NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. donors gave $3.6 billion on Tuesday, an increase from the past two years, according to estimates from the nonprofit GivingTuesday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. donors gave $3.6 billion on Tuesday, an increase from the past two years, according to estimates from the nonprofit GivingTuesday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. donors gave $3.6 billion on Tuesday, an increase from the past two years, according to estimates from the nonprofit GivingTuesday. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, now known as GivingTuesday, has become a major day for nonprofits to fundraise and otherwise engage their supporters each year, since the 92nd St Y in New York started it as a hashtag in 2012. GivingTuesday has since become an independent nonprofit that connects a worldwide network of leaders and organizations who promote giving in their communities. “This just really shows the generosity, the willingness of American citizens to show up, particularly collectively,” said Asha Curran, CEO of the nonprofit GivingTuesday. “We are just seeing the power of collective action and particularly collective giving over and over and over again.” This year, about 18.5 million people donated to nonprofits and another 9.2 million people volunteered, according to GivingTuesday’s estimates. Both the number of donors and the number of volunteers increased by 4% from the group’s 2023 estimates. “For us, it’s not just about the number of dollars,” Curran said. “It’s about the number of people who feel like they have agency over the way their communities progress forward into the future.” The nonprofit GivingTuesday estimates the amount of money and goods donated and the number of participants using data from donor management software companies, donation platforms, payment processors and donor-advised funds. Curran said they are purposely conservative in their calculations. Nonprofits in the U.S. raised $3.1 billion in both 2022 and 2023 on GivingTuesday. That mirrored larger giving trends where the overall amount of donations dropped in 2022 and mostly held steady in 2023 after accounting for inflation. It’s never easy to predict current giving trends but Una Osili, associate dean at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, said there were economic forces pushing in both directions. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “At the very same time, there’s a lot of uncertainty, especially around prices, the cost of living, the supermarket toll that people are expecting continue even though inflation has moderated,” she said. Donating or volunteering with nonprofits aren’t the only ways people participate in their communities. Many give to crowdfunding campaigns, political causes or support people directly in their networks. But tracking charitable donations is one way that researchers use to understand people’s civic engagement. “This country is undeniably in a lot of pain and very divided right now,” Curran said. “And so to have a day that felt as hopeful and as optimistic as yesterday did, I’m sure was not only comforting to me, but to many, many millions of people.” ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. Advertisement AdvertisementPolice hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been shot and killed in what police say is a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference. The shooting rattled the city and set off a massive dragnet hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. Police say 50-year-old Brian Thompson was shot around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says the shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire. Police have not yet established a motive. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the US but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk Wednesday became a mystery that riveted the nation. Police say it was a targeted killing. Thompson was 50. He had worked at the company for 20 years and had run health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s insurance business since 2021. It provides health coverage for more than 49 million Americans and brought in $281 billion in revenue last year. Thompson's $10.2 million annual compensation made him one of the company’s highest-paid executives. Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people. The Biden administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers DeSantis WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s Pentagon pick, is fighting to hold on to his Cabinet nomination amid growing questions about his personal conduct as the president-elect’s team considers alternatives, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But Hegseth says, “We’re not backing down one bit." The Trump transition team is concerned about Hegseth’s path to Senate confirmation and is actively looking at potential replacements, according to a person familiar with the matter. Hegseth is under pressure as senators weigh a series of allegations that have surfaced against him. Beyond DeSantis, there have been discussions about shifting Michael Waltz, who was named by Trump as his national security adviser, to the Defense Department Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviser WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is bringing Peter Navarro back to the White House for his second administration. Trump announced Wednesday on Truth Social that Navarro will serve as a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing. He was a trade adviser in Trump's first term. Navarro served four months in prison after being held in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump also chose former Rep. Billy Long of Missouri as IRS commissioner, former Sen. Kelly Loeffler as administrator of the Small Business Administration, Daniel Driscoll as Army secretary, Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator and Adam Boehler as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs. Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A Palestinian health official said Wednesday that at least 21 people were killed in Israeli strikes on a camp housing displaced people in Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants. The strikes hit in the Muwasi area, a sprawling coastal camp housing hundreds of thousands of displaced people. It came after Israeli forces struck targets in other areas of Gaza. According to Palestinian medics, strikes in central Gaza killed eight people, including four children. The war in Gaza is nearly 14 months old and showing no end in sight, despite international efforts to revive negotiations toward a ceasefire. South Korean President Yoon's martial law declaration raises questions over his political future SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. Yoon's move baffled many experts. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Yoon hasn't commented on the impeachment bid. But the political instability he unleashed could make it more difficult for his government to nurse a decaying economy. French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers have joined together to vote on a no-confidence motion prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet to resign. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered the new details Wednesday about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. Harris found success with women who have cats, but Trump got the dog owner vote: AP VoteCast WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead-up to the 2024 election was all about cat owners. But in the end, the dogs had their day. Donald Trump won more than half of voters who own either cats or dogs, and he had with a big assist from dog owners. That's according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. Dog owners were much more likely to support Trump over Kamala Harris. Cat owners were evenly split between the two candidates. Harris did end up decisively winning support from women who own a cat but no dog. Past comments by Trump's running mate, JD Vance, about “childless cat ladies” briefly became a campaign issue.
Edward Little Coach Rick Kramer calls a play during an Oct. 11 football game against Windham. Kramer has resigned after leading the Red Eddies for three seasons. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal Rick Kramer said the Edward Little High football program had “turned a corner” and was heading in the right direction. So stepping away isn’t easy, but a career change made it necessary. Kramer resigned this week after three seasons as the Red Eddies’ head coach because he recently accepted the position of Executive Director of the Maine Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (Maine AHPERD). He will be in charge of professional development for teachers across the state, as well as curriculum for health education and recreation in Maine schools. “Sometimes you think you can satisfy the appetite for all the other things that’s going to take time from you, and that you’ve got all the time in the world,” Kramer said. “You sit back with your spouse and you start analyzing how much time you’re going to spend on different things, and you realize there’s somebody else really that needs a lot of your time, too. It’s you and your spouse. I think it’s time for me to give myself and my spouse and this other work entity the time that I have.” The Red Eddies went 3-24 during Kramer’s tenure, including 1-8 this past season. He initially spent a season with the program as an assistant for previous coach Dave Sterling in 2016, which made him eager to return in 2022 when he was hired as the head coach. “Three years ago, I came back because I had a great experience back in (2016),” Kramer said. “I did a year with Coach Sterling, and I worked as a defensive coordinator for him, and I like the kids, I liked what the kids are about. There were some hard kids, some tough kids at the time, and I’m like, those kids, they needed me. We did a great job.” Kramer said he’s been involved in Maine AHPERD for decades and was approached to apply for the executive director position last summer. After discussions with his family, Kramer said he realized he had more to give than just teaching and coaching. The hardest part of stepping away from Edward Little football has been the feeling that he’s letting the current players down. He said it’s especially tough because the Red Eddies “just turned the corner,” growing the roster from 30 players three years ago to 65 this season. The Red Eddies’ next coach, Kramer added, will inherit a program progressing toward success, whether Edward Little remains in Class A or drops to Class B. Athletic Director Todd Sampson had scheduled a community meeting for Wednesday to discuss a possible petition to move the program from Class A North to Class B North . Sampson announced on social media Wednesday morning that the meeting has been postponed. Sampson later told the Sun Journal that the postponement was due to both Kramer’s resignation and a scheduling conflict that would have prevented Superintendent Susan Dorris from attending. Edward Little football coach Rick Kramer talks to his team before the Red Eddies’ 2023 season opener against Noble. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal “I think there’s positivity in the future, I think there’s an opportunity for kids to compete, no matter what level we’re at, Class A or Class B,” Kramer said. “But what you have to understand is that kids have to overcome the idea that they don’t have to prepare all year. If you’re going to play Class A football, you have to physically prepare all year long.” That’s why he encouraged 20 football players to wrestle for Edward Little this winter. Kramer said schools like Noble have entire starting lines of football players who wrestle, and wrestling-specific cross training should benefit the program in the future. Though the Red Eddies won only three games in three seasons, Kramer said the program showed a lot of growth, especially considering they didn’t have a practice field in 2022 while the new high school and athletic complex were being constructed. The new field was ready for use last year, but Kramer said the team still had to practice inside the gymnasium once a week because there was no regular practice field. “I think watching the program develop was great at Edward Little,” Kramer said. “I’m excited because next year there’s going to be a practice field, and they can practice at the same time every day; that’s going to make a huge difference.” Kramer said he’s thankful to the community, and all the players who committed their time and effort to the program. “I wish we could have had more wins, but I can tell you toward the end of this year, it was easy to see that we we had turned the corner, because of what would you call the esprit de corps ,” Kramer said. “The team was excellent toward the end, and they knew they were up against it. They knew they were trying to do the best job they could, and we had to do things unconventionally sometimes on defense to try to stop anybody.” We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « PreviousAfter months of discussion with the NFL Players Association, the NFL has relaxed several rules around the policies on substance abuse and performance enhancing substances. "Last week, we reached agreement with the NFL on several beneficial changes to the policies," an NFLPA memo obtained by CBS Sports reads. The changes will be effective as of Dec. 6, according to a source. According to the memo, when there's a violation for a substance of abuse, the teams are now only informed of the penalty and not what the substance was, if the test was positive. Fines for a positive test related to substances of abuse have been reduced. Previously a first violation led to a fine of a half-game's paycheck, a whole game for a second violation and two games for a third violation. Now, there's a $15,000 fine for a first violation and a $20,000 fine for a second. Not until the third violation is there a fine of one game check. For years, missed tests have been counted as cumulative. That means if a player missed a test in his rookie year and then missed a test in his fifth year, he would be fined one game check for a second violation. Now, the count is reset to zero if there are no missed tests within a year (or a half-year after being discharged from the league's Substances of Abuse Program.) The league has increased the THC level (which is specific to the compound in cannabis) for a positive test from 150 ng/ml to 350 ng/ml. And according to the memo, players in the program may be tested for fentanyl "if clinically indicated." There will be no discipline for a positive test, but "failing to comply with a mandatory meeting regarding fentanyl will result in a $15,000 fine." And there will be a $15,000 fine for any player caught recording and posting the collection process on social media. For the Performance Enhancing Substances policy, the testing-window notification time has been extended. Players once had to test within three hours of notification, but now if a player is notified before morning activities, he must test before afternoon activities. Previously a suspended player couldn't be reinstated until he tests negative for the performance enhancing substance. Now the player will be reinstated "if the presence of a substance(s) provides no performance enhancing effect," according to the memo. And just like the policy on substances of abuse, the PES policy now allows for missed tests to reset to zero after no missed tests in a year.
Black Friday is over, but many of the best deals are still available today. You can find big discounts on expensive brands and products, including Apple devices. Apple's iPad models are some of the best-performing tablets we've tested over the years, and during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you'll be able to find great deals if you're looking for a new tablet for work or entertainment. Also: The best Black Friday deals: Live updates Black Friday deals on iPads and iPad accessories are live across various retailers even today. We've rounded up the best iPad deals and will continue to update as we head into the year's biggest shopping weekend. Our favorite Black Friday iPad deals Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (7th gen) : $1,549 (save $150 at Amazon): Apple's newest iPad Pro is faster than ever, thanks to the new M4 chip that can handle a diverse range of tasks, making it our top pick for the best large tablet you can buy. Apple iPad Mini (7th gen) : $459 (save $40 at B&H Photo): Apple's newest tablet was released at the end of last month. It features an A17 Pro chip for Apple Intelligence compatibility and even works with the new Apple Pencil Pro. Apple iPad (10th gen) : $260 (save $90 at Amazon): Apple's base-line iPad is a formidable tablet for browsing, playing games, streaming shows and movies, note-taking, and more. It's our pick for the best tablet for most people. Apple iPad Air 13-inch (6th gen) : $499 (save $100 at Best Buy): The newest iPad Air has the M2 chip, which allows for Apple Intelligence capabilities and all-day battery life in a lightweight size. Apple iPad (9th gen) : $200 (save $130 at Best Buy): Although not the most recent model, this iPad is our top pick for the best cheap tablet , since it has a 10.2-inch Retina display, a powerful A13 Bionic chip, and an Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage. Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (7th gen) : $1,199 (save $100 at B&H Photo): The 13-inch iPad Pro is also on sale and features the same M4 chip in a slightly bigger package. Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (7th gen) Current price: $1,799 Original price: $2,099 Even though it was recently released, you can already save on the new iPad Pro with the M4 chip. This chip consists of a new 10-core GPU, next-generation machine learning accelerators to handle a diverse range of tasks, and ProMotion technology, enabling variable screen refresh rates ranging from 10 to 120Hz. Review: M4 iPad Pro Apple iPad Mini (7th gen) Current price: $459 Original price: $499 Apple's smallest tablet was just updated to include a new A17 Pro chip which has a 30% boost in CPU performance and a 25% increase in GPU performance compared to the Mini 6. Also: The iPad Mini 7 is almost perfect - except for one critical missing feature For students, the iPad Mini 7 offers portability, Apple Pencil Pro support, and all-day battery life, making it an ideal companion for note-taking, content creation, and multitasking on the go. Apple iPad (10th gen) Current price: $279 Original price: $349 When it comes to features, you essentially get the same suite as the more expensive iPad Pro and iPad Air models, but in a lighter form factor and a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina, True Tone display. Additionally, this model breaks out of the iPad's traditional space gray and silver color palette, adding pink, blue, and yellow in addition to sleek silver. Review: iPad 2022 (10th Gen) Best Black Friday iPad accessory deals Apple Pencil (1st gen) : $59 (save $40 at Walmart): The first-generation Apple Pencil is compatible with most models and is great for note-taking, sketching, and more. Logitech Crayon : $50 (save $20 at Walmart): The Logitech Crayon works with all iPad models and is powered by Apple Pencil technology, so you're getting the same experience for less money. Apple Magic Keyboard : $240 (save $109 at Walmart): This detachable keyboard is built for certain iPad Pro and iPad Air models. ZUGU Case : $32 (save $18 at Amazon): This case is compatible with certain base-model iPads, comes in various colors, and has a five-foot drop protection. Logitech Combo Touch for iPad Air : $160 (save $40 at Amazon): If you opt for the new iPad Air with the M2 chip, this keyboard case is compatible and has a large, multi-touch trackpad. Apple Pencil Pro : $99 (save $30 at Best Buy): Apple's newest stylus incorporates advanced features like squeeze, barrel roll, and haptic feedback to make marking up, taking notes, and creating a masterpiece more intuitive and valuable. ZAGG Pro Keys Wireless Keyboard Case : $135 (save $35 at Best Buy): This case is compatible with most iPad Pro models and has multi-device pairing, a stylus holder, and a lightweight design. Best Black Friday renewed iPad deals Apple iPad (8th gen) : $160 (save $148 at Amazon): This refurbished iPad is listed in excellent condition and comes with Wi-Fi 5, the A12 Bionic chip, and support for the Apple Pencil (1st gen). Apple iPad Air (5th gen) : $380 (save $220 at Best Buy): This Geek Squad-certified iPad has Wi-Fi, 64GB of storage, and comes with the M1 chip. Apple iPad (9th gen) : $250 (save $178 at Amazon): Snag this renewed base-model iPad with Wi-Fi and cellular, 64GB, and is listed in excellent condition. Apple iPad Mini (6th gen) : $430 (save $220 at Best Buy): This previous generation of the iPad mini is refurbished by Best Buy's Geek Squad and has the A15 Bionic chip and 256GB of storage capacity. FAQs Black Friday is an annual shopping event in the US that occurs the day after Thanksgiving Day. This year, it was on Friday, November 29. It features great holiday discounts at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Cyber Monday is the Monday following the Thanksgiving holiday and only applies to online deals. This year, it falls on Monday, Dec. 2. Apple devices go on sale periodically throughout the year, but historically, you'll see the biggest discounts during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend--especially when it comes to the newer models like the new iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini. We expect to see deals of up to 20% off on iPad models this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The main difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is that historically, Black Friday deals can be found both in-store and online, while Cyber Monday deals are almost exclusively online that Monday. However, both days are now popular for both online and in-store shopping. ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. All major retailers should have sales and discounts leading up to and during Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Expect deals from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, B&H Photo, and more. If you prefer to shop in person, there will be plenty of in-store deals as well, but we've also found that some of the best deals are exclusive to online. ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, by category: Black Friday TV deals Black Friday phone deals Black Friday laptop deals Black Friday gaming PC deals Black Friday smartwatch and fitness tracker deals Black Friday Amazon deals Black Friday Best Buy deals Black Friday Walmart deals Black Friday Sam's Club deals Black Friday Apple deals Black Friday iPad deals Black Friday AirPods deals Black Friday Apple Watch deals Black Friday Kindle deals Black Friday streaming deals Black Friday soundbar and speaker deals Black Friday robot vacuum deals Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals Black Friday PlayStation deals And more Black Friday deals: Black Friday deals under $25 Black Friday deals under $100 Black Friday Samsung deals Black Friday Verizon deals Black Friday headphone deals Black Friday tablet deals Black Friday monitor deals Black Friday gaming deals Black Friday security camera deals Black Friday storage and SSD deals Black Friday portable power station deals Black Friday VPN deals Black Friday Chromebook deals Black Friday HP deals Black Friday Dell deals Black Friday Roku deals Black Friday Roborock deals Best Black Friday deals Black Friday phone deals Black Friday TV deals Black Friday laptop dealsBEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — As the situation stands, Ester Ledecka has two Olympic races on the same day in 2026, at nearly the same time and in Italian mountain towns hours apart. The Czech Republic standout simply can’t make both starting gates. So she may have a big decision to make on Feb. 8, 2026 — race in the women's downhill at the Milan-Cortina Games or go for a three-peat in snowboarding’s parallel giant slalom. Unless, of course, her lobbying efforts pay off. Ledecka said she's going through her country's Olympic committee to reach out and see if one of the events can be switched. The Winter Games released. “It’s like someone has broken your dream,” said after a training run in Beaver Creek as she prepares for a World Cup downhill and super-G this weekend. “So please change it. Please, please, please. It’s my biggest dream to do both. I can create a great show for people.” Ledecka is the rare athlete to do both winter sports at such a gold medal-winning level. Nearly seven years ago, Ledecka was a surprise winner in the super-G at the Pyeongchang Games — from bib No. 26, no less. A week later, she captured gold in the parallel GS (PGS). At the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, she defended her PGS crown along with finishing fifth in the super-G, 27th in the downhill and fourth in the Alpine combined. To amend an Olympic schedule would not be unprecedented. Before the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, the International Olympic Committee and the governing body for track and field accommodated a request from Allyson Felix to go for a 200-400 double. She earned a silver in the 400. In 1996, the schedule was shifted so American sprinter Michael Johnson could run in the 200 and 400 at the Atlanta Games. He won gold in both. “I would appreciate it,” said Ledecka, who started skiing at 2 years old and snowboarding three years later. “They’re fighting (for it) right now.” The current schedule has snowboarding parallel giant slalom holding a qualifying round from 9 a.m. to 11 on Feb. 8 in Livigno, Italy. The final is set for 1 p.m. Meanwhile, the women's downhill is set to take place in Cortina at 11:30 a.m. It's about a 4-hour drive between the two events. For now, she's leaning toward snowboarding. Only because a few days later she could ski race in a super-G. “I was quite sad about that fact,” Ledecka said of the conflict between events. "We'll see. It’s still quite far away.” Ledecka has 88 World Cup starts in skiing, with 10 podium finishes and four wins. She has 63 World Cup starts in snowboarding, featuring 39 podium finishes and 25 wins. “I don’t know how she does it,” said American ski racer Jacqueline Wiles, who dabbled in snowboarding as a kid. “It’s absolutely insane.” Ledecka enjoys both sports for different reasons. In skiing, it's for the speed. For snowboarding, it's the execution of a turn. It's not always easy splitting her time between the two sports, fitting in training around events. She won a PGS race on Nov. 30 in China before arriving in Beaver Creek. After this, it's off to St. Moritz, Switzerland, for more ski racing. She's currently traveling with eight snowboards and 20 pairs of skis. “You cannot believe how stacked the ski room is right now,” Ledecka cracked. “I really admire my tech guy and how he's handling it all. I’m very happy to have my team help me do this, my dream, of going from the snowboard World Cup to the ski World Cup. I'm having a lot of fun.” Notes: Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland had the fastest time in the second training run Thursday. Italians racers Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone were both within a second. ... Lindsey Vonn is not expected to forerun before the third and final training session Friday. The 40-year-old Vonn still plans on testing out the course before this weekend's races on the Birds of Prey course. AP skiing:{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-12-04T22:50:53+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-12-04T22:50:53+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-12-04T22:50:52+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22355/news/featured/featured-equity-group-deg-launch-german-desk-to-boost-east-african-trade", "headline": "FEATURED: Equity Group, DEG launch German Desk to boost East African trade", "description": "Equity Group Holdings Plc and DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, the German Development Finance Institution, have unveiled...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22355/news/featured/featured-equity-group-deg-launch-german-desk-to-boost-east-african-trade" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/04/65611.png", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/04/65611.png" }, "articleBody": "Equity Group Holdings Plc and DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, the German Development Finance Institution, have unveiled the German Desk, an initiative aimed at fostering Africa-German business relations and accelerating East African trade. The German Desk will serve as a comprehensive platform for European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their local partners in East Africa. Offering a suite of services, including trade facilitation, transaction banking, credit lines, and investment advisory, the desk seeks to streamline cross-border business operations. Additionally, it will assist local firms in acquiring German equipment and technology platforms, thereby driving growth and innovation. This partnership with DEG marks a significant milestone for Equity Group Holdings as we strengthen our international footprint and enable cross-border trade, said Dr. James Mwangi, Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group Holdings. The German Desk provides a vital platform for German and European private sector players to access the vibrant East African market while supporting local businesses in their growth and development. The initiative aligns with Equity Group’s Global Partners Program and Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, aiming to leverage private sector partnerships to build robust people-to-people and business-to-business relationships. Supporting German businesses in Africa is a long-term strategic focus for DEG. We are delighted to partner with Equity Bank Kenya for the German Desk Kenya, said Petra Kotte, Senior Director for Infrastructure, Energy, and German Business at DEG. This collaboration strengthens economic ties between Germany and East Africa, empowering businesses with tailored financial solutions and cross-border partnerships. Germany is a key European trading partner for Kenya, with significant exchanges in automotive, machinery, and chemicals sectors. The German Desk aims to enhance these trade volumes by providing localized financial services and business matchmaking. The German Desk’s launch underscores the growing economic partnership between Germany and Kenya, remarked Sebastian Groth, German Ambassador to Kenya. It will not only benefit German enterprises but also contribute to socio-economic development in Kenya and the broader East African region. The desk, based in Nairobi, will support businesses across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Staffed by bilingual professionals with deep cultural knowledge, it will cater to the unique needs of German firms and their local partners, fostering seamless collaboration. The initiative is part of the Africa Business Network (“Wirtschaftsnetzwerk Afrika”), supported by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). EU Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, emphasized the role of SMEs in driving economic success. This partnership demonstrates the immense potential of Kenyan and East African SMEs to propel prosperity, she said, citing the broader impact of the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement. The launch event, held at the German Ambassador’s residence in Nairobi, brought together business leaders, diplomats, and development partners. Attendees underscored the importance of the German Desk in promoting trade and fostering sustainable economic growth across the region. Equity Group and DEG’s German Desk initiative represents a pivotal step toward creating a more interconnected, prosperous East African economy while strengthening Africa-German trade and investment ties.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Times Reporter" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
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SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks rode their dominant defense to a big win over a division rival to vault into first place in the NFC West. No, it isn’t 2013. These are the 2024 Seahawks, who, after struggling mightily against the run earlier this season, held the visiting Arizona Cardinals to 49 rushing yards in Sunday's 16-6 victory . The defensive line kept Kyler Murray under consistent pressure thanks to a dominant performance from Leonard Williams, the secondary flew around to smack away passes, and safety Coby Bryant scored on a 69-yard pick-6. Sunday's defensive performance was reminiscent of the Seahawks of a decade ago and a promising sign that first-year coach Mike Macdonald’s system is starting to click. Macdonald, who coordinated Baltimore's NFL-best defense last year, was leading one of the worst rush defenses in the league earlier this season. But Seattle consistently stuffed the Cardinals, who came in as the fifth-best running team in the league at 149.4 yards per game. “Three games in a row now we played pretty decent on defense,” Macdonald said. “There is an expectation and standard here throughout the course of our Seahawks history that we’re trying to live up to and build on. So that’s the idea.” At 6-5, the Seahawks drew even with the Cardinals in the tightly bunched division. The teams play each other again in two weeks at Arizona. Last month's trade for linebacker Ernest Jones IV has clearly paid off. Seattle hasn't allowed a running back to rush for more than 79 yards since its Week 8 loss to Buffalo, which was Jones' first game in a Seahawks uniform. He has led the team in tackles in every game he's played and has helped resurrect the run defense. The Seahawks' run game continues to underperform. Seattle got 65 yards on the ground Sunday, with the Cardinals holding Kenneth Walker III to 41 yards on 16 attempts. Zach Charbonnet had 22 yards on six carries. Walker hasn’t topped 100 yards since Week 1. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb needs to think of something different to get the running backs involved. Williams single-handedly disrupted the Cardinals with 2 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and one pass defensed. “I thought he was dominant,” Macdonald said. “I knew he played great and then I looked at the stat line and he played out of his mind.” The Seahawks finished with five sacks, seven quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and six pass deflections against the Cardinals, shutting down a team that had averaged 29.3 points over its previous three games. Geno Smith finished with 254 yards passing and a touchdown, but he threw another momentum-stalling interception. Smith was picked off on a third-and-6 play on the Arizona 18-yard line at the start of the fourth quarter, ending an 11-play, 73-yard drive. Smith has an NFL-most 12 interceptions this season, more than in either of his previous two seasons as the Seahawks' full-time starter. “That was a huge drive for us. ... Obviously made a terrible mistake down there, something I got to clean up,” Smith said. “But it was a big drive. We wanted to put the game ahead at least two scores.” The offensive line has contributed to the problem. Guard Anthony Bradford left with an ankle injury, and the line struggled to protect Smith, who was sacked five times. Macdonald said Bradford is expected to miss next week's game. 77 — Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, marking the fourth consecutive game that Smith-Njigba has led the team in receptions. He topped 100 yards receiving in the previous two games. “He’s getting open,” Smith said. “He’s catching the ball. He’s doing a great job in the screen game. All-around great player. I just think the way that teams are playing us coverage-wise, I feel like it’s the ultimate sign of respect.” The Seahawks play at the struggling New York Jets on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflDenton ISD 'ahead of the game' in complying with state security requirementsPiyush Goyal NEW DELHI: Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said he was confident of growth being back on track by the end of the fiscal year, overcoming global uncertainties. "We had elections in the first quarter and during the polls, obviously policy making and decisions on next steps of growth or infrastructure spending does slow down and there is a lag effect. But from what the initial numbers for this quarter, the third quarter show, the festive spending, the rebound in rural growth, the way banks are now seeing traction back again, the way infrastructure spending has come back on track, I think by the time we close the year in March, we will be back on track," Goyal said at Times Network India Economic Conclave. During July-Sept, GDP growth slowed to a seven quarter low of 5.4%, prompting several agencies, including RBI, to lower the projection for the full year. Govt is, however, confident of the economy expanding at 6.5% this year. Going forward, Goyal said, India's engagement with modern technologies and innovation will define the country's growth story. The minister said that exports would cross the $1 trillion mark over the next couple of years. "Exports will cross $800 billion this year, and about a trillion dollars in the next two, two and a half years. Across the world today, there is a recognition that the best investment opportunity is in India." On the political front, Goyal said the negative and false narratives of the Opposition are not going to hold back the country's economic growth . "We are committed whether it is passing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill so that fairness and sanity comes into this country's policy, whether it is passing the one nation one election bill so that we are rid of this continuous model of conduct holding back the nation's growth and the policy making and governments getting into sleep mode. These are structural changes which are good for India, we stand committed," Goyal added. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
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So far in 2024, the S&P 500 index has gained an impressive 26% while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite has soared roughly 28%. Without a doubt, one of the biggest tailwinds fueling these market returns is artificial intelligence (AI). Among AI's hottest stocks through 2024 are data analytics company Palantir Technologies ( PLTR -1.03% ) and semiconductor leader Nvidia ( NVDA 0.28% ) . Both companies have handily topped the markets this year -- with shares of Palantir rocketing by 291% while Nvidia has gained about 179% (as of market close Nov. 29). With Palantir and Nvidia looking like two of the AI realm's most dominant forces, would you be surprised to learn that some of Wall Street's brightest minds are only buying one of these stocks right now? Below, I'll outline moves made by some of the most prestigious hedge funds and detail why I think these decisions could make a lot of sense. How is Wall Street investing in Palantir and Nvidia? Thanks to an incredibly helpful tool called the form 13F , everyday investors can get a glimpse into what stocks large institutional investors are buying and selling. Below, I've quantified the buys and sells between Palantir and Nvidia stock among two notable hedge fund managers during the third quarter: Ken Griffin (Citadel Advisors) : In the September-ended quarter, Ken Griffin's Citadel Advisors sold 5,172,681 shares of Palantir -- reducing the fund's exposure by 91% in the process . At the same time, Griffin and his constituents increased Citadel's stake in Nvidia by 194% -- adding over 4.7 million shares. David Shaw (D.E. Shaw) : Another hedge fund that trimmed its stake in Palantir during the third quarter was D.E. Shaw, which sold 8.7 million shares of the software giant and reduced its position by 45%. Similar to Citadel, D.E. Shaw increased its exposure in Nvidia by more than 50%, buying nearly 6 million shares in the quarter. Let's dig into what may have influenced the decisions to trim Palantir while adding Nvidia over the last few months. Why sell Palantir right now? In April 2023, Palantir launched its fourth major software suite -- the Palantir Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). The advent of AIP has catapulted Palantir into the forefront of the AI narrative, helping the company accelerate revenue across both the commercial and public sectors, all while achieving notable margin expansion and consistent profitability. While Palantir's current rate of growth and future outlook are impressive , there is one obvious reason to sell the stock right now: valuation. PLTR PS Ratio data by YCharts As of the time of this writing, Palantir is trading at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 61. As the chart above illustrates, the company has experienced notable valuation expansion throughout 2024 and has emerged as one of the priciest software-as-a-service (SaaS) stocks among its peers. To put it plainly, there is a really good argument to be made that Palantir stock is overbought. Given how much momentum shares have witnessed in such short order, I can't blame the teams at Citadel and D.E. Shaw for reducing their exposure. The stock has had a historic run, and now appears to be a logical opportunity to lock in some profits. Why buy Nvidia right now? Nvidia is one of the most important pillars supporting the entire AI ecosystem right now. The company's chip sets, known as graphics processing units (GPUs), are perhaps the most coveted piece of infrastructure for generative AI development. In my eyes, the two most obvious catalysts fueling Nvidia's bull case thesis over the next few years are rising investment in AI-related infrastructure combined with the upcoming launch of the company's next generation GPU architecture, Blackwell. Similar to why I think investors are selling Palantir, the primary reason influencing the decisions to buy Nvidia could be valuation. NVDA PE Ratio data by YCharts While Nvidia's valuation isn't cheap per se, the company's current price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-free-cash-flow (P/FCF) multiples are trading relatively in line with 10-year averages. Given Nvidia is a much larger entity today than it was a decade ago, coupled with its strong position to continue acquiring incremental market share as demand for AI infrastructure continues to soar, investors could argue that Nvidia is actually undervalued -- making it a particularly compelling buy and hold at the moment. The bottom line While I understand the decision to sell Palantir and buy Nvidia right now, I can't say for certain what drove the decisions of the portfolio managers that I mentioned in this piece. As I've written in many other articles, I think competition in the GPU space is going to eat into Nvidia's growth sooner rather than later. For that reason, I haven't entirely bought into the notion that Nvidia's valuation is actually all that reasonable. While I own shares in both Palantir and Nvidia, I won't be adding to either position at their respective prices.
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Tottenham Hotspur keen on Angers goalkeeper Yahia Fofana Tottenham Hotspur were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday. Spurs went into the London derby with a depleted squad, with Dominic Solanke dropping out of the squad later in the day due to illness. Guglielmo Vicario is the latest player to get injured after sustaining an ankle fracture in the 4-0 away win over Manchester City. He is expected to be out for months after undergoing surgery, but what was unbelievable about the whole episode is the fact that the goalkeeper had played over 60 minutes through a fracture. While Fraser Forster has temporarily taken the gloves and done very well across two games against AS Roma and Fulham, Tottenham will be in big trouble if the ex-England international were to pick up an injury or be sent off as neither Alfie Whiteman nor Brandon Austin have played a single competitive game for the club. That might force the North Londoners to take a look at the goalkeeping market when the transfer window reopens next month. According to an exclusive report from The Sun , Spurs have identified Angers star Yahia Fofana as one of the potential replacements for the injured Vicario. Yahia Fofana has made quite a name for himself in Ligue 1 in the last few years. A product of the famed Le Havre academy, the Ivory Coast international moved to Angers in 2022. The 24-year-old became Angers’ first-choice goalkeeper last season, racking up 33 appearances in Ligue 1. The French-born Ivorian has made 13 league appearances so far this term, keeping two clean sheets and conceding 21 goals . Fofana has not been helped with a fragile defence in front of him, with Alexandre Dujeux’s side currently 14th in the Ligue 1 table. Come January, he will have only 18 months remaining on his contract ( Transfermarkt ) at the Raymond Kopa Stadium. So, Spurs could try and get Fofana on a relatively cut-price fee next month. The Angers glovesman is decent with the ball at his feet and can make good decisions under pressure. Having earned 18 international caps, the Ivorian has decent experience of playing at the highest level as well. That said, Daniel Levy and Co. must try bringing Fofana to N17 as cover for the injured Vicario. This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.First steps being taken to repeal Troubles immunity and replace legacy case laws, says Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary BennNoneNone