Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A motorist says he "still can't get rid of the stench" in his car following a sewage spill on the M8 - despite taking his vehicle through a car wash twice. Scottish Water said a burst sewer main caused some localised flooding of the carriageway and surrounding area near Braehead Shopping Centre in Renfrewshire. One motorist said on social media that his car had been "completely engulfed in raw sewage". He added: "Been through car wash twice now and still heavily contaminated and stench is terrible." People travelling to the shopping centre were advised to...
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks were struggling a week ago, coming off their bye having lost five of their last six games. That included a gut-punch overtime defeat at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 3. The outlook for the last-place Seahawks (5-5) was beginning to look grim. They suddenly have renewed optimism this week after an uplifting victory over the San Francisco 49ers that snapped a six-game losing streak against their arch-rival that dated to 2021. Seattle will play the first-place Arizona Cardinals (6-4) on Sunday for a share of the NFC West lead. How quickly things change in the NFL. “We’ve earned the opportunity to be fighting for the lead in the division going into the home stretch,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “So that’s the way we’re treating it. It’s very much like a playoff mindset for us at this point.” The win over the 49ers, which was capped by a 13-yard touchdown run by quarterback Geno Smith with 18 seconds left, put the Seahawks in a much better place mentally than they’d been in over the previous six weeks. They’re hoping it’s just the start of something even bigger. “It can just spark something that you’ve been looking for this whole year,” wide receiver DK Metcalf said. “I know we started off very hot with the first three games, but, you know, when adversity hit, it’s all about how you respond. I think we responded the right way, and it’s going to carry us throughout the rest of the season.” While the Seahawks are feeling better this week, the Cardinals have plenty of reason to feel optimistic, too. After starting the season 2-4, Arizona has won four straight to put itself in first place in the NFC West. The Cardinals have a defense that is making big strides under the leadership of veteran safety Budda Baker and a top-five running game behind the dual threat of running back James Conner, who has 697 yards rushing, and quarterback Kyler Murray, who seems to be hitting his stride in his sixth NFL season. Murray has 2,058 yards passing with 12 touchdowns, and has rushed for 371 yards and four scores. Second-year head coach Jonathan Gannon has been impressed with Murray’s improved decision-making as Murray has thrown just three interceptions through 10 games. “There’s times that he probably wants to try to thread it a little bit, but understands when to pick and choose his spots,” Gannon said. “I think he’s done a phenomenal job with that and there are a lot of times throughout the game where you could say we like to put it in the quarterback’s hands, and you trust him to make the right decision for that point in the game.” Reunited Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will see a familiar face on the other sideline Sunday in rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., who was Smith-Njigba’s college teammate at Ohio State in 2021 and 2022. The pair each caught three touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ wild win over Utah in the 2022 Rose Bowl, with Smith-Njigba having 347 yards receiving on what was a 573-passing yard day for C.J. Stroud, now the quarterback of the Houston Texans. “Late his freshman year, he really just stood out,” Smith-Njigba said of Harrison. “You could just see the growth and kind of who he is becoming. ... He’s passed a lot of people’s expectations, of course, but I knew he was going to be elite later on freshman year.” MVP-level Murray Murray is coming off one of the best games of his career after completing 22 of 24 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown against the Jets two weeks ago. He also ran for 21 yards and two TDs. Murray currently ranks No. 3 in the NFL in quarterback rating behind Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. That has put him in the MVP conversation, particularly since Arizona has won four straight games. “I don’t play the game for the validation of others,” Murray said. “But as a player, of course, sometimes the recognition and the words being said feel good. But it doesn’t satisfy me.” Defensive improvement The most surprising part of Arizona’s four-game winning streak is the rapid improvement of the defense, which has allowed just 9 and 6 points, respectively, over the past two games. No touchdowns have been allowed – just five field goals. It’s just the second time over the past 30 years that the franchise has allowed 10 points or less over back-to-back games. Baker, a Bellevue native and former University of Washington football star, is the unquestioned leader of the bunch – he already has 100 tackles over 10 games - but the team also has a strong core of linebackers in Kyzir White, Mack Wilson and Zaven Collins. Metcalf and Baker have gone up against each other many times before, most famously when on an interception return in 2020. “You really can’t prepare for a guy like that because his engine never stops,” Metcalf said. “He’s always going to be around the ball. He’s always going to affect the game with just his play effort and play style. ... Just got to try to minimize his playmaking ability as much as we can on offense.” ___ AP Sports Writer David Brandt in Phoenix, Arizona, contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL:
NonePHILADELPHIA and NEW YORK , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FS KKR Capital Corp. (NYSE: FSK) today announced that it has completed its previously announced offering of an additional $100 million in aggregate principal amount of its 6.125% notes due 2030 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be a further issuance of, and form a single series with, the $600 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% Notes due 2030 that FSK issued on November 20, 2024 , increasing the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the series to $700 million . BofA Securities, Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, KKR Capital Markets LLC, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., and Truist Securities, Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers for this offering. FSK intends to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, including potentially repaying outstanding indebtedness under credit facilities and certain notes. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Notes, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About FS KKR Capital Corp. FSK is a leading publicly traded business development company (BDC) focused on providing customized credit solutions to private middle market U.S. companies. FSK seeks to invest primarily in the senior secured debt and, to a lesser extent, the subordinated debt of private middle market companies. FSK is advised by FS/KKR Advisor, LLC. About FS/KKR Advisor, LLC FS/KKR Advisor, LLC (FS/KKR) is a partnership between FS Investments and KKR Credit that serves as the investment adviser to FSK and other business development companies. FS Investments is a global alternative asset manager dedicated to delivering superior performance and innovative investment and capital solutions. The firm manages over $83 billion in assets for a wide range of clients, including institutional investors, financial professionals and individual investors. FS Investments provides access to a broad suite of alternative asset classes and strategies through its best-in-class investment teams and partners. With its diversified platform and flexible capital solutions, the firm is a valued partner to general partners, asset owners and portfolio companies. FS Investments is grounded in its high-performance culture and guided by its commitment to building value for its clients, investing in its colleagues and giving back to its communities. The firm has more than 500 employees across offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia and is headquartered in Philadelphia . KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR's insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. Forward-Looking Statements and Important Disclosure Notice This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements, including statements with regard to future events or future performance or operations of FSK. Words such as "believes," "expects," "projects," and "future" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Certain factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include changes in the economy, risks associated with possible disruption in FSK's operations or the economy generally due to terrorism, geo-political risks, natural disasters or pandemics such as COVID-19, future changes in laws or regulations and conditions in FSK's operating area and the price at which shares of FSK's common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Some of these factors are enumerated in the filings FSK makes with the SEC. FSK undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact Information: Investor Relations Contact Anna Kleinhenn Anna.Kleinhenn@fsinvestments.com FS Investments Media Team Melanie Hemmert Melanie.Hemmert@fsinvestments.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fsk-completes-public-offering-of-100-million-6-125-unsecured-notes-due-2030--302339667.html SOURCE FS InvestmentsNone
Trump Nominates Pam Bondi as Next AG After Matt Gaetz Withdraws
NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is reversing its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, joining a growing list of major corporations that have done the same after being targeted by conservative activists. PUBLICIDAD The changes, confirmed by Walmart on Monday, are radical and include not renewing a five-year commitment to a racial equity center created in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police, to withdrawing from a prominent gay rights index. And when it comes to race or gender, Walmart will not give priority treatment to suppliers. PUBLICIDAD Walmart's measures highlight the increasing pressure that American companies are facing as they continue to navigate the consequences of the June 2023 Supreme Court ruling in the United States that ends affirmative action in college admissions. Emboldened by that decision, conservative groups have filed lawsuits with similar arguments against companies, targeting workplace initiatives such as diversity programs and hiring practices that prioritize historically marginalized groups. On the other hand, political commentator and conservative activist Robby Starbuck has been challenging corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, calling out specific companies on the social media platform X. Several of these companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford, Harley-Davidson, Lowe's, and Tractor Supply. But Walmart, which employs 1.6 million workers in the United States, is the one that has done it the most. "Starbuck wrote in X, 'This is the biggest victory so far for our movement to end certain overly progressive measures in American companies,' adding that he had been in conversation with Walmart." Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better control the items it sells through third parties to ensure they do not contain sexual and transgender products targeted at minors. This would include chest binders intended for young people going through a gender transition, the company said. The retailer based in Bentonville, Arkansas, will also review grants for Pride events to ensure they are not financially supporting sexualized content that may be inappropriate for children. For example, the company wants to make sure a family-friendly area is not next to a drag show at a Pride event, the company stated. In addition, Walmart will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test for improving diversity when offering contracts to suppliers. The company stated that it did not have quotas and will not have them in the future. It will not collect demographic data when determining financial eligibility for those grants. Walmart also stated that it would not renew a racial equity center that was established through a five-year, $100 million philanthropic commitment from the company with the mandate, according to its website, of "addressing the root causes of the disparities experienced by Black and African American individuals in education, health, finance, and criminal justice systems." And they would stop participating in the annual Human Rights Campaign benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. "We have embarked on a journey and we know that we are not perfect, but every decision comes from the desire to promote a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers, and suppliers, and to be a Walmart for everyone," the company said in a statement. The changes come shortly after former President Donald Trump's electoral victory, who has criticized DEI initiatives and has surrounded himself with conservatives who share similar views, including his former advisor Stephen Miller, who leads a group called America First Legal that has challenged DEI corporate policies. Trump appointed Miller as deputy policy director in his new cabinet. A spokesperson for Walmart said that some of their policy changes have been in progress for some time. For example, they have been phasing out the use of the term DEI in job postings and communications, and have started using the term "belonging" instead. They have also begun making changes to their supplier program following the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action. Some have urged companies to maintain their DEI policies. Last month, a group of Democrats in Congress appealed to the leaders of the Fortune 1000, saying that DEI efforts give everyone a fair chance to achieve the American dream.
Protests on significant occasions not a good tradition: Sharjeel MemonNone
Beirut, Dec 7 (AP) Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated on Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumours that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader's base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM news outlet reported that government forces took positions outside Syria's third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The insurgency announced later Saturday that it had taken over Homs. The city's capture is a major victory for the rebels, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began November 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The UN's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition”. Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people”. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a years-long siege. The UN said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria's state media denied social media rumours that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine. Lebanon's Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a UN resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with UN-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkiye and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians”. They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group's image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began November 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, and the central city of Hama, the country's fourth largest city. Opposition activists said on Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area”, apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkiye, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkiye is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticised Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country's underlying problems. “Assad didn't seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria's “territorial integrity”. He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. (AP) PY PY (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)One of the UK’s oldest comic book shops announces closure after ‘epic’ 43 years ahead of huge clearance saleBetMGM College Football Odds: Penn State by 24 1/2. Series record: Penn State 43-3-1. WHAT’S AT STAKE? The Nittany Lions will try for their first 11-win regular season in James Franklin’s 10-year tenure and hang onto their chance to host a playoff game. The Nittany Lions could still get to the Big Ten championship game, but would need Michigan to beat No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus earlier in the day. The Terrapins have lost four in a row and are trying to avoid their longest skid since losing seven straight to end the 2019 season. KEY MATCHUP Maryland’s front seven vs. Penn State’s running game. The Nittany Lions lost starting right tackle Anthony Donkoh to a long-term injury last week but were still able to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark against a tough Minnesota defense. Maryland has allowed 176 rushing yards per game over its last four. The Terps will need to do better against a Nittany Lion ground game fueled by running backs Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen, tight end Tyler Warren and quarterback Beau Pribula. PLAYERS TO WATCH Maryland: WR Tai Felton. Only one FBS player has more catches than Felton. The sure-handed senior leads the Big Ten with 92 catches for 1,097 yards. He’s scored nine touchdowns and should be a focal point for Penn State’s secondary. Penn State: Singleton. The explosive back has recovered from the unspecified injury that slowed him earlier in the season. He had a season-high 19 touches last week versus Maryland including a career-most six catches. FACTS & FIGURES Maryland is 2-3 in Happy Valley since joining the Big Ten with wins in 2014 and 2020. ... Felton has 183 more receiving yards than the next closest Big Ten WR (Illinois’ Pat Bryant) and is 143 yards away from Marcus Badgett’s single-season record set in 1992. ... Penn State has won seven of the last eight against Maryland. ... The Nittany Lions secured their 27th 10-win season last week. ... Warren became Penn State’s all-time leader in reception yards for a tight end (1,516) with 102 yards against Minnesota. ... DT Zane Durant leads the Big Ten and is fourth among Power Four tackles with 8 1/2 tackles for loss this season. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Mahmoud is a cheeky teenager who beams the biggest of smiles even though he lost his front teeth in the rough and tumble of kids’ play. He is a Sudanese orphan abandoned twice, and displaced twice in his country’s grievous war - one of nearly five million Sudanese children who have lost almost everything as they are pushed from one place to the next in what is now the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Nowhere else on Earth are so many children on the run, so many people living with such acute hunger. Famine has already been declared in one area - many others subsist on the brink of starvation not knowing where their next meal will come from. "It’s an invisible crisis," emphasises the UN’s new humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher. "Twenty-five million Sudanese, more than half the country, need help now," he adds. In a time of all too many unprecedented crises, where devastating wars in places like Gaza and Ukraine dominate the world’s aid and attention, Mr Fletcher chose Sudan for his first field mission to highlight its plight. "This crisis is not invisible to the UN, to our humanitarians on the front line risking and losing their lives to help the Sudanese people," he told the BBC, as we travelled with him on his week-long trip. Most of the people on his team working on the ground are also Sudanese who have lost their homes, their old lives, in this brutal struggle for power between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Mr Fletcher's first field visit took him to Mahmoud’s Maygoma orphanage in Kassala in eastern Sudan, now home to nearly 100 children in a crumbling three-storey school-turned-shelter. They lived with their carers in the capital, Khartoum, until the army and RSF turned their guns on each other in April 2023, trapping the orphanage as they dragged their country into a vortex of horrific violence, systematic looting and shocking abuse. When fighting spread to the orphans’ new shelter in Wad Madani , in central Sudan, those who survived fled to Kassala. When I asked 13-year-old Mahmoud to make a wish, he immediately broke into a big gap-toothed grin. "I want to be a state governor so I can be in charge and rebuild destroyed homes," he replied. For 11 million Sudanese driven from one refuge to the next, returning to what is left of their homes and rebuilding their lives would be the biggest gift of all. For now, even finding food to survive is a daily battle. And for aid agencies, including the UN, getting it to them is a titanic task. After Mr Fletcher’s four days of high-level meetings in Port Sudan, army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced on the X social media site that he had given the UN permission to establish more supply hubs and to use three more regional airports to deliver assistance. Some of the permissions had been granted before but some marked a step forward. The new announcement also came as the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) secured a green light to reach stricken communities behind lines controlled by the RSF, including the Zamzam camp in Darfur housing about half a million people where famine was recently confirmed . "We’ve been pushing for months to get to these communities," says Alex Marianelli, who heads WFP’s operations in Port Sudan. Behind us in a WFP warehouse, Sudanese labourers sing as they load trucks with boxes of food heading for the worst of the worst areas. Mr Marianelli reflects that he has never worked in such a difficult and dangerous environment. Within the aid community, some criticise the UN, saying that its hands have been tied by recognising Gen Burhan as the de facto ruler of Sudan. "Gen Burhan and his authorities control those checkpoints and the system of permits and access," Mr Fletcher says in response. "If we want to go into those areas we need to deal with them." He hopes the rival RSF will also put the people first. "I’ll go anywhere, talk to anyone, to get this aid through, and to save lives," Mr Fletcher adds. In Sudan’s merciless war, all warring parties have been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war. So too sexual violence, which the UN describes as "an epidemic" in Sudan. The UN visit coincided with the "16 days of activism" marked globally as a campaign to stop gender-based violence. In Port Sudan, the event in a displaced camp, the first to be set up when war flared, was especially poignant. "We have to do better, we must do better," vowed Mr Fletcher, who cast aside his prepared speech when he stood under a canopy facing rows of Sudanese women and children, clapping and ululating. I asked some of the women listening what they made of his visit. "We really need help but the major job should be from the Sudanese themselves," reflects Romissa, who works for a local aid group and recounts her own harrowing journey from Khartoum at the start of the war. "This is the time for the Sudanese people to stand together." The Sudanese have been trying to do a lot with a little. In a simple two-room shelter, a safe house called Shamaa, or "Candle", brings some light to the lives of abused single women and orphaned children. Its founder, Nour Hussein al-Sewaty, known as Mama Nour, also started life in the Maygoma orphanage. She also had to flee Khartoum to protect those in her care. One woman now sheltering with her was raped before the war, then abducted and raped again. Even the formidable Mama Nour is now at breaking-point. "We are so exhausted. We need help," she declares. "We want to smell the fresh air. We want to feel there are still people in the world who care about us, the people of Sudan." Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica , on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Paul Dickenson dead at 74: BBC commentator who covered Jessica Ennis-Hill’s iconic gold at London 2012 diesTexas A&M-Corpus Christi defeats Stephen F. Austin 67-48A lot of folks consider the holiday season to be the most wonderful time of the year, but with scammers and tricksters out in force looking to take advantage of holiday shoppers, it can quickly become the worst if you're not careful. Black Friday and Cyber Monday hold special places of prominence on the holiday shopping calendar. According to data gathered by Capital One , consumer spending on Cyber Monday has grown from $3.1 billion in 2015 to $12.4 billion in 2023, with 2024 showing no signs slowing down. The financial institution also found that an estimated 73.1 million shopped online for Cyber Monday last year, compared to 20.9 million who went to an actual store. The internet has already become a haven for scammers -- with the Federal Trade Commission estimating that over $300 million has already been lost to online shopping fraud this year -- but things go to an entirely different level during the holiday season, when folks are a lot more inclined to part with their money, especially online and for deals that might seem too good to be true. Don't let your festive spirit turn sour this year and read on for CNET's tips for avoiding Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams. For more on holiday shopping, check out CNET's best streaming deals and the best TV's on the market for 2024. Be wary of who you're dealing with to avoid phishing scams Phishing scams -- ones that involve attempts to get you to willingly give over a piece of important information -- are the bread-and-butter of modern online scammers, and you can bet these schemes are out in force for the holiday shopping season. Speaking with a local news station, Melissa Ames, president of an Ohio-based branch of the Better Business Bureau, warned shoppers to be cautious about emails and text messages claiming that a package they ordered is stalled in transit. These sorts of messages are commonly used by scammers to make you click through a link and give them personal information. While keeping track of holiday packages, it's best to disregard any messages like this and rely exclusively on the website of whichever shipping company you are using. NerdWallet has also warned shoppers to be on alert for phishing schemes using QR codes, a rising trend known as "quishing." These codes, when scanned, direct you to fraudulent websites or in some cases directly install malware on your device. To avoid this fate, it's best to avoid scanning any QR codes you received unexpectedly, such as from strange emails, and to be extra vigilant about the authenticity of codes you come across in public. Be careful where you use your credit card Credit cards are a necessity while shopping online for deals, but they can also potentially land you in trouble. Expert sources, like the North Carolina Department of Justice , urge shoppers to do their shopping with cards and to always keep receipts, to make your purchases easier to track and to ensure you can get a refund if you were misled about a certain product. On the flip side, you also must be careful about how and where you use your credit card. When making a purchase online, make sure you stick to your own private home Wi-Fi network. Making purchases over public Wi-Fi networks greatly increases the risk of your personal information being exposed to hackers. Here's more on what to watch for with credit card scams . Your credit card company might also provide various services to help you deal with possible fraud with your card. If you suspect this holiday season that your card has been commandeered for illicit purposes, definitely give your company's customer service line a call to see what your options are. Be certain about that charity asking for a donation Charities are a common fixture of the holiday season, with organizations hoping to tap into the spirit of giving to help their causes. Unfortunately, this has prompted bad actors to use the facade of charity to try to trick generous people into giving them money for a fake cause. To avoid this , it's best to make sure you're donating only to charities you know about already or you can find official information about somewhere. This is especially true for charities that might try and reach you via emails or online ads. Before you make a donation, check out the organization or charity. You can use a charity-evaluation service such as Charity Navigator , which evaluates charities based on their financial health, accountability and transparency. Charity Navigator assigns a "Give With Confidence" designation to the organizations it deems safe to donate to. Be careful which websites you visit Experts strongly recommend that you be careful about the websites you visit and do business through during the holiday shopping season, as scammers are known to create fake store websites or review sites to dupe customers. Speaking with Staten Island Live , Miguel Fornés, a cybersecurity expert for SurfShark, called this tactic the most common one used by scammers and warned of the methods that allow them to create convincing fakes. "Scammers simply create fake websites or mobile apps that look like legitimate retailers," he explained. "Logos, fonts and website design might look very similar to well-known brands. Fraudsters might also use social media or other channels to advertise such fake stores to lure victims." In order to help avoid these fake sites, customers are advised to try and do business only on websites that they are familiar with already and trust during the holiday season. If you are not sure about a website you find, you can also check trusted outlets like TrustPilot and BazaarVoice to try to determine if they are legitimate. Also be wary of deals on products that seem too good to be true, as this can often be a hook to try to get you to shop at a fake website. What to do if you find a scam? If you believe that you have stumbled upon a scam this holiday season, it's important that you do your part to bring attention to it. This can involve sharing the details of the potential scam with friends and family, but also sharing what you know with the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker website. For more holiday shopping help, find out what tips CNET recommends to get ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Thanksgiving 2024 is almost here, with Black Friday following shortly after. Although several stores used to remain open on the federal holiday for early Black Friday shopping, many have started to close on Thanksgiving so employees can have the day off. Kohl’s is one store that tended to stay open for several years, like it normally does on most other federal holidays. But will you be able to start your holiday shopping at Kohl’s right after family dinner this Thanksgiving? Is Kohl’s open on Thanksgiving 2024? No, Kohl’s will not be open. Shoppers will have to wait until Black Friday to take advantage of the deals in-store. The department stores will be closed on Thanksgiving so that staff can stay home to celebrate with their families. This follows the company’s Thanksgiving celebration plans from last year. But Kohl’s will reopen early on Black Friday, Nov. 29 for shoppers to access all the major sales starting at 6 a.m. EST . If you’d prefer to shop in-store on Black Friday, you can head to your nearest Kohl’s location, which you can find here . More Thanksgiving 2024 Store Hours Is Macy’s open on Thanksgiving 2024? Is Home Depot open on Thanksgiving 2024? What to know before you go to the store Thanksgiving 2024: What’s open, what’s closed on Thursday? Banks, UPS, mail delivery, stock markets, stores, malls, supermarkets When is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024? What to know before you go or livestream the event Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Victoria Rosenthal can be reached at vrosenthal@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .
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Angela Rayner to ride roughshod over planning laws in bid to meet new homes target and thwart protests by Nimby neighboursThe Giants were a no-show against the Bucs after releasing quarterback Daniel JonesFox urges Delaware judge to dismiss shareholder lawsuit over 2020 election reportsThe normally reliable centre-back passed the ball into his own net in the 26th minute after failing to spot goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s positioning. But a brilliant turn and finish on the hour mark from Daizen Maeda changed the game and ultimately earned the Scottish champions a 1-1 home draw. On the opener, Rodgers said: “Mistakes happen and it was just unfortunate. He’s played that pass a million times and it’s gone back and then we’ve been able to play forward. It was just one of those unfortunate moments in the game that happens. “But he’s a really, really tough character. He’s a great guy, he picked himself up. He was really strong and aggressive again in the game and got on with it and had a real bravery in the second half, because he was the one carrying the ball forward for us to start the attack.” Despite the gift, Brugge were worthy of their lead and Rodgers admitted his side were too passive in their pressing in the opening half. Some tactical tweaks – and the introduction of Paulo Bernardo – helped Celtic dominate after Maeda’s equaliser, although Brugge had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. “I can only credit the players for the second half, because we had to fight,” Rodgers said. “And we’re still one of those teams that’s really pushing to try and make a mark at this level. So to make the comeback, score the goal, play with that courage, I was so pleased. “You want to win but I’ve been here enough times to have lost a game like that, but we didn’t. We showed a real strong mentality and we kept pushing right to the very end and the players did well. “I thought they showed great courage in the second half because we weren’t at our level in the first half. Sometimes a game like that can get away from you, but it didn’t. “We stayed with it, showed that determination, showed that mentality, never to quit, to keep going. And then we were much, much better, much freer in the second half. “So we’re on eight points, nine to play for. We’re still very much on course to get to where we want to get to and still three games to go.” Rodgers added: “It’s 20 games now and we’ve won 16 and drawn three and lost one, so it shows you the mentality is there, and especially at this level, you need to have that.”