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Overall, the decision of smaller and mid-sized banks to raise deposit interest rates is a bold and strategic move that reflects the changing dynamics of the banking industry. By offering competitive rates, these banks are not only attracting deposits and improving their financial health but also signaling their commitment to customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Albany (NY) 67, UMKC 65None
PITTSBURGH — Clairton entered Saturday’s WPIAL Class A championship game against Fort Cherry having allowed 21 points in 13 games. The Rangers matched that total to win back-to-back WPIAL titles following a 21-20 victory at Acrisure Stadium. Fort Cherry improved to 14-0 this season and won the second district title in program history. The Rangers join McDonald (1951 and ’52) and Chartiers-Houston (1971 and ’72) as the only teams in Washington County to win two straight WPIAL championships. “I think that we knew coming into this game that we have a pretty potent offense,” Fort Cherry coach Tanner Garry said. “We were aware of what they had done all year, and we looked at it as a challenge. We preached to our team all week that we have to play a full fourth quarters.” Fort Cherry will play District 9 champion Port Allegany (13-0) in the state semifinals. The Rangers advanced to the state final last year, and are definitely battle tested heading into next week’s game, which will be played either Friday or Saturday. “On the defensive line, they (Clairton) were strong,” Fort Cherry senior lineman Joey Klose said. “They were the second seed and 13-0 for a reason. It was the first time all year I was on the ground a couple of times. “Nobody thought we could do it, and we did it, and that’s huge for the underdog mentality for me. McDonald and Fort Cherry picked us.” The Bears’ season ends at 13-1, but not without playing in an instant classic in search of the program’s 15th WPIAL title. “I just told my kids in the locker room, ‘They have nothing to hang their heads about,'” said Clairton coach Wayne Wade. “We gave it all we had. We were a little banged up the last couple of weeks. It kind of made us play a different way tonight. I guess it got the best of us. I just want to thank our school administration, and everybody that has supported this year.” The Bears held Fort Cherry quarterback and Penn State recruit Matt Sieg in check, but the junior was able to rush for two scores and threw the game-tying touchdown pass to Ryan Huey with 2:34 left in the fourth quarter on fourth-and-five. Sieg used his athleticism to avoid being sacked on the pass to Huey, as he found his teammate in the flat. The sophomore was wide open and raced down the right side of the field into the end zone. “I just back pedaled, looked to my right, and a credit to Ryan, he was open,” Sieg said. “This result is a testament to everybody. We have put in a lot of hard work, and my parents really pushed me when I was growing up.” Nik Massey connected on the third of three extra points, which was the game winner. Garry was ecstatic with the result of the play, but admitted it wasn’t something he drew up. “That one is called, ‘Run around in a circle and find someone,'” said Garry. “It was a bad call by me. Our idea was to try and give them a similar look on what we had just converted the fourth down on. “Matt was actually supposed to keep that one. It was supposed to be a fake reverse, but he turned around and made a play. Ryan did a great job staying alive on the play. It was a very impressive play all the way around.” Huey had a 360-degree turn of emotions in one play, as he fumbled before scoring the biggest touchdown of his life. The Rangers converted on two fourth-down conversions earlier in the drive when Huey caught a 20-yard pass on a reverse from Shane Cornali with four yards to go that took the ball to the Clairton 29-yard line. “My teammates were telling me all day to remain focused and stay the athlete that I am,” Huey said. “It felt like it was in slow motion coming down. It was a great feeling getting into the end zone.” The Rangers went 82 yards on 13 plays on their game-winning drive that took 4:56 off the clock. Huey caught two passes for 33 yards and Cornali pulled in four receptions for 65 yards. Evan Rogers had one catch for 44 yards. Massey not only made three PATs, but he also pulled in one reception for 34 yards. Massey’s contributions were not lost on Garry, as kicking in Class A football can be a tossup. Clairton attempted two-point conversions on its three touchdowns, and went 1-for-2. “We start every single practice by kicking 10 extra points, and we count it out all the way up to 10,” Garry said. “It’s Matt’s (Sieg) job to constantly hound Nik (Massey) and just try and get in his head so he’s not mentally weak. I’ll be honest, most days, Matt kind of wins that exchange, but Nik has built up a whole lot of confidence, and for him to make those extra points today was huge.” Sieg was 8 of 15 for 161 yards with one touchdown. He rushed for 87 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns. The Bears couldn’t utilize their passing game with quarterback Jeff Thompson unable to throw, but still used their speed to take a 6-0 lead with 2:58 left in the first period when Mike Ruffin raced 79 yards for a touchdown. “The last few weeks we just grinded out some games against some good football teams without being able to throw,” Wade said. “That shows the heart of a champion of our team to lose our quarterback, and not really have a backup guy.” Fort Cherry responded on its next possession and Sieg scored from four yards out to finish a four-play, 62-yard drive, and the Rangers had a 7-6 advantage with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter. Sieg powered through from one-yard out with 19 seconds left in the second quarter, and Fort Cherry took a 14-6 lead into halftime. Drahcir Jones’ 58-yard run and Ruffin’s three yarder gave Clairton a 20-14 lead after three quarters. Ruffin’s two-point conversion run tied the game at 14-14 with 10:57 left in the third quarter. Ruffin gained 162 yards on 14 carries and Jones rushed for 90 yards on 10 carries. Teammate Deon Pompey added 59 yards on eight attempts. Darren Pinson led the Bears in tackles with 10, including one for loss. Clairton’s Jaece Booker had an interception. Blake Sweder led Fort Cherry’s defense with 12 tackles, including one for loss. Teammate Tyler Wolfe made 10 stops (3.5 for a loss). The Bears were penalized 11 times for 90 yards, while the Rangers were called for infractions seven times for 45 yards. “We probably had six or seven holding penalties called against us, and they were at big moments in the game,” Wade said. “I don’t want to get in trouble with that kind of stuff. I just wanted to point that out because that type of thing in a championship game shouldn’t happen.”
NoneOne of the key advantages of a flat organizational structure is its ability to promote innovation. By eliminating layers of middle management and streamlining communication channels, Huang’s company has fostered a culture of openness and collaboration. Employees feel empowered to take risks, think outside the box, and propose bold ideas that drive innovation and strategic growth. This free flow of ideas has led to breakthrough products, disruptive technologies, and market-leading strategies that have propelled the company to the forefront of global competition.
As we stand on the cusp of a new trading day, the anticipation and excitement are palpable. Investors are eagerly awaiting the opening of the A-share market, poised to seize opportunities, make strategic investments, and embark on a new chapter of growth and prosperity.
The controversy began when Wahaha, a well-known brand with a strong presence in the Chinese market, discovered that Zong Ze's company had been using a similar logo and packaging design to imitate their products. This blatant disregard for intellectual property rights not only damaged the reputation of Wahaha but also confused consumers who were misled into believing they were purchasing authentic Wahaha products. As a result, Wahaha took legal action against Zong Ze's company, leading to the hefty fine and a tarnished reputation for both Zong Ze and his company.As the sun sets over the devastated neighborhood, a somber silence descends, broken only by the sounds of mourning and the echoes of tragedy. The memory of the 184 souls lost in the brutal attack serves as a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need for solidarity, compassion, and justice in the face of adversity. As the world mourns with Haiti, may we find strength in our collective humanity to strive for a better future, where peace and prosperity prevail over violence and suffering.
Bears force OT with 11 points in 22 seconds but still lose their 5th straight, 30-27 to VikingsSince their NWSL title-winning season in 2021, it’s been a bumpy road for the franchise, missing out on the playoffs in back-to-back seasons while compiling a 10-19-18 record overall. “Back then, it clearly wasn’t sustainable because after ’21, we kind of tanked,” goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury said. Change was certainly needed, but over the course of those two seasons, the foundation for future success under current team owner Michele Kang was placed. Those building blocks came in waves, from homegrown talent like Trinity Rodman and Tara McKeown to international signings like Leicy Santos and Esme Morgan. Saturday was a massive step in this rebuild as Washington returned to the NWSL Championship with an unforgettable semifinal win over NJ/NY Gotham FC. “Insane,” defender/midfielder Gabrielle Carle said. “It’s so insane to play in an environment like this.” Deafening is the only way to truly explain what it was like once Kingsbury saved her third and final penalty as 120 minutes of soccer wasn’t enough to decide a winner. Penalties were needed and the longtime keeper for the Spirit, someone who’s seen first-hand the highs and lows of the club, stood on her head to save all three Gotham penalties. “Going into that, I wasn’t nervous at all,” Kingsbury said. “It’s just like another day at training. I’ve made those saves many times, so I think that helped prepare me emotionally for those big moments.” Audi Field was literally shaking from the jumps of elation from more than 19,000 fans, who packed in for Washington’s third sellout of the season. They were treated to an instant classic, a match that saw everyone on the edge of their seats. “That was one of the most electric games I’ve ever played in,” defender Casey Krueger said. “The fans were just unreal.” Those clamoring for a big moment, especially after Gotham took a 1-0 lead off an Esther González header in the 56th minute, got just that from a pair of homegrown talents, part of this youth revolution happening with the Spirit. Clemson teammates and 2024 rookies Makenna Morris and Hal Hershfelt connected on a goal in the third minute of added time in the second half to level the score at 1-1. “It went over my head and then it was almost slow-motion,” defender Esme Morgan said. “I just saw her come from nowhere and then I actually watched it go into the top corner. It was amazing.” Hershfelt’s presence on the team only happened because Ashley Sanchez, one of the league’s best midfielders, was shockingly traded to North Carolina for the fifth overall pick in the NWSL Draft. The move sent ripples throughout the league, but already, Washington’s return in that move has produced an iconic moment in club history. “It’s not a coincidence,” head coach Jonatan Giráldez said. “It’s everything what she’s doing in the training session, in the way she believes in the training, how she develops her skills in the training and everything, what she’s doing.” Two weeks ago, another homegrown talent, defender Tara McKeown, made her mark in the quarterfinals, scoring her first goal of the season in the 86th minute, the equalizer against Bay FC in an eventual 2-1 win for Washington. Both were named to the NWSL Best XI second team this season, a deserving recognition for two shining examples of the now fortified foundation of this club. Last weekend, the Spirit got a glimpse of the summit and now, they have a chance to reach it, taking on the Orlando Pride on Saturday in Kansas City. “There’s just this belief that we’re never out of it, that whatever you throw at us, we’re going to find a way to win,” Kingsbury said. “... We just got one more to go.”
In the fast-paced world of gaming, competition is fierce, innovation is key, and success is hard-won. And now, all eyes are on Alibaba Games as they make their move to shake up the industry with their latest initiatives. With a strong foothold in the e-commerce and tech sectors, Alibaba is poised to bring its expertise and resources to the gaming sphere, aiming to revolutionize the way we play and interact in the digital realm.
UEFA Champions League Preview | Real Madrid Facing Italian Leader, the Toughest Nut to Crack
Week 4: Clearer Skin and Improved DigestionXingxin Technology, on the other hand, is a rising star in the semiconductor industry, known for its expertise in chip design and development. The company's ambitious growth plans and strategic partnerships have caught the eye of big funds looking to invest in the next big thing. As Xingxin Technology continues to make waves in the tech world, investors are betting on its success and taking a long-term view on their investments.U.S. stocks ended Friday in the red, closing out a lackluster week despite a year of historic highs. The Dow was lower by 333 points, or 0.78 per cent, after the closing bell. The S&P 500 lost 1.1 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite was down by 1.5 per cent, after a selloff in Big Tech stocks. Shares of Tesla closed lower by around 5 per cent, while Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft and Nvidia lost about 2 per cent. The “Magnificent Seven” group of high-performing tech stocks — Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla — has accounted for more than half of the gains so far this year as they benefit from intense investor focus on ways to play the artificial intelligence boom, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. Analysts have long cautioned that the market’s reliance on a handful of names exposes the stock market to potential trouble, should the group stumble. “If a few of these companies fail to beat an elevated bar for positive surprises, there is a risk they would also fall together,” said Keith Lerner, chief market strategist at Truist Wealth. “I would prefer a broader market, where mega cap growth stocks do well and other segments are also doing well. So if one area falters, another segment picks up the baton.” Bitcoin’s tremendous late-year rally also fizzled, as traders looked to profit taking. The cryptocurrency had dropped to around US$94,000 by late afternoon on Friday after topping US$106,000 earlier this month on hopes that President-elect Donald Trump will usher in a crypto-friendly administration when he returns to the White House next month. Treasury yields rose Friday, with the 10-year passing 4.6 per cent, potentially pushing some trading out of equities. Trading volume was thin due to the shortened holiday week, magnifying any moves. Despite the selloff in equities, there’s really no big news markets are reacting to: Such dramatic market moves have become something of a Christmas week tradition, as buying and selling can have a dramatic effect on stock indexes with most traders on vacation. Low trading volume can also mean high volatility. With remaining traders opting to take some recently gained profits and stuff them in their pockets, momentum shifted as folks literally and figuratively headed for the exits. To note: Last year, on December 20, the Dow tumbled 500 points. FactSet analysts said there was “nothing really new” markets were reacting to. On December 15, 2022, the Dow plunged 765 points for no real reason at all. Some market analysts cited “recession fears,” which ended up unfounded. And on December 30, 2019, the Dow sank 200 points. CNN Business’ story noted the day was “relatively devoid of news.” But the mother of all end-of-year market chaos moments happened in a 10-day stretch to end 2018, when the Dow sank 4,000 points before staging one of the best days on record — a 1,086-point gain — before a roller coaster day the next trading day, which nearly wiped out all those gains. Looking ahead to 2025, stocks are likely to outperform bonds even after a two-year run of strong performance, said Anthony Valeri, investment management director at California Bank & Trust. “Investors should maintain their equity exposure into the New Year,” he wrote in a note issued Friday. “Stocks are still the best investment to protect against inflation.”
Titans, Levis shock Texans with big plays