AT&T Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitorsNo I’m not talking about the ATMs you see at every bank or most places of business. The ATM I’m talking about is a hard-working, people-caring, compassionate and humble leader in our village that we often take for granted until we face difficulties, need assistance, or someone to ask a favor from. It is then that we go to the ATM machine: Ask The Mayor! If you think about it, they are literally human machines. Every one of us have been impacted somehow, someway by our mayors and vice mayors at some point in our lives. Of all our political leaders, the ATMs are probably the most accessible, personable, and never have a limit on what you can get out from them. We see them everywhere. They do everything whether asked or not asked. They are on 24/7. They are like the ever-ready battery. They keep going and going. They are in fact the first line and front line individuals we go to. ATMs: What would we do without them! Today, I want to honor those who have put in countless days and nights working for us and with us but are now ready to give whatever they have left in them to give back to their own families. They chose to retire and give someone else an opportunity to become an ATM. Mayor Paul M. McDonald of Agana Heights has served 34 years. Mayor Melissa B. Savares of Dededo has served 24 years including as vice mayor. Mayor John A. Cruz of Hagåtña has served 20 years. Mayor Ernest T. Chargualaf of Malesso’ served 16 years. Mayor Dale E. Alvarez of Sånta Rita-Sumai served 16 years. Mayor Jessy C. Gogue of Ordot-Chalan Pago served 16 years. Vice Mayor Kevin AN Delgado of Mangilao served 4 years. Mayor Anthony Sanchez of Yigo, Mayor William Quenga of Yona and Vice Mayor Loreto Leones of Yigo all ran for reelection but were unsuccessful in their quest. Nonetheless, I honor them too. ATMs: What would we do without them! Mayor McDonald over the years has lost an eye and even a leg but never slowed him down. He upgraded and enhanced Tutujan Triangle Park and their gymnasium and ballpark. Mayor Savares continued the legacy of her grandfather, former Commissioner Vicente S.A. Benavente and was even hit by a vehicle performing one of her many challenges in the village. She was instrumental in opening a new location for the Dededo Flea Market and the farmer’s market and always had the unfair disadvantage of sharing funds equally amongst all villages even though Dededo had the highest population of residents. Mayor John always made sure that the day of Santa Marian Kamalen he can have thousand of residents come and honor our patron saint but to also walk the streets of a clean Hagåtña. He always claims that during the weekdays he has over a thousand residents (GovGuam workers from other villages) and less than 400 on weekends. Every other mayor wants to be the mayor of Hagåtña, our capital. Mayor Ernest continued the legacy of his dad, former Commissioner Francisco C. Chargualaf and now has a gymnasium built under his tenure. He also led the successful Crab Festival and Gupot CHamoru. Mayor Dale promoted sports in his village and played a major role in supporting his senior citizens. Mayor Jessy leaves a great Christmas gift to his residents with a new mayor’s office and community center and the acquisition of the Jose Atoigue Ball Park for more enhancement. Vice Mayor Kevin loved his generation and all the youth he mentored to become productive young citizens. They are all retiring after so many years of service, blood, sweat, and tears. Not to mention, they were “broke” at times. But they served with dedication, distinction and humility. I honor them today. You should too! Believe you me, we will still look at them and say, ATM! ATMs: What would we do without them. But the work continues in the hands of those that were reelected and in the election of newest crop of public servants. You already know what ATM means. For the new ones, you will soon find out! Si Yu’os in fan binindisi! God bless you!Experimenting with democracy A national government is neither a solution to Pakistan’s current problems nor a viable way forward One of the seasons in Pakistan is the season of ‘national government’ – a time when everyone suddenly and without any prompt starts talking about a ‘national government’ that will change the course of Pakistani politics and democracy and fix everything. Just as suddenly, the season shifts as well. We are currently experiencing National Government Season – emblematic of a troubled political system. From speculative statements by politicians to lofty suggestions by analysts, the idea always seems to generate considerable buzz. This time too it has the usuals propping it up as a solution. Most dismiss it as wishful thinking by those left out of the corridors of power, as well as a calculated attempt to ‘test the waters’ – which, to be fair to Pakistan’s politics, have never passed the national government test. Here’s a simple fact: a national government is neither a solution to Pakistan’s current problems nor a viable way forward. Proponents of the national government theory argue that it is necessary to resolve the political tensions that have gripped the country since the no-confidence vote against former prime minister Imran Khan two years ago. They believe that Pakistan’s precarious political climate demands a government that includes representatives from all major political parties, including the PTI, and that such a setup would de-escalate tensions and pave the way for fresh elections. Critics rightly point out the fundamental flaws in this approach. There is no evidence to suggest that a national government would succeed where others have failed. On the contrary, such an arrangement risks further entrenching the hybrid governance model that has undermined Pakistan’s democratic institutions. The country’s history is littered with experiments in governance – military coups, technocrat setups, or other non-democratic solutions. None have yielded long-term stability or prosperity. The ‘Bangladesh model’ frequently touted by proponents of technocratic regimes has always been a non-starter. The suggestion of a national government in Pakistan often comes with caveats that raise eyebrows in any case and, far from being a unifying force, a government of this nature could deepen political divisions and further erode public trust in democratic institutions. What Pakistan truly needs is not another grand experiment in governance but a genuine commitment to political dialogue. Encouragingly, reports suggest that senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq have taken steps to reduce political tensions. This thaw could serve as a foundation for meaningful negotiations, offering a much-needed path forward. At the heart of these discussions must be a commitment to addressing the structural issues plaguing Pakistan’s democracy. This includes ensuring free and fair elections, empowering an independent and non-controversial election commission, safeguarding the judiciary’s independence, and ending the practice of political victimisation through legal cases. Perhaps most importantly, political actors must build a consensus on economic reforms to prevent the country’s growth from being held hostage by political expediency. The hybrid model of governance has already cost Pakistan dearly, leading to unprecedented political polarisation and the erosion of fundamental freedoms. Adding another layer to this experiment in the form of a national government would only exacerbate these problems. It is time to reject undemocratic solutions and focus instead on strengthening what remains of Pakistan’s democratic framework.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire and fellow entrepreneur and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer’s comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Musk and Ramaswamy, , weighed in, defending the tech industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump’s world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world’s richest man who has , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump’s movement but his stance on the tech industry’s hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent,” he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump’s own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump’s businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country” and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he told the “All-In” podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump’s budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.
OTTAWA — Zayne Parekh lived a strange week earlier this month. The Calgary Flames prospect was crushed after being left off Canada’s list of selection camp hopefuls for the upcoming world junior hockey championship. A chance to pull on the red Maple Leaf was a dream. At age 18, there would still be next year. Not seeing his name alongside the rest of the country’s marquee under-20 talent still stung. Some five days later, however, the defenceman from Nobleton, Ont., selected ninth overall at June’s NHL draft, was making travel plans for the nation’s capital — handed an unexpected lifeline that kept his tournament quest alive. “A lot of motivation came from finding out that I wasn’t on the team,” said Parekh, who replaced the injured Harrison Brunicke last Friday. “A bit devastated because every kid wants to represent their country on the highest stage. “Glad I got a second opportunity.” Oshawa Generals winger Beckett Sennecke, meanwhile, waited until Monday for his tap on the shoulder with Easton Cowan being held out of action this week as a precaution. The No. 3 pick in 2024 wants to do everything he can to ensure it doesn’t get slammed shut a second time. “It’s tough to not see your (name) on there,” said 18-year-old, who like Parekh has another year of world junior eligibility. “Getting the call a couple days later was extremely exciting. “I have certain qualities that they like. I’m trying to display those.” Parekh and Sennecke were last to enter the building. That doesn’t mean they’ll be the first two out. “You’ve got to cut the number off at some point,” said Hockey Canada’s Peter Anholt, who heads the organization’s under-20 program. “They’re here now to show us what they can do and see if they can cut out a niche.” Parehk and Sennecke took part in Thursday’s exhibition game against a team of university all-stars at TD Place that saw Canada register a 5-2 victory. Sennecke picked up two assists. The Canadians face the U Sports squad again Friday before the national program’s brain trust trims its roster. Parekh had an admittedly slow start to his Ontario Hockey League campaign with the Saginaw Spirit after winning last season’s Memorial Cup, going through the draft process and taking part in Calgary’s training camp. “They know I’m capable of playing with the puck,” the six-foot, 180-pound defender with 34 points across 25 games said of Canada’s management group. “You’ve got to step on the ice with a purpose and compete as hard as you can. I’m going to try and leave a good impression on all the staff.” Sennecke is in a similar boat. The six-foot-four, 195-pound forward needs to show he can play a 200-foot game to have a chance of sticking with Canada — a powerhouse aiming to rebound off a disastrous fifth-place finish 12 months ago in Sweden — for the annual showcase set to open Dec. 26 in Ottawa. “Size, speed, direct game, a heavy game,” Sennecke said of his attributes. “Going to continue to do what I do.” The Toronto native has 44 points in 26 contests with Oshawa, including six goals and eight assists in three appearances after initially being told he hadn’t been invited to try out at TD Place. “Hockey gods kind of rewarding me,” he said with a smile. “A couple good games where everything went in.” After bitter disappointment followed by excitement, both Parekh and Sennecke still cling to a world junior dream. “You watch it every Christmas,” Sennecke said. “The staple of a Canadian hockey family.” “It definitely got taken away from me,” Parekh added. “But I’m grateful to be here ... I have a pretty good feeling.” NHL PEDIGREE Canada doesn’t expect any of its three eligible NHLers — Chicago’s Connor Bedard, San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini or Buffalo’s Zach Benson — to be made available for the tournament, but there will still pro experience in the fold. Oshawa centre Calum Ritchie played seven games with Colorado in the fall, while Guelph Storm counterpart Jett Luchanko suited up four times with Philadelphia. Carolina prospect Bradly Nadeau has already been confirmed on Canada’s final roster — he will join up following selection camp — after playing once in the NHL last season before suiting up for the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves in 2024-25. SECOND CHANCE Tanner Molendyk made Canada’s roster last year only to break his wrist in pre-tournament play. The Nashville Predators defence prospect is back with unfinished business. “I flew home Christmas Eve and then watched Boxing Day,” said Molendyk, who figures to have a big role this time around. “It was tough, didn’t get the results they wanted. Hopefully this year we can change that around and flip the script.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian PressScientists find how often sun-like stars emit 'superflares.' It shocked them.
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTC Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FTCI), a leading provider of solar tracker systems, today announced that it has closed a previously announced private placement of senior secured promissory notes (the “Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) and warrants (the “Warrants”). The offering closed on December 4, 2024. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 11% per annum if payable in cash or, at the Company’s option, 13% per annum if paid-in-kind and will mature on December 4, 2029. The Warrants are exercisable for five (5) years to purchase an aggregate of 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.10, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances described in the Warrants. The Company is utilizing the proceeds of the offering for balance sheet support, growth acceleration and general corporate purposes. About FTC Solar Inc. Founded in 2017 by a group of renewable energy industry veterans, FTC Solar is a leading provider of solar tracker systems, technology, software, and engineering services. Solar trackers significantly increase energy production at solar power installations by dynamically optimizing solar panel orientation to the sun. FTC Solar’s innovative tracker designs provide compelling performance and reliability, with an industry-leading installation cost-per-watt advantage. FTC Solar Contact: Bill Michalek Vice President, Investor Relations FTC Solar T: (737) 241-8618 E: IR@FTCSolar.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on our current expectations and projections regarding our business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and as such are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. In addition, this press release contains statements about third parties and their commercial activity. We have not independently verified or confirmed such statements and have instead relied on the veracity of information as provided to us by such third parties related to such statements. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities as predictions of future events, as actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities because of several factors, including those described in more detail above and in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained therein. FTC Solar undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.The Gunners took two points out of Liverpool’s lead at the summit of the Premier League after Jurrien Timber and William Saliba struck in the second half – both from corners – to condemn Amorim to his first defeat as United boss. The hosts’ second-half strikes took their goals-from-corners tally to 22 since the start of last season – a statistic that is unmatched by any other team in the division. Asked if Arsenal are one of the best teams he has come up against on corners, Amorim replied: “If you follow the Premier League for a long time you can see that. “They are also big players and you see every occasion when (Gabriel) Martinelli and (Bukayo) Saka have one-on-ones, a lot of times they go outside and they cross, and they know that if the cross goes well, they can score, and if it is a corner they can score, too, so we have to be better on that. “You have seen in all Arsenal games that every team have had problems with that (corners). And the difference today was the set-pieces. “You see a goal and then the momentum changed, and it is really hard for us to take the full control of the game after that.” Timber leaned into Rasmus Hojlund at the front post before diverting Declan Rice’s set-piece into the back of Andre Onana’s net after 54 minutes to send Arsenal into the lead. Thomas Partey’s header from Saka’s corner then deflected in off Saliba’s shoulder with 17 minutes left. Arteta and the club’s set-piece guru Nicolas Jover embraced on the touchline as Amorim was left with his head in his hands. The Arsenal supporters cheered raucously every time they won a corner – landing 13 in all without reply. However, Arteta moved to play down the significance of Arsenal’s set-piece threat. “We need that, but we want to be very dangerous and very effective from every angle and every phase of play,” said Arteta. “Today we could have scored from open play like we did against West Ham and Sporting. Last year we scored the most goals in the history of this football club. Arsenal have won four consecutive Premier League matches against Man Utd for the first time ever! 💫 — Premier League (@premierleague) “Not because of only set-pieces, but because of a lot of things that we have. We want to create individual and magic moments, too.” Arsenal’s win against United – the first time they have recorded four victories in a row against the Red Devils in the league – was their fourth in succession since the international break. They will head to Fulham on Sunday bidding to keep the momentum going. Arteta continued: “The will to win is there. We try our best to do that. We won four in a row, but it doesn’t matter. We have to go to Fulham now, try to be better than them and try win the game. “It’s every three days that we play. It’s a crazy schedule. We’re going to need everybody and to mentally be very strong.”The first guest invited to ring the bell to open trading at the New York Stock Exchange in 1956 wasn’t a company executive, a politician or a well-known celebrity. It was a 10-year-old boy, Leonard Ross, who received the honor by winning a television quiz show. Since then, business titans, political giants and global film stars have all been among those ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. Ronald Reagan rang the bell as president in 1985. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. have also rung the bell. The list even includes famous Muppets: Miss Piggy was once a bell ringer. President-elect Donald Trump joined that list Thursday when he opened trading at the famous stock exchange on Wall Street. He was accompanied by his wife, Melania, who interestingly enough received the honor before her husband. As first lady, she rang the bell in 2019 as part of her “Be Best” program. Bell-ringers are more commonly founders and executives from a wide range of companies. Over the last few months, the guests have included executives from Alaska Air Group, Bath & Body Works, and Ally Financial. Stock trading around the location of the NYSE's current home has deep roots that trace back to the Dutch founding of New Amsterdam and when Wall Street had an actual wall. The NYSE traces its direct roots to the “Buttonwood Agreement” signed in 1792, which set rules for stock trading and commissions. The NYSE moved into its first permanent home in 1865. The first bell in use was actually a gong. The exchange moved into its current iconic building in 1903 and started using an electronically operated brass bell. That has evolved into synchronized bells in each of the NYSE’s four trading areas.
Musk’s foundation $421 million short its required donations in 2023Team claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy new charter unless federal antitrust suit is dropped
The SNP seems to be rediscovering its political confidence after the bleakest period the party's had since winning power at Holyrood. In the last couple of years its independence strategy has hit a brick wall, the party has tied itself in knots over gender reform, and it has fallen in and out of love with the Scottish Greens. There have been three first ministers during that period and one of those remains under police investigation as the Branchform inquiry into SNP finances drags on. The party's worries have not gone away. Far from it. It still has huge challenges to overcome, not least significant underperformance in key public services like the NHS. Even its selection process for the Holyrood election could be a source of bitter infighting. Yet at the end of the week in which First Minister John Swinney's government delivered its draft Scottish Budget, his team seems more optimistic than at any time for at least two years. That may seem odd given the SNP completely lost control of the narrative in Scottish politics and was comprehensively defeated by Labour at the general election in July. There has been an understandable tendency to write the party off. For a while it has felt that Labour was on course to defeat the SNP at the next Holyrood election and to regain devolved power after 19 years in opposition. The most recent opinion polling raises questions about that analysis. Labour's "change" mantra at the general election seemed to tap into a public appetite for exactly that and it remains perfectly possible they could win. The point is that a change of government at Holyrood is not inevitable. The SNP will put up a fight and it remains a political force to be reckoned with. The budget setting process is a good demonstration of how wily they can be. At the end of October, the UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves helped put Labour on the front foot in Scotland by announcing a substantial uplift in funding for the SNP government this year and next. As I said at the time , this opened up political space for Labour to turn the focus on the delivery of better public services in Scotland (under SNP administration since 2007). With the publication of the draft Scottish Budget this week, the SNP has managed to seize back some of the political initiative. It has happily banked the £1.5bn extra spending from the UK Treasury this year and the £3.4bn extra next year. Much of this is gobbled up paying growing NHS, social welfare and public sector wage bills. However, the SNP has managed to direct some of that cash to policy priorities that pile political pressure on Labour. The Scottish government has promised to partly reverse cuts to winter fuel payments for older people not in receipt of pension credit. These cuts were initiated by the UK government and are being matched by the Scottish government this winter before a new payment is brought in next year. It has also promised to end the two-child cap on access to benefits in Scotland, something that Scottish Labour has previously expressed a desire to achieve. It is clear this policy was a very late addition to the budget statement. It has not yet been fully costed. The Scottish Fiscal Commission's rough estimate is £150m in the first year and it has described the policy as a "fiscal risk". Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar initially dismissed the SNP's idea as a "policy without a penny" because the first tranche of payments are not in the budget for 2025/26. SNP ministers are proposing to make the change from spring 2026, just before the Holyrood election. However, they insist there is £3m in their budget plans to make the necessary preparations. They have also formally requested assistance from the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to access the data required to establish who would be eligible for extra cash. They may also need the UK government to tweak the law so that anything extra paid out in Scotland is not simply clawed back by another part of the system. The DWP has said it will "engage constructively with the Scottish government where necessary" - which may or may not be an expression of willingness to assist. On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said ending the two child cap was not a "silver bullet" for tackling child poverty and that the policy could not be afforded across the UK. On Friday, he held private talks with John Swinney in Edinburgh, after which Mr Swinney said the PM had agreed to work with him on the two-child cap. Having reset the relationship with the devolved governments since taking power at Westminster, Labour's commitment to partnership politics is now being tested by the SNP. At Holyrood, Scottish Labour also has a Budget dilemma. It is perfectly entitled to criticise the SNP's approach to taxation and public spending. The question is: Can Labour afford not to back a Scottish Budget that includes winter fuel cash for pensioners and a pathway to ending the two-child cap? The SNP is not counting on their votes but if it does not get them, it will never tire of reminding voters of what Labour chose not to support. In that sense, this is a politically savvy budget from John Swinney's administration. It also includes policy suggestions from the Greens, the Liberal Democrats and the Alba party, which are more likely allies. There is no expectation of Conservative support. They are firmly opposed to the SNP's approach to taxation, which requires higher earners to pay more than they would in England to raise extra funds for public spending. All parties know there needs to be a budget deal before key votes in February. Otherwise there could be chaos in disbursing public money to pay bills and deliver promised wage increases to public servants. It's not clear any party would want to risk being held responsible for that - or the possibility of an early Holyrood election.New tool makes micro:bit programming portable for young learners
Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flightsThe first guest invited to ring the bell to open trading at the New York Stock Exchange in 1956 wasn’t a company executive, a politician or a well-known celebrity. It was a 10-year-old boy, Leonard Ross, who received the honor by winning a television quiz show. Since then, business titans, political giants and global film stars have all been among those ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. Ronald Reagan rang the bell as president in 1985. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. have also rung the bell. The list even includes famous Muppets: Miss Piggy was once a bell ringer.In the final days of the 2024 calendar, there's a lot to look forward to in the sports world in 2025. Field Level Media surveyed writers and editors in its network to come up with 25 to watch in the New Year. Bill Belichick, head coach, North Carolina After 333 career NFL wins and 29 years as a head coach, Belichick had the year off in 2024 and admitted he couldn't sit still. He'll be 73 in April before his first season as a head coach at the college level with North Carolina. Universally recognized as one of the all-time great coaches in any sport, "Chapel Bill" adapts his no-nonsense Patriot Way to the college game. Belichick crashes into the Atlantic Coast Conference escorted by intrigue because of his trophy-collecting success with the Patriots followed by a dismal run without Tom Brady. Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Columbus High School (Miami) The twin sons of former Duke and NBA standout Carlos Boozer, Cameron and Cayden Boozer are five-star recruits with hooper bloodlines. Cayden is a pass-first point guard and Cameron has top-pick draft stock down the road. The twins are seniors in high school headed to Durham as freshmen next season. For now, they're stars on the same Columbus (Fla.) prep team. Caitlin Clark, guard, Indiana Fever Snubbed for the Olympic team and given stay-in-your-lane treatment but a segment of the WNBA upon arrival to the Fever, it didn't take Clark long to raise her game and serve the rest of the league an exclamatory reply. Indiana went from WNBA worst to the playoffs in one season, piloted by Clark's scoring, passing and playmaking all while lifting all boats in the league due to a level of popularity last attained by the American cheeseburger. What's in store in her second season? Clark has a new coach and the ball squarely in her hands for Indiana, no doubt entering the 2025 schedule with a few remaining doubters in mind. Bryson DeChambeau, LIV Golf DeChambeau further stamped his status as one of the best in the game with a second U.S. Open win, picking up the monumental win at Pinehurst but there's an equal chance you -- or your children -- are more familiar with DeChambeau as a social media and streaming legend. He played epic rounds with Tom Brady and President-elect Donald Trump, and he had weekenders of all ages tracking his 16-day stretch trying for a hole-in-one -- over the top of his Dallas residence. It's all part of the tidal wave of energy and success pushing DeChambeau to the top of the heap in pro golf. Novak Djokovic, ATP Tour Arguably the GOAT in men's tennis, Djokovic will aim to prove he isn't washed up. The 37-year-old Serbian finished 2024 ranked seventh in the world, his lowest year-end placement since 2006, and he won just one tournament in 2024 -- his lowest total since before he won his first two titles in 2005. Djokovic reached the final at Wimbledon for his best major result of the year, but a third-round crash out of the U.S. Open prompted questions about whether Father Time is finally returning serve. He recently announced that he will team with recently retired rival Andy Murray as his coach for the Australian Open, so the Scot will be charged with helping Djokovic add to his record haul of 24 major singles championships. Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke From high school hoops phenom to the next great one produced by the Blue Devils, Flagg is on a course for All-American status as a true freshman and has been pegged among favorites for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg opened eyes at the USA Olympic scrimmages before the 2024 Summer Games and has size, skill and upside some have compared to perennial NBA All-Star Kevin Durant. Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame As a freshman, Hidalgo announced herself as the next great player for Notre Dame women's basketball by leading the Irish to an ACC Tournament title and claiming a First Team All-America nod. In the first half of this season, she's making a strong case for the National Player of the Year award by playing masterfully in big games. Heading into play Friday, Hidalgo owns the nation's second-best scoring average this season at 25.8 points per game while also leading the country in steals and helping the Irish defeat some of the marquee programs in the sport, including UConn, Southern California and Texas. With a sharp shot, smooth handle, wicked speed and first-class defensive instincts, Hidalgo aims to power Notre Dame to its first Final Four in six years. Carson Hocevar, NASCAR A runaway Rookie of the Year winner in 2024, Hocevar's star has been rising for a few years. Now the NASCAR world is bracing for what's around the next turn. With growing Spire Motorsports behind him and a year of Cup Series experience under his belt, his peers aren't ruling out his first career win and much -- much -- more in 2025 among a group of rising talents in the sport that includes Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott. LeBron James, forward, Los Angeles Lakers King James turns 40 on Monday. And if you've spotted him on the court during a remarkable career that began with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, he doesn't look a day over 30. James claimed his fourth career gold meal in the Paris Olympics over the summer, and the four-time NBA MVP remains locked in on claiming a fifth NBA title. Slowed by a foot injury in early December, there's still time to see James and appreciate his greatness but only he knows when to expect a final bow. Flau'jae Johnson, guard, LSU You might not know Johnson, but your kids probably do. She's a recording artist and popular rapper with NIL deals fronting for Puma, Taco Bell, JBL and more. Johnson is averaging 20 points per game as a junior in a breakout season everyone in Baton Rouge saw coming. Johnson is a tenacious defender and vastly improved 3-point shooter who helps the Tigers make certain they'll be part of the race to the finish in the Southeastern Conference. Nelly Korda, LPGA If you watched any LPGA event in 2024, there's a pretty solid chance you watched Korda contend and a good bet she ended the final round with a trophy. Korda won seven times and the 26-year-old bagged a second major title and 11 finishes in the top 10. She separated from the rest of the world much the same way Scottie Scheffler did on the PGA Tour, and begins the 2025 season as the Player of the Year and World No. 1 by a wide margin. Katie Ledecky, swimming Speaking of primes and, well, GOATs - the label no longer seems sufficient for Ledecky. At the Paris Olympics, she became the most decorated American female Olympian ever with nine career gold medals, tying her with Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina (1956-64) for most all-time among women. In Paris, she won her signature 800-meter freestyle event for the fourth straight Olympics and she also won gold in the 1500 freestyle for the second time. Ledecky also won a silver and a bronze to raise her total medal count to 14, another American female record. Part of Ledecky's appeal is modesty that isn't always found in someone with her wheelbarrow full of accomplishments. In a recent TV interview, the possibility of Ledecky participating in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles was brought up and the ego-free Ledecky said, "I hope so. I have to qualify first." Patrick Mahomes, quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs Not for the first time, but Mahomes is doing Tom Brady things and climbing into the GOAT conversation rung-by-rung at the ripe young age of 29. Racking up wins if not immortal statistics in 2024, Mahomes has the Chiefs in position to three-peat as Super Bowl champions and place a "4x" on his bio line as Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl MVP winner in February. Brady's fourth of seven rings came at age 36 in the "Malcolm Butler game," beating the Seattle Seahawks to wrap the 2014 season. The Chiefs locked up the No. 1 seed and first-round bye in the AFC, meaning he's three wins from another Super Bowl opportunity. Connor McDavid, forward, Edmonton Oilers A runner-up Stanley Cup finish did nothing to diminish McDavid's standing among the best in the league, or shift his path from joining the all-time greats of the game. Because of his playmaking ability and skill, there are few present-day peers in McDavid's class. He had 132 total points -- 100 assists -- in 2023-24 and is back among league leaders again this season. Lionel Messi, forward, Inter Miami He's getting up in age but Messi, 37, still can mesmerize opponents and thrill fans across the world, all while trying to bring Inter Miami an elusive MLS Cup. The Herons set the league mark for points but were stunningly ousted by Atlanta United in the playoffs to put a damper on a season that saw him named the MLS MVP after posting 36 goal contributions (20 goals, 16 assists) in only 19 league matches because of injuries and Copa America duty for Argentina. Shohei Ohtani, OF-DH-SP, Los Angeles Dodgers What does the first 50-50 player in MLB history do for an encore? He's ready to get back to being a dominant two-way player as a right-handed starter at the front of the rotation after resting his surgically repaired, possibly bionic, throwing arm to recover from UCL surgery. Ohtani is 38-19 in 86 career starts with the Angels from 2018-2023. In 2022, he was 15-9 with 219 strikeouts and a 2.33 ERA in 28 starts. Riqui Puig, midfielder, Los Angeles Galaxy Of course, Messi dominates any conversation but Puig, the 25-year-old from Spain, could be the new face of the league after his Hollywood-like performance in the Western Conference final vs. the Seattle Sounders when he sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the second half. He continued playing and assisted the winning goal in the 85th minute of the 1-0 victory. Although he was unable to play when the Galaxy captured the MLS Cup the following week, it didn't diminish his 2024 season in which he had 37 goal contributions (17 goals, 20 assists) in 36 matches across all competitions, including four goals and four assists in four MLS postseason matches. Alex Pereira, UFC light heavyweight champion Boogeyman at middleweight, consistent presence in UFC main events in the light heavyweight division. Pereira had a perfect year, finishing Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr., all considered top-shelf challengers. Entering 2025, Pereira can move up to heavyweight to challenge the winner of Jon Jones' next fight, likely against Tom Aspinall, or remain at 205 pounds to test Magomed Ankalaev. Deion Sanders, head coach, Colorado Coach Prime might not be planning to bow out of Boulder yet -- he insists he's committed to being at Colorado after a two-year stint -- but the NFL is looming with up to 10 coaching vacancies expected in the early days of the 2025 calendar. Sanders would energize a fan base and has a track record of winning while developing talent with name-value assistants. If his gold jacket and Hall of Fame credentials don't take him back to the pro game, it's also worth considering the coffers at top-brand college football programs are sure to be ready to knock, too. Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour Rare company lines Scheffler's resume, and he rips into 2025 as the three-time defending PGA Tour Player of the Year. Only Tiger Woods had won three in a row before Scheffler chewed up the competition in 2024 with a top-10 finish 16 times in 19 starts, another Masters win -- his second -- plus an Olympic gold medal and seven Tour wins. It was the best single-season based on results since Tiger's eight-win 2006 season. Paul Skenes, pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates A sophomore sensation would be one thing. Captaining the Pirates all the way to the playoffs would be another. It isn't often baseball's most hyped prospect lives up to the bloated billing. But it took Skenes just two starts to demonstrate he might already be the best pitcher in the game. When's the last time a rookie went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA? It was so long ago, Dave Brown was pitching for a team called the Chicago American Giants of the Negro National League in 1920. Fernando Mania has nothing on this guy, and if he doubles down with a postseason pass, he'll own more than the keys to the city of Pittsburgh. Oleksandr Usyk, WBO, WBA, WBC heavyweight champion Following back-to-back wins against Tyson Fury, Usyk has leverage few heavyweight champions have had in several decades. Defeating the opponent who many boxing pundits felt was the division's best, Usyk is set on beating IBF champion Daniel Dubois if Dubois gets through Joseph Parker in his next fight. JuJu Watkins, guard, Southern California Watkins is the engine behind the Trojans and gives USC a chance to reach the Final Four after a regional final loss to UConn stopped their run last March. The sophomore All-American point guard already avenged that loss and is doing better-than-Caitlin Clark things through her first 45 college games with averages of 26.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Victor Wembanyama, forward, San Antonio Spurs The top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft made himself comfortable in San Antonio and his ascent to the league mantle might not take as long as expected. The Spurs' All-Star hit Christmas Day with the Spurs (15-15) in contention for a playoff spot. He was averaging 25.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 3.9 assists per game. He's the early frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, swiping 10 blocks in a blowout of the Portland Trail Blazers before a 42-point, 18-rebound showing on Christmas Day in a 117-114 loss to the New York Knicks. With talent developing around him, including 2024 first-rounder Stephon Castle, the Spurs are not a team anyone wants to see coming in the playoffs. --Field Level Media
The have triggered an international race for military dominance. Major powers are quietly integrating AI into their militaries to gain a strategic edge. However, this could change once AI becomes advanced enough to pose an existential threat to humanity, AI "godfather" and Nobel Prize winner says. "On risks like lethal autonomous weapons, countries will not collaborate," Hinton said in a seminar at the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences last week. "All of the major countries that supply arms, Russia, the United States, China, Britain, Israel, and possibly Sweden, are busy making autonomous lethal weapons, and they're not gonna be slowed down, they're not gonna regulate themselves, and they're not gonna collaborate." However, Hinton believes that will change when it becomes necessary for the human race to fight the potential threat posed by a super-intelligent form of AI. "When these things are smarter than us — which almost all the researchers I know believe they will be, we just differ on how soon, whether it's like in five years or in 30 years — will they take over and is there anything we can do to prevent that from happening since we make them? We'll get collaboration on that because all of the countries don't want that to happen." "The Chinese Communist Party does not want to lose power to AI," he added. They want to hold on to it." Hinton said this collaboration could resemble the Cold War, when Russia and the United States — despite being enemies — shared a common goal to avoid nuclear war. Citing similar concerns, has called on world leaders to establish an "international agency" that examines the most powerful AI models and ensures "reasonable safety testing." "I think there will come a time in the not-so-distant future, like we're not talking decades and decades from now, where frontier AI systems are capable of causing significant global harm," Altman said on the All-In podcast in May. According to a report by Goldman Sachs, global investment in AI is expected to hit $200 billion by 2025, with the United States and China leading the military arms race. The United States and China are already beginning to collaborate on existential threats related to AI. In November, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed that humans, not AI, should make decisions regarding the use of nuclear technology. Read the original article on