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Eagles look to clinch NFC East title while Cowboys hope to play spoilerA prominent PDP chieftain, Bode George, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to listen to the cries of Nigerians amidst the harsh socio-economic realities citizens are grappling with George spoke in an interview on Tuesday evening, December 24, 2024, monitored by Legit.ng Reacting to President Tinubu's maiden media chat, the former military governor of Ondo state insisted that millions of Nigerians are angry about the state of the national economy CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics , public affairs, and governance. Ikeja, Lagos state - Bode George, a former deputy national chairman (south) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's insistence on not revisiting the fuel subsidy. Reacting to Tinubu’s first media chat , George expressed his belief that President Tinubu needs to listen to the cries of the people. The PDP chieftain spoke on Channels Television , in an interview monitored by Legit.ng . Read also "Switch off the light": Tinubu urges Nigerians to learn how to manage electricity bill, video trends Hardship: PDP's George slams Tinubu He said : PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! “It (the president not regretting the fuel subsidy removal) would be a major campaign issue. In another few months, he (Tinubu) would be two years in office. The third year in office, politics would start. We (the opposition) will make it a campaign issue. Are you Nigerians better off now, or do you believe that with what we would tell you we would be better off?” George added: "We are not a military government that has no relationship with the public. This is a democratic dispensation that supposedly got all the support, and the professor in INEC claimed that he won the election. We expect him to manage the resources of our land for our benefit. If that benefit is not coming through and we are getting more pain, what you (the president) should do is 'sit down, listen to them'." Read also “How my friend dumped his Rolls-Royces for Honda after fuel hike,” Tinubu speaks, video trends Watch the interview below: Tinubu speaks on food stampedes Meanwhile, during Monday's media chat, President Tinubu blamed the recent food stampedes in the country on a poor organisation. Tinubu said he has been sharing palliatives in his Lagos residence for 25 years without any stampede incident. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng
AI agents are supposed to be the next big thing in AI, but there isn’t an exact definition of what they are. To this point, people can’t agree on what exactly constitutes an AI agent. At its simplest, an AI agent is best described as AI-fueled software that does a series of jobs for you that a human customer service agent, HR person or IT help desk employee might have done in the past, although it could ultimately involve any task. You ask it to do things, and it does them for you, sometimes crossing multiple systems and going well beyond simply answering questions. For example, Perplexity last month released an AI agent that helps people do their holiday shopping (and it’s not the only one ). And Google last week announced its first AI agent, called Project Mariner , which can be used to find flights and hotels, shop for household items, find recipes, and other tasks. Seems simple enough, right? Yet it is complicated by a lack of clarity. Even among the tech giants, there isn’t a consensus. Google sees them as task-based assistants depending on the job: coding help for developers; helping marketers create a color scheme; assisting an IT pro in tracking down an issue by querying log data. For Asana, an agent may act like an extra employee , taking care of assigned tasks like any good co-worker. Sierra, a startup founded by former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor and Google vet Clay Bavor, sees agents as customer experience tools, helping people achieve actions that go well beyond the chatbots of yesteryear to help solve more complex sets of problems. This lack of a cohesive definition does leave room for confusion over exactly what these things are going to do, but regardless of how they’re defined, the agents are for helping complete tasks in an automated way with as little human interaction as possible. Rudina Seseri, founder and managing partner at Glasswing Ventures, says it’s early days and that could account for the lack of agreement. “There is no single definition of what an ‘AI agent’ is. However, the most frequent view is that an agent is an intelligent software system designed to perceive its environment, reason about it, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific objectives autonomously,” Seseri told TechCrunch. She says they use a number of AI technologies to make that happen. “These systems incorporate various AI/ML techniques such as natural language processing, machine learning, and computer vision to operate in dynamic domains, autonomously or alongside other agents and human users.” Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO at Box, says that over time, as AI becomes more capable, AI agents will be able to do much more on behalf of humans, and there are already dynamics at play that will drive that evolution. “With AI agents, there are multiple components to a self-reinforcing flywheel that will serve to dramatically improve what AI Agents can accomplish in the near and long-term: GPU price/performance, model efficiency, model quality and intelligence, AI frameworks and infrastructure improvements,” Levie wrote on LinkedIn recently. That’s an optimistic take on the technology that assumes growth will happen in all these areas, when that’s not necessarily a given. MIT robotics pioneer Rodney Brooks pointed out in a recent TechCrunch interview that AI has to deal with much tougher problems than most technology, and it won’t necessarily grow in the same rapid way as, say, chips under Moore’s law have. “When a human sees an AI system perform a task, they immediately generalize it to things that are similar and make an estimate of the competence of the AI system; not just the performance on that, but the competence around that,” Brooks said during that interview. “And they’re usually very over-optimistic, and that’s because they use a model of a person’s performance on a task.” The problem is that crossing systems is hard, and this is complicated by the fact that some legacy systems lack basic API access. While we are seeing steady improvements that Levie alluded to, getting software to access multiple systems while solving problems it may encounter along the way could prove more challenging than many think. If that’s the case, everyone could be overestimating what AI agents should be able to do. David Cushman, a research leader at HFS Research, sees the current crop of bots more like Asana does: assistants that help humans complete certain tasks in the interest of achieving some sort of user-defined strategic goal. The challenge is helping a machine handle contingencies in a truly automated way, and we are clearly not anywhere close to that yet. “I think it’s the next step,” he said. “It’s where AI is operating independently and effectively at scale. So this is where humans set the guidelines, the guardrails, and apply multiple technologies to take the human out of the loop — when everything has been about keeping the human in the loop with GenAI,” he said. So the key here, he said, is to let the AI agent take over and apply true automation. Jon Turow, a partner at Madrona Ventures, says this is going to require the creation of an AI agent infrastructure, a tech stack designed specifically for creating the agents (however you define them). In a recent blog post, Turow outlined examples of AI agents currently working in the wild and how they are being built today. In Turow’s view, the growing proliferation of AI agents — and he admits, too, that the definition is still a bit elusive — requires a tech stack like any other technology. “All of this means that our industry has work to do to build infrastructure that supports AI agents and the applications that rely upon them,” he wrote in the piece. “Over time, reasoning will gradually improve, frontier models will come to steer more of the workflows, and developers will want to focus on product and data — the things that differentiate them. They want the underlying platform to ‘just work’ with scale, performance, and reliability.” One other thing to keep in mind here is that it’s probably going to take multiple models, rather than a single LLM, to make agents work, and this makes sense if you think about these agents as a collection of different tasks. “I don’t think right now any single large language model, at least publicly available, monolithic large language model, is able to handle agentic tasks. I don’t think that they can yet do the multi-step reasoning that would really make me excited about an agentic future. I think we’re getting closer, but it’s just not there yet,” said Fred Havemeyer, head of U.S. AI and software research at Macquarie US Equity Research. “I do think the most effective agents will likely be multiple collections of multiple different models with a routing layer that sends requests or prompts to the most effective agent and model. And I think it would be kind of like an interesting [automated] supervisor, delegating kind of role.” Ultimately for Havemeyer, the industry is working toward this goal of agents operating independently. “As I’m thinking about the future of agents, I want to see and I’m hoping to see agents that are truly autonomous and able to take abstract goals and then reason out all the individual steps in between completely independently,” he told TechCrunch. But the fact is that we are still in a period of transition where these agents are concerned, and we don’t know when we’ll get to this end state that Havemeyer described. While what we’ve seen so far is clearly a promising step in the right direction, we still need some advances and breakthroughs for AI agents to operate as they are being envisioned today. And it’s important to understand that we aren’t there yet. This story was originally published July 13, 2024, and was updated to include new agents from Perplexity and Google.
Israel hits Yemen capital
The Pittsburgh Steelers, led by quarterback Russell Wilson, meet the Cleveland Browns , led by quarterback Jameis Winston , in Week 12 of the NFL season on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 (11/21/24) at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio. How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of Amazon Prime . Here’s what you need to know: What : NFL Week 12 Who : Browns vs. Steelers When : Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 (11/21/24) Where : Huntington Bank Field Time : 8:15 p.m. ET TV : Local channels in Cleveland and Pittsburgh Live stream: Amazon Prime *** Here’s a preview capsule via the Associated Press: CLEVELAND (AP) — Even as a kid growing up in Alabama, Jameis Winston appreciated the Steelers-Browns rivalry with its tradition rooted in neighborly nastiness. For Winson, all it took was for him to hear NFL Films narrator John Facenda — nicknamed “the voice of God” — to understand that Pittsburgh facing Cleveland meant a little more than your average football game. Primal pigskin. “Seeing the blood, sweat, tears that happened. These games are hard-nosed, hard-fought,” Winston said, balling his fist and punching his other hand for emphasis. “True definition of cold-weather football game. This is premiere.” On Thursday night, Winston, who passed for 395 yards last week, gets thrown into one of league’s fiercest feuds as the Steelers (8-2 ) visit the Browns (2-8) in a game that looked more tantalizing on the schedule in September than it does now. After navigating through some starting quarterback issues, Pittsburgh again is atop the tough-as-it-gets AFC North while Cleveland’s season has dissolved into an ugly mess that may require another major offseason overhaul for a franchise that was convinced the worst was behind it. The Steelers are rolling. They’ve won five straight and are coming off an 18-16 win at home over the Baltimore Ravens. While not aesthetically pleasing, the victory had many familiar traits from Pittsburgh’s recent past — stout defense and solid special teams. Chris Boswell’s six field goals carried the Steelers and the defense came up with enough big plays to corral Lamar Jackson. It’s the second time this season that Boswell has accounted for all of Pittsburgh’s points, a testament to coach Mike Tomlin’s trust in his kicker and team. “It’s whatever’s required to win and whatever that means,” said Winston, whose 102nd career game as a pro will be his first against the Steelers. “Is it six field goals? Is it two blocked punts? Is it five touchdowns? Whatever’s required.” If the Browns have anything going for them it’s that Thursday has been their day. Cleveland has won eight straight home games on Thursdays, including two in the past five years over the Steelers. Of course, there will be the usual army of Terrible Towel-waving Pittsburgh fans who will venture into enemy territory to help make their team feel at home. However, the Steelers expect to get the best the Browns can offer in prime time. “We’re going into a hostile environment,” defensive tackle Cam Heyward said. ”We respect the background. We understand what those fans and their team is capable of. It’s like those big rivalries in college football. It doesn’t matter what the record is. You’re going to get their best shot. “You have to respect that. And, you know, we’re looking forward to going up there.” There’s a simmering subplot in this year’s matchup. Partly a media creation, the competition and comparisons between Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett intensified this week. When Garrett won Defensive Player of the Year last season, Watt, who finished second, posted “Nothing I’m not used to,” on social media the night of NFL Honors. This week, Garrett responded to Watt’s comment, which was open to interpretation. “I’ve never complained about the trophy not being at my house and vice versa. He shouldn’t be feeling two ways about knowing it’s going to me,” Garrett said. “So just going to play the game. I don’t play against T.J., he doesn’t play against me.” Garrett was asked if Watt had reached out to him to clear the air. “No, he didn’t say nothing to me,” Garrett said. “He’s going to have to apologize when I see him.” The Steelers unveiled a new look last week, using backup quarterback Justin Fields to replace Russell Wilson for a handful of snaps, including on Pittsburgh’s final drive when Fields ran for a 9-yard gain that helped kill the clock. It could become a fixture as Pittsburgh moves forward, though offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is quick to point out Fields is not in there as simply a wildcat-type threat. Fields, after all, did account for 10 touchdowns (five passing, five rushing) while filling in for Wilson during Pittsburgh’s 4-2 start. “I don’t view Justin in this role as a gadget guy,” Smith said. “We’ve got two starting quarterbacks and he’s a hell of a football player.” Smith used a similar setup while calling the plays for Tennessee in 2019, bringing in Marcus Mariota occasionally to spell Ryan Tannehill to give opponents a different look. The Browns' struggles have been followed by another time-honored Cleveland tradition: job speculation. Coach Kevin Stefanski has been widely criticized for the team’s collapse, caused by too many variables to list. And while he’s aware his approval rating has taken a big hit, Stefanski said growing up around sports talk radio in Philadelphia as a kid prepared him. “Probably because I grew up listening to that, I’m smart enough to not worry about outside noise,” he said. “I get that’s part of this gig. That’s life in the big city. My sole focus is getting this team ready to get a win on Thursday night. That’s it.” Stars like Watt and Heyward aren’t the only ones making plays for the NFL’s second-stingiest defense. RECOMMENDED • nj .com Is the Pittsburgh Steelers game on TV today (11/21/24)? FREE LIVE STREAM, How to Watch NFL Week 12 vs. Clevel Nov. 21, 2024, 9:25 a.m. Is the Cleveland Browns game on TV today (11/21/24)? FREE LIVE STREAM, How to Watch NFL Week 12 vs. Pittsburg Nov. 21, 2024, 11:19 a.m. Pittsburgh is getting plenty of contributions from down the depth chart. Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson made a tumbling “gimme that” interception against the Ravens. Fellow rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop already has three picks and second-year linebacker Nick Herbig — filling in for an injured Alex Highsmith — forced a fumble last week and created the pressure that blew up a late 2-point conversion attempt by Baltimore. “It’s just a multitude of guys who know what they’re doing,” Heyward said. “You know, vets have helped out the younger guys to bring them up. It allows us to be interchangeable and allows us to have each other’s backs and not blink in those moments.” Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Recent communications from the Benton County Democrat Party Chair Gabe Shepherd — a recently elected county commissioner — on the local party's webpage calling for "resistance" and "defense" against Donald Trump and presumably his supporters, are deeply concerning. Such rhetoric fosters unnecessary division and risks creating an atmosphere of fear and hostility within our community, particularly toward the one-third of Benton County residents who support Trump and align with his priorities and values. The Republicans, nonaffiliated, independents, Green Party, Libertarians, and Democrats in Benton County who voted for Trump are not extremists or threats. We hare law-abiding neighbors, friends, and coworkers — people who care about this community as much as anyone else. The Republican party has become the party of common sense, advocating for the working class, values that resonate deeply with many in Benton County. We stand for practical solutions, protecting freedoms and representing the needs of “all” hardworking Americans. Why resist that? People are also reading... Proposal for South Corvallis has a neighborhood on edge Oregon State celebrates Murphy's arrival while Washington State loses coach, quarterback Corvallis looks to drum up millions for facilities project Albany police say sex offender tried enrolling in high school Albany shelter faces federal lawsuit as whistleblower faces homelessness Victim identified in Linn County interstate fatality Oregon port contractor praises Hitler, uses slurs — and now officials face a quandary Details emerge about former South Albany coach accused of sex crimes Oregon State assistant football coach takes head job at Idaho Oregon State men head to the beaches of Hawaii looking to keep momentum going Corvallis School District's buses are vexing parents Albany man suspected of stealing flatbed trailer, crashing into minivan Oregon State lands a quarterback in the transfer portal Brownsville swears in new councilors, conservative sweep complete Reward upped for Corvallis crossbow deer killings Yet this language of “resistance” implies otherwise, suggesting that political disagreement makes us enemies. Trump is not here, and Democrats control every level of government in Oregon. So who, then, is Mr. Shepherd asking his followers to resist? Whom are they defending against? Are these calls aimed at members of our own community who simply hold different views? Such rhetoric unfairly maligns a large segment of our population, fueling their mistrust and fear of Mr. Shepherd’s followers. Let’s also consider what this messaging means for our broader political system. Trump won the popular vote with 74.2 million votes. To trivialize his priorities and policies as ramblings of a fascist is to call the majority of American voters fascists. Rejecting the will of the majority simply because the “right” party is not in power is not only dangerous but obscenely undemocratic. Calls for “resistance” to lawful governance undermine the values that bind us together as both a community and a nation. Mr. Shepherd is, quite literally, "shepherding" his followers to organize "mass protest marches," fueled by distrust of the elected national administration. How long before local Republicans become the target of his ire? Peaceful protest is an essential part of our democracy; however, language that frames fellow citizens and elected leaders as threats or enemies is not constructive. Additionally, Mr. Shepherd stated in a recent Corvallis City Council meeting that the government’s role is to decide what is “best” and then “find a way to pay for it” — regardless of public opinion or cost. I fundamentally disagree. I wonder if Mr. Shepherd would think the same if it were his money he was spending? The city intends to pay $200 million on infrastructure without considering where the money will come from. Inevitably this will force taxpayers to bare the load. This is not only irresponsible but is also disrespectful to our citizens who are already struggling financially. Does my empathy with those hurting mean I am an enemy to be defended against? Our government exists to function "by and for the people," a cornerstone principle of our nation and one that has been emphasized throughout Trump’s presidency. The people of Benton County — regardless of political affiliation — deserve leadership that promotes dialogue, understanding and cooperation, not conflict, division, or lack of representation. Shouldn’t we focus on solutions that unite us as neighbors rather than rhetoric that pits us against one another or instills unfounded fears of our neighbors? It’s time to focus on what truly matters — commonsense governance, working-class priorities and a shared commitment to building a stronger future for our community and our nation. Keith Lembke Keith Lembke has a doctorate in business administration, a master's in public administration and a bachelor's of science from West Point. A Corvallis resident since 2003, he ran unsuccessfully for Benton County commissioner in 2024 and now chairs the Benton County Republican Party. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Support for Luigi Mangione, charged in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is part of the bitter messaging that's been bubbling up amid debate about health care in America since the CEO attack that captured the country's attention.CEO killer suspect: golden boy who soured on US health systemTrampoline Market to Increase by USD 978.4 Million (2023-2028), Segmented by Product, End-User, Channel, and Geography, with AI Redefining Market Landscape - Technavio
Stock market today: Wall Street rises to records despite tariff talk
Air traffic control language is commendably succinct. The advisory message that was sent out by the US Command Center at 11.50am GMT on Christmas Eve read: “Nationwide ground stop for all AAL Main and Subs”. AAL is , and the instruction to air traffic controllers across the US (and, as it emerged, the world) was to prevent the carrier’s planes from taking off. The fact that it affected “Subs” – smaller airlines flying regional trips for American, as well as the mainline operation – suggested something had gone awry with the departure control system. This is the technology that manages crucial elements of dispatching a flight, from check-in to load control – ensuring that the weight of passengers, cargo and fuel is appropriately distributed on the plane. The ground stop ended just an hour after it had begun. That was excellent news for the frustrated passengers packed on board flight AA137 from London to Los Angeles. The Boeing 777 pushed back from the gate on schedule at 11.15am but then held on the ground until the order was lifted. It finally took off at 1pm and is expected to reach California more than an hour late, jeopardising onward connections. In its post-meltdown statement, American Airlines followed standard aviation PR practice of blaming a third party: “A vendor technology issue briefly affected flights this morning. That issue has been resolved and flights have resumed. “It’s all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible.” Good luck with that. The Christmas choreography of air traffic control does not respond well to a giant airline’s entire fleet (save for those already airborne) being held on the ground for an hour. I estimate around 300 flights, all with the necessary air traffic control clearances, were due to depart in that forbidden hour. Those precious permissions cannot simply be held over for the next hour: American Airlines itself has another 300 planes to dispatch in that timeframe. The departure from Heathrow to Charlotte, due out 40 minutes after the ground stop was lifted, took off an hour behind schedule. For connecting passengers, that raises stress levels. Add the uncertainty of how long it will take to clear US Customs and Border Protection, as every arriving passenger must do even if they are transferring to another international flight, and the prospect of reaching their destination before 25 December recedes. All this is happening when airline passengers are heavily invested, emotionally as well as financially, in their festive travel plans. The capacity for aviation to generate a novel nightmare scenario each Christmas knows no bounds. Particularly cruel incidents include at in 2018, which caused the Sussex airport to be closed for three days in the build-up to 25 December – grounding 1,000 flights and wrecking the plans of 150,000 travellers. Five years earlier, in the early hours of Christmas Eve 2013, the basement of Gatwick’s North Terminal flooded. , leading to around 100 flights being cancelled and stranding 11,000 passengers. when heavy snow halted operations for days and thwarted the plans of 600,000 travellers. What lesson can we learn from such flightmares before Christmas? That the more important your journey, the more days you should allow to rearrange your schedule if your plans unravel. Or stay put for the festive season and wait for fares and stress to subside. On Boxing Day, British Airways wants £1,080 for a round-trip from Gatwick to Tampa in Florida for a week; I am leaving 10 days later and paying less than half as much.Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index slipped less than 0.1% on Thursday, its first loss after three straight gains. The Dow Jones industrial average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.5%, Micron Technology climbed 1.3% and Adobe gained 0.8%. Although tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.1%. Meta Platforms fell 0.5%, Amazon slipped 0.4% and Netflix gave up 0.7%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, down 1.4%. Healthcare stocks helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.4% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3.9% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3.1%, Ross Stores added 1.8%, Best Buy climbed 2.5% and Dollar Tree gained 3.6%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.2% and 15.9%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields turned mostly lower in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.58% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically received a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. This month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on election day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation, a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Veiga writes for the Associated Press. AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed.
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Matus Hronsky's 13 points off of the bench helped Duquesne to a 67-54 victory over Old Dominion on Tuesday. Hronsky shot 5 for 9, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc for the Dukes (1-6). Maximus Edwards scored 11 points while going 5 of 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and added seven rebounds. Halil Barre had 10 points and finished 5 of 7 from the floor. The Dukes stopped a six-game slide with the win. Devin Ceaser led the way for the Monarchs (2-6) with 23 points and three steals. Duquesne took a 26-19 lead at halftime, with Edwards racking up seven points. Duquesne extended its lead to 36-23 during the second half, fueled by an 8-0 scoring run. Hronsky scored a team-high 10 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Share Tweet Share Share Email Cryptocurrency has been one wild ride, hasn’t it? From Bitcoin’s explosive rise to Ethereum’s game-changing smart contracts, the crypto world has completely shaken up how we think about money, tech, and even ownership. With the new year just around the corner, it’s time to focus on the projects that could make 2025 a game-changer for your portfolio. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just getting your feet wet, early investments in the right cryptos could set you up for some serious gains. One name grabbing attention right now is Qubetics ($TICS) , a presale sensation tackling real-world challenges that have held the industry back. While many coins offer hype, Qubetics delivers substance, solving the everyday usability issues that crypto newcomers and veterans alike face. If you’re ready to discover the best crypto presales 2024 and other top coins to watch, let’s dive into the list. 1. Qubetics ($TICS): The Future of Web3 Integration Qubetics is more than just a flashy presale—it’s a revolution in how we use crypto. As the world’s first Web3 aggregator, Qubetics is built to simplify blockchain technology for everyone. Whether it’s integrating decentralised apps or managing multiple crypto assets, this project is tackling the barriers that make crypto feel intimidating for everyday users. What makes Qubetics stand out is its practical approach. Unlike many cryptos that thrive on speculation, Qubetics focuses on creating real-world value. Whether you’re a business looking for streamlined blockchain solutions or an investor seeking the best crypto presale to diversify your portfolio, Qubetics is worth your attention. The numbers don’t lie: the Qubetics presale is in its 14th stage, with over 377 million tokens sold to 11,800+ holders, raising more than $7.8 million. At just $0.0377 per token, $TICS is a steal—but not for long. Prices will jump by 10% once the presale hits its 15th stage this weekend. 2. Ethereum (ETH): The Smart Contract Powerhouse Ethereum isn’t going anywhere. As the OG of smart contracts, Ethereum continues to dominate the DeFi and NFT spaces. With the ongoing Ethereum 2.0 upgrade, the network is becoming faster, cheaper, and more scalable—a huge win for developers and investors alike. Analysts predict Ethereum’s dominance will continue into 2025, thanks to its unmatched ecosystem and developer activity. Whether you’re staking ETH for rewards or holding it as a long-term investment, Ethereum is a cornerstone of any crypto portfolio. 3. Polygon (MATIC): Scaling Ethereum to New Heights While Ethereum is a beast, it’s not perfect—think high fees and slow transaction times. Enter Polygon, the layer-2 solution that makes Ethereum faster and cheaper without sacrificing security. Polygon’s partnerships with big names like Disney and Adidas show its versatility and growing adoption. Its focus on zero-knowledge rollups (ZK-rollups) is also a game-changer for scalability. As we inch closer to 2025, MATIC is positioned as a must-watch coin for anyone betting on Ethereum’s success. 4. Ripple (XRP): The Cross-Border Payments Leader Ripple has been a pioneer in making international payments faster, cheaper, and more efficient. Its partnerships with financial giants and its ability to work seamlessly with traditional banking systems make XRP a unique player in the crypto space. Ripple’s recent legal victories have only strengthened its position. With institutional adoption on the rise, XRP is poised for big things in 2025. If you’re looking for a coin with both innovation and reliability, Ripple is a solid choice. 5. Near Protocol (NEAR): Scalability Meets Usability Near Protocol is a rising star in the blockchain world. Known for its user-friendly approach and sharding technology, NEAR is designed to make blockchain accessible to developers and everyday users alike. Its ability to handle fast, low-cost transactions sets it apart from the competition. With more projects choosing NEAR as their platform of choice, it’s one of the best crypto picks for 2025. If scalability and innovation are your priorities, NEAR has you covered. 6. Cardano (ADA): The Research-Driven Blockchain Cardano has always played the long game. Built on peer-reviewed research, it’s one of the most technically sound blockchains out there. With its focus on sustainability, scalability, and interoperability, Cardano is designed for the future. The upcoming Hydra upgrade is expected to bring significant improvements in transaction speed and efficiency. As more projects and developers flock to Cardano, ADA is shaping up to be a strong contender for long-term growth. Boost Your Portfolio As we gear up for 2025, these six cryptos offer a mix of innovation, scalability, and real-world utility. Whether it’s Qubetics ($TICS) redefining Web3 integration, Ethereum continuing its dominance, or Ripple reshaping cross-border payments, these projects are primed for success. Based on the latest research, we recommend Qubetics ($TICS), Ethereum (ETH), Polygon (MATIC), Ripple (XRP), Near Protocol (NEAR), and Cardano (ADA) as the best cryptos to watch as 2025 approaches . For More Information: Qubetics: https://qubetics.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics Twitter: https://twitter.com/qubetics Related Items: Blockchain , Qubetic Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you BlockDAG – Inter Milan Partnership, Presale Skyrockets to $173M; SUI Price Rises Amid Polkadot Rally Qubetics Tokenisation Opens New Markets – The Best Coin to Invest in December 2024 Amid Polygon’s Expansion and XRP’s Price Recovery BlockDAG’s New AMA – Big News, Bigger Plans & 170K Community Ready to Grow; LINK Price & Solana Network Activity Surge CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks closed at more records after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to reach another all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3% to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.6% as Big Tech stocks helped lead the way. Stock markets abroad saw mostly modest losses, after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. U.S. automakers and other companies that could be hurt particularly by such tariffs fell. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising toward records Tuesday after created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% and was on track to top its set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 81 points, or 0.2%, to set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.5% higher, with less than an hour remaining in trading. Stock markets abroad were down, but mostly only modestly, after President-elect Trump said he on Mexico, Canada and as soon as he takes office. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada's main index edged down by just 0.1%. Trump has often praised the , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. General Motors sank 8.2%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.9%. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support to the . While lower interest rates can boost the overall economy and prices for investments, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed's earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to released Tuesday afternoon. Unlike tariffs in Trump's first term, his proposal from Monday night would affect products across the board. Trump’s tariff talk came almost immediately after U.S. stocks rose Monday amid excitement about his pick for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent. The hope was the hedge-fund manager could steer Trump away from policies that balloon the U.S. government deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through taxes and other revenue. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another set of mixed profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates instituted by the Fed to get inflation under control. tumbled 17.6% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. fell 4.7% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. J.M. Smucker jumped 5.4% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500 after topping analysts' expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 2.8% for Amazon and 2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. In the bond market, Treasury yields rose following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.30% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after late last week. It's since dipped back toward $91,600, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Drew Lock is likely going to start at quarterback for the New York Giants against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday when they try to end a franchise-record 10-game losing streak. Lock started against Atlanta last weekend and his status became an issue after the 34-7 loss when coach Brian Daboll said the 28-year-old was having an issue with his right shoulder. An MRI was done Monday and Daboll announced Tuesday that Lock would be his starter if he stayed healthy. “It came back good so rocking and rolling,” Lock said, noting he was hurt on a third down pass to Daniel Bellinger in the first quarter when Falcons linebacker Matthew Judon pulled his arm on the play. He finished the game. There were questions whether Daboll would switch back to Tommy DeVito after Lock threw two pick-6s and lost a fumble on a strip-sack against the Falcons. Lock has had three interceptions returned for scores in three starts this season, including two on tipped passes. Daboll said it was important to give Lock a couple of starts in which he was able to get all the reps in practice. “Knowing what we did the week before, take the things we need to get better at into this week and actually be able to go out there and do it is something I’m looking forward to,” Lock said. “Similar cadences with the guys, being in the huddle together. I think it can only be a positive for such a roller coaster out of that spot.” RELATED COVERAGE Injured cornerback Riley Moss could return to Denver’s lineup at Cincinnati Lopsided loss sinks the reeling Saints further into evaluation mode Titans QB Mason Rudolph gets another chance at starting, this time against the Jags The one thing that might change this week is the Giants center. John Michael Schmitz has an ankle injury and he did not practice Tuesday. He left the locker room with a boot on his right foot. New York has moved veteran guard Greg Van Roten to center when Schmitz was hurt and Lock also worked with guard Austin Schlottmann as his center while playing in Denver. “I’m pretty familiar with all the guys that are rotating in there,” Lock said. The Giants have the NFL’s worst scoring offense, averaging 14.3 points. They benched Daniel Jones coming out of their bye week and days later released him after he requested it. DeVito has started two games and Lock three since Jones was released. New York has scored 59 points in those games, with 20 coming against Dallas in a seven-point loss on Thanksgiving. Running back Tyrone Tracy (ankle), wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee-foot), cornerback Greg Stroman (shoulder-shin), defensive tackle Cory Durden (shoulder), inside linebacker Micah McFadden (neck) and cornerback Dru Phillips (shoulder) also did not practice on Tuesday, which is usually a day off. The team will have off on Christmas Day and return to practice on Thursday. The Giants opened practice on Tuesday with the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” blaring on the loudspeakers in their indoor practice facility. Jones, who is on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad, sent the Giants offensive linemen Christmas gifts. “DJ comes in, saves me and Tommy once again, and then takes care of the guys,” Lock said. “I expected nothing less from the guy. That’s just who he is, and cares about these guys still.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflJurors end 1st day of deliberations without a verdict in the YSL gang and racketeering trial
Madhya Pradesh: Congress Workers Demand Amit Shah’s Resignation
When Naomi and Aaron think about their baby girl, they remember her bright spirit, contagious laugh and most of all, her beautiful smile. Tragically, it was little Lola’s smile that would be the first subtle sign that something was very wrong – before she sadly passed away a few months later. Back in 2021, the adorable ‘chubby cheeked’ infant was a thriving and healthy baby who was hitting all her milestones. Her arrival into the world made the Ross family complete, with Naomi and Aaron delighted that their older children Toby, 11, and Maya, seven, had a little sister. But when she was 10 months old, doctors revealed the earth-shattering news that no parent should ever have to hear. Lola had cancer. “Lola was such a happy and smiley little baby, we just adored her,” Naomi, from Kellyville, NSW, told news.com.au. “We never imagined anything like this could ever happen to us.” “The first thing we noticed was that she had been vomiting a little, but we put it down to just being a daycare bug and we didn’t think too much of it.” “We’d been to the GP about it, but nobody was too worried.” “One thing we had noticed, but also didn’t think too much about was that she had a little bit of a crooked smile.” “We kind of made little jokes about it and laughed, but we didn’t put it down to being anything sinister. “There was one day she just looked unwell and a bit blank. I knew in my stomach something was not right, so we took her to the hospital. “Another thing is we noticed she began using her right arm more than her left. We thought this was odd.” ‘Something wasn’t right’ Doctors noticed Lola’s crooked smile and paired with the fact she was no longer using her left arm much, they decided to run some different tests to find out what was going on. “We were scared. We didn’t know what was going to happen,” Aaron said. “We just had a feeling that something wasn’t right when the doctors and nurses were talking behind a window and were taking a while to come out. “By this point it was quite late at night and then a whole team of doctors entered the room. We knew then it wasn’t good. “Then they simply told us ‘we found something’. Our hearts sank.” With just those three little words, their entire world came crashing down. A CT scan showed a dark mass on Lola’s brain. The very next morning, she was rushed into an operating room. Devastating diagnosis After a grueling eight hours of pacing the hospital halls, Naomi and Aaron were given the shocking news. Surgeons had found a brain tumor the size of a mandarin from their baby daughter’s brain. “That was one of the hardest things, passing her over to the surgeons to cut her open,” Aaron said. “We were sick with worry for those eight hours. When they came back out they said they had removed what they could. “It was really confronting seeing her after the surgery. She had tubes everywhere. “But we were just so thankful she was alive.” A biopsy determined Lola’s diagnosis: she had an embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR). It is a very rare and aggressive brain cancer that has a very high chance of regrowth with no targeted treatment protocol. She underwent three rounds of high-dose chemotherapy which started just before her first birthday. But sadly, a follow up scan revealed some terrible news. There was residual cancer on her brain, meaning she would need a second operation, more chemotherapy and more radiation. Lola underwent her final treatment of radiation on Christmas Eve and then went home to celebrate what would sadly be her last ever Christmas. ‘We tried everything’ Over the next month, the family spent time together making precious summertime memories that would last a lifetime. On February 2, Lola went in for an MRI. That afternoon, the oncologist called to tell them that, although the official radiologist report had not yet come through, he did not like what he was seeing. Over the next two weeks, the parents were given the worst news imaginable. There was nothing more they could do. “That was the gut-wrenching moment we realised that the worst could happen,” Naomi said. “It took a couple of weeks, but we eventually were told that there were no more treatments available. “They had tried everything and it wasn’t working. There was nothing more we could do. “We knew it was the beginning of the end.” While they did not know exactly how long Lola had left – doctors said it could have been up to six months – in the end, she only lived for another six weeks. Her last day on earth was peaceful. “We didn’t wake up knowing it was the last day,” Naomi said. “But she deteriorated quickly. She wasn’t really responding and her breathing was laboured. “Our nurse agreed it was only a matter of hours. “All of us sat on our bed together and cuddled. We sang some songs and talked to her. “She was surrounded by love.” Lola passed away peacefully at home on March 26, 2022. Making a difference Her family is sharing her story to help keep her memory alive and raise awareness of childhood cancer, specially ETMR. They honor Lola in small ways every day by talking about her and speaking her name. Each Christmas, they have a stocking with Lola’s name on it. Since her passing, Naomi and Aaron have gone on to have another baby girl named Edie, now aged one. “Keeping Lola’s spirit and name alive is a big part of our healing,” Aaron said. “We’ve got her stocking up for Christmas. We’ve taken ornaments out to her grave and decorated it for Christmas. “At our Santa photo, we have a photo of her with us so she is included. “We just try to do the best we can and keep her close.” Recently, Naomi and Aaron attended a talk at Children’s Cancer Institute , where they were inspired to hear about the progress being made in childhood cancer research. “We’re just ordinary people living our lives,” Naomi said. “You hear about bad things happening in the world, you just don’t expect it will happen to you. “It really changes the path of your life. It changes you to the core. “While we couldn’t save Lola, we hope to still make a difference by raising awareness and donations. “We hope one day cancer is something no families will ever have to go through.” Lola’s family are sharing their story in support of Children Cancer Institute’s Christmas appeal. You can donate here.( ) shares are in the red today. Shares in the (ASX: XJO) logistics solutions company closed yesterday trading for $125.60. In morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $124.14 apiece, down 1.1%. For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.1% at this same time. As you can see on the chart above, there have been some very volatile share price moves over the past two months. The big swings were initially driven by against CEO Richard White concerning inappropriate behaviours. Shares again came under pressure following a modest guidance downgrade on 22 November. Despite those bumps in the road, WiseTech shares remain up 83% since this time last year. And that doesn't include the 16.9 cents a share in fully franked eligible investors will have received over this time. But with this strong run behind it, should investors consider cashing in some gains? According to Dylan Evans of Catapult Wealth, taking some now is worth considering (courtesy of The Bull). "WiseTech develops and provides software solutions to the global logistics industry," said Evans, who has a sell recommendation on WiseTech shares. Commenting on the FY 2024 growth metrics that have spurred ASX 200 investor enthusiasm, Evans said: The company lifted total revenue by 28% in fiscal year 2024 when compared to the prior corresponding period. Statutory net profit after tax was up 24%. The shares have risen from $99.37 on October 24 to trade at $133.68 on December 5. High expectations are built into the shares, which are trading on a lofty price/earnings ratio. Any miss in expectations may significantly impact the share price. Since 5 December, WiseTech shares have dipped to $124.14 apiece, though that still puts the stock at a P/E ratio of about 160 times. With that in mind, Evans concluded, "Investors may want to consider cashing in some gains at these levels." A number of prominent analysts and brokers remain bullish on the outlook for WiseTech shares. Following the company's investor day on 3 December, Goldman Sachs reiterated its buy rating on the ASX 200 company. The broker noted: WTC hosted its investor day today and provided a detailed overview of its product roadmap and plans to become the operating system for global logistics, alongside highlighting the breadth and depth of its executive team. Goldman's three key takeaways from the presentation were: Goldman Sachs has a 12-month price target of $138.00 on WiseTech shares. That represents a potential upside of 11% from current levels.Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL Odds: Eagles by 7 1/2 Against the spread: Dallas 6-9; Philadelphia 9-6 Series record: Cowboys lead 74-58. Last meeting: Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns and ran for two more in the Eagles’ 34-6 rout of the Cowboys at Dallas on Nov. 10. Last week: Cowboys defeated the Buccaneers 26-24; Eagles lost 36-33 at Washington. Cowboys offense: overall (16), rush (28), pass (10), scoring (20) Cowboys defense: overall (27), rush (27), pass (21), scoring (30) Eagles offense: overall (6), rush (1), pass (31), scoring (8) Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (9), pass (2), scoring (5) Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-3; Eagles plus-6 RB Saquon Barkley is 162 yards shy of becoming the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season and needs 268 yards to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984. In his past five games, QB Cooper Rush has passed for nine touchdowns and one interception, looking more comfortable of late after taking over for Dak Prescott in November. Rush is 9-2 as a starter against teams that are not the Eagles. Dallas’s rushing defense vs. Barkley. Can anyone stop him? The Cowboys will be the latest to try to corral Barkley, who has 1,838 rushing yards and 2,114 scrimmage yards, both of which lead the NFL. Dallas ranks 28th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing an average of 135.9 yards a game. Philadelphia, behind Barkley’s stellar play, tops the league at 187.9 yards a game on the ground. Cowboys: WR CeeDee Lamb will miss the final two games after getting shut down over the sprained right shoulder he's been dealing with the second half of the season. ... LB Eric Kendricks (calf) warmed up but wasn’t able to play against Tampa Bay last week. Eagles: Hurts is in concussion protocol after leaving the game following a 13-yard scramble with 9:52 left in the first quarter last week. ... DE Josh Sweat (ankle) and Jordan Davis also left the game at Washington early. ... QB Ian Book was signed to the practice squad Thursday. The Cowboys made the playoffs in each of the previous three seasons, but were eliminated prior to their game against Tampa Bay last week when the Commanders came back from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat Philadelphia. ... Dallas is 5-2 on the road. ... The Eagles can clinch the NFC East and one of the conference's top two seeds with a victory. ... On Jan. 11, 1981, the Eagles defeated the Cowboys 20-7 at their former home, Veterans Stadium. Wilbert Montgomery rushed for a 42-yard touchdown to give Philadelphia an early lead that propelled the Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance. LB Micah Parsons needs half a sack to reach double digits in sacks for the fourth straight season to begin his career and would become just the fifth player to accomplish the feat in NFL history. ... K Brandon Aubrey made a 53-yard and two 58-yard field goals against the Buccaneers, upping his league-leading total to 14 made of 50-plus yards. ... Kenny Pickett went 14 of 24 for 143 yards and a TD in relief of Hurts last week. If he can’t go because of the rib injury and Hurts remains unavailable, Philadelphia could turn to third-stringer Tanner McKee, a 2023 sixth-round pick. Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick, is no stranger to starting, going 14-10 as Pittsburgh’s QB earlier in his career. ... Defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson was ejected against Washington for committing two unsportsmanlike penalties. ... The Eagles already set a team record for rushing yards in a season with 2,818, and they are within four rushing touchdowns of tying the club’s best single-season mark of 32, set in 2022. ... Barkley needs just 33 yards from scrimmage to break McCoy’s mark of 2,146 scrimmage yards, set in 2013. ... WR A.J. Brown leads the NFL with 16.3 yards a catch and ranks ninth in the league with 1,043 receiving yards, joining Mike Quick (1983–85) as the only Philadelphia players to have three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Philadelphia’s defense is tied for ninth in the NFL with a plus-6 turnover margin. With Hurts possibly sidelined, Philadelphia giving up an uncharacteristic 36 points last week and the chance to clinch the division, the Eagles defense likely will be extra motivated to have a good performance against a Dallas offense that ranks 21st in the league in points. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Police investigating following fire that prompted school evacuation at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute