game casino slot
Exploring African jollof rice variationsCollege Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama out
College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama outThe new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative. Perfect or 100% fair? Well, nobody ever believed that. The first expanded playoff bracket unveiled Sunday left a presumably deserving Alabama team on the sideline in favor of an SMU squad that finished with a better record after playing a schedule that was not as difficult. It ranked undefeated Oregon first but set up a possible rematch against Ohio State, the team that came closest to beating the Ducks this year. It treated underdog Boise State like a favorite and banged-up Georgia like a world beater at No. 2. It gave Ohio State home-field advantage against Tennessee for reasons it would take a supercomputer to figure out. It gave the sport the multiweek tournament it has longed for, but also ensured there will be plenty to grouse about between now and when the trophy is handed out on Jan. 20 after what will easily be the longest college football season in history. All of it, thankfully, will be sorted out on the field starting with first-round games on campuses Dec. 20 and 21, then over three succeeding rounds that will wind their way through traditional bowl sites. Maybe Oregon coach Dan Lanning, whose undefeated Ducks are the favorite to win it all, put it best when he offered: "Winning a national championship is not supposed to be easy.” Neither, it turns out, is figuring out who should play for it. Alabama comes up short in the bracket’s biggest debate The Big Ten will lead the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. The lasting memory from the inaugural bracket will involve the decision that handed the ACC that second bid. Alabama of the SEC didn't play Saturday. SMU of the ACC did. The Mustangs fell behind by three touchdowns to Clemson before coming back to tie. But they ultimately lost 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired. “We were on pins and needles,” SMU coach Rhett Lashley said. “Until we saw the name ‘SMU’ up there, we were hanging on the edge. We're really, really happy and thankful to the committee for rewarding our guys for their total body of work." The Mustangs only had two losses, compared to three for the Crimson Tide. Even though SMU's schedule wasn't nearly as tough, the committee was impressed by the way the Mustangs came back against Clemson. “We just felt, in this particular case, SMU had the nod above Alabama,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the selection committee. “But it’s no disrespect to Alabama’s strength of schedule. We looked at the entire body of work for both teams.” Crimson Tide AD gracious, but looking for answers Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne was gracious, up to a point. “Disappointed with the outcome and felt we were one of the 12 best teams in the country,” he said on social media. He acknowledged — despite all of Alabama’s losses coming against conference opponents this season — that the Tide’s push to schedule more games against teams from other major conferences in order to improve its strength of schedule did not pay off this time. “That is not good for college football," Byrne said. Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State join Oregon with first-round byes Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second; Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed; and Big 12 titlist Arizona State got the fourth seed and the fourth and final first-round bye. All will play in quarterfinals at bowl games on Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Clemson stole a bid and the 12th seed with its crazy win over SMU, the result that ultimately cost Alabama a spot in the field. The Tigers moved to No. 16 in the rankings, but got in as the fifth-best conference winner. Automatic byes and bids made the bracket strange The conference commissioners' idea to give conference champions preferable treatment in this first iteration of the 12-team playoff could be up for reconsideration after this season. The committee actually ranked Boise State, the Mountain West Champion, at No. 9 and Big 12 champion Arizona State at No. 12, but both get to skip the first round. Another CFP guideline: There’s no reseeding of teams after each round, which means no break for Oregon. The top-seeded Ducks will face the winner of Tennessee-Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 earlier this year in one of the season’s best games. What the matchups look like No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, Dec. 21. Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces ... Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Huh? No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, Dec. 21. The biggest knock against the Mustangs was that they didn't play any big boys with that 60th-ranked strength of schedule. Well, now they get to. The winner faces ... Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, SMU vs. Boise was the quarterfinal we all expected. No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, Dec. 20. Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti thought his team deserved a home game. Well, not quite but close. The winner faces ... Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs got the No. 2 seed despite a throwing-arm injury to QB Carson Beck. But what else was the committee supposed to do? No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State , Dec. 21. The Buckeyes (losses to Oregon, Michigan) got home field over the Volunteers (losses to Arkansas, Georgia) in a matchup of programs with two of the biggest stadiums in football. The winner faces ... Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Feels like that matchup should come in the semifinals or later. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballNone
As the Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon moves closer to its final chapters, the announcement of its renewal for Seasons 3 and 4 has stirred up excitement among fans. Season 4, which will bring the story to its conclusion, is already confirmed, but questions about its release timeline and plot remain. Here’s everything we know so far about the much-anticipated final season of House of the Dragon. When Will ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 4 Be Released? Following the renewal announcement in August 2023, which confirmed Seasons 3 and 4, fans are eager to know when the final season will hit the screen. The production timeline for Season 3 is expected to begin in early 2025. Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development Intermediate C++ Skills: Master Pointers, Structures and File Stream By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Future of Marketing & Branding Masterclass By - Dr. David Aaker, Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Author | Speaker | Thought Leader | Branding Consultant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Office Productivity Advanced Excel Course - Financial Calculations & Excel Made Easy By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By - Study At Home, Quality Education Anytime, Anywhere View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Given the usual gap between seasons, it’s anticipated that Season 3 will premiere in 2026. Consequently, the final season, Season 4, may not arrive until 2028, unless filming for both seasons is done consecutively to expedite the proces, as per a report by TV Insider. With filming for Season 2 taking nearly six months, and Season 3 still in pre-production, a two-year gap between seasons seems plausible unless production moves swiftly. Also Read : Big and final insult to Benjamin Netanyahu? Biden picks up anti-Israel book during Black Friday shopping, author says 'it's too late' What Will Happen in Season 4 of ‘House of the Dragon’? While much of the plot for Season 4 remains under wraps, fans can expect dramatic developments based on the trajectory set by Fire & Blood, the book on which the series is based. Season 3 will begin with the explosive Battle of the Gullet, a major event in the war between Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) forces and Aemond’s (Ewan Mitchell) army. This battle, fought both in the air and at sea, will set the stage for the brutal escalation of the war, which will carry over into Season 4. Season 4 will likely continue this conflict, focusing on the devastating consequences of the Targaryen civil war, also known as the Dance of the Dragons. With Rhaenyra and Daemon (Matt Smith) reconciling in Season 2, their joint struggle to retain the throne will lead to even more treacherous and violent confrontations, in keeping with the brutal nature of House of the Dragon. As the war intensifies, alliances will shift, and casualties will mount, culminating in a bloody conclusion. The Production Timeline for Seasons 3 and 4 The production process for House of the Dragon is set to continue at a similar pace as previous seasons. While Season 1 had 10 episodes and Season 2 was trimmed to 8, it is expected that both Seasons 3 and 4 will follow the same episode count, as mentioned in a report by TV Insider. Co-creator Ryan Condal has emphasized that the dramatic pacing and quality of the storytelling will remain consistent throughout these final seasons, ensuring that the stakes continue to rise. Filming for Season 2 concluded in September 2023, with the season slated for release in June 2024. If the same production cadence continues, fans might see Season 3 premiere in 2026, followed by the final season in 2028, as per a report by TV Insider. However, this timeline could shift if the production team decides to film both seasons back-to-back. Also Read : This bearded man with a $10 million bounty on his head could be the next trouble maker in the Middle east; who is he? Here's all about him What to Expect from the Final Season While much of the plot for Season 4 remains speculative, House of the Dragon will undoubtedly deliver the high-stakes drama and political intrigue that have defined the series. The tension between Rhaenyra and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) will continue to shape the narrative, with both sides seeking ultimate power. As the civil war rages on, the final season will likely witness the collapse of the Targaryen dynasty and the catastrophic consequences of their internal strife. The Legacy of ‘House of the Dragon’ House of the Dragon has quickly become a fan-favorite series, drawing viewers back to the brutal world of Westeros. With the promise of a compelling conclusion, Season 4 is set to deliver the epic final act of this Targaryen saga. Fans can expect more dragons, more bloodshed, and a fitting conclusion to the Targaryen civil war that will leave a lasting legacy in the Game of Thrones universe. FAQs How long until season 3 of House of the Dragon? With Season 2 of House of the Dragon now concluded, fans are eagerly awaiting Season 3, which is expected to premiere in 2026. The new season will see the return of beloved cast members, including Emma D'Arcy and Matt Smith. How do Game of Thrones and House of Dragons connect? There are roughly eight generations of Targaryens separating the main characters in House of the Dragon from their descendants in Game of Thrones. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, in this interview with select journalists, made his views known about the economy, the 2025 national budget proposal presently with the National Assembly and other sundry issues What do you make of the finance minister statement about the country’s borrowings? I always wish there will be a good day for Nigeria but it is not a good day when the finance minister believes the day he goes borrowing in London is a good day. A good day for Nigeria is when Nigeria goes overseas to give investments in the capital market from the excess production that we have. No minister that we had in the past will say the day we went borrowing will be a good day. America borrows too, what’s your view on that? America borrows from within. You borrow from your own currency. I am not quarrelling with them borrowing the currency they issued. When you are borrowing Euro bond, borrowing currency of other people in other capitals of the world, it’s a sign of crisis. Yes, you can do it but you don’t say it’s a good day for you. If you are anaemic and your neighbour comes to donate blood to you, you should be grateful but you don’t say that’s the best day of your life because you are not supposed to be anaemic in the first place. They need to run the economy in such a way that we can generate capital for ourselves. Fundamentally, I think they are uncoordinated even though he is supposed to be the coordinator of the economy. He is not coordinated. The thinking isn’t coordinated but if they coordinate well and work with us as a population, we should be able generate wealth for the country . You once said the Tinubu government is suffering from economic illiteracy. What do you make of the parameters of the 2025 budget given the $75 per barrel oil benchmark? The parameters they have are a bit basic and elementary. Even in those basic elementary parameters, they are not sincere about them. They don’t want to meet them because they are not realistic. The exchange rate they fixed is unrealistic. Given the other measures they have taken, I think it’s lack of coordination that concerns me. I wish for the Tinubu 2025 budget to work. I want them to succeed. I want investors to come to Nigeria. I plead with anyone to have confidence in the economy of Nigeria. That is my desire even though I am in the opposition. However, they are self contradictory as these contradictions would at the end of the day prove themselves. For example, you are working towards, in their mind, if they are able to succeed, they are working towards 15% inflation, any basic microeconomist knows that you must never have double digit inflation. It is one thing to have a high BP, amd the doctor says to you he will only give you medium BP, the doctor wants to kill you because his job is to return your BP to normal. The objective they set, even if they succeed is a failure on its own. What about the saying that a thousand miles start with a step? This idea of a thousand miles is not Usain Bolt winning the gold medal all the time. That’s not the philosophy of people who wants to win. I saw the minister and I heard him and I understood the philosophy. I am not against him in person. I like him as a finance person who can manage your asset like merchant banker. There are two things you need to do with the type of our size of our development. First, the fiscal and budgetary housekeeping. That’s the first. The government budgets for itself in the first part of the budget. Then, the second part of the budget signals to the rest of the economy and creates a stimulus for areas they want to emphasize and then use other incentives to encourage others to do investments. They are sending wrong signals. First, in their own housekeeping, they are wrong in the way they are going about it. You cannot say to anybody especially who understands basic microeconomics that your inflation rates cannot be of your unemployment rate. You cannot do it. You have already got it upside down. If you have a 15% inflation rate, definitely, your unemployment cannot go below 15% because of the way you run the economy. If you listen to the gentleman again, he painstakingly celebrated the idea that they have 25 million households that they are trying to give little money to. Why don’t you have 25 million households from whom you are going to give employment? So you have social register to people you want to give money but you don’t have register of unemployment that you can give jobs. What sense does it make? The idea that you are going to imagine manufacturing by thinking that if you give N50,000 to any enterprise, whether small or medium micro invisible, N50,000? If the person comes to your office to collect the money, he will spend about that on transportation. If you say you want to grow the economy by bringing investors, don’t you understand that borrowing money in the bank is just one of the factors of production. Loan capital, for example, won’t you realize that there are other papers expenditure like labour cost, infrastructure cost and other costs. If you are driving those costs above sustainability, there is no way you can generate employment or capital in the economy. The Ghanaian electoral chairman says he learnt some lessons from Nigeria in the just concluded general election. What do you make of his statement? Yes, they took a lot of lesson not to be like Nigeria. That is what it can mean logically because the INEC chairman is a professor because he must be speaking in some sound way because what Ghana has done is exactly the opposite of what we did. They tried to make their own credible. We tried to make ours not credible even though we invested more in terms of technology, quality of manpower. You don’t go to other countries and find professor emeritus, dean of faculties, vice-chancellors coming to be returning officers. You talked about credibility. It’s one thing to talk about problems, it’s another to talk of solution. What can Nigeria do to have credible elections in terms of voter participation? Everybody involved knows what to do. The question is if they have the attitude to do it. Three things you must have for a good elections. You must go to an election with attitude of winning or losing honestly. You shouldn’t be desperate. Secondly, those who participate in it must know that it is constitutional duty that goes beyond putting government in place. It is a duty they owe the society as a whole, so they do it with integrity. Thirdly, they should not expect personal gain from it. Those who come to vote should not expect to sell their votes. Those who administer election should not collect bribe to administer election. Journalists who carry the news should be truthful to the country and the judiciary when asked to come and look at the some of the errors. They should try their best Now about what you said about the judiciary, will it ever get to that stage where we would not need the judiciary to decide out elections? Left to me, we can get there today. What we need and I have advocated it all the time, is that you take mainstream judiciary away from election for the sake of the country and the judiciary itself. Then, you must have a constitutional court that you set up, not from the regularly judiciary, may be retired justices, people who are no longer in a promotion or anything like that. You bring them together. When you bring them together, they do three things — the election is not finalised until that constitutional court has looked into it. Two, the person who files a complaint against the election doesn’t have to prove anything. All he has to say is that I don’t agree with the election. It is the burden of proof that the election was in order, should be on INEC because INEC knew where the bodies were buried. You cannot tell somebody who didn’t conduct the election,’ I give you 21 days tell me everything that is wrong with the election. Thirdly, people should not assume that because you lost an election, it is automatically rigged. That should not be the attitude. There should be fewer petitions based on merit. When you say there is a low approval rating of INEC from Nigerians, what do you mean by politicians putting more challenges on INEC by trying to circumvent the rules? No doubt, the problems of Nigeria are traceable to the political class. When I addressed the forum of House of Representative recently that Nigeria needs to rehabilitate the political class because when you have a decent political class, people full of integrity, many of the problems associated with politics or politicians will be removed. INEC itself has a bit of challenge whether for the sustainability of their appointment or people have discovered that they can get rich by taking advantage of the desperation of politicians. Most of the problems of election didn’t arise from INEC. They arise from the political parties. More political parties commit crimes in their primaries than they accuse INEC of. So, whatever error INEC commits, they even commit more. People bribes delegate for elections. Party chairmen and secretaries switch names like the game of domino. So, political class is guilty. I agree with that. But INEC is supposed to be a professional class. In that case, they should not collaborate with the politicians. The Ghanaian electoral boss says in Ghana, rarely do you see people cross carpet. But here in Nigeria, you can say PDP is APC and you won’t be wrong. Take it further, there appears to be no opposition in Nigeria, it’s like dead, including your party, is that correct? The issue is this, let’s start with INEC. The problem in Nigeria is that everybody is an expert in other people’s business. It is not the duty of the INEC chairman to teach politicians how to politik. His job is to administer election. Leave them to cross-carpet, that is outside your power. What you should do is to conduct credible elections and monitor your staff to see that you don’t switch elections, you don’t switch off the servers, you don’t do nonsense that is associated with electioneering. Once you have clean your own Augean table, you can have the moral standing to now pontificate for others. With respect to the opposition you talked about, opposition in our system of government is opposition of ideas, not opposition on the streets. The problem people have with opposition is that Labour Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) are all of the same philosophy. What about your party, the SDP? We have a different philosophy. How is yours different from them? We are left of the centre and our policies are different. If you listen to us during the campaign, you juxtapose our policies with that of former Governor Peter Obi, President Bola Tinubu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. You will think they were written from the same script. They are in different parties but they believe in the same thing, economic theory. If Peter Obi was in power, he will find another person, not Wale Edun, one who sounds like him. On cross carpeting, it is not a major problem. It is bad. But the important thing is that you must have definition of ideas. If somebody crosses from PDP to APC, he hasn’t really crossed. It’s like one moving from one room to another within the same bungalow. It is when somebody crosses from an ideological divide. So, they are parties of the same ilk. What Nigerians need now is to invest the attention, belief and time in alternative thinking. And to say there is no opposition, the job I am doing now is constructive opposition. What do you make of rotational presidency? Rotation is at two levels. You must rotate according to geopolitical zone for peace among the elite. But you must rotate from the elite to the people for growth and justice to happen in Nigeria. If you are rotating from north to south and all of that and rotating about the same wasteful elite who have no idea, you will be rotating poverty, insecurity and others. But if you rotate from them, in terms of inter generational from the old people to the young ones and from ideological rotation from those who follow IMF-World Bank to those who have indigenous ideas and authentic pro-Nigeria ideas, you would have some progress for the country.Scotland updates guidance on biometrics in schools
College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama outWASHINGTON: China’s retaliatory export controls could take a toll on the growing US clean energy sector and its defense industry, analysts say, as a trade tussle escalates between the world’s two biggest economies. Beijing announced this week it would ban exports of gallium, germanium and antimony to the United States, targeting materials used for everything from semiconductors to solar cells. China also tightened restrictions on graphite, which is key to the electric vehicle industry. The moves, which Beijing said were to safeguard national security, swiftly followed Washington’s own curbs to hobble China’s ability to make advanced computer chips. While trade tensions have been simmering, US President-elect Donald Trump’s arrival at the White House in January is likely to ratchet up the temperature on trade - with the Republican already vowing sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports. Analysts say it would take time to assess the impact of the new Chinese curbs on US industries, though any immediate hit should be limited. Some see Beijing’s moves as symbolic for now, even as ramifications depend on how China enforces the new rules. “This certainly could drive up costs,” said Arun Seraphin of the National Defense Industrial Association. “It could create situations where you can’t produce what you need.” “It’s certainly going to drive a lot of uncertainty for companies who want to plan out their supply chain,” he told AFP. China is a major producer of the three metals in question. In August, it unveiled export controls on some antimony products and since then, shipments have plunged. Restrictions announced in 2023 on gallium and germanium also hit exports to the United States. Defense tech “Gallium, germanium, and antimony are vital inputs for defense technologies,” said Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in a recent analysis. Gallium and germanium are increasingly preferred over traditional silicon for high-performance chips used in defense applications, CSIS added. It noted these materials have properties that boost device performance, speed, and energy efficiency. Antimony is used in fireproofing and has defense-related uses, too. While China is investing in munitions and buying high-end weapons systems more rapidly than the United States, the US industrial base lacks capacity to meet defense tech production needs, the report warned. “Bans on vital mineral inputs will only further allow China to outpace the United States in building these capabilities,” it said. The US Geological Survey estimates that if China’s net exports of gallium and germanium were completely restricted simultaneously, US GDP could decrease by $3.4 billion. Clean energy Besides defense, gallium-based semiconductors are used in radio frequency electronics, LEDs for lighting and high-efficiency solar cells, the US Geological Survey noted. Although gasoline vehicles do not call for graphite, electric vehicles (EVs) require an average of 136 pounds (61.7 kilograms) of the material, CSIS said. This could prove dicey for the United States, which has spurred billions in private sector investments for its domestic EV supply chain through subsidies via the Inflation Reduction Act. The act is a package of energy transition policy and social reforms under President Joe Biden. Seraphin told AFP that although Washington also pushed to attract investment and build up US semiconductor manufacturing capacity through the CHIPS and Science Act, these efforts do not yet target components such as germanium. Challenges Beijing’s retaliation this week steps up the restrictions on gallium and germanium announced in 2023 - as China hit back at previous US semiconductor export controls. “The industry was likely somewhat surprised by the swiftness of the imposition of a broader ban, but has been conditioned over the past year to expect some restrictions,” Paul Triolo of Albright Stonebridge Group told AFP. He noted that China’s commerce ministry had already implemented a licensing regime around these key minerals, including “rolling three-month licenses to try and prevent stockpiling.” While there has been some effort to stockpile minerals like graphite and gallium, this does not appear to be coordinated between US authorities and allies to reduce reliance on China over the long haul. It will be tricky to create capacity for processing and producing products based on these minerals outside China, Triolo believes, due to costs and regulatory challenges. “Companies are reluctant to enter these markets without long-term guarantees of subsidies, given the dominance of Chinese firms,” he said. — AFP
NoneA LUCKY lottery player has unknowingly been a millionaire for months but they must act soon to claim the money. The unknown ticket holder scooped a $1 million prize back in the summer. However, the money will soon be lost if the winner fails to stake their claim to it in a matter of days. The Cash 5 lottery ticket matched all five numbers in the draw on June 11 and was bought in Virginia . The winning slip has been traced back to a Wawa in Mechanicsville where it was bought on the day of the draw. But, with a 180-day deadline on claiming lottery wins, the player does not have long to find their ticket and head to the lottery office. read more on lottery wins The $1 million prize will expire after 5 pm on December 9. That gives the winner just over 24 hours to search their pockets and purses for the ticket. The winning numbers were: 1, 12, 19, 22, and 31. Lottery officials have urged the owner of the ticket to contact them immediately. Most read in Money If the deadline passes and the prize money goes unclaimed it will go to the state's Literary Fund. This money helps support local schools with renovations, upgrades, and new technology. The Virginia winner is not the only lottery player who needs to get their act in gear and claim their prize before it vanishes for good. A Powerball player from Ohio scooped a staggering windfall of $139 million. The draw was held months ago on July 3 when their ticket matched all five numbers and the Powerball. The winning ticket was bought at a Walmart store in Huber Heights, near Dayton. Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history. Edwin Castro - $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California. Theodorus Struyck - $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California. Unknown winner - $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida. Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida - $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016. Unknown winner - $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina. Unknown winner - he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden - $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine. Unknown winner - $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois. Cheng and Duanpen Saephan , and Laiza Liem Chao - $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon. Yanira Alvarez - $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California. Wolverine FLL Lottery Club - $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan. Unknown winner - $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan. It marked the fifth time a Powerball jackpot was won this year. But, if the winner doesn't come forward to claim their prize in a few weeks, it will be lost. Read More on The US Sun Like the winner in Virginia, the Powerball player has 180 days from the draw date to collect their winnings. Meanwhile, other unsuspecting millionaires also need to claim their cash including a Mega Millions player who won $1 million.
MTN Nigeria Communications PLC (MTN Nigeria), the nation’s largest mobile network operator, saw its market capitalisation soar by N388.42 billion after news surfaced that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is considering an upward review of telecom tariffs 10 years after telcos began lobbying. MTN Nigeria, with 80.38 million subscribers, closed trading with a market cap of N3.69 trillion on Friday. By Monday, this rose to N3.74 trillion, reaching N4.07 trillion on Tuesday. Its share price followed suit, climbing from N175.50 to N178 and N194. Trading volume fluctuated, rising from 2.55 million to 3.32 million before falling to 1.58 million. “After that update about a potential price increase, investors have swung to action immediately,” tweeted Rufybaba, an investment manager. However, Airtel Africa Plc, with 54.45 million subscribers, experienced no movement in its stock price over the same period, staying flat at N2,156.90 per share with a market cap of N8.11 trillion. It is important to note that the telco is in the middle of a share buyback program. Sector Challenges The telecom sector has struggled with foreign exchange fluctuations and a harsh operating environment. Both telcos have reported losses due to FX volatility. In 2023, MTNN and Airtel recorded a combined N1.29 trillion in FX losses. For the nine months ending October 2024, MTN Nigeria reported a N514.93 billion loss despite a 33.7 percent growth in service revenue to N2.37 trillion. It declared negative earnings per share (EPS) of N24.51 kobo in the period. Airtel’s revenue for the same period fell 46.9 percent to $755 million. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, described the sector as being in crisis. “Investments will not continue to come. No one will put in a dollar and continue to get 66 cents... We are in a big crisis,” he said. Read also: MTNN raises N72.18bn from CP issuance as offer sees 144% subscription MTN and Airtel have cut back on network infrastructure investments due to mounting operational costs and FX exposure. Between January and September 2024, MTN’s core capital expenditure (capex) dropped 27.79 percent to N217.64 billion, while Airtel’s capex fell by 36.59 percent to $149 million. This decline has left Nigerians grappling with unreliable networks. To adjust, telcos have advocated for increased tariff prices, especially as their average revenue per user (ARPU) continues to fall. The ARPU of telecom companies declined by 40.87 percent to $1.85 in the quarter ending September 2024, compared to $3.12 in the same period in 2023. MTN’s ARPU dropped from $3.24 to $2.09, while Airtel’s fell from $3 to $1.60. “There should be no delusion; if the tariff doesn’t go up, we will shut down,” Toriola of MTNN emphasised. Following months of lobbying, Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has finally acknowledged the need for price adjustments, stating, “We think there may be a need for that” in a December 20 interview on Arise TV. A report by TechCabal suggests that the NCC is likely to approve new tariffs for calls, SMS, and internet bundles, with changes expected to take effect in January 2025. While the exact figures remain unclear, a 2022 proposal by telcos requested a 40 percent hike. “This is a critical moment for the industry,” Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), emphasized the importance of a review. “It will be a very good development, and by this, the Government has been able to rescue the sector from imminent collapse. It is the best for the progress of the industry and our digital economy,” Despite this, the NCC is reportedly cautious about the financial burden on Nigerians, who are already dealing with record-high inflation of 34.6 percent as of November. Adebayo noted that while operators are aware of the financial stress Nigerians are facing, a price review is imperative for improved network quality. “We fully understand and appreciate the financial stress that Nigerians are experiencing today. Prices will need to rise, but action needs to be measured through sustainable conversations and partnerships with the government. It is time to address this head-on,” he added.
US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who led US crackdown on cryptocurrencies, to step down Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler will step down from his post on January 20. Since taking the lead at the SEC, the commission has been aggressive in its oversight of cryptocurrencies and other regulatory issues. President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he would remove Gensler, who has led the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry and repeatedly called for more oversight. But Gensler on Thursday announced that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated. Bitcoin has jumped 40% since Trump’s victory. Elon Musk's budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump's second term WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has put Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in charge of finding ways to cut government spending and regulations. It's possible that their efforts will lead to a constitutional clash. This week, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would encourage the Republican president-elect to refuse to spend money allocated by Congress, which would conflict with a 1974 law that's intended to prevent presidents from blocking funds. If Trump takes such a step, it would quickly become one of the most closely watched legal battles of his second administration. Musk and Ramaswamy also aim to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Stock market today: Wall Street climbs as bitcoin bursts above $99,000 NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are climbing after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 was pulling 0.7% higher Thursday after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 532 points, or 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.2%. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market. The biggest remaining unsanctioned Russian bank hit with U.S. sanctions, nearly three years into war WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia’s third largest bank, Gazprombank and its six foreign subsidiaries were hit with U.S. sanctions on Thursday. The action is intended to curtail Russia’s ability to evade the thousands of sanctions imposed on the nation since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the sanctions targeting Russia’s largest remaining non-sanctioned bank would further diminish Russia’s military effort and “will make it harder for the Kremlin to evade U.S. sanctions and fund and equip its military.” In addition, more than 50 internationally connected Russian banks 40 Russian securities registrars, and 15 Russian finance officials were hit with sanctions. Trump's incoming chief of staff is a former lobbyist. She'll face a raft of special interests WASHINGTON (AP) — As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, his election victory is likely to embolden those who think they can get his ear. There's the prospect that his second administration could face many of the same perils as his first, when there were influence-peddling scandals. That will test the ability of Susie Wiles, his incoming chief of staff, to manage a growing number of high-powered figures such as Trump’s children, son-in-law Jared Kushner and billionaires like Elon Musk. Wiles herself is a former lobbyist, but Trump's transition team rejected any suggestion that her past work would make her susceptible to pressure. House passes bill that would allow Treasury to target nonprofits it deems to support terrorism WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House passed legislation that would give the Treasury Department unilateral authority to strip the tax-exempt status of nonprofits it claims support terrorism. It is a proposal that has alarmed civil liberties groups about how a second Trump presidency could use it to punish political opponents. The bill passed 219-184, with the majority of the support coming from Republicans who accused Democrats of reversing course in their support for the “common sense” proposal only after Donald Trump was elected to a second term earlier this month. It now goes to the Democratic-controlled Senate where its fate is uncertain. Boar's Head listeria outbreak is over with 10 dead and dozens sickened by tainted deli meat U.S. health officials say a deadly outbreak of listeria food poisoning tied to a massive recall of popular Boar's Head deli meats is over. Ten people died and 61 were sickened in 19 states in the outbreak. Illnesses were reported between late May and mid-September. The outbreak is considered over 60 days after the last reported illness. Boar's Head officials recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meat distributed nationwide, shuttered a Virginia plant that made the products and permanently stopped making liverwurst. The company continues to face lawsuits and federal scrutiny.BOX SCORE SAN FRANCISCO – No lead is safe in the NBA, as the Warriors again learned Monday night at Chase Center against the rebuilding, short-handed Brooklyn Nets. Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 The Warriors on Saturday in San Antonio led by 17 points in the third quarter and wound up losing by 10 . After one day’s worth of rest, the Warriors enjoyed an 18-point lead over the Nets in the third quarter. That lead then was down to only five going into the fourth quarter. Just a little more than three minutes into the fourth, the lead was gone. The Warriors never got it back, losing 128-120. Brooklyn outscored Golden State 41-28 in the fourth quarter. Steph Curry scored a team-high 28 points, going 8 of 16 on 3-pointers. Andrew Wiggins added 18. Moses Moody had 15, but all in the first half. Lindy Waters gave the Warriors 13 points, 10 of which were in the first half. Inexcusably, the Warriors again were crushed at the free-throw line. The Nets made 26 of their 30 free throws. The Warriors however, shot 11 of 17 on free throws, making 15 fewer free throws in an eight-point loss. Here are three takeaways from Golden State's second consecutive frustrating loss. 3-Point Party As it often does in the NBA, the deciding factor between these two teams clearly was going to be the 3-point line. The Warriors and Nets entering Monday both ranked in the top seven in 3-point attempts per game. While Brooklyn was seventh, averaging 40.6 attempts per game, Golden State was slightly above at 41.6 tries – fourth in the NBA. Right away, it was clear it was going to be a 3-point shootout at Chase Center. The first quarter saw the Warriors and Nets combine to take 48 shots, and 31 were beyond the arc. Though the Warriors were more accurate to start the game, the Nets held a six-point advantage from deep through the first 12 minutes and led by four. The advantage at halftime then belonged to the Warriors. They hit two more 3s than the Nets in the first half and led by nine points. Six Warriors had already cashed in from deep. Both teams then were tied at 15 3s apiece going into the fourth quarter as the Nets outscored the Warriors 29-25 in the third quarter. The final tally was 20 3s for the Nets, and 19 for the Warriors – with nearly half coming from Curry. Nets coach Jordi Fernandez gave time to nine players, and each made at least one three. Paint Night The Nets, when healthy, are a much longer and taller team than the Warriors. But down multiple big men, coach Jordi Fernandez turned to 6-foot-9 small forward Ziaire Williams to be his small-ball center and the Warriors took advantage. And more than their post players like Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis contributed to the action. Whenever Andrew Wiggins is playing downhill, that’s a positive for the Warriors. Within the first two minutes, he had a diving layup and didn’t shy away from contact. Moses Moody had several reasons to flex on the Nets, too. Gary Payton II, at 6-foot-2, showcased his uniqueness in many ways. With around four minutes remaining in the first half, Payton sprinted down the court after a Nets missed layup and sealed off Cam Thomas (6-foot-4), getting in position for a fastbreak layup after Brandin Podziemski found him for an easy bucket. Later in the first half, Payton threw down a dunk off a Curry missed three. The Warriors in the first quarter had eight more points in the paint than the Nets, 12 to 4. By halftime, those numbers rose to 30 points in the paint for the Warriors, 16 more than the Nets’ 14. In their Saturday night loss against the Spurs, the Warriors feasted in the paint early but settled far too often as their lead unraveled. The Warriors scored more than twice the Nets’ points in the paint, 52 to 34, but other aspects of the game were too much to overcome. Dynamic Duo For more than a decade, the combination of Curry and Draymond Green have completely changed the way basketball can be viewed, offensively and defensively. One sequence in the third quarter showed exactly how. Roaming like an All-Pro free safety, Green scoured the Nets’ offense before surprising their sensational scorer Cam Thomas. As Thomas sprinted off a dribble-handoff with the shot clock running down, he thought he’d have an opening for a three. Green thought otherwise. The legendary defender jumped the switch, closed out on Thomas and forced an errant deep off the back of the rim. The ball then bounced to Curry, who took it down the court and let it fly from the left wing, splashing a triple on Thomas and Jalen Wilson. Fouled on the shot by Wilson, Curry completed the four-point play after celebrating on the floor. STEPH 4-POINT PLAY 🤑 pic.twitter.com/KgbykTNbKh Those 30 seconds perfectly showcase the kind of impact only Curry and Green can have on the game. They’ll also be forgotten after such an ugly loss. Download and follow the Dubs Talk PodcastLAS VEGAS -- LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.’’ Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." ___ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Imagine sitting in a café with a notepad and talking to a corporate senior who has been there, seen it, and done it. Over a cup of cappuccino, the senior narrates his wisdom about crafting a career that “doesn’t just pay but also gives you joy.” That’s how you could feel reading Pavan Soni’s Design Your Career: Lead Self, Lead Others, Lead Change — inspiring and actionable. Soni lays down six rules, and we explain them with examples. Rule 1: Life is long; pace it well: Imagine you’re at the starting line of a marathon race, and the crowd surges forward at the whistle. Do you sprint? Definitely not if you want to cross the finishing line. Similarly, find the deep motivations that drive you in a career — and pace yourself. Remember, he isn’t giving up when someone steps away from a high-stakes corporate job to mentor start-ups. It’s just pacing for the long game. For example, Dhoni gave up Test cricket in 2013 to prolong his career by a decade. Rule 2 : Deserve before you desire: You have to earn your seat at the power table. It doesn’t get handed out like in a dinner. Take a junior analyst who wants to lead strategy meetings, but his PowerPoint slides are full of errors, and he simply reads out from there. Obviously, he needs to master the craft. Similarly, if you want to sit in the corner room, first become indispensable. The book urges us to build credibility before seeking rewards. Rule 3 : Own your career, or somebody else will: Remember the gym coach constantly reminding you to attend practice? Or the mother who repeatedly follows up on her kid’s homework. In a corporate career, no one will set the pace for you. Instead, it is a long-term portfolio that you have to assiduously build. You have a combination of good stocks in a portfolio of stocks, and you don’t necessarily follow the trend. Similarly, treat your career as an entrepreneurial venture and stay away from the passive “go-with-the-flow” decisions. Rule 4: Focus on high-leverage activities: This one hits the bull’s eye if you’ve spent long nights in busy work that felt productive but wasn’t. Like the long hours you spent reading parts of a subject for the exam, but no question came from there! Soni talks about the ‘Zone of Freedom,’ a space where your choices make the most impact. He tells you to focus and shows you how to do it. For instance, delegate tasks that are outside your core zone. It’s like deciding not to wash your car but spending that hour learning a new skill. Rule 5: Think strategically, act decisively: Soni introduces “future back” thinking, where you imagine the future you want and reverse-engineer the steps to get there. It’s like a young designer sketching out her dream studio and then identifying the skills, networks, and portfolio pieces she’ll need. Stephen Covey wrote this three decades ago: Begin with the end in mind . The idea may not be novel, but many don’t follow it, so it needs repeating. Rule 6: Leadership is a choice, not everyone can make: Leadership is about taking responsibility. Leaders shield, support, and inspire. Imagine a manager who takes the blame for a missed deadline so her team can focus on solutions. Only some are destined to be CEOs. And not every need to. One of India’s best batters, Sachin Tendulkar, gave up captaincy. If your heart is there, go for it. If you think you are not cut for it, be the best in whatever you are now doing. Design Your Career doesn’t give you a checklist; it hands you a compass. It’s for those willing to take charge of their lives, make tough choices, and do the work. The reviewer is Director, ICFAI Group CommentsTECVAYLI® (teclistamab-cqyv) demonstrates potential as frontline combination therapy for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma
Singapore, November 30: Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju played out an entertaining draw, in a game that lasted for 40 moves, to tie the score at 2.5 each after Game 5 of the ongoing World Chess Championship on Saturday. After five games, the score is tied at 2.5-2.5. Against all odds, World Champion Ding Liren missed a great chance to pile up the pressure in the match this afternoon, misplaying a significant advantage in the endgame. Defending the black pieces, the Chinese champion efficiently neutralized his opponent’s exchange variation in the French defence and seemed to be well on his way to scoring his second win. World Chess Championship 2024 Schedule Time in IST, Live Streaming Online, Prize Money and All You Need To Know About D Gukesh vs Ding Liren Final . However, just when the time was ripe, uncertainty kicked in and the position played tricks on his mind, allowing the challenger to claim a draw and go into the sixth game tied at 2.5. “Towards the end of the game, I was very worried about my position after the manoeuvre 27...Be6 followed by 28...Rc8. I was quite relieved when my opponent played 27...Bc6, as I thought it would be a draw” a very reassured Gukesh explained in the postgame press conference. Vidit Gujrathi Announces He Is ‘Getting Married Soon’ To Partner Nidhi Kataria; Chess Olympiad 2024 Winner Shares Adorable Post, Jokes ‘Not Accepting Rishtas Anymore’ . The champion understood that he had missed a big opportunity: “I didn’t see the idea with 28...Rc8, I was thinking of moving the king to the kingside, like some kind of Berlin pawn structure. I didn’t realize that it was a big advantage for me.” The sixth game of the match will take place on Sunday, December 1. The two competitors are facing off in a fourteen-game classical chess match. The player who scores 7.5 points or more will win the match and will earn the better part of the 2.5 million Dollar total prize fund. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 30, 2024 11:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 12/24/2024TORONTO, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fredonia Mining Inc. (“ Fredonia ” or the “ Company ”) (TSXV:FRED) announces that it has filed a technical report for its wholly-owned El Dorado Monserrat (“EDM”) Gold & Silver Project, Santa Cruz province, Argentina (the " Technical Report ") pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" (" NI 43-101 "). The Technical Report supports the disclosure made by the Company in its November 11, 2024 news release announcing the Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate at El Dorado Monserrat Project, Argentina. The Technical Report is titled “Maiden Mineral Resources Estimate on the El Dorado Monserrat Property, Gold and Silver Project Santa Cruz Province, Argentina” with an effective date of November 8, 2024, and was prepared by Mr. Mario Alfaro Cortés, Qualified Person (QP) as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, Chilean Mining Commission; and Mr. Ganem Fernando, Qualified Person (QP) as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists. Estanislao Auriemma, CEO stated: “With the filing of the technical report and maiden mineral resource estimate for the North and South deposit, we are planning a new phase of diamond drilling to expand the high-grade gold and silver resources and then move the Project through a Pre- Feasibility study. As the maiden mineral resource estimate covers only a fraction of the Project, we believe we have established the baseline for significant shareholder value, and, with our now deeper understanding of the Project's geology, we plan to continue to significantly grow the size and quality of the mineral resource as we address the broader Project area that demonstrates mineralization, similar to the neighboring Cerro VanGuardia mine. The upcoming drill campaign is focused on demonstrating that higher grade mineralization exists at depth consistent with the results of our deeper drill holes we completed at Herradura Hill showing increasing grade.” Highlights significant potential for the Project; at a 0.40 g/t cut-off gold grade, the maiden mineral resource estimate totals: • In Pit Measured & Indicated Mineral Resource: 81.348 million tonnes grading 0.61 g/t gold and 18.76 g/t silver (0.86 g/t gold equivalent*6), containing an estimated 1.593 million ounces of gold and 49.067 million ounces of silver (2.248 million ounces of gold equivalent*6); plus limited Inferred Mineral Resource. • The estimate produces in- pit resources for the Northern Monserrat Sector and Southern Mineralized Corridor deposits, spaced just 5.0 km apart. • Mineralization remains open in all directions and below the base of drilling at both the North and South sectors, showing clear scope for further drilling to increase the size of this initial mineral resource estimate. • The resource estimate is based on 40,472.68 meters of drilling and 5,305.43 meters of trenches, intersecting the resource solids. These drillings are divided into 164 holes for a total of 27,504.22 meters for Northern Monserrat Sector and 55 holes for a total of 12,968.46 meters for Southern Mineralized Corridor (including only Herradura Hill target). Gold and silver grades for both sector, have been interpolated independently. MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE STATEMENT (1-6) (1) Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. It is noted that no specific issues have been identified as yet. (2) The quantity and grade of reported Inferred mineral resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred mineral resources as an Indicated or Measured mineral resources and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured mineral resource category. (3) Mineral Resources were estimated utilizing S-Gems and Rec-Min software and conventional block modeling within 3D wireframes defined on a 0.40% gold cut-off, capped composites and inverse distance grade interpolation. (4) The mineral resources in this report were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council. (5) The 0.40% gold resource cut-off grade was derived from long term average Gold price of US$1,800/oz, 90.0% process recovery, 4.5% royalties, US$ 7.0/t process cost, US$ 5.0/t transportation & refining and US$ 4.0/t G&A cost. An optimized pit shell was utilized for resource reporting that utilized a US$ 2.0/t mining cost and 45 degree pit slopes. (6) Gold grade equivalent (Au Eq) is derived from gold metal price US$1,800/oz, and silver metal price US$24/oz. Au Eq assume Au and Ag recoveries of 90.0%. The limited metallurgical studies by Fredonia (selective Bottle rolls from Main Veins material) have indicated high (>90%) recovery of gold in oxide material. The Cerro Vanguardia mine to the east of EDM with similar mineralization reports recoveries in the high 90% for Au. Accordingly, the formula used for gold grade equivalent (Au Eq) is: Au Eq (g/t) = Au (g/t) + [Ag (g/t) x (24/1,800) x (0.9/0.9)] SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY RESULTS FOR GOLD CUT-OFF GRADE Notes: the base case estimate presented above is subject to the same assumptions and qualifications described in Notes 1-6 of Table 1 above. Figure 1. Plan view of the north and south deposits (resource area in green) and their proximity in relation to the Cerro Vanguardia Mine. Figure 2. Plan view of the north and south deposit at El Dorado Monserrat. (Blue measured, green indicated, red inferred). Figure 3. Gold grade Shell with a view to the West. Long Section of the MRE at Northern Monserrat Sector. Figure 4. Gold grade Shell with a view to the west. Cross Section of the MRE at Southern Mineralized Corridor (included only Herradura Hill). Preparation of Mineral Resource Calculation The mineral resource estimate was prepared by independent QP Mario Alfaro Cortés of Chile, commissioned by Fredonia Mining, and is calculated for two deposits, North and South. The estimate was prepared according to NI 43-101 standards and the CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves: Definitions and Guidelines (CIM 2014). Qualified Person Mr. Fernando Ganem, is a QP as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Ganem visited the property and has read and approved the technical contents of this release. GRANT OF COMPANY OPTIONS The Company also announces that it has granted stock options (the “ Options ”) to directors and officers of the Company in the amounts described in the table below. Each Option is exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company (a “ Common Share ”) at a price of $0.40 per Common Share, representing a significant premium to the market price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange, for a period five years from the grant date. The Options have been granted in accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock option plan and have been granted to the directors and offices in lieu of accrued cash amounts payable for compensation for acting in those positions. The Company intends to pay cash compensation to officers and directors in the future in accordance with historical practices. About Fredonia Fredonia holds gold and silver license areas totaling approximately 18,300 ha. in the prolific Deseado Massif geological region in the Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina, including the following principal areas: its flagship - the advanced El Dorado-Monserrat project (approx. 6,200 ha.) located close to AngloGold Ashanti’s 300,000 oz./yr Au-Ag Cerro Vanguardia mine, the El Aguila project (approx. 9,100 ha.), and the Petrificados project (approx. 3,000 ha). For further information: Please visit the Company’s website at www.fredoniamanagement.com or contact: Estanislao Auriemma, Chief Executive Officer, Direct +54 91 149 980 623, Email: estanislao.auriemma@gmail.com . Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation relating to the Company and the EDM project, including statements regarding the prospectivity of the EDM project for gold and silver mineralization, including the potential for metal recoveries from any mineral processing activity, the mineral resource estimate at the Project, the prospectivity for mineralization at the EDM Project similar to mineralization at the Cerro Vanguardia mine, and the Company’s future exploration plans. Words such as “might”, “will”, “should”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “expect”, “believe”, “estimate”, “forecast” and similar terminology are used to identify forward looking statements and forward-looking information. Such statements and information are based on assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by the Company considering its experience, current conditions and its expectations of future developments as well as other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, the factors described in the Company’s filing statement dated June 22, 2021 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the heading “Risk Factors” that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and information and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements and information and the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements made herein, or comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company or its securities, other than as required by law. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6b7d0578-fad8-4174-ade5-7d45157b5454 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/73969a7c-54ee-4833-bc60-ca7ffc4aead5 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8857eefe-cf49-4125-a627-5eb21b737577 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/19d9b257-4303-4706-897b-3b806d7d3ee4
Tinubu’s Tax Reform: How it will affect youBy Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter HealthDay SUNDAY, Dec. 8, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Shingles can strike anyone who had chickenpox when they were young, and the intense pain that can accompany this body rash has sidelined many a senior. Here, one expert explains how and why shingles can surface, and what you can do to treat it, or better yet, avoid it. Shingles can happen at any age, but it most typically affects people over 50 who have stress and compromised immunity. “Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It’s the same virus that causes chickenpox,” said Dr. Eugene Fellin , a family medicine physician at Penn State Health Medical Group – Fleetwood. “For most of us who grew up before the 1990s, when children began being immunized against chickenpox, we’ve been exposed to the virus and are at risk for shingles.” How can shingles surface? After lying dormant in the nervous system for years, the virus can reemerge as shingles, which causes painful rashes that typically surface on the face or around the side of the torso, Fellin explained. “It’s like a poison ivy rash that won’t go away,” he added in a Penn State news release. “It can occur in patches, but along that same nerve root. A lot of times, people feel some tingling or a burning sensation prior to the rash actually breaking out,” Fellin noted. “When we’re looking for the rash, it will be in a string on the torso because the nerves wrap around the torso. You get a line around you, from the back to the front.” “The other issue we worry about is if it breaks out on the face and involves the eye because this can lead to blindness,” Fellin said. “Shingles around the eye is considered dangerous, and an instant referral to an ophthalmologist is always recommended.” What can you take to treat shingles? Antivirals such as Valacyclovir can be prescribed, but they’re time-sensitive and need to be taken within 36 hours of the start of the rash because they work by slowing the spread of the virus, Fellin said. While symptoms subside after three to five weeks, pain can sometimes return in the form of postherpetic neuralgia , he said. This long-term nerve pain occurs where the shingles rash appeared and can last for months or even years. Older adults are more likely to develop postherpetic neuralgia and have longer lasting and more severe pain, Fellin said. Luckily, there is something you can do to avoid shingles altogether: get vaccinated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the Shingrix vaccine, given in two doses, with the second dose given two to six months after the first. People who get shingles can still receive the vaccine, which can lower the chances of another outbreak, Fellin noted. Most family doctors and pharmacies stock the vaccine, which is covered by Medicare, he added. “Most insurance programs are covering it because it has been out long enough and shows a real benefit,” Fellin said in a Penn State news release. “There’s a lot of misinformation about vaccines circulating out there. My message is this: Don’t be afraid of this or any vaccine.” SOURCE: Penn State Health, news release, Dec. 5, 2024 Copyright © 2024 HealthDay . All rights reserved.The new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative. Perfect or 100% fair? Well, nobody ever believed that. The first expanded playoff bracket unveiled Sunday left a presumably deserving Alabama team on the sideline in favor of an SMU squad that finished with a better record after playing a schedule that was not as difficult. It ranked undefeated Oregon first but set up a possible rematch against Ohio State, the team that came closest to beating the Ducks this year. It treated underdog Boise State like a favorite and banged-up Georgia like a world beater at No. 2. It gave Ohio State home-field advantage against Tennessee for reasons it would take a supercomputer to figure out. It gave the sport the multiweek tournament it has longed for, but also ensured there will be plenty to grouse about between now and when the trophy is handed out on Jan. 20 after what will easily be the longest college football season in history. All of it, thankfully, will be sorted out on the field starting with first-round games on campuses Dec. 20 and 21, then over three succeeding rounds that will wind their way through traditional bowl sites. Maybe Oregon coach Dan Lanning, whose undefeated Ducks are the favorite to win it all, put it best when he offered: "Winning a national championship is not supposed to be easy.” Neither, it turns out, is figuring out who should play for it. The Big Ten will lead the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. The lasting memory from the inaugural bracket will involve the decision that handed the ACC that second bid. Alabama of the SEC didn't play Saturday. SMU of the ACC did. The Mustangs fell behind by three touchdowns to Clemson before coming back to tie. But they ultimately lost 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired. “We were on pins and needles,” SMU coach Rhett Lashley said. “Until we saw the name ‘SMU’ up there, we were hanging on the edge. We're really, really happy and thankful to the committee for rewarding our guys for their total body of work." The Mustangs only had two losses, compared to three for the Crimson Tide. Even though SMU's schedule wasn't nearly as tough, the committee was impressed by the way the Mustangs came back against Clemson. “We just felt, in this particular case, SMU had the nod above Alabama,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the selection committee. “But it’s no disrespect to Alabama’s strength of schedule. We looked at the entire body of work for both teams.” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne was gracious, up to a point. “Disappointed with the outcome and felt we were one of the 12 best teams in the country,” he said on social media. He acknowledged — despite all of Alabama’s losses coming against conference opponents this season — that the Tide’s push to schedule more games against teams from other major conferences in order to improve its strength of schedule did not pay off this time. “That is not good for college football," Byrne said. Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second; Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed; and Big 12 titlist Arizona State got the fourth seed and the fourth and final first-round bye. All will play in quarterfinals at bowl games on Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Clemson stole a bid and the 12th seed with its crazy win over SMU, the result that ultimately cost Alabama a spot in the field. The Tigers moved to No. 16 in the rankings, but got in as the fifth-best conference winner. The conference commissioners' idea to give conference champions preferable treatment in this first iteration of the 12-team playoff could be up for reconsideration after this season. The committee actually ranked Boise State, the Mountain West Champion, at No. 9 and Big 12 champion Arizona State at No. 12, but both get to skip the first round. Another CFP guideline: There’s no reseeding of teams after each round, which means no break for Oregon. The top-seeded Ducks will face the winner of Tennessee-Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 earlier this year in one of the season’s best games. No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, Dec. 21. Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces ... Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Huh? No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, Dec. 21. The biggest knock against the Mustangs was that they didn't play any big boys with that 60th-ranked strength of schedule. Well, now they get to. The winner faces ... Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, SMU vs. Boise was the quarterfinal we all expected. No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, Dec. 20. Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti thought his team deserved a home game. Well, not quite but close. The winner faces ... Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs got the No. 2 seed despite a throwing-arm injury to QB Carson Beck. But what else was the committee supposed to do? No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State , Dec. 21. The Buckeyes (losses to Oregon, Michigan) got home field over the Volunteers (losses to Arkansas, Georgia) in a matchup of programs with two of the biggest stadiums in football. The winner faces ... Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Feels like that matchup should come in the semifinals or later. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Why Lucid Stock Jumped Again Today
In a dominant display of talent and teamwork, Team Bahamas has marched into the final of the Under-15 Caribbean Baseball Cup as the only undefeated team. The tournament, organized by the Caribbean Baseball Confederation (COCABE), has seen the Bahamas team triumph over their opponents with remarkable consistency. The Bahamas secured their place in the championship game after a resounding 16-1 victory over St Maarten in the semifinals. This win followed a series of impressive performances throughout the tournament. Earlier, Team Bahamas delivered a crushing 33-0 defeat to St Maarten in their initial encounter. They then continued their strong run with an 11-1 victory over the US Virgin Islands. One of the most notable moments in the tournament was their surprising victory over Cuba. Initially down by two runs in the top of the first inning, Team Bahamas turned the game around in the bottom of the third. They scored eight runs on eight hits, seizing the lead and eventually winning 11-5. This victory was crucial as it highlighted the resilience and adaptability of the team. The championship game is set for tonight at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium. Team Bahamas will face Cuba once again, this time for the gold medal. The match could promise to be a thrilling encounter as both teams have shown exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament. The bronze medal game will feature St Maarten against the US Virgin Islands. This match will start at 4 PM, while the gold medal game is scheduled for 8 PM. Both events are open to the public, offering free entry for all fans. The Under-15 Caribbean Baseball Cup has been a showcase of young talent from across the region. Team Bahamas' journey to the final has been marked by strategic plays, and teamwork. As they prepare to face Cuba,The Bahamas team aims to cap off their undefeated run with a championship victory, further establishing their prowess in Caribbean baseball.
Road-weary Jets aim to keep division lead vs. resilient StarsMicheál Martin sees ‘clear path’ back to Government – and says polls ‘give Fianna Fáil heart attacks all the time’