agent rich9 com login password

NoneYuletide: Business owners count gains amidst hardshipagent rich9 com login password 。

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors moved Monday to dismiss the criminal charges against President-elect Donald Trump that accused him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election and to abandon the classified documents case against him, citing longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him and is headed back to the White House. The decision, revealed in court filings, also amounts to a predictable but nonetheless stunning conclusion to criminal cases that had been seen as the most perilous of the multiple legal threats Trump has faced. It reflects the practical consequences of Trump’s victory, ensuring he enters office free from scrutiny over his hoarding of top secret documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Smith’s team emphasized that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Smith's team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated, and had vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. The 2020 election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing the Republican as he vied to reclaim the White House. But it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of using “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story.By Lisa Baertlein and Eric Beech LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday appeared to back the anti-automation stance of some 45,000 union dockworkers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, whose labor talks are at an impasse over that polarizing issue. The ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group are facing a Jan. 15 deadline to finalize talks, which stalled over cargo-handling automation. That deadline comes just five days before Trump's inauguration. The ILA says automation kills jobs while employers say it is necessary to keep U.S. ports competitive in a rapidly changing global economy. "The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen," Trump said of automation projects in a post on Truth Social. That message followed a meeting with Harold Daggett, who leads the International Longshoremen's Association union that represents the port workers, Trump said. The two sides agreed to end a three-day strike on Oct. 3 after the union won a 62% wage hike over six years with significant involvement by the White House and other officials from President Joe Biden's administration. Employers, which include the U.S. operations of Switzerland's Mediterranean Shipping Company, Denmark's Maersk and China's COSCO Shipping, have been booking record profits in part due to access to U.S. markets, Trump said on Thursday. "I'd rather these foreign companies spend it on the great men and women on our docks, than machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced," Trump said of the industry's profit. "It's clear President-elect Trump, USMX, and the ILA all share the goal of protecting and adding good-paying American jobs at our ports," USMX said in a statement. "We need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains," the employers said, adding that dockworkers make more money when seaports move more goods. (Reporting by Eric Beech in Washington and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Jasper Ward and Bill Berkrot)

The Bottom Line Is These 28 Products Will Make Your Life A Bit Better

Moment of silence for former President Jimmy Carter held before the Falcons-Commanders game

Bishop Gorman’s offense has scored using a variety of different skill position players this season. But there’s been one constant with the Gaels that has been hard for any opponent to match up with: Its offensive line, which is one of the best in the country. “Usually a quarterback has two, three seconds and they got to scramble,” Gorman quarterback Maika Eugenio said. “I can sit back there all day and just wait and that just speaks to how great they are.” The Gaels’ offensive line has been the anchor for an offense that’s featured several new faces this year. It’s helped the team dominate opponents and reach another state championship game. The Gaels (10-1) face Arbor View (10-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Allegiant Stadium for the Class 5A Division I state title. It’s the finale of a four-game slate of state title contests at the venue. The action kicks off at 9 a.m. with the 1A championship game. Six of the eight teams playing are from Southern Nevada. Even though Gorman doesn’t have a dominant skill position player, it’s still been productive on offense. The Gaels are averaging 45.8 points and 411.8 yards per game. Fifteen players have scored touchdowns for the Gaels this season and four different players have thrown a touchdown pass. “That’s the hardest thing, if I were to prepare against us, is you don’t know what we’re going to do,” Gorman coach Brent Browner said. “They’ve put a lot of work in. They can run, pass, do either one. It starts up front with the o-line. They’ve been the anchor for the offense and they take it to the defense.” ‘Will do anything’ All five of Gorman’s starting offensive linemen are committed to Division I schools. Headlining the stellar group of seniors are four-star recruits SJ Alofaituli, Doug Utu and Alai Kalaniuvalu. Alofaituli is committed to Miami (Florida), while Utu is committed to Oregon and Kalaniuvalu is committed to BYU. “The connections we’ve made with the whole team, we just will do anything for our brothers,” Alofaituli said. “They’re the type of people you want to be on the field at the end of the day.” The group’s selfless mentality has helped running backs Terrance Grant Jr., Myles Norman and Jonathan Coar establish Gorman’s ground attack. The Gaels have rushed for at least 150 yards in nine games. It’s also helped Eugenio get comfortable under center. The junior stepped into the starting role in Gorman’s 55-28 win against Orange Lutheran (California) on Sept. 13 after Melvin Spicer IV went down with an injury. Eugenio has completed 68.7 percent of his passes for 26 touchdowns and just two interceptions. “I got to be a leader. I’m like another coach out there,” Eugenio said. “If someone doesn’t know the plays, I got make sure they know it before the ball snaps so we can execute that play. I just learned that you got to make the right decisions.” Browner credited Eugenio for sticking it out and staying ready. “To watch him flourish and watch him come out of his comfort zone has been impressive,” Browner said. Stellar defense Gorman’s defense has been just as impressive. The Gaels have held opponents to under 10 points in seven games and have five shutouts. “Last year, it was all (offensive) returners. This year’s all defense,” Browner said. “Having a group for that long, the biggest thing is how much they’ve developed in over one year and how much they are so prepared.” Several juniors have stepped up to lead Gorman’s defense. Defensive lineman Prince Williams leads the team with 24 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Jett Washington and Isaiah Nickels have anchored the secondary. Washington has four interceptions. “When they were freshmen, they were really quiet and were just a bunch of sponges around the older guys,” defensive lineman and Utah commit Sione Motuapuaka said. “Now that they’re juniors, I see them taking on that leadership role.” The state title game will be Gorman’s second look at Arbor View. The Gaels rolled to a 49-14 road win over the Aggies on Oct. 10. Arbor View’s 14 points were the most Gorman allowed to a local team this season. The Gaels are seeking their fourth straight state title and their 15th since 2007. Tuesday’s game will be the last one for a group of seniors that helped Gorman win its fourth mythical national title in 2023. “It’s just a blessing to be on the field the last time with the boys again,” Alofaituli said. “The mission that we had planned was to just finish off the season. We don’t take any opportunities away. We want to be on the field and have that last battle with everybody and pass on the torch to the younger generation and show them what the standard is.” Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com . Follow @AlexWright1028 on X. High school football state championship schedule Tuesday at Allegiant Stadium Class 1A: Tonopah vs. Pahranagat Valley, 9 a.m. Class 3A: SLAM Academy vs. Truckee, 12:20 p.m. Class 4A: Mojave vs. Canyon Springs, 3:40 p.m. Class 5A Division I: Arbor View vs. Bishop Gorman, 7 p.m. Streaming: NFHS Network (subscription required) Tickets: niaa.com/ticketsThe Kid Mero looks to elevate local talent in his home boro: ‘I love the Bronx so f—-n’ much’

‘Difference is Trump’: American homebuyers brace for rate painSpecial counsel moves to dismiss election interference and classified documents cases against Trump

No. 25 Illinois rebounds in big way, blasts UMES 87-40Former US President Bill Clinton was released from the hospital on Tuesday, a day after being admitted with a fever, according to a statement from his office. The 78-year-old was treated for the flu at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and his deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, expressed gratitude for the exceptional care Clinton received. Urena also acknowledged the well-wishes from the public. “President Clinton was discharged earlier today after being treated for the flu. He and his family are deeply grateful for the exceptional care provided by the team at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and are touched by the kind messages and well wishes he received,” Urena said on the social media platform X. This recent hospitalisation follows a history of health scares for the former president. Related News Iwuanyanwu stood by me during Yar'Adua's illness — Jonathan Sudden onset of illness in old age Enugu govt officials visit ESUT over strange illness allegedly killing students In October 2021, Clinton was hospitalised for five nights due to a blood infection. He has had a history of heart problems, having undergone quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 after being diagnosed with heart disease. Since then, Clinton has made lifestyle changes, including adopting a vegetarian diet, and has spoken openly about his health. Clinton, who served as US president from 1993 to 2001, is now the second-youngest living former president, following 63-year-old Barack Obama. His health was also in the spotlight in November 2022 when he tested positive for COVID-19.

Levi's Stadium Guide: Full 49ers schedule, concerts, seating map, close hotels and airports, parking, bags policy and more to know in Santa Clara | Sporting News

As search shifts for missing California duck hunters, mother ‘just wants her babies home’

Putin says Russia will keep testing new missile in combatGreens open door for housing bills2024 was a year of undeniable change across the fashion and footwear landscape. Trends come and go faster than ever in this modern iteration of street culture. Still, the sartorial differences and cultural differences between the start of the decade and now are nothing short of immense — even for a “here today, gone tomorrow” climate in which trends seem to last mere weeks (if not days) before bubbling up into the ether to be replaced by whatever’s deemed as “hot” for the next three-week stretch. That aside, more than a few landmark shifts influenced and directed the culture Hypebeast has spent almost two decades reporting on in 2024. Lagging innovation at footwear brands gave way to a renewed focus on performance products, which influenced and evolved the lifestyle footwear market. Basketball shoes, for the first time in what feels like forever became interesting again thanks to new signature lines, clever, creative designs and fantastic marketing campaigns. Fashion and entertainment became entwined in an entirely new way, and female athletes finally started to get the flowers they’ve long deserved from the fashion world, among several other goings-on, including Pharrell being literally inescapable. And the soundtrack to it all? A hyperpop album that spawned the year’s most inescapable word and influenced both behavioral and sartorial choices. We could continue, but we’ll head right into the list mentioned in the title. Here are 10 things Hypebeast’s US editorial team loved in 2024. Performance Becoming the New Lifestyle Hoka/Satisfy Fashion enthusiasts stepped through 2024 equipped with breathable fabrics layered atop their bodies and pillow-like cushioning systems underfoot. The year saw brands like HOKA and On thrust into the limelight, and even the likes of Action Bronson entered the performance arena to shake things up. Sportswear brands such as Nike and adidas have long embraced performance gear in a lifestyle context, however, with a greater emphasis on the latter in recent years, its competitors leapt at the opportunity to bring new energy to the functional side of the space. New Balance and ASICS chipped away at the Swoosh and Three Stripes’ lead as the two quickly emerged as new trendsetters in footwear at the turn of the decade, however, this year saw the industry reach further into its metaphorical gym bag, favoring brands that have been fixated on delivering the best performance possible. On, having quickly established a reputation for delivering comfortable kicks with its Cloud-backed silhouettes, continued to blur the lines between fashion and performance by collaborating with LOEWE and later introducing new partners in Zendaya and POST ARCHIVE FACTION (PAF) . Meanwhile, HOKA has kept its game plan simple: make the best gear possible. Style may feel like an afterthought with many of its designs, but that’s the point: performance informs its aesthetics, not the other way around. The brand’s notable co-signs from designers like Nicole McLaughlin , paria /FARZANEH and even Junya Watanabe continue to arrive — and because of that, its reputation in fashion is shifting. Perhaps the brand has shined the brightest this year with Parisian running brand SATISFY. The two brought forth their own collaborative silhouette, the Mafate Speed 4 Lite , back in August, offering a flavorful balance of cutting-edge performance and style. That overarching ethos won Hoka the coveted “Footwear Brand of the Year” awards for the Hypeawards as well. The continuation of partnerships between fashion labels and sportswear brands provided additional opportunities to tap into this. MM6 Maison Margiela and Salomon also dropped new footwear with a pinch of apparel. Jacquemus and Nike explored new themes while Cecilie Bahnsen and ASICS stuck to their tried and true formula of applying flowers across the brand’s popular runners. Whether you’re a marathon runner looking to integrate your favorite gear into everyday life or someone just looking to keep your feet comfortable, there’s never been a better time to bring performance wear into your wardrobe. Female Athletes Getting Fashion’s Flowers Brandon Todd/Getty Images This year, the spotlight on female athletes extended far beyond three-point lines and starting marks in a watershed moment that finally centered today’s most athletic women in fashion’s conversation. While style and athleticism converged at unprecedented levels this year (performance is the new lifestyle, after all), sportswomen earned blockbuster collaborations, starry campaigns, runway appearances, luxe editorials and Met Gala invites that were long overdue. Among them, Caitlin Clark, the cultural phenomenon and No. 1 pick by the Indiana Fever, made history as the first athlete ever to be dressed by Prada for either the WNBA or NBA draft. And later on, the record-breaking player appeared in Louis Vuitton for her first professional press conference before securing a massive deal with Nike that’s reportedly worth $28 million USD. Meanwhile, Angel Reese, this year’s No. 7 pick by the Chicago Sky, declared her entrance into the WNBA draft in a fashion editorial with Vogue , following in the footsteps of Serena Williams, who announced her retirement through the legacy fashion publication two years ago (and also walked the Vogue World runway alongside her sister, Venus, this year, too). Reese’s strategic move positioned her as a style-conscious athlete, a brand image that was bolstered by her Bronx and Banco draft look, and ultimately earned her an invitation to this year’s Met Gala, where she wore a custom 16Arlington dress. World-record-breaking track star Sha’Carri Richardson played a starring role in the viral Nike x Jacquemus campaign , rope-slamming her own braids with her distinctive acrylic nails while sporting the collaboration’s key pieces. US Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles opened Kim Shui’s New York Fashion Week runway show . Yoon Ahn celebrated Naomi Osaka’s return to the tennis court this year with a head-turning Nike collaboration . WNBA stars including Candace Parker, Cameron Brink, and DiJonai Carrington starred in a SKIMS advertorial . Off-WhiteTM became the official style and culture curator for the New York Liberty . Chinese tennis player Qinwen Zheng became the first athlete, male or female, to cover Vogue China . And Dior named 15 female athletes, including Elaine Thompson-Herah, Alex Morgan and Carissa Moore, official brand ambassadors. As female athletes continue to dominate the cultural zeitgeist, fashion brands will only continue to decorate them with their flowers. At long last, the sportswoman is a style star, too. The Power of Pharrell Focus Features Pharrell was one of the most frequently spotted faces across 2024’s cultural zeitgeist. Be it producing a track or parking his CyberTruck in Miami, rarely a week went by without some form of Skateboard P headline. An embodiment of what it means to be a 21st-century Renaissance Man, Pharrell, instead of wasting any time, strategically split it up, pouring his efforts into projects in the music, film, fashion and design spaces. After being appointed to NIGO’s HUMAN MADE as the “Official Advisor,” he kicked off the year with a bang via his third collection as Louis Vuitton’s Creative Director . Marking the first official show of the Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2024 schedule, Pharrell waxed poetic on Americana aesthetics and Western-influenced workwear, outfitting the modern-day LVER: which, under his reign, has expanded to include the younger, more streetwear-tapped consumer. A compilation of cowboy-coded clothing, accessories crafted alongside artists from the Dakota and Lakota nations, and footwear, the latter of which was led by the label’s debut Timberland collaboration, people either really loved it or really didn’t – but either way, they vocalized it. A multi-media spectacle of what Pharrell is capable of – a merging of original music with, fashion, footwear and design – the showcase set the stage for the rest of his monumental 2024. Gaining momentum from the Parisian showcase, P made major waves once again with a Tyler, The Creator-curated LV collection , which landed for purchase in March and was named Hypebeast’s top fashion collaboration of the year in December. Follow-up collections landed in April for Pre-Fall 2024 and another striking Spring/Summer 2025 runway show in June held at La Maison de l’UNESCO and curated in collaboration with Air Afrique. He even got to carry the Olympic tou Departing from the fashion front, Pharrell reminded us where his roots lie, dropping off “Doctor (Work It Out)” with Miley Cyrus from the FW24 runway and quietly revealing his first full-length project in a decade back in April, Black Yacht Rock, Vol. 1: City of Limitless Access . The ten-track album made way for Pharrell’s sonic-heavy summer, with music playing a key part in his animated LEGO Piece by Piece biopic , equipped with cameos from Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Snoop Dogg, Daft Punk and more. In the same vein, Pharrell also debuted his first-ever LEGO collaboration, consisting of an “Over The Moon” LEGO space set and an immersive creative experience in Los Angeles. Even after the Piece by Piece press tour wrapped and the year now comes to a close, Pharrell has found himself in two more figurehead positions as Met Gala Co-Chair and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador . Charli xcx’s BRAT , the Year-Defining Green Album Albany Times Union/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images In a matter of months, British pop star Charli xcx went from relative obscurity to captivating the world with her infectious club-inspired album BRAT . From the now-ubiquitous “Apple” TikTok dance to the ripple effect of her “Kamala is brat” X post, the cultural footprint of BRAT is undeniable. In November, BRAT racked up an impressive seven Grammy nominations including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. Come December, the record became 2024’s most critically acclaimed album (according to Metacritic) and the title itself was declared word-of-the-year by Collins Dictionary. If one examines the broader cultural landscape, it’s easy to see that BRAT’s unapologetically messy and expressive ethos was just what people have been craving. In an era of music dominated by Taylor Swift, it’s worth considering that perhaps Charli xcx offered the perfect counterstatement. In recent years, Swift has come to define the epitome of commercial success, while Charli has been relegated to the hyperpop niche. Swift represents the American ideal with her country roots, while Charli is the English “Party Girl” whose stomping ground was in the London rave scene. As early as 2022, terms like “indie sleaze,” “blog house” and “recession-pop” signaled a nostalgia for the messy and carefree attitude of early ’00s party culture — the exact era where Charli found her feet. These post-pandemic trends showed that young people were beginning to rebel against the neutral minimalism and “clean” aesthetics imposed by fashion brands and social media trends. And what better represents this shift than the album’s slime-green cover and blunt title? One also can’t forget that the world only recently emerged from a pandemic and is still recovering from the subsequent economic fallout. After all, wasn’t it in the aftermath of 2008’s Great Recession that hedonistic club tracks like Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got a Feeling” topped the Billboard Hot 100? In times of economic distress, the dancefloor has become a reliable therapy for the anxious masses. Furthermore, Charli’s simple choice of a solid green background and the isolated sans-serif title, recalls the era-defining album from another iconic English act. Named for its plain white cover decorated with nothing more than the band’s name, the progressive content of the Beatles’ White Album inspired Joan Didion’s famous collection of essays that recounted the turbulent 1960s. Now, in the thick of a decade faced with similar social challenges, Collins Dictionary’s 2024 redefinition of Brat reflects the subversive and fearless pursuits of a new generation: Brat (adjective) – “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” Brick and Mortar Retail Revival Ven.space Though shopping, at its core, is a simple action that involves exchanging money for a product, everything around that action took center stage in 2024. Fashion-conscious consumers tired of the endless, entirely impersonal churn-and-burn of online shopping showed that they’d been craving real, tangible IRL experiences throughout 2024 — and thankfully, brands and retailers big and small alike rose to the occasion. “Online retail is all about convenience, whereas in-store shopping is about the experience,” NN.07’s Justin Berkowitz told the New York Times in October. And that experience was displayed across various mediums, from small neighborhood boutiques to sprawling flagships from some of the world’s biggest and most noteworthy retailers. Brooklyn’s Ven Space has quickly become one of the buzziest names in the world of fashion for both its tasteful assortment (offerings range from The Row and Auralee to Stüssy Archive) and hands-on, personal service that offers customers something online retail simply can’t: the joy of in-person discovery. At the same time, spots like Million Goods combine curated brand offerings with drinks and hi-fi sound systems, serving up retail and lifestyle all under one roof. Several retailers are even doubling down on the power and impact of the in-person shopping experience by refusing to maintain an online storefront (Ven Space is among the IRL-only numbers), and the practice of “showrooming,” or browsing the shelves of a store only to head online and attempt to purchase whatever you discover at a discount from a larger retailer has been firmly established as cultural taboo. It’s not just the indie stores helping reimagine what retail can be in 2024 either. Arc’Teryx flung open the doors to its SoHo, New York flagship store this year, a 14,000 square foot colossus that’s equal parts pinnacle brand statement and indoctrination into the company’s outdoor-focused mindset. Besides every shell jacket and sleek Veilence shirt you can imagine, there’s a theater, cafe, and even a bottom floor largely dedicated to secondhand garments and garment repair, dubbed the “Service Center.” On the high-fashion front, Luisaviaroma opened its own 13,000-square-foot flagship store in New York’s NoLita neighborhood, driven by the belief that the high-end labels it stocks need to be felt and experienced in person. There’s a laundry list of other openings or expansions you’ll find if you dig through news releases, social media blasts and more thorough the year. All that’s to say, the increased desire to get out from behind the screen, get out in the streets and get tangible experiences has led to a boom of retail creativity and expansion. And as great as an Internet community or online shopping can be, there’s no replacing the feeling of an IRL collection, or of coming across the perfect piece in person. Pants Getting Bigger Than Ever Dickes/Neighborhood Pants, and bottoms more broadly, have occupied a central position in the trend cycle for the last century. Modern fashion trends, driven by shifting social conditions, are traditionally understood to swing on a pendulum. As new styles diffuse into mass acceptance, style innovators and early adopters have historically moved in the opposite direction. Mass brands like Levi’s and J.Crew are back to pushing wider styles in a drastic departure from the 2000s when skinny jeans came into favor. By the early 2010s brands like ASOS began marketing men’s skinny jeans as “spray-on,” perhaps marking the final limits of the style. In the 2020s, a decade where wide-legged pants have come back into mass acceptance, the industry innovators continue charging forth with bigger and bigger pants — and in 2024, the pants were bigger, baggier and bolder than ever before. Willy Chavarria, one of the contemporary purveyors of oversized pants, was named as the CFDA’s 2024 Menswear Designer of the Year . However, it’s important to note that Chavarria is not in the business of trends. The Mexican-American designers collections are deeply inspired by his heritage, reflecting on aesthetics pioneered by the Californian Chicano community. As early as the 1940s the “Zoot Suit” characterized by its oversized high waisted pants were a symbol of resistance among Chicano, Black and Asian American communities. Baggy bottoms have also made their way into fashion from the Pacific, as Japanese fashion increasingly influences Western culture. Wide-legged Japanese pant styles go far beyond the industrial fashion cycle, originating in ancient times when styles like ‘Hakama’ pants were worn by Samurai and noblemen. Echoes of these roots can be found in pants from Japanese labels like Yohji Yamamoto, Needles, Jun Takahashi’s Undercover and more. The major return of wide-legged pants represents a world more connected than ever before and also signals a shift towards comfort-centric dressing. One can’t deny that the swift breeze and wide range of motion offered by baggy pants are preferable to the restrictive suffocation of “spray on” skinny jeans. Big pants also take form in many shapes and sizes: cargos, carpenters, sweats, military uniforms, and pleated trousers, to name a few. These diverse styles and details have historically served a certain functionality that skinny silhouettes simply can’t attest to. Ultimately, the pendulum dynamic is not unique to fashion. It seems to be a modern tendency for subcultures and youths to challenge the status quo through processes of negation. As soon as nonconformist ideas are subsumed by the establishment, the disruptors and the rebels push back again in contradiction. Perhaps skinny-fit will find favor again in the future, but if 2024 says anything, bigger pants may have a leg up for a while longer. The Pinnacle of Fashiontainment Jeff Spicer/Getty Images In 2024, fashion, like a good movie, was often best enjoyed with a bucket of popcorn. The fashion world — its runway shows, creative director switch-ups, big-name collaborations and fiery online discourse — is an entertainment enterprise in its own right. But in 2024, the universes of style and blockbuster truly became one, in a blend of Hollywood and catwalk that birthed a flashy new buzzword used fondly by style editors: fashiontainment. Take a look at September’s New York Fashion Week for proof: Ralph Lauren kicked things off by bussing showgoers out to the Hamptons for a one-night-only runway spectacle that included a full-blown hospitality experience with a faithful recreation of the designer’s Polo Bar in Manhattan. Then, the CFDA partnered with Rockefeller Center to put up a 14-by-22-foot screen in the center of its ice rink, where New Yorkers could congregate to watch all of the American fashion week’s antics. In that same location, Raul Lopez staged one of the event’s biggest shows for his brand Luar, which was attended by the likes of Madonna and Ice Spice and concluded with a huge performance from Bad Gyal under 30 Rock. Meanwhile, on Wall Street, bright lights flashed on Latin Grammy-nominated artists Yahritza Y Su Esencia, who performed a heartwarming cover of the 1984 classic “Querida” by Juan Gabriel before Willy Chavarria’s catwalk ; and on the decommissioned Staten Island Ferry, Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Raekwon attracted a sea of iPhones while closing out Tommy Hilfiger’s water-riding Spring 2025 show . That was all before fashion showgoers traveled abroad for spectacles like Coperni’s magical Disneyland Paris runway , where the likes of Kylie Jenner took late-night rides on Space Mountain, or Moncler’s humungous Genius show in Shanghai , which was attended by 8,000 (shrieking) guests and divided into 10 ultra-creative “neighborhoods” designed by Edward Enniful, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Lulu Li, NIGO, Palm Angels, A$AP Rocky, Willow Smith, Donald Glover, Rick Owens and Jil Sander. The point here is that the fashion establishment has largely transcended age-old runway formats and swapped in multi-pronged, big-budget entertainment spectacles in their places — and much of the above was extremely exciting to watch. As we ascend to fashiontainment’s peak, the concept has trickled off the runway and onto Hollywood’s biggest red carpets, too. This year, it practically became a requirement for actors and actresses to promote their films while wearing high-fashion looks connected to their characters in one way or another. For Dune 2 ’s global premieres, Law Roach dressed Zendaya in a bounty of brilliant, film-inspired ensembles, including, most notably, Mugler’s Fall 1996 “Gynoid” suit; and for Wicked ’s box-office arrival, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were never seen out of their respective pink and green uniforms made by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Thom Browne and more. For Beetlejuice , Jenna Ortega’s stylist Enrique Melendez commissioned several custom, shadowy pieces from brands like Vivienne Westwood, and Timothee Chalamet just finished recreating some of Bob Dylan’s most iconic looks while promoting the legendary artist’s new biopic, A Complete Unknown . At all of this year’s cultural touchpoints — be that the fashion-filled opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics or Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s SWEAT tour — style became a central focal point of the conversation. Adventurous Eyewear Gentle Monster 2024 was the year in which your eyewear of choice became just as important as your footwear of choice. Transcending beyond just a topical accessory, glasses of all kinds took impressive about-face and evolved into a world of their own – one in which the rules are a bit more bendable. Futuristic and functional, defined by their oversized frames and bold lensing, eyewear turned to 3025 for design inspiration, envisioning an entirely new realm of influence for the accessory. Brands debuted, revived and significantly locked in on their eyewear sectors with first-time forays into the field coming from JW Anderson and A.P.C as well as the revival of Tag Heuer’s eyewear line . Though two labels in particular played a key part in pushing the needle on the eyewear space. One of those labels was Oakley, who took things to a whole new level in 2024, establishing a prominent presence in evolving the eyewear space early on in the year. Its January Lunar New Year capsule and follow-up Performance Line hinted at the future-facing design approach that the legacy eyewear imprint would bring to the year, evident in in-line ranges entitled “Inner Spark” and “Future Genesis” as well as the expansion of its “Latch Panel” collection. Oakley furthered its grip on the glasses market with smart collaborations with a lineup of contributors including G DLP , Pas Normal Studios , Piet , Bodega and SATISFY . Its unwavering presence at the Paris Olympics arrived in the form of both eyewear and apparel, ultimately solidifying its cultural relevance. The other was Gentle Monster who, offering up an impressive array of both in-line and collaborative releases. Most notably, the Seoul-based brand linked up with the likes of Maison Margiela , Mugler and Tekken – each one more inventive than the last. Big-name fashion outfitters like Nike , Supreme and Stüssy all sharpened their eyewear visions, each leaning into larger than life frames. District Vision also went big on its eyewear, crafting a pair of $635 USD Yusuke Alpine Blade Ti Performance Sunglasses with 2XU and teaming up with POST ARCHIVE FACTION (PAF) on an entire capsule of athletic eyewear. New Life for Basketball Shoes Adidas Basketball shoes are the backbone of sneaker culture. Everything from the Air Jordan 1 to the original Converse Chuck Taylors have played a key role in shaping the modern-day footwear landscape. However, amidst the staleness in the sneaker scene that has permeated the past few years, it felt as if we were just getting more of the same. Up-and-comers like Luka Dončić and Trae Young had new signature shoe lines but weren’t bringing anything fresh to the table. Meanwhile, the classic Air Jordan line found itself almost entirely reliant on retro silhouettes and tired storytelling that wasn’t connecting with a new generation of consumer. Thankfully, just about every relevant performance brand has brought positive momentum to the table in 2024, and the conversation has shifted. Finally, it’s exciting to wear — and, from our standpoint to write about basketball — shoes again. We investigated this resurgence back in March, unpacking why the scene was poised for a major year , and brands still managed to exceed expectations. Anthony Edwards’ debut of his adidas AE1 was declared a hit early in 2024, but to see him carry this momentum throughout the year, in part thanks to the introduction of its low-top version, was extremely impressive. Devin Booker found similar success, albeit with less swagger, as the Nike BOOK 1 has taken on countless colorways in its first year on the market. Chinese brands like Rigorer and ANTA began to blossom as they saw Austin Reaves introduce his second signature shoe and Kyrie Irving’s new line develop into an emerging empire . As expected, the continued rollout of returning silhouettes from the Nike Kobe line has seen pairs fly off of shelves one after another. What’s more is that there’s even more to be excited about heading into 2025. WNBA athletes made more noise this year with sneakers like the Nike Sabrina 2 being embraced by hoopers as one of the best performing models. But with debut signature shoes from Caitlin Clark , A’ja Wilson and Angel Reese all coming in the next two years, it’s safe to say that this portion of the market will only grow from here. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is another athlete who will be dropping his own signature shoe — with Converse — in 2025 while Tyrese Haliburton and Salehe Bembury are going to bring new energy to the PUMA Hoops squad. The future is bright for basketball sneakers, and when basketball sneakers are good it’s greater for the creativity of the larger market in general. A Championship Year for Football Style C.p. Company “Blokecore” isn’t a 2024 term. It’s a saying with its roots in 2022 — the year when it seemed simply everything needed “core” slapped at the end of it as a descriptor — that loosely encapsulates a look inspired by British football (or soccer, if you’d prefer) fans. Though at the time it meant little more than someone who liked vintage football shirts, baggy pants and football-influenced shoes like adidas Sambas, plus a little Stone Island or C.P. Company to boot, 2024 was the year that it transcended into the mainstream lexicon. Football and fashion have always gone hand in hand. You need look no further than British terrace or Italian ultra culture to understand that. (There’d be no “blokecore” without those movements too). However, that handshake between sartorial subculture and sport became a fusion of two beings into one this year, thanks to direct club-and-brand partnerships, successful tournaments, plenty of high-heat drops and more. From a very literal standpoint, clubs directly acknowledged the brands popular among their supporters in a way that they never had before, and these brands tapped into the clubs’ striking iconography for both tributes and modern reinterpritations. Manchester City and C.P. Company’s FW24 campaign spotlighted some of City’s biggest stars like Phil Foden, Nathan Aké and Jérémy Doku. Y-3 and Real Madrid created both a travel collection and striking matchwear . The longstanding partnership between Off-WhiteTM and AC Milan, arguably the genesis of the current collaborative market, created a capsule for AC Milan’s 125th anniversary . Even the Gunners got in on the fun: with Arsenal linked with LABRUM on kits , inspired one of the brand’s collections and even joined forces with Aries for the club’s first “streetwear” collection. That’s not even mentioning the flat-out great kits that Y-3 created for Japan’s national football federation. And it would be remiss to not mention the impact of Lionel Messi’s year — as his career draws to a close — and therefore, its aesthetic. The Copa America, captured by Messi’s Argentina squad , brought a wealth of eyeballs, as did the UEFA European Championship, and Messi was the face of several projects that included a adidas collaboration with Bad Bunny . It was a banner year for football style, and with the next World Cup right around the corner in 2026 there’s no reason to think that the next few years will be any different.

Top Coins to Buy This Weekend: Qubetics ($TICS) Presale Leads with 630% ROI While Litecoin Accepting LTC, and Arbitrum Expand its Ecosystem

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying at night over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns the unmanned aircraft. “We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday, as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill. People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration. The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels. “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh has said they are not U.S. military drones. In a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said they and their federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, “continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.” The agencies said they have not corroborated any of the reported sightings with electronic detection, and that reviews of available images appear to show many of the reported drones are actually manned aircraft. “There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space,” according to the statement. The drones appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. The worry stems partly from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey appeared to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear and misinformation. “We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday. John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said witnesses may be confused about what they are seeing, especially in the dark, and noted it’s hard to know the size of the drones or how close they might be. “There are certainly big drones, such as agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” Duesler said Thursday. Duesler said the drones — and those flying them — likely cannot evade detection. “They will leave a radio frequency footprint, they all leave a signature,” he said. “We will find out what kind of drones they were, who was flying them and where they were flying them.” Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related. Duesler said the public wants to know what’s going on. “I hope (the government agencies) will come out with more information about this to ease our fears. But this could just be the acts of rogue drone operators, it’s not an ‘invasion’ as some reports have called it,” Duesler said. “I am concerned about this it but not alarmed by it.”TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent successful surgery Sunday to have his prostate removed, hospital officials said, a procedure that came as he manages multiple crises including the war in Gaza and his trial for alleged corruption. FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, Pool, File) Netanyahu, who has had a series of health issues in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, he boasted about working 18-hour days, accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel's longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being. Netanyahu, 75, is among older world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, President-elect Donald Trump, 78, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 79, and Pope Francis, 88, who have come under scrutiny for their age and health issues. Netanyahu's latest condition is common in older men, but the procedure has had some fallout. The judges overseeing his trial accepted a request from his lawyer on Sunday to call off three days of testimony scheduled this week. The lawyer, Amit Hadad, had argued that Netanyahu would be fully sedated for the procedure and hospitalized for “a number of days.” Dr. Ofer Gofrit, head of the urology department at Jerusalem's Hadassah Medical Center, said in a video statement late Sunday that the procedure had gone well and “there was no fear” of cancer or malignancy. “We only hope for the best,” he said. In a statement, Netanyahu thanked his doctors. His office said he was "fully alert" and was taken to an underground recovery unit fortified against potential missile attacks. Netanyahu was expected to remain in the hospital for several days of observation. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, served as acting prime minister during the operation. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. A turbulent time in the region As Israel’s leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events that are shifting the Middle East. With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, being incapacitated for even a few hours can be risky. Netanyahu will be in the hospital at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and as fighting between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies. Prostate issues are common and in many cases easily treatable. Still, the procedure puts a dent in Netanyahu’s image of vigor at a time when he would want to project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience navigating constant threats as well as to Israel’s enemies looking to expose its weaknesses. Previous health issues, including a heart condition Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health. His office releases footage of him touring war zones in full protective gear flanked by military officers, or meeting with defense officials on windswept hilltops in youthful dark shades and puffer jackets. But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed that he had a heart condition, a problem that he had apparently long known about but concealed from the public. A week after a fainting spell, Netanyahu was fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did staff at the Sheba Medical Center reveal that Netanyahu has for years experienced a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats. The revelation came as Netanyahu was dealing with massive anti-government protests. The news about a chronic heart problem stoked further anger and distrust during extreme political polarization in Israel. Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to the hospital for what doctors said likely was dehydration. He stayed overnight, prompting his weekly Cabinet meeting to be delayed. Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery, during which he was under full anesthesia and unconscious. Levin served as acting prime minister during the operation. Recovery can be quick According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection on Wednesday stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was treated successfully with antibiotics, but doctors said the surgery was needed in any case. Complications from prostate enlargement are common in men in their 70s and 80s, Dr. Shay Golan, head of the oncology urology service at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center, told Israeli Army Radio. Golan spoke in general terms and was not involved in Netanyahu’s care or treatment. He said an enlarged prostate can block proper emptying of the bladder, leading to a build-up of urine that can lead to an infection or other complications. After medicinal treatment, doctors can recommend a procedure to remove the prostate to prevent future blockages, Golan said. In Netanyahu’s case, because the prostate is not cancerous, Golan said doctors were likely performing an endoscopic surgery, carried out by inserting small instruments into a body cavity, rather than making surgical cuts in the abdomen to reach the prostate. The procedure lasts about an hour, Golan said, and recovery is quick. He said that aside from catheter use for one to three days after the procedure, patients can return to normal activity without significant limitations.Trump rings New York Stock Exchange's opening bellUpstart Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:UPST – Get Free Report ) shares were down 6.2% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $67.25 and last traded at $67.54. Approximately 1,961,987 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 71% from the average daily volume of 6,823,418 shares. The stock had previously closed at $72.03. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently weighed in on UPST. Citigroup upgraded shares of Upstart from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their target price for the company from $56.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. BTIG Research upgraded Upstart from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Redburn Atlantic raised Upstart from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $37.00 to $95.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Piper Sandler upgraded Upstart from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their target price for the company from $31.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Upstart from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $45.00 to $57.00 in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $61.80. Get Our Latest Research Report on UPST Upstart Stock Down 5.6 % Insider Activity at Upstart In related news, CTO Paul Gu sold 36,200 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.22, for a total transaction of $1,419,764.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer now directly owns 878,565 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $34,457,319.30. This trade represents a 3.96 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, insider Scott Darling sold 6,200 shares of Upstart stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.67, for a total value of $245,954.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 161,043 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,388,575.81. The trade was a 3.71 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 531,868 shares of company stock valued at $32,753,134 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 18.06% of the company’s stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Upstart Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Fred Alger Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Upstart by 153.2% during the third quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 1,246,839 shares of the company’s stock worth $49,886,000 after purchasing an additional 754,416 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP raised its position in Upstart by 689.5% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 589,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $23,566,000 after purchasing an additional 514,400 shares during the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Upstart by 1,413.7% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 333,463 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,342,000 after buying an additional 311,434 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its position in Upstart by 63.8% in the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 725,582 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,031,000 after buying an additional 282,481 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Upstart by 1,792.9% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 262,396 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,190,000 after buying an additional 277,896 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.01% of the company’s stock. About Upstart ( Get Free Report ) Upstart Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform in the United States. Its platform includes personal loans, automotive retail and refinance loans, home equity lines of credit, and small dollar loans that connects consumer demand for loans to its to bank and credit unions. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Upstart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Upstart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Bill Clinton is out of the hospital after being treated for the flu National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.ROHM’s PMICs for SoCs Adopted in Reference Designs for Telechips’ Next-Generation CockpitsCardinals place Paris Johnson Jr., Jonah Williams on injured reserve

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- The Board of Directors of American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.70 per common share, payable on February 10, 2025, to shareholders of record on January 3, 2025. ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress , instagram.com/americanexpress , linkedin.com/company/american-express , X.com/americanexpress , and youtube.com/americanexpress . Key links to products, services and corporate sustainability information: personal cards , business cards and services , travel services , gift cards , prepaid cards , merchant services , Business Blueprint , Resy , corporate card , business travel , corporate sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance reports . Source: American Express Company Location: Global View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212183025/en/ CONTACT: Media: Melanie Backs,Melanie.L.Backs@aexp.com, +1.212.640.2164 Becca Moomjian,Becca.Moomjian@aexp.com, +1.212.640.2164Investors/Analysts: Kartik Ramachandran,Kartik.Ramachandran@aexp.com, +1.212.640.5574 Kristy Ashmawy,Kristy.Ashmawy@aexp.com, +1.212.640.5574 KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: American Express Company Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 05:23 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 05:21 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212183025/en

Charges Cut, Consumers' Power Bills To Go Down By 20% In Delhi: BJP