betmgm

Discover the VP (Vortex Protocol) Listing on XTSince its opening on Nov. 24, 1999, the childbirth unit at the Queensway Carleton Hospital has delivered more than 60,000 babies. It was a special occasion at the hospital this week, celebrating 25 years of operation. Melissa Mundee was there, celebrating her 25th birthday. She was the first baby born inside the unit. She brought her daughter, Maciee, who was also delivered at the QCH in 2023. "When my mom first originally told me about that story, it was kind of like, no. And then it kind of felt surreal when I showed up here with Maciee, and it was kind of like a full circle moment, to have my mom, now me. And now we get to celebrate with little Maciee," said Mundee. Staff wished her a happy birthday along with the unit. Some of the staff present have been there since the birthing unit opened. Salli Dambrowitz is the clinical manager of the childbirth program at QCH, and she recalls the first day quite well. "It was quite, quite fun; it was exciting. Everything was new. And so here I am, 25 years later, still here." Dambrowitz said. "We've received lots of patient feedback. They're so happy to have come here. You know, they always have nice things to say about our program," she added. "I think it's fantastic to know that someone who was delivered here once upon a time, 25 years ago, would want to come back here and experience that for her own child and any future children she has," said Shannon Adams, manager of the postpartum unit. The unit is special to many of the staff and they say it's like a family. Some have even had their own children and grandchildren delivered at the hospital. "I've had six of my seven grandchildren born here, and it's been very special. A lot of those children, I have been involved in their delivery process, their care after they've had their baby," said Tracy Zoobkoff, a nurse in the postpartum unit. "It's quite special to go to any events in our local community because everybody will come up to me and say, you were my nurse." "They're happy to have their babies here close, you know, tight-knit team, family, friends. it's, really enjoyable. I, myself, had had my kids here, too, and I wouldn't want to have it any other way," Dambrowitz said. Some of those children are now working at the hospital. "We've made such an impression on some of our babies from years ago that a lot of them want to be nurses. They're going to nursing school. They want to come and join our team. So, we're happy to have them," said Dambrowitz. Mundee said she's kept in touch with the unit since giving birth to Maciee, and is looking forward to being back in July for the birth of her second child. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 17 Gifts Your Husband Actually Wants 21 Of The Absolute Best Stocking Stuffers For Kids (And They're All From Amazon Canada) 24 Of The Best Host And Hostess Gifts You Can Find Online Right Now Home Our Guide To The Best Water Leak Detectors In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Home Weather Stations In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Stand Mixers In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Gifts 20 Of The Best Gift Ideas For Men Under $200 13 Of The Best Self-Care Gifts You Can Find On Amazon Canada The Ultimate 2024 Holiday Gift Guide For People Who Love Working Out Beauty 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit If You Suffer From Dry Skin, You'll Want To Add At Least One Of These Hydrating Moisturizers To Your Cart Deals A Woman Like You: Snag These Black Friday Deals On Our Favourite Lifestyle Products This Week In Gaming: Our Picks For The Best Early Black Friday Deals On Gaming And Tech Upgrade Your Cat’s Bathroom: Litter-Robot's Black Friday Sale Is Here Ottawa Top Stories Ottawa school board trustees vote to sanction Donna Blackburn for antisemitic remark Phoenix Pay class-action settled for casual, non-unionized federal public servants Ontario to match GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax on some items Childbirth unit at Queensway Carleton Hospital celebrates 25th anniversary 'They alone are responsible': No deal yet in Canada Post strike Canada-wide warrant issued for eastern Ontario man: OPP Smiths Falls police propose 21 per cent budget increase next year Gatineau, Que. police seek vehicle owner as part of suspicious fire investigation CTVNews.ca Top Stories Missing hiker found alive after 50 days in northern B.C. wilderness A missing hiker who spent 50 days alone in the frozen wilderness of northern British Columbia has been found alive. 'They alone are responsible': No deal yet in Canada Post strike The Canada Post strike is expected to continue as parties remain 'too far apart on critical issues' to reach a deal, according to Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon. Hyundai recalling hundreds of thousands of cars and SUVs in Canada, U.S. Hyundai is recalling hundreds of thousands of SUVs and small cars in the U.S. and Canada because the rearview camera image may not show up on the screens. Ontario to match GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax on some items The Ontario government says it will match the federal government’s GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax (PST) from items that are not currently covered by existing provincial rebates. Man arrested at LAX after allegedly checking suitcases filled with over 70 pounds of meth-caked clothing A California man was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after he allegedly tried to check two suitcases containing more than 70 pounds of clothing caked in methamphetamine – including a cow pajama onesie – on a flight to Australia, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Montreal billionaire Robert Miller could have as many as 100 victims, lawyer says A Quebec judge is hearing arguments this week in a class-action lawsuit application against Montreal billionaire Robert Miller over allegations he paid minors for sex. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande 'Wicked' pay disparity rumour debunked Some have been saying Ariana Grande got paid more for 'Wicked' than her costar Cynthia Erivo, but the movie's studio is setting the record straight. Some Liberal MPs echo NDP call to expand $250 rebate, minister touts seniors benefits Some Liberal MPs say they think their government should consider expanding the eligibility for an upcoming government rebate to include seniors who are no longer working. W5 Investigates | Canada's least wanted man: A family's long and lonely fight to bring their son home from Syria Counterterrorism experts and humanitarian groups are urging countries to repatriate suspected ISIS members, as one family tells CTV W5 about their long and lonely fight to bring their son home from Syria. Atlantic First significant snow of the season for parts of the Maritimes Thursday, Friday A low-pressure system moving up the eastern seaboard of the United States is forecasted to bring a mixture of snow and rain into the Maritimes Thursday night into Friday. N.S. Liberal Leader Zach Churchill loses seat to PC candidate by just 14 votes It appears Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Zach Churchill has lost his seat to Progressive Conservative candidate Nick Hilton – by just 14 votes. N.B. RCMP investigating double homicide after bodies found inside burning vehicle in Chipman Police in New Brunswick are investigating the homicides of two people found inside a burning vehicle in Chipman. Toronto Ontario to match GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax on some items The Ontario government says it will match the federal government’s GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax (PST) from items that are not currently covered by existing provincial rebates. Video shows man pointing gun at vehicles on Highway 401 Police continue to look for a man captured in a dashcam footage pointing a gun at passing vehicles on Highway 401. Baby boy allegedly killed by Toronto mother identified An infant who police say was killed by their mother in midtown Toronto last week has been identified by police. Montreal Montreal billionaire Robert Miller could have as many as 100 victims, lawyer says A Quebec judge is hearing arguments this week in a class-action lawsuit application against Montreal billionaire Robert Miller over allegations he paid minors for sex. Quebec premier says he's 'open' to possibility of Quebec constitution by 2026 A committee appointed by the Quebec government has recommended the province adopt its own constitution and take other steps to boost its autonomy. Quebec police speak to drivers about violence against women As part of the 12 days of action to end violence against women, the Quebec provincial police service (SQ) is raising awareness on intimate partner violence by talking to drivers on the province's roads. Northern Ontario Suspect ignited propane cannister explosion at ex-partner's residence in Kapuskasing, Ont. A 30-year-old who was on probation has been charged with arson and causing an explosion in a case of intimate partner violence in Kapuskasing on Tuesday. 'They alone are responsible': No deal yet in Canada Post strike The Canada Post strike is expected to continue as parties remain 'too far apart on critical issues' to reach a deal, according to Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon. Magic mushroom store in Sudbury, Ont., closes after visit by police A store at the corner of Elm and Durham streets in Sudbury called Shroomyz that sold magic mushrooms has closed. Windsor Active investigation cleared on Victoria Avenue Windsor police have left the scene after an active investigation near the downtown area. '99 red balloons? Try hundreds': Parks Canada draws attention to helium balloon litter concerns In posts on social media, Parks Canada is calling on people to "balloon responsibly" while revealing staff at Point Pelee National Park find hundreds of helium balloons along the Lake Erie shoreline each year. Ontario to match GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax on some items The Ontario government says it will match the federal government’s GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax (PST) from items that are not currently covered by existing provincial rebates. London Rock the Park announces 2025 country lineup, tickets on Black Friday sale this week If you're keen for Rock the Park 2025, the best time to get your tickets is coming up this week – this year, for the first time in over two decades, you can snag your tickets in a Black Friday Sale. What makes a hate crime? New Western research hopes to help future lawyers decide. This tool helps compile more than 15 years of case law in which judges have considered a subsection of the Canadian Criminal Code which requires judges to consider harsher penalties for hate crimes. 'Cancer might have started this, but I am going to finish it': Nine-year-old cancer patient prepares to Illuminate Ronald McDonald House Emma McKeachnie is all smiles as she helps package Christmas cookies with her sister Ava, inside the kitchen at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in London, Ont. Kitchener Ontario to match GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax on some items The Ontario government says it will match the federal government’s GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax (PST) from items that are not currently covered by existing provincial rebates. Pedestrian taken to hospital with minor injuries after driver crashes in Kitchener bus shelter A pedestrian has been taken to hospital with minor injuries after a bus shelter in Kitchener was destroyed during a crash. Fires in Simcoe and Langton considered suspicious Police are investigating two suspicious fires in Norfolk County. Barrie One child injured after school bus crashes into ditch Twenty students were on a school bus that slid off the road into a ditch Wednesday morning. Police Services Act 'discreditable conduct' appearance for veteran Barrie officer Longtime Barrie police officer Valarie Gates had one of her two discreditable conduct charges under the Police Services Act addressed Wednesday morning over teleconference. Armed home invasion under investigation, 3 suspects at large South Simcoe police are investigating a report of an armed home invasion in Bradford West Gwillimbury involving three suspects. Winnipeg Two men randomly stabbed at Polo Park, one person arrested Two men were randomly stabbed at CF Polo Park Mall Tuesday and police have one person in custody. More charges laid against pair involved in animal cruelty investigation: Winnipeg police Warning: This story contains disturbing details. Discretion is advised. Winnipeg police have laid additional charges against two Winnipeggers charged with animal cruelty after videos of animals being tortured and killed were uploaded to the dark web. Manitoba adding 800 hip and knee surgeries in Selkirk The Manitoba government is taking steps to lower healthcare wait times by adding 800 hip and knee surgeries at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre. Calgary Calgary police preparing to beef up security ahead of G7 summit in June The Calgary Police Service says it is preparing to police next year's international G7 summit, taking place in Kananaskis and Calgary. $1M Lotto Max winning ticket purchased in Alberta A pair of Albertans won big in Tuesday night’s Lotto Max draw. According to the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, a $1 million winning ticket was purchased somewhere in the province outside of Calgary and Edmonton. 'Righting a historical wrong': Bearspaw Nation files class action suit against feds over $5-a-year Treaty 7 payment A First Nation west of Calgary has filed a class action lawsuit against Ottawa, trying to right what it calls an “historical wrong.” Edmonton Welfare check leads police to finding $750K in drugs, man's arrest A man faces drug and weapon charges after $750,000 worth of drugs were seized from an Edmonton home. City of Edmonton to lift Phase 1 parking ban on Thursday The City of Edmonton will lift the Phase 1 parking ban on arterial and industrial district roads on Thursday morning. Alberta's pledge to take over ownership of emissions data 'irresponsible': Guilbeault Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says Alberta's plan to make greenhouse gas emissions data the property of the provincial government could lead to oil and gas companies breaking federal laws. Regina 'The premier owes my children an apology': MLA Jared Clarke criticizes Sask. Party's stance on transgender youth NDP MLA Jared Clarke took his opportunity to put Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party on blast Tuesday – criticizing the party's campaign promise of a change room policy while explaining the effect it had on his own children. Sask. developing program it says will give better understanding of student performance in 'core subject areas' The province says work is underway to develop a program that will help better understand Saskatchewan student performance in 'core subject areas' at school. Man given 5 year sentence for fatal 2021 booze fueled fight in Regina home A now 23-year-old man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and will serve a total of five years behind bars for the 2021 death of a 43-year-old man in Regina after an alcohol fueled fight in the basement of a home. Saskatoon 'The roads are a mess': Saskatoon residents voice concerns over city road clearing As crews make their way through city streets in the aftermath of last weekend’s storm, some Saskatoon residents say their efforts aren’t enough. Sask. developing program it says will give better understanding of student performance in 'core subject areas' The province says work is underway to develop a program that will help better understand Saskatchewan student performance in 'core subject areas' at school. 'I didn’t give up': Five-day search for missing dog ends with tears of joy A Saskatoon woman and her dog, Bella, were reunited after five days of searching, with the help of Facebook and the kindness of strangers. Vancouver Missing hiker found alive after 50 days in northern B.C. wilderness A missing hiker who spent 50 days alone in the frozen wilderness of northern British Columbia has been found alive. Condo door is common property, owner not responsible for replacing glue-filled lock, B.C. tribunal rules A North Vancouver condo building has lost its bid to force the owner of one unit to pay for a replacement lock after a bizarre incident in which glue was "injected" into the locking mechanism. Mounties say 2 men arrested after another fentanyl 'super lab' found in B.C. Mounties say two men were arrested after police uncovered the latest drug-manufacturing "super lab" in British Columbia. Vancouver Island Missing hiker found alive after 50 days in northern B.C. wilderness A missing hiker who spent 50 days alone in the frozen wilderness of northern British Columbia has been found alive. Mounties say 2 men arrested after another fentanyl 'super lab' found in B.C. Mounties say two men were arrested after police uncovered the latest drug-manufacturing "super lab" in British Columbia. Mounties investigating after victim struck, killed at Kamloops, B.C., gas station Mounties are investigating after a person was struck and killed early Wednesday morning in the parking lot of a gas station in Kamloops, B.C. Kelowna 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Man in hospital following targeted shooting in Kamloops Police are appealing for information on a targeted shooting that resulted in the hospitalization of a man in Kamloops. Police cleared of fault in fatal 2023 crash in B.C.'s Interior British Columbia's independent police watchdog has cleared officers of wrongdoing in a crash where three people were killed south of Kamloops in July of last year. Stay ConnectedBig 10: Spotlighting acts of kindnessbetmgm 。

SS&C Signs Agreement with Insignia Financial

The committee that chose the 12 contenders for college football's national title was only worried about one thing — ranking the teams. Where those teams landed in the College Football Playoff bracket was based on a formula created by conference commissioners. That jumbled up the pairings — there are some big gaps, for instance, between where a team is seeded and where it's ranked — and made a strong case for tinkering in the future. “I think the process to rank the best 25 teams is a great process,” said selection committee chairman Warde Manuel. “I’ve heard debates and discussions about how the seeding of the tournament should go. I will leave that up to the commissioners.” Among the choices the commissioners made months ago that set the template for the bracket released Sunday: • Favoring conference champions by giving four of them byes and one more an automatic spot in the field, no matter where they were ranked in the CFP's top 25. • Not reseeding the bracket after the first round, a move that could have given the best teams more favorable early matchups. • Making no attempt to avoid regular-season rematches early in the playoffs. There was also the issue of the 12-team bracket, which could very well be expanded in the next year or two. All those choices led to a field full of possibilities, but also one containing head-scratching matchups. The choices could, in some eyes, undermine the College Football Playoff's main mission, which is ( making more money while) providing more “access” — in other words, a fair shake to more than four deserving teams. For instance, top-seeded and undefeated Oregon could play its first game against Big Ten foe Ohio State, which was ranked No. 2 for much of the season and lost to the Ducks by a point earlier this year. And Boise State, from the non-power Mountain West Conference, is the third seed, even though the committee ranked the Broncos ninth. Here is how things might have looked if certain rules that could come into play in the future were already in place: Ariona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, left, and quarterback Sam Leavitt celebrate after the team's win over Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference championship game on Saturday in Arlington, Texas. Conference champions First things first — there's not a single tweak that would've placed Oregon at anything other than the No. 1 seed. The Ducks are the only undefeated team in major college football and winning a title this year would leave them a jaw-dropping 16-0. Had the rules called for simply slotting in the top 12 teams, though, Alabama would be in the bracket and Oregon's path would be wildly different. A look at the coulda-been matchups: — No. 12 Arizona State at No. 5 Notre Dame: Big 12 champs would've made it because they rose three spots after that big win over Iowa State. — No. 11 Alabama at No. 6 Ohio State: Without automatic berths for conference champions, Tide would have been in, not at the ReliaQuest Bowl against a 7-5 Michigan team. — No. 10 SMU at No. 7 Tennessee: Mustangs could've slept soundly despite that heartbreaking loss to Clemson. And the Vols would have had a home game instead of a trip to Ohio State. — No. 9 Boise State at No. 8 Indiana: Hoosiers would've gotten the home game their coach thought they deserved, with the winner facing the Ducks. The third and fourth byes would have gone to Texas and Penn State, both losers in their conference title games — a turn that would have furthered questions as to whether those games have outlived their usefulness. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel celebrates after beating Penn State in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday in Indianapolis. Reseeding, rematches As things stand, Oregon will face either Ohio State or Tennessee at the Rose Bowl in the quarterfinals. Reseeding or avoiding regular-season matchups in the early rounds would likely have given the Ducks an easier game to start. Under a reseeding scenario, the Ohio State matchup could only happen if every home team — Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame and the Buckeyes — were to win its first-round game. This tweak also would prevent this year's possibility of Clemson vs. Arizona State in the quarterfinals — two teams that weren't in the top 12 a week ago. Or the prospect of two bye teams — ASU and Boise State — being big underdogs against teams, think Texas or Penn State, that have to win a game to play them. More teams This one is a loaded question, because when the playoffs expand they will do so with different rules. One formula kicking around involves giving three automatic spots to the Big Ten and SEC, two to the ACC and Big 12, one to the best-ranked champion of a Group of Five conference and three at-large spots. This, too, would cause problems and shuffling and teams getting passed over. But where it really breaks down is that 18th-ranked Iowa State of the Big 12 would land in this bracket as the 14 seed despite losing to Arizona State by 26. Hard to see that going over well at Miami, or Ole Miss, or Colorado. Then again, nobody ever said this was going to be fair. Stiliana Nikolova, of Bulgaria performs in the rhythmic gymnastics individuals all-round qualification round, at La Chapelle Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India reacts as he collides with San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. India was safe and Campusano was charged with an error. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Kimberley Woods of Britain competes in the women's kayak cross time trial at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Coco Gauff of the U.S. during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Noah Lyles, of the United States, jumps as he limbers-up ahead of the men's 100-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) A member of the Seattle Mariners tosses a ball against a wall during drills at spring training baseball workouts, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia waits to receive serve during her first round match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Czech Republic's Jiri Beran, left, competes with France's Yannik Borel in the men's team epee bronze final match during the 2024 Summer Olympics at the Grand Palais, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) France's Adrien Truffert jumps over Argentina's goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli during a quarterfinal soccer match between France and Argentina, at Bordeaux Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Bordeaux, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Fans interfere with a foul ball caught by Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Italy's Sara Curtis splashes her face with water before a women's 50-meter freestyle semifinal at the Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Ivory Coast 's Seko Fofana, top, duels for the ball with Nigeria's Victor Osimhen during the African Cup of Nations final soccer match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Costa Rica midfielder Jefferson Brenes, from left, Alvaro Zamora (21), Francisco Calvo (15) and Joseph Mora (8) are pelted with drinks and trash after celebrating a Brenes goal in the second half of a CONCACAF Nations League Play-In soccer match against Honduras, Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 200 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Tyrrell Hatton, of England, reacts on the 11th hole during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Augusta, GA. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Quincy Hall, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's 400-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Tim Tszyu, of Australia, hits Sebastian Fundora in a super welterweight title bout Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Workers peep through curtains to watch a match between France's Gael Monfils and Russia's Daniil Medvedev during the China Open tennis tournament held at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Amy Yang, of South Korea, is doused after winning the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament at Sahalee Country Club, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Sammamish, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Workers remove snow from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes) United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Gurgl, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti) Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, left, scores his side's second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue ) Czech Republic's Michal Kempny, right, punches United States' Brady Tkachuk during the quarterfinal match between Czech Republic and United States at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Turkey's Taha Akgul, left, competes with Georgia's Geno Petriashvili in a men's freestyle 125 kg category gold medal wrestling match during the European Wrestling Championships, in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith cries after winning the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Carles Coll Marti of Spain competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke heat at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots between New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III and guard CJ McCollum in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in New Orleans. The Lakers won 110-106. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A man in a monk's robe waves the French flag as the peloton passes during the sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 163.5 kilometers (101.6 miles) with start in Macon and finish in Dijon, France, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Belgium's Jeremy Doku, left, challenges for the ball with Romania's Andrei Ratiu during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) A spectator walks through a water mist sprayer on her way to Eiffel Tower Stadium to watch a beach volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Gabriel Medina, of Brazil, kicks off of a wave as he warms up prior to the quarterfinals round of the 2024 Summer Olympics surfing competition, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Wyndham Clark waits to hit on the 17th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Kolkata Knight Riders' wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz dives to make an unsuccessful attempt to run out Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma during the Indian Premier League cricket final match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024.(AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, in Singapore, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Serbia's Novak Djokovic embraces his daughter Tara after defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles tennis final at the Roland Garros stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Spain's Dani Olmo clears the ball from the goal line during the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) A fleet of boats compete in the mixed multihull sailing race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) A horse watches from its stable ahead of the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Silver medalist Simone Biles, of the United States, left, and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles, of the United States, right, bow to gold medalist Rebeca Andrade, of Brazil, during the medal ceremony for the women's artistic gymnastics individual floor finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Denver celebrates after winning the championship game against Boston College in the Frozen Four NCAA college hockey tournament Saturday, April 13, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Denver won 2-0 to win the national championship. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Washington safety Kamren Fabiculanan (13) and cornerback Elijah Jackson (25) break up a pass to Eastern Michigan wide receiver Terry Lockett Jr. (3) in the end zone during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Seattle. Washington won 30-9. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Johnson, right, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Jared McCain, center, and Adem Bona during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Elise Mertens, of Belgium, serves against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Monday, March 11, 2024, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani breaks his bat during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Wearing a device that measures his energy consumption, the Israel Amputee Football Team player, Ben Maman, left, fights for the ball with a young soccer player from a local team during a practice session in Ramat Gan, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A soccer fan dressed as Spiderman watches Brazil play Uruguay in a Copa America quarterfinal match on a screen set up for fans on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, July 7, 2024. Brazil lost in a penalty shootout and Uruguay qualified for the semifinals. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Men dressed in traditional clothes try to pull the opponent over the table at the German Championships in Fingerhakeln or finger wrestling, in Bernbeuren, Germany, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, kicks the ball after double faulting against Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Water is sprayed on the pitch as the ball boys and girls walk along the center line before the start of the men's Group A field hockey match between South Africa and Germany at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Colombes, France. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Cleveland Browns defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) reaches for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (12) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Morocco's Widad Bertal celebrates after defeating Thailand's Jutamas Jitpong in their women's 54kg preliminary boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher) Brazil's Priscila eyes the ball during a women's semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Spain at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, at Marseille Stadium in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) New Orleans Saints linebacker Willie Gay Jr. signs autographs for a young fan before the start of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Real Madrid's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Mozambique's Deizy Nhaquile battles rough seas during a women's dinghy race, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) People watch the cauldron rise at sunset by the Olympic rings during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/John Locher) A light show is projected from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Kateryna Tabashnyk, a high jumper, sits for a portrait Sunday, June 9, 2024, at the athletics arena of the "Polytechnic" sports complex, which was destroyed by a Russian rocket attack, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Rebeca Andrade, of Brazil, is reflected on a surface as she performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastics all-around finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Italy's Giovanni Tocci competes in the men's 3m springboard diving preliminary at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Simone Biles of the United States competes on the balance beam during a women's artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Major phone network is giving away free M&S £3 voucher – how to get itFortnite update 33.10 patch notes, downtime, first-person Ballistic mode, LEGO Brick LifeNASCAR's ongoing legal tussle with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports has taken a fresh turn as the organization officially responded to newly re-filed motions from the two teams. These motions are part of a broader legal dispute, anchored in accusations of monopolistic practices by NASCAR, especially concerning its charter system. The plaintiffs have escalated their efforts by renewing a Motion for a Preliminary Injunction. The latest move by 23XI Racing, co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports came on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, raising eyebrows within NASCAR for its timing. The organization perceives this as a deliberate effort to exploit the lack of working days due to the holiday, thereby limiting NASCAR's response time. Chris Yates, an attorney representing NASCAR, criticized the teams and their attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, for timing that he describes as a "tactical delay." He further stated : "Plantiffs' motion to expedite should be denied. Plaintiffs tactically delayed filing their new motion for a preliminary injunction for over a week, intentionally dropping it on NASCAR and the Court on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday after first posting about it on social media many hours before filing." Judge Frank D. Whitney, who is overseeing this case, adjusted NASCAR's timeline, extending the deadline from December 6 to December 9, accounting for the holiday-induced constraints. Additionally, following NASCAR's response, the teams have until December 12 to file their reply, after which oral argument dates will be determined by the court. This follows the initial motion's denial in November, the subsequent filing of an appeal by the teams, and NASCAR's removal of a contentious clause from the Open Team Agreement that initially barred teams from pursuing antitrust lawsuits. The root of this legal battle comes from NASCAR's charter system, which both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports argue have monopolistic elements that stifle competition. They contend that the system grants specific advantages and guarantees to chartered teams—advantages that open teams, which must qualify for each race, do not enjoy. Adding urgency to the situation are pending agreements for additional charters from the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing, which the teams need to finalize within tight deadlines. The success of their motion for a preliminary injunction carries significant weight on their ability to close these deals. The implications extend to sponsorship commitments and driver contracts, such as those of 23XI Racing's Tyler Reddick, who can potentially exit his contract if not assured of a chartered entry.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Rep. Matt Gaetz said Friday that he will not be returning to Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration to be attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump amid growing allegations of sexual misconduct. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,” Gaetz told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, adding that he has “some other goals in life that I’m eager to pursue with my wife and my family.” The announcement comes a day after Gaetz, a Florida Republican, stepped aside from the Cabinet nomination process amid growing fallout from federal and House Ethics investigations that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The 42-year-old has vehemently denied the allegations against him. Gaetz's nomination as attorney general had stunned many career lawyers inside the Justice Department, but reflected Trump's desire to place a loyalist in a department he has marked for retribution following the criminal cases against him. Hours after Gaetz withdrew, Trump nominated Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, who would come to the job with years of legal work under her belt and that other trait Trump prizes above all: loyalty. It's unclear what's next for Gaetz, who is no longer a member of the House. He surprised colleagues by resigning from Congress the same day that Trump nominated him for attorney general. Some speculated he could still be sworn into office for another two-year term on Jan. 3, given that he had just won reelection earlier this month. But Gaetz, who has been in state and national politics for 14 years, said he's done with Congress. “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress," he said.

Marler to retire from rugby on Friday, a month after quitting international duty with England"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.

Hope Adebayo, Tak Tateoka help St. Thomas-Minnesota end season with 32-9 victory over DaytonTennessee is the new No. 1 in men’s college basketball after a massive shakeup in the AP Top 25. The Vols received 58 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel Monday to reach No. 1 for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Tennessee climbed two spots from last week after Kansas lost twice and Auburn fell to No. 4 Duke. The Tigers remained No. 2 and received three first-place votes. No. 3 Iowa State had one first-place vote and climbed three places from last week for its highest ranking since 1956-57. Kentucky rounded out the top five. In all, 14 ranked teams lost last week, including six teams in the top 10; Kansas and then-No. 11 Wisconsin lost twice. Only two teams — Auburn and No. 12 Oregon — remained in the same poll spots they were a week ago, and the volatility saw five teams jump into the rankings. Tennessee (8-0) is off to its best start since opening the 2000-01 season 9-0 and is No. 1 in the NET rankings. The Vols also are second in the KenPom ratings, ranking second in defensive efficiency and ninth in offensive efficiency despite losing four starters from last year’s SEC championship team. Tennessee beat Syracuse 96-70 in its only game last week. Kansas had been No. 1 since the preseason poll before losing to 76-63 to Creighton and 76-67 to rival Missouri. The losses dropped the Jayhawks to No. 10. Auburn was poised to move into the No. 1 spot for the first time since 2021-22 but lost 84-78 at Duke before beating Richmond. Iowa State had its highest preseason ranking at No. 5 after reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 a year ago. The Cyclones lost by two to Auburn in the Maui Invitational but have reeled off four straight wins since. Iowa State blew out Jackson State 100-58 in its only game last week before facing rival Iowa this week. Two-time reigning national champion UConn nearly dropped out of the poll last week following a 0-for-3 run in Maui. The Huskies bounced back nicely last week, picking up impressive wins over Baylor and Texas to move up seven spots in this week’s poll to No. 18. “Maybe the people with the shovels and the dirt, maybe they were too quick to grab the shovel and throw the dirt on us,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. Oklahoma had the biggest jump within this week’s poll, climbing eight spots to No. 13 after beating Georgia Tech and Alcorn State. Duke and No. 17 Texas A&M each moved up five spots. Kansas had the biggest drop, followed by No. 20 Wisconsin, which fell nine spots. No. 22 Cincinnati dropped eight places. Multiple teams moved in and out of this week’s poll. No. 14 Michigan is ranked for the first time in nearly three years after tight wins over Wisconsin and Iowa. The Wolverines have won seven straight under first-year coach Dusty May. No. 16 Clemson is ranked for the first time this season following wins over Kentucky and Miami. No. 21 Michigan State also is ranked for the first time after wins over Nebraska and Minnesota. No. 24 UCLA is ranked for the first time since the preseason poll following wins over Washington and Oregon. No. 25 Mississippi State is back in the poll after blowing out Pittsburgh 90-57 and beating Prairie View A&M. Baylor, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Illinois and North Carolina all dropped out of the rankings. The SEC led all conferences with nine ranked teams, followed by the Big Ten with six and the Big 12 with four. The Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East each had two ranked teams, while the West Coast and Mountain West conferences each had one. To remove this article -

Asking Eric: Can I tell the server that her little game isn’t amusing?LAURA Woods looked radiant as ever as she showed of her blossoming baby bump at Wembley. The stunning ITV host, 37, was on duty to present England's Lionesses' clash with the USA. FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS She is expected her first child with Love Island alumni Adam Collard. Woods announced she was pregnant back in July. She managed to keep her pregnancy a secret throughout the entirety of Euro 2024, before making the announcement before she jetted to Paris to cover the Olympics. But ever since the cat's been out the bag, Woods has been confidently giving fans a glimpse of her growing bump. read more on Laura Woods As always, Woods looked elegant as she reported pitchside. She wore a long black dress that hugged her figure, as well as a long camel coat. Woods matched her black dress with a pair of sturdy black boots. Earlier this month , the TNT Sports host showed off her baby bump on Instagram, where she has over 760,000 followers. Most read in Football Taking to social media she posted an image of her bump alongside the caption: "Bloody hellllll". Woods and Collard announced they were engaged in September. The happy couple started dating last year and the reality TV personality got down on one knee on the beach in Cornwall to pop the big question. Woods then showed off her dazzling ring on live TV while presenting TNT's Champions League coverage. She is yet to announce when she and Collard are set to tie the knot, while she hasn't given a due date for her baby either.Just eight months since Suno, the AI music generator launched to the public with a bang, the company is back with v4 of its powerful song generator. Suno v4 is designed to be a step up from the original version, with vastly improved sound and some cool new functionality thrown in. I put on my music mogul hat this week to give it a run-through, and see whether the enthusiastic marketing blurb matches the reality . There are a number of things that have apparently come together in this new release to improve the product. To be honest it needed the upgrade since Suno had a bit of a reputation of providing subpar audio quality, and pretty weak lyrics. The good news is Suno v4.0 is a solid improvement over the previous version. The sound quality of the instruments and vocals is now at least as good as that of Udio, the main rival for the AI music crown, and the new ReMi (pronounced ‘ray me’) lyric writer is a little treasure in many ways. Improvements in lyric generation The company bills ReMi as an edgier lyric creator, and in my testing I found it was definitely a refreshing change from some of the banal AI-generated slop that both Udio and Suno have produced in the past. No neon, whispers or echoes in the mix at all. Cue a huge sigh of relief. As well as the lack of lyrical drivel, the real uplift comes from the more natural language that’s used in the tracks. AI music platforms have to date suffered from bland, cheesy word structures, which at times become almost laughable. This new lyric generator produces punchier, less obvious lyrical phrasing. And it makes a lot of difference to the final product. Be aware though, it can stray into offensive territory at times, so definitely keep watch on younger users. In practice I found it stupidly easy to enter short five word prompts, let the lyric generator do its work, and sit back while the platform produced something which was remarkably decent. Alas, Suno still has a tiny problem knowing how to end a song, and several of the test tracks I created stopped abruptly mid phrase for no reason, very annoying. Some issues remain with edits I also have to nitpick a little over the lingering clunkiness in song editing. Unlike Udio which provides a rich tapestry of editing functions, Suno still struggles with even basic things like extensions. If you extend a song you get a new generation, rather than something tacked onto the end of the original track. This means you have to use an external editor like Audacity to compile the final song, which is a shame. The crop and replace section editing is also a bit more complicated than necessary, and definitely more so than the equivalent functions in Udio. However on the positive side, the song cover function is really good. In my tests updating old tracks I had created in Version 3, the vocals and the instrumentation improved significantly with a new cover generation. I found it much better than the remastering function, which didn’t really seem to deliver a huge uplift in the sound quality as far as I could tell. Personas are improved By far the feature I had the most fun with was Personas. Selecting a stored genre and vibe, and then just triggering some interesting lyrics with a simple prompt, is about as effortless as you can get in terms of song-making. Especially when you remember that Suno generally produces full or nearly full 3 minute songs from a single prompt most of the time. And even though the sound is not 100% consistent track to track, it's still close enough to let you produce music that sounds like it comes from a single artist. If you close your eyes and squint a bit. An addictive distraction In the end, I got into a groove and started to one-shot prompt songs for hours, and in fact ended up with an album of ten tracks from one Persona, produced in a mere five hours. I wanted to test what the overall quality would be like, so I did zero editing after generation. As you’d expect some of the tracks were a little dicey, to say the least, but considering the lack of effort I put into managing the process, the results were remarkable. This technology is moving so fast, it’s mind-blowing. Verdict? It’s a great upgrade. The Personas are a total hit with this new audio and lyrical quality. I generated more interesting and likeable tracks in my testing than I’ve ever done before on either platform. I can now see a future where a huge amount of genuinely good, if not great, music is going to be produced by these tools. Especially if Udio’s upcoming Version 2.0 matches or exceeds this quality. Are we ready for a world awash with amateur productions? Who knows. Now excuse me, I’ve got a red hot K-Pop, acid jazz combo which needs some prompting from my brain. Look, I may be a rubbish songsmith, but at least I’m a happy one. And that’s the point, isn’t it? More from Tom's GuideBy JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump loved to use tariffs on foreign goods during his first presidency. But their impact was barely noticeable in the overall economy, even if their aftershocks were clear in specific industries. The data show they never fully delivered on his promised factory jobs. Nor did they provoke the avalanche of inflation that critics feared. This time, though, his tariff threats might be different . The president-elect is talking about going much bigger — on a potential scale that creates more uncertainty about whether he’ll do what he says and what the consequences could be. “There’s going to be a lot more tariffs, I mean, he’s pretty clear,” said Michael Stumo, the CEO of Coalition for a Prosperous America, a group that has supported import taxes to help domestic manufacturing. The president-elect posted on social media Monday that on his first day in office he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada until those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his initial term. Chinese imports would face additional tariffs of 10% until Beijing cracks down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl, Trump posted. Business groups were quick to warn about rapidly escalating inflation , while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would counter the move with tariffs on U.S. products. House Democrats put together legislation to strip a president’s ability to unilaterally apply tariffs this drastic, warning that they would likely lead to higher prices for autos, shoes, housing and groceries. Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.” “The economy department is preparing it,” Sheinbaum said. “If there are tariffs, Mexico would increase tariffs, it is a technical task about what would also benefit Mexico,” she said, suggesting her country would impose targeted import duties on U.S. goods in sensitive areas. House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for a president to impose tariffs due to claims of a national emergency, a largely symbolic action given Republicans’ coming control of both the House and Senate. “This legislation would enable Congress to limit this sweeping emergency authority and put in place the necessary Congressional oversight before any president – Democrat or Republican – could indiscriminately raise costs on the American people through tariffs,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. But for Trump, tariffs are now a tested tool that seems less politically controversial even if the mandate he received in November’s election largely involved restraining inflation. The tariffs he imposed on China in his first term were continued by President Joe Biden, a Democrat who even expanded tariffs and restrictions on the world’s second largest economy. Biden administration officials looked at removing Trump’s tariffs in order to bring down inflationary pressures, only to find they were unlikely to help significantly. Tariffs were “so new and unique that it freaked everybody out in 2017,” said Stumo, but they were ultimately somewhat modest. Trump imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines at the start of 2018, moves that might have pushed up prices in those sectors even though they also overlapped with plans to open washing machine plants in Tennessee and South Carolina. His administration also levied tariffs on steel and aluminum, including against allies. He then increased tariffs on China, leading to a trade conflict and a limited 2020 agreement that failed to produce the promised Chinese purchases of U.S. goods. Still, the dispute changed relations with China as more U.S. companies looked for alternative suppliers in other countries. Economic research also found the United States may have sacrificed some of its “soft power” as the Chinese population began to watch fewer American movies. The Federal Reserve kept inflation roughly on target, but factory construction spending never jumped in a way that suggested a lasting gain in manufacturing jobs. Separate economic research found the tariff war with China did nothing economically for the communities hurt by offshoring, but it did help Trump and Republicans in those communities politically. When Trump first became president in 2017, the federal government collected $34.6 billion in customs, duties and fees. That sum more than doubled under Trump to $70.8 billion in 2019, according to Office of Management and Budget records. While that sum might seem meaningful, it was relatively small compared to the overall economy. America’s gross domestic product is now $29.3 trillion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The total tariffs collected in the United States would equal less than 0.3% of GDP. The new tariffs being floated by Trump now are dramatically larger and there could be far more significant impacts. If Mexico, Canada, and China faced the additional tariffs proposed by Trump on all goods imported to the United States, that could be roughly equal to $266 billion in tax collections, a number that does not assume any disruptions in trade or retaliatory moves by other countries. The cost of those taxes would likely be borne by U.S. families, importers and domestic and foreign companies in the form of higher prices or lower profits. Former Biden administration officials said they worried that companies could piggyback on Trump’s tariffs — if they’re imposed — as a rationale to raise their prices, just as many companies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 boosted food and energy costs and gave several major companies the space to raise prices, according to their own earnings calls with investors. But what Trump didn’t really spell out is what might cause him to back down on tariffs and declare a victory. What he is creating instead with his tariff threats is a sense of uncertainty as companies and countries await the details to figure out what all of this could mean. “We know the key economic policy priorities of the incoming Trump administration, but we don’t know how or when they will be addressed,” said Greg Daco, chief U.S. economist at EY-Parthenon. AP writer Mark Stevenson contributed to this report from Mexico City.

Broke Zimbabwe government fails to pay teachers’ salaries, protests loomingThrivent Financial for Lutherans Increases Stock Holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI)

NORTH CANTON, Ohio , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Diebold Nixdorf , Incorporated (NYSE: DBD ) (the "Company") today announced that it priced its previously announced offering (the "Notes Offering") of $950.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the "Notes"). The Notes Offering is being conducted in reliance upon one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Notes will be issued at a price of 100.000% of their principal amount. The Notes Offering is expected to close on December 18, 2024 , subject to market and other conditions, including the consummation of the New Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below). On or about the closing of the Notes Offering, the Company expects to enter into a new $310.0 million revolving credit facility maturing in December 2029 (the "New Revolving Credit Facility"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Notes Offering, together with borrowings under the New Revolving Credit Facility and cash on hand, to (i) repurchase all of the term loans under the Company's existing senior secured term loan facility that are validly submitted for repurchase pursuant to the previously announced Dutch auction, (ii) repay all of the borrowings outstanding under its existing super-priority senior secured revolving credit facility, and (iii) pay all related premiums, fees and expenses. The Company intends to use any remaining net proceeds of the Notes Offering for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of debt. The Notes will be the senior secured obligations of the Company and will be guaranteed, on a senior secured basis, jointly and severally, by (i) as of the issue date of the Notes, each of the Company's subsidiaries that is a borrower under or guarantees the obligations under the New Revolving Credit Facility and (ii) following the issue date, any of the Company's existing or future wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (other than certain excluded subsidiaries) that is a borrower under or guarantees the obligations under the New Revolving Credit Facility or incurs or guarantees certain capital markets indebtedness (the "Guarantors"). Additionally, it is expected that the Notes and the related guarantees will be secured by first-priority liens on substantially all of the tangible and intangible assets of the Company and the Guarantors, in each case subject to certain exclusions and permitted liens, which collateral will also secure, on a pari passu basis, the New Revolving Credit Facility. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. The Notes and related guarantees are being offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on the exemption from registration set forth in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United States , to non-U.S. persons in reliance on the exemption from registration set forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes and the related guarantees have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities or blue sky laws and foreign securities laws. About Diebold Nixdorf Diebold Nixdorf , Incorporated (NYSE: DBD ) automates, digitizes and transforms the way people bank and shop. As a partner to the majority of the world's top 100 financial institutions and top 25 global retailers, our integrated solutions connect digital and physical channels conveniently, securely and efficiently for millions of consumers each day. The Company has a presence in more than 100 countries with approximately 21,000 employees worldwide. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that are not historical information and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Refinancing Transactions and the Company's intended use of proceeds of the Notes Offering. Statements can generally be identified as forward looking because they include words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "will," "estimates," "potential," "target," "predict," "project," "seek," and variations thereof or "could," "should" or words of similar meaning. Statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements, which reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Although the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions regarding, among other things, the economy, its knowledge of its business, and key performance indicators that impact the Company, these forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Some of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability to consummate the Notes Offering and the other Refinancing Transactions; the Company's recent emergence from its and certain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries' jointly administered cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the "U.S. Bankruptcy Court") and its voluntary proceedings in the District Court of Amsterdam (the "Dutch Court"), which could adversely affect our business and relationships; the significant variance of our actual financial results from the projections that were filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and Dutch Court; the overall impact of the global supply chain complexities on the Company and its business, including delays in sourcing key components as well as longer transport times, especially for container ships and U.S. trucking, given the Company's reliance on suppliers, subcontractors and availability of raw materials and other components; the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash or have sufficient access to capital resources to service its debt, which, if unsuccessful or insufficient, could force the Company to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or to dispose of material assets or operations, seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance its indebtedness; the Company's ability to comply with the covenants contained in the agreements governing its debt; the Company's ability to successfully convert its backlog into sales, including our ability to overcome supply chain and liquidity challenges; the ultimate impact of infectious disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies, including further adverse effects to the Company's supply chain, and maintenance of increased order backlog; the Company's ability to successfully meet its cost-reduction goals and continue to achieve benefits from its cost-reduction initiatives and other strategic initiatives; the success of the Company's new products, including its DN Series line and EASY family of retail checkout solutions, and electronic vehicle charging service business; the impact of a cybersecurity incident or operational failure on the Company's business; the Company's ability to attract, retain and motivate key employees; the Company's reliance on suppliers, subcontractors and availability of raw materials and other components; changes in the Company's intention to further repatriate cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments residing in international tax jurisdictions, which could negatively impact foreign and domestic taxes; the Company's success in divesting, reorganizing or exiting non-core and/or non-accretive businesses and its ability to successfully manage acquisitions, divestitures, and alliances; the ultimate outcome of the appeals for the appraisal proceedings initiated in connection with the implementation of the Domination and Profit Loss Transfer Agreement with the former Diebold Nixdorf AG (which was dismissed in the Company's favor at the lower court level in 2022) and the merger/squeeze-out (which was dismissed in the Company's favor at the lower court level in 2023); the impact of market and economic conditions, including the bankruptcies, restructuring or consolidations of financial institutions, which could reduce the Company's customer base and/or adversely affect its customers' ability to make capital expenditures, as well as adversely impact the availability and cost of credit; the impact of competitive pressures, including pricing pressures and technological developments; risks related to our international operations, including geopolitical instability and wars; changes in political, economic or other factors such as currency exchange rates, inflation rates (including the impact of possible currency devaluations in countries experiencing high inflation rates), recessionary or expansive trends, disruption in energy supply, taxes and regulations and laws affecting the worldwide business in each of the Company's operations; the Company's ability to maintain effective internal controls; unanticipated litigation, claims or assessments, as well as the outcome/impact of any current/pending litigation, claims or assessments; the effect of changes in law and regulations or the manner of enforcement in the United States and internationally and the Company's ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations; and other factors included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the SEC on March 8, 2024 , and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024 . Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should consider these factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. SOURCE Diebold Nixdorf , Incorporated