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San Francisco (5-5) at Green Bay (7-3) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, FOX BetMGM NFL odds: Packers by 2 1/2. Against the spread: 49ers 4-6; Packers 4-6 Series record: Packers lead 38-34-1 Last meeting: 49ers beat Packers 24-21 in NFC divisional playoff game Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. Last week: 49ers lost 20-17 at home to Seattle; Packers won 20-19 at Chicago 49ers offense: overall (2), rush (7), pass (4), scoring (T-8) Packers offense: overall (4), rush (4), pass (9), scoring (T-8) 49ers defense: overall (6), rush (8), pass (8), scoring (T-16) Packers defense: overall (12), rush (14), pass (13), scoring (10) Turnover differential: 49ers plus-3; Packers plus-5 QB Brandon Allen: With Brock Purdy unavailable due to a sore right shoulder, Allen will make his first start in three years. The 32-year-old Allen has made nine career starts, and his teams have gone 2-7 in those games. His last start came with Cincinnati in the 2021 regular-season finale when the Bengals rested usual starter Joe Burrow to get ready for the playoffs. Allen has thrown three passes in the last three seasons, including none since joining San Francisco in 2023. Allen was a member of the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, when Packers coach Matt LaFleur was that team’s offensive coordinator. RB Josh Jacobs has 838 yards rushing this season to rank third in the NFL entering Week 12. He ran for 76 yards and a touchdown while also catching five passes for 58 yards against the Bears. Jacobs has scored four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) over his past four games. He has at least 90 yards from scrimmage over his past six games, matching Houston’s Joe Mixon for the NFL’s longest such active streak. 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey vs. Packers run defense: McCaffrey rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns — including the game-winner with 1:07 left — in the 49ers’ playoff victory over the Packers last season. Green Bay is coming off a performance in which it allowed a season-high 179 yards rushing to the Bears. Purdy isn't playing due to a sore throwing shoulder. ... The 49ers also won't have Nick Bosa after he injured his left hip and oblique against the Seahawks. ... Niners CB Charvarius Ward will miss a third straight game following the death of his 1-year-old daughter. ... Niners LT Trent Williams (ankle) is questionable. ... Niners TE George Kittle is expected back after missing last week’s game with a hamstring injury. ... Packers CB Jaire Alexander (knee) and LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) have been ruled out. ... Packers guard Jordan Morgan (shoulder) is on injured reserve. The 49ers have beaten the Packers in the playoffs three of the past five years. That includes a 37-19 victory in the 2019 NFC championship, a 13-10 upset at Lambeau Field in the 2021 divisional round and the 24-21 thriller last season. The past three matchups between these teams — including a Packers 30-28 road victory on Sept. 26, 2021 — have been decided by a total of eight points. This marks the first time these teams have faced off at Lambeau Field during the regular season since a Packers 33-30 triumph on Oct. 15, 2018. Each of the past three Packers-49ers games at Green Bay have been decided by three points. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and Packers coach Matt LaFleur worked together as assistants at Houston (2008-09), Washington (2010-13) and Atlanta (2015-16). A loss would give the 49ers a losing record more than 10 games into a season for the first time since going 6-10 in 2020. ... San Francisco has lost a league-worst three games this season after leading in the final two minutes of regulation. ... The 49ers have allowed 36 points in the final two minutes of regulation, second most in the NFL. ... The Niners had only one play from scrimmage go for at least 20 yards last week, tied for the fewest in any game in eight seasons under Shanahan. ... San Francisco is outgaining the opposition through the air by an NFL-best 53.9 yards per game. ... McCaffrey has topped 100 yards from scrimmage in his first two games back from Achilles tendinitis and has five straight games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage going back to last postseason. ... McCaffrey’s 57 games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage are the most for any active player. ... The 49ers are 1-5 this season when Purdy turns the ball over and 4-0 when he doesn’t. ... Purdy’s four rushing TDs are the most in a season for a Niners QB since Colin Kaepernick had four in 2013. ... This is the first of three games the Packers are playing in a 12-day stretch. They host the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night and visit the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions on Dec. 5. ... The Packers are tied for fourth in the league with 19 takeaways, but they don’t have any over their past two games. ... Packers S Xavier McKinney has six interceptions this season to rank second in the league, behind Detroit’s Kerby Joseph (seven). McKinney has seven total takeaways, putting him in a tie for first with Joseph. ... Jacobs’ 838 yards rushing and 1,024 scrimmage yards this season are the most any Packer has had in his first 10 games with the team. Jacobs’ 1,024 scrimmage yards are the most for any Packer through the first 10 games of a season since Ahman Green had 1,057 at this point in 2004. ... Packers DL Rashan Gary had his 35th sack against Chicago to overtake teammate Kenny Clark for ninth place in franchise history. Clark, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is still seeking his first sack of the season. ... The Packers and 49ers have the NFC’s best regular-season winning percentage since 2019. The Packers are 63-30 and the 49ers 59-34 during that stretch. ... San Francisco’s George Kittle has seven touchdown catches to lead all NFL tight ends. Green Bay’s Tucker Kraft has five touchdown receptions to match Baltimore’s Mark Andrews for the second-highest total among tight ends. ... The 49ers rank 26th in the league with TDs on 48.8% of their red zone drives. Green Bay is 27th in that category and has scored TDs on 48.7% of its drives. Packers WR Christian Watson’s slow start to the season means he might have been stashed on someone’s bench or perhaps even became available on some fantasy football waiver wires. Now would be a good time to try to acquire him. Watson had four catches for a career-high 150 yards against the Bears. After getting targeted just 14 times over his first six games, Watson’s had 17 targets in his past three. He had a catch each of the four times Jordan Love targeted him in Chicago. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

When a young person learns the game of cricket they are taught the fundamental skills of the game – batting, bowling and fielding. Nowhere in the rule book does it say a player needs to be a good gambler too. Yet that is what has become expected for captains at the elite level when it comes to DRS – 15 seconds to decide whether to use any remaining reviews, that may or may not be needed later in the innings. To make matters worse, seconds after the decision, fans see the outcome of the review when nothing can be done about it except whinging and moaning. More Cricket In a lot of cases, it has just become a sideshow. There have been many examples where players have become selfish in using a team review just because it is there – others spark a batting collapse by not reviewing a decision that wasn’t out. It’s clear the game’s authorities need to balance two sides: getting on-field decisions right, and also not wasting time and delaying the game’s flow and detracting viewers. It can be a costly system too. Remember the 2019 Ashes in England when Ben Stokes was plumb LBW with just one wicket in hand? Australia should have won the third Test and retained the Ashes with a series win – but due to having no reviews left, four balls later England completed their greatest Test run chase and the series ended up being drawn. Ultimately, what do we want from DRS? If the answer is to get decisions right, we need to look at taking away any guesswork or loopholes – employ some common sense and review everything possible – and yes, there is a way. Roar editor Christy Doran made the trip to Seattle with VisitSeattle.org, diving into the city’s electric sports vibe, outdoor adventures, and renowned food scene. Click here for his latest adventure in the Emerald City. To make it clear, that doesn’t necessarily mean slowing the game down. In 2024, surely there is a way for each appeal to have the opportunity to be reviewed in an efficient manner behind the scenes without causing an unnecessary delay if the right processes are followed. Currently, for an LBW shout in Australia, the players are given 15 seconds before the third umpire begins the system of looking at the front foot, slow motion vision, UltraEdge, HotSpot and if necessary a height check for a full toss before they get to the crucial ball tracking and it could mean that the three previous checks were pointless. My proposal doesn’t mean there won’t be stoppages to check decisions, but rulings can be made more efficiently by pinpointing the balls and moments where there’s genuine doubt, as opposed to players just hoping for the best. A review, non-review, or not having any remaining reviews should never cost a team the game. Nathan Lyon. (Photo by Graham Denholm – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images) Firstly, it’s important to note that not every ball will need to be reviewed. It still will need an appeal to trigger the DRS process, but like football, cricket could introduce smart watches for the umpires for LBW decisions. The most crucial part of a leg before dismissal is the ‘three red lights’ system in ball tracking, meaning normally the ball pitching in line or outside off, hitting in line and hitting the wickets. If all three of these are red then the umpire’s watch will beep and vibrate. That’s similar to what happens in elite European football competitions using the ball chip. Once it passes the goal line the referee gets notified immediately – if nothing happens it’s no goal – why can’t that happen in cricket to give the umpires more information instantly? It will not automatically trigger a dismissal straight away unless the on-field umpire is certain, based on that information from the watch that it is out. But if using human discretion an umpire thinks that it is close enough to the bat to create doubt, then they can launch a review, not the captain, to quickly check the other factors using UltraEdge (or Snicko) or Hotspot. For those who doubt that this will be a quick process, a behind-the-scenes Fox Cricket segment illustrated the process of DRS and what we see on the broadcast is an animation of the ball tracking, which takes time to formulate. The raw data is much more speedily available and all the umpire on the field needs to know is that the technology has found that the ‘three red lights’ are active and it may need a closer inspection. This can be done quicker than the captain has to decide whether to review or not. There will always need to be a front-foot check or making sure there’s no bat before pad – and players given out can still review a dismissal if they feel they have hit it – but as far as the crucial ball tracking the officials will already know the outcome, so that part won’t need to be checked. Just look at tennis, the player reviews have been made obsolete in major tournaments through digital line calls that replaced human line judges. Players don’t need to use up time challenging because the review has already been done. The Hawk-Eye animation is just for the fans and entertainment on the broadcast. The Fox Cricket segment also clarifies the argument that while the broadcasted animation looked as if the ball was hitting the wickets, the raw data shows it’s much closer, triggering Umpire’s Call as opposed to Out. Despite this, as a side note, I do think that Umpire’s Call needs to go and it is either black or white – either hitting or not, and just live with the margin of error. Mohammad Rizwan speaks with umpire Joel Wilson. (Photo by Morgan Hancock – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images) Ultimately, giving the umpire instant knowledge of the three red lights and altering the process takes the guessing out of it from captains. Especially the bowling team, who are really just throwing at the dart board. How can any fielder really know with more certainty than the umpire standing at the other end to decide on the ball trajectory? Caught behinds and edges also can be made more efficient. Whether it is bringing more people in to look at the review quicker – like front foot no balls – and alert the umpire to the doubt before the bowler gets to the top of their mark, or even giving more player reviews for caught behind only with only one thing allowed to be checked. Both on-field umpires and third umpires could also be given earpieces with enhanced stump mic audio to better hear snicks and edges more clearly and quickly triggering reviews – where necessary. The time between deliveries is not as short as many people think, I have managed toilet breaks and putting the kettle on in the middle of Mitchell Starc, Chris Woakes and Mohammed Siraj’s overs without missing anything. This proposed idea is not a reinvention of the wheel, and there will be human error that still exists in the game. But if the technology is there why not take advantage of it at a point where something can be done about it, rather than the backlash in the media or social media to the detriment of the game? Sports opinion delivered daily It is not about bringing in rocket scientists to invent new technology; cricket actually has all the tools available to it that it needs. There just needs to be a smarter process where teams are not gambling on DRS for results.Cotton Yarn Market to Witness Excellent Revenue Growth Owing to Rapid Increase in Demand

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk , an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today’s edition, national political correspondent Steve Kornacki breaks down how New Jersey could provide an early test for Donald Trump's coalition. Plus, senior national political reporter Sahil Kapur finds that senators from both parties are skeptical of Trump's recent call for a deal on Dreamers. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. A blue state could provide an early test for the Trump coalition By Steve Kornacki One of the biggest gains Donald Trump notched this year came in what has been one of the bluest states in the country: New Jersey. The incoming president lost the Garden State to Kamala Harris by 6 points , a double-digit improvement from his 16-point margin of defeat against Joe Biden in 2020. Key to Trump’s expanded support were sizable gains with Hispanic voters, part of a national trend that was even more pronounced in New Jersey, where just over 1 in 5 residents are Hispanic. He also made notable strides with Asian American voters and with Muslim and Arab American voters in a few pockets of the state, while boosting his already strong standing in Orthodox Jewish areas — again, all consistent patterns seen throughout the country. A major question that emerges from the 2024 election is whether Republicans can maintain this new demographic coalition — and build on it — without Trump himself being on the ballot. This positions New Jersey’s upcoming 2025 gubernatorial contest as a potential early test. The magnitude of some of the shifts within New Jersey this year is staggering. In all six of the major cities or towns where Hispanics account for more than 70% of the population, the margin moved at least 20 points in Trump’s direction compared to 2020. And it’s even more dramatic compared to 2016. Increased Hispanic support for Trump has also made the state’s largest city, Newark, somewhat less of a vote bank for Democrats. Nearly half of the city’s 305,000 residents are Black, but the Hispanic population has been growing and now accounts for nearly 40% of Newark’s population. Trump was still crushed in the city this year, losing it to Kamala Harris by 58 points, but that’s actually a significant improvement from the 85-point loss he suffered when he first ran in 2016. A similar story is unfolding in the town of Palisades Park in North Jersey, home to one of the highest concentrations of Korean Americans in the country. Trump lost Palisades Park, which is 63% Asian American, by just 5 points in November, compared to 22 points in 2020 and 32 points in 2016. And then there’s Lakewood, home to one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities outside Israel. The township’s population has more than doubled, from 60,000 in 2000 to nearly 140,000 in last year’s census estimate, with no slowdown in sight. It’s become a major source of GOP support statewide, one that Trump has taken to new heights. When he first ran in 2016, Trump carried Lakewood by 50 points. This November, he drove that number up to 75 points. In New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial race, Democrats will obviously be hoping that the demographic inroads Trump made are Trump-specific. And they do have at least some reason for optimism: In the state’s race for an open U.S. Senate this year, Democrat Andy Kim overperformed Harris in all of these places. In Passaic, for example, he defeated his Republican opponent by 6 points — a net 13-point improvement over Harris. But Republicans can also take heart that, even as Kim ran ahead of Harris, his support level in these communities still tended to be significantly lower than how Democrats fared pre-Trump. It will make all of these places worth keeping a close eye on as the governor’s race unfolds. Senators are skeptical of Trump’s call for a bipartisan deal on Dreamers By Sahil Kapur When President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that he’s interested in cutting a deal with Democrats to protect Dreamers brought to the U.S. at a young age, some senators felt a tinge of déjà vu. “We have to do something about the Dreamers because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age. And many of these are middle-aged people now. They don’t even speak the language of their country,” Trump told moderator Kristen Welker. “I will work with the Democrats on a plan.” When asked about Trump’s remarks, leading Senate Republicans didn’t close the door to a deal — but they did sound a note of skepticism about the prospects. “We’ll see. The sweet spot on immigration reform has eluded us a number of times. But obviously if there is a bipartisan willingness to take on that issue, then I’m certainly open to what we can do,” said incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “It’d be better long term if we could come up with some legislative solutions, but in the last few administrations, everything’s been done by executive action. So it’s going to take something to break that logjam.” Trump used similar rhetoric during his first term, but his actions told a different story. As president in 2017, he sought to end the DACA program that protected undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children from deportation. And in 2018, when Sens. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Angus King, I-Maine, cut a bipartisan deal to give Dreamers legal status while giving Trump money for his border wall , Trump’s White House successfully fought to kill the deal because it didn’t also curtail family-based immigration. Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who sponsored the original Dream Act in 2001, said he was “listening closely” to Trump’s comments on the matter Sunday and welcomed talks. “My ears perked up. After 23 years, I’m ready,” he said. “Anytime, anywhere — let’s sit down.” “But there’s reason to be skeptical, if not cynical,” Durbin added. Read more → More MTP interview reaction: Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who chaired the now-defunct House Jan. 6 committee, pushed back against Trump’s suggestion during his “Meet the Press” interview that the panel’s former members should be imprisoned. Read more → That’s all from the Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback — likes or dislikes — email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if you’re a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here .SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutanix, Inc. ("Nutanix”) (Nasdaq: NTNX), a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today announced its intention to offer, subject to market conditions and other factors, $750 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2029 (the "notes”) in a private placement (the "offering”) to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act”). Nutanix also expects to grant the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase up to an additional $112.5 million aggregate principal amount of the notes within a 13-day period from, and including, the initial issuance date of the notes. The notes will be unsecured senior obligations of Nutanix. Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears. The notes will mature on December 15, 2029, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased. The notes will be convertible at the option of holders, subject to certain conditions and during certain periods. Upon conversion, the notes may be settled in cash, shares of Nutanix's Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Nutanix's Class A common stock, at Nutanix's election. The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes are to be determined at the time of the pricing of the offering. Nutanix intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to (i) repurchase a portion of its outstanding 0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the "2027 notes”) concurrently with the pricing of the offering in separate and privately negotiated transactions with certain holders of its 2027 notes (the "concurrent note repurchases”) effected through one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate, acting as Nutanix's agent, and (ii) repurchase up to $200.0 million of shares of Nutanix's Class A common stock in privately negotiated transactions with institutional investors effected through one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate, acting as Nutanix's agent, at a price per share equal to the last reported sale price of Nutanix's Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of the pricing of the notes (the "Share Repurchase”). Any such Share Repurchase would not reduce the amount available for future repurchases under Nutanix's existing share repurchase program. Nutanix intends to use the remaining net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures and potential acquisitions. From time to time, Nutanix evaluates potential acquisitions of businesses, technologies or products. Currently, however, Nutanix does not have any understandings or agreements with respect to any acquisitions. The terms of the concurrent note repurchases are anticipated to be individually negotiated with each holder of the 2027 notes participating in the concurrent note repurchases, and will depend on several factors, including the market price of Nutanix's Class A common stock and the trading price of the 2027 notes at the time of each such concurrent note repurchase. Certain holders of any 2027 notes that Nutanix agrees to repurchase may have hedged their equity price risk with respect to such 2027 notes and may, concurrently with the pricing of the notes, unwind all or part of their hedge positions by buying Nutanix's Class A common stock and/or entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to Nutanix's Class A common stock. Any repurchase of the 2027 notes, and the potential related market activities by holders of the 2027 notes participating in the concurrent note repurchases, together with the repurchase by Nutanix of any of its Class A common stock concurrently with the pricing of the notes, could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of Nutanix's Class A common stock, which may affect the trading price of the notes at that time and the initial conversion price of the notes. Nutanix cannot predict the magnitude of such market activity or the overall effect it will have on the price of the notes or its Class A common stock. No assurance can be given as to how much, if any, of the 2027 notes or the Class A common stock will be repurchased or the terms on which they will be repurchased. Neither the notes nor the shares of Nutanix's Class A common stock potentially issuable upon conversion of the notes, if any, have been, or will be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale is unlawful. About Nutanix Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software, offering organizations a single platform for running applications and managing data, anywhere. With Nutanix, companies can reduce complexity and simplify operations, freeing them to focus on their business outcomes. Building on its legacy as the pioneer of hyperconverged infrastructure, Nutanix is trusted by companies worldwide to power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding Nutanix's financing plans, Nutanix's ability to complete the offering, the timing and size of the offering, the concurrent note repurchases and the Share Repurchase, Nutanix's intended use of the net proceeds of the offering. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, whether Nutanix will be able to consummate the offering, the final terms of the offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions with respect to the offering of the notes, prevailing market conditions, the anticipated use of the net proceeds of the offering of the notes, which could change as a result of market conditions or for other reasons, and the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words "may,” "will,” "expect,” "intend,” and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by Nutanix's management that, although believed to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or predicted by Nutanix's forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to other risks detailed in Nutanix's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, and the risks discussed in Nutanix's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Nutanix undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law. © 2024 Nutanix, Inc. All rights reserved. Nutanix, the Nutanix logo, and all Nutanix product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of Nutanix, Inc. ("Nutanix”) in the United States and other countries. Other brand names or marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). This press release is for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes a warranty or other binding commitment by Nutanix. Investor Contact: Richard Valera [email protected] Media Contact: Lia Bigano [email protected]How Quickly Can Trump's Musk-Led Efficiency Panel Slash US Regulations?

AS Monaco secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Stade Brestois, led by a brilliant double from Maghnes Akliouche and a goal from Aleksandr Golovin. This victory, their third in a row, solidifies their position as Ligue 1’s runner-up. Coming off wins against Bologna and Strasbourg, the Red and Whites aimed to extend their momentum at home. Adi Hütter fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation, welcoming back key players Mohammed Salisu, Denis Zakaria, and Aleksandr Golovin from injury. Meanwhile, Christian Mawissa and Soungoutou Magassa retained their starting spots after impressive performances in Strasbourg. The match began explosively for Monaco. In the fifth minute, Eliesse Ben Seghir set up Akliouche, who opened the scoring with a precise first-time finish. Moments later, Akliouche nearly doubled the lead but was denied by the post. Monaco’s persistence paid off in the 24th minute when Golovin, assisted by the post, netted his first goal of the season to make it 2-0. Brest sought to respond, with Ludovic Ajorque and Abdallah Sima threatening before halftime, but Monaco’s defense and goalkeeper Vanderson held firm. Breel Embolo missed a golden opportunity just before the break, leaving Monaco with a two-goal cushion at halftime. Brest narrowed the gap shortly after the restart. Abdallah Sima’s header from a corner reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 50th minute. Monaco thought they had won a penalty later in the half, but an offside call negated the opportunity. The game remained tense as Brest pressed for an equaliser. Mama Baldé and Jeremy Le Douaron came close for the visitors, while Monaco’s George Ilenikhena and Soungoutou Magassa missed chances to extend their lead. As the clock ticked down, Akliouche struck again in the 91st minute with a stunning chipped finish after a counterattack, sealing his brace and restoring Monaco’s two-goal advantage. Although Ajorque scored deep into stoppage time, it was too late to deny Monaco their victory. 💪🔥 3️⃣-2️⃣ #ASMSB29 pic.twitter.com/YADgM8UfSV This win not only extends Monaco’s streak to three consecutive triumphs but also strengthens their grip on second place in Ligue 1. The team now shifts focus to a pivotal Champions League clash against Benfica on Wednesday evening.

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(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Maximilian Brichta , University of Southern California (THE CONVERSATION) Rockets aren’t the only thing Elon Musk is sending into the stratosphere. After a three-year plummet, Dogecoin is blasting off again , jumping 250% since the election of Donald Trump – part of a broader wave of optimism in the industry , due to Trump’s courting of crypto advocates during his campaign. Trump’s informal appointment of Musk to what he calls the Department of Government Efficiency – D.O.G.E for short – also helped pump the dog-themed meme coin . This isn’t the first time Musk, who styles himself as “ the Dogefather ,” has fueled interest in Dogecoin. In May 2021, its price shot up in anticipation of Musk’s guest appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” During one skit, Musk played a financial analyst in conversation with a Weekend Update host, who repeatedly asked him, “What is Dogecoin?” After some obfuscation, Musk’s character finally admitted that it was a hustle. The price of the coin went into a freefall . Just over a year later, it had shed over 90% of its peak value . The losses hit small investors hard. In 2022, one of them filed a class action lawsuit against Musk for market manipulation and insider trading, though the case was dismissed in August 2024. Why has Dogecoin – a meme coin that was never meant to be taken seriously as an investment – seen such extreme swings in value? We’re all in this together Dogecoin was launched in 2013 to spoof bitcoin and a slew of other cryptocurrencies that were claiming to disrupt the traditional world of finance. Two strangers from across the globe met online , copied the code of an existing coin, and branded it with the already popular Doge internet meme – a picture of a Shiba Inu dog surrounded by fragments of broken English: “wow much coin.” Although their main goal was to make the coin pointless and undesirable, it became one of the most popular and enduring cryptocurrencies on the market. Following Dogecoin’s previous surge in 2021, I studied how its fervent network of influencers and everyday investors worked together to draw tremendous attention – and capital – to the joke currency. To understand the appeal of these absurd investments, you have to look at the time and energy that users invest into these networks and the rewards, both financial and social, they get in return. Meme coins are collaborative enterprises. Members of these online communities have an economic incentive to become outspoken boosters: The more the value of Dogecoin rises, the more their investments grow. But they also receive social validation from other meme coin investors when they pump up the coin. In other words, behind every meme coin is a collective of strangers on a communal mission to make more money. Dogecoin and its imitators have been described by their leadership as crypto movements , shared journeys and community-owned projects. Beyond branding the assets with culturally resonant images, whether it’s a Shiba Inu dog or Pepe the Frog , successful crypto ventures are characterized by complex webs of trust. Trust in the technology. Trust in its potential for future appreciation. And trust that those holding power in the networks won’t exploit the rest. This loyalty is woven among a global network of users who collaborate around the clock to promote their coin and demonstrate their unwavering commitment to its success. In times of price appreciation, the collective buzzes with elation . During price dips, community members mutually reinforce their comrades’ – and their own – beliefs that this is just a bump in the road and that their collective efforts will eventually lead to a handsome payoff. Even in the coldest of crypto winters , this ritualistic behavior helps these speculative communities endure. Community serves as a substitute for financial loss. The investment strategies in these communities – and the conviction in their payoff – involve repeating and reposting what others have said, like any traditional internet meme. Trolling traditional valuation The real value of meme coins cannot be understood in the same way as traditional assets, such as stocks and physical commodities. These types of assets have fundamentals, such as a company’s financial statements, or public demand for basic goods, from coffee to oil. Conversely, the fundamentals of meme coins are reflected in their network activity, such as daily active users, and less concrete metrics, such as social sentiment and mindshare – how much public awareness a coin has generated compared with its rivals. Of course, the valuations of traditional assets are also affected by these social factors. The difference is that meme coins offer little by way of productive activity. They add nothing to the economy. Occasionally, their leadership will build financial services around them , but these are generally added as afterthoughts, especially as a way to drum up more speculative excitement. Meme coins troll the traditional conventions of valuation and mock the edicts and dogmas of mainstream investors. And that’s exactly the point. Participation in meme coin communities – or any crypto community, for that matter – entails embracing an alternative economic experience. They are speculative sandboxes for playing outside of the conventional rules of investment. Who let the Doge out? Musk is the quintessential meme coin influencer. As the richest man in the world, he’s viewed by many as a paragon of savvy investing. His massive following extends far beyond Dogecoin’s social network. And his promotional efforts are playful – so playful that the judge in his class-action case dismissed his Dogecoin tweets as mere “puffery” and that “no reasonable investor could rely upon them.” Dogecoin previously reached the peak of its memetic momentum when Musk appeared on “Saturday Night Live.” Now, instead of sitting at the Weekend Update news desk cracking jokes, he’s sitting in Trump’s office advising the president-elect. In other words, Dogecoin’s memetic resonance has ascended from pop culture to politics, helping it capture a bigger slice of the public’s mindshare. While Dogecoin has specifically benefited from Musk’s proximity to Trump, the broader crypto market is leaping with optimism for a crypto-friendly administration. Speaking at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in July, the GOP candidate ensured he’d make the United States “ the crypto capital of the planet .” After pouring $131 million into this election cycle , the crypto industry can now claim 274 pro-crypto members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 20 pro-crypto U.S. senators. Between Musk buddying up with Trump and a shifting regulatory environment, the dog can once again run free. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/dogecoin-is-a-joke-so-whats-behind-its-rally-243686 .Tampa home and business owners could be forced to rebuild after recent hurricanesTing (seventh right), Lau (10th right), Izkandar (fourth left) and others cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the new facility. — Photo by Peter Boon SIBU (Dec 3): The new Kampung Nangka Wawasan lorry parking lot at Jalan Tapang here should help in tackling problems of inadequate parking spaces and illegal parking, said Datuk Michael Tiang. The Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government commended Persatuan Pengangkutan Lori Wawasan Sibu for their hard work and dedication which culminated in the official opening of the new lorry parking facility yesterday. “This facility will greatly benefit local and outstation lorry operators by addressing the issue of inadequate parking spaces and helping to prevent illegal parking fines issued by the traffic police, JPJ (Road Transport Department), and CVLB (Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board). “This parking facility is strategically positioned near the town centre. This makes it highly convenient for lorry drivers, and its fair and reasonable pricing structure – whether on a daily or monthly basis – adds to its appeal. “I encourage more lorry operators to consider utilising this facility for their parking needs,” said the Pelawan assemblyman. It is informed later that there are 22 parking spaces for lorries at the new facility. Tiang’s text-of-speech was read by Kapitan Lau Sei Kwong, who represented him at the event. Adding on, Tiang said as responsible operators, the driver must park their lorries at safe and designated locations, rather than at the residential areas or by the road. “Such practices not only pose safety risks, especially during night-time or rainy weather, but also reflect poorly on us for not adhering to regulations. We must take responsibility for any potential accidents caused by such negligence.” Meanwhile, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing noted that for years, many lorries have been parking at residential areas or commercial centres due to the lack of parking facilities dedicated to them. “This has not only caused inconvenience and danger but, in some cases, damage to public infrastructure due to the weight of these vehicles. “Reports on such issues are common, reflecting the pressing need in this area. The thoughtfully planned and constructed new parking facility by your association addresses this demand effectively. “Its strategic location and multi-functional design provide a valuable solution for the industry’s challenges,” said Tiong, whose speech was read by a political secretary to Premier, Joshua Ting at the event. Tiong, who is Bintulu MP and Dudong assemblyman, believed that this parking lot for lorries at Jalan Tapang would offer a safe and convenient space for lorry drivers and transport operators to rest and park. “Whether for daily or short-term rental, the facility caters to diverse needs, especially benefiting operators requiring flexible, non-long-term parking solutions.” Adding on, Tiong said the Sarawak government remained committed to improving transportation infrastructure and supporting the logistics industry. “I believe that with joint efforts from the government and the public, more similar projects will be implemented to provide better support and security for the industry.” Persatuan Pengangkutan Lori Wawasan Sibu secretary Kho Kwong Tai in his speech said the facility has 22 parking lots, and is able to accommodate compact and large lorries. He said lorry operators will be charged a fee of RM30 for large vehicles and RM20 for compact vehicles, per day. “For those who opt for a monthly charge, we encourage them to join as members, during which they will be charged according to the size of their vehicle,” he said. Sibu Municipal Council deputy chairman Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Roseley represented chairman Clarence Ting at the event, which was also attended by Councillor Rory Wong.