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is jili178 legit Jaipur, Dec 28 (PTI) The BJP government of Rajasthan has decided to dissolve nine districts formed by the previous Congress dispensation, saying they were neither "practical" nor in "public interest". Three new divisions were also dissolved in a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday. The state will now only have seven divisions and 41 districts, Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Law Minister Jogaram Patel said. In another decision taken in the cabinet meeting, CET scores would be valid for three years in Rajasthan, instead of one year. The state Congress leadership has condemned the decision and said that it will move court if needed. The previous Ashok Gehlot government had formed 17 new districts and three new divisions. It had also issued a notification for three new districts, which is also being cancelled by the Bhajan Lal Sharma government. Minister Jogaram Patel said that decisions were taken on the basis of a report by a cabinet sub-committee and an expert committee set up for the purpose. He said, "The committee found that these newly formed districts are not practical, these districts are not in the public interest. These districts are putting an unnecessary burden on the Rajasthan government. These districts have no utility at all." Patel said that the Congress government formed the new districts and divisions solely for political gains. Availability of financial resources, administrative requirements, law and order, cultural harmony etc. was not taken into consideration, he said. The minister said the previous government neither created necessary posts in the offices for the new districts nor constructed office buildings. He said that the government has decided to retain Balotra, Beawar, Deeg, Didwana-Kuchaman, Kotputli-Behror, Khairthal-Tijara, Phalodi and Salumbhar from among the districts created by the Congress. The cabinet has decided not to retain nine newly created districts -- Anupgarh, Dudu, Gangapur City, Jaipur Rural, Jodhpur Rural, Kekri, Neem Ka Thana, Sanchore and Shahpura. Banswara, Pali and Sikar divisions were dissolved by the state cabinet. It has also decided to cancel three new districts -- Malpura, Sujangarh and Kuchaman City, which were announced just before the elections. Patel said that the government has taken the decision after considering all aspects of administration. Condemning the BJP government's decision, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said, "The decision of the BJP government to cancel nine out of the new districts created by our government is an example of indiscretion and mere political vengeance." Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully also slammed the decision. "We strongly condemn this decision and the Congress party and the common people of Rajasthan will protest against this decision. There are winter holidays in the court. Such a decision was taken hastily so that no one could go to the court and could not even file a PIL. If required, we will also approach the court," Dotasra told reporters at a press conference. Jully said that the Congress will start a mass movement to get the government to revert the decision. "We will raise voices against the decision in the assembly. From the road to the assembly, we will not let BJP sit in peace. This decision is anti-people. They have killed the rights of the people." Patel said that other important decisions regarding the development of the state were also taken at the meeting at Chief Minister's Office. There was no discussion, he said, on cancelling the Police Sub Inspector (SI) recruitment exam in the cabinet meeting. The minister added that the cabinet has decided to reorganise the panchayat, panchayat samitis and district councils in the state. Meanwhile, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara said in a press conference that Schedule-1 of Rule 14 of Rajasthan Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2017, were amended to make the validity of Common Eligibility Test scores valid for three years in Rajasthan. (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

(Bloomberg) — Human plasma is a protein-rich compound made by spinning blood so fast that the heavier red blood cells are flung aside like clothes on the side of a washing machine, leaving behind a straw-colored liquid. It is also the basis of CSL Ltd.’s $88 billion health-care empire. Australia’s largest biotechnology company delivered a 750% return for investors in the decade before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic by dominating the global market for the critical substance. However, since the start of 2020, the stock has plateaued for the longest period since its listing. The firm first had difficulty getting people to both sell and gather blood from which to make plasma during lockdowns and then struggled with its largest-ever acquisition. Chief Executive Paul McKenzie, who is a year and a half in the job, needs to find a way to boost profits from CSL’s 2022 purchase of Switzerland-based Vifor to revive the shares. The $11.7 billion acquisition was designed to diversify the company’s portfolio by adding treatments for iron deficiency and kidney disease. However, generic competition in the European Union has eroded margins for Vifor’s best-selling medication and slashed returns on invested capital, convincing some investors that CSL overpaid for the business. Still, the acquisition has catapulted CSL into the position of the world’s largest provider of iron therapies. One in four people globally don’t have enough of the mineral, which is essential to transport oxygen in the blood and make muscles work. Demand for iron supplements will help boost the unit’s sales over the next five years, according to McKenzie. In particular, he expects iron infusions to provide plenty of opportunities for growth by treating various ailments. “There are so many things that iron could benefit,” said McKenzie in an interview in Melbourne. “Heart failure we believe is a big one. Anemia is a big one. Women’s health is a big one.” He has yet to convince the market. Since the deal closed in August 2022, the company’s shares have dropped 5.5% compared with a 20% gain for the broader ASX200 index, weighed down by disappointment in the Vifor acquisition. CSL “absolutely paid too much,” said Jun Bei Liu, a portfolio manager at Tribeca Investment Partners. “In time, they will generate a return. It’s just they should have done their due diligence a bit better. For such a large acquisition, investors put a lot of faith in the management.” She said the purchase made strategic sense. The company’s move into iron supplements was spurred in part by a growing need for the treatments. The World Health Organization estimates that in 2021, anemia affected roughly 2 billion people, with the vast majority of cases attributed to iron deficiency. Children and women of reproductive age suffer at the highest rates. That same year, the WHO began urging hospitals to screen for anemia and optimize iron levels in patients ahead of planned surgeries, aiming to reduce the reliance on higher-risk blood transfusions. A study published this month highlighted the growing importance of this approach, finding that a single intravenous iron treatment reduces hospitalization risk by 17% for anemic heart failure patients. Plasma is still the company’s biggest business, accounting for about 72% of sales and 66% of profit. It is ubiquitous in hospitals’ operating rooms globally and is used for bleeding disorders and burns. Plasma is also the basis for immunoglobulin, which is used to treat autoimmune diseases, such as Stiff Person Syndrome, which affects Canadian-born singer Celine Dion. With almost 350 plasma collection centers in the US, Europe and China, CSL is one of the world’s largest and most efficient producers of the material. The company is also the world’s second-largest maker of flu vaccines. Its success in plasma stems from a series of acquisitions orchestrated by former CEO and current chairman Brian McNamee. Over the course of a 23-year career, he snapped up rivals including businesses founded by Switzerland’s Red Cross and German Nobel laureate Emil von Behring, the father of serum therapy. CSL traces its roots to 1916, when the Australian government set up Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in response to World War I cutting off the country’s access to life-saving medicines from overseas. It was listed in 1994 as part of a wave of initial public offerings of state-owned companies that included Qantas Airways Ltd., Telstra Group Ltd. and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. “There was a lot of skepticism for an ex-government group, that it would be very fat and very lazy,” said Michael Glenane, who was an analyst for McIntosh Securities, the lead manager on the CSL listing. “At that stage there was very limited understanding of what the actual company did.” Some forward-looking investors could see CSL was “a cash machine because of high depreciation charges and pretty lucrative government contracts,” said Glenane. That turned it into a favorite for both retail and institutional investors. Australia’s A$4 trillion ($2.6 trillion) pension industry poured into the stock with some of the largest funds among the top 10 owners. So did small individual investors, drawn to CSL’s capital appreciation. “It has an incredibly loyal retail shareholder base,” said Michael Muntisov, who has monitored the company for five years for the Australian Shareholders Association, which represents thousands of individual investors. “And you see that at the AGM, when it can sometimes resemble a love fest.” The love was lacking this year. At the company’s AGM in October, frustrated with the company’s performance more than 26% of shareholders opposed the pay package for top management. Under Australia’s corporate governance rules, this is termed a “first strike”. This is important because if a quarter or more of shareholders vote against executives’ pay the following year, it will trigger a subsequent vote on whether the board should be dissolved. “We will go back and look in detail and say, ‘look, are there further things that we can modify that would satisfy people?’” said Chairman McNamee. “But do I ever think we’re going to get a hundred percent support for remuneration? No.” Vifor’s top seller is Ferinject, a treatment for anemia that is infused rather than swallowed. Putting iron compounds straight into the bloodstream makes it easier for the body to absorb them. In the EU, Ferinject faces increased competition from generics and has had to cut prices in response. In the US, the company has been hit by what’s known as step edits, a way in which insurers prioritize less expensive medicines. This has held sales below the company’s initial expectations. While the business has not been as profitable as anticipated, CSL defends the acquisition, arguing that the long-term outlook for iron treatments makes it an attractive market to be involved in. “There’s no doubt that we underestimated some of the competitive challenges,’’ said McNamee, citing the competition from generics and US step edits as examples. “But that doesn’t mean the categories in which (Vifor) operates aren’t ones in which we want to compete in.” The company’s specialized treatments for people with kidney disease took a hit from Covid, which has been particularly deadly for people on dialysis. Some studies have suggested that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, such as Wegovy, could also curb kidney disease. McKenzie said CSL is monitoring the development of those medicines but does not currently see them as a threat. The US is the company’s largest market and CSL does not expect the incoming Trump administration to have a significant impact on its business in the country. Even if vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as Secretary of Health, the company anticipates continued demand for its products. “At the end of the day, Americans care about people being well and healthy and I really don’t have any significant concern for our life-saving drugs and our life-saving vaccines being impacted,” McNamee said. While CSL’s expansion into iron treatments has not gone to plan, it is still expanding the business. The company recently started selling Ferinject in Canada and has started operations in China. CEO McKenzie calls the market for iron treatments “underserved” and says demand for the element’s medicinal uses will eventually offset Vifor’s lower-than-expected earnings. Some of the company’s long-term investors back his assessment. “CSL has an outstanding track record over the long term,” said David Grace of the Australian Foundation Investment Company, which owns about A$629 million of the company’s shares and has been invested since at least 2005. “We haven’t seen that in Vifor yet, but we’re confident we will.”Democrat Derek Tran won election to a U.S. House seat representing California on Wednesday, defeating Republican Rep. Michelle Steel. Tran, a U.S. Army veteran and the son of Vietnamese refugees, will represent the 45th District, anchored in Orange County, which is home to a large Vietnamese American community. Steel previously flipped this seat in 2020, two years after a Democrat captured the seat in the 2018 midterms. The Associated Press declared Tran the winner at 4:03 p.m. EST.Kings fire coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his 3rd season, AP source says The Sacramento Kings have fired coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his third season with the team mired in a five-game losing streak, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the firing hadn’t been announced by the team. ESPN first reported the firing. Brown won NBA Coach of the Year in his first season in 2022-23, when he helped Sacramento end the longest playoff drought in NBA history at 16 seasons. But Sacramento lost in the play-in tournament last year and was off to a 13-18 start this season. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

GraniteShares 2x Short NVDA Daily ETF Announces Dividend of $2.61 (NASDAQ:NVD)The SEC Offensive Player of the Year announced on social media his intention Friday to leave after his junior season. He helped the seventh-ranked Vols go 10-3 with a first-round loss in the College Football Playoff where Sampson was limited by an injured hamstring. Sampson thanked his family, Tennessee coaches and fans, saying he learned so much and had the chance to be part of something special. Tennessee went 3-7 in 2020, and he leaves with the Vols having won 30 games over his three seasons. “I poured my heart and soul into this program and this community,” Sampson wrote. “With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.” Sampson set a school record running for 1,491 yards. He also set a program record with a league-best 22 rushing touchdowns, breaking a mark that had stood for 95 years. He was part of coach Josh Heupel's first full signing class in December 2021 out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He also set school records for total touchdowns scored (22), points scored (132) and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (11). He led the SEC in nine different categories, including rushing attempts (258), rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, 100-yard rushing games with 10, averaging 114.7 yards rushing per game, points scored, points per game (10.2), all-purpose yards (1,638) and all-purpose yards per game (126.0). He finished this season tied for fifth all-time in the SEC ranks for rushing TDs in a single season with Leonard Fournette of LSU. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballHighs and lows of 2024 Like every year, 2024 brought along challenges and opportunities A vendor holds a Pakistani flag as he waits for customers beside his stall alongside a street in Islamabad. — AFP/File The Gregorian calendar is not the most ideal litmus test of progress. However, it does provide a meaningful scale to analyse the highs and lows of a state’s journey. As we wrap up 2024, we need to look back and reflect on the events that have shaped the passing year. Like every year, 2024 brought along challenges and opportunities. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); On the economic front, the concluding months of 2023 showed improvements in overall economic indicators. This trend continued in 2024. Inflation figures witnessed a relative decline, dropping to 4.9 per cent, signalling a slight relief after grappling with towering statistics last year. The Pakistani rupee has also remained stable against the US dollar, leading to consumer confidence in the market. Fiscal surplus for the first time in 24 years also marked a milestone. Similarly, in April, the inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) increased by 172 per cent on a year-on-year basis – the highest monthly FDI inflow in 51 months. In the defence, aerospace and technology realms, there were noteworthy advancements. The early part of the year witnessed the induction of the J-10C series, accompanied by indications of potential acquisitions of J-31 and J-35 aircraft. Pakistan achieved a milestone in space exploration by launching its first lunar satellite, i-Cube-Qamar, and the multi-mission communication satellite, PakSAT-MM1, in collaboration with China. Moreover, Pakistan also emerged as the ‘Tech Destination of the Year’ at GITEX Global 2024, Dubai, highlighting its advancements in digital services and innovation. This year’s International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) showcased its advancements in land, sea, and air defence equipment, highlighting the country’s self-sufficiency in various defence sectors. On the diplomatic front, Pakistan hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in October, a diplomatic success for the state. Earlier this year, border tensions with Iran made headlines but thankfully eased over time. The de-escalation paved the way for the Iranian president’s visit in April, marking a positive step forward in bilateral relations. In the sports arena, 2024 brought notable moments of celebration. Arshad Nadeem secured Pakistan’s first-ever individual gold medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics, setting a new record of 92.97 metres in the javelin throw. In cricket, Pakistan secured a historic win in the test series against England after nine years and in the One-Day International series against Australia after 22 years. What’s more, our blind cricket team emerged victorious at the Blind T20 Cricket World Cup beating Bangladesh in the finals. The year brought plenty of achievements for the country, but some issues still linger. The political landscape continues to face challenges. Likewise, on the security front, the number of terrorist attacks saw a massive surge, becoming a critical national security threat. The majority of the attacks were concentrated in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, regions that remain hotspots for insurgency. Despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts, the numbers remain alarmingly high. According to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), by November, the country experienced 785 terrorist attacks, resulting in 951 deaths and 966 injuries. Notably, November was the deadliest month, with 68 security personnel embracing martyrdom. The country also encountered several environmental catastrophes due to climate change. In the initial months, a severe flood led to the loss of 35 lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and extensive damage to infrastructure in Balochistan. With summer came the heatwave, which impacted Sindh, leading to more than 500 deaths – with 141 deaths on June 25 alone. While floods and heatwaves had a profound impact, winter came with its own difficulties. Smog impacted several parts of the country, disrupting daily life and becoming a critical health hazard with the Air Quality Index crossing 1000 and 2000 multiple times. This year brought moments of triumph but was a test for us in many ways. As the saying goes, ‘Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong’. If nothing else, it is a reminder to stay ahead of the curve - anticipate risks, learn from setbacks and focus on what truly matters. Pareto’s Principle teaches us that a small fraction of causes often drive the majority of outcomes. For Pakistan, identifying these critical factors behind our struggles is key. By honing in on these, we can make smarter decisions and set meaningful priorities for 2025, moving from merely reacting to shaping our future. In 2025, Pakistan must focus on steady progress in the areas that matter most. Tackling terrorism, in particular, calls for fresh thinking with full technology-embedded solutions that not only address the immediate threats but also dig deep into the root causes of extremism. Innovation and adaptability will also be key to overcoming this persistent challenge. Amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, Pakistan must take a proactive stance on the political, economic and diplomatic fronts in 2025, ensuring it remains engaged with key partners and forums in an ever-evolving global landscape. The pace of technological developments and breakthroughs around the world should also serve as a motivation for the state to accelerate advancements in AI, quantum computing, and cyber security. The impact of climate change too is already evident, making it crucial for Pakistan to embrace sustainable, environment-friendly solutions in 2025. Equally important is tapping into the immense talent and potential within the country. Achieving this will require a combined top-down and bottom-up effort to ensure meaningful and lasting results. As we gear up for the New Year, it is time to show gratitude for the blessings this year bestowed upon us – individually and collectively. In parallel, we must remain steadfast against potential challenges that we are confronted with, drawing inspiration from the Quranic verse: ‘So verily, with the hardship, there is relief. Verily, with the hardship, there is relief.’ (94:5-6) The writer is a researcher at the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Islamabad. She can be reached at: cass.thinkers@gmail.com

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The SEC Offensive Player of the Year announced on social media his intention Friday to leave after his junior season. He helped the seventh-ranked Vols go 10-3 with a first-round loss in the College Football Playoff where Sampson was limited by an injured hamstring. Sampson thanked his family, Tennessee coaches and fans, saying he learned so much and had the chance to be part of something special. Tennessee went 3-7 in 2020, and he leaves with the Vols having won 30 games over his three seasons. “I poured my heart and soul into this program and this community,” Sampson wrote. “With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.” Sampson set a school record running for 1,491 yards. He also set a program record with a league-best 22 rushing touchdowns, breaking a mark that had stood for 95 years. He was part of coach Josh Heupel's first full signing class in December 2021 out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He also set school records for total touchdowns scored (22), points scored (132) and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (11). He led the SEC in nine different categories, including rushing attempts (258), rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, 100-yard rushing games with 10, averaging 114.7 yards rushing per game, points scored, points per game (10.2), all-purpose yards (1,638) and all-purpose yards per game (126.0). He finished this season tied for fifth all-time in the SEC ranks for rushing TDs in a single season with Leonard Fournette of LSU. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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NoneJordan Peterson , the polarizing Canadian psychologist, has bid Canada adieu and will now call the United States home, citing personal and professional reasons for the move. The news was revealed on a podcast this week, where Peterson and his daughter, Mikhaila Peterson Fuller, discussed his decision to move to Florida. “Welcome to moving to America , formally,” she offhandedly said to her dad during The Mikhaila Peterson Podcast episode. “I guess that’s what happened, isn’t it? Is this the big announcement?” said Peterson. “There are decided advantages to being here,” he said. Peterson made reference to his ongoing feud with the College of Psychologists of Ontario , as well as a bill targeting hate speech, among his key reasons to leave his home country. “The issue with the College of Psychologists is very annoying, to say the least, and the new legislation that the Liberals are attempting to push through, Bill C-63 , we’d all be living in a totalitarian hellhole if it passes,” he told his daughter. “The tax situation is out of hand. The government in Canada at the federal level is incompetent beyond belief, and it’s become uncomfortable for me in my neighbourhood in Toronto,” he added. Peterson, an author and former University of Toronto professor, has not had an active clinical practice since 2017 but remains a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. In 2022, the professional body reviewed Peterson’s social media conduct after hearing concerns about whether his posts met its standards. It determined that online comments appeared degrading, demeaning and unprofessional — and that this posed a risk to the public. It ordered that he enter a remedial coaching program to reflect on his approach to public statements and warned he could be accused of professional misconduct if he did not comply. Peterson took issue with the direction and launched a legal campaign to try to get out of it. In August of this year, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed Peterson’s application for judicial review, and the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal attempt. Peterson has long been a magnet for controversy in Canada — a public figure with a huge social media following that people appear to either fully embrace or abhor. He first courted controversy for refusing to use gender-neutral pronouns while teaching at the University of Toronto. He has gone on to international fame with sold-out lectures, best-selling books and a popular podcast. While he has frequently made headlines for his controversial views on feminism, gender and climate change, Peterson has insisted in the past that all the complaints at issue are political and don’t have anything to do with his past or present clients as a psychologist. — With files from The Canadian Press

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Discussions are underway regarding the future of the so-called “Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria” following the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime this month. The Kurdish-led region, controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has become a focal point due to its strategic importance and ongoing military tensions with Turkish-backed factions. The area is considered Syria’s “oil and gas reservoir,” making its economic and military future significant for the new Syrian administration. The SDF’s future as a military force is also at stake. Turkey claims the SDF is an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it classifies as a “terrorist” organisation. Additionally, the fate of thousands of students and employees subject to the administration’s unique laws remains uncertain. The “Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria” established its own laws and governance after taking control of these areas, which were previously held by ISIS, and expanded its reach between 2014 and 2019. This expansion extended from the northern parts of Hasakah, the cities of Ain al-Arab (Kobani) and Afrin, towards eastern and southern Hasakah, the city centre of Raqqa, and the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in Deir El-Zor, along with its towns. The SDF-administered areas encompass about half the length of the borders with Turkey and Iraq. The border with Iraq stretches more than 460 kilometres from the town of Ain Diwar in the north of Hasakah governorate to Baghouz near al-Bukamal in the eastern Deir El-Zor countryside. The area separating SDF-controlled territory from Turkey spans more than 420 kilometres, from Ain Diwar to the outskirts of Manbij in the Aleppo countryside, excluding the 130 kilometres controlled by Turkish-backed “Syrian National Army” factions, following Turkey’s “Operation Peace Spring” in 2019. The region is therefore of political and geographical significance, linked to sensitive issues with Syria’s neighbours, including the pursuit of ISIS cells by Iraq and Turkey’s concerns about the SDF’s presence on its southern borders. The presence of over 15 American military bases in the region further complicates the situation. The area also houses the “Al-Hol” and “Roj” camps, which hold more than 10,000 people from ISIS families, as well as numerous prisons and detention centres, including the “Al-Sina” and “Ghuwairan” prisons in Hasakah. There are approximately 13,000 detainees accused of ISIS affiliation, including at least 8,000 foreigners from more than 50 nationalities. The visits of Turkish intelligence head, Ibrahim Kalin, and his Iraqi counterpart, Hamid Al-Shatri, to Damascus shortly after the new Syrian administration took office, underscore the importance of the SDF file to the national security of all three countries. These visits indicated a desire to address the issues without posing a threat to regional and international security. These developments explain the efforts by the United States and France to reach a consensus that would allow Damascus to impose its authority on the region while respecting Kurdish specificities and preventing ISIS cells from reorganising. The United States has also engaged in discussions with the new Syrian administration to understand their vision for the country after the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad, particularly in light of the US’s prior experience with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Last week, three senior US diplomats met in Damascus with leaders of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), the group that led the armed opposition factions to topple the Assad regime, a group the United States designates as a “terrorist organisation”. The meeting was aimed at persuading them to adopt a “comprehensive and moderate” form of governance in Syria. According to a report in The New York Times , US officials believe this is the best option to prevent further violence and chaos in Syria. They believe the new leadership in Syria is so far “saying the right things”. Barbara Leaf, a senior US State Department official for Middle Eastern affairs, said that Ahmed al-Shar’a, the leader of HTS, “appeared pragmatic” when she met him in Damascus. She added that Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Muhammad Al-Golani, made “moderate statements” on a range of issues, including the rights of women and minorities, and gave assurances that “terrorist groups will not operate inside Syria.” However, US officials remain cautious about Al-Sharaa. They fear that his statements are only an attempt to “gain international support” as part of his plans to consolidate his power, and potentially impose “strict rule,” similar to the Taliban movement in Afghanistan in 2021, The New York Times reports. US officials remember their attempts in 2021 to broker a power-sharing agreement with the Taliban as US forces prepared to leave Afghanistan. They also believed the Taliban might be willing to make compromises such as allowing girls to attend schools to win international recognition. However, after the departure of the last US troops, Taliban fighters seized power, quickly imposing restrictions on daily life and barring women from most public places. Senior officials in the Biden administration have not forgotten these events.

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Kane hat trick against Augsburg hides Bayern's concerning lack of goalsShares of home goods retailer Williams Sonoma ( WSM 3.22% ) rallied 28.2% in November, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence . Williams-Sonoma reported third-quarter results on Nov. 20, with shares skyrocketing in the aftermath, accounting for most of the month's gains. While headlines results didn't seem like much to cheer about at first glance, they were well above expectations, with Wall Street cheering management's navigation of a tough consumer spending environment. Revenues decline, but margins go up Williams-Sonoma is a specialty retailer that owns several high-end home goods brands, including its Williams-Sonoma namesake, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm, and Rejuvenation. As has been the case with virtually every discretionary and home goods retailer, Williams-Sonoma has seen sales declines amid post-pandemic inflation following the home goods boom during the pandemic. At first glance, investors might be confused as to why the stock was up so much after seeing the numbers, After all, revenue declined 2.9% to $1.8 billion, with comparable-store sales down a similar amount. Yet while revenue was down, the reported number still came in ahead of analyst expectations. Meanwhile, Williams-Sonoma was actually able to grow earnings per share by 7.1% in the quarter to $1.96, which also came in ahead of Wall Street's expectations. The impressive profit growth came as a result of higher gross margins , which expanded from 44.4% last year to 46.7%. Additionally, the company lowered its share count by repurchasing $533 million worth of stock in the quarter, increasing the year-to-date repurchase total to $707 million. Not only did repurchases ramp up, suggesting optimism on the part of management, but Williams-Sonoma's board of directors also authorized another $1 billion share repurchase program on the earnings release. Management also gave strong guidance, at least on a relative basis relative to prior figures. Williams-Sonoma now sees full-year revenues down between 3% and 1.5% for the full year, which would be an improvement over the third quarter, and sees operating margins improving by 40 basis points relative to the prior outlook. Williams-Sonoma is allocating capital well Amid the downturn in home goods sales, Williams-Sonoma appears to be strategizing well. Understanding the importance of preserving its brand power and its debt-free balance sheet, the company appears to be maintaining or raising prices to grow gross margin at the sacrifice of volumes and revenue growth. Clearly, investors are cheering the strategy and execution, as well as the generous shareholder returns. That being said, shares now seem to reflect an anticipation of a recovery in the year ahead, as they trade for 22 times earnings. While not overly expensive, that figure does seem to anticipate a better consumer spending environment in the future. After all, one can't generate earnings growth by raising prices exorbitantly or cutting costs forever.

No. 7 Alabama looks to remain in playoff contention with a visit to OklahomaUCF and Tulsa will test their mettle against each other on Saturday afternoon in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic in Sunrise, Fla. The Knights will make their first appearance in the event since recording a two-point loss to Missouri in 2022, while Tulsa's last trip to the Orange Bowl Classic was a loss to Florida State in 2012. UCF (7-2) may have something to prove being away from Addition Financial Arena. The Knights are 7-0 at home, whereas a November trip to the Greenbrier Tip-Off in West Virginia produced an 86-70 loss to Wisconsin and a triple-overtime setback against LSU. The Knights relied heavily on their defense in Sunday's 66-51 win over Tarleton State. After a sluggish start offensively, UCF found its rhythm during a 37-point second half. Jordan Ivy-Curry finished with a game-high 16 points and freshman center Moustapha Thiam collected 10 points, nine rebounds and six blocks. UCF's Big 12 opener draws closer (at Texas Tech, Dec. 31), but head coach Johnny Dawkins remains focused on daily improvement. "I feel a sense of urgency to get better, not with regards to Big 12 play to be quite frank, but every game," Dawkins said. "I don't look too far in the future. Pretty much I've always been in the moment as a player and as a person, and so for me it's about just getting better because it's our standards." Tulsa (4-6) looks to stop a three-game slide following a 70-66 home loss to Southern University last Saturday. Keaston Willis scored in double figures for the sixth time this season, netting a season-high 23 points off the bench. But Isaiah Barnes, one of three Golden Hurricane players to start all 10 games, was injured in the first half and played only eight minutes. To complicate matters, head coach Eric Konkol's team is 0-6 when trailing at halftime. "We got to get some guys healthy that can be healthy for next Saturday (against UCF)," Konkol said. "We got a couple other guys dealing with some different things, but then (also) having some planning to figure out what's the best way going forward for this group." --Field Level MediaDe’Vondre Campbell isn’t the first player to quit on his team and walk off the field. Actually, he’s not the first this month. Twelve days ago, Ravens receiver Diontae Johnson refused to play in a game against the Eagles. He was suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team. Ten years ago, Steelers running back LeGarrette Blount did what Campbell did last night. Blount walked off the field during a game . The Steelers cut him the next day . And Blount got the last laugh. He landed with the Patriots, and he won a Super Bowl. (Along the way, he scored three touchdowns in the #DeflateGate game, a 45-7 thrashing of the Colts.) Blount later attributed his behavior to the failure of offensive coordinator Todd Haley to play him . “ Probably didn’t do it in the most ethical way ,” Blount told 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh. “Everyone gets to a point where respect goes a long way. Whenever you respect someone, it goes a long way. When I’m going to Todd and asking him, ‘What is going on, why am I not playing?’ You are telling me we are going to make sure we get you in there. We are going to make sure we put this together for you. Then I go out there and have zero carries.” Blount pointed out that he left the field while the Steelers were in victory formation. Still, he wanted out — and he got what he wanted. Campbell has yet to give his side of the story for his refusal to play last night. At a time when fans and media are more sensitive to player mental health than ever before, it would be prudent to hear him out before labeling him as a traitor or a double agent or whatever. Maybe those shoes fit. But we should be willing to at least hear what he has to say about assuming the worst. Regardless of whether it looks that way, and just might be that way.

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