AN ONLINE shopper was left mortified after her brand new kitten heels left her looking like Mrs Doubtfire. With the festive season in full swing, many fashionistas have been racing to get their hands on the perfect sparkly Christmas outfits - and amongst them is also mum Rebecca. Advertisement 4 Mum-of-one Rebecca decided to have a look on ASOS where she found trendy kitten heels Credit: TikTok/rebecca__1989 4 The trendy heels set her back just £28 and Rebecca was planning to pair them with leather trousers Credit: Asos 4 However, things didn't quite go to plan when the shopper realised the heels made her look like Mrs Doubtfire - scroll down to see the epic fail Credit: Getty - Contributor The beauty lover, 34, already had a look in her mind for the festive get-together with her pals and went on ASOS to find a pair of heels to match the vibe. ''So I wanted some new shoes for my Christmas girls' night out this weekend and I thought I'll try some red pointy shoes.'' This is when she decided to check the online fast fashion giant where she found a pair of burgundy red kitten heels selling for £28. ''I'm wearing leather trousers, so you wouldn't be able to see the heels anyway,'' the mum-of-one shared her vision in the video . Advertisement read more on fashion SELL WELL I'm a Vinted newbie - 'the body' trick sold my crusty gym gear in 30 minutes RETURN TO SENDER Christmas shopping return dates revealed at major high street shops Unfortunately for the trendy make-up artist, when the heels finally arrived, they turned out to be an epic fail. ''I tried them on and it's giving Caitlyn Jenner/ Mrs Doubtfire ,'' Rebecca left everyone in stitches, as she shared the hilarious photo on her page . Horrified by the purchase, the online shopper also tagged the brand in the caption, writing: ''@ASOS, keep them. ''Deffo don’t recommend,'' she warned fellow fashionistas to steer clear of the ''rancid'' heels. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous HOT WINGS People urged to protect bird feeders from garden pests with 75p kitchen staple SEX SHOCK I slept with 100 men a day but had no idea HIV was sexually transmitted PLANE ODD I caught a plane passenger with her pants down - the pilot thought I was joking Exclusive DECK THE HALLS I’m obsessed with Christmas - my decorations take a month to put up Since being posted on the platform, Rebecca's clip has taken the internet by storm, winning the mum a whopping 90k views. More than 100 viewers flooded to comments in total hysterics and one person had, fortunately, seen what the kitten heels looked like in person just in time. I’m slim thicc & found dream co-ord for my curves in ASOS, I bought every colour ''omg girl you saved me these were in my basket I just yeeted them out.'' ''Oh they’re .... They’re something,'' another was quite lost for words. Advertisement ''It's giving Supernanny ,'' an eagle-eyed social media user joked. However, the red kitten heels appear to have sparked a fierce debate - as there were also plenty of those who liked the trend. ''I bought these and I love them,'' wrote one ASOS fan. ''Omg I love mine, now I’m sat here thinking was I deluded,'' another wondered. Advertisement 4 Since being shared on the platform, the clip has won Rebecca more than 90k views and dozens of comments Credit: TikTok/rebecca__1989 Other ways to save money at ASOS HERE are some of the best ways you can save and get the best prices at ASOS and other outlet stores. Save money with ASOS Flash Sales and promo codes Flash Sales are mini-sales that last anywhere between a couple of hours to a few days - such as the 'Sample Sale'. When one occurs, an ASOS promo code will often be advertised that can be used on a particular product or range. Flash Sales also happen around bank holidays and other 'special' days like Valentine's Day, Halloween and April Fools' Day. Get an ASOS birthday discount code When signing up to ASOS, or any retailer for that matter, make sure to put in all your personal details, including your birthday, for special rewards. If a retailer knows your birthday, they'll send you a code two weeks before for you to use on full-price items. Sign up to the ASOS newsletter Again, this doesn't just apply for ASOS, but signing up to newsletters keeps you in the loop with all the latest deals and discounts as soon as they're announced. By signing up, you're usually rewarded with a new customer promo code for money off your first purchase. Buy from the multipack section Multipack sections often go unnoticed but they're a lifesaver for saving money on wardrobe essentials. For example, a plain white ASOS DESIGN women's t-shirt costs £8* when bought by itself, but a pack of two t-shirts comes in at £15* and a pack of three comes in at £22*. Get cheaper delivery While it's understandable you wan't your new product as soon as possible, try and pay for the least expensive delivery option - even if it means waiting an extra day or two for it to arrive. ASOS offers free Standard Delivery (usually £4.50) on all purchases over £40, too. Find deals in the sales If you're looking for ASOS discounts, make sure you check the outlet. The ASOS Outlet is great for finding cheap out-of-season stock, just as you'd expect at a regular outlet shop. You can find items with huge discounts of up to 70%. This comes after ASOS made a major change to its return fees , sparking fury amongst shoppers. The online retailer started charging customers when they return items unless they spend a certain amount. UK shoppers who frequently return orders will be charged £3.95 unless they keep up to £40 of their order. Advertisement The new rule, which has been introduced to crack down on serial returners, came into effect in October. Talk of the rule change has upset ASOS shoppers, with some even threatening to boycott the online store. Commenting on X, formally known as Twitter, one user wrote: "The problem for large returns is the fact half of your stock is ill-fitting and poor quality. "You’re another brand now alienating your loyal customers." Advertisement "Well ASOS if you actually made clothes that fit so I wouldn’t need to buy multiple sizes we wouldn’t have that problem, consider me no longer a customer," posted another. Read more on the Scottish Sun WARMING UP Scots set for 21C swing as temperature rise to bring an end to sub zero freeze HOT BUY Shoppers race to Primark for fleecy £14 hoodie will keep you cosy on frosty days While another wrote; "Did you [ASOS] consider that returner fee isolates customers who don't fit ideal body standards? "As a curvy girl, I have to order several sizes and often make returns as your sizing is not consistent, now I'm going to be charged for it? Way to make me feel bad about my body."
Expect disruptions as the Mongrel Mob farewells its Napier president 'Heil Dogg' this weekend, police say. 'Heil Dogg' is also known as Angus Benson and Angus Ratima. His body is at his mother's home in Maraenui, and will be taken to the nearby gang headquarters on Friday, where he will lie for his last night and for poroporoaki (farewell) before a funeral service on Saturday in Marewa. Extra police have been brought in from across the country and a number of roading checkpoints have resulted in two vehicles being seized, four breath tests failed and one arrest for disorder. There have also been a handful of people who've had gang insignia taken off them under new laws banning patches in public . Hawke's Bay area commander Inspector Lincoln Sycamore told RNZ police were expecting a large number of people to attend the tangi. "We know that Benson had a wide reach within the community both from a family perspective and whatever other interests he had... real strong in the rugby fraternity. "We are expecting a large number of people to come pay their respects from whatever walks of live they happen to choose - but certainly, and I'll emphasise, that he was a community member as well as whatever other things he chose to do." Police have brought in extra officers from all over the country, including public order teams and gang disruption units. "Essentially everybody that can wear a blue uniform from within our own capacity is what we've deployed out and about... Our focus is high visibility and to provide that reassurance and to be able to react to anything should we need to. "We think we've got the right sort of capacity to respond to whatever we need to at the time." 'Really gentle, really polite and caring' Police said Benson's death was not being treated as suspicious. and would be referred to the coroner. Locals RNZ spoke to in Maraenui said everyone was in disbelief that Benson was dead. "The whole community is in shock, no one can believe what's happened - they're still coming to terms with it. The community is really pulling together and it's quite sombre, Heil's was a really good guy, he was a really good customer," said one person. Benson was the leader of the Mongrel Mob's Barbarian chapter in Napier, but Maraenui Four Square owner Multitude Parihar remembered him as a customer who loved Kapiti ice cream . "He was really gentle, really polite and really caring. Even his dad was a regular customer. Feeling so sad for them." Parihar said there had been an influx of gang members into Maraenui, but no issues had arisen. "Yeah it's a lot, very busy. Expecting a lot tomorrow and on Saturday." Around the corner at the Mongrel Mob's Napier headquarters, a marquee and food truck had been set up on the lawn and a social media post warned tangi attendees about road closures at Benson's mother's house nearby, urging everyone to behave. A source told RNZ the tangi was expected to be peaceful, and gang members would respect the new laws banning patches in public. One local said the police presence had been over the top. "The community spirit, the family spirit is amazing. Everyone is looking out for each other but they want the police to bugger off and leave them to it." Sycamore said there had been been a variety of interactions at checkpoints. "Anecdotal feedback ranges from, 'Hey it's really great to see police here doing what you're doing,' through to, 'I've been stopped a number of times and I'm over it...' but probably in stronger language than that." Benson's body will be moved down the street to the gang pad on Saturday for a poroporoaki - a farewell - before his funeral service at the Napier Tech Sports Club in Marewa on Saturday. "The public can be assured police are ready to respond to any issues if and when they arise, and will maintain high visibility until funeral commemorations have concluded. "There will be no tolerance for breaches of the law, including the Gangs Act 2024, nor for any unsafe or intimidating behaviour," said Sycamore. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved
Excitement for Virginians and New Kent County businesses is already building ahead of the Virginia Derby in March, New Kent County's Lindsay Hurt writes in a guest column.Road 2025 to 2032 new year direction concept and sustainable development concept Evening sunset time ... [+] at destination The year ahead looks set to become one of tremendous change. As a consequence of progress in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and space exploration, economies will see constant transformation. These innovations will create significant opportunities and threats. In 2025, we will need to focus on welcoming amazing innovation and progress while keeping these advancements on the rails of ethical implementation and use. Global Economic Shifts The consequences of the growth of automation and trends toward the decarbonization of industries ... [+] will act as catalysts for changes in the distribution of power in the international arena. Advancements in technology will shape economic growth. There will be an apparent dichotomy between countries that participate in the innovative economy and those that lack the ability or infrastructure to do so. The consequences of the growth of automation and trends toward the decarbonization of industries will act as catalysts for changes in the distribution of power in the international arena. Those failing to do so will lag behind, while others, such as the BRICS group, will continue to seek a shift from the U.S. dollar. However, the U.S. economy is expected to grow, decrease inflation, increase employment, and lower interest rates. These changes underscore the need to complement investment in innovation and change or reskill the workforce to compete globally. Stock Market Shifts and AI Dominance Wall Street is expecting a great year. The U.S. equities index is expected to reach at least 6,500 by the close of 2025 , representing a 9% increase in price from its present value and a 10% total return when factoring in dividends. A good deal of these gains will be courtesy of the AI firms. Nvidia will be a valuation leader because of its strategic position in AI hardware; interesting IPOs will be launched — from Stripe to Databricks. Robotics will also experience exponential; for instance, Boston Dynamics will start achieving major milestones after its humanoid robot sent notice to the entire industry in 2024. Even as AI keeps creating value in diverse industries, conventional fields will feel pressure to integrate these technologies into their systems, bringing added volatility to the market. Apple Cancels iPhone 14 And iPhone SE For Millions Of Users Critical Gmail Warning—Don’t Click Yes To These Google Security Alerts The ‘Virus Is Spreading’—Bitcoin Suddenly Braced For A ‘Major’ 2025 Price Move Multimodal AI and AI agents will transform Industries. AI and Robotics Transformation Multimodal AI and AI agents will transform industries. Several recently developed methods for electronically interpreting and producing multiple forms of data (text, images, and audio) will allow sectors, including healthcare, education, and communication services, to innovate their processes significantly. Agentic AI agents will operate as a strategic workforce for complex work, including legal requirements, supply chain efficiency, product development and other fields to improve efficiency and productivity. Robotics will increase across domains. Applying robotics is going mainstream as socionic and anthropomorphic robots like Ameca and Digit go from being novelties to being essential in eldercare, warehousing, and retail. Ordinary multitasking robots will become the backbone of the healthcare and logistics industries. In households, inexpensive robotic appliances will prevail over conventional devices, providing greater protection, linking, and ease of use. In 2025, there will be confusion over what constitutes and does not constitute human effort, leading to profound debate over the topic of work, self, and meaning. Advancements in Space Exploration 2025 will see the dawn of a sustainable economic presence on the moon. In 2025, humanity will continue experiments in deep space exploration and take a baby step toward the commercialization of outer space by forming permanent habitats on the moon through private business ventures and government initiatives. These are the early steps, but they will be the dawn of a sustainable economic presence on the moon. Asteroid mining will be a concept that turns into reality as firms such as AstroForge aim to launch a compact refinery into space, designed to extract minerals from asteroids and transport only the precious metals back to Earth. Improvements in technology will keep making space tourism easier, allowing the ultra-elite to go to space. Fueling this is the advancement of rocket reusability by SpaceX and Blue Origin, alongside the increasing interest of nations in attaining space assets for reasons of security and economic gain. Such advancements are likely to yield trillion-dollar industries . There is a massive shortage of new governance for the celestial region and conflict resolution. 2025 will mark the key year when humanity will experience the change of its goals and dream to start a new life on a new planet and move from being an earth-bound species to a multi-planetary species. Biotechnology Revolution In 2025, personalized medicine will be the norm for patient care due to innovations in AI for ... [+] chronic disease treatment. In 2025, personalized medicine will be the norm for patient care due to innovations in AI for chronic disease treatment. Anti-aging therapies that operate at the level of cells and genes will advance, and these technologies will become everyday practices. Significant funding for gene-editing tools such as CRISPR and the use of AI in new medicine development and clinical research are driving these advancements. These technologies are key to incremental advancement in medical treatments and techniques that will change the way healthcare is delivered and, especially, the intent of treatment—moving from alleviating the discomfort of sicknesses to eradicating sick states at their root. Ethical concerns around genetic engineering must be addressed. These biotechnological advances will revolutionize healthcare and may drive us to rethink what being healthy, growing old, and being human means. Automotive and Transportation Transformation The EV transition will start to upend the world’s oil consumption and needs, forcing the automotive ... [+] and oil industries to embrace green energy and other energy efficiencies. While Gartner forecasts that 85 million EVs will be on our roads by the end of 2025, I predict that 1 in 4 cars sold will be electric. Self-driving vehicle fleets will begin appearing in large cities. The EV transition will start to upend the world’s oil consumption and needs, forcing the automotive and oil industries to embrace green energy and other energy efficiencies. Cybersecurity Spending Will Top $300 Billion We will see a rise in AI-driven cyber threats targeting critical technology infrastructure. ... [+] AI-powered defense systems will be the key to combating and preventing these threats. The enterprise level's focus on cybersecurity will increase for any business reliant on technology. We will see a rise in AI-driven cyber threats targeting critical technology infrastructure. AI-powered defense systems will be the key to combating and preventing these threats. Spending on cyber security will top $300 billion . This focus can’t be on just one country; governments must collaborate for the planet's greater good. Toward AGI and Superintelligence Conceptual illustration of the advancement of AI, showing humanity creating general AI, which in ... [+] turn creates super AI. General AI, also known as strong AI, refers to AI that is designed to perform any intellectual task that a human can do. Super AI refers to AI that is capable of surpassing human intelligence in all areas. Super AI would be capable of solving complex problems that are beyond human capabilities and would be able to learn and adapt at a rate that far exceeds human intelligence. These are both hypothetical forms of AI that are not yet possible to achieve. 2025 could be the year when we finally have machines capable of thinking like humans. This will, in turn, force us all to rethink what it is to be a creator of intelligent “life.” New problems will appear with the creation of AGI systems capable of solving multi-disciplinary problems. We will also need to create solutions for the coming concerns around safety in superintelligence, the ability to control and contain it, and how many and how intelligent an AI agent we should be allowed to develop. Neural architectures and quantum computing will be the drivers behind this innovation. This will lead to conversations of international regulation so that AGI will be oriented to fit society’s ethical benchmarks and welfare. Legal precedents set in 2025 shape the Future of AI Ethical AI , in terms of its use and accessibility, will stay at the forefront as interest and deployment continue to spread. Generative AI is increasingly used every day by industries and individuals, creating an increased focus on verifying human identity and identifying and preventing deepfakes. Leaders will increase their emphasis on the ethical use of AI or face internal and public backlash. Companies will ensure their use of AI matches what their workforce feels is fair and ethical. The legal community has never proven itself efficient or ahead of the curve, so we can expect courtroom battles to drag out. However, when settled, they will shape the course of AI’s future, whether for the better or the worse. Economic Disruption through AI Economic disruption caused by AI will only increase. From a people perspective, some middle managers, especially in large companies, will be made irrelevant by the adoption of new technologies. Due to the democratization of AI, it will be easier for small businesses to rival large-scale business organizations. Yes, these enhancements offer a lot of bang for the buck when it comes to enabling strategic change and gains, but they will also cause issues like displacing employees who must be re-skilled. The shift will require business as we know it to rethink the basic paradigms of business agility, with an emphasis on technology. AI Data Centers: The Backbone of AI Compute ASHBURN, VIRGINIA - JULY 17: In an aerial view, the IAD71 Amazon Web Services data center is shown ... [+] on July 17, 2024 in Ashburn, Virginia. Northern Virginia is the largest data center market in the world, according to a report this year cited in published accounts, but is facing headwinds from availability of land and electric power. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images) As I wrote this past October, AI data centers are now the backbone of our compute-driven future. Massive investment will be made in hyper-efficient and liquid-cooled structures. This change will aid several industries, especially the healthcare and automotive industries. Governments will support changes in legislation that encourage investments in sustainable data center designs, opening many opportunities for green tech market players. To keep up with the demand AI will place on these centers, the focus will be sustainable and energy-efficient design. Many organizations may not consider this important now, which could set them behind their competition sooner than expected. Venture-Backed Titan Startups Elon Musk addresses participants via videoconference during the eight edition of the Vivatech ... [+] technology startups and innovation fair, at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, on May 23, 2024. (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images) The existence and diffusion of artificial intelligence in startups will bring a new breed of venture capital to the world, which will be characterized by higher and unparalleled efficiency and scalability. While powered by automation and other aspects of lean entrepreneurship, these new forms will disrupt traditional corporations, many of which will have a $100M ARR with fewer than 30 employees. Decentralized systems for secure information exchange will also appear, changing industries' views of data. This wave of innovation will redefine sectors, change competition patterns, and introduce new market players, underlining the transformation of AI-based schemes and initiatives. Final Words On 2025 2025 will be another year of massive change. AI, Robotics, space travel, and healthcare breakthroughs suggest that the possibilities of this new year are limitless. I expect actions and innovations to be carefully planned to extract maximum value. The next 12 months and beyond will allow us to envision a future filled with social progress and technological advancements.None
NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Julia Wick | (TNS) Los Angeles Times As California politicos look ahead to 2025, the biggest question looming is whether Vice President Kamala Harris — a native daughter, battered just weeks ago by presidential election defeat — will enter the 2026 California governor’s race. Related Articles National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump invites China’s Xi to his inauguration even as he threatens massive tariffs on Beijing National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump National Politics | What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP-NORC poll Harris has yet to give any public indication on her thoughts and those close to her suggest the governorship is not immediately top of mind. But if Harris does ultimately run — and that’s a massive if — her entrée would seismically reshape the already crowded race for California’s highest office. Recent polling suggests Harris would have a major advantage, with 46% of likely voters saying they were somewhat or very likely to support her for governor in 2026, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored by The Times. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said during a recent UC Irvine panel interview . Porter, a high-profile Democrat who has been eyeing the wide-open governor’s race, has yet to say whether she plans to run. Porter’s point was broadly echoed in conversations with nearly a dozen California political operatives and strategists, several of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly. Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities. “In politics, you always let the big dogs eat first,” quipped Democratic political consultant Peter Ragone. The current gubernatorial field is a who’s who of California politicians, but lacks a clear favorite or star with widespread name recognition. The vast majority of California’s 22 million voters have yet to pay attention to the race and have little familiarity with the candidates. The list of Democratic candidates includes Los Angeles’ first Latino mayor in more than a century ( Antonio Villaraigosa ); the first female and first out LGBTQ leader of the state Senate ( Toni Atkins ); the sitting lieutenant governor and first woman to hold that post ( Eleni Kounalakis ); the state superintendent of public instruction ( Tony Thurmond ) and the former state controller ( Betty Yee ). Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second term as California governor, meaning he is ineligible to run again. Several other Democrats, including Porter, outgoing Health and Human Services Director Xavier Becerra and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have also publicly toyed with the idea of a run. They could be less likely to enter the fray should Harris decide to run. What the billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso — who has also been exploring a run — would choose to do is an open question, as Caruso might contrast himself with Harris as a more centrist candidate. The real estate developer was a registered Republican until November 2019. It’s unlikely that Harris will proffer a public decision in the immediate term, leaving plenty of time for political insiders to game out hypotheticals in the weeks and months to come. Harris’ office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think every candidate for governor is trying to get some kind of intel,” Mike Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based Democratic political consultant and former Villaraigosa staffer, said of a potential Harris run. Trujillo speculated that Harris’ current state was probably similar to Hillary Clinton’s hiking sojourns in the Chappaqua woods after losing to Donald Trump in 2016, or Al Gore growing a beard in the bruising aftermath of his 2000 defeat. “The first thing she’s probably thinking about is, ‘Well, can I run again for president in four years?’ Not, ‘Do I run for governor in two years?’” said one political operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. Harris maintains a home in Brentwood and previously served as California’s senator and attorney general. A successful run for governor in 2026 would almost certainly impede a grab for the presidency in 2028. (Though if history is any guide, an unsuccessful run for California governor does not definitively preclude a bid for the Oval Office: Two years after losing the White House to John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon lost the 1962 contest for governor to Pat Brown . The Yorba Linda native became the nation’s 37th president in 1969.) As the chief executive of a state that doubles as the world’s fifth-largest economy, Harris would have more power to steer policy and make changes as a California governor than she did as vice president, where her job required deference to President Biden. But leading a state, even the nation’s most populous, could feel like small potatoes after being a heartbeat (and a few dozen electoral votes) from the presidency. The protracted slog to November 2026 would also be a stark contrast to her ill-fated 107-day sprint toward the White House, particularly for a candidate whose 2020 presidential primary campaign was dogged by allegations of infighting and mismanagement. “I don’t think Kamala Harris has a deep psychological need to be governor of California, or to be in elective office in order to feel like she can contribute to society,” said the operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. “I think some of these people do, but she’s somebody who has enough prominence that she could do a lot of big, wonderful things without having to worry about balancing California’s budget or negotiating with Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel,” the Encino Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Technically, Harris has until March 2026 to decide whether she enters a race. But political strategists who spoke to The Times theorized that she probably would make a move by late spring, if she chooses to do so. “People will be more annoyed if she drops in in June,” a Democratic strategist involved with one of the gubernatorial campaigns said. Sending a clear signal by February would be more “courteous,” the strategist continued, explaining that such a move would give candidates more time to potentially enter other races. Kounalakis is a longtime friend and ally of Harris’ , and the vice president also has long-term relationships with some of the other candidates and potential candidates. California has eight statewide elected offices and campaign finance laws allow candidates to fundraise interchangeably for them, meaning money already raised for a candidate’s gubernatorial campaign could easily be redirected should they decide to run for, say, lieutenant governor instead. There are already a number of candidates running for lieutenant governor, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, former state Sen. Steven Bradford and former state Treasurer Fiona Ma. But that office probably would see even more interest should Harris enter the gubernatorial race. It’s a largely ceremonial position, but one that has served as a launching pad for the governorship. Still, even if Harris does enter the race, Republican political strategist Mike Murphy threw cold water on the idea that she would have an automatic glide path to the governor’s office. “It’s like Hollywood. Nobody knows anything. She’s famous enough to look credible in early polling. That’s all we know for sure,” Murphy said. “Does that predict the future? No. Are there a lot of downsides (to a potential Harris candidacy)? Totally, yes.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
MOL Introduces Special Incentive Program for Employee Shareholding Plan-Aims to Enhance Engagement of Group Employees and Strengthen ‘Human Capital Management’
DANBURY — Although each athlete had already officially completed the paperwork, Danbury celebrated its trio of seniors heading to collegiate programs. With Wednesday’s signing ceremony more of a formality, Aidan Fiala will continue his baseball career at nearby Alvin Community College for the next two seasons. Meanwhile, Blinn Junior College landed softball player Lexi Fief, and teammate Jessica Spillars signed with Oklahoma Wesleyan inside Danbury High School’s cafeteria with coaches, teammates, friends and family in attendance. FIALA The Alvin Community College signee arrived at Danbury ahead of his sophomore season on the diamond. In his first performance during a preseason scrimmage, Danbury head baseball coach Rusty Sample said Fiala got beat up on the mound. Fiala reversed his fortunes the next time he toed the rubber and since has been one of the most reliable arms for Sample. As a junior, Fiala threw 81 1/3 innings, winning 10 games to just one loss, recording a 1.63 ERA with 136 strikeouts and only six walks. Fiala finished in the top five in the state in strikeouts last season. Danbury won District 24-3A and reached the area round, where it fell to Central Heights. “I want to make an all-state (team) and appearance in the state championship,” Fiala said of his senior-year aspirations. Fiala came onto Alvin’s radar in recent months. Josh Jones, Fiala’s coach with the Texas Bluechips, messaged Alvin’s head coach, Jason Schreiber, earning Fiala a private workout. “I felt good,” Fiala said. “They said I topped 89 or 90 (mph) and struck five out in two innings.” Fiala later attended a camp on campus, where Alvin officially offered him a position on the team as a pitcher. Alvin Community College is 15 miles away from Danbury High School. The Dolphins finished 18-34 last season. Schreiber has been at the school since 2000, and hundreds of players have gone to the Division 1 level during his tenure. Fiala hopes to be one of the next. “I plan to transfer out after two years to a D1, hopefully, a Power 5 school,” he said. Fiala will study criminology during his two years at Alvin. FIEF Fief had had signed with Blinn Junior College for the last two months, but Wednesday, she got the opportunity to thank her friends, family and coaches. In her speech, she spent extra time thanking her dad and mom. “She pushed me a lot through the process,” Fief said. “Having feedback from college coaches and coach (Jack) Brown helped.” Fief handled her recruiting by emailing Blinn’s softball coach, Rich Church, in the summer. Discussions of Fief attending the school began to pick up, materializing into a signing during the fall. “They want me to hopefully be their leadoff hitter for slapping and then run bases and play defense,” Fief said. Blinn finished last season 28-22 overall, earning a trip to the Region 14 tournament. The Buccaneers aim to return to the National Junior College Athletic Association championships, where they have yet to be since 2015. Blinn has multiple locations, but Fief will attend the one in Brenham, which is about two hours away from Danbury. “It’s close to home, so I can come home on the weekends. The environment is really good there,” Fief said. “It’s kind of a small school, and they have all the medical programs I need.” Fief will study anesthesiology in her two years at Blinn. The school beat out three other Fief options: Alvin Community College, Hilbert College in New York and East Texas Baptist University. SPILLARS Spillars’ journey to Oklahoma Wesleyan started more than two years ago when she visited the campus. She took another visit in October when she decided to commit. Spillars chose Oklahoma Wesleyan over nearby schools including the University of St. Thomas. “I was thinking about St. Thomas, and other schools are closer, but I just liked the campus a lot,” Spillars said. Oklahoma Wesleyan is a private university of the Wesleyan Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The university is a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics member. The Eagles have competed in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference since the 2015-16 season. Last season, Oklahoma Wesleyan finished 33-18. University representatives first connected with Spillars at a tournament, which had an area for players to meet with coaches. “They’re nice, and I’m looking forward to it,” Spillars said. Spillars plays multiple positions for the Lady Panthers, but she’ll primarily settle on one at Oklahoma Wesleyan. “They want me at second base, but they’ll also use me at different places if they need it,” Spillars said. Spillars wants to be an accountant, and she will study business or finance. In his speech about both players, Danbury head softball coach Jack Brown made it clear that his two future collegiate players will help the Lady Panthers chase a district title before transitioning to the next level.
Ariana Grande breaks silence on health after fan speculation
Trump is already acting like he's president: From the Politics DeskBOULDER, 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!
Mitchell rescue group launches fundraiser for live trap to aid stray dog efforts
Rucker's 27 lead Army past UTSA 78-75Global stocks experienced a downturn and major Wall Street indexes declined following the European Central Bank's decision to cut interest rates for the fourth time this year, amidst economic challenges and political risks. The Swiss franc weakened after the Swiss National Bank announced its largest rate reduction in nearly a decade. This move coincided with the U.S. Labor Department's report of a 0.4% increase in the producer price index, which surpassed expectations. Amid these developments, oil prices fell over 1%, and markets predicted further rate cuts from the Federal Reserve and ECB. Notably, emerging market stocks and U.S. benchmark 10-year note yields rose slightly. (With inputs from agencies.)
Every car discontinued in Australia in 2024Road 2025 to 2032 new year direction concept and sustainable development concept Evening sunset time ... [+] at destination The year ahead looks set to become one of tremendous change. As a consequence of progress in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and space exploration, economies will see constant transformation. These innovations will create significant opportunities and threats. In 2025, we will need to focus on welcoming amazing innovation and progress while keeping these advancements on the rails of ethical implementation and use. Global Economic Shifts The consequences of the growth of automation and trends toward the decarbonization of industries ... [+] will act as catalysts for changes in the distribution of power in the international arena. Advancements in technology will shape economic growth. There will be an apparent dichotomy between countries that participate in the innovative economy and those that lack the ability or infrastructure to do so. The consequences of the growth of automation and trends toward the decarbonization of industries will act as catalysts for changes in the distribution of power in the international arena. Those failing to do so will lag behind, while others, such as the BRICS group, will continue to seek a shift from the U.S. dollar. However, the U.S. economy is expected to grow, decrease inflation, increase employment, and lower interest rates. These changes underscore the need to complement investment in innovation and change or reskill the workforce to compete globally. Stock Market Shifts and AI Dominance Wall Street is expecting a great year. The U.S. equities index is expected to reach at least 6,500 by the close of 2025 , representing a 9% increase in price from its present value and a 10% total return when factoring in dividends. A good deal of these gains will be courtesy of the AI firms. Nvidia will be a valuation leader because of its strategic position in AI hardware; interesting IPOs will be launched — from Stripe to Databricks. Robotics will also experience exponential; for instance, Boston Dynamics will start achieving major milestones after its humanoid robot sent notice to the entire industry in 2024. Even as AI keeps creating value in diverse industries, conventional fields will feel pressure to integrate these technologies into their systems, bringing added volatility to the market. Apple Cancels iPhone 14 And iPhone SE For Millions Of Users Critical Gmail Warning—Don’t Click Yes To These Google Security Alerts The ‘Virus Is Spreading’—Bitcoin Suddenly Braced For A ‘Major’ 2025 Price Move Multimodal AI and AI agents will transform Industries. AI and Robotics Transformation Multimodal AI and AI agents will transform industries. Several recently developed methods for electronically interpreting and producing multiple forms of data (text, images, and audio) will allow sectors, including healthcare, education, and communication services, to innovate their processes significantly. Agentic AI agents will operate as a strategic workforce for complex work, including legal requirements, supply chain efficiency, product development and other fields to improve efficiency and productivity. Robotics will increase across domains. Applying robotics is going mainstream as socionic and anthropomorphic robots like Ameca and Digit go from being novelties to being essential in eldercare, warehousing, and retail. Ordinary multitasking robots will become the backbone of the healthcare and logistics industries. In households, inexpensive robotic appliances will prevail over conventional devices, providing greater protection, linking, and ease of use. In 2025, there will be confusion over what constitutes and does not constitute human effort, leading to profound debate over the topic of work, self, and meaning. Advancements in Space Exploration 2025 will see the dawn of a sustainable economic presence on the moon. In 2025, humanity will continue experiments in deep space exploration and take a baby step toward the commercialization of outer space by forming permanent habitats on the moon through private business ventures and government initiatives. These are the early steps, but they will be the dawn of a sustainable economic presence on the moon. Asteroid mining will be a concept that turns into reality as firms such as AstroForge aim to launch a compact refinery into space, designed to extract minerals from asteroids and transport only the precious metals back to Earth. Improvements in technology will keep making space tourism easier, allowing the ultra-elite to go to space. Fueling this is the advancement of rocket reusability by SpaceX and Blue Origin, alongside the increasing interest of nations in attaining space assets for reasons of security and economic gain. Such advancements are likely to yield trillion-dollar industries . There is a massive shortage of new governance for the celestial region and conflict resolution. 2025 will mark the key year when humanity will experience the change of its goals and dream to start a new life on a new planet and move from being an earth-bound species to a multi-planetary species. Biotechnology Revolution In 2025, personalized medicine will be the norm for patient care due to innovations in AI for ... [+] chronic disease treatment. In 2025, personalized medicine will be the norm for patient care due to innovations in AI for chronic disease treatment. Anti-aging therapies that operate at the level of cells and genes will advance, and these technologies will become everyday practices. Significant funding for gene-editing tools such as CRISPR and the use of AI in new medicine development and clinical research are driving these advancements. These technologies are key to incremental advancement in medical treatments and techniques that will change the way healthcare is delivered and, especially, the intent of treatment—moving from alleviating the discomfort of sicknesses to eradicating sick states at their root. Ethical concerns around genetic engineering must be addressed. These biotechnological advances will revolutionize healthcare and may drive us to rethink what being healthy, growing old, and being human means. Automotive and Transportation Transformation The EV transition will start to upend the world’s oil consumption and needs, forcing the automotive ... [+] and oil industries to embrace green energy and other energy efficiencies. While Gartner forecasts that 85 million EVs will be on our roads by the end of 2025, I predict that 1 in 4 cars sold will be electric. Self-driving vehicle fleets will begin appearing in large cities. The EV transition will start to upend the world’s oil consumption and needs, forcing the automotive and oil industries to embrace green energy and other energy efficiencies. Cybersecurity Spending Will Top $300 Billion We will see a rise in AI-driven cyber threats targeting critical technology infrastructure. ... [+] AI-powered defense systems will be the key to combating and preventing these threats. The enterprise level's focus on cybersecurity will increase for any business reliant on technology. We will see a rise in AI-driven cyber threats targeting critical technology infrastructure. AI-powered defense systems will be the key to combating and preventing these threats. Spending on cyber security will top $300 billion . This focus can’t be on just one country; governments must collaborate for the planet's greater good. Toward AGI and Superintelligence Conceptual illustration of the advancement of AI, showing humanity creating general AI, which in ... [+] turn creates super AI. General AI, also known as strong AI, refers to AI that is designed to perform any intellectual task that a human can do. Super AI refers to AI that is capable of surpassing human intelligence in all areas. Super AI would be capable of solving complex problems that are beyond human capabilities and would be able to learn and adapt at a rate that far exceeds human intelligence. These are both hypothetical forms of AI that are not yet possible to achieve. 2025 could be the year when we finally have machines capable of thinking like humans. This will, in turn, force us all to rethink what it is to be a creator of intelligent “life.” New problems will appear with the creation of AGI systems capable of solving multi-disciplinary problems. We will also need to create solutions for the coming concerns around safety in superintelligence, the ability to control and contain it, and how many and how intelligent an AI agent we should be allowed to develop. Neural architectures and quantum computing will be the drivers behind this innovation. This will lead to conversations of international regulation so that AGI will be oriented to fit society’s ethical benchmarks and welfare. Legal precedents set in 2025 shape the Future of AI Ethical AI , in terms of its use and accessibility, will stay at the forefront as interest and deployment continue to spread. Generative AI is increasingly used every day by industries and individuals, creating an increased focus on verifying human identity and identifying and preventing deepfakes. Leaders will increase their emphasis on the ethical use of AI or face internal and public backlash. Companies will ensure their use of AI matches what their workforce feels is fair and ethical. The legal community has never proven itself efficient or ahead of the curve, so we can expect courtroom battles to drag out. However, when settled, they will shape the course of AI’s future, whether for the better or the worse. Economic Disruption through AI Economic disruption caused by AI will only increase. From a people perspective, some middle managers, especially in large companies, will be made irrelevant by the adoption of new technologies. Due to the democratization of AI, it will be easier for small businesses to rival large-scale business organizations. Yes, these enhancements offer a lot of bang for the buck when it comes to enabling strategic change and gains, but they will also cause issues like displacing employees who must be re-skilled. The shift will require business as we know it to rethink the basic paradigms of business agility, with an emphasis on technology. AI Data Centers: The Backbone of AI Compute ASHBURN, VIRGINIA - JULY 17: In an aerial view, the IAD71 Amazon Web Services data center is shown ... [+] on July 17, 2024 in Ashburn, Virginia. Northern Virginia is the largest data center market in the world, according to a report this year cited in published accounts, but is facing headwinds from availability of land and electric power. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images) As I wrote this past October, AI data centers are now the backbone of our compute-driven future. Massive investment will be made in hyper-efficient and liquid-cooled structures. This change will aid several industries, especially the healthcare and automotive industries. Governments will support changes in legislation that encourage investments in sustainable data center designs, opening many opportunities for green tech market players. To keep up with the demand AI will place on these centers, the focus will be sustainable and energy-efficient design. Many organizations may not consider this important now, which could set them behind their competition sooner than expected. Venture-Backed Titan Startups Elon Musk addresses participants via videoconference during the eight edition of the Vivatech ... [+] technology startups and innovation fair, at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, on May 23, 2024. (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images) The existence and diffusion of artificial intelligence in startups will bring a new breed of venture capital to the world, which will be characterized by higher and unparalleled efficiency and scalability. While powered by automation and other aspects of lean entrepreneurship, these new forms will disrupt traditional corporations, many of which will have a $100M ARR with fewer than 30 employees. Decentralized systems for secure information exchange will also appear, changing industries' views of data. This wave of innovation will redefine sectors, change competition patterns, and introduce new market players, underlining the transformation of AI-based schemes and initiatives. Final Words On 2025 2025 will be another year of massive change. AI, Robotics, space travel, and healthcare breakthroughs suggest that the possibilities of this new year are limitless. I expect actions and innovations to be carefully planned to extract maximum value. The next 12 months and beyond will allow us to envision a future filled with social progress and technological advancements.
From Astro Bot to Prince of Persia: 15 best video games of 2024Ron Roberts Founder and CEO of Roberts Retirement Group, Interviewed on the Influential Entrepreneur Podcast Discussing Guaranteed Retirement Income Planning
Johnson scores 33 as Tennessee Tech knocks off NAIA-member Milligan 95-75Municipalities are the most on the ground level of government that can effectively intervene in the issues of top importance to Canadians. A survey conducted by Abacus Data on behalf of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) found that municipalities are also the most trusted level of government. And yet they are bound by the fiscal regime of upper levels of government. Of those surveyed, housing affordability was the biggest concern at 44 per cent, followed by the quality of roads and highways at 30 per cent, and traffic congestion at 29 per cent. Homelessness and crime in the community were tied at 27 per cent. Canadians were also concerned with crime, aging municipal infrastructure, and improving the quality of municipal services, like transit and recreation, as communities grow. “Life is too hard for too many Canadians in too many communities,” FCM’s new president Rebecca Bligh, a Vancouver City Councillor, said in a press release. “Whether you live in a rural or urban community, the reality is the same: bills are harder to pay, feeling of insecurity is growing, transportation is inadequate, and homelessness is commonplace. It’s time to fix those issues for good.” But measures taken by the federal and provincial governments aimed at making life easier for Canadians have done very little to support those struggling the most. In Ontario, and municipal housing targets have yet to spur any true growth of affordable homes for Ontarians. Conservative leaders in Nova Scotia and Alberta have also been targeted for a failure to address the growing housing crisis. On the federal stage, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced a over the holiday period. But the FCM argues that short-term measures are not enough to support growing populations. FCM is proposing the creation of a new Municipal Growth Framework that would see the three levels of government negotiate a more equitable sharing of existing taxes. The new agreement, the FCM states, would enable municipalities to make residents’ lives more affordable, infrastructure more reliable and your community safer. It is asking the federal government to commit to this negotiation within the 2024-25 budget cycle. “Should Ottawa turn a deaf ear to this request, municipalities will be unable to fix today’s problems with the current toolset,” a press release from FCM states. “In the lead up to the next federal election, all political parties must remember that municipalities are fighting for Canadians and that it is only through collaboration amongst all orders of government that we can achieve lasting benefits.”Pro Tips For Traveling Safer During The 2024 Holidays
Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as the market posted its fifth straight gain and the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched another record high. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The benchmark index’s 1.7% gain for the week erased most of its loss from last week. The Dow rose 1% as it nudged past its most recent high set last week, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump’s victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. It’s now within about 0.5% of its all-time high set last week. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 12.8% after handily beating analysts’ third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 2.2% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.8% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company’s Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 gained ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.7%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.7% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.63 points to 5,969.34. The Dow climbed 426.16 points to 44,296.51, and the Nasdaq picked up 42.65 points to close at 2,406.67. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts’ expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It’s still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers’ inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank’s meeting in December.Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers celebrated in the locker room Saturday after they wrapped up a playoff spot with a 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots. But even as they realized one goal by making the postseason, Harbaugh tried to keep things focused on the road ahead by stressing: “There’s more to do.” The Chargers (10-6) go into the regular-season finale at Las Vegas knowing they will be at least the AFC’s sixth seed and avoid a trip to Buffalo for the wild-card round. Los Angeles currently is in line to face Baltimore in a Harbaugh Bowl rematch, but it has an outside shot at the fifth seed and a trip to Houston if Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh next weekend. While Harbaugh credited his players for the turnaround from five wins last year to double-digit victories this season, Herbert gave most of it to Harbaugh and first-year general manager Joe Hortiz. “They have done such a great job of getting the right guys here. You look in the locker room and everybody plays for each other,” Herbert said. “(Harbaugh’s) a competitor, and he wants to win no matter what it is. It definitely shows, and it’s the way everyone fights for him, wants to play for him, and respects him.” Harbaugh is the fifth coach in NFL history to win at least 10 games in his first season with two teams. He is also the eighth to make the playoffs in his first season with two teams. “Very little to do with me. If it goes right, then it’s our players. They’re doing a great job. It’s gone bad a couple times. That’s on me,” he said. “I’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid here from day one, I can’t give enough credit to Derwin James, Justin Herbert, and those two in particular. And Khalil Mack and Rashawn Slater. I mean, stalwarts. Brad Bozeman has come in. He’s been a stalwart. There’s a bunch. There’s probably, like — I counted it up early. There was maybe 15, 15 stalwarts that we had, and it’s grown since then.” Even though the Chargers are 3-5 against teams with winning records at the time they’ve played them, they are 7-1 against teams that were at or under .500. Four of those wins against opponents with losing records have come by at least 17 points, the first time since 2017 the Bolts have won that many games by as big a margin. Since halftime of their Dec. 19 game against Denver, the Chargers have outscored the Broncos and Patriots 61-13 over six quarters. “That’s the type of football we want to be playing in December, January, and hopefully on. That’s the type of football you want to be playing, especially in these big games like that. It was really good to see,” Herbert said. What’s working Offensive coordinator Greg Roman has said throughout the season it’s tough to use the full playbook when the Chargers have short drives. They came into Saturday’s game ranked 26th with only 23 possessions of at least 10 plays, but they had four against the Patriots, leading to three touchdowns and a field goal. It was the first time since Week 10 last season against Detroit they have had at least four drives of double-digit plays. What needs help Kickoff return coverage. The Chargers have allowed nine kick returns of at least 30 yards, eighth most in the league. New England’s Alex Erickson had three returns for 90 yards, including 34 and 31 yards. Stock up RB J.K. Dobbins was activated off injured reserve and provided a boost to the offense with 76 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Dobbins, who missed four games due to a knee injury, has set career highs in scrimmage yards (983) and rushing yards (842) in his first season with the Chargers. Stock down WR D.J. Chark was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch. Chark was signed during the offseason to provide experience and speed to a young receiver group. However, he missed the first half of the season with a hip injury and has played sparingly since his return. He has three receptions on the season. Injuries Three starters — RB Gus Edwards (ankle), LB Denzel Perryman (groin) and OG Trey Pipkins (hip) — were inactive. WR Joshua Palmer (heel) and DB Elijah Molden (shin) were injured in the second half. Key numbers 77 and 1,054 — Receptions and receiving yards by Ladd McConkey, both records for a Chargers rookie. 5 — Consecutive seasons by Herbert with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes, tied with Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson for the most to start a career. 2 — Sacks by Derwin James Jr. against the Patriots, the first time in the safety’s seven-year career he has had multiple sacks in a game. What’s next The Chargers go for their first season sweep of the Raiders since 2018 in the regular-season finale. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLPolice in Georgia on Saturday fired water cannons to disperse pro-EU protesters rallying for a ninth consecutive day against the prime minister's decision to shelve talks on joining the European Union. The Caucasus nation has been engulfed in turmoil since the governing Georgian Dream party declared that it had won a disputed October 26 election. The party's critics have accused it of creeping authoritarianism and of steering the country back towards Russia. Thousands of defiant pro-EU protesters in Georgia began to rally Friday eve after the prime minister claimed victory in a "battle" against the opposition. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets since the election to protest against alleged electoral fraud. Fresh rallies took place across the country after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced last week that Georgia would not hold talks on European Union membership until 2028. Police have fired tear gas and water cannon against pro-EU protests in Tbilisi and hundreds of arrests have been made, triggering outrage at home and mounting international condemnation. France, Germany and Poland condemned what they called the government's "disproportionate" use of force against protesters and opposition leaders in a joint statement Friday. Shortly after midnight on Saturday, riot police in full gear moved in with water cannons to disperse the rally outside the parliament building, making arrests as the crowd retreated a few metres (yards), an AFP reporter witnessed. Earlier on Friday evening, several thousand people blocked the street outside parliament, with some blowing whistles and others setting off firecrackers. The crowd was smaller than on previous nights and the mood quieter, but protesters rejected claims the movement was dying out. "People will continue the protest," said one demonstrator, 23-year-old Giorgi, wearing a Georgian flag and a back scarf pulled over his nose. "They're patient, I will be here for the rest of my life if it is necessary to save my country." Separate protests were held outside Georgia's Public Broadcaster -- accused of being a government propaganda tool -- as well as the education ministry and the country's tourism administration offices. Shalva Alaverdashvili, founder of the Georgian hotels' federation, told AFP that the "unexpected and unacceptable" suspension of EU accession talks has severely hit the country's tourism industry, which accounts for seven percent of the country's GDP. Thousands have also staged anti-government rallies in the second city of Batumi on the Black Sea coast. On Friday evening, a court in Tbilisi put a 19-year-old youth activist in pre-trial detention. Zviad Tsetskhladze had been arrested during the protests on charges of "organising, leading, and participating in group violence". Tsetskhladze told the judge: "Democracy in Georgia is no more. The rule of law has been crushed. "Our actions are a form of resistance, aimed at preserving the rule of law, defending democracy, and protecting the rights of every individual." Earlier Friday Prime Minister Kobakhidze praised his security forces for "successfully neutralising the protesters' capacity for violence". "We have won an important battle against liberal fascism in our country," he told a news conference, using language reminiscent of how the Kremlin in Russia targets its political opponents. "But the fight is not over. Liberal fascism in Georgia must be defeated entirely," Kobakhidze said, repeating an earlier threat to "complete the process of neutralising the radical opposition". With both sides ruling out a compromise, there appeared to be no clear route out of the crisis. The leader of the opposition Lelo party, Mamuka Khazaradze, said the ruling party "no longer has the strength or resources to stand against the people." The government "has resorted to arresting young activists and political opponents out of fear of relentless public protests and growing civil disobedience by public servants," he told AFP. The interior ministry said police had detained three more individuals Friday for "participating in group violence", punishable by up to nine years' jail. Masked officers have raided several opposition party offices and arrested opposition leaders earlier this week, while around 300 people have been detained at rallies. On Friday Nika Gvaramia, leader of the opposition Akhali party, was sentenced to 12 days in prison. Alexandre Elisashvili, leader of the Strong Georgia opposition group, was remanded in custody for two months of pretrial detention. More trouble is expected after December 14, when Georgian Dream lawmakers elect a loyalist to succeed pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili. She has vowed not to step down until the parliamentary polls are re-run. Local media has also reported protests across the country, including in the cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Rustavi and Telavi. Critics of Georgian Dream are enraged by what they call its betrayal of Tbilisi's bid for EU membership, enshrined in the constitution and supported by around 80 percent of the population. Several ambassadors, a deputy foreign minister, and other officials have resigned over the suspension of EU talks. Georgian Dream, in power for more than a decade, has advanced controversial legislation in recent years, targeting civil society and independent media and curbing LGBTQ rights. Brussels warned such policies were incompatible with EU membership, while domestic critics accuse the government of copying Russia's playbook. Georgia's own rights ombudsman has accused the police of "torture" against those arrested. ub-im/sbk