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super 6 baccarat With impending removal of restrictions on vehicle imports early next year, industry experts have urged the Government to prioritise the importation of new vehicles over used ones, warning of significant environment, economic, and technological repercussions if outdated vehicles flood the market. The potential reintroduction of used vehicles has drawn criticism from experts, who highlighted challenges posed by older commercial vehicles in particular. “Given their extensive usage, a five-year-old vehicle could have clocked over 500,000 kilometres, making it prone to costly repairs of critical components such as engines, transformations, drive trains, and suspension systems. Although these expenses may not seem immediately apparent, the frequent need for maintenance and replacement parts results in a substantial foreign currency outflow, spread over multiple shipments,” they explained. The experts listed out four key arguments against the importation of older vehicles, emphasising concerns over environmental impact, technological stagnation, economic efficiency, and Sri Lanka’s international image. Vehicle emissions, they argued, remain a pressing global issue. “Newer models run on more refined fuels and incorporate better emissions control technologies, while older vehicles contribute to higher pollution levels, negatively impacting the environment,” they said. Additionally, they noted the rapid evolution of technology in the automotive industry means newer vehicles offer superior safety features, fuel efficiency, and performance. “Encouraging the import of cheap, old vehicles stifles access to modern, technologically advanced vehicles in Sri Lanka,” they opined, noting that importers often prioritise low-cost, outdated vehicles, limiting options for Sri Lankan consumers and preventing them from benefitting from the latest innovations in safety, fuel efficiency, and performance. The industry experts also raised a reputational concern, warning that Sri Lanka risks becoming a dumping ground for outdated and inefficient vehicles from developed nations. Similar patterns have been observed in parts of Africa and India, where a lack of stringent regulations has turned these regions into repositories for vehicles no longer desired in wealthier markets. “By continuing to import outdated vehicles, we risk turning our country into a repository for unwanted, inefficient, and environmentally harmful cars. Should Sri Lanka really accept the role of a junkyard for obsolete vehicles?” one expert questioned. From an economic perspective, the appeal of used vehicles lies in their lower upfront cost. However, experts cautioned that their long-term maintenance and repair expenses, coupled with a lack of warranties, often outweigh these initial savings. “In contrast, new vehicles come with comprehensive warranties (typically for two years), minimising unexpected expenses during the initial years of ownership. Although the upfront price of new vehicles may be higher, the long-term maintenance and repair costs of used vehicles result in greater foreign currency outflows,” they pointed out. To address these challenges, the experts proposed a series of measures to regulate vehicle imports. They suggested setting stringent standards for emissions and safety features, ensuring only vehicles that meet modern benchmarks are allowed into the country. Furthermore, they recommended restricting used vehicle imports to models manufactured within the past two years, a move they argued would maintain environmental integrity and ensure access to newer technologies. HS Code Existing Description Proposed Description 8704.22.61 Trucks GVW exceeding 5 Tons but not exceeding 20 Tons less than 5 years Trucks GVW exceeding 5 Tons but not exceeding 20 Tons less than 2 years 8704.23.71 Trucks GVW exceeding 20 Tons but not exceeding 20 Tons less than 5 years Trucks GVW exceeding 20 Tons but not exceeding 20 Tons less than 2 years 8701.20.10 Road Tractors for semi-trailers less than 5 years Road Tractors for semi-trailers less than 2 years 8702.10.55 Motor Vehicles for the transport of 25 or more persons (adults) but less than 35 (adults) including the driver not more than 5 years Motor Vehicles for the transport of 25 or more persons (adults) but less than 35 (adults) including the driver not more than 2 years These proposals, they said, would not only protect Sri Lanka from becoming a repository for outdated vehicles, but also elevate consumer safety and improve the quality of the country’s vehicle fleet.LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized a $182 million, five-year contract. The reigning World Series champions announced the deal with the two-time Cy Young Award winner on Saturday. Snell, who turns 32 on Wednesday, went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts for San Francisco this year, throwing a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. The left-hander 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 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 joins Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop Los Angeles’ rotation. Ohtani didn’t pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery but the two-way star is expected back on the mound in 2025. 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. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling , as early as January 14, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. "Treasury expects to hit the statutory debt ceiling between January 14 and January 23," she wrote in a letter addressed to House and Senate leadership, at which point extraordinary measures would be used to prevent the government from breaching the nation's debt ceiling — which was suspended until Jan. 1, 2025. The department in the past deployed what are known as “extraordinary measures” or accounting maneuvers to keep the government operating. Once those measures run out, the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. "I respectfully urge Congress to act to protect the full faith and credit of the United States," Yellen said. FILE - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a visit to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in Vienna, Va., on Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) The news came after Democratic President Joe Biden signed a bill into law last week that averted a government shutdown but did not include Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s core debt demand to raise or suspend the nation’s debt limit. Congress approved the bill only after a fierce internal debate among Republicans over how to handle Trump's demand. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” Trump said in a statement. After a protracted debate in the summer of 2023 over how to fund the government, policymakers crafted the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which included suspending the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing authority until Jan. 1, 2025. Notably however, Yellen said, on Jan. 2 the debt is projected to temporarily decrease due to a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund associated with Medicare payments. As a result, “Treasury does not expect that it will be necessary to start taking extraordinary measures on January 2 to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations," she said. The federal debt stands at about $36 trillion — after ballooning across both Republican and Democratic administrations. The spike in inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed up government borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security. Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate in the new year, have big plans to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts and other priorities but are debating over how to pay for them. Many consumers may remember receiving their first credit card, either years ago in a plain envelope, or months ago from a smartphone app. Still other consumers may remember their newest card, maybe because it's the credit card they're now using exclusively to maximize cash back rewards or airline miles. But for most consumers, there's also a murky in-between where they add, drop and generally accumulate credit cards over time. Over the years, consumers may close some credit card accounts or leave some of their credit cards dormant as a backup form of payment, or perhaps left forgotten in a desk drawer. In the data below, Experian reveals the changes in consumers wallets in recent years. U.S. consumers, on average, carry fewer cards today than they did in 2017, when the typical wallet held 4.2 active credit cards. As of the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, consumers carried 3.9 cards on average. This average is up slightly since the early days of the pandemic, when consumers reduced their average credit card debt and number of accounts as the economy slowed. As Experian revealed earlier this year, credit card balances are still climbing, despite (and partially because of) higher interest rates. And while average balances are increasing, they are spread across fewer accounts than in recent years. Alternative financing—including buy now, pay later plans for purchases—may account for at least some of this discrepancy, as consumers gravitate toward these newer financing methods. In general, residents of higher-population states tend to carry more credit cards than those who live in states with fewer and smaller population centers. Nonetheless, the difference between the states is relatively small. Considering that the national average is around four credit cards per consumer, the four states with the fewest cards per consumer (Alaska, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming) aren't appreciably different, with "only" about 3.3 credit cards per consumer. Similarly, the four states on the higher end of the scale where consumers have 4.2 or more credit cards are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey and Rhode Island. The disparity in average credit card counts is more apparent when the population is segmented by age, thanks in part to Generation Z, many of whom have yet to receive their first credit card. The average number of credit cards for these consumers was two, less than half of what older generations keep on hand. The average number of credit cards held by each generation follows the familiar pattern seen in credit card balances, which tend to increase in a consumer's middle age. It's not surprising that the number of credit card accounts follows a similar climb throughout young adulthood and middle age, then drops off in the retirement years. No matter how many credit cards you may have at the moment, keep in mind that the number of accounts has little if any bearing on one's FICO Score. Far more important is how consumers manage those accounts. This is easily demonstrable by quickly stepping through some of the factors that affect your credit scores . Longer credit histories do tend to have a positive effect on a consumer's credit score, but it's not something you can rush. Adhering to on-time payments and managing amounts owed will go far in improving credit scores, even absent a lengthy credit history. While accounts closed in good standing remain on your credit report for 10 years, canceling your oldest credit card account still has the potential to shorten your credit history when it is eventually removed. The impact of its removal depends on any other active credit cards in your credit file. Ultimately, the number of cards a particular individual carries is a personal decision. Justifications can be found for carrying a travel rewards card, a cash back card, a balance transfer card, a card for business transactions and other types of credit cards that other consumers may not have either the need or qualifications for. However, keeping track of numerous credit cards, whether or not a consumer is actively using all of them, can be a mentally taxing exercise. Not only that, credit card fees can add up and dull the benefit of carrying several credit cards. Organized consumers can benefit greatly from a wallet full of specialized cards, but for those seeking a more zen-like financial future, some judicial pruning may be in order. Methodology: The analysis results provided are based on an Experian-created statistically relevant aggregate sampling of our consumer credit database that may include use of the FICO Score 8 version. Different sampling parameters may generate different findings compared with other similar analysis. Analyzed credit data did not contain personal identification information. Metro areas group counties and cities into specific geographic areas for population censuses and compilations of related statistical data. This story was produced by Experian and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:13 p.m. ESTDavis Police warns community after two robberies

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An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalitionST. THOMAS – Kansas claimed its first-ever Paradise Jam trophy Saturday, rallying from a double-digit deficit in the second half to defeat Auburn 61-60 in the final game to take the Island Division crown. S’Mya Nichols hit two free throws with less than 14 seconds left to put the Jayhawks (7-1, 3-0 in Paradise Jam) in the lead to stay. But they had to hold off the Tigers’ last-second chance to finish undefeated in the division. Nichols – named the Island Division’s most valuable player – finished with a game-high 28 points, with Laia Conesa adding 11 points for Kansas. Celia Sumbane led Auburn (5-2, 2-1 in Paradise Jam) with 16 points. Kaitlyn Duhon and Taylen Collins added 10 points each, and DeYona Gaston pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds. The Tigers led 40-28 at the half, but the Jayhawks turned things around in the second half, tying the score twice in the third quarter before taking a 48-47 lead at the end of the period. The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth affair, with six lead changes and three ties. The fifth lead change saw Auburn pull ahead 60-54 on Sumbane’s layup with 1 minute, 4 seconds left. But a pair of free throws by Conesa with 49 seconds left, followed by Nichols’ 3-pointer 18 seconds later pulled Kansas within 60-59. The Tigers had a chance to add to their cushion, but Mar’shawn Bostic missed a pair of free throws with 29 seconds left, with the Jayhawks’ Wyvette Mayberry getting the rebound. Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider then put the ball in Nichols’ hands, and she was fouled by Collins while driving for a layup with 14 seconds left. Nichols then hit both free throws to put the Jayhawks ahead. Auburn had the time to put in a game winner itself, but Bostic’s running jumper from along the baseline bounced off the edge of the backboard in the final second. All-tourney In addition to Nichols earning MVP honors, four players were named to join her on the Island Division’s all-tournament team – Kansas teammate Elle Evans, Auburn’s Sumbane and Gaston, and Northern Iowa’s Kayba Laube.

Wake Forest still experimenting ahead of Detroit Mercy gameNASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Justin Thomas was long off the tee and made a few long putts on the back nine to overtake Scottie Scheffler with a 6-under 66 and build a one-shot lead Saturday over golf's best player going into the final round of the Hero World Challenge. Thomas is trying out a 46-inch driver — a little more than an inch longer than normal — that he previously used for practice at home to gain speed and length. He blasted a 361-yard drive to 8 feet on the par-4 seventh hole and led the field in driving distance. But it was a few long putts that put him ahead of Scheffler, who had a 69. Thomas was on the verge of falling two shots behind when he made an 18-foot par putt on the par-3 12th hole. On the reachable par-4 14th, he was in a nasty spot in a sandy area and could only splash it out to nearly 50 feet. He made that one for a most unlikely birdie, while behind him Scheffler muffed a chip on the 13th hole and made his lone bogey of a windy day. Scheffler never caught up to him, missing birdie chances on the reachable 14th and the par-5 15th. Thomas hit his approach to 3 feet for birdie on the 16th after a 343-yard drive. Scheffler made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th to close within one. Scheffler missed birdie chances on the last two holes from the 10-foot and 15-foot range, while Thomas missed an 8-foot birdie attempt at the last. “I had a stretch at 13, 14, 15 where I felt like I lost a shot or two there, but outside of that I did a lot of really good things today,” Scheffler said. Thomas hasn't won since the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, and a victory at Albany Golf Club wouldn't count as an official win. But the two-time major champion has made steady progress toward getting his game back in order. “I'm driving it great. I've had a lot of confidence with it,” Thomas said of his longer driver. “I feel like I've been able to put myself in some pretty good spots going into the green. I’m still not taking advantage of some of them as much as I would like, but that’s golf and we're always going to say that.” Thomas was at 17-under 199 and will be in the final group Sunday with Scheffler, who is trying to end his spectacular season with a ninth title. Tom Kim put himself in the mix, which he might not have imagined Thursday when he was 3 over through six holes of the holiday tournament. Kim got back in the game with a 65 on Friday, and then followed with 12 birdies for a 62. He had a shot at the course record — Rickie Fowler shot 61 in the final round when he won at Albany in 2017 — until Kim found a bunker and took two shots to reach the green in making a double bogey on the par-3 17th. Even so, he was only two shots behind. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (68) was four back. “Feel like I’ve been seeing signs of improvement, which is what you want and that’s all I can do,” Thomas said. “I can’t control everybody else or what’s going on, I’ve just got to keep playing as good as I possibly can and hope that it’s enough come Sunday.” ___ AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.The Reform UK leader pushed back against reports suggesting that legal action would be the next step, saying he would make a decision in the next couple of days about his response if there is no apology for the “crazy conspiracy theory”. Mr Farage also said the party has “opened up our systems” to media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, in the interests of “full transparency to verify that our numbers are correct”. His remarks came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Farage of “fakery” in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”. A digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Mr Farage, on whether he was threatening legal action or not, told the PA news agency: “I haven’t threatened anything. I’ve just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action. “I haven’t said whether it’s legal or anything.” He added: “All I’ve said is I want an apology. If I don’t get an apology, I will take action. “I will decide in the next couple of days what that is. So I’ve not specified what it is.” Mr Farage, on the move to make membership data available to media organisations, said: “We feel our arguments are fully validated. “She (Mrs Badenoch) has put out this crazy conspiracy theory and she needs to apologise.” The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News & FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. I am now demanding @KemiBadenoch apologises. — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) December 27, 2024 On why Mrs Badenoch had reacted as she did, Mr Farage said: “I would imagine she was at home without anybody advising her and was just angry.” Mr Farage, in a statement issued on social media site X, also said: “The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. “Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News and FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. “I am now demanding Kemi Badenoch apologises.” A Conservative Party source claimed Mr Farage was “rattled” that his Boxing Day “publicity stunt is facing serious questions”. They added: “Like most normal people around the UK, Kemi is enjoying Christmas with her family and looking forward to taking on the challenges of renewing the Conservative Party in the New Year.” Mrs Badenoch, in a series of messages posted on X on Thursday, said: “Farage doesn’t understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.” There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party’s leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn. Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that “the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election”. Elsewhere, Mr Farage described Elon Musk as a “bloody hero” and said he believes the US billionaire can help attract younger voters to Reform. Tech entrepreneur Mr Musk met Mr Farage earlier this month at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, amid rumours of a possible donation to either Mr Farage or Reform. Mr Farage told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: “The shades, the bomber jacket, the whole vibe. Elon makes us cool – Elon is a huge help to us with the young generation, and that will be the case going on and, frankly, that’s only just starting. “Reform only wins the next election if it gets the youth vote. The youth vote is the key. Of course, you need voters of all ages, but if you get a wave of youth enthusiasm you can change everything. “And I think we’re beginning to get into that zone – we were anyway, but Elon makes the whole task much, much easier. And the idea that politics can be cool, politics can be fun, politics can be real – Elon helps us with that mission enormously.”

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Donald Trump’s “best buddy,” South African-born Elon Musk, has endorsed a post on X slamming Americans as “re***ded” workers who can’t hold a candle to skilled foreign hires in Silicon Valley. Musk was responding to a post — using a word widely considered a slur — explaining the difference between the “right right” (whom Trump claims to back) and the “tech right.” The “right right” want everything in America, including jobs, for Americans, the poster explained. The “tech right,” however, want H-1B visas for “skilled” foreign workers because American workers “ are re***ed ,” and “you can’t out train” that, the poster added. Musk responded Thursday night: “ That pretty much sums it up . This was eye-opening.” Musk, an immigrant, then clarified that he wants exceptions to MAGA’s anti-immigrant posture for the top “0.1% of [foreign] engineering talent as ... essential for America to keep winning.” America is, after all, “ mostly Americans ,” he pointed out, apparently for the sake of Americans he considers “re***ded.” Vivek Ramaswamy — Musk’s DOGE partner, both tasked by Trump to carve up the federal government — also slighted American intelligence in an X post earlier Thursday. He blamed U.S. sitcoms for extolling the virtues of the dimmer characters over those with brains, necessitating the hiring (at least in the tech world) of smarter people from other countries. “If we’re really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH: Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long,” Ramaswamy schooled. He then called for changes in American childrearing: “ More math tutoring, fewer sleepovers ... more creating, less chillin’.” Both men were attacked by MAGA Trump supporters on social media — notably including far-right activist Laura Loomer over the duo’s push for H-1B visas for foreign tech workers . Loomer then suddenly lost her blue check mark on X that had made her a “verified” user. Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett pointed out on X that, unlike MAGA, she also believes immigrants are good for the economy (though without the class division Musk and Ramaswamy seem to embrace). “MAGA got played & is mad at who ?!” she asked. “The same 2 guys just yelling was looking out for them last week as the government was on the verge of a shutdown!”