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Middle East latest: ICC issues warrant for Israel's Netanyahu as Gaza death toll soars past 44,000RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Democratic Party sued on Friday to block the potential removal of tens of thousands of ballots tallied in an extremely close state Supreme Court race, saying state election officials would be violating federal law if they sided with protests initiated by the trailing Republican candidate. The lawsuit filed in Raleigh federal court comes as attorneys for Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin also went to state courts on Friday to attempt to force the State Board of Elections to act more quickly on accusations contained in the protests. The board tentatively planned to hold a public hearing on the protests next Wednesday, according to a board email provided with Griffin's motion. Griffin wants a final decision from the board earlier. Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Griffin by 734 votes following a machine recount of over 5.5 million ballots cast in their Nov. 5 election. A partial hand recount began this week and is nearly complete. But Griffin, joined by three other GOP state legislative candidates, contend that well over 60,000 ballots shouldn't have counted, casting doubt on election results. Among their complaints: voter registration records of some voters casting ballots lack driver’s license or partial Social Security numbers, and overseas voters never living in North Carolina have run afoul of state residency requirements. The Democratic Party's lawsuit said that some of the protests represent “systematic challenges to voter eligibility” that counter a federal law's prohibition of what's essentially removing people from voter registration lists retroactively after an election. The lawsuit wants a judge to declare federal law and the Constitution prevents the votes from being discarded and to order the election board — a majority of its members Democrats — to comply. “No North Carolinian deserves to have their vote thrown out in a callous power grab,” state party Chair Anderson Clayton said in a written statement. According to state law, a board considering an election protest could correct a ballot tally, direct another recount or order a new election. Griffin's attorneys filed requests Friday for judges to demand that the board issue final rulings by late Tuesday afternoon. They were filed in Wake County Superior Court and at the Court of Appeals — the same court where Griffin serves. Usually three members on the 15-judge court — second only to the Supreme Court in state's jurisprudence — hear such motions. “Public trust in our electoral processes depends on both fair and efficient procedures to determine the outcome of our elections. By failing to give a timely decision, the State Board continues to undermine the public interest,” Griffin attorney Troy Shelton wrote. Attorneys for Riggs separately on Friday also responded to Griffin's actual protests before the board, saying they should all be denied. Griffin led Riggs — one of two Democrats on the seven-member court — by about 10,000 votes on election night, but that lead dwindled and flipped to Riggs as tens of thousands of qualifying provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals through the canvass. Riggs has declared victory. The three Republican legislative candidates joining Griffin's protests all trailed Democratic rivals after the machine recounts. One is GOP Rep. Frank Sossamon, who trails Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn by about 230 votes. Should Cohn win, Republicans would fall one seat short of retaining its current veto-proof majority in both chambers. That would give more leverage to Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein in 2025. The Associated Press has not called the Supreme Court race and two of the three legislative races highlighted in the protests.
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NEW YORK, Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTNP) (“Titan”) today reported that it received a notice (the “5250 Notice”) on November 22, 2024 from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) advising the Company that it was not in compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements under the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) (“Rule 5250”) as a result of its failure to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 (the “Q3 Form 10-Q”) in a timely manner. Under Nasdaq rules, the Company has 60 calendar days from receipt of the 5250 Notice or until January 21, 2025, to submit a plan to regain compliance with the Listing Rule. If Nasdaq accepts the Company’s plan, then Nasdaq may grant an exception of up to 180 calendar days from the due date of the Q3 Form 10-Q, or until May 19, 2025, to regain compliance. In response to the Notice, the Company is working to file the Q3 Form 10-Q as soon as possible in order to regain compliance with the Listing Rule. However, if the Company does not submit the Q3 Form 10-Q by January 21, 2025, the Company will submit a plan by such date to Nasdaq that outlines, as definitively as possible, the steps the Company will take to promptly file the Q3 Form 10-Q. Additionally, on November 25, 2024, the Company received a notice (the “5605 Notice”) from Nasdaq advising the Company that, following the appointment of Brynner Chiam as Acting Principal Executive Officer and Acting Principal Financial Officer of the Company on November 6, 2024, the Company no longer complies with Nasdaq’s audit committee requirements as set forth in Listing Rule 5605 (“Rule 5605”). Nasdaq advised that consistent with Listing Rule 5605(c)(4), Nasdaq will provide the Company with a cure period in order to regain compliance with Rule 5605: (i) until the earlier of the Company’s next annual shareholders’ meeting or November 6, 2025; or (ii) if the next annual shareholders’ meeting is held before May 5, 2025, then the Company must evidence compliance no later than May 5, 2025. The Company intends to appoint an additional independent director to the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee prior to the end of the cure periods. About Titan Pharmaceuticals Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTNP), formerly based in South San Francisco, CA, is a development stage company previously focused on developing proprietary therapeutics utilizing ProNeura® long-term, continuous drug delivery technology. In December 2021, Titan commenced a process to explore and evaluate strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations include those risks and uncertainties relating to our ability to raise capital, the regulatory approval process, the development, testing, production and marketing of our drug candidates, patent and intellectual property matters and strategic agreements and relationships. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. A complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may affect Schmitt's business, including the business of its subsidiary, is included in “Risk Factors” in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Media & Investor Contacts Brynner Chiam Acting Principal Executive Officer and Acting Principal Financial Officer (786) 769-7512Freddie Prinze Jr. Says LA Knight Never Needed WWE US Title
ELAN LAWSUIT NOTICE: Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) Investors are Notified of the Upcoming December 6 Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit – Contact BFA Law (NYSE:ELAN)After a very “painful” three years since he accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his Western “Rust” in 2021, Alec Baldwin was supposed to enjoy the opportunity to celebrate his career this week by being honored in Europe with a Lifetime Achievement Award. But as is typical for Baldwin, he opened his mouth to reporters. During a press conference at the Turin Film Festival, the often polarizing actor ended up saying things about Americans and female directors that have aggravated some corners of the internet. During another interview, he sought sympathy for his almost equally controversial influencer wife, Hilaria Baldwin, insisting that she was particularly “traumatized” by the death of Hutchins. So, where to begin with Baldwin’s headline-making media remarks in Italy? First off, during the press conference, Baldwin expressed concerns about Americans’ lack understanding of politics and the state of the world in the wake of Donald Trump’s election to a second term as president, according to The Hollywood Reporter . While Baldwin was asked about his concerns for America after Trump retakes office, the veteran actor, a lifelong Democrat who famously parodied Trump on “Saturday Night Live,” didn’t mention the former reality TV star by name. Still, he said: “There’s a hole, a vacuum... a gap in information for Americans. Americans are very uninformed about reality, what’s really going on — climate change, Ukraine, you name it.” “The biggest topics in the world, Americans have an appetite for a little bit of information,” Baldwin continued, with comments sure to stir up outrage among critics who see him as arrogant and elitist. “That vacuum is filled by the film industry,” Baldwin said. “Not just the independent film industry, not just the documentary film industry but narrative films as well.” Baldwin also was asked about the role of female directors in the industry, according to The Hollywood Reporter . On one hand, he tried to praise female directors by saying it’s “a good thing” that more women are directing major films. “In the cinema of the ’80s and ’90s, out of 100 directors there were 98 men and two women,” Baldwin said. “Now, it’s not like that, and that’s a good thing.” But then Baldwin couldn’t help himself. He said, “For some films you need an energetic director who moves the camera continuously and maybe a male director is better.” “But for a comedy or a drama with a lot of talk, what’s the difference between a male director and a female director?” Baldwin said. “In fact, there’s more introspective capacity in a female director.” So women can’t be energetic? It’s possible that Baldwin was referring to his belief that women are not particularly suited to directing male-oriented action films, with lots of fighting and big-budget special effects. But Kathryn Bigelow famously became the first woman to win an Academy Award for best director for helming “The Hurt Locker,” the intense 2009 Iraq War film that won best picture. Jane Campion, certainly known for dramas “with a lot of talk,” also won best director for the 2022 Western “The Power of the Dog.” It was reported that Baldwin only agreed to be the guest of honor at the Turin Film Festival if Italian reporters at the press conference were barred from asking him about Hutchins’ death in October 2021, Variety said. But Baldwin ended up talking to a reporter for Variety about “Rust,” “candidly sharing his feelings” about the film’s premiere and “cancel culture.” Hutchins was killed on the film’s New Mexico set when Baldwin was handling a prop gun during a rehearsal and pointed it in her direction. The gun was supposed to be loaded with only dummy rounds, but held a live round, which fatally wounded Hutchins when the gun fired. Baldwin was put on trial for involuntary manslaughter, but the judge dismissed the charges after learning the prosecution withheld evidence. Baldwin, director Joel Souza and other members of the cast and crew ended up completing the film, saying they wanted to honor Hutchins. The film received a mostly “polite” response when it had its world premiere last week at the EnergaCamerimage festival in Poland. However, some audience members were visibly “uncomfortable” watching scenes of Baldwin “shooting people” in the film, a critic for Vulture reported. Baldwin was not invited to the premiere, because festival organizers said they were concerned that his presence would be “too distracting.” In his interview with Variety, Baldwin said he hasn’t seen a final cut of “Rust” and doesn’t want to “right now.” “Only because this is obviously the most difficult thing I’ve ever dealt with in my life,” said Baldwin, who then went on to explain why the shooting and its aftermath was particularly difficult for his wife. “Beyond the victims themselves, the thing that most pains me is what it did to my wife,” Baldwin said. “My wife has been very, very traumatized from this. There has been a lot of pain. When you are married to somebody and everything was going fairly well and we had seven kids ... and the floor falls out. It’s very frightening and very disturbing. And we are trying to get the wind in our sails, to get away from this stuff.” While it may be that the shooting was “traumatizing” for Hilaria Baldwin, the former yoga teacher and once-aspiring lifestyle and parenting influencer also faced criticism for appearing to exploit the tragedy and in ways that involved her use of their seven young children. In the weeks after Hutchins’ death, Hilaria Baldwin, known for her love of media attention, continued to post multiple images of their children on a daily basis. The posts on Instagram included potentially private content about the Baldwin family’s home life amid her husband’s crisis for the on-set shooting. Some images showed the children playing and enjoying Christmas. But other images showed the children acting out or looking sad and distressed, leading PR and crisis experts to accuse Hilaria Baldwin of using her children as “props” to garner sympathy, while also appearing to be “narcissistic” and “callous,” given that Hutchins’ young son lost his mother. Both Hilaria and Alec Baldwin faced criticism more recently of exploiting their children, including in the weeks leading up to his manslaughter trial this summer. In a “bizarrely”-timed move before the start of the trial, the couple announced that they and their seven children would star in a new TLC reality TV show about their hectic family life. Starring in a reality TV show is seen as a career let-down for Baldwin, an Emmy winner and Oscar nominee who was once on track to be a Hollywood leading man before becoming valued as one of the industry’s most valued character actors. But a reality show gig was considered to be more in tune with the professional aspirations of his wife, whose once lucrative career as an influencer was derailed when she was embroiled in a scandal over damning evidence that she spent more than a decade faking a Spanish accent and identity.'I've tried everything to help dogs terrified by fireworks'
(AP) — Less than a month after winning the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers are spending big again to add one of baseball’s best pitchers to their star-studded roster. Blake Snell and the Dodgers agreed to a $182 million, five-year contract, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the deal is subject to a successful physical. The two-time Cy Young Award winner broke the news personally by posting a photo of himself on social media in a Dodgers uniform — No. 7. Snell gets a $52 million signing bonus, payable on Jan. 20, and annual salaries of $26 million, of which $13 million each year will be deferred. Because Snell is a Washington state resident, the signing bonus will not be subject to California income tax. Snell would join two-way star Shohei Ohtani and fellow Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop Los Angeles’ rotation, giving the Dodgers the first megadeal this offseason following Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year contract and Yamamoto’s $325 million, 12-year agreement last offseason. Ohtani didn’t pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery but is expected back on the mound in 2025. He won his third MVP award — first in the National League — following a huge season at the plate exclusively as a designated hitter. Yamamoto went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts as a rookie, then won twice in four October outings. Down to three healthy starting pitchers during the postseason, Los Angeles overcame a string of injuries to its projected rotation in winning the franchise’s second World Series title in five years. Right-handers Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler then became free agents this fall, creating more voids on the staff. But the addition of Snell would fill a large one at the top with a legitimate ace. Snell’s $36.4 million average salary would rank as the fifth-highest among active deals next year behind Ohtani ($70 million), Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler ($42 million), New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge ($40 million) and Texas pitcher Jacob deGrom ($37 million). Among expired contracts, it also was exceeded by pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander (both $43.33 million) under deals they agreed to with the New York Mets. ESPN first reported the details of Snell’s contract. Earlier this month, Snell opted out of his deal with San Francisco to become a free agent for the second consecutive offseason after he was slowed by injuries during his lone year with the Giants. The left-hander agreed in March to a $62 milli on, two-year contract that inc luded a $17 million signing bonus payable on Jan. 15, 2026, a $15 million salary for 2024 and a $30 million salary for 2025, of which $15 million would have been deferred and payable on July 1, 2027. Snell, who turns 32 next week, went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts this year, throwing a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. He struck out 145 and walked 44 in 104 innings. He was sidelined between April 19 and May 22 by a strained left adductor and between June 2 and July 9 by a strained left groin. Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76 -58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants. Because he turned down a qualifying offer from San Diego last November, the Giants were not eligible to give Snell another one and won’t receive draft-pick compensation. Los Angeles expects All-Star right-hander Tyler Glasnow and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw back in the rotation next year. Other starting candidates if healthy include right-handers Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Bobby Miller. Ohtani is coming off right elbow surgery in September 2023 and left shoulder surgery on Nov. 5. Glasnow didn’t pitch after Aug. 11 because of right elbow tendinitis. Kershaw, who turns 37 in March, had foot and knee surgeries on Nov. 7. He declined a $10 milli on player option in favor of free agency, but is expected to return to Los Angeles. May is coming back from Tommy John surgery in July 2023 and from an operation this past July to repair a tear in his esophagus. Gonsolin spent 2024 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Miller, an 11-game winner as a rookie in 2023, was sidelined early this season by shoulder inflammation. He struggled to a 2-4 record with an 8.52 ERA in 13 big league starts and ended the regular season in the minors. Yamamoto was sidelined by right triceps tightness between June 15 and Sept. 10, then returned and went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four postseason starts.
Major League Soccer will conclude its 29th season on Saturday, when the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls face off in MLS Cup, the league’s championship match. Ahead of Saturday’s final, MLS commissioner Don Garber gave his annual “state of the league” address, touting the growth of the league at home and abroad. In a subsequent Q&A with the assembled media, Garber, who has headed MLS since his appointment in 1999, addressed a wide range of topics, even breaking a bit of news in the process. Advertisement Here, then, are the highlights from Garber’s remarks. Quotes have been lightly edited for length and clarity. MLS schedule change Garber broke a bit of news during the Q&A portion, confirming that MLS will “not be playing during the 2026 World Cup.” MLS will also take off “for a portion” of the 2025 Club World Cup, clarifying that it would be a “specific break, not a full one.” Garber said the league is still finalizing details for its break for the Club World Cup, which will be played in the U.S. next summer from June 15 to July 13. Any changes would have to be approved by the MLS board of governors, which is set to meet next week. The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico and will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The 48-team tournament will be hosted jointly by 16 cities across the three countries, with a record 104 games played. MLS paused for the World Cup group stage in 2010, for two weeks in 2014 and for nine days in 2018. Earlier during his state of the league address, Garber confirmed the league is weighing potential schedule changes which could have an impact on what the MLS schedule looks like in 2026. The Athletic previously reported the league was weighing a move to a fall-spring calendar used by many European leagues. “It’s important to point out that the league, in 2004 and 2005, and then again in 2014 and 2015, looked at a schedule change,” Garber said. “I think now we could be the only league, or one of only two leagues in the world that works on our schedule. But it’s complicated. We’re across three time zones, multiple weather factors, we’re traveling across a continent, and making those changes is something we’ve got to be very, very thoughtful about. I do think that we are considering, more than ever before, this opportunity to change, but it’s not something that we’re ready to talk about right now.” Advertisement Club World Cup Garber was at the draw for the Club World Cup, which took place in Miami on Thursday. Two MLS clubs — Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders — will compete in the tournament, which will be played across the United States next summer. Miami’s draw included Brazilian club Palmeiras, historic Portuguese club Porto and Egyptian club Al Ahly. Seattle landed with some significant global giants, including Paris St-Germain and La Liga powerhouse Atletico Madrid. While clubs like Seattle and Miami are high-spending sides within MLS, their roster values pale in comparison to other clubs, globally. Seattle and Miami’s place in this tournament is surely a rare opportunity for the league to leave a stamp internationally — and to sell itself to a domestic audience that will be able to compare MLS teams against top clubs from around the world. That could backfire, of course, if results go badly. On Friday, Garber was asked whether he feels MLS’ clubs are truly equipped to compete on a global stage. His answer felt grounded in reality and did not do a ton to inspire confidence. “I was at the draw yesterday,” said Garber, “and I saw something in the news today about transfer market values of each club (in the tournament) and clearly, MLS teams are at the lower quadrant of transfer market value. And that’s something, over time, that I hope will continue to grow as our teams are investing more in players and hopefully generating more revenue to justify that expense. “We’re working on ways that we can provide each team with some opportunity to be more competitive,” added Garber. “Talk about that a bit at our next board meeting, which is next Thursday. So stay tuned on that factor.” Garber also alluded to potential changes the league could make in terms of roster construction and spending but stopped short of giving any specifics. “There’s discussions going on (about that),” Garber told reporters, “But I wouldn’t put it in the category of significant. MLS is constantly, every year, looking at ways that we could incentivize our teams to use their resources better, to be very, very productive and efficient. We’re in the middle of a collective bargaining agreement with the (Major League Soccer Players Association) and we’ve got a great relationship with them, but I don’t anticipate anything significant happening in the next couple of years.” Advertisement What is the right metric for Apple and audience comparisons to linear? On a media tour ahead of MLS Cup over the last few days, Garber has continued to express optimism around the league’s media deal with Apple. The commissioner has also been more open about his desire to share numbers that might give the public a better idea of how the partnership is going, but said that the industry is still figuring out how to gauge streaming numbers. At some point, Garber said, “we and Apple and the rest of the streaming world” will determine a measurement that will “become the norm.” “This is a new world for all of us,” Garber said. “We have decades and generations of Nielsen ratings, of traditional measurements of how people consume sports. There’s a couple of people have a box in their house, and those people have that box turned on, and that’s the way we measure traditional, linear viewership. As we get into a world of streaming, the entire industry has got to figure out a new metric. Is that metric, average minute audience? Is it unique viewers? How could we figure out the right way to compare the audiences that we’ve had in the past to the audiences that we have now? GO DEEPER MLS took a risk with the timing of its Apple TV partnership. Did they get it right? “How important is subscriptions to viewership? To us, subscriptions are very important. Somebody’s paying for the opportunity to watch a game, so when they do watch it, it is intentional. That’s leading to this 65-minute time that people are spending on our games. But we are very pleased with the viewership numbers.” Garber speculated whether the league should be measuring audience on a per-game basis, as they did when they had games on ESPN, or whether they should measure nightly audience across games on their streaming app. “We have over a million viewers watching those games on a Saturday night, the collective viewership of those games; we’re proud of that,” Garber said. “That’s way more than we’ve ever had for a regular season match. We’re having more than than that watch our playoff games. ... At some point soon, we’re all going to have a measurement that the industry is going to accept, and we’ll be the first ones to be happy to talk about it.” What is MLS doing to grow the fanbase? If MLS wants its viewership numbers on Apple TV to grow, it needs to find ways to reach new audience, a challenge that is even more difficult when the majority of the product is behind a paywall. The league has said it wants to double its fanbase in coming years, though it hasn’t been specific as to what metric it is using toward that goal. Garber said the league has been studying how it can reach new fans. Advertisement “What does it mean now that we have a direct relationship with a consumer? How could we lean in better to data? How do we have a more structured infrastructure, and investment in that infrastructure for our teams and for our league to be a funnel to collect information about fans and talk to them about what matters to them, so that we can convert them from being a soccer fan to being an MLS fan,” Garber said. “How could we work with Apple to have more content and other partners like Bleacher Report and OneFootball to have more content that would promote and tell the story about our players, similar to what we’re doing with (production company) Box to Box (Films). “And then we’ve got to look at our competitive format. Should that change? Should it stay the same? What are we going to do with our calendar? When could those changes be made? Do we have the same conference set up?... I don’t have an answer to it, but we’re looking at it. Now that we’ll have 30 teams, do we have the same playoff format? Maybe. Maybe we don’t. But all those things will go into a pathway to grow our fan base and make our league more competitive.” On Bruce Arena Garber was asked about San Jose Earthquakes head coach Bruce Arena, who joined the club in November. Arena, the winningest coach in MLS history, was forced to resign from his most recent MLS job at the New England Revolution after a league investigation found he’d made “insensitive and inappropriate remarks.” The nature of those remarks has never been publicized. Arena landed in San Jose after completing a league-mandated reinstatement protocol, the specifics of which have never been shared. Arena himself has never specifically addressed the incident in any real detail but expressed remorse for his actions in the aftermath of the investigation. Garber was asked whether the league could shed any light on any of it. “I appreciate the question, but it’s not something that I’m going to talk about,” said Garber. “Obviously Bruce would not have been approved to coach in Major League Soccer if he didn’t satisfy whatever standards and things that we wanted him to satisfy. Much more than that, I’m not going to comment.” Open Cup/Leagues Cup chatter The Leagues Cup, MLS and Liga MX’s joint venture that includes every team in both leagues, suffered a bit of a letdown in year two, failing to recapture the Messi-inspired magic of the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2023. Some of those issues stemmed from the format of the tournament itself, which led to a bevy of matches played between MLS sides, sort of defeating the competition’s stated purpose of pitting one league’s clubs against the others. The tournament, played in the middle of the MLS season, felt more like a burden for some MLS clubs. Advertisement Changes could be afoot — ESPN and others have reported that MLS may limit which clubs participate, choosing to send some to the U.S. Open Cup instead. MLS has in recent years also revised its approach to that tournament, the oldest competition in American soccer. On Friday, Garber addressed both tournaments, saying that the league would like teams to play in at least one tournament each season, and for some clubs to participate in multiple competitions. “We will participate in the US Open Cup again next year,” Garber said, “We will likely have more teams (than 2024) ... but it is going to be nearly impossible for all teams to be able to participate in all tournaments, it’s just not enough games during the schedule, with or without any change in the calendar.” Of the changes to Leagues Cup, Garber didn’t provide specifics but seemed to hint that it would be geared toward more rivalry play between the MLS and Liga MX sides. “We need more MLS versus Liga MX matches,” Garber said. “That was really the point of the Leagues Cup in the in the beginning. ... We’ve been trying to figure out a way to get this right. I think we really got it right with the Leagues Cup. It worked super well in the first year. That was not just about Messi, it was just the way the tournament laid out. And we’re looking at modifications that will, I think, make it more focused on what it is that we’re trying to achieve, which is this great rivalry between our two leagues.” (Top photo: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)Extractive industry sees strong growth, pivots toward sustainability
Many of us are anxiously awaiting the return of President Donald Trump to the White House, as some look to the future with hope and others despair. If Trump’s previous four years in office are a preview of what’s to come, my prediction is that much of his campaign agenda won’t be enacted. Before you write an angry letter to the editor labeling me a liberal Trump-hater, realize that most presidents promise sweeping changes on the campaign trail, but deliver few of those vows when they enter the Oval Office. That’s somewhat the beauty of our republic – a complex system that requires cooperation at multiple levels for legislation to be approved. Trump will return with a Republican-controlled Senate and House. But Trump, like President Barack Obama before him, enjoyed party control of congress during his first two years in office. Some of Trump’s 2016 campaign promises, such as building a border wall and ending the Affordable Care Act, never came to fruition despite the Republican majority in 2017-2018. You likely recall the famous “thumbs down” vote by the late Republican Sen. John McCain, which essentially killed Trump’s effort to overhaul Obama’s signature health care plan. Trump’s populist rhetoric makes him a great candidate on the campaign trail. Whether it’s the truth or a lie, Trump tells his followers what they want to hear. But his ability to translate that talk into meaningful legislation that’s backed by congress, including members of his own party, has been subpar. And we’re already seeing signs that his next administration will face similar challenges. Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, was defeated by Senate Republicans before hearings ever began. While the victor of the election certainly has the right to propose picks for his cabinet, even Republicans balked at the idea of appointing a man accused of sexual assault and misconduct to the attorney general post. While cabinet picks aren’t legislation, the block of Gaetz shows that Trump still has to play ball with members of his own party to get his way. And frankly, some Republicans are likely to disagree with some of the key aspects of his agenda. “Eliminate the Department of Education” has become the “Defund the Police” of 2024-25. In both cases, a group has issues with certain aspects of an established system. In both cases, eliminating that system is nonsensical and unlikely to happen. They’re catchy phrases that invoke emotional reactions, especially on the campaign trail, but they’re not realistic. This is where the true statement that “All Politics is Local” comes into effect. If federal funding and oversight from the Department of Education is eliminated, state and local officials will be responsible for such programs. How many angry phone calls do you think your state representative or school board member will receive when parents find out money has been slashed for special education, or that after-school programs have been eliminated. The truth of the matter is that states like Indiana and Kentucky greatly depend on federal funding, and if that money goes away, it has to be made up somewhere. That somewhere is your wallet. You, the taxpayer, fund the local, state and federal government. You, the taxpayer, will either have to pay more for local and state departments to pick up the slack left behind by the elimination of the Department of Education, or be prepared to see teachers laid off and schools closed. While some may not care, enough do, and attacking education has been the death of many a politician’s political career. What’s more likely to happen, Trump will ask congress to make major cuts to the Department of Education, those will get whittled down and, if some sort of bill is passed, it will not result in the elimination of the federal department. Trump will likely take executive action on immigration, but if he goes too far, business leaders will quickly show who actually runs the country. Removing people who are here illegally that have committed crimes in our country is one thing, but deporting workers and others who are helping our economy as employees and consumers is quite another thing. Trump can greatly influence such issues through his own actions, or inactions. He notoriously ridiculed anyone who opposed him during his first administration, blasting Democrats, former presidents and even members of his own party almost hourly on social media. He actually showed more restraint during the 2024 campaign, but how long will that last? Democrats will of course vote against most of his ideas, but if there are Republicans on the fence and he goes after them, that could spell disaster for his campaign promises.SINGAPORE: Pacing up and down near the Singapore Sports Hub's Water Sports Centre, with brows furrowed and sweat trickling down their faces, they checked their phones every 10 seconds. Then, amid the charged atmosphere of nervousness mixed with excitement, a shout: “One minute and one second ... second place!” The team, dressed in bright turquoise T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Different Dragons", erupted into cheers and hugs as they celebrated their silver medal at the Singapore Regatta Waterfest in November. At this annual dragon boat race, hundreds of competitors - from educational institutions, business organisations and other entities - vie to be the quickest over a 200m distance in the Kallang Basin. For Different Dragons, a second-place finish in the adaptive open category was especially sweet - and perhaps more so for nine members who are paddlers with disabilities of both physical and intellectual nature. “I find it difficult to paddle because of a back problem I’ve had, and it’s also difficult to paddle at the same speed as everyone,” said Jarran Ng, who has Williams syndrome. The genetic condition affects physical features, cognitive development and other parts of the body like the heart. “(But) the team never made me feel like I couldn’t do it and I felt like I belonged." SERIOUS ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME At the Singapore Regatta Waterfest, one of the biggest dragon boat contests in the country, teams were heard chanting "in it to win it". Different Dragons, which was founded in 2019, has other goals in mind. “We’re a very chill team, having fun is one of the most important aspects for us,” said Rayson Oon, a volunteer coach since the team started out. This approach should not be mistaken for a lack of focus and determination. They had trained for the November race all year, aiming to prove their abilities matter more than their disabilities - which they ultimately did. Naturally, it hasn't been all smooth sailing. The past few years have been a constant exercise in trial-and-error, patience and positivity, as volunteers sought to find the right ways to teach the sport, even in basics such as holding a paddle. When Tan Cher Hui first signed up with Different Dragons as a volunteer, she struggled to support her twin brother with autism, who had also joined the team as a competitor. Race rules dictate that each paddler with a disability can be accompanied by one able-bodied caregiver or volunteer inside the boat. For instance, her brother couldn't cope with changes to the training schedule caused by rain, and would often have meltdowns. "Because to him, dragon boating happens every Sunday,” said Tan, 26, who added that this was a huge challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic when such activities came to a halt. “It took a toll on him and I didn’t know if it was worth carrying on." But the encouragement and perseverance of other volunteers that pushed her to stay on, and the siblings have now reaped the rewards. “I learnt how to interact and engage with people of all different disabilities, and even picked up sign language," she said. "And it was heartwarming to see the other members be welcoming and inclusive with my brother." ANOTHER FAMILY For members of Different Dragons, being part of a team - and one that empathises with each other - was something especially precious. Jimmy Chan, a deaf paddler, told CNA how his condition made it tough in work settings and that he often felt isolated during conversations. "I wanted a space where I would not feel judged or different, and the team offered that," he said through sign language. The 53-year-old relies on vibrations from the dragon boat drum beat, along with the strokes of the first paddler seated in front, to sync with the rest of the team. “We share resilience, teamwork and a drive to break barriers. Each step feels like a victory, and our strong bonds make every challenge worthwhile, keeping us going,” Chan said. Outside of training, the team makes a conscious effort to do activities together, from meals to hikes and an annual Christmas party. “There are days when the paddlers aren’t feeling their best, but they look forward to seeing each other and that motivates them to come for trainings,” said Hamza Lu, another volunteer coach. “We may not be as competitive as other teams, but we have more of a family bond. When I miss sessions, they’ll be spamming my phone and asking me when they’ll see me next.” Take Teng Der Shuin, a paddler with an intellectual disability, who every Saturday makes sure to remind his mother Teo Leng Leng that he needs to wear his "dragon boat clothes" the next day. "(He) isn’t very active when he’s at home. It was a very big problem that I was worried about. So I’m happy that this is an activity that he enjoys,” said Teo, 57. “This gave him an opportunity to make new friends and be exposed to the world outside." Outside of training, the team makes a conscious effort to do activities together, from meals to hikes and an annual Christmas party. “There are days when the paddlers aren’t feeling their best, but they look forward to seeing each other and that motivates them to come for trainings,” said Hamza Lu, another volunteer coach. “We may not be as competitive as other teams, but we have more of a family bond. When I miss sessions, they’ll be spamming my phone and asking me when they’ll see me next.” Take Teng Der Shuin, a paddler with an intellectual disability, who every Saturday makes sure to remind his mother Teo Leng Leng that he needs to wear his "dragon boat clothes" the next day. "(He) isn’t very active when he’s at home. It was a very big problem that I was worried about. So I’m happy that this is an activity that he enjoys,” said Teo, 57. “This gave him an opportunity to make new friends and be exposed to the world outside." MOVING DISABILITY SPORTS FORWARD Having an adaptive category in a prestigious dragon boat event like the Regatta Waterfest gives people with disabilities access to the right resources and a level playing field, said Ms Kelly Fan, executive director of the Singapore Disability Sports Council. “Inclusive sports focus on creating platforms where persons with and without disabilities can play together. "The primary goal is to foster firsthand understanding and appreciation of the challenges that individuals with disabilities overcome to participate in sports, while also providing opportunities for meaningful social interaction,” she added. Singapore is set to launch an Enabling Sports Fund next year, which aims to "encourage impactful community-initiated disability sports initiatives.” The government will match dollar for dollar donations made to this fund, which hopes to raise at least S$10 million (US$7.4 million) by 2030. It's part of Singapore's Enabling Masterplan 2030 , a national roadmap for people with disabilities to live and participate more actively in the community. Progress has been made but more needs to be done to continue promoting inclusivity, said Ms Fan, pointing to costs and accessibility as remaining barriers. “It is not just about ramps or lifts within a venue," she said. "It extends to the awareness that sport opportunities exist for persons with disabilities; the affordability of sport involvement on top of enhanced costs of living of a (person with disability); the proximity and accessibility of an accessible venue; and the readiness of a venue to cater to disability sports.” Members of Different Dragons, meanwhile, are happy to continue playing their part in not just raising awareness, but sending out a more profound message - that paddlers with disabilities can be capable of anything, said Lu, the volunteer coach. “The perception many have is that members with disabilities can’t paddle as well as able-bodied individuals, but that’s not true,” said Oon, the other coach. Paddler Lee Wei Kiong, who has an intellectual disability, told CNA how the team has inspired him to work hard and keep practising. “I never thought we could beat other teams, but our process is getting better,” he said, while standing next to a trolley filled with bottled drinks he lugged from home to give out to his teammates. “When I was younger, people used to say that I have a low IQ (intelligent quotient) and I wouldn’t be able to do anything. But I learnt that whatever others can do, I can do too." "Normal people can dragon boat, so can I.”
NoneAmericans are expected to spend a record amount (between $979.5 billion and $989 billion) on holiday gifts and decor in November and December, according to the National Retail Federation. Inflation and high interest rates are important parts of the story, but there’s not much evidence that people are planning to cut back, either. Only 1 in 3 holiday shoppers is planning to spend less this holiday season than they did during the festive period last year, according to Bankrate’s Early Holiday Shopping Survey. The most popular answer (given by 43% of respondents) was “about the same.” And roughly a quarter of holiday shoppers are planning to spend more. Stubborn inflation means that many people planning to spend about the same could still end up paying more this year, due simply to price increases. This could even tip some people who plan to spend less into the spending more camp. Adobe is among the many organizations projecting an increase in holiday spending this year. Its survey focuses on e-commerce, which is expected to grow 8.4% this holiday season — much faster than brick-and-mortar retail. For context, organizations such as the National Retail Federation and Mastercard are expecting total holiday retail sales growth between about 2.5% and 3.5%. Contrary to the past five years, when the market share of the cheapest goods increased 46% and the share of the most expensive goods decreased 47%, Adobe says the share of the most expensive goods will increase 19% this year. Sporting goods, electronics and appliances are leading the trend. The University of Michigan’s popular consumer sentiment index has remained well below pre-pandemic norms despite a host of economic data that has come in much more favorably. For instance, the unemployment rate hit its lowest level in 54 years in 2023. While it has gone up a bit since then, it’s still low, historically speaking. Consumer spending and gross domestic product have been growing, and inflation is coming down without a much-feared and much-forecast recession. Yet people still aren’t feeling great about the economy, mostly because inflation has outpaced wage gains. Normally, when people worry about the economy, they pull back on discretionary spending. But spending has boomed the past few years in discretionary categories such as travel, dining and live entertainment. That’s mostly because of a “you only live once” attitude that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. Although that may be starting to change. Half of credit-card holders carry debt from month to month, Bankrate found, which is the highest percentage since early 2020. Among them, 6 in 10 have been in credit-card debt for at least a year (up 10 percentage points from three years ago). People often get into credit-card debt for practical reasons, such as medical bills, car repairs and day-to-day expenses. More than a quarter (28%) of holiday shoppers say they’re stressed about these expenses, and the same percentage says holiday shopping will strain their budgets. If either describes you, it’s clear that you have plenty of company. Consider speaking up and asking what your family members and friends think about buying fewer gifts this year. Another way to celebrate without busting your budget is to give homemade gifts. Are you a good baker or crafter? If so, use those talents to create holiday presents instead of spending money at the mall or on your favorite e-commerce site. If you are going to be shopping, do your best to avoid unnecessary impulse buys by setting limits ahead of time, waiting 24 hours before making an unplanned purchase and unlinking your credit and debit cards. Consider the total cost of ownership, too. Don’t fall into the buy now, pay later trap. It’s easy to trick yourself into thinking a $200 purchase is just four easy payments of $50, but those can add up, particularly if you’re already overextended and in credit-card debt. And when it comes to holiday activities, there are tons of low-cost ways to enjoy the festive period. Driving around the neighborhood looking at holiday light displays is a fun way to get into the spirit and entertain the kids without spending more than a little gas money. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Tim Walz accepts turkey presentation as he eases back into his duties as Minnesota's governorCommerce Bank reduced its stake in Bio-Techne Co. ( NASDAQ:TECH – Free Report ) by 12.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 31,644 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 4,397 shares during the period. Commerce Bank’s holdings in Bio-Techne were worth $2,529,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Empirical Finance LLC grew its position in Bio-Techne by 4.1% in the third quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 4,080 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $326,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the period. First City Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Bio-Techne by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. First City Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,185 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $224,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the last quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of Bio-Techne by 3.9% during the 3rd quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 5,333 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $426,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its holdings in Bio-Techne by 12.0% during the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,917 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $137,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. boosted its position in Bio-Techne by 51.5% in the third quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 612 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 208 shares in the last quarter. 98.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Bio-Techne Price Performance Bio-Techne stock opened at $71.28 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 75.83, a PEG ratio of 5.19 and a beta of 1.28. Bio-Techne Co. has a 1 year low of $61.16 and a 1 year high of $85.57. The business has a 50-day moving average of $73.77 and a 200-day moving average of $75.25. The company has a current ratio of 4.56, a quick ratio of 3.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Bio-Techne Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 11th were paid a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.45%. Bio-Techne’s payout ratio is 34.04%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have issued reports on TECH shares. StockNews.com upgraded Bio-Techne from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $95.00 price objective on shares of Bio-Techne in a research report on Tuesday, August 13th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Bio-Techne from $82.00 to $84.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Scotiabank boosted their target price on Bio-Techne from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Bio-Techne from $72.00 to $70.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $81.78. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on TECH Bio-Techne Profile ( Free Report ) Bio-Techne Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells life science reagents, instruments, and services for the research and clinical diagnostic markets in the United States, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Greater China, rest of Asia-Pacific, and internationally. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TECH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bio-Techne Co. ( NASDAQ:TECH – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Bio-Techne Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bio-Techne and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
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