might leave for a power-conference program with more lucrative name, image and likeness financial opportunities. They sometimes don’t know which players they’ll lose. “We know who they’re trying to steal,” Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin quipped. “We just don’t know who they’re going to steal.” The obstacles facing coaches are only getting steeper as FBS teams prepare for a 105-man roster limit as part of the fallout from a pending $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement. While having 105 players on scholarship seems like an upgrade from the current 85-man scholarship limit, many rosters have about 125 players once walk-ons are included. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said last week his program would probably end up with about 30-50 players in the portal due to the new roster restrictions. All the added dimensions to roster construction in the college game have drawn parallels to the NFL, but Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck believes those comparisons are misleading. “When people talk about college football right now, they’re saying, ‘Oh, we have an NFL model,’ or it’s kind of moving toward the NFL,” Fleck said. “First of all, it’s nothing like the NFL. There’s a collective bargaining agreement (in the NFL). There’s a true salary cap for everybody. It’s designed for all 32 fan bases to win the Super Bowl maybe once every 32 years – and I know other people are winning that a lot more than others – but that’s how it’s designed. In college football, it’s not that way.” There does seem to be a bit more competitive balance than before. The emergence of TCU and Washington the last couple of postseasons indicates this new era of college football has produced more unpredictability. Yet it’s also created many more challenges as coaches try to figure out how to put together their rosters. “It’s difficult because we’re just kind of inventing it on the fly, right?” Diaz said. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Get local news delivered to your inbox!Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth said Sunday that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary is "flat-out wrong" in his view that women should not serve in the military in combat roles. "Our military could not go to war without the women who wear this uniform," Duckworth said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." "And frankly, America's daughters are just as capable of defending liberty and freedom as her sons." Trump tapped Hegseth , a former Fox News host and Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as his pick to head the Defense Department earlier this month. The 44-year-old has drawn criticism for his stance on women in combat roles, along with his level of experience. Duckworth, who in 2004 deployed to Iraq as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot and sustained severe injuries when her helicopter was hit by an RPG, outlined that women who serve in combat roles have met the same standards as men, passing rigorous testing. She said Hegseth's position "just shows his lack of understanding of where our military is," while arguing that he's "inordinately unqualified for the position." "Our military could not go to war without the 220,000-plus women who serve in uniform," Duckworth said. She added that having women in the military "does make us more effective, does make us more lethal." Hegseth has also drawn scrutiny amid recently unearthed details about an investigation into an alleged sexual assault in 2017. Hegseth denies the allegation and characterized the incident as a consensual encounter. The Monterey County district attorney's office declined to file charges as none were "supported by proof beyond a reasonable doubt." His lawyer has acknowledged that Hegseth paid a confidential financial settlement to the woman out of concern that the allegation would jeopardize his employment. Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat who serves on the Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, said it's "really troubling" that Trump would nominate someone who "has admitted that he's paid off a victim who has claimed rape allegations against him." "This is not the kind of person you want to lead the Department of Defense," she added. The comments come after Trump announced a slew of picks for top posts in his administration in recent days. Meanwhile, one pick — former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general — has already withdrawn his name from consideration after he faced intense scrutiny amid a House Ethics Committee investigation and a tenuous path to Senate confirmation. While Duckworth acknowledged that she's glad her Senate Republicans "held the line" on Gaetz and also elected Sen. John Thune as leader over a candidate favored by many in Trump's orbit, she said she's "deeply concerned" her Republican colleagues will green light Trump's nominees. "From what I'm hearing from my Republican colleagues on everything from defense secretary to other posts, it sounds like they are ready to roll over for Mr. Trump," Duckworth said. But Duckworth didn't rule out supporting some of the nominees herself during the Senate confirmation process, pledged to evaluate each candidate based on their ability to do the job, and their willingness to put the needs of the American people before "a retribution campaign for Mr. Trump." Meanwhile, a CBS News poll released on Sunday found that 33% of Americans say Hegseth is a "good choice" for defense secretary, including 64% of Trump voters. But 39% of Americans said they hadn't heard enough yet about the pick. More broadly, Americans generally say they want Trump to appoint people who'll speak their minds and who have experience in the field or agency they'll run. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who also appeared on "Face the Nation" on Sunday , said he believes that Hegseth can run the massive Defense Department, despite his lack of experience managing a large organization. Though he did not address Hegseth's comments about women in combat roles, Paul said he believes the "vast majority of people" support leaders who are picked based on merit, citing Hegseth's criticism of the Pentagon for what he says has been a move away from merit-based hiring and toward hiring based on "racial characteristics." Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C.

Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs reportSarnia’s new zoning by-law could have a significant impact on residential development in the city, particularly for multi-family housing. The current draft imposes strict requirements for lot size and frontage, effectively excluding 4-plexes and other multi-family housing options. For example, properties currently listed on highlight how the proposed by-law would render some existing multi-family properties non-conforming. A triplex at 176 Christina Street South sits on a lot measuring 522.43 m2, well below the by-law’s minimum lot size of 840 m2 for triplexes. Its frontage of 11.5 meters also falls short of the required 21 meters. Similarly, a duplex at 162 John Street meets the lot size requirement but does not meet the 18-meter frontage requirement, with only 14.3 meters of frontage. These examples demonstrate how the by-law’s restrictive parameters could limit the potential for multi-family housing in certain areas. The by-law’s strict requirements come at a time when there is growing demand for affordable housing in central areas close to transit and amenities. Permitting 4-plexes and similar developments could help address this demand and diversify Sarnia’s housing stock. However, the current draft’s restrictions may pose challenges for achieving these goals, especially for properties that are already being used as multi-family housing but do not meet the proposed requirements. Resistance to zoning reform, especially when it comes to 4-plexes and missing-middle housing, reflects concerns about potential changes to neighborhoods. These include the possibility of increased investor activity, the demolition of affordable homes, or disruptions to the neighborhood’s character and affordability. Rather than focusing solely on the risks, it is essential to look at how similar properties have successfully coexisted in urban environments. Many neighborhoods, both locally and globally, thrive with a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and even small apartment buildings. The idea of having a variety of housing types isn’t inherently disruptive—it’s actually a model of resilience and adaptability that helps cities accommodate growing populations without sacrificing quality of life. Properties like those on Christina and John Streets are already part of Sarnia’s urban fabric, and allowing such properties to evolve with additional units could increase affordable housing options while maintaining neighborhood integrity. The proposed by-law presents a critical opportunity for Sarnia to evaluate whether current restrictions align with the city’s housing needs and long-term development goals. Although the deadline for submitting written comments has passed, residents can still participate in discussions about the proposed zoning by-laws:

Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs reportScheifele scores as the Jets beat the Blackhawks 4-2 in Sorensen's first game

THE Managing Director of Jester Media Services’ (JMS) Broadcasting Division, Zweli Sibanda, says the sky is the limit for fast-growing independent national television station, 3Ktv. This comes after the country’s most watched channel on satellite once again dominated and also won the prestigious ‘Popular Television Station’ award at the esteemed Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Awards (ZAFTAs) that were held in Harare this past weekend. It also comes as the station has just launched its 12th season, which includes even more riveting and fresh local and international programming. “Winning the ZAFTAs’ Popular Television Station award again was huge, as it cemented the fact that 3Ktv represents The Very Best of Zimbabwe, as our famous motto goes. “Indeed, the future is bright for 3Ktv and the possibilities for the station are boundless if we keep innovating and working as hard as we are currently doing. “Kudos are due to the station’s conscientious team, and indeed to the whole JMS family for its unwavering support, which resulted in this incredible achievement,” the elated Sibanda said. He also said 3Ktv was continuing to perform well ahead of all forecasts and projections — including with regards to its viewership numbers and advertising volumes. “This is all thanks to Zimbabweans and our business partners who continue to give us amazing support. Another one of the station’s advantages for our partners is that we are also on MultiChoice’s DStv platform, which has very high engagement rates. “Our rich programming menu also offers the benefit of excellent audience targeting, which has long been a part of TV marketing — such as advertising at certain times of the day and on certain programmes to make sure that one hits the people who are likely to be watching 3Ktv at a particular time,” Sibanda added. At this year’s ZAFTAs, the station’s productions dominated the awards, with notable wins for Inkaba, Love and Reality, Village 4 and Bundu. Among other awards, John Mabuyane received the Outstanding Directing gong for Inkaba, while Joylene Ismail of The Design Show took home the Outstanding Television Presenter title. Last year’s edition of the awards were equally successful for 3Ktv, with wins for Outstanding Television Presenter (Mazwi), Outstanding Television Actor (Lucian David), Outstanding Television Series (Faking It), and Outstanding Indigenous Culture, Language, and Tradition (Hakata). Amanxeba swept four categories, including Outstanding Directing and Popular Television Series. However, 3Ktv’s feed is also available through other platforms for which subscription fees may be payable, which explains the station’s key partnership with MultiChoice — which has seen it also hosted on DStv’s channel 293. Licensed in November 2020 after coming up tops in a competitive, open bidding process, the station went live amid palpable excitement in the country on the 28th of February 2022. In the process, the most watched local channel on satellite made history and became the first private station to operate legally in Zimbabwe since television was first introduced in the then Southern Rhodesia in November 1960. Apart from operating 3Ktv, Jester Media Services also owns some of the country’s biggest and most influential media brands that include the Daily News, the Daily News On Sunday , its printing division Printco, Jester Events, online business newsletter Business Live, and The Financial Gazette — the country’s number one business publication.

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! fans are worried about Tulisa Contostavlos as she failed to show up on spin-off show Unpakced. The N-Dubz icon, 36, was something of a fan favourite while appearing as a contestant on the long-running ITV reality show's 2024 season. On Monday night, viewers were sad to see her bid farewell to the camp as she was voted off the show. However, fans were alarmed to learn she would not appear on Tuesday night's instalment of spin-off series Unpacked on Tuesday night. The abrupt news came just hours after the singer erased all evidence she had been on I'm A Celeb from her social media accounts - and reports suggested she had been left "raging" over her time on the show. Fans were confused to see her seemingly turn on the show after she had been filmed having a great time in the jungle. Viewers watched her bond with her fellow contestants, excel at trials, and win praise for her warm and nurturing nature. But the singer has seemingly turned her back on her jungle experience - and fans grew more worried when Unpacked host Joel Dommett revealed she would not be on the spin-off show on Tuesday night. Addressing the cameras, Joel revealed: "Unfortunately we don't have Tulisa on the show today." A show source told the Mirror her absence was due to "personal reasons". His comments sparked a frenzy of speculation on social media - with many questioning where the N-Dubz icon was. One wrote on X: "Where’s Tulisa? Exclusive interview elsewhere? #ImaCeleb #unpacked." And others questioned if there was a link between her absence and the sudden erasure of all the I'm A Celeb related posts that had been added to her Instagram page by her team while she was in the jungle. One fan wrote: "Tulisa removed everything off her instagram to due with the show and now a no show for unpacked...something has pissed her off! #imaceleb." And another asked: "Oh, what' s up with Tulisa I wonder?*" #ImACeleb." While a further viewer wrote: "Is Tulisa having a strop? Going on this show is a publicity move.. don’t f*ck it up. #ImACelebity #ImaCeleb." Tulisa reportedly doesn't follow boxer Barry McGuigan, who is the only campmate she doesn't have on social media. "Tulisa was in high spirits when she left the set, but something appears to have happened that's left her raging," a source told the Sun. "She wasn't in a great mood for her post-show interviews and appears to be already distancing herself from the programme. It's all a bit of a mystery at the moment." During her exit interview on Monday, Tulisa said: "You're just going to be more grateful for everything. The food you eat, the people that you love... you don't realise how good you've got it." She also said it was "testing" in there, but she stayed true to herself. She appeared on ITV's Lorraine on Tuesday morning, where she shared more details of her time in the I'm A Celebrity jungle as she hinted that not all of her famous friends were being as authentic as she had been. Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.

Texans star to have MRI on injury | Sporting Newsby Rajan Philips The election of Donald Trump as US President for yet another term has sent many world leaders scurrying for cover. Especially in the West. But even China is concerned. In the US itself, the longstanding maxim that there can only be one president at a time is being put to the test every day. Joe Biden, the outgoing president, is scrambling to salvage his legacy after a disastrous last year that has diminished all his achievements over the first three years on the domestic front. Externally, Biden’s presidency has been a monumental failure, from the impulsive withdrawal from Afghanistan that kickstarted it, to the hopelessly painful stalemate in Ukraine and the relentless mass devastation in Gaza that are dragging out its end. With the pardoning of his son Hunter Biden, the outgoing president has ceded even the little moral hump that he had over Trump. Donald Trump who would not have succeeded in getting a major party nomination as a presidential candidate in any other democratic country, has sequestered the Republican Party, arrogated himself to be its candidate, and won a second election with even a small popular vote majority albeit under 50% of the total. That Trump’s popularity could grow from under 30% when he first started his political venture in 2015 to nearly 50% in ten years in spite of all the scandals, criminal convictions, and worst of all the 2021 January 6 attack on the American constitution and democracy itself, is a statement not so much on Trump’s resilience as it is on America’s sociopolitical decadence. The Tariff Man Trump’s second term is poised to be even more inglorious than his first but with much greater organization, and persistence and fortified by – thanks to Chief Justice Robert’s creative legal mind, absolute immunity in most instances and presumed immunity in all other instances. But even the Supreme Court cannot help Trump to form a cabinet of his choosing and full of sycophants (not the Lincoln’s team of rivals) without the Senate’s approval. The Republicans have only a slender majority in both houses, and enough Republican Senators have already signalled that they are not prepared to support his more questionable cabinet appointees. What the world leaders are now going through is the dilemma of having to put up with two presidents at the same time. One they can smile and ignore and the other they have to grin and suffer for four more years. Biden is trying hard to strengthen Ukraine’s military to gain some territorial advantage before Ukraine is forced into negotiations with Russia under pressure from Trump. President Biden is even more desperate for a ceasefire in Gaza, but Prime Minister Netanyahu who has betrayed Biden at every turn in the Gaza conflict is not about to do him any favours with less than a month left in Biden’s term. Biden’s eleventh hour initiatives in Ukraine and in the Middle East have raised eyebrows among Washington watchers because all of them could be torpedoed without notice by Trump on his first day President. Yet the two presidents seem to be adhering to the transition protocol – with the Biden Administration briefing the Trump transition on the new initiatives although Trump himself has not said much about either front after the election. Except the usual bravado that there will be hell to pay by Hamas if all the remaining hostages are not released before his inauguration in January. Arms Sales for Ceasefire At the same time, Trump is threatening to hold America’s trading partners hostage with his tariff threats. He has warned neighbouring Canada and Mexico that on his first day in office, he will impose a flat 25% tariff on all imports from them unless the two countries mend their borders to his liking. And a further 10% tariff on already tariffed Chinese goods. In another bluster, Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on imports from BRICS countries unless they stop planning an alternative currency to the dollar. Trump is stoned on the idea of tariffs although it will lead to domestic price increases and will not bring back lost American jobs. The captains of American businesses do not believe Trump will actually impose tariffs but will only use them in bargaining to get what he wants from other countries. On the other hand, the blue collar foot soldiers who voted for Trump are now googling to find out the meaning of tariff. Like the word Brexit in Britain after the Brexit referendum, Google search for the meaning of tariff has seen a massive spike in the US after Trump’s election. It is already too late for the American voters to know what tariff means. Just like with Brexit in Britain. If Trump were to go ahead and impose tariffs on imports that will only increase the price of many goods that Americans buy. The midterm Congress and Senate elections in two years will give them the opportunity to vent but that will not stop Trump from going on for another two years. A Weak West, Divided World For the rest of the world, there is no midterm election to protest against a man whom 49% of Americans have elected. The countries that Trump threatens with tariffs cannot even unite to provide a collective response. With one tariff tweet, Trump has driven a wedge between Canada and Mexico who have trilateral free trade agreement with the US that is now 30 years old. Even the BRICS member countries will be forced to go their separate ways to deal with Trump’s tariffs. Only China can show some muscle against this madness, but that will only aggravate the madness. All in all, it will be every country for itself, with no god for all. Trump’s second coming is also coinciding with an exceptionally weak moment in Europe. Britain is neither here nor there, and the new Labour government can do nothing about it. France is in political turmoil with a lame duck president who has no majority in parliament. This week, the hard left and the far right combined to defeat the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier whom President Emmanuel Macron had appointed after a deadlock parliamentary election in June. No government in France has lost a no confidence motion in 62 years. President Macron is insisting on staying on as President until his term is over in 2027, and no parliamentary election can be called till June next year. For now, the President can distract the French with the multi-day celebration of this Saturday’s reopening of the Notre-Dame cathedral that was ravaged by fire in 2019 and is now fully renovated. World leaders will be in attendance, but Pope Francis has declined the invitation. President elect Trump will be there, after apparently accepting a pleading invitation by the French President. As the old saying goes, “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” The political and economic crises are even worse in Germany which has been the EU’s main anchor for much of its life. After the collapse of the governing (traffic-light) coalition in November, elections have been scheduled for 23 February 2025. The elections will be held under a new hybrid (single constituency and proportional) system that has made the results and the shape of the next government quite unpredictable. With Germany and France in crisis, the EU is not at all in position to respond to Trump. And Trump will have welcoming allies in Italy’s Giorgio Meloni and the Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban. Besides its own tariff fears, the EU’s bigger problem is avoiding being caught in the crossfire of tariffs between the US and China. EU and NATO will also have to come to terms with whatever Trump comes up for Ukraine. What is mostly expected now is a potential peace agreement through the personal agencies of Trump, Putin and Zelensky. India is “less concerned about a second Trump term than many other US allies and partners,” according to Tanvi Madan writing in Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister Jaishankar has said that India “always had a positive political relationship with Trump,” and that Trump in turn “has also had a positive view of India.” New Delhi has also dissociated itself from potential de-dollarisation plans by BRICS countries. A specific upshot of the Trump presidency for the Modi government could be an easing of the heat from Washington over the Modi government’s alleged involvement in the targeted attacks, including murder, against Sikh individuals in the US and Canada. As world leaders recalibrate their governments to Trump’s second coming, Sri Lanka will have to chart its own course to navigate the choppy waters around it. Sri Lanka does not have to do anything grand by way of either the non-alignment of old or the all-alignment of Modi’s India. If the new government can competently manage its internal political challenges, it does not have to do anything more than keeping Sri Lanka’s trade channels open to expand its exports and settle its debts.Lotito: ‘Lazio got too comfortable, we needed more hunger’Star Trek's Garrett Wang Gets Candid About Harry Never Receiving A Promotion On Voyager, And Revealed The Wild Plea He Made With Kate Mulgrew Outside Her Trailer

SKorea arrests ex-defence minister over martial lawCats Stats: How Arizona fared in 3 key areas tells tale of unsatisfactory season

Must See: Jeremy Swayman With A Ridiculous Breakaway Save In OvertimeThe heart of Mid-Market now pulsates with a newfound vibrancy following the unveiling of 'Heartfullness,' a monumental sculpture that has taken residence at the intersection of Market and Turk Streets, according to a social media post by Market Street Arts . This dynamic piece of steel takes the shape of a mended heart and is a testament to the human spirit's durability and our capacity to love despite adversity. A post shared by Market Street Arts (@marketstreetarts) Standing over 15 feet wide and 13 feet high, 'Heartfullness' isn't just a spectacle during the day – when the sun bounces off its rusted metallic surface – but also at night, where it emanates a warm glow from its core. As part of its design, the sculpture includes a pair of woven rope seats nestled within, offering visitors a moment of respite and reflection. This installation is more than art; it's a gathering space intended to foster communal connection on San Francisco's main thoroughfare through June 2025. The transformative effects of 'Heartfullness' on the Mid-Market area were underlined by Abra Allan, Director of Creative Engagement at the Mid-Market Foundation, as per Broadway World . Allan expressed, "Through Market Street Arts, we've built a foundation of sustained investment and community engagement that celebrates the unique character and rich history of our neighborhood. 'Heartfulness' represents more than just an artistic installation—it embodies our community's aspirations and resilience, serving as a beacon of hope for Market Street's bright future." The artist behind 'Heartfullness,' Katy Boynton, shared with Broadway World her connection to the sculpture. "I moved to San Francisco to follow my artistic dreams," Boynton said. "I wanted to learn how to weld and build a heart sculpture that came to me in a dream. Having Heartfullness placed in San Francisco is the ultimate dream come true.”

JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of iShares Flexible Income Active ETF ( NYSEARCA:BINC – Free Report ) by 15.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,868,066 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,038,895 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned approximately 0.14% of iShares Flexible Income Active ETF worth $421,178,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in shares of iShares Flexible Income Active ETF by 133.6% during the 2nd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 69,690 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,638,000 after purchasing an additional 39,854 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in iShares Flexible Income Active ETF by 10.4% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 572,243 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,871,000 after purchasing an additional 53,984 shares in the last quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in iShares Flexible Income Active ETF by 75.3% in the second quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 19,438 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,015,000 after purchasing an additional 8,352 shares in the last quarter. IFG Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Flexible Income Active ETF during the second quarter valued at about $416,000. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Flexible Income Active ETF by 49.2% in the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 676,922 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,335,000 after buying an additional 223,157 shares in the last quarter. iShares Flexible Income Active ETF Trading Down 0.1 % NYSEARCA BINC opened at $51.99 on Friday. iShares Flexible Income Active ETF has a 52 week low of $51.53 and a 52 week high of $53.56. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $52.60 and a 200 day moving average price of $52.73. iShares Flexible Income Active ETF Company Profile The BlackRock Flexible Income ETF (BINC) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund provides an actively managed approach to multisector fixed-income exposure globally. It may hold debt and income-producing securities, of any credit quality or maturity, with the objective of maximizing long-term income and capital appreciation. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BINC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Flexible Income Active ETF ( NYSEARCA:BINC – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Flexible Income Active ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Flexible Income Active ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .《TAIPEI TIMES》 Old buildings challenge for ‘super-aged’ society: expert

Rico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves , has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players' association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media Sunday. No further details on Carty's death were provided. "Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite," the players' association said in its statement . The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. "While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed," the team said in its statement. The Atlanta Braves mourn the passing of Braves Hall of Famer Rico Carty: pic.twitter.com/zdMPzCDk1u Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise's first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh . Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. He batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland , Toronto , Oakland , Texas and the Chicago Cubs . He retired after the 1979 season.

UniCredit CEO says $10.5 billion Banco BPM bid is fair as offer becomes bindingInside Trump's new administration: From business moguls to TV personalitiesIncumbent president Zoran Milanovic, the opposition Socialist Democrats' candidate, was on track to win a second term of office in the first round of Croatia's presidential election, the State Electoral Commission said. or signup to continue reading Preliminary results on Sunday showed that based on results from nearly 52 per cent of polling stations Milanovic had won 50.1 per cent support, far ahead of his main challenger Dragan Primorac - the candidate of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) - on 22.3 per cent. Around 3.8 million Croats were eligible to vote, choosing from eight candidates ranging from across the political spectrum. The post of president is mostly ceremonial. The election will go to a second round on January 12 if none of the candidates wins a majority. During his five-year term which expires on February 18, Milanovic, a former prime minister, has clashed with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic over foreign and public policy and has fiercely criticised the European Union and NATO over their support for Ukraine. The president cannot veto laws, but has a say in foreign policy, defence and security matters. Despite his populist rhetoric, Milanovic is seen by many as the only counterbalance to the HDZ-dominated government, which has seen 30 ministers forced to leave in recent years amid allegations of corrupt practices. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement