It’s just days until Christmas and the holiday season is here, so everyone is getting their wish list for Santa written and ready. Average of 9 LIVE Regular Season games per week plus the best of the NBA Playoffs, including every game of the NBA Conference Finals & NBA Finals LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Foxsports.com.au runs through every NBA team’s Christmas wish heading into 2025. ATLANTA HAWKS Dare to dream Could this team be capable of a Pacers-esque run to the conference finals? The Hawks sure are dangerous. One of the big improvers, Atlanta has a newfound defensive identity with Dyson Daniels in town. Meanwhile Jalen Johnson is flourishing as the number two offensive option alongside Trae Young, who continues to do Trae Young things. The Hawks have looked particularly good since getting their full strength team together on the court – with one of the deepest benches in the league — and will only benefit from their semi-final NBA Cup run. While Atlanta has one of the most exciting young cores set up for the long term, why could do damage in the playoffs and potentially claim a scalp or two in the weaker Eastern Conference. BOSTON CELTICS No serious Kristaps Porzingis setbacks The Celtics can probably win another championship without Kristaps Porzingis. They’re that good. But he certainly gives them a much greater chance and raises their overall ceiling, so ensuring the oft-injured star centre is healthy in the lead into the playoffs is crucial. Of course, Boston breezed its way through last season’s playoffs without Porzingis for the most part, while he only played three games In the NBA Finals before undergoing off-season ankle surgery. He’s looked great after a delayed start to the season, averaging 19.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in just 27.7 minutes. Fair to say the Celtics might face stiffer competition at the top East this season with the Cavaliers, Magic and a healthy Knicks — teams you feel like Boston would need Porzingis’ interior defence against in big games. BROOKLYN NETS Get maximum value in trade/s They’ve already sent Dennis Schroder to Golden State, so what else could they do? Not many could’ve seen the Nets starting the season in such solid fashion. It certainly hasn’t been by design. But behind the lead of their veterans plus a breakout season from Cam Thomas, Brooklyn is much better than expected and has looked more like a play-in team as opposed to a lottery team. That came after the Nets committed to an all-out rebuild after trading away Mikal Bridges for a bounty of draft picks, so ownership and the front office mightn’t be so thrilled with the team’s results in the first quarter. Everything should be on the table now by way of trades for this Brooklyn team to bring in long-term assets and boost its lottery chances to ultimately try and nab projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. Whether that’s moving Thomas for a huge haul, completing a smaller deal for one of their veterans like Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, or a combination of both, the Nets should be open minded about how to best set themselves up for the future. CHARLOTTE HORNETS See what they’ve got at full strength It’s been another rocky season in Charlotte, heavily impacted by injury. The likes of LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams have all missed time, with Ball’s stint on the sidelines due to a calf issue clearly the most costly for new coach Charles Lee. Getting a healthy season out of Ball is crucial to their hopes of climbing the standings after ankle problems restricted the star guard to 22 and 36 games respectively over the past two seasons. But from a bigger picture, simply seeing what this team can be at full strength before making further roster moves given they haven’t had their key guys all healthy at once together yet. CHICAGO BULLS Find a good deal for Zach LaVine/Nikola Vucevic Trading both LaVine and Vucevic might be a bit extreme, unless of course the Bulls want to really commit to a reset. But there has to be a good deal out there for at least one of the two veterans. While the team has had a solid enough season to date as a play-in contender, the Bulls are clearly moving in a different direction and building around the likes of Josh Giddey, Coby White, Patrick Williams and rookie Matas Buzelis. Despite LaVine’s massive contract (in the third year of a five-season, $215 million deal), the former two-time All-Star has restored trade value in a strong, injury-free campaign. Surely there’s a team out there that needs a shake up and could talk themselves into him. Meanwhile Vucevic is having one of the best seasons of his career, so it could be the ideal time to trade the 34-year old while he has value. If anything, it’d probably make more sense to move LaVine to give Giddey and White more backcourt touches to really allow them a chance to flourish. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS Convert NBA-best regular season form to playoffs Obviously every team in the NBA wants its good regular season form to translate to the playoffs. But of all teams where that could convey to a genuine title run, it’s the Cavs. Cleveland has the best record in the NBA at 25-4 as well as the second-best net rating. Everything has fallen into place for the Cavaliers in a well-ran offensive system by new coach Kenny Atkinson. Where after question marks if the fit of Donovan Mitchell with Darius Garland in the backcourt and Evan Mobley with Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt, Cleveland’s core looks like a real contender. While Boston still has the throne in the East, the Cavaliers look like its biggest challenger despite Orlando and New York posing threats, while Milwaukee is rising after a slow start to the season. DALLAS MAVERICKS Luka Doncic to be the best player in the NBA in 2025 It’s been a relatively slow start to the season for Doncic by his lofty standards, even if he’s starting to heat up. Still, the Slovenian superstar is averaging under 30 points for the first time since the 2021/22 season, with his shooting, rebounding and assist numbers are all down. It came after it was all set up for Doncic, 25, to win his first MVP this season and build off Dallas’ run to the NBA Finals. While the Mavs have built into form and look like a contender in the West yet again, the likes of Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum have all led their teams better than Doncic. For Dallas to go one better than last season, you feel like Doncic needs to assert himself as the best player in the league given the team and its heliocentric offence lives and dies by the five-time All-Star. Clearly, the bar is high for Doncic. The Mavericks will also be hoping for a consistent third option to emerge alongside Doncic and Kyrie Irving come playoff time, though he sum of the Mavs’ supporting cast is greater than its parts. DENVER NUGGETS Jamal Murray to get back to his best There’s a variety of reasons the Nuggets have fallen down the standings in the West and don’t look like the NBA champions of two years ago despite Nikola Jokic’s utter dominance. From key players departing creating depth issues, to their young players not standing up, a lack of 3-point shooting and middling defence. But an up-and-firing Murray, which they haven’t had, cancels out a lot of those problems. The star guard, who’s been hampered by several lower body injuries in recent years, just hasn’t had the same bounce and firepower. Nor has Murray come close to getting back to his incredible form in the 2023 Playoffs during that title run. He’s averaged 18.7 points per game on 42.8 per cent shooting from the field and 35.6 per cent from downtown – not numbers of a superstar that signed a four-year, $209 million max extension on the eve of the season. Jokic desperately needs more help and the Nuggets can’t afford to waste his ridiculously good prime. Murray needs be his star running partner like we’ve seen in the past, otherwise, this Denver team might be forced to make a trade, with Zach LaVine and Brandon Ingram reportedly on its radar. DETROIT PISTONS Make the play-in Some teams, like the Pistons, just need a win. Detroit fans haven’t had much to cheer about for the better part of two decades including the team having the worst record over the last five years (94-238). But its years of rebuilding through the draft seem to be starting to come to fruition as the team is now a challenging for a play-in spot. Leading from the front is Cade Cunningham, who has superstar written all over him. Cunningham has averaged a career-high 24.0 points per game to go with 9.7 assists (ranked third in the NBA) and 7.1 rebounds per game. Detroit will go as far as Cunningham takes them, though others stepping up — like Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey and Malik Beasley – has also been crucial to the team’s jump this season. Remember, Detroit hasn’t made the playoffs since 2019 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2008. While making the playoffs may be unrealistic, getting to the play-in should be the real goal, especially considering how shallow the Eastern Conference is. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS Another superstar to play with Steph Curry The Warriors have outperformed expectations so far, in touch with the top of the Western Conference standings. But if they’re serious about contending and winning another championship with Steph Curry, they need to find one more piece and a true number two option to play alongside the sharpshooting champ. Sure, Dennis Schroder will give them a nice bump, but it’s probably not a needle moving move. According to reports, LeBron James and Jimmy Butler are on Golden State’s radar after it struck out on Paul George and Lauri Markkanen last off-season. The Warriors have a ton of depth – and have been showcasing it with a 12-man rotation most nights – primed to package some of those role players for a genuine superstar that can help them compete against the best teams in the West. HOUSTON ROCKETS Work out who their core stars are Houston has arrived ahead of its time. One of the most exciting and athletic teams in the league that cause havoc on defence and have a plethora of different line-ups and general weapons to throw at opponents, the emerging Rockets are well placed – both to make a deep playoffs run this season and beyond. They’ve already worked out their identity under Ime Udoka, now it’s about establishing who their core stars are long term. They can only keep this roster together for so long before it gets too expensive, or their key pieces start losing value. While stranger things have happened, they don’t feel like a championship-calibre team as constructed and may explore a three-for-one type of trade, having been linked to Jimmy Butler. So whether it’s hunting a superstar on the market or refining what they already have, Houston needs to figure out which players are going to lead this franchise to its next title. INDIANA PACERS Rediscover last season’s offence Missing person check. What has happened to the fun, exciting, up-and-down Pacers from last season? It’s like watching an entirely different team this season, with Indiana dropping from having the second-best offensive rating in the NBA last season to 13th-best currently. Tyrese Haliburton, though still a star, has been symptomatic of the team’s overall decline, struggling to recapture last season’s enormous heights. There’s also question marks on Pascal Siakam’s fit on the team and whether they were better off in the first half of last season when the ball was popping more. Time is on their side, especially in the East, but Rick Carlisle and company should be desperate to rediscover that up-tempo offensive DNA that made the Pacers such a handful last season ... or find other pieces that can help them. LA CLIPPERS A healthy Kawhi Leonard This one is obvious. The Clippers have somehow managed to sit in the top eight in the West for most of the season despite Paul George’s departure and Kawhi Leonard not playing a single minute due to a knee inflammation. We finally got an update on Leonard after radio silence for the majority of the campaign, with the six-time All-Star returning to practice in a positive step in the right direction as he nears his season debut. The prospect of adding Leonard to this James Harden-led Clippers team that has the No. 6 defensive rating is tantalising. That’ll really get the Intuit Dome rocking. But just as importantly, Leonard staying on the court for a meaningful period before we consider just how good this team can be and how far they could go. For having Leonard and his $49 million salary sitting on the sidelines leaves a big void on the court and a black hole in the team’s roster build. LA LAKERS Hope Father Time continues to hold off Is Father Time starting to catch up to LeBron James? The near 40-year old has freakishly defied the odds and all logic of nature for so long. But in year 22 the superhuman champ has started to look human with signs of decline including a particularly rough stretch to start December. The question is whether it’s just that – a slump – or if we’re witnessing the beginning of the end of a player many consider the greatest to ever touch a basketball. James recently took personal leave from the Lakers as trade rumours swirl that the Warriors are monitoring the four-time MVP after they reportedly had interest last season. So there’s a fair bit of unknown about what’s ahead for James and the Lakers in 2025. While LA, like always, would be canvassing the trade market ahead of the February deadline to improve its supporting cast around James and Anthony Davis, the reality is it’ll still need James somewhere near his best to contend for the title. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES Desmond Bane to resurrect outside shot After a down, injury-ruined 2023/24 season, the Grizzlies are back in business. They’ve won 11 of their last 13 games and sit top six in both offensive rating and defensive rating, with one of the deepest rosters in the NBA. It’s seen them climb into the two seed in the Western Conference, and there’s every reason to believe they can make a deep playoff run. The one key area for improvement? Desmond Bane’s shooting. A career 40 per cent shooter from beyond the arc, Bane is currently hitting his 3-point shots at a personal worst 34.2 per cent clip. It’s a key reason why Bane is averaging just 14.9 points per game – the star guard’s lowest return since his rookie year – and down from 23.7 points per game and 21.5 respectively over the last two campaigns. While it’s clearly not hurting the Grizzlies overall, the team does rank 14th in the NBA in 3-point percentage. So a shooting bump from Bane could help unlock an ever higher level for Memphis and he may have turned a corner recently, going 7-for-13 from deep in his past two games. MIAMI HEAT A resolution to the Jimmy Butler situation The longer Jimmy Butler stays on this Heat roster without an extension or trade, the longer the star forward risks becoming a distraction for Miami. Rumours have swirled about a Butler trade, with the 35-year old effectively in a contract season given he can opt out of his player option for 2025/26 and become a free agent. All signs point to him getting moved ahead of the February deadline, for Miami could risk losing him for nothing in the off-season if it doesn’t act first. The team has already started to move away from Butler as its alpha star too, with Tyler Herro flourishing as the No. 1 option in a career-best season for the guard. Miami had quietly played itself into form with four-straight wins including eight from its last 11, but has since dropped three in a row. Whether Butler and Miami do end up working out an extension or he gets trades, it’ll be best for all parties once they reach some sort of resolution. MILWAUKEE BUCKS Khris Middleton levelling up as third star... or finding someone who can be After a worrying 2-8 start to the season, the Bucks have won 12 of their last 15 games to climb into the top five in the East including winning the NBA Cup. Giannis Antetokounmpo has largely put the team on his back, bulldozing (figuratively and literally) through everything and anyone in his sight as an MVP contender. Damian Lillard is quietly putting his own strong season in arguably the best the star guard and Antetokounmpo have looked together since joining forces ahead of last season. But there’s still one piece missing – Khris Middleton. Middleton recently returned from off-season surgery on both ankles and will now spend some time ramping up to a full workload. As promising as this Milwaukee run has been, it’s hard to see the team being a real challenger in the East without Middleton as the third key cog. But there’s serious question marks on if Middleton, 33, can ever get back to – or even something close to – his All-Star best after several injuries in recent years. As well as concerns on him simply being able to stay on the floor. So whether it’s Middleton stepping up as the third star or the team making a move to find one, the already cash-strapped Bucks can’t afford to have a $31 million player not producing at a high level. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Revive hard edge ... or find a new identity While still early days, the Karl Anthony-Towns trade couldn’t be going much worse for the Wolves. Minnesota had a towering and robust defensive-orientated DNA last year that caused major problems for other teams and powered it to the Western Conference Finals. But they now feel like just a middle-of-the-road team in the West – where they currently sit - despite big defensive improvements in recent times. Julius Randle is a flawed star and strange fit on the Wolves, while Donte DiVincenzo is proving to be nothing more than a good role player. It might take another trade for Minnesota to figure out exactly what they want to be or some general soul searching. But change of some sort is needed for Anthony Edwards and company to get back to where they were last season. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS Get to the bottom of Zion Williamson injury problems once and for all Sure, the Pelicans have been badly smashed by injuries. But one thing’s clear, Williamson’s ongoing setbacks are more costly than anything, and New Orleans will only go as far as the former No. 1 pick takes it. Coming off his healthiest season yet, the 24-year old has again been bit by the injury bug, sidelined indefinitely with a hamstring issue. And so we’re back to having the same discussion we have seemingly every season about Williamson and his durability concerns and not fulfilling his enormous potential. It comes after the Pelicans recruited Dejounte Murray to assemble arguably the most talented roster around Williamson yet, but they sit dead-last in the West with a 5-24 record. Again, the Pels deserve some lenience given all their key stars have missed time, though it’s become an unfortunate theme in Williamson’s career to date. Time to have some hard conversations and get to the root cause of the injuries, for no team can get by with their superstar missing months each season. And if it’s related to the two-time All-Star’s work ethic and not respecting the importance of staying in peak physical condition, it might be time for the two parties to go their separate ways. NEW YORK KNICKS Find another rotation piece It’s been a strong first quarter of the season for New York, who went in with big expectations after acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. In many ways they’ve gone under the radar compared to some other teams despite posting the second-best offensive rating in the NBA. While their middling defence is a concern, perhaps the bigger issue is how shallow their roster is given the Knicks went all in on this starting line-up. It’s resulted in Tom Thibodeau playing his starters huge minutes (though that’s nothing new), while their bench ranks bottom eight in the NBA in scoring. Granted, they’ve been without Mitch Robinson, but you worry that their main guys will run out of puff, or worse, break down by the playoffs. Whether it’s via trade, on the buyout market or Robinson or someone else already on the roster is the answer, it feels like this Knicks rotation might be one piece short from contending ... and to help preserve the core five for the business end of the season. In the first step towards doing just that, the Knicks agreed to a deal with veteran guard Landry Shamet on Monday. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER A healthy Chet Holmgren to help title push The Thunder were dealt a major blow just 10 games into the season, with rising star Chet Holmgren struck down with a rare hip injury set to sideline him for months. While Holmgren is expected to return later in the season, we don’t for sure when – or even if – that’ll happen. An update on the big man’s status is expected at some point in the new year. OKC has gotten by just fine without Holmgren in a scary prospect for the rest of the league, sitting first in the Western Conference with the best defensive rating in the NBA. The addition of centre Isaiah Hartenstein has clearly helped and been important insurance, while we’re still yet to see the Thunder at full strength after Hartenstein was sidelined to start the season. OKC will be ultra cautious with Holmgren given the seriousness of his injury and won’t risk compromising the 22-year old’s long-term health, with the team set up for title contention for many years ahead. But Holmgren could also be the difference between the Thunder winning it all this season, so his recovery to full strength will be a key storyline to follow in the second half of the season. ORLANDO MAGIC Find a cure for oblique injuries Clearly this is tongue in cheek ... but what are the chances of Orlando’s two key stars – Paolo Banchero then Franz Wagner - both suffering oblique injuries!? Losing Banchero in the first couple of weeks of the season was brutal enough after the former No. 1 pick – like the Magic as a whole - looked set to make another leap. But the silver lining was Orlando rallying behind Wagner, who really levelled up his play including leading the team to 12 wins from 13 games through November and early December as the Magic shot up to the No. 3 seed in the East. That was until Wagner sustained the same injury as his Magic running partner in a seriously cruel second twist of fate. Could it now be Jalen Suggs’ turn to look like a superstar? You feel like this team will still find a way, with its elite defence always holding it in good stead. Plus Wagner’s rise puts Orlando in an overall stronger position when it gets to full strength ... whenever that will be. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS Pray Joel Embiid isn’t cooked Not only for this season, but beyond. It’s been one injury after another for the Embiid, so you just worry after multiple knee surgeries whether it’s all catching up to the star centre. Embiid has played in just seven of a possible 24 games for the 9-17 Sixers, with his absence badly hurting the team in a season it was seen as one of, if not the, big threats to Boston in the East. But now multiple teams in the conference like Cleveland and Orlando have gone past Philadelphia, while we don’t even know how good Nick Nurse’s team can be at full strength as it’s been so rare. From a bigger picture perspective, Embiid, 30, signed a behemoth three-year, $193 million contract contract with Philadelphia on the eve of the season that kicks in from 2026/27. It has the makings of a disaster deal if Embiid is in the beginning of a decline due to his significant injury history, which we’ve seen prematurely cripple the careers of other bigs over the years. PHOENIX SUNS Preserve Kevin Durant The impact of Durant’s health on the Suns can’t be understated. On the numbers, it’s similar to Denver’s unhealthy overreliance on Nikola Jokic. In fact, Phoenix is 13-4 in games he’s played this season and just 1-9 without the 36-year old star forward. It comes with Durant averaging 35.9 minutes per game, which is ranked top 20 in the NBA. While that mightn’t seem crazy, it’s a big number for a player with as many miles under his legs as Durant, in his 17th NBA season. Phoenix simply can’t win the title without Durant healthy, but playing him so many minutes not only compromises the team regular season if he’s forced to miss more time, but also risks him breaking down by the playoffs. The Suns have gone all in with this team, with Durant’s health central to everything. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Scoot Henderson to fulfil his potential Or at least something close to. It’s frankly been a disappointing start to Henderson’s career since he was taken with the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. It was a draft where Charlotte drew some criticism at the time for taking Brandon Miller over Henderson a pick earlier and the Spurs landed Victor Wembanayma with Pick 1. While unfair to compare anyone else from that class to Wembanyama, Portland clearly came away with the worst player of the top three. So much so that the rebuilding Blazers aren’t even starting Henderson and don’t appear to be putting a heap of stock into developing their No. 3 pick, who was touted as their face of the future, instead prioritising others. There’s clearly something they don’t like about his game, for other early picks are given all the opportunities in the world. It’s only year two for Henderson, so it’s not quite panic stations yet, but at some stage this season or next the team would want to see signs that Henderson is going to be their long-term point guard cornerstone. SACRAMENTO KINGS A contract extension with De’Aaron Fox While it’s been an underwhelming season for the Kings following the high-profile addition of DeMar DeRozan, Fox continues to play at a high level. The All-Star has averaged 26.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game as one of the best point guards in the NBA. Simply put, Sacramento can’t afford to lose Fox. It comes after Fox, eligible for free agency in 2026, bypassed a three-year $165 million extension with Sacramento as he eyes a bigger deal in 2025. In waiting for a bigger contract, the 26-year old opens up the possibility of signing a four-year, $229 million maximum extension with the Kings. If he’s named to an All-NBA team, he becomes eligible for a five-year, $345 million supermax deal, though that looks less likely with the 13-16 Kings currently outside the play-in. The team should, and you’d think will, prioritise getting something locked away with Fox as soon as possible, as rival teams would have him circled as a potential target. SAN ANTONIO SPURS Work out the best pieces to put around Victor Wembanyama The Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs have climbed the Western Conference standings this season to sit in the play-in mix, with the arrivals of Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul adding valuable veteran presence. Meanwhile Stephon Castle is the favourite for Rookie of the Year and Julian Champagnie has taken strides forward. But unless they make a big swing on the trade market, it’s hard to see San Antonio making the playoffs as constructed. The priority is working out the best players to put around Wembanyama long term, and from next season onwards, it should be go time as far as trying to contend. They’re too good to tank at this stage, so selling veterans would only be warranted for the right return. Whether it’s on the trade and free agency market or simply doubling down on the pieces they already have, everything and anything they do should revolve around Wembanyama and giving him the best supporting cast possible long-term, with the ultimate goal of winning a championship. TORONTO RAPTORS Scottie Barnes to be the superstar they need Barnes is now getting paid like a superstar after signing a five-year, $224 million extension with the Raptors that kicks in from next season. It’s the kind of money that demands Barnes be the franchise face of Toronto. In fairness, the 23-year old has only gotten better and better with each passing season, averaging career highs across the board this campaign in points per game (20.3), assists (7.3) and 3-pointers made (1.9) despite being hampered by injury. The team will build the team around Barnes moving forward and it’ll go as far as he takes them. The 2022 Rookie of the Year, Barnes has a genuine claim to being the best player from that star-studded crop that also featured Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Alperen Sengun. RJ Barrett also deserves credit for picking up the slack in a massive way in Toronto amid wholesale injuries in the best version we’ve ever seen from the former Pick 2. But the sky is the limit for what Barnes could be and the best version of him could really propel the Raptors. UTAH JAZZ Commit to playing the kids It’s set to be another long season in Utah as it dwindles at the bottom of the Western Conference. They’re one of many teams in lottery contention hoping to land No. 1 prospect Cooper Flagg. That’s the ideal long-term outcome, but the Jazz should also be focused on developing the youngsters they already have. If you look at their starting line-up right now, Keyonte George, 21, is the only young player among it. Walker Kessler is only 23, but he’s been constantly linked to trade rumours to potentially suggest he’s not going to be part of the Jazz’s long-term future. Taylor Hendricks, 21, was set to play a key role before cruelly going down with a season-ending leg injury. With that in mind, you’d love to see the likes of Cody Willams, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh get more opportunities to show what they can do, while trading their veterans would clearly help open up the runway. WASHINGTON WIZARDS Get the No. 1 pick There’s no team that should be more desperate to get its hands on the No. 1 pick – and ultimately Cooper Flagg – than the Wizards. This is a team sitting dead-last in the East at 3-21 and crying out for a superstar to be the face of the franchise - much like John Wall and Bradley Beal were all those years ago - to lead it into the future. Sure, the likes of Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington look like nice players and might even have star potential if things shake out for them the right way. But they’re probably not going to be franchise-altering players that can really change Washington’s fortunes in a meaningful way like a Paolo Banchero has for Orlando or Victor Wembanyama for San Antonio. Only Detroit has had a worse record than Washington over the last five seasons, while the Wizards unlike other teams like San Antonio, OKC, Brooklyn and Utah aren’t sitting on a plethora of draft picks. So getting that prized No. 1 pick would make a heck of a difference for their long-term outlook. Beyond that, they should also be looking at continuing to bolster their draft hand long term and sell their veterans with currency like Jonas Valanciunas and Malcolm Brogdon.Tomas Hertl has waited for this since the Golden Knights’ schedule came out. “One of the days I looked for before the season was (when) we’d play in the ‘Shark Tank,’” Hertl said. That day is Friday. That’s when Hertl will return to San Jose’s SAP Center for the first time since the Sharks traded him to the Knights in March. The rivalry between the two Pacific Division foes has dipped the past few years. The Knights (23-8-3) have consistently been one of the NHL’s best teams. The Sharks (11-20-6) haven’t made the playoffs since 2019. San Jose, given its lack of recent success, decided it made sense to trade Hertl. He had an incredible tenure with the team, scoring 218 goals and 484 points in 712 games after being selected with the 17th pick in the 2012 draft. The surprising part is San Jose was willing to trade Hertl within the division. The Knights gave up their 2025 first-round pick and center prospect David Edstrom in the deal, but also got the Sharks to retain 17 percent of Hertl’s $8.14 million cap hit. The 31-year-old has no idea what to expect Friday. “The feeling will get me when I get there, even at the morning skate and stuff like that,” Hertl told the Review-Journal. “I’m pretty excited to come back, but at the same time, it’s going to be a little weird. I was there for 11 years. I was never in the visiting room. Now, I’m coming to the rink like an outsider.” Solid tenure The Sharks were consistent contenders most of Hertl’s time with the team, but never got over the hump. He helped San Jose reach the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, which it lost in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hertl’s last trip to the playoffs with the Sharks was a memorable one. He scored a short-handed goal in double overtime of Game 6 of San Jose’s first-round series with the Knights in 2019. That extended the series to Game 7, which the Sharks won in overtime after center Cody Eakin was called for a controversial major penalty in the third period. San Jose went on to advance to the Western Conference Final but lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in six games. Hertl finished with 15 points in 19 games during that postseason run. Things have been tough for the Sharks ever since. Their .396 points percentage is the worst in the NHL since the start of the 2019-20 season. San Jose finished with the league’s worst record last year, which led to it landing Boston University center Macklin Celebrini with the first pick in June’s draft at Sphere . Celebrini, 18, is third among rookies in scoring with 25 points in 25 games. Hertl still has plenty of friends on the Sharks. He tries to keep up with them when he can. “I don’t want them to do better than us, but I still keep an eye on them,” Hertl said. “When you play somewhere for 11 years, no one can really take that away from you.” New team Hertl, by his own standards, has had an inconsistent first full season with his current team. He has 24 points in 34 games, but leads the Knights with seven power-play goals. He’s coming off a two-point game Monday in his team’s 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks . “He’s around the puck,” Cassidy said. “I think he’s fitting in better in terms of the style we want to play. It takes a while, especially for centermen.” One of the challenges Hertl has faced during his time with the Knights is a lack of consistent linemates. Coach Bruce Cassidy has found at least one good winger for Hertl in Keegan Kolesar. Cassidy then tried out William Karlsson on Hertl’s left wing Monday and the decision paid off right away. The Knights had a 17-4 edge in shot attempts with Karlsson, Hertl and Kolesar on the ice. “I like playing with him. He’s got the vision and he’s pretty shifty,” Karlsson said. “We’ve just got to be a little bit more effective. We had the chances, but didn’t bury too many. The chances have been there and it’s been good.” Cassidy could shuffle the lines again when left wing Ivan Barbashev and center Nicolas Roy return from their upper-body injuries. It’s unclear if either will be available Friday. For now, Hertl appears to have found a solid group to work with. Just before what should be one of his most emotional games of the year. “I know they’re playing better, and it definitely won’t be an easy game, but I definitely want to have a good game there and enjoy, hopefully, a good reception from the fans,” Hertl said.

NoneThe Madhya Pradesh High Court has stayed the annual general meeting (AGM) of Religare Enterprises until further notice following a writ petition filed by an investor. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping In a stock exchange filing, the New Delhi-based financial company said it had received an email from the lawyers of the writ petitioner filed before the court in Jabalpur. Religare's annual general meeting to get the shareholders' nod for three resolutions including the reappointment of chairperson Rashmi Saluja was scheduled for December 31. The order dated December 18 said, "Till further orders, the notice dated 09.12.2024 and the Annual General Body Meeting of Respondent No. 7 (REL), which is scheduled to be held on 31.12.2024, shall remain stayed." The petition by the investor alleged that if the AGM took place as scheduled, it would enable the acquirers (the Burmans) to exploit their dominant shareholding and change Religare's management. 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Last week, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) approved the Burman family's proposed open offer to acquire an additional 26% stake in Religare. Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also gave its approval to the offer by the promoter family of Dabur . "It is verily believed they would ensure that a more pliant management is put in place which would not interfere with their open offer since much opposition has been made by the present management, who have, inter alia, raised issues of undervaluation of the offer price," said the writ petition. Proxy advisory firm InGovern Research Services, which advised shareholders of Religare to vote against the reappointment of Saluja as a director, termed the court order "bizarre". "It's bizarre that the HC is intervening in an issue based on an RBI order, given RBI is an independent regulator," said Shriram Subramanian, founder and MD of InGovern Research. "The decision to block the AGM is illogical, as it makes the company non-compliant with the Companies Act." In August, Religare deferred its AGM from September to December. Following this, the Burman family filed a petition with the Delhi High Court against the Registrar of Companies (RoC) and Religare for delaying the AGM. The Religare management led by Saluja has been opposed to the open offer by Burmans, owner of consumer firm Dabur, citing concerns over a low offer price and "fit and proper" allegations. The open offer, announced at ₹235 per share, amounts to ₹2,116 crore in all for the additional stake. If successful, it would raise the Burman family's total stake in the New Delhi-based NBFC to well above 50%, effectively granting it majority control. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )LOCAL COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Members of Coker, FMU soccer squads earn All-American honors

( MENAFN - Jordan Times) After finishing Malcolm Gladwell's“Outliers” for the second time, one question lingered in my mind: Why do some individuals succeed while others remain on the margins of achievement? This is the central question Gladwell explores in his renowned book. He argues that success is not merely a product of hard work and personal intelligence but a result of a blend of external environments and internal circumstances shaping one's life. Gladwell highlights the pivotal role of surrounding conditions in shaping the opportunities available to individuals, asserting that success often stems from factors beyond personal willpower. Success depends not only on individual capabilities but also significantly on the conditions and environment surrounding a person. This invites us to ask: How can this idea be applied to Jordan? And how does the volatile regional environment impact the country's development trajectory? Gladwell notes that success often correlates with being in the right place at the right time. For example, individuals born during periods of economic transformation or technological revolutionsand born to a well have family supporting his journey, have greater opportunities for success. He cites examples of successful figures in the technology sector, like Bill Gates, who benefitted from being born to a rich parent during the personal computer boom. He also emphasises the influence of family and societal culture in shaping the values and skills that help individuals succeed. For instance, he highlights the role of a strong work ethic and perseverance passed down through generations in Asian communities. Singapore is often presented as a model of growth and prosperity, drawing comparisons to Jordan. However, Singapore's surrounding environment lacked the geopolitical constraints Jordan faces, such as closed borders due to regional conflicts or hosting millions of refugees, which strain its healthcare, education systems, and scarce resources like water. Surrounding environment has a considerable impact that provides or restricts opportunities for growth, focus, and development. In regards of Geographical Advantage and Challenge, Jordan's geographical location is both a strategic advantage and a significant challenge. On one hand, Jordan serves as a gateway connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, offering the potential to become an economic and trade hub. On the other hand, its location in a conflict-prone region - marked by crises such as the Syrian war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and ongoing instability in Iraq undermines its ability to achieve long-term economic stability. Moving to Human Capital and Societal Culture Jordan boasts a young and educated population, with education being a national priority. Yet, the challenge lies in converting this education into practical skills that translate into economic productivity. Regional Environment and Its Pressures is another factor to look at, the tumultuous regional environment directly pressures Jordan's economy, from refugee influxes to reliance on external aid. This complex reality leaves Jordan facing a delicate equation: How to maintain internal stability amid persistent challenges. Hence, as Gladwell illustrates how the timing of birth impacts individual success, the timing of regional transformations plays a pivotal role in Jordan's development. Since its inception, Jordan has dealt with regional crises, from the Israeli occupation of Palestine and its enduring consequences to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the US invasion of Iraq, and the protracted Syrian war. While these crises have imposed significant burdens, they have also benefited Jordan economy in some ways and to develop sectors like logistics and education. And in review of Educational and Cultural Foundations, Thanks to Jordan's longstanding investment in education, the country has a strong human capital base. However, the issue lies in prioritising“education for certificates” over“education for skills”. According to Gladwell, education systems should focus on fostering practical skills that enable individuals to invest their training hours effectively. The Role of Community and Family have valuable effect, as Gladwell emphasises the role of family and community, Jordan must enhance collaboration between the public and private sectors to stimulate innovation and support youth. Emerging entrepreneurial projects in Jordan demonstrate how local talent can be harnessed to create new opportunities. Jordan must focus on enhancing vocational, industrial and technological training programmes aligned with labour market needs. Too, streamlining legal frameworks and easing investment procedures are critical to encouraging local and foreign investors to channel funds into productive sectors Moreover, efficiently harnessing natural resources, such as solar energy, can reduce dependency on external aid and achieve economic self-reliance. Further, cultural and educational initiatives should foster a shared national identity that inspires youth and embeds values of teamwork and innovation. As“Outliers” demonstrates, success is the result of multiple interconnected factors. Jordan has all the elements needed to achieve excellence, but it requires a clear strategic vision and intelligent investment in its human and natural resources. Amid accelerating regional and global challenges, Jordan's opportunity remains to become a model of a small nation with a profound impact - provided it invests wisely in its internal environment, regardless of the difficulties posed by its surrounding conditions. MENAFN19122024000028011005ID1109014836 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians on Wednesday, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stay with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026. It seemed like a long shot that Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts, would return to Cleveland. He had turned down long-term offers in the past from the club, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely one on the West Coast. But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025. A two-time All-Star, Bieber was named MVP of the midsummer event in 2019 when it was held in Cleveland. He has the highest strikeout ratio per nine innings (10.2) and third-highest winning percentage (.660) in the franchise's 124-year history. Bieber is one of just three Cleveland pitchers to start five season openers, joining Stan Coveleski (1917-21) and Corey Kluber (2015-19). While Bieber had some elbow issues in the past, he didn't show any issues before being shut down. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Oakland on March 28, and followed that up with six more shutout innings at Seattle on April 2. DALLAS — Pitchers again dominated the big league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings, comprising 11 of the 15 unprotected players who were picked Wednesday. The 121-loss Chicago White Sox had the first pick and selected 24-year-old right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Smith was an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest when he was signed by Milwaukee in July 2021. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder has gone 13-7 with a 2.69 ERA and 203 strikeouts over 157 innings in 19 starts and 54 relief appearances over three minor league seasons. There were 14 teams who made picks in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft of players left off 40-man rosters after several minor league seasons. Only Atlanta made two selections, after making none since 2017. Atlanta chose right-hander Anderson Pilar from the Miami Marlins with the 11th pick, and then took infielder Christian Cairo from the Cleveland Guardians with the 15th and final pick in the MLB portion. The 26-year-old Pilar was original signed by Colorado as a minor league free agent in 2015 and has pitched in 213 minor league games that included 17 starts. He is 28-20 with a 2.86 ERA. Teams pay $100,000 to take a player in the major league portion. The players must stay on the big league roster all of next season or clear waivers and be offered back to their original organization for $50,000. Six of the 10 players selected during the Rule 5 draft last December — five of them right-handed pitchers — remained last season with organization that selected them. Two of the four position players taken Wednesday by other teams came from the Detroit Tigers organization: catcher Liam Hicks and third baseman Gage Workman. Miami drafted second after Colorado passed making a selection, and took Hicks. Workman was taken by the Chicago Cubs with the 10th pick. Baltimore lost two right-handed pitchers on back-to-back picks, Juan Nunez to San Diego with the 12th pick before Connor Thomas went to Milwaukee. DALLAS — Tom Hamilton, who has called Cleveland games on the radio for 35 seasons, won the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting on Wednesday. Hamilton, 70, joined the team's broadcast in 1990, when he was with Herb Score in the booth and part of the coverage of their World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997. Hamilton became the voice of the franchise when Score retired after that second World Series. Hamilton will be honored during the Hall of Fame’s induction weekend from July 25-28 in Cooperstown, New York. He was selected the hall's Frick Award 16-member committee as the 49th winner. There were 10 finalists on this year's ballot, whose main contributions came as local and national voices and whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card era. The other nine were Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ernie Johnson Sr., Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Sims and John Sterling. DALLAS — The Texas Rangers acquired slugging corner infielder Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday in a trade for three minor league players. Burger hit .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs in 137 games for the Marlins last season, with 150 strikeouts in 535 at-bats with 31 walks. He started 59 games at third base and made 50 starts at first. Five days of service time short of being eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, he will be eligible next winter and can become a free agent after the 2028 World Series. Miami got infielders Max Acosta and Echedry Vargas and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza. The acquisition of Burger comes about a month after the Rangers hired former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a senior adviser for baseball operations. Luis Urueta, Miami's bench coach the past two seasons, also was added recently to manager Bruce Bochy's on-field coaching staff for 2025. BRIEFLY WHITE SOX: Mike Tauchman is switching sides in Chicago. The White Sox announced a $1.95 million, one-year contract for the outfielder. Tauchman, 34, grew up in Palatine, Illinois, about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, and played college ball for Bradley in Peoria, Illinois. He spent the previous two seasons with the Cubs. TRADE: All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet was acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox for four prospects. Catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery are headed to Chicago.

Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Punjab, on Wednesday announced most of its candidates for the upcoming elections of civic bodies scheduled for Dec 21. They included party nominees for 94 wards of Ludhiana, 56 wards of Patiala, 74 wards of Amritsar and 72 for Jalandhar. A party spokesperson said that the names of 784 candidates had been announced by Wednesday evening and all names would be out by Thursday morning as it is the last date of filing nominations. The party has also announced its candidates for elections of various municipal councils and nagar panchayats, he added. AAP state president Aman Arora, meanwhile, claimed that the party received an ‘overwhelming’ response with over 5,000 applications received for the 977 poll-bound wards in a week’s time. He said, “AAP adopted a grassroots approach to candidate selection. In some wards, we received as many as 15-20 applications per seat. It is an answer to opposition parties like Congress and BJP that alleged that AAP doesn’t have a base in urban areas or questioned the developmental works in the cities. The response of applicants also reflects the people’s faith in the state govt’s policies. The party adopted a transparent mechanism for candidate selection and is confident of emerging victorious.” The elections will cover 87 locations across municipal corporations and committees, along with 49 by-elections to fill vacant seats, and polling will be held on 977 wards. “Several developmental works were accomplished by the AAP govt during the 2.5 years of its tenure. AAP’s track record in urban and rural development has won the trust of the people, as evidenced by their resounding support in recent panchayat and by-elections. AAP is a volunteer-based party and believes in an inclusive approach,” he said. Arora added, “AAP has finalised candidates for 784 wards and names for the remaining wards are under discussion and are likely to be announced by the evening. Winnability and affiliation to the party were the key criteria. The party’s organisational team, including zonal and district leaders, worked tirelessly to ensure the timely selection of candidates despite the short notice.” Arora expressed confidence in AAP’s prospects in these elections. He said, “The high number of ticket aspirants indicates that AAP is the party of choice for the people. Our track record of winning 80-85% of panchayat elections and by-elections is a testament to the people’s trust in us. AAP will replicate its success in the upcoming elections and continue delivering on its promise of development-oriented governance.” Elections of five municipal corporations in the state — Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Phagwara, besides by-elections of certain wards in four others. 170 nominations received A total of 170 nominations were received with regard to municipal corporation, council, and nagar panchayat elections till Wednesday. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

By Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts, KFF Health News (TNS) Tescha Hawley learned that hospital bills from her son’s birth had been sent to debt collectors only when she checked her credit score while attending a home-buying class. The new mom’s plans to buy a house stalled. Hawley said she didn’t owe those thousands of dollars in debts. The federal government did. Hawley, a citizen of the Gros Ventre Tribe, lives on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. The Indian Health Service is a federal agency that provides free health care to Native Americans, but its services are limited by a chronic shortage of funding and staff. Hawley’s local Indian Health Service hospital wasn’t equipped to deliver babies. But she said staff there agreed that the agency would pay for her care at a privately owned hospital more than an hour away. That arrangement came through the Purchased/Referred Care program, which pays for services Native Americans can’t get through an agency-funded clinic or hospital. Federal law stresses that patients approved for the program aren’t responsible for any of the costs. But tribal leaders, health officials, and a new federal report say patients are routinely billed anyway as a result of backlogs or mistakes from the Indian Health Service, financial middlemen, hospitals, and clinics. The financial consequences for patients can last years. Those sent to collections can face damaged credit scores, which can prevent them from securing loans or require them to pay higher interest rates. The December report , by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, found these long-standing problems contribute to people in Native American-majority communities being nearly twice as likely to have medical debt in collections compared with the national average. And their amount of medical debt is significantly higher. The report found the program is often late to pay bills. In some cases, hospitals or collection agencies hound tribal citizens for more money after bills are paid. Hawley’s son was born in 2003. She had to wait another year to buy a home, as she struggled to pay off the debt. It took seven years for it to drop from her credit report. “I don’t think a person ever recovers from debt,” Hawley said. Hawley, a cancer survivor, still must navigate the referral program. In 2024 alone, she received two notices from clinics about overdue bills. Frank White Clay, chairman of the Crow Tribe in Montana, testified about the impact of wrongful billing during a U.S. House committee hearing in April. He shared stories of veterans rejected for home loans, elders whose Social Security benefits were reduced, and students denied college loans and federal aid. “Some of the most vulnerable people are being harassed daily by debt collectors,” White Clay said. No one is immune from the risk. A high-ranking Indian Health Service official learned during her job’s background check that her credit report contained referred-care debt, the federal report found. Native Americans face disproportionately high rates of poverty and disease , which researchers link to limited access to health care and the ongoing impact of racist federal policies . White Clay is among many who say problems with the referred-care program are an example of the U.S. government violating treaties that promised to provide for the health and welfare of tribes in return for their land. The chairman’s testimony came during a hearing on the Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act, which would require the Indian Health Service to create a reimbursement process for patients who were wrongfully billed. Committee members approved the bill in November and sent it for consideration by the full House. A second federal bill, the Protecting Native Americans’ Credit Act , would prevent debt like Hawley’s from affecting patients’ credit scores. The bipartisan bill hadn’t had a hearing by mid-December. The exact number of people wrongfully billed isn’t clear, but the Indian Health Service has acknowledged it has work to do. The agency is developing a dashboard to help workers track referrals and to speed up bill processing, spokesperson Brendan White said. It’s also trying to hire more referred-care staff, to address vacancy rates of more than 30%. Officials say problems with the program also stem from outside health providers that don’t follow the rules. Melanie Egorin, an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said at the hearing that the proposed legislation doesn’t include consequences for “bad actors” — health facilities that repeatedly bill patients when they shouldn’t. “The lack of enforcement is definitely a challenge,” she said. But tribal leaders warned that penalties could backfire. Related Articles Health | How America lost control of the bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic Health | How to kick back, relax and embrace a less-than-perfect holiday Health | New childhood leukemia protocol is ‘tremendous win’ Health | For some FSA dollars, it’s use it or lose it at year’s end Health | Norovirus is rampant. Blame oysters, cruise ships and holiday travel White Clay told lawmakers that some clinics already refuse to see patients if the Indian Health Service hasn’t paid for their previous appointments. He’s worried the threat of penalties would lead to more refusals. If that happens, White Clay said, Crow tribal members who already travel hours to access specialty treatment would have to go even farther. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report found clinics are already refusing to see any referred-care patients due to the program’s payment problems. The bureau and the Indian Health Service also recently published a letter urging health care providers and debt collectors not to hold patients accountable for program-approved care. White, the Indian Health Service spokesperson, said the agency recently updated the referred-care forms sent to outside hospitals and clinics to include billing instructions and to stress that patients aren’t liable for any out-of-pocket costs. And he said the staff can help patients get reimbursed if they have already paid for services that were supposed to be covered. Joe Bryant, an Indian Health Service official who oversees efforts to improve the referral program, said patients can ask credit bureaus to remove debt from their reports if the agency should have covered their bills. Leaders with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington state helped shape the proposed legislation after their citizens were repeatedly harmed by wrongful billing. Tribal Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson said problems began in 2017, when a regional Indian Health Service office took over the referred-care program from local staff. It “created a domino effect of negative outcomes,” Erickson wrote in a letter to Congress. He said some tribal members whose finances were damaged stopped using the Indian Health Service. Others avoided health care altogether. Responsibility for the Colville Reservation program transferred back to local staff in 2022. Staffers found the billing process hadn’t been completed for thousands of cases, worth an estimated $24 million in medical care, Erickson told lawmakers . Workers are making progress on the backlog and they have explained the rules to outside hospitals and clinics, Erickson said. But he said there are still cases of wrongful billing, such as a tribal member who was sent to collections after receiving a $17,000 bill for chemotherapy that the agency was supposed to pay for. Erickson said the tribe is in the process of taking over its health care facilities instead of having the Indian Health Service run them. He and others who work in Native American health said tribally managed units — which are still funded by the federal agency — tend to have fewer problems with their referred-care programs. For example, they have more oversight over staff and flexibility to create their own payment tracking systems. But some Native Americans oppose tribal management because they feel it releases the federal government from its obligations. Beyond wrongful billing, access to the referred-care program is limited because of underfunding from Congress. The $1 billion budget this year is $9 billion short of the need, according to a committee report by tribal health and government leaders. Donald Warne, a physician and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, called the proposed legislation a “band-aid.” He said the ultimate solution is for Congress to fully fund the Indian Health Service, which would reduce the need for the referred-care program. Back in Montana, Hawley said she braces for a fight each time she gets a bill that the referral program was supposed to cover. “I’ve learned not to trust the process,” Hawley said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Luxury sales in Toronto experiencing a stock market bump, say retailers

US-listed shares of Toyota surged 9% Thursday to trade at an intraday high of $197.44. The rise came after Nikkei reported the company aims to double its ROE target to 20%, citing an unnamed executive. The stock has cratered since reaching an all-time high in March amid slowing demand growth and tariff risks. Toyota 's stock is skyrocketing as investors look to cash in on the company's reported efforts to increase profitability. US-listed shares surged 9% as of Thursday afternoon to trade at an intraday high of $197.44. The company's Tokyo-listed shares, meanwhile, rose 6% for an 11% gain over two days, its biggest two-day advance since August. The stock's rise comes after the Nikkei newspaper reported the company aims to double its return on equity target to 20%, up from market forecasts of 11% for the year ending in March. The report cites a company executive who asked not to be named. Toyota's surge brings the company's gains to just over 8% this year, underperforming the S&P 500 's 26% year-to-date rally. The stock's latest rise helps pare recent losses after it had skyrocketed as much as 40% on a year-to-date basis in March. It's largely cratered since amid little demand growth compared to other auto giants like Honda , Nissan, and Mazda , despite being the world's biggest automaker after Germany's Volkswagen AG. The Japanese carmaker's global sales plateaued in November amid slowing demand and a pause in production at two of its facilities. The automaker's production process has also faced high exposure to tariff risks, with 19% exposure to Canada and 8% to Mexico, Citi analysts said in a note last month. President-elect Donald Trump has floated tariffs as high as 25% on both countries, though it remains uncertain if he will fully follow through on the policies or if his proposals are merely negotiation tactics . Other carmakers have similarly surged in recent weeks, with reports of a merger sending Honda and Nissan's stocks skyrocketing. If finalized, the merger would make for the world's third largest automaker by volume, helping the companies better compete with Toyota. Honda and Nissan would have a combined light vehicle volume of 7.4 million units, compared with Toyota's 10.3 million, according to a recent Morgan Stanley note. The merger would also mark the largest in the Japanese auto industry's history and could be the start of a trend as automakers face an increasingly competitive landscape, the analysts said. "Given the industry dynamic, there could be more consolidation to come, in our view. Legacy auto companies that don't find new partners must face the prospect of being smaller companies with higher capex/R&D spend per unit," they wrote.University of Idaho students travel across the campus during a change in classes. (Courtesy of University of Idaho) Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on December 11, 2024 Soon after the State Board of Education began talking about restricting diversity, equity and inclusion programs on campuses, Nick Koenig and other University of Idaho students began fanning out. They started collecting student testimonials about the U of I’s Office of Equity and Diversity — and its programs for women, Black and Latino students and LGBTQ students. “I had sexual trauma resurface causing me to have a panic attack,” wrote one student. “Going to the women’s center, the staff supported me and lent me a shoulder to cry on.” “These offices were the one place I could be my authentic self. No need to ‘fix’ the way I spoke or to ‘hide’ my accent,” wrote a second student. “If it were not for the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Black/African American Cultural Center, I don’t know if I would have graduated, let alone be pursuing a master’s degree.” The testimonials aligned with Koenig’s own experience. A doctoral student who teaches climate science and sociology, Koenig moved from Kentucky to Moscow in 2022, after a Zoom call with the former head of the U of I’s LGBTQA office. “It was absolutely the reason I came,” Koenig said last week. “My story is just one of the numerous stories of these kinds of support services and how they operate day to day.” Koenig has forwarded the 66 student testimonials to the State Board — and to a legislative task force scrutinizing DEI programs. But the State Board is likely to vote next Wednesday on a resolution to limit DEI on campus. And while the U of I says it is waiting to see what the State Board does, Boise State University and Idaho State University have already reined in their own DEI initiatives. By design, or by coincidence, the two universities are backing away from a showdown with the State Board and the Legislature. The heart of the DEI resolution reads as follows: “Institutions shall ensure that no central office, policy, procedure, or initiative is dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion.” The State Board would carve out a series of exceptions — covering federal research grants, accreditation or NCAA rules, among other items. Exceptions aside, the State Board resolution would shut down campus centers that have a DEI component. “Institutions shall ensure that all student success centers are dedicated to all students ... regardless of personal identity characteristics.” The proposal has Gov. Brad Little’s blessing. “Little has long supported the idea that all Idahoans be given the same opportunities to succeed,” spokeswoman Joan Varsek said this week. And while the State Board is taking online comments from students through Friday , that doesn’t change the fact that its resolution has political momentum behind it. If the State Board votes next week, at its last scheduled meeting of the year, the board’s resolution could get out ahead of the Legislature. The Legislature’s DEI task force hasn’t offered any specific proposals yet, and it won’t meet again until the week of Jan. 6, the opening week of the 2025 session. Meanwhile, Boise State and Idaho State have moved first. Months before the Legislature’s task force began its work — and months before the State Board unveiled its DEI resolution — Boise State administrators began talking about closing its Gender Equity Center and its Student Equity Center. It’s unclear exactly when Boise State decided to close the centers. But in a Sept. 24 memo to legislative staff, the university’s government affairs team said the closure was a done deal. (The Legislature’s DEI task force held its first meeting on Oct. 23.) “We’ve been aware of the conversations happening at the state board level and the legislative level,” Jeremiah Shinn, Boise State’s vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, said in an interview Tuesday. “We wanted to be as proactive as we can.” The two equity centers — with nine staffers and a combined budget of about $700,000 — closed on Nov. 29. The money will stay in student support programs, but some of the employees are leaving Boise State. “It won’t be the same staff to a person,” Shinn said. The centerpiece in Boise State’s shift is pretty much what the State Board has in mind: a one-stop shop, the newly opened Student Connections and Success Center. In their Sept. 24 memo to legislative staff, Boise State said it would gear the new center toward a variety of demographic groups that struggle to stay in school: first-generation students, rural students, low-income students eligible for federal Pell grants, Hispanic students, and male students. It’s going to look different, but Shinn says he believes Boise State will be able to serve the different needs of all student groups under one roof. “This is new territory for us and certainly we’ll learn a lot in the coming weeks and semesters,” he said. On Nov. 14 — one week before the State Board’s first hearing on the DEI resolution — Idaho State President Robert Wagner announced said his university would close its Diversity Resource Center and its Gender Resource Center. Both had operated on campus for 20 years or longer, and had a combined budget of close to $150,000. The centers’ programs will move into Idaho State’s own one-stop shop, dubbed the Bengal Student Success Center. Wagner is promising what he calls “a hub for academic growth.” But compliance is at least part of the equation. “This shift allows us to consolidate efforts and provide more streamlined, impactful support for all students while adhering to state guidelines,” Wagner said in a memo to students and staff . For the time being, the U of I’s Office of Equity and Diversity is still intact. That also goes for the programs under its bailiwick: the College Assistance Migrant Program , the Black/African American Cultural Center , the LGBTQA Office , the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Women’s Center . The office has close to 11 full-time staffers and an annual budget exceeding $1.3 million. The Legislature has banned all colleges and universities from using taxpayer funding for DEI programs, so almost all of this $1.3 million comes from student fees. That status quo is certain to change if the State Board resolution passes. The U of I has a “rough idea” of how it would put all of its student support programs under one umbrella, spokeswoman Jodi Walker said Tuesday. But the U of I wants to wait to see what comes from the State Board, to avoid the upheaval that could come from closing and reopening student centers. “We want to align,” she said. “We don’t have to do this twice.” But at the same time, the U of I has been trying to assure the university community that the student programs will not go away. “Maybe we are going to serve them and support them in ways that look different than what we’ve done in the past, maybe it’s from a different office, maybe it’s from different units, but still trying to meet the needs of students and employees as well,” Provost Torrey Lawrence said at a recent Faculty Senate meeting, according to the Lewiston Tribune . Koenig expects the U of I to give in eventually, in order to appease a Legislature that has cut past higher education budgets over DEI. “It sucks that it’s always the most marginalized that are thrown out first ... to save the bottom line,” Koenig said. And that might affect Koenig’s future. Koenig, who uses the pronouns they and them, studies tree rings to gauge climate change. Koenig loves Idaho and its limitless forests. But depending on what happens next legislative session, Koenig said they might leave the state. At this point, the defense of DEI isn’t coming from university leaders — who say they are committed to supporting students of all backgrounds, but who also have to work with the State Board and the Legislature. Instead, that support is bubbling up from the grass roots level. In the days leading up to their most recent meeting on Dec. 2, members of the legislative task force received a flurry of more than three dozen emails from Idahoans, urging the lawmakers to leave DEI programs alone. The emails — obtained by Idaho Education News, through a public records request — came from current and former U of I students, retired educators and a woman who called herself “a concerned grandmother” of a U of I student. “There are certain programs that benefit my granddaughter, such as the Women’s Center,” she wrote. “These are safe places of support and community.” The 66 U of I testimonials — collected by Koenig and fellow students — represent a sliver of an enrollment of nearly 12,300. But one pattern emerged from this small sample. If the U of I’s DEI programs go away, three-fourths of the respondents said they would reconsider attending the U of I or supporting their university. “I definitely wouldn’t want to support a university that doesn’t care for its students and isn’t willing to fight for them,” said one student. “If the university isn’t willing to protect academia then what is it willing to do at all? Why even exist as an institution?” Kevin Richert writes a weekly analysis on education policy and education politics. Look for his stories each Thursday. Due to the timeliness of the topic, this week’s analysis was published on Wednesday, Dec. 11. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX( MENAFN - media OutReach Newswire) SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 23 December 2024 – Graphisoft, a global leader in Building Information Modeling (BIM) software for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, is poised to deepen its impact in Southeast Asia, driven by surging demand for advanced digital tools amid the region's rapid development and growing focus on sustainable construction practices. (from left to right) Márton Kiss, Chief Product Officer, Daniel Csillag, CEO and Gergely Kmethy, Chief Customer Success Officer of Graphisoft Graphisoft's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Daniel Csillag emphasized the importance of the Southeast Asia market to the company's global growth during his recent visit to Kuala Lumpur with key executives, including Chief Product Officer, Márton Kiss, and Chief Customer Success Officer, Gergely Kmethy. "Southeast Asia is a growth powerhouse for the construction industry and is poised to be one of the most dynamic regions in the next 20 years. While Japan is experiencing rapid growth, Southeast Asia remains a key focus for us, with its significant potential and opportunities," said Csillag. "We are excited about the opportunities here and remain committed to strengthen our presence." Established in 1982 by Hungarian architects and mathematicians, Graphisoft has grown into a global powerhouse, often called the ancestor of BIM, with over 200,000 users worldwide and 25 offices across 14 countries. At the heart of Graphisoft's success is its flagship product, Archicad, the world's leading 3D architectural design software. Archicad was recently honored as BIM Product of the Year 2024 at the prestigious Construction Computing Awards (The Hammers), marking its 14th consecutive win in the category. Archicad offers an intuitive interface and powerful tools that streamline design documentation, one-click publishing, photo-realistic rendering, and advanced analysis, allowing architects to focus on creativity. Key features include an automated Keynotes system for consistent documentation, enhanced Rhino-Grasshopper integration for faster parametric design, and a cloud-based AI Visualizer for instant, high-quality rendering. It also supports sustainable design with lifecycle assessment tools integrated with One Click LCA and improves renovation workflows with advanced Point Cloud capabilities . Graphisoft's confidence in Southeast Asia is bolstered by its strong positioning and recent success stories, including its role in the iconic Merdeka 118 skyscraper – the world's second-tallest building –– standing as a testament to Archicad's capabilities. The project exemplifies how Graphisoft's innovative solutions empower architects and engineers to deliver groundbreaking designs while preserving cultural significance and meeting stringent sustainability goals. The global AEC industry's rapid adoption of BIM technologies further underscores Graphisoft's optimism. The global BIM market, valued at US$8.6 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of 16.3%, reaching US$24.8 billion by 2030 . In the Asia-Pacific region , the construction market is experiencing a remarkable upward trend, driven by substantial government investments in infrastructure development. Southeast Asia , in particular, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% between 2024 and 2028, underscoring the region's pivotal role in the industry's transformation. Initiatives like Malaysia's Public Works Department (JKR) Strategic Plan 2021-2025, which targets 90% BIM adoption for projects exceeding RM10 million, exemplify the region's commitment to digital transformation in construction. Graphisoft's growth plan in Southeast Asia is supported by a robust network of partnerships designed to meet the unique needs of the local market: MENAFN22122024003551001712ID1109022263 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

A MUM-of five was slapped with a £1,000 fine right before Christmas for making a simple mistake with her bins. Trisha Malone from Birmingham said the eye-watering penalty has ruined the holidays and she even faces a criminal record if she doesn't pay. Trisha, who is a full-time carer for her disabled son, put her rubbish in a neighbour's communal bin. When she was caught out, she explained to Birmingham City Council that her bin was too small for a family of six but didn't want to leave her rubbish lying around. To her dismay, her pleas to be let off were ignored and she claims the council has "no heart". "I can't afford it. I have five children. When I pay my rent, I have nothing left, and the council is saying I have to pay it in full. There's not even an option for installments," she told Birmingham Live. read more on local councils "I'm a full-time carer for my son. He's six and paralysed down the left side of his body. This fine could ruin our Christmas . They have no heart." She's now worried that she might be sent to prison if she fails to pay the fine. " It's not fair, I didn't throw rubbish on the floor, it wasn't actually fly-tipping. Some people throw stuff everywhere, on roundabouts and all sorts. I didn't do that," she added. She said that her own bin isn't big enough for the amount of rubbish that her family produces. Most read in The Sun Trisha has argued that she has told the council that she needs a bigger bin but her requests have been ignored. A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: "We are not able to offer a comment at this stage while the legal process is ongoing." This comes as South Yorkshire council tightened rules around bin collections. Residents who put the "wrong" rubbish in their bins could be hauled to court and fined up to £2,500 under a new council purge. Town hall snoopers will also be checking on reports about house-holders who leave their bins out on the street after 7pm on collection day. Those who complain their bins were not emptied properly will also face investigation with council bosses in Rotherham, South Yorkshire , using computer records to check the claims. But those who follow the rules will get a special reward stocked, the council equivalent of a Blue Peter Badge, for toeing the line. Eyebrows maybe raised at how complicated the council’s recycling rules already area, for example, greetings cards can be put in bins for paper - but not cards that have glitter.Liquid - Tight Flexible Non - Metallic Conduit Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030 11-24-2024 02:11 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Liquid - Tight Flexible Non - Metallic Conduit Market The liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit market represents a dynamic and continually evolving landscape, shaped by changing consumer demands and technological advancements. In this comprehensive report, we provide an in-depth exploration of the market, designed for a wide range of stakeholders including manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and investors. Our goal is to equip industry participants with essential insights that enable informed decision-making in an ever-changing market environment. This analysis not only examines the current state of the liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit market but also forecasts its future trends. Scope and Purpose This report serves as an extensive resource, thoughtfully curated to deliver actionable intelligence to industry stakeholders. It covers critical elements such as market dynamics, competitive environments, growth opportunities, challenges, and regional differences. The insights provided go beyond mere descriptions, offering a valuable tool for stakeholders to refine their strategies and make informed choices in a competitive market. Request for Sample Report: https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Liquid---Tight-Flexible-Non---Metallic-Conduit-Market/request-for-sample-report Comprehensive Market Analysis We are committed to providing a thorough analysis that explores every aspect of market growth, including shifts in consumer preferences and technological innovations driving demand for liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit products. We also address the challenges faced by the industry, such as economic uncertainties and intense competition, offering insights to help stakeholders navigate these complexities. Key Players in the Liquid - Tight Flexible Non - Metallic Conduit Market: ABB Anamet Electrical, Inc. Atkore Kraloy Eaton Dura-Line Corporation Electri-Flex Company Hubbell IPEX USA LLC. Kaiphone Technology Co.Ltd Southwire Company, LLC. Zhejiang Flexible Technology Co., Ltd. Strategic Guidance for the Future This report invites stakeholders to delve into a detailed examination of the competitive landscape. By profiling key players in the liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit market and analyzing their strategies, we offer crucial insights to help industry participants make informed strategic decisions. Whether it's about outpacing competitors or learning from successful approaches, our analysis is designed to guide stakeholders toward success. Anticipated Insights Understanding the diverse segments within the liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit market is critical to success. Our report breaks down segment sizes, potential growth trajectories, and key trends, offering actionable insights that allow stakeholders to develop targeted strategies and optimize resource allocation. The knowledge provided empowers stakeholders to navigate the complexities of the liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit market with clarity and confidence. Balancing Market Forces and Strategic Impact This report delivers a comprehensive analysis of the factors shaping the liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit market. By evaluating both the drivers of market growth and the obstacles that could impede it, stakeholders gain a holistic understanding of the market's dynamics. For manufacturers, this analysis helps align innovation efforts with consumer demands and regulatory trends, while investors and decision-makers gain a deeper understanding of economic risks and supply chain vulnerabilities, allowing them to make more informed strategic choices. Our goal is to provide stakeholders with the knowledge needed to confidently and successfully navigate the liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit market. Competitive Landscape Our in-depth examination of the liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit market's competitive landscape highlights key players, scrutinizing their strategies and impacts on the industry. By analyzing the approaches of major companies, stakeholders gain a valuable understanding of market dynamics and can leverage these insights to identify growth opportunities, innovate, and make informed strategic decisions. Market Segmentation The report begins with a detailed analysis of the unique characteristics defining each segment within the liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit market. Segmentation can occur across various dimensions, including product types, customer demographics, or specific use cases. Understanding these differences allows stakeholders to tailor their strategies, products, and marketing efforts to meet the specific needs of each segment, enhancing competitive positioning and maximizing opportunities for success. Market Segments: Product Type: PVC TPE Nylon Others Application: Construction Manufacturing Electricity Others Market Size and Segment Growth Potential A crucial part of the report focuses on understanding the size and significance of each market segment. We provide quantitative data that illustrates the market share and contribution of each segment, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, strategic prioritization, and investment. This section offers insights into the growth potential of each segment, including factors driving future expansion, evolving consumer preferences, and technological adoption. Conclusion This report serves as a strategic guide for stakeholders in the liquid - tight flexible non - metallic conduit market, offering comprehensive insights into market segmentation, competitive dynamics, and growth potential. By understanding the market's complexities and emerging opportunities, industry participants can make well-informed decisions that drive success and innovation in this rapidly evolving market. Other Reports Luer Fitting Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Luer-Fitting-Market Silicone Cable Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Silicone-Cable-Market Sterilant Concentrate Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Sterilant-Concentrate-Market Palm Payment Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Palm-Payment-Market "Contact Us Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private Limited Contact No: +91 7580990088 Email Id: sales@dhirtekbusinessresearch.com" "About Us Dhirtek Business Research & Consulting Pvt Ltd is a global market research and consulting services provider headquartered in India. We offer our customers syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our objective is to enable our clientele to achieve transformational progress and help them to make better strategic business decisions and enhance their global presence. We serve numerous companies worldwide, mobilizing our seasoned workforce to help companies shape their development through proper channeling and execution. We offer our services to large enterprises, start-ups, non-profit organizations, universities, and government agencies. The renowned institutions of various countries and Fortune 500 businesses use our market research services to understand the business environment at the global, regional, and country levels. Our market research reports offer thousands of statistical information and analysis of various industries at a granular level." This release was published on openPR.If you've been with the same internet provider for a while, it probably seems like it gets more expensive by the year. In fact, price is the No. 1 reason that people choose not to have a home internet connection at all. A CNET analysis of available internet plans found that the median price for internet in the US is $63 per month for all speeds available, with autopay discounts applied. This price doesn’t include the cost to rent equipment, which on average adds another $15 to your monthly bill. That brings the grand total to around $78 per month for home internet -- almost exactly the same as the $75 that Consumer Reports found when it analyzed 18,359 internet bills in 2022. That's a large expenditure, to be sure -- especially when you factor in price increases that many ISPs build into their plans -- but the price for internet has risen more slowly than overall inflation . According to an FCC analysis , the inflation-adjusted price for internet declined by 19% between 2009 and 2023. Locating local internet providers To find out the real cost of internet in the US, I turned to CNET’s database of internet service providers, which is updated regularly by inputting addresses around the country for 27 of the largest providers. There's an enormous range of prices available. Astound , Mediacom , Xfinity and Ziply Fiber all offer plans starting at just $20 per month. Ziply also has the most expensive (and fastest) internet plan in the country by a mile: $900 a month for an absurdly over-the-top 50Gbps plan. Locating local internet providers For many people, $63 per month probably sounds like a pretty good deal. If you're paying significantly more than that, consider this a wake-up call. There are steps you can take to lower your costs, like negotiating your bill, purchasing your own equipment or downgrading to a cheaper plan. But the best option might be to switch providers altogether. There's been an unprecedented federal investment in internet infrastructure over the past few years, along with new technologies like 5G home internet . If you haven’t evaluated your options in a while, you might be surprised to find some new internet providers on the block. Internet cost by connection type How much you pay for internet is heavily impacted by the connection type you're using. This analysis confirms what many rural internet customers have known for years: Rural providers are the most expensive, with the slowest connections around. DSL and satellite internet -- often the only options in rural areas -- were the slowest connections by far. DSL was particularly sluggish, with median download speeds of just 40Mbps, which doesn’t meet the FCC's minimum definition for broadband internet . Satellite internet was prohibitively more expensive than other connection types. Satellite providers had a median price of $110 per month for download speeds of 100Mbps. Prices for cable internet tend to start pretty low, but these providers are most likely to raise your prices after a year or two (or both). Fiber internet was also on the pricier side, but plans don't typically come with price increases. The median price for fiber internet was $75 per month in the first year and $83 in the third -- much less severe than cable’s $28 jump from the first year to the third. Equipment fees About half the internet plans I looked at included a monthly fee for equipment, but you always have the option to purchase your own modem and router instead of renting it each month from your ISP. The median equipment fee was $15 per month. Rise Broadband and Spectrum have the lowest equipment costs, at $10 per month, while Starlink has the highest, with a required up-front equipment purchase of anywhere from $499 to $2,500. The following providers don’t charge extra for equipment: Some providers jack up prices after a year or two Skyrocketing bills are one of the most frustrating parts of being an internet customer, and this analysis revealed just how much your bill will grow in the second (or third) year. Though the median price in the first year was $63 per month, it rose to $76 in the second year and to $80 in the third year. Some of the providers with the steepest price increases were Mediacom ($50 in the second year), Spectrum ($20-$30 in the second year) and Cox ($28 in the third year). Here are the average price increases associated with each provider: Junk fees These are the extra charges internet providers tack on to your bill for vague purposes like "network maintenance" or "technology service." Thankfully, these are largely a thing of the past. Altice, the company behind Optimum and Suddenlink, was forced to pay $15 million in a class action lawsuit in 2023 for these kinds of charges. I found only five providers that currently impose junk fees. That noted, I wouldn't be shocked to hear about internet providers adding on fees after you enroll that weren't listed while you were shopping. Consumer Reports' analysis was in 2022, but it found 13 ISPs that had junk fees in their bills. How to lower your internet bill If you're paying too much for internet, there are several steps you can take to reduce your monthly costs . Here's what you can do:( ) shares have been having a tough year. As things stand, the giant's shares are on track to record a decline of 25% for 2024. Does this weakness mean that its shares are dirt cheap now? Let's see what brokers are saying. Are Woodside shares dirt cheap? Despite its decline, opinion remains divided on whether its shares are in the buy zone. Let's start with Citi, which is bearish and has a sell rating and $21.50 price target on them. This implies potential downside of almost 9% for investors from current levels. Sitting on the fence are brokers such as Macquarie (neutral $27.00), Ord Minnett (hold $27.50), and Goldman Sachs (neutral $26.90). However, all three of these price targets imply potential upside of at least 14% for investors over the next 12 months. That's not bad for a neutral rating and could support the view that its shares are indeed cheap. Commenting on its neutral rating, Goldman Sachs said: We are Neutral rated on WDS on 1) Relatively full valuation trading at 0.9x NAV, 2) Ongoing Sangomar royalty risk, 3) Limited near-term production growth to offset potential commodity price weakness offering -1% production CAGR to 2027. Our A$26.9/sh 12m PT is unchanged, set at an equal blend of NAV (A$26.5/sh) and EV/EBITDAX with a 4.5x target multiple. Key upside risks: Higher oil and gas prices, slower production decline at existing assets, exploration success, value accretive M&A. Key downside risks: Regulatory change, lower oil and gas prices, faster production decline, development project delays, higher capex for development projects including Scarborough, Pluto Train 2, Trion, value destructive M&A. Bullish view The team at Morgans certainly believes that Woodside shares are cheap. The broker currently has an add rating and $33.00 price target on them, which implies potential upside of 40% for investors. Its analysts see attractive long-term value on offer right now. The broker explains: The tide is certainly out in terms of investor sentiment on WDS. Despite Brent oil trading in line with our long-term forecast, WDS' share price implies a near cycle-low oil price level. We do not see this as capable of being explained by WDS' growth profile (comfortably funded) or risks around non-core assets such as Browse. While the share price performance has been disappointing, supported by a strong balance sheet and high margins, we see WDS investors as capable of being patient. We maintain an ADD recommendation believing WDS offers attractive long-term value.

Reiterates Commitment to Investing in America to Lower Grocery Prices, Raise Associate Wages, and Support Local Communities Highlights Resilience of Value Creation Model and Strong Momentum to Drive Long-term, Sustainable Growth Board of Directors Authorizes $7.5B Share Repurchase Program including $5B Accelerated Share Repurchase CINCINNATI , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today terminated its merger agreement with Albertsons after the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon granted the Federal Trade Commission's request for a preliminary injunction to block the proposed merger. After reviewing options, the company determined it is no longer in its best interests to pursue the merger. "Kroger is moving forward from a position of strength. Our go-to-market strategy provides exceptional value and unique omnichannel experiences to our customers which powers our value creation model. We look forward to accelerating our flywheel to grow our alternative profit businesses and generate increased cash flows. The strength of our balance sheet and sustainability of our model allows us to pursue a variety of growth opportunities, including further investment in our store network through new stores and remodels, which will be an important part of our 8 – 11% TSR model over time," said Rodney McMullen , Kroger's Chairman and CEO. America's Grocer is Committed to Lowering Grocery Prices & Investing in Associates "Kroger has an extraordinary track record of investing in America," said McMullen. "We are at our best when we serve others – our customers, associates, and communities – and we take seriously our responsibility to provide great value by consistently lowering prices and offering more choices. When we do this, more customers shop with us and buy more groceries, which allows us to reinvest in even lower prices, a better shopping experience and higher wages. We know this model works because we've been doing it successfully for many years, and this is exactly what we will continue to do." Kroger's ongoing investments in America include: "I appreciate our associates who remained focused on taking care of our customers, communities and each other throughout the merger process," added McMullen. Share Repurchase Program Including Accelerated Share Repurchases Now that Kroger has terminated the merger agreement, the company is ready to deploy its capacity. With its strengthened balance sheet, Kroger will resume share repurchases after a more than two-year pause. Since announcing the merger, Kroger used its strong free cash flow and debt financing to build meaningful balance sheet capacity while maintaining its investment-grade rating. Kroger's Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $7.5 billion of common stock. The new repurchase authorization replaces Kroger's existing $1 billion authorization which was approved in September 2022 . Kroger intends to enter an accelerated share repurchase ("ASR") agreement for the repurchase of approximately $5 billion of common stock. "Our strong balance sheet and free cash flows position us to deliver on our commitment to grow the business and return capital to shareholders, maintaining capacity to invest in lower prices and higher associate wages," McMullen said. Kroger expects to continue to generate strong free cash flow and remains committed to its capital allocation priorities including maintaining its current investment grade debt rating, investing in the business to drive long-term sustainable net earnings growth, and returning excess free cash flow to shareholders via share repurchases and a growing dividend over time, subject to board approval. Looking forward, Kroger plans to host an Investor Day event in late spring of 2025 to share an update on its strategic priorities, future growth prospects and long-term financial outlook. Merger Debt Redemption In connection with the termination of the merger agreement, Kroger will begin the process of redeeming the $4.7 billion of its senior notes issued on August 27, 2024 , that include a special mandatory redemption provision in accordance with their terms. The notes will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the special mandatory redemption date. Termination of Exchange Offers In connection with the termination of the merger agreement, Kroger has also elected to terminate its previously announced offers to exchange (collectively, the "Exchange Offers") any and all outstanding notes (the "ACI Notes") issued by Albertsons Companies, Inc., New Albertsons, L.P., Safeway Inc., Albertson's LLC, Albertsons Safeway LLC and American Stores Company, LLC (collectively, the "ACI Issuing Entities"), for up to $7,441,608,000 aggregate principal amount of new notes to be issued by Kroger and cash. Kroger has also elected to terminate the related solicitation of consents (the "Consent Solicitation" and, together with the Exchange Offer, the "Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation") on behalf of the ACI Issuing Entities to adopt certain proposed amendments to the indentures governing the ACI Notes (the "ACI Indentures"). As a result of the Exchange Offer being terminated, the total consideration, including any consent fee, will not be paid or become payable to holders of the ACI Notes who have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn their ACI Notes for exchange in the Exchange Offer, and the ACI Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be promptly returned to the tendering holders. As a result of the Consent Solicitation being terminated, the proposed amendments to the ACI Indentures and the supplemental indentures previously entered into reflecting such proposed amendments will not become operative. About the Exchange Offers Global Bondholder Services Corporation served as exchange agent and information agent for the now terminated Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation. You should direct questions and requests for assistance to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at (855) 654-2015 (toll-free) or (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers), or by email at contact@gbsc-usa.com . About Kroger At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human SpiritTM. We are, across our family of companies nearly 414,000 associates who serve over eleven million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names , serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" about Kroger's financial position and the future performance of the company. These statements are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Such statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "achieve," "committed," "confidence," "continue," "deliver," "expect," "future," "guidance," "model," "outlook," "strategy," "target," "trends," "well-positioned," and variations of such words and similar phrases. Various uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include the specific risk factors identified in "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for our last fiscal year and any subsequent filings, as well as the following: Kroger's ability to achieve sales, earnings, incremental FIFO operating profit, and adjusted free cash flow goals may be affected by: the termination of the merger agreement and our proposed transaction with Albertsons and related divestiture plan; labor negotiations; potential work stoppages; changes in the unemployment rate; pressures in the labor market; changes in government-funded benefit programs; changes in the types and numbers of businesses that compete with Kroger; pricing and promotional activities of existing and new competitors, and the aggressiveness of that competition; Kroger's response to these actions; the state of the economy, including interest rates, the inflationary, disinflationary and/or deflationary trends and such trends in certain commodities, products and/or operating costs; the geopolitical environment including wars and conflicts; unstable political situations and social unrest; changes in tariffs; the effect that fuel costs have on consumer spending; volatility of fuel margins; manufacturing commodity costs; supply constraints; diesel fuel costs related to Kroger's logistics operations; trends in consumer spending; the extent to which Kroger's customers exercise caution in their purchasing in response to economic conditions; the uncertainty of economic growth or recession; stock repurchases; changes in the regulatory environment in which Kroger operates, along with changes in federal policy and at regulatory agencies; Kroger's ability to retain pharmacy sales from third party payors; consolidation in the healthcare industry, including pharmacy benefit managers; Kroger's ability to negotiate modifications to multi-employer pension plans; natural disasters or adverse weather conditions; the effect of public health crises or other significant catastrophic events; the potential costs and risks associated with potential cyber-attacks or data security breaches; the success of Kroger's future growth plans; the ability to execute our growth strategy and value creation model, including continued cost savings, growth of our alternative profit businesses, and our ability to better serve our customers and to generate customer loyalty and sustainable growth through our strategic pillars of fresh, our brands, personalization, and seamless; the successful integration of merged companies and new strategic collaborations; and the risks relating to or arising from our proposed nationwide opioid litigation settlement, including our ability to finalize and effectuate the settlement, the scope and coverage of the ultimate settlement and the expected financial or other impacts that could result from the settlement. Our ability to achieve these goals may also be affected by our ability to manage the factors identified above. Our ability to execute our financial strategy may be affected by our ability to generate cash flow. Kroger assumes no obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable law. Please refer to Kroger's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kroger-reiterates-its-commitment-to-lower-prices-and-initiates-new-7-5b-share-buyback-program-302329493.html SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Commerce Bank reduced its holdings in MercadoLibre, Inc. ( NASDAQ:MELI – Free Report ) by 2.9% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 779 shares of the company’s stock after selling 23 shares during the period. Commerce Bank’s holdings in MercadoLibre were worth $1,598,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Planning Capital Management Corp boosted its stake in MercadoLibre by 9.1% during the third quarter. Planning Capital Management Corp now owns 60 shares of the company’s stock worth $123,000 after acquiring an additional 5 shares in the last quarter. Mount Lucas Management LP raised its holdings in shares of MercadoLibre by 3.6% during the third quarter. Mount Lucas Management LP now owns 143 shares of the company’s stock valued at $293,000 after purchasing an additional 5 shares during the period. Belpointe Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of MercadoLibre by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 618 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,016,000 after purchasing an additional 6 shares in the last quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. grew its stake in shares of MercadoLibre by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. now owns 1,472 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,419,000 after buying an additional 6 shares during the period. Finally, Evolutionary Tree Capital Management LLC increased its position in MercadoLibre by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Evolutionary Tree Capital Management LLC now owns 2,071 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,403,000 after buying an additional 6 shares in the last quarter. 87.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. MercadoLibre Stock Up 1.9 % Shares of NASDAQ:MELI opened at $2,005.00 on Friday. MercadoLibre, Inc. has a 1 year low of $1,324.99 and a 1 year high of $2,161.73. The company has a market capitalization of $101.65 billion, a PE ratio of 70.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.61. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $2,025.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $1,856.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.22. Analyst Ratings Changes Get Our Latest Stock Report on MercadoLibre MercadoLibre Company Profile ( Free Report ) MercadoLibre, Inc operates online commerce platforms in the United States. It operates Mercado Libre Marketplace, an automated online commerce platform that enables businesses, merchants, and individuals to list merchandise and conduct sales and purchases digitally; and Mercado Pago FinTech platform, a financial technology solution platform, which facilitates transactions on and off its marketplaces by providing a mechanism that allows its users to send and receive payments online, as well as allows users to transfer money through their websites or on the apps. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MELI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for MercadoLibre, Inc. ( NASDAQ:MELI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for MercadoLibre Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MercadoLibre and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Stock market today: Wall Street ends little changed after giving up a big morning gainMAPUTO, Mozambique. (AP) — At least 6,000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique’s capital on Christmas Day after a rebellion, the country's police chief said, as widespread post-election riots and violence are roiling the country. Police chief Bernardino Rafael said 33 prisoners died and 15 others were injured during a confrontation with the security forces. The prisoners fled during violent protests that have seen police cars, stations and infrastructure destroyed after the country’s Constitutional Council confirmed the ruling Frelimo party as the winner of the Oct. 9 elections. The escape from the Maputo Central Prison, located 14 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of the capital, started around midday on Wednesday after “agitation” by a “group of subversive protesters” nearby, Rafael said. Some of the prisoners at the facility snatched weapons from the guards and started freeing other detainees. “A curious fact is that in that prison we had 29 convicted terrorists, who they released. We are worried, as a country, as Mozambicans, as members of the defense and security forces,” said Rafael. “They (protesters) were making noise, demanding that they be able to remove the prisoners who are there serving their sentences”, said Rafael, adding that the protests led to the collapse of a wall, allowing the prisoners to flee. He called on the escaped prisoners to surrender to authorities and for the population to be informed about the fugitives. Videos circulating on social media show the moment inmates left the prison, while other recordings reveal captures made by military personnel and prison guards. Many prisoners tried to hide in homes, but some were unsuccessful and ended up being detained again. In one video, a prisoner still with handcuffs on his right wrist says he was held n the disciplinary section of the prison and was released by other inmates.