More Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggests
While Seth Meyers is discussing his new HBO stand-up special “ Dad Man Walking ,” he’s visited by his 8-year-old son Ashe, who’s trying to keep it cool while his dad is on the phone. “He’s doing what he thinks is a helpful tiptoe walk that is 1/10 of the speed of normal,” Meyers narrates. “Now he’s pulling paper out of the printer one piece at a time. He’s finally leaving ... He’s also wearing pajamas that look like prison stripes.” It’s fitting that Meyers is facing the typical interruptions of parenthood while answering questions about “Dad Man Walking,” which is largely filled with the wry observations of a modern father and is in the race for the Golden Globes’ best performance in stand-up category. While his day job as the host of “Late Night With Seth Meyers” is marked by political comedy and celebrity interviews, he says he enjoys the different muscles he uses while sharpening his stand-up. “On ‘Late Night,’ I feel like my entire staff is a really good dance partner, where we all know what we’re after,” he says. “It’s so thrilling too to be doing your stand-up special where all of a sudden, you’re in Philly and realizing, ‘Wow, if I was in Studio 8, a lot of people would help me out — even just on a hair and makeup level.’ But I get that rush of going out on stage and just making people laugh. And the fine-tuning of language is a thing that you can do with a stand-up special that I’m so drawn to.” The process of crafting and perfecting a joke is instrumental to Meyers as a writer. He’s been able to sharpen the bits in this hour of stand-up through a series of co-headlining gigs and a New York City residency with his friend and fellow talk show host John Oliver. Meyers says he is consistently writing down funny ideas and real-life situations on his phone and can gauge what works by reading different nuances in the audience’s reaction. For example, while many of the jokes lovingly poke fun at his three kids — Ashe, 6-year-old Axel and 2-year-old Adelaide — and wife Alexi, Meyers can quickly find the line if he goes a little too far. “It’s how you feel in telling it — sometimes even just the way people laugh,” he says. “You invited it, and then you’re like, ‘That’s my wife I’m talking about!’ But if it’s ever anything I’m worried she won’t love, I try it first, and if I can’t make it work, there’s no reason to have brought it to her — only when it’s a feasible bit. To her credit, if it works, she’s always very supportive.” Ultimately, reflecting on life with his family for audiences is an essential part of Meyers’ love language. “I just love doing stand-up because it’s so different — not just in format, but also in the topics,” he says. “There’s something so universal about my family, and it should be noted that even though I bust on them pretty hard, I love talking about them. They’re my favorite people. Sometimes with ‘Late Night,’ which is a show I love doing, I spend a lot of time talking about people I don’t have a great deal of affection for, so it’s nice to be out there spending an hour sharing anecdotes and observations about my family, the best people on Earth.” As our conversation wraps, Ashe reenters the room — still clad in his prison-stripe pajamas — and wants to say goodbye to both me and his dad. We all wish each other a good night, and Meyers is off, ready to have a few more silly moments before bedtime.Rams' offense is struggling, but the defense has put LA on the brink of an NFC West title‘Yellowstone’ Kills Off Another Character In Jaw-Dropping Season 5, Episode 11 Twist
City planners are going to rethink their proposal to build a new transit maintenance facility near the existing public works yard after neighbors in the adjacent residential area urged the Tracy Planning Commission to reject the proposal. The city had considered turning a long-vacant 9.88-acres on four parcels along Beechnut Avenue into a transit maintenance yard, which would be across Tracy Boulevard from the Boyd Service Center, the city’s main public works yard. City of Tracy Project Planner Craig Hoffman reported that the property would have to be rezoned from medium-density residential to light industrial before the city could apply for Federal Transit Administration money to pay for construction of the facility. Following a discussion before the Planning Commission on Dec. 4, with planners unanimously rejecting the rezoning, and consideration of the neighborhood protest, city planners will seek out an alternative site. The project would include three buildings, including a maintenance building and administration building along Tracy Boulevard, and a public works building on Forest Hill Drive. It would also include parking lots for the city’s TRACER buses, with photovoltaic panels as a canopy, and fueling areas, including a hydrogen fueling station and electric vehicle charging stations. The facility would be used only by city staff and contractors. The property is owned by Chevron. It previously had been the site of an oil pipeline/pump station that transported crude oil through the area until the mid-1960s. All equipment associated with that operation has since been removed, and as of 2018 the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board had issued “no further action required” letters to Chevron, affirming that the land is suitable for commercial/industrial uses, with some parts of the property also suitable for residential development. City Transit Manager Ed Lovell told the planning commission that the city doesn’t have a facility sufficent for maintenance of large vehicles, adding that as the city transitions its TRACER buses to zero-emission operation, like hydrogen and electric, it will need to add infrastructure for that technology. Hoffman added that the main question for the commission – which was asked to approve a general plan amendment, rezoning and approval of the environmental review -- was whether the development of a transit maintenance facility was compatible with neighboring uses. Neighbors told the commission that the presence of the Boyd Service Center nearby gives them an idea of what they could expect, with bright lights from the center and the noise of vehicles coming and going already a constant presence. Some also expressed concern about the flammable nature of hydrogen gas. Neighbors also noted that because the land is presently zoned for residential development, they expected it would eventually have more homes, possibly even a park. When commissioners had a chance to comment, Commissioner Gurtej Atwal asked planning staff if the city owns other sites suitable for industrial development around town, and if had they been considered. Forrest Ebbs, Director of Community and Economic Development, replied that there are, including a 52-acre city-owned property on Chrisman Road just north of 11th Street. He added that in order for homes to be built on the Beechnut Avenue site the city would require a more intensive review of the condition of the soil there, and possibly further cleanup. Commissioner Nasir Boakye-Boateng made a motion to approve the project, with Atwal seconding the motion, but all five commissioners voted against the motion. City Planning Manager Scott Claar noted that while city staff could have taken the project to the Tracy City Council, given the planning commission’s rejection and neighborhood opposition planning staff will seek out another site that’s more likely to meet with approval. • Contact Bob Brownne at brownne@tracypress.com , or call 209-830-4227.By Anna Helhoski, NerdWallet The battle to get here was certainly an uphill one, but people are generally feeling better about the economy and their finances than they once did. On top of that, the economy has been easing into an ideal, Goldilocks-like position — not running too hot or cooling too quickly. Throughout 2024, consumer sentiment data showed people were fairly positive about the economy and their own finances, even if there’s remaining frustration over elevated prices compared to four years ago. Looking ahead, households are feeling more optimistic about their personal finances in the next year, as the share of those expecting to be in a better financial situation a year from now hit its highest level since February 2020. Combine positive personal vibes with a strong economic picture and it looks like 2024 wasn’t so bad for consumers, after all. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t bumps in the road or potential roadblocks ahead. To cap off the year, NerdWallet writers reflect on the top trends in personal finance and the economy this year — and what they think might be ahead in 2025. The economy steadily grew Elizabeth Renter, NerdWallet’s economist What happened: In 2024, U.S. consumers have proven resilient following a period of high inflation and ongoing high interest rates. Wage growth has been strong, owing in part to rising productivity. This has driven robust spending throughout the year, which has kept the economy growing at a healthy pace. The labor market has remained steady, though cooler than 2023, and price growth continues to moderate towards the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation goal. What’s ahead: Barring significant changes to economic policy and significant shocks, the U.S. economy is expected to grow at a moderate rate in the coming year. Inflation will continue to moderate and the labor market will remain relatively healthy, all due in part to continued slow and deliberate rate cuts from the Fed. However, there are risks to this path. Higher tariffs and tighter immigration policies are likely, but the extent of these changes are yet unclear. The potential policy scenarios are many, and the economic outcomes complex. Increased tariffs are generally inflationary, and stricter immigration policies could impact the labor supply and economic growth. Consumers and small business owners with their eyes to the new year should focus on the things within their control. Savings accounts offered high rates and returns Margarette Burnette, consumer banking and savings writer What happened: High-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit offered elevated rates in 2024, rewarding savers with strong returns. Following the Federal Reserve rate cuts in the second half of the year, high-yield accounts had modest rate decreases, but they continued to outperform traditional savings accounts and CDs. What’s ahead: We’re watching for further Federal Reserve rate cuts, which could lead to more decreases in savings rates. Credit card debt hit a high Sara Rathner, credit cards writer What happened: Credit card debt levels hit record highs, with consumers turning to credit cards to pay for necessities. While the economy is doing well, many individuals have struggled to make ends meet, as incomes haven’t kept up with certain costs. What’s ahead: We may see some policy and regulation changes with the incoming administration that could affect folks when it comes to credit cards, debt and consumer protections. Small business boomed Ryan Brady, small business writer What happened : New businesses continued to blossom in 2024 as business applications remained well above pre-pandemic levels. Confidence in the future state of the U.S. economy also spiked after the presidential election, but that optimism was tempered by concerns over rising costs and labor quality. What’s ahead: All eyes are on the incoming administration as small-business owners brace for turbulence resulting from potential tariffs, tax policy changes and dismantled government regulations. We’re also watching the possibility of interest rate cuts in 2025 and small-business owners’ growing reliance on new technologies, such as AI. Home buying remained challenging Holden Lewis, mortgages writer What happened: Home buyers struggled with elevated mortgage rates, rising house prices and a shortage of homes for sale. On top of that, a new rule required buyers to negotiate their agents’ commissions. What’s ahead: The Federal Reserve is expected to cut short-term interest rates, but mortgage rates might not necessarily fall by a similar amount. Buyers will probably have more properties to choose from, and the greater supply should keep prices from rising a lot. Interest rates on home equity loans and lines of credit should fall, making it less expensive to borrow to fix up homes — either to sell, or to make the home more comfortable and efficient. The markets were a boon for investors Sam Taube, investing writer What happened: The stock market had a great year. The S&P 500 is up more than 25% due to falling interest rates, fading recession fears, AI hype, and the possibility of lighter taxes and regulations under the new administration. Cryptocurrency also saw big gains in 2024; the price of Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time in December. What’s ahead: A lot depends on how fast the Fed reduces rates in 2025. Another key unknown is Trump’s second term. Regulatory rollbacks, such as those he has proposed for the banking industry, could juice stock prices — but they also could create systemic risks in the economy. His proposed tariffs could also hurt economic growth (and therefore stock prices). Finally, it remains to be seen whether trendy AI stocks, such as NVIDIA, can continue their momentum into next year. It’s the same story with crypto: How long will this bull market last? Premiums went up for home and auto insurance Caitlin Constantine, assistant assigning editor, insurance What happened: Many people saw their home and auto insurance premiums skyrocket in 2024. In some states, homeowners are finding it harder to even find policies in the first place. Meanwhile, life insurance rates have started to decrease post-pandemic. We also saw more insurers offering online-only policies that don’t require a medical exam. What’s ahead: Auto and home insurance costs will likely continue to rise, although auto premiums may not rise as dramatically as they have over the past few years. And if you’re in the market for life insurance, expect to see competitive life insurance quotes and more customizable policies. Lawsuits and uncertainty over student loan relief continued Eliza Haverstock, student loans writer What happened: Borrowers received historic student loan relief, but lawsuits derailed an income-driven repayment plan used by 8 million whose payments are indefinitely paused. Uncertainty will carry into 2025 as a result of the presidential administration change. What’s ahead: Trump has pledged to overhaul higher education and rein in student loan relief. The fate of the SAVE repayment plan, student loan forgiveness options, FAFSA processing and more remain in the balance. Traveling in style was all the rage Meghan Coyle, assistant assigning editor, travel What happened: People are willing to pay more for big and small luxuries while traveling, and airlines and hotels are taking note. Many airlines raised checked bag fees early in 2024, credit card issuers and airlines invested in renovated airport lounges, and major hotel companies continued to add luxury properties and brands to their loyalty programs. What’s ahead: Southwest will say goodbye to its open seating policy and introduce new extra-legroom seats, a major departure for the airline. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will unveil a unified loyalty program in 2025. Spirit Airlines may attempt to merge with another airline again after its 2024 bankruptcy filing and two failed mergers under President Biden’s administration. Travelers will find that they’ll have to pay a premium to enjoy most of the upgrades airlines and hotels are making. Dynamic pricing expanded its reach Laura McMullen, assistant assigning editor, personal finance What happened: This year, dynamic pricing expanded beyond concerts and travel to online retailers and even fast-food restaurants. This practice of prices changing based on real-time supply and demand received plenty of backlash from consumers and prompted the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how companies use consumers’ data to set prices. What’s ahead: Beyond an expansion of dynamic pricing — perhaps with added oversight — expect subscription models to become more prevalent and demand for sustainable products to grow. The car market came back for buyers Shannon Bradley, autos writer What happened: New-car prices held steady in 2024 but remained high after a few years of sharp increases — the average new car now sells for about $48,000, and for the first time ever the price gap between new and used cars surpassed $20,000 (average used-car prices are now slightly more than $25,000). Overall, the car market returned to being in the buyer’s favor, as new-car inventories reached pre-pandemic levels, manufacturer incentives began making a comeback and auto loan interest rates started to decline. What’s ahead: The future of the car market is uncertain and depends on policies implemented by the incoming administration. Questions surround the impact of possible tariffs on car prices, whether auto loan rates will continue to drop, and if federal tax credits will still be available for electric vehicle buyers. Buy now, pay later grew in popularity Jackie Veling, personal loans writer What happened: Buy now, pay later continued to be a popular payment choice for U.S. shoppers, even while facing headwinds, like an interpretive ruling from the CFPB (which determined BNPL should be regulated the same as credit cards) and Apple’s discontinuation of its popular Apple Pay Later product. Large players like Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay continued to offer interest-free, pay-in-four plans at most major retailers, along with long-term plans for larger purchases. What’s ahead: Though more regulation had been widely anticipated in 2025, the change in administration suggests the CFPB will play a less active role in regulating BNPL products. For this reason, and its continued strength in the market, BNPL will likely keep growing. Inflation eased, finally Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Easing inflation was a bright spot in 2024. In June, the consumer price index fell below 3% for the first time in three years. Consumers saw prices level off or decline for many goods, including for groceries, gas and new and used vehicles. But prices haven’t fallen far enough or broadly enough to relieve the pinch many households feel. What’s ahead: The new and higher tariffs proposed by the Trump administration could reignite inflation on a wide range of goods. Rents were still high, but price growth slowed Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Rent prices remain high, but annual rent inflation slowed significantly compared to recent years, staying around 3.5% for much of 2024, according to Zillow, a real estate website that tracks rents. A wave of newly constructed rental units on the market seems to be helping ease competition among renters and forcing landlords to offer better incentives for signing a lease. What’s ahead: If it continues, a softening rental market could work in renters’ favor. But construction is one of several industries that could see a shortage of workers if the Trump administration follows through on its promise to deport undocumented immigrants. A shortage of workers would mean fewer houses and apartments could be built. Trump won the election, promised tariffs and deportations Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: After a contentious presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump declared victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. While on the campaign trail, Trump promised to lower inflation, cut taxes, enact tariffs, weaken the power of the Federal Reserve, deport undocumented immigrants and more. Many economists have said Trump’s proposals, if enacted, would likely be inflationary. In Congress, Republicans earned enough seats to control both houses. What’s ahead: It’s unclear which campaign promises Trump will fulfill on his own and with the support of the new Congress. He has promised a slew of “day one” actions that could lead to higher prices, including across-the-board tariffs and mass deportations. Most recently, Trump pledged to enact 20% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on China. He has also promised to extend or make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; many of its provisions expire by the end of 2025. Congress squabbled while consumer-first, antitrust efforts won Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: Fiscal year 2023-2024’s funding saga finally came to an end in March, then six months later, the battle to fund the fiscal year 2024-2025 began. The Biden Administration waged its own war against junk fees . Antitrust enforcers pushed back against tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta; prevented the Kroger-Albertsons merger; nixed the Jet Blue-Spirit Airlines merger; and moved to ban noncompete agreements. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as well as a challenge to abortion pill access. SCOTUS also overruled its landmark Chevron case, which means every federal regulatory agency’s power to set and enforce its own rules are now weaker. What’s ahead: The election’s red sweep means the GOP will control the executive and legislative branches of government. They’ll face the threat of at least one more potential government shutdown; a debt ceiling drama comeback; and the beginning of the debate over extending or making permanent provisions of the expiring 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. More From NerdWallet Anna Helhoski writes for NerdWallet. Email: anna@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @AnnaHelhoski. The article What Trended in Personal Finance in 2024? originally appeared on NerdWallet .EXO-CD24 is under clinical development by Nano24med and currently in Phase II for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. According to GlobalData, Phase II drugs for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome have a 31% phase transition success rate (PTSR) indication benchmark for progressing into Phase III. GlobalData tracks drug-specific phase transition and likelihood of approval scores, in addition to indication benchmarks based off 18 years of historical drug development data. Attributes of the drug, company and its clinical trials play a fundamental role in drug-specific PTSR and likelihood of approval. EXO-CD24 overview EXO-CD24 is under investigation for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It comprises of exosomes carrying CD24. It is administered through inhalational route. Nano24med overview Nano24med is a provider of therapy, cytokine storm, health care and medical services. The company is headquartered in Tel-Aviv, Israel. For a complete picture of EXO-CD24’s drug-specific PTSR and LoA scores, This content was updated on 12 April 2024 From Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors. , the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article. GlobalData’s Likelihood of Approval analytics tool dynamically assesses and predicts how likely a drug will move to the next stage in clinical development (PTSR), as well as how likely the drug will be approved (LoA). This is based on a combination of machine learning and a proprietary algorithm to process data points from various databases found on GlobalData’s .
SVG Sit-Down: DAZN’s Zander Berlinski on the Quick International Success of NFL Game Pass It has been really good. We took over the product at the beginning of last season and grew the subscriber base over 30%, which was a great first-year result. We had a bunch of success on attracting new fans to the platform. From that perspective, this year is off to a similar year-over-year growth rate, which is great. A couple key things have been very exciting from our perspective: innovating from a product perspective and bringing new features and benefits to customers to go beyond the streaming experience. This year, we launched the Ultimate tier, sort of a second tier of the product. With it, you get certain benefits from a streaming perspective, whether that be UltraHD (when available) or Dolby 5.1 audio, and you also get certain benefits beyond the core streaming experience. I think both DAZN and the NFL were excited about using the power of our platform and tech to create an experience that moves toward becoming sort of a digital home for an NFL fan internationally in all the various touchpoints that they want to engage with. We launched NFL Game Pass on Amazon channels in six markets this season, which has helped increase the exposure of the product to reach new fans and allow them to watch it where they want to. Also, holistically, distribution — all the platforms we are on — was one of the main reasons the NFL wanted to come to DAZN, which was a significant increase relative to where they were. We continue to add platforms, and we’re quite distribution-agnostic as a company. From a key-moments perspective, international games are a really big moment for us because they become cultural moments and go beyond the avid diehard NFL fan. It starts to engage the broader sports audience in those markets. The Brazil game being added this year in Week One was a great one. Obviously, London and Germany, as always, were great, and the number of those games will increase in future years. We’re excited about that. The other big moments tend to correlate with the overall NFL calendar. Thanksgiving, granted it is a U.S. holiday, has appeal internationally from an NFL-calendar perspective, given the focus on the matchups and the three games being on Thursday in a good time zone for most of the main European audience. We’ve seen good uptake in Mexico. They’ve had a game there in the past, and the league may try to go back there in the future, but Mexico has been really strong. To your point, where we’ve also seen strength — I think this correlates not necessarily to NFL interests but also speaks to some of the broader strategic narratives of why they wanted to come into DAZN — is in our core markets. Those are markets like Japan, Italy, Spain, where we own the core domestic broadcast for a lot of the Tier 1 sports. In Germany, we have Bundesliga and Champions League; in Japan, we have the J League and a good portion of their domestic baseball teams. We promote pretty heavily to those users and give, in certain instances, special promotions through CRM or on platform. I think the scale of our base internationally was one of the main reasons the NFL wanted to come do this partnership with us. They had done a very good job over eight-10 years building a platform that, on an independent basis, found a lot of the diehard NFL fans who were seeking it out, but, to get to the next level of growth, they felt it would be difficult to grow on a pure standalone basis. Inside a broader sports ecosystem, where we have millions of subscribers on the app each day, we can promote the app. That was a quite appealing part of the partnership. It’s interesting. I think there are probably a couple different cohorts that you can think about. There is a cohort that is quite similar to the U.S. audience. Those are diehard fans, whether expats who live abroad or people who grew up following the game because of a relative. Those fans were on the product already when we migrated it or are coming in Day 1 of the season. They’re getting the product because they want to make sure they don’t miss every game or the games of a specific team. With those fans, RedZone is a massive pull as well, and they behave fairly similar to what I’d say U.S. fans do. I think what’s magnified internationally is, there’s more of a cohort of casual fans and there’s an effort for us to think about how we bring someone along from either no exposure to the NFL or some casual exposure and move them into a more engaged customer. One of the things we did this year is launch a free Game of the Week, where we put one game in front of the paywall and use it as a sampling for both our free subscriber base and paid DAZN subscribers who don’t have NFL Game Pass. Alongside that, we have started to add more original content. We do a weekly podcast show with influencers internationally. We did an influencer watch-along during Thanksgiving where [influencers] were commenting on the games as they were watching. All of those things are aimed at taking people who are clearly sports fans — whether that be soccer, rugby, or others — but maybe are not engaged with the NFL to the extent where they might purchase a product and move them along to becoming an avid fan. I think it’s a trend that has emerged as more and more content has shifted into a streaming environment. More parties can operate on either a multi-territory or a global basis. DAZN is one of the few [media companies] that operate in 200+ markets around the world. That gives us a unique ability to leverage our technology and scale and offer these rights on a global — or at least on a many-countries — basis. As you start to see more and more content leave the traditional linear-cable bundle, I think it’ll become more and more common for rights to be sold maybe not on a full-global basis; more deals will become multi-territory. We’re in favor of those types of deals, and I think our NFL deal is a good example of what we want to try to do moving forward. International represents, I think, a big growth area from a media-rights perspective and a fan-growth perspective.
Washington, Nov 22 (AP) The Supreme Court is allowing a multibillion-dollar class action investors' lawsuit to proceed against Facebook parent Meta, stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. The justices heard arguments in November in Meta's bid to shut down the lawsuit. On Friday, they decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place. Also Read | France Shocker: Man Rapes Daughter For Years, Offers Her to Strangers For Sex; Sentenced to 20 Years in Jail. The high court dismissed the company's appeal, leaving in place an appellate ruling allowing the case to go forward. Investors allege that Meta did not fully disclose the risks that Facebook users' personal information would be misused by Cambridge Analytica, a firm that supported Donald Trump's first successful Republican presidential campaign in 2016. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Returns to Delhi After Concluding Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana Visit (Watch Video). Inadequacy of the disclosures led to two significant price drops in the price of the company's shares in 2018, after the public learned about the extent of the privacy scandal, the investors say. Meta already has paid a USD 5.1 billion fine and reached a USD 725 million privacy settlement with users. Cambridge Analytica had ties to Trump political strategist Steve Bannon. It had paid a Facebook app developer for access to the personal information of about 87 million Facebook users. That data was then used to target US voters during the 2016 campaign. The lawsuit is one of two high court cases involving class-action lawsuits against tech companies. The justices also are wrestling with whether to shut down a class action against Nvidia. Investors say the company misled them about its dependence on selling computer chips for the mining of volatile cryptocurrency. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)Freeland says the two-month GST holiday is meant to tackle the 'vibecession'By Clarissa-Jan Lim Days after Daniel Penny was acquitted in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely , he is set to attend an Army-Navy football game Saturday as a guest of Vice President-elect JD Vance. Vance said that Penny had accepted his invite to the game in a post on X on Friday morning. “Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance wrote. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.” Like others on the political right , Vance hailed Penny as a good Samaritan who helped his fellow citizens by confronting a potentially dangerous situation. Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator with a history of mental illness, died after Penny restrained him by the neck for an extended period of time during an encounter on the New York City subway in 2023. Penny argued that he meant to restrain Neely only until police arrived and did not intend to harm him. A New York City medical examiner ruled that Neely died from compression to his neck as a result of the chokehold. A jury cleared Penny of criminally negligent homicide in Neely’s death Monday after failing to come to an agreement on a charge of second-degree manslaughter , which a judge then dismissed. Penny’s ascension to folk hero status on the right is not unlike the support that Kyle Rittenhouse gained among conservatives after fatally shooting two people during a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2020. Rittenhouse was acquitted of homicide charges in the case, and Donald Trump met with Rittenhouse afterward, praising him as “really a nice young man.” There are vast differences in the details of each case, but the lionization of Penny on the right coincides with the narrative about rising crime across the country, especially in urban areas like New York City. National data crime data , however, indicates the opposite . Clarissa-Jan Lim is a breaking/trending news blogger for MSNBC Digital. She was previously a senior reporter and editor at BuzzFeed News.
This time last year we got our . Fast forward 12 months, and here was a man with a season behind him, beaming his way confidently through a story that was a mishmash of Christmas movie viewing genres, if somewhat light on plot. In this Steven Moffat-penned tale, we got an action sequence on a train, treasure hidden in a stone chamber, a lengthy romcom interlude, and even a . There was also a strong emotional heartbeat running through it, and there will have been tears before bedtime in many a household watching it. Joel Fry was enjoyable as Trev, though the character gave strong vibes that it had been written with Richard Ayoade’s in mind, rather than directly for Fry. Still, he managed to make the most of his screen time. Nichola Coughlan (Joy), despite sharing top-billing as this year’s guest star, was sidelined for much of the story. She got an opportunity to show her acting chops as a potential villain for a while, and then the more lovable side of Coughlan we know from Derry Girls and her real-world social media interventions arrived. Doctor Who Christmas specials have previously walked a fine line between using lots of festive imagery – think evil Santas, killer Christmas trees, robot angels – but not directly bringing religion into it. Putting a fantasy supernova as the source of a bright evening star above Bethlehem at the dawn of the first millennia was certainly a bold choice to link the show’s lore directly into the nativity itself. The centrepiece was the Doctor being stranded with Steph de Whalley’s Anita Benn in a hotel for a year as her slow-burn unrequited love for him developed – a vignette that could easily be slipped into or . It isn’t the first time in the modern era the Doctor has been forced to think about how lonely his life is without a companion, although the fact he was collecting miniature police box figurines was a clue to who he was missing the most. The structure was effectively three consecutive two-handers where Trev, Anita and Joy auditioned to be potential companions, then fate intervened. At least Anita eventually got a better job out of it, even if she had her heart crushed along the way. This was an unusual episode in not really having a monster-of-the-week, but the underlying fears here were of loneliness, regrets and dying alone. It touched on the real world by showing the kinds of difficult isolated goodbyes to loved ones experienced during Covid lockdown rules by people like Joy, in scenes that were likely to remind some families of the empty seats around their Christmas dinner tables this year. Expect Doctor Who fans to argue long and hard about whether Gatwa explaining he knew the suitcase code because he was “bootstrapping” was a clever meta-nod to previous criticisms of Steven Moffat’s timey-wimey plotlines, or just too much of a hand-wavey plot convenience to be taken seriously. When Joy asked the Doctor if people usually actually feel any better after the Time Lord has explained things, it could have been the fans speaking directly to the former showrunner about exactly this kind of habit of his. There were lots of callbacks to previous things the Doctor has said, like having to go “the long way round”, and the idea that living their life one day after an another was an adventure they could never have, echoing famous speeches from Gatwa’s predecessors in (2013), (1987) and (2006). The 15th Doctor – without his trusty time machine – visited New York in 2025 in order to return to the Time Hotel. In (2012) he said he could never take the Tardis there again, as the “timelines are too scrambled” and visiting “would rip New York apart”. Joy’s mum was in the Royal Hope hospital in central London, which was transported to the moon and back during the events of (2007). The 15th Doctor said he was “good with rope”, a callback to learning the rope technology on the goblin vessel in (2023). Villengard and its weapons factories have featured in several Moffat-penned episodes, including his first story for the revived 2005 series, , and his last three for the show – (2017), (2024) and this Christmas special. Joy’s full name in the credits was given as Joy Almondo, not the first time Moffat has used a literal translation – see (2016). Thanks to the bi-generation in (2023), presumably the whole time the 15th Doctor was stuck in that hotel with Anita, David Tennant’s 14th Doctor was sitting around with his trotters up retired at Donna’s house – with a spare Tardis on-hand. Doctor Who will be back in the New Year! Ncuti Gatwa! Varada Sethu as new companion Belinda Chandra! Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday for at least some of it! Mrs Flood returns! Showrunner it is coming “sooner than you think” and includes “a lot of scares”, “a planet in the far future that’s absolutely terrifying” and a Tardis trip to Miami. See you then. Have a great new year! Episodes 1 & 2: Episode 3: Episode 4: Episode 5: Episode 6: Episode 7: Episode 8: Empire of Death Christmas special: Joy to the World Special 1: Special 2: Special 3: Christmas special:Israel hits Baalbek region, violating ceasefire: Lebanon
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Comforting robotic companions donated to pediatric cancer patients courtesy of Aflac ROSEVILLE Calif. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Children in Northern California now have a cuddly companion to bring them comfort through their cancer treatment journey. Aflac Incorporated , a leading provider of health supplemental insurance in the U.S. donated the robotic ducks to Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance in Roseville Thursday. The event marks nearly 200 ducks given to Keaton's in the last two years and more than 33,000 ducks distributed free of charge since the program began in 2018. "Approximately 26 children are diagnosed with cancer each day in the United States , including the brave 'Child Cancer Warriors' supported by Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance," said Ines Rodriguez Gutzmer , Aflac senior vice president and chief Communications officer. "These incredible children, and their families, embody determination and resilience – and most of all, as we saw today, their joyful spirit continues to shine. We're thankful to the team at Keaton's for allowing us to be a part of the great work they do each and every day. Together, we're making a difference in the lives of the children, their families and their communities." My Special Aflac Duck is a social robot powered by innovative technology that helps kids prepare for medical procedures, communicate their feelings, practice distraction techniques and more. The robotic companion was designed in consult with more than 100 children, families and medical professionals in conjunction with Empath Labs. A three-year study revealed that patients reported a reduction in distress, nausea, pain and procedural anxiety compared to those in the study who had not yet received a duck. In addition, parents and caregivers reported a reduction in stress and anxiety, showing how My Special Aflac Duck helps children's support system. The duck delivery Thursday coincided with Keaton's annual Operation Gobble, where more than 20 families received Thanksgiving meal kits. "We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Aflac to ensure that young cancer warriors and their families receive the personalized support they need throughout their journey" said Jessica Alonso , Executive Director of Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance. "This generous contribution of My Special Aflac Ducks will have a meaningful impact on the children we serve. These comforting, interactive companions provide emotional support and help children navigate the complexities of treatment, bringing much-needed smiles and strength to families during some of their most challenging moments. Together, we are empowering those we serve to face cancer with courage and hope." Since its debut in 2018 , My Special Aflac Duck has received numerous awards; it was named one of Time Magazine's 50 Best Inventions and collected the Best in Show at CES and South by Southwest, among others. The My Special Aflac Duck program is a hallmark of Aflac's more than $184 million given toward pediatric cancer and blood disorder treatment, as part of the company's commitment to support the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta . Health care providers, support organizations and families can order My Special Aflac Duck free of charge for children 3 years or older who have been diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell disease at MySpecialAflacDuck.com . ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for more than 68 years to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan . In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products. 1 In Japan , Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024), Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024) and Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year (2023). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol . Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under "Sustainability." 1 LIMRA 2023 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report Media contact: Jon Sullivan , 706-763-4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com Analyst and investor contact: David A. Young , 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or dyoung@aflac.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/my-special-aflac-duck-lands-in-the-sacramento-valley-302313728.html SOURCE Aflac Best trending stories from the week. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. You may occasionally receive promotions exclusive discounted subscription offers from the Roswell Daily Record. Feel free to cancel any time via the unsubscribe link in the newsletter you received. You can also control your newsletter options via your user dashboard by signing in.The Bank of Scotland’s business barometer poll showed 73% of Scottish businesses expect to see turnover increase in 2025, up from 60% polled in 2023. Almost a quarter (23%) of businesses expect to see their revenue rise by between six and 10% over the next 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) expecting it to grow by even more. The poll found that 70% of businesses were confident they would become more profitable in 2025, a two per cent increase when compared with the previous year. Revenue and profitability growth was firms’ top priority at 52%, though 40% said they will be targeting improved productivity, and the same proportion said they will be aiming to enhance their technology – such as automation or AI – or upskill their staff (both 29%). More than one in five (22%) want to improve their environmental sustainability. Other areas businesses are hoping to build upon AI-assisted technology (19%), and 24% will be investing in expanding into new UK markets and 23% plan to invest in staff training. The business barometer has surveyed 1,200 businesses every month since 2002, providing early signals about UK economic trends. Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland commercial banking, said: “Scottish businesses are looking ahead to 2025 with stronger growth expectations, and setting out clear plans to drive this expansion through investments in new technology, new markets and their own teams. “As we enter the new year, we’ll continue to by their side to help them pursue their ambitions and seize all opportunities that lie ahead.”
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