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In a world where people convert shipping containers into homes, the idea seems to be emerging that bigger isn’t always better. The same thing could be said of SUVs. Consider the 2025 Mini Countryman. It’s smaller than a Toyota Corolla Cross or a Chevrolet Trax. Yet compared with Mini’s other models, it’s positively huge. Offered in S ALL4 or JCW ALL4 trim, the 2025 Mini Countryman gains a total makeover for the new model year that lessens its resemblance to a Mini Cooper that’s taken on too much water weight. It’s more its own animal, looking far more contemporary, serious and, well, less cute. That probably makes it more palatable if you have Y-Chromosomes. Open the door of the 2025 Mini Countryman and you’ll find the interior feels more modern thanks to the use of sustainable materials, including the fabric on the dash that’s actually recycled plastic. But it retains its trademark circular 9.4-inch OLED infotainment touchscreen and, like the Mini Cooper, controls have been simplified. It’s also noticeably roomier, as the Countryman shares its vehicle architecture with the BMW X1. This explains why the Countryman is 5 inches longer, nearly an inch wider, and almost 4 inches taller for 2025. It’s noticeably larger, and it’s fair to think of it as a maxi Mini, or perhaps a Morris Major. Its driver’s perch is noticeably higher than any Mini should feel, although SUV buyers not accustomed to the Countryman’s smaller stablemates won’t notice. And while larger, the second row is best used for two adults; three is an imposition. The tester had the $3,200 Iconic trim option, which brings with it a Harman/Kardon surround sound audio system, wireless smartphone charger, augmented reality navigation system and niceties such as auto-dimming mirrors and privacy glass. Thoughtfully, Mini provides the infotainment display with different visual presentations, allowing for a bit of lightheartedness for which the brand is known. Still, as brand DNA goes, it’s lacking a bit, even though most will welcome the extra interior space and more modern exterior appearance. Yet some character remains, even if it seems somewhat less impish than its diminutive sibling. It still possesses some of the persona that’s distinctly Mini. That comes mostly under the hood, where a turbocharged, intercooled 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic funnels 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels in S ALL4 trim. JCM models get the same powerplant with an additional 71 horsepower. Torque remains unchanged. That extra juice delivers a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds according to Mini, one second quicker than the S ALL4 test drive model. The 2025 Mini Countryman S ALL4 test drive occurred during the ninth Mini Takes the States, or MTTS for short. Mini owners are invited to join the biennial expedition, which started in Albuquerque in July. Drivers then continued north through Grand Junction and Durango, Colorado, before going on to Salt Lake City, Bozeman and Missoula, Montana, and Spokane and Yakima, Washington, before arriving in Seattle nine days later. With 1,921 aficionados traveling from as far afield as Australia, more than 900 Minis participated in the rally, which covered more than 1,600 miles. For those who say the United States is a bitterly divided partisan nation, they’ve never run MTTS. It’s one big happy family, albeit one with a Mini fixation — not a political one. Thank goodness. As you might expect, the Countryman performs like a Mini Cooper, although not quite as quickly or with as much communication as its smaller sibling. The ride is more yielding as well, with more suspension travel to allow for the occasional off-road foray. That said, this is no hard-core boulder basher. It’s more the foul-weather friend, one that drives entertainingly enough to prevent boredom during long stretches behind the wheel. And of course it has decent cargo space, 25 cubic feet in fact, expanding to 56 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. And let’s face it, frisky performance, modern good looks and a fair amount of space for you and your stuff is all we really need from any SUV. But the character and built-in brother- and sisterhood that comes with owning a Mini adds another level of satisfaction that few automakers offer. That makes this Mini one that delivers a maximum of fun and functionality that’s hard to resist. Base price: $38,900/$46,900 Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder Horsepower/Torque: 241/295 pound-feet EPA rating (combined city/highway): 27 mpg Fuel required: 91 Octane Length/Width/Height: 175/73/65 inches Ground clearance: 8 inches Payload: 1,100 pounds Cargo capacity: 25-56 cubic feet Towing capacity: (unbraked) 750 pounds ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLCThe list of President-elect Donald Trump's legal cases is shrinking — or being delayed. On Monday, Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a motion to dismiss the Washington, D.C. election subversion case. He also asked a federal appeals court to stop reviewing the classified documents case in Florida. On Tuesday, that court granted dismissal of the case against Trump — though not against other appellees. In dismissing the cases, the Special Counsel cited the Department of Justice's long-standing policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents. "After careful consideration, the Department has determined that OLC's prior opinions concerning the Constitution's prohibition on federal indictment and prosecution of a sitting President apply to this situation and that as a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated," Smith wrote in his court filing regarding the election subversion case. "We've used the word unprecedented a lot over the course of the last four years, and yet again this is something that is unprecedented, and Smith himself said this in his motion," former state and federal prosecutor David S. Weinstein told Scripps News. "He took great detail to point out that this was not based on the strength or weakness of the case." In a post on Truth Social , Trump said in part "These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless." RELATED STORY | Special counsel evaluating how to wind down federal cases against Trump Earlier this year, Trump faced four on-going criminal cases. He was convicted in his New York hush money case in May, but sentencing — which was scheduled for this week — has been delayed . After Smith's actions Monday, Trump now faces only the Georgia election interference case. In Georgia, Trump was indicted along with 18 allies, accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. But that case is now on hold after the state appeals court unexpectedly removed a December hearing from its calendar. That court will issue a new order on how this case will move forward, but with less than two months before the inauguration, the future of the Georgia and New York hush money cases are still being decided. "The two state cases are likely to recede into the background — at best," former Department of Justice attorney and current partner at Gelber, Schachter & Greenberg, Barbara Llanes, told Scripps News. "We probably won't hear much about these cases following the inauguration of President-elect Trump." Defense attorneys for Trump believe his election victory is enough for the hush money case to be dismissed. They need to file a motion by Dec. 2 making that argument. Then prosecutors have until Dec. 9 to file a rebuttal. They still believe Trump should be sentenced — even if it's after he leaves office. Judge Juan Merchan will then make a decision on how this case should move forward. There's no set date on exactly when he will make that decision.Lea Miller-Tooley hopped off a call to welcome the Baylor women’s basketball team to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, where 80-degree temperatures made it easy for the Bears to settle in on Paradise Island a week before Thanksgiving. About 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men's teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley, the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men's and women's tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” MTE Madness The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Atlantis rising Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time – and staff and families – that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four's most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Popular demand Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event's relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence – they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” Packed schedule The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina. It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo's Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021. “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii.
iOS 18.1.1 Update: Urgent Security Warning Issued to All iPhone UsersPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday Ukraine needs to strengthen its defences to protect people after its air defence units shot down 50 of 73 Russian drones launched overnight over many regions. “An air alert has been sounded almost daily across Ukraine this week,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram messenger. Over the past week Russia used more than 800 guided aerial bombs, about 460 attack drones, and more than 20 missiles of various types, Zelenskyy said. “Ukraine is not a testing ground for weapons. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state. But Russia still continues its efforts to kill our people, spread fear and panic, and weaken us,” he added. The Ukrainian military said earlier on Sunday that air defence units had destroyed more than 10 Russian drones that were targeting Kyiv in an overnight attack. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the attack, Kyiv’s military administration posted on Telegram. Reuters witnesses heard explosions in Kyiv in what sounded like air defense units in operation. “The UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) were flying in different directions towards Kyiv,” Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said. “The air raid alert in the city lasted for more than three hours.” There was no immediate comment from Russia about the attack, though the governor of the region that borders Ukraine said on Sunday two Ukrainian missiles and 27 drones were destroyed over Russia’s Kursk region. It was not immediately clear what missiles were destroyed and Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov did not provide further details in a post on his Telegram channel. The Ukrainian military later said on Telegram that its forces had destroyed a Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system in Kursk. Reuters could not independently confirm the report. Air defences have been a key request of the Ukrainians for years, and NATO allies have stepped up their deliveries of those systems, although they have been slow to arrive. Canada announced on Friday an air defence missile system it purchased through U.S. manufacturers was finally on the ground in Ukraine, nearly two years after it was first ordered. Ukrainian troops stormed across Russia’s western border into Kursk on Aug. 6 and seized a chunk of territory. Moscow launched waves of counter-assaults and has retaken at least 40 per cent of the captured territory since then, but Kyiv still controls about 800 square kilometres in the region, a senior Ukrainian military source said on Sunday. Kyiv had aimed to stem Russian attacks in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, force Russia to pull back forces gradually advancing in the east and give Kyiv extra leverage in any future peace negotiations. But Russian forces are still advancing in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Zelenskyy said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s main objectives were to occupy the entire Donbas, which consists of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and oust Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region. “For Putin, the most important thing is to push us out of the Kursk region. I am sure that he wants to push us out by January 20,” Zelenskyy told media, referring to when Donald Trump will be inaugurated as U.S. president. “It is very important for him (Putin) to demonstrate that he is in control of the situation.” The source at the Ukrainian General Staff source reiterated that about 11,000 North Korean troops had arrived in the Kursk region in support of Russia, but that the bulk of their forces was still finalizing their training. The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the figures or descriptions given. Moscow, which occupies about a fifth of Ukraine, has not confirmed or denied the presence of North Korean forces in Kursk region. Kyiv has sought to disrupt Russian logistics and supply chains by hitting Russian weapons and ammunition depots, airfields, and other military targets inside Russia. After U.S. President Joe Biden allowed Kyiv to fire U.S.-supplied long-range missiles at targets deep inside Russia, Ukraine last week fired U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russia. Ukrainian investigators are studying the debris of a new Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile that was fired at the city of Dnipro on Thursday, the first time such a powerful weapon has been used in the war and seen as a response to Biden’s decision. Reuters and the Associated Press were among a small group of reporters given access to the wreckage of the missile on Sunday. Reporters were asked not disclose the exact location of the site for security reasons. The scorched and crumbled pieces of debris were laid out in a hanger at a facility which conducts weapons forensics. Ukrainian experts study such debris to gain insight into Russian military supply chains, production and how to develop counter-measures. Russia has dubbed the missile the Oreshnik (Hazel Tree) and said it is impossible to intercept it with air defenses. Ukraine has said the weapon reached a top speed of more than 13,000 km/h on its way towards Dnipro on Thursday. Intermediate-range ballistic missiles have a range of up to 5,500 kilometers. The U.S. military has said the missile’s design is based on the longer-range RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The new missile was experimental and Russia likely possessed only a handful of them, they have said. Putin said on Friday Moscow would keep testing the missile in combat and had a stock ready to use. Much remains unclear for now, including the extent of the damage caused by the missile. Ukraine seldom discloses damage to military targets, fearing such information would help Moscow.
From Maui to the Caribbean, Thanksgiving tournaments a beloved part of college basketball
Community housing group in Southgate talks in regional forumKey posts 3.51am Labor eyes last chance of 2024 to tick policy boxes 3.40am Here’s what to know about the new COP29 funding deal 3.29am What’s making headlines Hide key posts Posts area Latest 1 of 1 Latest posts Latest posts 3.51am Labor eyes last chance of 2024 to tick policy boxes By David Crowe Labor will harden its demands on the Greens to pass more than a dozen bills through parliament in the next four days in the belief that voters will blame the smaller party at the next election for blocking the government’s agenda. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is seeking to have the draft laws passed without a single deal with the Greens after months of argument over housing, the environment, university fees, school funding and other reforms. Loading The approach reflects a crucial calculation that the Greens have lost ground in recent state and local government elections and are at risk of losing federal seats because voters think the party has moved too far to the left on economic policy and the Middle East. But in two significant retreats, Labor shelved a bill on Sunday that sought to crackdown on misinformation and did not put forward a long-awaited ban on gambling advertising after earlier saying it would unveil the package before the end of the year. Read more about the bills before the parliament in the final sitting week of the year here. 3.40am Here’s what to know about the new COP29 funding deal In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. It’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still deeply unsatisfied but some hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. An attendee reacts during a closing plenary session at the COP29 UN Climate Summit. Credit: AP Here’s how they got there: What was the finance deal agreed at climate talks? Rich countries have agreed to pool together at least $300 billion a year by 2035. It’s not near the full amount of $1.3 trillion that developing countries were asking for, and that experts said was needed. But delegations more optimistic about the agreement said this deal is headed in the right direction, with hopes that more money flows in the future. What will the money be spent on? The deal decided in Baku replaces a previous agreement from 15 years ago that charged rich nations $100 billion a year to help the developing world with climate finance. The new number has similar aims: it will go toward the developing world’s long laundry list of to-dos to prepare for a warming world and keep it from getting hotter. That includes paying for the transition to clean energy and away from fossil fuels. Countries need funds to build up the infrastructure needed to deploy technologies like wind and solar power on a large scale. Loading Why was it so hard to get a deal? Election results around the world that herald a change in climate leadership, a few key players with motive to stall the talks and a disorganized host country all led to a final crunch that left few happy with a flawed compromise. Developing nations also faced some difficulties agreeing in the final hours. Meanwhile, activists ramped up the pressure: many urged negotiators to stay strong and asserted that no deal would be better than a bad deal. But ultimately the desire for a deal won out. AP 3.29am What’s making headlines By Josefine Ganko Good morning and welcome to the national news blog from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. My name is Josefine Ganko, I’ll be with you on the blog for the first half of the day. It’s Monday, November 25. Here’s what’s making headlines this morning. Pressure is on the Albanese government to make headway on its long list of stalled legislation during the final sitting week of 2024. Peter Dutton will use a private Coalition meeting to calm MPs who are fearful that Labor’s teen social media ban is a Trojan Horse for government control of the internet. A media storm threatens to thwart plans to transfer five of the Bali Nine drug traffickers to Australia by the end of the year after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to approve the transfer during a meeting in Peru last week. Overseas, countries at the COP29 summit in Baku adopted a $460 billion a year global finance target on Sunday to help poorer nations cope with impacts of climate change. Latest 1 of 1 Latest Most Viewed in National Loading
‘The View’ Gets Competition From Rob Schneider, Who Vows To Launch An “Opposite” All-Women Talk ShowThe Off-Broadway production of “ The Merchant of Venice ” opened Off-Broadway on November 25th at the Classic Stage Company in Manhattan. The cast features Richard Topol, Alexandra Silber, Gus Birney, José Espinosa, Tess Goldwyn, Stephen Ochsner, T.R. Knight, Delilah Napier, Noah Pacht, and Elan Zafir. It is based on the Shakespearean play of the same name, which has always been known as one William Shakespeare’s most problematic plays. The synopsis is: This adaptation of “The Merchant of Venice” was directed by Ukrainian-born, Jewish theater artist Igor Golyak. It starts off as a while ride, which takes a startling and tragic turn, leaving the audience shocked and unable to stop the inevitable and unbearable consequences. Richard Topol and T.R. Knight deliver commanding lead, dialogue-heavy performances as Shylock and Antonio respectively. José Espinosa is charming and steals every scene he is in as Bassanio, where the viewer can recall Philip Bruenn in “Studio City” meets Kyle Fragnoli . Alexandra Silber is bubbly and stunning as Portia. The puppetry, bubble machines, Batman masks, props, and contemporary songs are an additional treat to the show. This concept deals with superheroes and their adversaries battling it out to protect good in the face of evil. The question is whether or not justice and love will prevail. The actors and the audience will try to find answers to these intriguing questions. Several of the anti-Semitic undertones might anger some viewers, but it intriguing to watch Igor Golyak distinct re-imagined interpretation of this play. The show runs at the Classic Stage Company in New York City until December 22nd. Overall, “The Merchant of Venice” is dark, odd, quirky, sometimes outrageous and bizarre, but entertaining nonetheless. The actors do a fine job with the material that they are given, although several parts could have been developed more, while other parts could have eliminated entirely and they wouldn’t have made any difference. This upbeat show is recommended for fans of Shakespeare, especially those that are fond of “The Merchant of Venice.” This reimagined version garners a B- rating. For more information on “The Merchant of Venice,” check out the official website . Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News.Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 21,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.
After defeat in LS elections, many lose assembly polls as well
BOULDER, Colo. — A 72-year-old lifelong Colorado fan with end-stage kidney failure waited to the side of the field in his wheelchair for Travis Hunter and the rest of the Buffaloes. One by one, players strolled over and signed a football for Riley Rhoades, his face lighting up with each signature. Standing close by and taking in the scene was Jeremy Bloom. He's become a wish facilitator for older adults. Bloom, the former Colorado wide receiver and Olympic freestyle skier, started the Wish of a Lifetime foundation in 2008, which has made thousands of aspirations turn into reality for older adults. The list of granted wishes range from taking veterans back to the beaches of Normandy to helping late-in-life authors publish a book. He's staged concerts for musicians, assisted some in daredevil feats such as jumping out of an airplane and even lined up a meeting between an Olympic medalist and former President Barack Obama. For Rhoades, his wish was simply to return to Folsom Field again, the place where he used to have season tickets but hasn't attended a game since 2004. "Everybody has somebody in their life —a grandparent, friend, neighbor — at that age where you wish you had more resources to help," said Bloom, whose college career was cut short two decades ago when the NCAA denied his reinstatement to play football and still ski professionally after receiving endorsement money to fuel his Olympic dreams. "Nothing can compare to seeing someone else's eyes light up because you helped make their dream come true." The foundation is a tribute to his grandparents. But the concept began to take root when he was a teenager. He was in Japan for a World Cup freestyle skiing competition when a woman tried to hop on a crowded bus. There was no room, but everyone in front rose from their seats to make space. That stuck with him, along with seeing these acts of kindness for older adults all over Europe and Asia as he traveled. An idea formed — bring that same level of appreciation to the United States, with a wish-granting element. Bloom's organization has been a charitable affiliate of AARP since 2020. It was the yearning of Rhoades that brought the two of them to Folsom Field last weekend. Rhoades, who had season tickets at Colorado for 27 years, wanted to see the Buffaloes in person after watching the team's resurgence on television. A few years ago, Rhoades, who was born with spina bifida, was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. Being among the 54,646 fans Saturday stirred up plenty of emotions for Rhoades, as he watched the 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP) beat Utah. Colorado remains in the race for not only a conference title but a spot in the College Football Playoff. "It's just great to be back here again," Rhoades said as he pointed out the section where he used to watch games. "It's just ... so cool." For Bloom, the success that coach Deion Sanders has brought to the program means more reunions with teammates as they pass through town. "I've been through many years where nobody comes to visit," Bloom said. "It's fun that Boulder has become the epicenter of college football." Leading the way for Colorado this season have been quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Hunter, who's the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. But what particularly pleases Bloom is that Sanders, Hunter and the rest of college football players are able to finally profit through name, image and likeness. In his day, Bloom got caught in the NCAA crosshairs for wanting to play both sports and to have sponsors in one (skiing) so he could fund his Olympic aspirations. How time have changed. "I'm just really grateful that this generation of athletes gets to monetize their skills and ability," said Bloom, who finished sixth in moguls at the 2006 Winter Games in Italy. "It's the right thing." He's thrown his passion into fulfilling wishes such as learning ballet, riding in a Formula 1 pace car or taking a flight in a fighter jet. He's also helped reconnect families and friends, including a reunion for a trio of centenarian sisters who hadn't seen each other in more than a decade. This granted wish has stuck with Bloom: A person in Alabama wasn't able to travel after being diagnosed with end-of-life emphysema. So he asked for postcards to be sent, just to learn what made someone's town so special. He received 2,000 postcards from 26 different countries. "There's no end to the things that they've done for us in the world," Bloom said of older adults. "We're one of the organizations that reminds them that their dreams still do matter and that we still appreciate them and we cherish them." Get local news delivered to your inbox!NEW YORK and LONDON , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. (NYSE: PDCC) (the "Company") has commenced an underwritten public offering of its Series A Preferred Stock Due 2029. Certain financial and other terms of the Series A Preferred Stock are to be determined by negotiations between the Company and the underwriters. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are rated 'BBB' by Egan-Jones Ratings Company, an independent rating agency. In addition, the Company plans to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the same terms and conditions. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and to trade thereon within 30 days of the original issue date under the ticker symbol "PDPA." Lucid Capital Markets, LLC ("Lucid"), B. Riley Securities, Inc. and Kingswood Capital Partners, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers and InspereX LLC and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC are acting as lead managers for the offering. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering to acquire investments in accordance with the investment objectives and strategies described in the prospectus supplement and for general working capital purposes. Investors should consider the Company's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The preliminary prospectus, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), contains this and other information about the Company and should be read carefully before investing. The information in the preliminary prospectus and this press release is not complete and may be changed. The preliminary prospectus and this press release are not offers to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted. A registration statement relating to these securities is on file with, but has not yet been declared effective by, the SEC. Copies of the preliminary prospectus (and the final prospectus, when available) may be obtained by writing to Lucid Capital Markets, LLC, 570 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022, by calling Lucid toll-free at 646-362-0256 or by sending an e-mail to Lucid at prospectus@lucid.com . Copies also may be obtained on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Egan-Jones Ratings Company is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO). A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, and any such rating may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the applicable rating agency. About Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. (NYSE: PDCC) is an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. Its primary investment objective is to maximize its portfolio's total return, with a secondary objective of generating high current income. The Company seeks to achieve these objectives by investing primarily in equity and junior debt tranches of CLOs collateralized by portfolios of sub-investment grade, senior secured floating-rate debt issued by a large number of distinct US companies across several industry sectors. The Company is externally managed by Pearl Diver Capital LLP. For more information, visit www.pearldivercreditcompany.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described in the prospectus and the Company's other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE Investor Contact: Info@Pearldivercap.com UK: +44 (0)20 3967 8032 US: +1 617 872 0945 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pearl-diver-credit-company-inc-announces-offering-of-series-a-preferred-stock-302329464.html SOURCE Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc.
Reading International (B) stock hits 52-week low at $5.85By DAVID McHUGH The Associated Press FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany’s technology and services company Bosch said Friday it planned to reduce its automotive division workforce by as many as 5,500 jobs in the next several years in another sign of the headwinds hitting the German and global auto industries. The company cited stagnating global auto sales, too much factory capacity in the auto industry compared with sales prospects and a slower than expected transition to electric-powered, software-controlled vehicles. The news comes two days after Ford Motor Co. announced plans to drop 4,000 jobs in Europe , and with Volkswagen employees threatening work stoppages over what they say management has told them are plans to close as many as three factories in Germany. Revenue at Stellantis , created through the 2021 merger of PSA Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, tumbled 27% in its most recent quarter that ended this fall. Auto sales have slowed this year in Europe as consumers stung by inflation hold back on spending, while automakers have sunk billions into developing electric cars only to see slower sales than expected and new competition from cheaper Chinese brands. The German government abruptly cancelled purchase incentives at the end of last year, sending electric vehicles sales in that country down by 27% over the first nine months of this year. Some 3,500 of the job reductions at Bosch would come before the end of 2027 and would hit the part of the company that develops advanced driver assistance and automated driving technologies, as well as centralized vehicle software, said Bosch, which is headquartered in Gerlingen near Stuttgart. About half those job reductions would be at locations in Germany. “The auto industry has significant overcapacities,” the company said in a statement. “In addition, the market for future technologies is not developing as originally expected ... At the moment, many projects in this business area are being put off or abandoned by automakers.” Related Articles In addition, 750 jobs would be lost at a plant in Hildesheim, Germany by end 2032, 600 of those by the end of 2026. A plant in Schwaebisch Gmund would lose some 1,300 over between 2027 and 2030. The reductions are still in the planning stage and final numbers would have to be agreed with employee representatives and carried out in what the company said would be a socially responsible way. While automakers put their names on the cars they sell, most of the car is actually made by a series of suppliers Some 230,000 people work for Bosch’s mobility division, out of a global workforce of 429,000. In addition to its business as an auto industry technology supplier Bosch makes factory and building equipment and software across a range of products including industrial boilers and waste-heat recovery systems, video security systems, and power tools.