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FactCheck: Image of Simon Harris poster saying 'more waste, it wasn't me' has been doctoredM&C Saatchi Group will join L’Oréal Group’s Agency Village, expanding its remit to deliver creative services for the global beauty company. The partnership builds on M&C Saatchi’s existing relationship with Garnier, marking another addition to its portfolio of recent business wins. The collaboration aims to strengthen L’Oréal’s market leadership while driving engagement across its diverse consumer base. As part of the Agency Village, M&C Saatchi will develop strategic and creative campaigns across L’Oréal Group’s portfolio of brands, which includes L’Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline, Nyx, Kiehl’s, La Roche-Posay, and Lancôme. “Partnering with L’Oréal Group is a tremendous opportunity to work with a business synonymous with innovation, influence and excellence,” Michael McEwan , CEO of M&C Saatchi, said. “During the pitch process they challenged us to bring bold storytelling, cultural power and creative thinking across their portfolio of brands. Their team is bursting with talent and a desire to drive meaningful connections with their consumers and their communities.” Bianca Cowie , communications manager of Garnier and Thayers, added: “We first met the M&C Saatchi team almost a year ago on a project basis. They blew us away with their depth of thinking and creativity. The team’s understanding of youth culture and their ability to execute in culture more broadly is a real strength that we intend to lean into. “They join our broader agency village where their scale and understanding of intergenerational Australians and New Zealanders will add a new depth of capability to our team”. This appointment follows a series of wins for M&C Saatchi Group, including Lifeblood and Chery Motor’s Jaecoo. The performance brand of creative agency’s recently had its partnership with BeIN Sports was also recently expanded to lead its growth efforts in Australia and New Zealand. Building on their collaboration in Southeast Asia (SEA), beIN SPORTS aims to increase its reach in the ANZ market by leveraging M&C Saatchi Performance’s data-driven, localised approach to expand beIN SPORTS Connect subscribers. See also: beIN SPORTS expands partnership with M&C Saatchi Performance – Top image: Michael McEwan and Emma Robbinsmn nn777 。

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 4:39 p.m. EST

TORONTO - Bruce Brown intercepted a pass and streaked down the court, driving past some token defence from Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson for a one-handed slam dunk. Brown’s Toronto Raptors teammates burst off the home team’s bench, cheering for the veteran forward. “It’s just because they didn’t think I can jump, because I haven’t jumped really, or they haven’t seen it, and then they didn’t see it the last year,” Brown said, adding he knew he would dunk as soon as he crossed half-court. “I told them I could do it and I was like, ‘if I get the chance to, I’mma dunk it.’” It was Brown’s first dunk in eight months as he scored 12 points and had three rebounds off the bench in his season debut on Sunday as Toronto lost to Atlanta 136-107. He’d missed the first 31 games of the Raptors season as he recovered from arthroscopic knee surgery on Sept. 20, a process that took longer than he expected. “I thought I was gonna be out like six to eight weeks but some things didn’t go my way,” said Brown. “There was a lot of swelling in there for a while. “Things happened, and then I was supposed to come back, like, three, four weeks ago, but there was still swelling there, so they told me to take my time.” Brown averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks over 34 games with the Raptors last season. He was traded from the Indiana Pacers to Toronto on Jan. 18 as part of a package for all-star forward Pascal Siakam. He’s averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists over his career in 416 games with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana and Toronto. Brown’s return doesn’t just add depth to the Raptors’ lineup, but brings some much-needed energy to a struggling team that has lost 10 in a row. “You see him get out there and put his body on the line after being out for so long,” said Scottie Barnes, who led Toronto with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five assists but eight turnovers in the loss. “He’s making himself so tired out there just guarding, pushing himself. That’s what the team needs. “We’ve all got to match that energy every single night. That’s the effort we’re going to need in order to win games.” Head coach Darko Rajakovic said that fatigue is a major factor in the NBA’s longest active losing skid. He said that a lack of focus played a role in Toronto’s season-high 31 turnovers on Sunday. “We hit a wall. We look tired. We look drained,” said Rajakovic. “Guys are not in a rhythm. That’s the reality that we’re in right now. We’ve got to find a way to get out of it.” It was the third consecutive game where the Raptors had given up over 130 points, and second 29-point blowout in a row. “Getting beat by 30, man, at home — that’s unacceptable,” said Barnes. “We can’t be doing that. We got to go out there and play harder, be smarter. “We had a lot of turnovers today. We can’t allow this to happen.” Brown was more optimistic. “We just need some rest, and we’ll push through it,” he said, noting that a stomach flu had spread through Toronto’s locker room. “I mean, all teams have this at some point, even championship teams, so we’ll push through it. We’ll be fine.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024.Nebraska will be trying to preserve its perfect in-state record when it hosts South Dakota on Wednesday night in a nonconference game in Lincoln, Neb. The Cornhuskers (4-1) are 3-0 at home and also won Friday at then-No. 14 Creighton, beating their in-state rivals on the road for the second straight time. But the last time they did that, in 2022, they followed that win with a 16-point loss at Indiana to open Big Ten Conference play. "Believe me, we've addressed a lot of things," Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said. "A lot of people are saying some really positive things. You've got to find a way to put that behind you. I've liked how our team has responded and come back to work after that great win at Creighton." Brice Williams leads the Cornhuskers with 18.2 points per game and was one of five players in double figures against Creighton. Juwan Gary topped the list with 16. South Dakota (6-2) comes to town off a 112-50 home win Monday night over Randall, the third non-Division I school it has beat. The Coyotes' last game against a D1 opponent was Friday at Southern Indiana, resulting in a 92-83 loss. This will be South Dakota's second nonconference game against a Big Ten opponent, after a 96-77 loss at Iowa on Nov. 12. In December, the Coyotes also visit Santa Clara, hovering near the top 100 in KenPom adjusted efficiency, before jumping into Big Sky play. "The schedule is very good and that should help us," third-year South Dakota coach Eric Peterson said before the season. "We have some good nonconference games that should help prepare us for the end of the season." Nebraska has held four of its opponents to 67 or fewer points, with Saint Mary's the only one to top that number in the Cornhuskers' lone loss. Opponents are shooting 38.1 percent this season. South Dakota shot below 40 percent in its two previous games before shooting 62 percent against Randall. Isaac Bruns, who scored 20 to lead South Dakota in the Randall game, paces the Coyotes with 12.9 points per game. --Field Level Media

gremlin/iStock via Getty Images After peaking mid-summer around $150, shares of Micron Technology, Inc. ( NASDAQ: MU ) have had a whiplash over the past two quarters, largely missing out on the post-election rally. The memory supplier just posted Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MU either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.WASHINGTON , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA continues to advance its campaign to explore more of the Moon than ever before, awarding Firefly Aerospace $179 million to deliver six experiments to the lunar surface. This fourth task order for Firefly will target landing in the Gruithuisen Domes on the near side of the Moon in 2028. As part of the agency's broader Artemis campaign, Firefly will deliver a group of science experiments and technology demonstrations under NASA's CLPS initiative, or Commercial Lunar Payload Services, to these lunar domes, an area of ancient lava flows, to better understand planetary processes and evolution. Through CLPS, NASA is furthering our understanding of the Moon's environment and helping prepare for future human missions to the lunar surface, as part of the agency's Moon to Mars exploration approach. "The CLPS initiative carries out U.S. scientific and technical studies on the surface of the Moon by robot explorers. As NASA prepares for future human exploration of the Moon, the CLPS initiative continues to support a growing lunar economy with American companies," said Joel Kearns , deputy associate administrator for exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington . "Understanding the formation of the Gruithuisen Domes, as well as the ancient lava flows surrounding the landing site, will help the U.S. answer important questions about the lunar surface." Firefly's first lunar delivery is scheduled to launch no earlier than mid-January 2025 and will land near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium, on the northeast quadrant of the Moon's near side. Firefly's second lunar mission includes two task orders: a lunar orbit drop-off of a satellite combined with a delivery to the lunar surface on the far side and a delivery of a lunar orbital calibration source, scheduled in 2026. This new delivery in 2028 will send payloads to the Gruithuisen Domes and the nearby Sinus Viscositatus. The Gruithuisen Domes have long been suspected to be formed by a magma rich in silica, similar in composition to granite. Granitic rocks form easily on Earth due to plate tectonics and oceans of water. The Moon lacks these key ingredients, so lunar scientists have been left to wonder how these domes formed and evolved over time. For the first time, as part of this task order, NASA also has contracted to provide "mobility," or roving, for some of the scientific instruments on the lunar surface after landing. This will enable new types of U.S. scientific investigations from CLPS. "Firefly will deliver six instruments to understand the landing site and surrounding vicinity," said Chris Culbert , manager of the CLPS initiative at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston . "These instruments will study geologic processes and lunar regolith, test solar cells, and characterize the neutron radiation environment, supplying invaluable information as NASA works to establish a long-term presence on the Moon." The instruments, collectively expected to be about 215 pounds (97 kilograms) in mass, include: Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer , which consists of two stationary and three mobile instruments, will study rocks and regoliths on the summit of one of the domes to determine their origin and better understand geologic processes of early planetary bodies. The principal investigator is Dr. Kerri Donaldson Hanna of the University of Central Florida , Orlando . Heimdall is a flexible camera system that will be used to take pictures of the landing site from above the horizon to the ground directly below the lander. The principal investigator is Dr. R. Aileen Yingst of the Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona . Sample Acquisition, Morphology Filtering, and Probing of Lunar Regolith is a robotic arm that will collect samples of lunar regolith and use a robotic scoop to filter and isolate particles of different sizes. The sampling technology will use a flight spare from the Mars Exploration Rover project. The principal investigator is Sean Dougherty of Maxar Technologies, Westminster, Colorado . Low-frequency Radio Observations from the Near Side Lunar Surface is designed to observe the Moon's surface environment in radio frequencies, to determine whether natural and human-generated activity near the surface interferes with science. The project is headed up by Natchimuthuk Gopalswamy of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photovoltaic Investigation on the Lunar Surface will carry a set of the latest solar cells for a technology demonstration of light-to-electricity power conversion for future missions. The experiment will also collect data on the electrical charging environment of the lunar surface using a small array of solar cells. The principal investigator is Jeremiah McNatt from NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland . Neutron Measurements at the Lunar Surface is a neutron spectrometer that will characterize the surface neutron radiation environment, monitor hydrogen, and provide constraints on elemental composition. The principal investigator is Dr. Heidi Haviland of NASA's Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Alabama . Through the CLPS initiative, NASA purchases lunar landing and surface operations services from American companies. The agency uses CLPS to send scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to advance capabilities for science, exploration, or commercial development of the Moon. By supporting a robust cadence of lunar deliveries, NASA will continue to enable a growing lunar economy while leveraging the entrepreneurial innovation of the commercial space industry. Two upcoming CLPS flights scheduled to launch in early 2025 will deliver NASA payloads to the Moon's near side and south polar region, respectively. Learn more about CLPS and Artemis at: https://www.nasa.gov/clps SOURCE NASAOn November 23, Mnet held the third and final day of the 2024 MAMA Awards at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. This was the concluding night of the award ceremony, bringing some big wins for the world’s top K-Pop artists . There were many iconic moments throughout the three nights, from a BIGBANG reunion to Bruno Mars’ “Korean speech.” Another moment was between TXT ‘s Hueningkai and a robotic dog, as he politely greeted it when going up on stage to accept an award with his members. Kai is definitely a green flag he even showed respect to a dog robot — DEJA VU (@Bawmznn) November 22, 2024 I'M CRYINGSJF WE GOT A ROBOT DOG BOWING TO HUENINGKAI KAI?!&@$ 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/11ac2YqABh — ᯓ✦ Maryam (@txtdom) November 22, 2024 The video went viral with 436.4K views at the time of writing, with many complimenting Hueningkai’s sweet personality. Yet, many were turned off by the robotic dog, claiming that these types of robot dogs are used as “war weapons.” Robot dogs have been known to be deployed in the Middle East and other regions with guns mounted on them during wars and used to “gather intelligence” and monitor troops in war zones. i want to clear up that this dog is used in alot of militaries around the world so this is not zionist propaganda per se but it's still weird they just have a war weapon at MAMA — mina 🫧 (@syiwrl) November 25, 2024 zero clue 🙁 i just hate the fact that zionism is becoming more and more common in kpop every passing day and we can't do anything except boycott praying that these greedy organizations listen to us — mina 🫧 (@syiwrl) November 24, 2024 Ah yes the cute little robot dogs used to mass murder people https://t.co/iPcJdaaDJS — J. অরণ্য7🇧🇷🇱🇧 (@JayPondh) November 22, 2024 Some netizens felt that including the robot dogs was military propaganda meant to desensitize viewers. These are the fuckn robot demons made to be the size of small children so Israhell can snipe babies and toddlers. They are desensitising you and y'all fall for it like buffoons. "Oh such a cute robot killer dog that murders Palestinian children point blank!” https://t.co/L5rMkVTwbI pic.twitter.com/x4GPOSlKs6 — Yoongi and Geto 🪷🔻 (@evilbunnyminho) November 23, 2024 God I hate when I’m reminded I’m in the bad place. Those robot dogs are not “cute” technology, they’re desensitizing us to them https://t.co/upKsgK3oeg — Liz7 엘리사벳 #HybeDivestFromZionism 🍉+ ̊⊹ ౨ৎ (@btsgivesuwings) November 22, 2024 That dog is not a war weapon. And although I do not know if that dog will be turned into a war weapon, it's a robot that has nothing to do with war right now. Focus on actual robots that are actively killing ppl and not this performative shit Thank you — BESIDJU_ (@Versace_milk) November 25, 2024 I hate this. Robot dogs are being used as weapons in militaries and police forces. Do not let them desensitize you to the violence and damage these will cause real world. https://t.co/jsUx7aT2zh https://t.co/AJkMB9UrHN — Mackenzie (@TheGirlUnsure) November 23, 2024 While the robotic dogs were featured throughout the award show, even during artists’ performances, the clip of Hueningkai specifically garnered the most backlash. mingyu sitting on the floor with the maestro robot dogs before their performance... he is 3 apples tall pic.twitter.com/6rs8ci1FrF — 🐶 (@gyumedia) November 23, 2024 TXT's Yeonjun opens the 2024 MAMA Awards stage with a robot, while performing GGum. pic.twitter.com/TtSJSqWB79 — About Music (@AboutMusicYT) November 22, 2024 The Independent wrote, “IDF reportedly deployed robot dogs fitted with aerial drones earlier this year.” Netizens are becoming increasingly alarmed by the dystopian world we live in, as there are ongoing genocides around the world. Robot dog with machine guns. Are you ready for them ? pic.twitter.com/IAJbtPExvk — Gun Lovers Club (@GunloverClub1) September 17, 2024 On the other hand, some netizens claimed that this robotic dog, in particular, is not a war weapon but Spot, a robot dog made by Boston Dynamics . Like most everything, robot dogs can be used for good but can also be used for evil. The National Institutes of Health called robot dogs “Promising technological interventions that can benefit the psychosocial health of older adults and people with dementia.” As a dynamic sensing platform, Spot provides valuable insights into routine operations, site health, or potentially hazardous situations. With Spot, your team can focus on the things that matter most, while staying out of harm’s way. — Boston Dynamics Those are boston dynamic robot dogs...not the ones from the military...it’s just different colored... pic.twitter.com/toV1nqk6NL — sleepyy – SEEING KIOF NEXT WEEK!!!! (@sleepyvibes_00) November 25, 2024 Netizens have shared multiple instances of robot dogs being used for good. However, as robot dogs are AI-driven, there are multiple concerns, as robot dogs are given the power to make life-and-death choices without human oversight in many situations. Singapore unveils a robot dog to enforce safe distancing among park-goers pic.twitter.com/wrOxg36jgH — ○༺𓂂𓂃ᗙ Martin ᗛ𓂃𓂂༻○ (@KlatuBaradaNiko) May 9, 2020 When the robot dogs walk the children... You know we are living in the future. pic.twitter.com/o9ey9RMvmG — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 24, 2024 Still, many netizens feel it’s no different from using drones to create cool light shows or record performances, scenery, etc. Yet, drones are also commonly used in war. thank you, i wasn't made aware of this till now — mina 🫧 (@syiwrl) November 25, 2024 By this logic (and I’m not saying it’s wrong) it’s also dystopian to have drones flying around filming us when they are used for the same thing And that we fly in planes when planes are use for the same thing The world is just Dystopian in general when you look at it all — Mel Targaryen (@MelTarg) November 25, 2024 i don’t usually rt minors, but that is indeed just a common robot dog. just like how there are drones used in war tactics and common drones used to film the kpop performance stages that y’all watch everyday. https://t.co/UExDq0BDZl — Ciera 씨에라 ⭐ (@cierabyul) November 25, 2024 Additionally, a VCR ahead of Yeonjun ‘s performance earned criticism for using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to create music and visuals, another aspect making the world feel increasingly dystopian. Read more below. TXT’s “MAMA Awards” VCR Receives Scathing Criticism TXT TXT’s “MAMA Awards” VCR Receives Scathing Criticism TXT Fans Question Quality Control After Merch Falls Apart In Less Than A Month ATEEZ’s Wooyoung Names His Favorite TXT Member Without Hesitation TXT’s Soobin Was Convinced ATEEZ’s Wooyoung Didn’t Like Him At First See more TXT

CARLSBAD, Calif. , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced that it has completed the divestiture of its Energy Services System Integration (SI) business to US-based private investment firm MAG Capital Partners. No further transaction details were announced. Gary Chase , Chief Financial Officer, Viasat said: "We are focused on taking strategic actions and continuously looking at ways to enhance our financial position and unlock value. This transaction is part of Viasat's strategy to actively manage our portfolio. While the SI business is a vibrant, stand-alone operation, it has minimal strategic synergies with our core growth businesses. "It made strong sense for the future of the SI business – its employees and customers – to find a new owner prioritizing large-scale telecoms project work to allow the business to reach its full potential. In MAG Capital Partners, we believe we have found an owner that will help the business continue to expand. We appreciate the many contributions of our SI colleagues and wish them continued success." SI, which was included in Viasat's acquisition of RigNet in 2021, provides engineering design, procurement services, shop assembly, factory acceptance testing, and "day 2" support for telecom systems installed on critical infrastructure projects. Approximately 80 employees currently engaged in the SI business will transfer to the new company, Nessco. The agreement includes the sale of the company's SI facility in Aberdeen, Scotland . No locations are expected to close as a result of the sale. Imperial Capital, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Viasat in connection with the sale of the SI business. About Viasat Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023 , Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com , the Viasat News Room or follow us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , X or YouTube . Copyright © 2024 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat Signal are registered in the U.S and in other countries to Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to the enhancement of financial performance and unlocking of value resulting from the active management of Viasat's portfolio; the number of employees expected to transfer to the new company; and the number of locations expected to close as a result of the sale. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of any existing or future satellite; unexpected expenses related to our satellite projects; risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, launch, operational or deployment failure or degradation in satellite performance; increasing levels of competition in our target markets; our ability to successfully implement our business plan on our anticipated timeline or at all; changes in the global business environment and economic conditions; and our level of indebtedness and ability to comply with applicable debt covenants. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in our SEC filings available at www.sec.gov , including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viasat-completes-sale-of-energy-services-systems-integration-business-302335522.html SOURCE Viasat, Inc.

NEW YORK — There's a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. An animated game, anyway. The real game takes place at Madison Square Garden, where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks in a game televised on ABC and ESPN and streamed on Disney+ and ESPN+. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. Madison Square Garden is a staple of the NBA's Christmas schedule. Now it merges with a bigger home of the holidays, because the "Dunk the Halls" game will be staged at Disney, on a court set up right smack in the middle of where countless families have posed for vacation photos. Why that location? Because it was Mickey Mouse's Christmas wish. "Basketball courts often have the ability to make a normal environment look special, but in Disney it can only turn out incredible," Wembanyama said in an ESPN video promoting his Christmas debut. The story — this is Disney, after all — begins with Mickey penning a letter to Santa Claus, asking if he and his pals can host a basketball game. They'll not only get to watch one with NBA players, but some of them will even get to play. Goofy and Donald Duck will sub in for a couple Knicks players, while Mickey and Minnie Mouse will come on to play for the Spurs. "It looks to me like Goofy and Jalen Brunson have a really good pick-and-roll at the elite level," said Phil Orlins, an ESPN vice president of production. Walt Disney World hosted real NBA games in 2020, when the league set up there to complete its season that had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those games were played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The setting for the Christmas game will be Main Street USA, at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. Viewers will recognize Cinderella's castle behind one baseline and the train station at the other end, and perhaps some shops they have visited in between. Previous alternate animated broadcasts included an NFL game taking place in Andy's room from "Toy Story;" the "NHL Big City Greens Classic" during a game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers; and earlier this month, another NFL matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys also taking place at Springfield's Atoms Stadium as part of "The Simpsons Funday Football." Unlike basketball, the players are helmeted in those sports. So, this telecast required an extra level of detail and cooperation with players and teams to create accurate appearances of their faces and hairstyles. "So, this is a level of detail that we've never gone, that we've never done on any other broadcast," said David Sparrgrove, the senior director of creative animation for ESPN. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 phenom from France who was last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, looks huge even among most NBA players. The creators of the alternate telecast had to design how he'd look not only among his teammates and rivals, but among mice, ducks and chipmunks. "Like, Victor Wembanyama, seeing him in person is insane. It's like seeing an alien descend on a basketball court, and I think we kind of captured that in his animated character," said Drew Carter, who will again handle play-by-play duties, as he had in the previous animated telecasts, and will get an assist from sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Wembanyama's presence is one reason the Spurs-Knicks matchup, the leadoff to the NBA's five-game Christmas slate, was the obvious choice to do the animated telecast. The noon EST start means it will begin in the early evening in France and should draw well there. Also, it comes after ABC televises the "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade" for the previous two hours, providing more time to hype the broadcast. Recognizing that some viewers who then switch over to the animated game may be Disney experts but NBA novices, there will be 10 educational explainers to help with basketball lingo and rules. Beyond Sports' visualization technology and Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking allow the animated players to make the same movements and plays made moments earlier by the real ones at MSG. Carter and analyst Monica McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast, donning VR headsets to experience the game from Main Street, USA. Other animated faces recognizable to some viewers include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who will judge a halftime dunk contest among Mickey and his friends, and Santa himself, who will operate ESPN's "SkyCam" during the game. The players are curious how the production — and themselves — will look. "It's going to be so crazy to see the game animated," Spurs veteran Chris Paul said. "I think what's dope about it is it will give kids another opportunity to watch a game and to see us, basically, as characters." Get local news delivered to your inbox!As we reported last night, president-elect Trump announced he intends to levy a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on imports from China. Tariffs on Mexico and Canada would remain in place until the flow of “drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop,” while tariffs on China would remain in place “until such time as [the drugs that are pouring into our country] stop”. He also stated that on January 20th he would “sign all necessary documents” to implement the tariffs on Mexico and Canada as one of his “many first Executive Orders”. To be sure, Trump has proposed most of this before, in different forms: Overall, the announcement is more reminiscent of the first Trump administration, when such tariffs were announced as a negotiating tactic, rather than the more systematic tariff policies (e.g., the 10-20% “universal baseline tariff”) Trump frequently discussed during the campaign. Some more details: 43% of US goods imports come from Mexico (15.4%), Canada (13.6%), and China (13.9%). At the proposed tariff rates, this would generate slightly less than $300bn (or 1.0% of GDP) in tariff revenue annually , without accounting for dynamic effects, such as changes to import volumes and prices or taxable incomes, and boost the US effective tariff rate by 8.6% (Goldman's rule of thumb is that every 1% increase in the effective tariff rate would raise core PCE prices by 0.1%), while the proposed tariff increases would also boost core PCE prices by 0.9% if implemented. In its commentary on the tariff announcement, Goldman political analyst Alex Phillips writes that while he had assumed tariffs on imports from China will rise early next year, it is more likely Mexico and Canada will avoid across-the-board tariffs. Phillips also notes that if implemented, these are about three times as large as the China and auto tariffs the bank assumes in its baseline economic forecasts but slightly smaller than a 10% universal tariff. In a separate note from Goldman Delta One trader Rich Privorotsky ( available here for pro subs ), he writes that the bigger surprise in the Trump proposal is Canada. To this point, Goldman tried to calibrate the FX impact of tariffs by assessing the importance of US trade for different economies and the complexity of the products they produce: here the Loonie stands out too. Privo also found it curious that China's HSI was actually up for most the session having now eventually back some its gains (now unch) and believes that " if tariffs on China went up only another 10% I think relative to expectations that have been built up this might be taken as a modest positive." Privorotsky also suggests that Trump's announcement is another part of the wall of worry for Europe. Tariffs are known risk (unknown in magnitude) and "it's the waiting that is really the problem." So while it make sense for European stocks to be down in sympathy on the news (especially after some hopefulness that recent cabinet picks might mean a less hawkish approach), he would argue that a 25% tariff on Canada (biggest source of trade is the import of energy) is likely more of a negotiating tactic rather than a likely outcome. Bottom line: while the CAD will lurch lower on this, it will likely find support. Turning to China, Goldman's EM strategist Sun Lu focuses on the silver lining, i.e., "it's priced in", and lays out the following analysis (excerpted from her full note available to pro subs ). Dovish views: FX response: What trades does Lu like? Continue to like owning 1y USDCNH, USDTWD and USDSGD topside, funded by selling short-dated downside. The Goldman strategist prefers to be long USD ahead of actual tariff announcements rather than just headlines. Finally, we go to Goldman EM vol trader trader Sanjiv Nanwani who writes that "the market remains in a holding pattern despite early AM tariff headlines – but as far as China is concerned, the tariffs seem to underwhelm what is already expected, and in any case, the authorities are clearly unwilling to let FX move as evidenced by the ~unchanged USDCNY fix today." The vol market seems to suggest the same – don’t expect spot to do a whole lot before the inauguration. Nanwani found that a little surprising, "as we now have confirmation that Trump is already contemplating tariff policy and is prepared to announce them ahead of his formal inauguration, which the market will surely have to re-price in response to." Nanwani likes owning some cheap 1mth USD calls here, notwithstanding the poor realized performance (suppressed by the fix) over the past 1-2 weeks. Further out, the market remains very keen on holding onto term premium, keeping calendars uber steep but creating a very high bar for the delivery of realized performance – there is a real risk that the premium decay on some option structures will more than offset expected gains from delta. He therefore likes vol-selling strategies in 3mth+ expiries, particularly via USD bull seagulls, to benefit from both the inverted forward curve and steep vol curve. ATM run: 1m 4.6 3m 6.1 6m 6.6 1y 6.9. It's not just Goldman however: in a note to clients ( available to pro subs ), SouthBay Research this morning reminds us that while attention is focused on China, it really should be on Vietnam; here's why: Here is the timeline to consider: Next, and especially for all the inflation alarmists, it is worth noting that there was minimal inflationary impact in the last trade war: In this context, the real question - according to Southbay - is why doesn't Trump also Tariff Vietnam? Consider this: in 2023, registered Chinese investment in Vietnam was $8.3B. Thanks to offshoring production by Chinese manufacturers, Vietnam has become a player in the global supply chain. This is a response to Trump initiated tariffs whereby OEMs like Apple want to de-risk their exposure to China. Despite proclamations of de-risking and 'internationalizing the supply chain', these moves don't really change the reality that products and components are still sourced from Chinese producers. Given that it's obviously a shell-game, why isn't Trump lumping Vietnam into the anti-China trade tariffs? Here, geopolitics is the most likely reason. There is a containment policy in place. While it's nice to talk about democracy, the major reason for US support of Taiwan is power projection: Taiwan sits at the underbelly of China. With South Korea and Japan to the East, and Taiwan and the Philippines to the South, the US and allies have China surrounded. In case war breaks out with China, a naval blockade would be very effective and complete. Or almost complete, as Vietnam would seal the deal. Turning Vietnam into a friendly ally would plug a big hole in the shipping routes out of Hong Kong. Ships would have to thread a path between Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan. In other words, it's not just negotiation, but more like foreplay... and at the moment there is a courtship underway. China is throwing billions of dollars at Vietnam. The US not so much. But Vietnam is wary of China and might want an American military presence. Trump belligerence towards Vietnam would not create necessary goodwill. Which also means that as long as Trump plays softball with Vietnam, China will continue to bypass most if not all of the tariff threat. More in the full note from Southbay available to pro subs .

LOUISIANA TECH 65, RICHMOND 62

Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

If you are busy building an investment portfolio, then having a few ASX 200 in there could be a good starting point. But which blue chip shares could be buys in December? Let's take a look at three quality options that analysts rate highly. They are as follows: ( ) The first ASX 200 blue chip share that could be a buy is CSL. It is a leading biotechnology company and one of Australia's highest quality companies. It comprises the CSL Behring, CSL Vifor, and CSL Seqirus businesses. These are leaders in their respective fields of blood plasma products, kidney therapies, and vaccines. Bell Potter is a big fan of the company and believes that recent weakness has created a buying opportunity for investors. Especially given that it believes the company's CSL Behring business will drive double-digit earnings growth over the coming years. Bell Potter currently has a buy rating and $345.00 price target on the company's shares. ( ) Another ASX 200 blue chip share that could be a buy is Goodman Group. It is a specialist global industrial property and digital infrastructure group. The company notes that is owns, develops, and manages high-quality, sustainable properties that are close to consumers and provide essential infrastructure for the digital economy. This focus has been very successful for Goodman (and its shareholders) over the past decade, with the company growing its earnings at a consistently strong rate over the period Morgan Stanley believes this positive form can continue, especially given its exposure to artificial intelligence through its data centre pipeline. It is for this reason that the broker currently has an overweight rating and $42.40 price target on its shares. ( ) A third ASX 200 blue chip share that could be a buy according to analysts is Woolworths. It is of course Australia's largest retailer through its eponymous supermarket chain, Big W, and a growing pet care business. Although regulatory concerns and market share losses have weighed on sentiment recently, Goldman Sachs believes that the selling has been overdone and created a buying opportunity for patient investors. Its analysts "believe that WOW's structural advantages of its store network, scaled online position and leading data/analytics capabilities will enable market share wins in the medium term. WOW is FY26 P/E of ~21x vs historical avg 26x." The broker has a buy rating and $36.20 price target on its shares.On Jan. 2, I stepped off the treadmill gasping for breath and learned I’d flunked the test, but this failing grade could put a permanent period on my earthly life. Terror struck my heart at the thought of leaving my family behind even though my faith in God assured me peace and love awaited me on the other side. Fear is a terrific motivator. I gave up red meat, butter and high-fat foods, hoping my changes even at this late date might make a difference. Two months later, an Olympia cardiologist inserted a stent in an artery into my heart to increase blood flow around a 95 percent blockage. So as Thanksgiving approaches this year, I count my blessings as I do every year, but especially the blessing of still being here to celebrate with my cherished loved ones. After surviving an operation to insert a stent — perhaps routine for the cardiologist but seldom for the patient — I decided to take a hard look at my bucket list and quit putting off longed-for trips. My husband and I toured British Columbia and Alberta in August, an item on his list. I’m visiting the Panama Canal with my sister, crossing off a desire from my list. Last weekend, I sold books at the Elma Country Christmas Bazaar, sharing a table with fellow authors Sandy Crowell (author of “The Land Called Lewis” and “Water, Woods, and Prairies”) and Bill Lindstrom (who wrote “John Tornow: Victim or Villain? The untold story of the ‘Wildman of the Wynooche and Strait Press”). I visited with passersby, greeted old friends and thought how, despite contentious election seasons, we all have more in common than divides us. Sometimes, our favored candidate wins; other times, the one we liked loses. But life goes on. I liked a meme on Facebook before the election that stated: “Don’t lose friendships today over two people who don’t even know your name.” That’s so true, and it’s sad to see how fractured our divided nation has become. Families disagree. Friends no longer speak. Some on each side demonize those who hold different beliefs. Even in my own family, I’ve seen divisions over politics create tensions among people who love each other. A year ago, I spent a week in November in Los Cabos with my four sisters at an all-inclusive hotel. My eldest and youngest sisters have made the annual trip to Mexico with their husbands to celebrate their birthday: they were born on the same day, six years and 15 minutes apart. At one point, one of my sisters mentioned that Donald Trump might win election as president again. I threw out a quick quip: “Only if he steals the election.” When she stood and walked away, I realized my offhand comment offered partly in jest had offended her. I never want to destroy relationships over politics. I love my sisters and my brother too much to let differences in opinions separate us. The next day, all was fine. Just as the Bible promises that nothing can separate us from God’s love, we should let nothing separate us from our love for one another. Another Facebook meme offered wisdom: “Please don’t let the elephants and donkeys make you forget you belong to The Lamb!” Our faith, our family relationships, our friendships mean so much more than politics, even though, as my husband points out, voting decides who controls the government, which can adversely affect our lives. But it doesn’t need to destroy our relationships. While I counted my blessings over the weekend, I did what I often do: I picked up my camera and snapped photos. I love to chronicle life as I live it. In the past, before Facebook, my digital photos remained trapped in my camera or on my memory card, never to be printed. But the advent of Facebook allowed me to share those photos with friends online in more than 4,000 albums. What’s most fun, and a reminder of the blessings in my life, is when Facebook pops up with a photo from a year ago, five years ago, a decade ago. Often it’s a photo of one of my children when they were younger. Other times it’s a precious friend who has passed away, and I think how grateful I am to have known them. That happened with a photo of the late Margaret Shields of Centralia and Harold Borovec of Chehalis who were walking together in the Lewis County Historical Museum. My life is richer from having known them both. So as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s time to set aside political differences and simply enjoy being in the presence of loved ones. If you have time, pull out your camera and snap photos to capture those precious memories. Open the video or audio recorder on your phone and ask questions about the past (I have lists of oral history questions on my website at www.chaptersoflife.com under Help for Historians). Treasure your family and your shared past and preserve it for future generations. And count your blessings. ••• Julie McDonald, a personal historian from Toledo, may be reached at memoirs@chaptersoflife.com.