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A little after 9am in Montequinto, Seville, and Jesús Navas walks past the Jesús Navas Stadium and up the little slope in the sunshine, gym to the left, training pitch to the right. The first to arrive and he’s moving OK this morning, which isn’t something he can say every day, but still he comes. Soon, too soon, he won’t. “It’s my life,” he says, “what I’ve always done, who I am.” The stand bearing his name wasn’t here when he first turned up, a quarter of a century ago. Most of this wasn’t; the trophies at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, three miles north, certainly weren’t. Everything changes, except him. “I’m the same as the first day,” he says. That day, Navas was 15, a small, skinny, shy boy from Los Palacios, 15 minutes south. It was 2000 and he has been coming almost every morning since, apart from four seasons in Manchester which he enjoyed more even than you might imagine. He is still small, slight: 5ft 7in and 67kg. Still quiet, too: warm company, but not a man with any desire for the spotlight, any delusions of grandeur. Only he is the grandest footballer of all here at Sevilla Fútbol Club. Navas is the Spanish national team’s most-decorated player and there is a reason his name is written large where he used to train and the B team play, however strange it feels to him passing each morning: because it is written all over Sevilla’s history too. The most significant player in their 119 years, symbol of their academy and their success, their entire model. Navas played a record 393 games for Sevilla – my Sevilla, he calls them every time – left because they needed him to, came back and played 311 more. He has just one left. On Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu, Navas will play his 982nd professional game; aged 39, it will be his last. There has been something comfortingly familiar about him, always there, but he will depart for the last time and on Monday morning he won’t be back at Montequino. “It’s hard,” he says sitting in the players’ area, which hadn’t been built back then either. “It’s difficult for me. I still can’t imagine it. My whole life has been spent doing what I most love. And now ...” There is a pause, a look. “But in the end, it’s a question of health.” Over four years, Navas has suffered. He has an arthritic hip which hurts when he plays, when he trains and when he walks, which some days he can’t. He continued in silence, playing longer than anyone imagined and than he should have done, but can resist no more. “I’ve put up with the pain for four years and this season has been even harder, madness,” he says. “These last six months have been very, very hard. After games it’s difficult to walk. It’s purely physical: I’m stopping because I have to. I’m happy with what I’ve achieved.” What he has achieved is everything, nostalgia and melancholy in the memories, gratitude in the long goodbye, announced last summer and concluding this weekend. Navas says his best battles were with Roberto Carlos and it’s not that the Brazilian has long since departed; it’s that his successor, Marcelo, has been and gone too. He says the footballer he most enjoyed playing with, his best friend, is Fredi Kanouté, and Kanouté retired 11 years ago. Asked for a moment from the many he has made, he chooses someone else’s goal, which is like him: with the clock showing 100.07 in the semi-final of the 2006 Uefa Cup against Schalke, his cross reached Antonio Puerta, who scored the winner, changing their history and their future. Puerta, whose shirt number Navas wears, collapsed on the Pizjuán pitch in August 2007, dying three days later. When Navas made his Sevilla debut against Espanyol two days after his 19th birthday in November 2003, they had not won a trophy for 55 years; he has won eight of them. By the time he left for Manchester City in 2013, he had already played more games than anyone in the club’s history, had scored in a Copa del Rey final and lifted two Uefa Cups, the competition around which Sevilla’s entire identity became built. And still he wasn’t finished. He returned from Manchester with a new position at full-back – “ideal”, he calls it – a Premier League title and two League Cups. He had scored in the 2014 final and in the shootout two years later. He returned with a fondness that’s clear too, continuing when the tape stops. Yet for Navas more than anyone, there was nowhere like home. “The Pizjuán,” he says. Apart from the Pizjuán? “I, er ... I wouldn’t know what to say.” So he came back and carried on doing what he always had; different position, same Navas. He lifted two more Uefa Cups, his crosses creating goals in the 2020 and 2023 Europa League finals. Captain in Cologne and Budapest, when he lifted the trophy for the last time it was 17 years since the first. Fourteen passed between his first and last with Spain. He won the Euros in 2012 and 2024, and the World Cup in 2010, the greatest moment in the country’s history beginning at his feet. It is one he admits watching every two or three days but couldn’t imagine even then. “All I was thinking was getting to the other end as fast as I could.” That’s it? “That’s it.” He smiles. “It’s what the manager asked,” he says; it is what he does too. Three opponents trail behind, defenders appear either side like a sequence from Captain Tsubasa, cartoonish and comic, and he just keeps running. “And then ... well, it’s the greatest thing that can happen to a kid who loves football.” The boy who had anxiety attacks, who literally couldn’t leave home, went round the world and won it all. That he even set off was something; that he went to Manchester seemed impossible, it might as well have been Mars; that he was there in South Africa had taken care and conviction, support and strength. Navas had missed the Under-20 World Cup in 2005, had to abandon his first pre-season with Sevilla, coming and going to Huelva from home while the rest stayed in the hotel, and his full international debut was delayed until November 2009, when he had fought his way through and the conditions had been created for him to feel able to join them. I’m proud of the trophies but the nicest thing is to take their love with me “That first big leap came so fast,” he says. “I arrived at Sevilla at 15 and in two years I was playing in primera. For a simple kid from a small town, it was a drastic change. We’re people. On the pitch, everything was OK. But I assimilated it all bit by bit. And I have been able to enjoy football: it has given me life.” There’s a toughness in the timidity. You’re a hard man. Navas’s response is swift, definitive: “Yes.” “It’s mental. Physical, too,” he says. “To put up with all this pain. After games it is hard to walk but here I am. “Manchester was wonderful. Going wasn’t such a hard decision [as it seems]. Sevilla were in [financial] difficulty, that appeared, and I didn’t doubt. I wanted the challenge, to be able to say: ‘I can. I’m strong.’ What I suffered back then tested me. I wanted to grow in every way. There was a human side, a tremendous growth. The Premier League is incredible: the speed is unique and I wanted to experience that. Also, the lifestyle didn’t change really: I train, I go home. It was harder for my wife; our son had just been born and she came back every so often. But football was all I was looking for and it was incredible.” Navas returned from City in 2017 after four seasons, 183 games, and, aged 32, supposedly nearing the end. Pep Guardiola later admitted he had let him go too soon but he understands the decision and so did everyone else. He had a season left, maybe two. It has been eight. Two more Uefa Cups. A return to the Spain squad five years later, the only man from that generation playing with this new one. “That’s the way I live; every day I want more. I never settle for anything.” There’s that edge again: there is something in Navas’s career, his style, that speaks above all of insistence, relentlessness. Quiet he may be, but he is a competitor. “A [then] 38-year-old who trains like an 18-year-old,” Spain’s captain, Álvaro Morata, said in 2023. Navas says: “When I was in Manchester I went four, five years without being called up. Every Friday the squad was named I would be watching, waiting, hanging on the announcement. That was really, really hard. But I always held on to that hope. You keep going, keep hoping. And in the end, I was there.” Right to the end, another winner’s medal round his neck, nothing left to give. He deputised for Dani Carvajal against Georgia, playing 85 minutes with his ankle swollen out of shape. “I’m strong in that sense. With my hip, a knock wasn’t going to force me off,” he says. “And what made us win was looking out for each other.” He faced Kylian Mbappé in the semi-final at 38, no pressure. “Well, I’ve been in football a long time and played lots of good players,” he says. And then on the eve of the final he finally revealed what he had been going through, admitting this was the end with Spain. There was no announcement, no noise, it just slipped out. He hurt, yet held on. Six more months. Why? “Because it’s my life. I wanted to be here with my Sevilla during this transition, help the younger players. And making people happy is the most important thing.” Last Saturday he played his last game at the Sánchez Pizjuán. “The moment I hope would never arrive has arrived,” he told his teammates before the game. As it ended, he sat on the substitutes’ bench alongside Manu Bueno, a portrait of the passage of time: the 20-year-old academy product who hadn’t been born when Navas made his Sevilla debut and trained and played at the Estadio Jesús Navas with the B team scored the only goal, the pair departing together immediately after. Navas embraced everyone, knelt and kissed the turf, sobbing as the stadium stood as one. When he lifted his shirt, he folded it so the name couldn’t be seen, only the number: Puerta’s 16. Yet the name chanted was Navas’s, a man who belongs to everyone, universally admired in part because he never tried to be anything other than himself. “It’s hard to understand so much love,” Navas says. “People thank you for everything you’ve done, the way you are: the values my family showed me and I try to show my kids. Am I an unusual footballer? Could be. That might be why there’s affection. Because I’m normal. Because despite the pain I’m here giving everything. Because I haven’t changed. That’s what I hold on to. I’m proud of the trophies but the nicest thing is to take their love with me. Every ground I go to, there’s been applause; that’s incredible.” A teammate tells me: “You will not find a single person in football who has a bad word to say about him, still less anyone that has ever argued with him.” One more left: the Bernabéu on Sunday. And then what? Coach? “No. People say: ‘You will because what you love is football,’ but I don’t see it. There is something I would like to do, something there in my mind,” Navas says. “I always followed Miguel Indurain. I love watching Pogacar and Vingegaard. It was always about football for me as a kid, but in the summer it would be the Tour de France. I’d like to cycle, and do it properly. It will be something I try, for sure. I can’t go out there just to pass the time, no. I’m not like that. I compete, give everything. Cycling is hard and I like that. I’ve been competing all my life and I have that ‘itch’.” It’s almost time. Navas’s teammates start arriving, the last of hundreds he has had, all of them marked by him. Outside the sun is shining, once more into the fray. “Football is everything, my life. It’s what I’ve always done, every day,” he says. “I’ll have to look for something else, keep doing sport. And the bike is non-impact, it doesn’t hurt my hip. But today, I train. To the end. That’s what brought me this far.” The Guardian Sporta jollibee 。

During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump pitched an idea to quickly reduce the number of tents on the nation’s streets: Offer up other places for people to camp. He’d start with a big plot of land. Then his team would hire social workers, psychiatrists and other medical staff which together could “create tent cities where the homeless can be relocated,” he said last year in a video . That idea might sound familiar. San Diego already has two designated camping areas by Balboa Park where hundreds spend each night in red tents , and the project appears to offer at least one area of agreement between local leaders and the president-elect. Yet when it comes to other fronts in the fight to end homelessness — including a longstanding housing-first policy, funding for migrants, encampment crackdowns and a local proposal to create what would likely be the nation’s largest shelter — the debates may be more contentious, especially considering the budget deficits facing both California and the city of San Diego. “Am I concerned about Trump coming in and cutting budgets? Sure,” said Jennifer Nations, managing director of the Homelessness Hub research lab at UC San Diego. “Would it have happened anyway? Maybe.” Housing First Trump’s first administration opposed the federal government’s longstanding “Housing First” policy that prioritizes getting people safe places to live before other problems are addressed. One report from his U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness called it a failed “one-size-fits-all approach,” yet that declaration didn’t come until October 2020, shortly before Trump lost the election to Joe Biden. Trump’s more recent homelessness speeches suggest he may revisit a policy overhaul. For “those who are severely mentally ill and deeply disturbed, we will bring them back to mental institutions,” he said. A growing body of research has found that a lack of affordable housing is the primary driver of homelessness and there is ample evidence that Housing First can work. This is partially why San Diego shelters are generally “low barrier,” meaning sobriety isn’t required, and leaders in Sacramento don’t appear eager to toss California’s own Housing First model. Nonetheless, Trump could potentially reduce how much money is available for certain housing projects. One bright side? There might instead be more funding for shelters and treatment programs, said Tamera Kohler, CEO of the Regional Task Force on Homelessness. “That does meet a need,” she added. Veterans and migrants In another video from last year, Trump pledged to redirect money spent on migrants toward citizens who’ve served in the military. “I will make it a personal mission to totally eradicate veterans’ homelessness in America by the end of next term,” he said. That could mean more funds for housing vouchers, a form of rental assistance credited with reducing veteran homelessness nationwide. However, San Diego County officials have long said there’s not enough federal aid to help those crossing the border get to their final destinations, which are often in other states, and a drop in support might lead to more immigrants ending up on local streets . Crackdown Trump’s campaign video also promised a crackdown on encampments. “There is nothing compassionate about letting these individuals live in filth and squalor rather than getting them the help that they need,” he said. Much of the state appears to agree. Several cities, including San Diego, have already approved camping bans that boost penalties for sleeping outside, while California voters just passed Proposition 36 to toughen sentences for drug possession. County officials are additionally in the process of implementing Senate Bill 43 to detain more people incapacitated by substance abuse. Yet there are nowhere near enough beds at traditional shelters or rehabilitation facilities for everyone asking for help, much less those taken against their will, nor is it clear if a president would have much influence over local law enforcement. San Diego officials directed questions about the federal government’s jurisdiction concerning area encampments to the city attorney’s office, where a spokesperson declined comment. Sunbreak Ranch Trump’s comments about “tent cities” were seized upon by proponents of a different homelessness proposal called Sunbreak Ranch, which calls for the creation of a massive campus somewhere in the county that could theoretically serve thousands. “San Diego is uniquely well-positioned to be the pilot program location,” businessman George Mullen wrote in an email. “And once Sunbreak is proven, it can be rapidly replicated up California and across America.” The basic idea has been endorsed by a number of local and national leaders , including Ben Carson, Trump’s former secretary of housing and urban development. Critics argue it’s an pipe dream. Mullen previously pushed to use part of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, just off Interstate 15, but the site’s commanding officer has said the area likely has too many buried explosives . Nonetheless, Trump’s reelection may raise the odds that federal land is made available for homelessness services. A spokesperson for Mayor Todd Gloria said they hoped for a good working relationship with the incoming administration. “We are always open to any realistic solution that helps people,” Rachel Laing wrote in an email. “Certainly, we would welcome more behavioral health resources for those suffering from mental health and substance use disorders.” Trump does not yet appear to have nominated candidates to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the interagency homelessness council, both of which could have significant influence over the crisis. ©2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Furthermore, merging with Ford China could provide Lincoln with a much-needed boost in terms of marketing and distribution. Ford has a well-established network of dealerships and service centers across China, which could help Lincoln expand its reach and improve its customer experience. By aligning their operations more closely, Lincoln and Ford could also streamline their marketing efforts and coordinate their branding strategies to better resonate with Chinese consumers.In preparation for the match against Paris, the Salzburg defenders have been working tirelessly on perfecting their defensive techniques, studying the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents, and analyzing potential strategies to contain Paris's potent attack. They understand the challenges that lie ahead but are fully committed to rising to the occasion and giving their all on the field.Newest Sacramento State football head coach Brennan Marion is no stranger to the Hornets’ green and gold colorway. Marion first donned the colors as head coach of the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School football team in 2013. In Marion’s only season as a head coach at St. Pat’s, he led the Bruins to the first round of the playoffs. The team finished 5-6 overall in 2013 and lost a first-round playoff game to Piner. Marion resigned shortly afterwards to become the head coach at Waynesboro Area Senior High School in Pennsylvania. At Waynesboro, Marion dove deeper into his innovative ‘Go-Go’ offense and took it with him to eight different college coaching stops across the nation. The ‘Go-Go’ offense is a high-tempo, downhill run game that lines up two running backs next to the quarterback. It was most notably on display in his two seasons as the offensive coordinator at UNLV from 2023-2024. This past season, the Rebels ranked 35th in the FBS in total offense (425.8 yards per game) and 14th in scoring (36.2 points per game). Marion also worked with NFL wide receivers Jordan Addison and Xavier Worthy during his time as the wide receiver coach at the University of Texas and the University of Pittsburgh. After former Sac State head coach Andy Thompson stepped down, the Hornets sprung for the offensive guru and Marion accepted his first college head coaching job on Dec. 20. Marion is already off to a hot start in the transfer portal, bringing in multiple FBS transfers to Sac State. Some of the notable names include former Oregon State wide receiver Jordan Anderson and Tulsa quarterback Cardell Williams. Marion has also found success on the recruitment trail, drawing talent from the Bay Area. In a post on X, he expressed his appreciation for the region where he took his first head coaching role. “Vallejo or the Valley Jo or the home of Mac Dre or the Home of E-40 or as I say Springs Road! Has always been good to me!!! Bay Areaaaaa!!! That’s 2 from the soil! #GoGoSacramento,” Marion said in a post on X. Marion also has experience as a player. He was a wide receiver and was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2009, but never played in an official game. He played college football for Foothill, De Anza, and Tulsa. At Tulsa he set the single-season NCAA FBS yards-per-catch record in a single season at 31.9 and finished as the NCAA career leader at 28.7 yards-per-catch. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

China’s outbound mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity could jump, as US president-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats accelerate the globalisation of mainland enterprises, according to industry experts. Bracing for the possibility of 60 to 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods, firms in the world’s second-largest economy are exploring ways to reduce reliance on the US, albeit in a frail global M&A environment beset by high interest rates and ongoing geopolitical tensions. “More tariffs may mean that the globalisation of Chinese companies is going to get faster,” said Stanley Lah, Asia-Pacific and China M&A services leader at Deloitte. “Chinese companies will consider moving faster to look for alternatives in shipping or selling to the US. That is quite loud and clear.” M&A activity should emerge as a speedier solution to satisfy Chinese companies’ objective of being more effective in global markets, compared with greenfield investments such as setting up sales offices or manufacturing facilities, he added. Chinese outbound M&A deals fell 16.5 per cent to US$17 billion so far this year, compared with the same period last year, according to London Stock Exchange Group data. Last year, the tally rose 59 per cent year on year to US$27 billion – still far below the 2016 peak of US$202 billion. Dealmakers have seen some rebound in China’s outbound M&A, especially in the sectors with Beijing’s “blessings”, according to Federico Bazzoni, CEO of investment banking at Vantage Capital Markets. “I see some activities coming back in specific sectors,” he said, mentioning manufacturing, technology, new energy such as solar power and batteries, and “a little bit” on consumer products. “Valuations are coming down.”As a judge, Alexander P. Bicket made those around him feel at ease. Whether it was from the bench of his third-floor courtroom with the parties before him or in his chambers, where he regularly welcomed students, interns and young lawyers, he was unassuming. A native of South Africa — with a strong accent even more than 40 years after coming to the United States — Bicket showed a genuine interest in those around him. “He just collected friends and people who cared for him,” said his wife, Susan Bicket. “My life was enriched by it.” Bicket, 68, of Mt. Lebanon, died on Monday at home. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer nearly three years ago and continued to work throughout his treatment. Most people in the Allegheny County Courthouse on Grant Street did not know Bicket, who never smoked, was ill. Bicket. who worked in Common Pleas Court for 13 years, presided over several high-profile cases during his time in the criminal division, including the homicide trial of former East Pittsburgh police officer Michael Rosfeld in 2019, and the 2020 guilty pleas in the rare book thefts from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh . Sense of justice Originally from Cape Town, Bicket attended a private boarding school at the foot of Table Mountain, which overlooks the city, from the age of 6, said his twin brother, Nicholas “Nicky” Bicket. The judge excelled in sports, his brother said, including sailing and riding their pony — until he was thrown off one too many times. As for academics, he excelled there, as well, although his brother was quick to point out Bicket failed his history exams his senior year of high school. That same year, Bicket, a tenor who had performed for years in their school choir, played the role of Major-General in “The Pirates of Penzance.” It was a performance they still talk about, his brother said. After high school graduation in 1973, Bicket was called up to the South African Defence Force for a year, where he primarily served as a junior chef for officers. Afterward, Bicket attended South Africa’s Stellenbosch University. It was there, his brother said, that Bicket developed a deep discomfort with the country’s apartheid regime that discriminated against its nonwhite majority. Bicket grew uncomfortable in the whites-only school. “He was aware that it was patently unfair,” his brother said. “He developed a very strong sense of justice and injustice. “He found racism — institutionalized or not — to be something he abhorred.” They were feelings that continued to guide Bicket, decades later, in his career on the bench. Although Bicket started out in legal studies, friends persuaded him to switch to education. He later earned a teaching degree from the University of Cape Town. Bicket taught in South Africa for two years before following a girlfriend to New York City. There, he earned a master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University before moving with her to Pittsburgh, where she got a job as a doctor. The two eventually broke up. Switching careers Bicket, who needed a job and a visa, went to the Fox Chapel Area School District — wearing flip-flops, cut-off shorts and a T-shirt, according to his wife. He applied to teach Latin and English. “He said, ‘I need to be sponsored for citizenship.’ They said, ‘OK, you’re hired,’ ” Susan Bicket said. He was shocked that they offered him the job, but the high school had been looking to fill the Latin spot for years, his brother said. When school officials saw Latin on his transcripts, they thought Bicket had studied it in college. However, the transcript they’d seen was from his high school studies, his brother said. “He didn’t know any Latin,” he said. Nonetheless, Bicket thrived in the district, working there from 1982 to 1989, and earning an award for teacher of the year. In 1988, he became a U.S. citizen. While working at Fox Chapel, he enrolled in the night law school program at Duquesne University. It was there where he met his future wife, Susan Mosites, who attended the day program. They married in 1991, and their son, Alexander Ian, now 30, was born a few years later. August followed five years after that. Both children live in California now. The family traveled extensively, Susan Bicket said, including frequent trips to England and South Africa. They visited his brother in Cambridge often, and the judge’s favorite part of his visits to London was drinking ale there. “He would step off the plane and look for an old pub,” Nicky Bicket said. He also recalled his brother, in his younger years, taking pint glasses from those same pubs in London to collect them. Bicket loved Bach, but his favorite song was “American Pie” by Don McLean. His favorite place, his wife said, was Pearly Beach on the Cape Whale Coast in South Africa. A judicial temperament After graduating from law school, Bicket joined Zimmer Kunz. He worked in insurance defense for 23 years, including serving as a special master for U.S. District Judge Alan Bloch. In 2011, he ran for and won a seat on the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. “That was his favorite job by a long shot,” his wife said. Bicket spent the first four years in the family division. His parents had been divorced when he was 2, his wife said, so it gave him additional insight and empathy into the difficulties parents and children faced. He moved to the criminal division in 2015. Bicket enjoyed the drama of the courtroom and understanding the psychology behind the people who appeared before him, his wife said. U.S. District Judge Robert Colville knew Bicket for years when they both worked as attorneys, but they became close friends when Bicket was elected to the bench. “He had a keen and intellectual respect for the rule of law, balanced against a sincere and unrelenting compassion for people, simply as fellow human beings deserving of dignity.” Judge Jill E. Rangos was close to Bicket and often popped into his chambers — filled with dozens of photographs of his loved ones and always kept exceedingly warm with a space heater — to chat. He directed his visitors to one of two chairs, and Bicket sat on the couch opposite, propping his feet up on the coffee table in front of him. Rangos called him unpretentious. “He cared more about you and less about telling you about himself,” Rangos said. In an interview soon after Bicket was elected, he was asked what kind of judge he wanted to be. His answer: “‘prepared, courteous, punctual, polite and compassionate.’” “He was all those things and more,” Rangos said. Bicket still dressed like a high school teacher, she recalled, noting he wore a shirt and tie and sweater, but rarely the full suit typical of a judge. Each day before his staff left, Bicket unfailingly thanked them for their work. Bicket enjoyed performing weddings, and just a few weeks before he died, led the ceremony for his secretary and her now-husband, his wife said. He also filled the role of ethics judge in Allegheny County, Rangos said. She and others, including attorneys, went to him with questions on ethical dilemmas, seeking guidance. Lawyers loved to appear in Bicket’s courtroom, Rangos said. “People thought they were treated justly,” she said. “When you talk about a judicial temperament, he was the ideal of that.” Attorney Michael Machen, who became friends with Bicket, agreed. “You were delighted to see he was your judge,” Machen said. In addition to his wife, children and brother, Bicket is also survived by his granddaughter, Artemis; and two nieces. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Slater Funeral Home at 1650 Greentree Road.Vardy helps Van Nistelrooy to first win with Leicester as Guehi defies the FA with religious message

Title: Chairman of Lüde Group Involved in Controversial Photos? Distributors Penalized - Lüde Group Reports and Debunks RumorsAs tensions escalated, the food stall owner reported receiving threats from his peers in the canteen. Fearing for his safety and unable to bear the pressure, the stall owner made the difficult decision to close down the business. This sudden closure left students who frequented the stall disappointed and outraged, leading to widespread complaints and demands for action to be taken.

One of the key highlights of the seminar was the introduction of new technologies and tools for enhancing intellectual property protection in e-commerce. Experts showcased cutting-edge software solutions, artificial intelligence algorithms, and blockchain technology that can help detect and prevent intellectual property infringement more effectively. These innovative technologies offer promising opportunities for e-commerce businesses to strengthen their intellectual property rights protection strategies and ensure a fair and competitive marketplace for all stakeholders.The decision to produce an SUV as Xiaomi's first car model is strategic, as SUVs are the most popular car segment worldwide. With their spacious interiors, rugged design, and versatility, SUVs have gained immense popularity among consumers of all demographics. By introducing the YU7 as its debut car model, Xiaomi is aiming to capture a significant market share and establish itself as a formidable player in the automotive industry.

Norman confirms he's to be replaced as LIV Golf CEOShenzhen, a bustling city known for its innovation and progress, recently bid a poignant farewell to Oscar, its very first guide dog. Oscar, a Labrador Retriever, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 12, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, companionship, and unwavering dedication to his owner, Mr. Li.

The United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness this year, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country, federal officials said Friday. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said federally required tallies taken across the country in January found more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless — a number that misses some people and does not include those staying with friends or family because they don't have a place of their own. That increase comes on top of a 12% increase in 2023, which HUD blamed on soaring rents and the end of COVID-19 pandemic assistance. The 2023 increase also was driven by people experiencing homelessness for the first time. The numbers overall represent 23 of every 10,000 people in the U.S., with Black people being overrepresented among the homeless population. A man walks past a homeless encampment Oct. 25, 2023, in downtown Los Angeles. Jae C. Hong, Associated Press "No American should face homelessness, and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring every family has access to the affordable, safe, and quality housing they deserve," HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman said in a statement, adding that the focus should remain on "evidence-based efforts to prevent and end homelessness." Among the most concerning trends was a nearly 40% rise in family homelessness — one of the areas that was most affected by the arrival of migrants in big cities. Family homelessness more than doubled in 13 communities impacted by migrants including Denver, Chicago and New York City, according to HUD, while it rose less than 8% in the remaining 373 communities. Almost 150,000 children experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024, reflecting a 33% jump from last year. Disasters also played a part in the rise in the count, especially last year's catastrophic Maui wildfire, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. More than 5,200 people were in emergency shelters in Hawaii on the night of the count. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents assist state police as they order people living in a homeless encampment to move to a different designated location during a sweep ahead of a Taylor Swift concert in New Orleans. Gerald Herbert, Associated Press "Increased homelessness is the tragic, yet predictable, consequence of underinvesting in the resources and protections that help people find and maintain safe, affordable housing," Renee Willis, incoming interim CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said in a statement. "As advocates, researchers, and people with lived experience have warned, the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to increase as more people struggle to afford sky-high housing costs." Robert Marbut Jr., the former executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness from 2019 to 2021, called the nearly 33% increase in homelessness over the past four years "disgraceful" and said the federal government needs to abandon efforts to prioritize permanent housing. "We need to focus on treatment of substance use and mental illness, and bring back program requirements, like job training," Marbut said in an email. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts The numbers also come as increasing numbers of communities are taking a hard line against homelessness. People living in a homeless encampment pick up belongings Oct. 23 after Louisiana State Police ordered them to move to a different designated location during a sweep ahead of a Taylor Swift concert in New Orleans. Gerald Herbert, Associated Press Angered by often dangerous and dirty tent camps, communities — especially in Western states — have enforced bans on camping. That follows a 6-3 ruling this summer by the Supreme Court that found outdoor sleeping bans don’t violate the Eighth Amendment. Homeless advocates argued that punishing people who need a place to sleep would criminalize homelessness. There was some positive news in the count, as homelessness among veterans continued to trend downward. Homelessness among veterans dropped 8% to 32,882 in 2024. It was an even larger decrease for unsheltered veterans, declining 11% to 13,851 in 2024. "The reduction in veteran homelessness offers us a clear roadmap for addressing homelessness on a larger scale," Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said in a statement. "With bipartisan support, adequate funding, and smart policy solutions, we can replicate this success and reduce homelessness nationwide. Federal investments are critical in tackling the country's housing affordability crisis and ensuring that every American has access to safe, stable housing." Several large cities had success bringing down their homeless numbers. Dallas, which worked to overhaul its homeless system, saw a 16% drop in its numbers between 2022 to 2024. Los Angeles, which increased housing for the homeless, saw a drop of 5% in unsheltered homelessness since 2023. A rat sniffs the hand of a sleeping man experiencing homelessness Dec. 18 in downtown Los Angeles. Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press California, the most populous state in the U.S., continued to have the nation's largest homeless population, followed by New York, Washington, Florida and Massachusetts. The sharp increase in the homeless population over the past two years contrasts with success the U.S. had for more than a decade. Going back to the first 2007 survey, the U.S. made steady progress for about a decade in reducing the homeless population as the government focused particularly on increasing investments to get veterans into housing. The number of homeless people dropped from about 637,000 in 2010 to about 554,000 in 2017. The numbers ticked up to about 580,000 in the 2020 count and held relatively steady over the next two years as Congress responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with emergency rental assistance, stimulus payments, aid to states and local governments and a temporary eviction moratorium. Homelessness is intertwined with the cost of living, and the high cost of living is hitting older adults fairly hard. A Westat survey for the Department of Health and Human Services found that older adults are the fastest-growing cohort of the homeless population. Emergency housing for seniors can keep that number from climbing higher. Caring.com details how to access it. The number of homeless seniors isn't based solely on people remaining homeless as they age; it also includes those whose first experience with homelessness came after they turned 50. In 2023, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported that 1 in 5 homeless people were over the age of 55. For seniors and other older adults, fixed incomes make it hard to battle the ever-increasing cost of expenses. Endhomelessness.org cites that 2.35 million older adults are paying over half of their limited income to rent. Based on Caring.com's July 2024 survey of seniors in the workforce , that's exactly why 1 in 15 retired seniors worry about losing their homes. Shelter use in homeless people older than 51 has gone up over 10% from 2007 to 2017, according to the HUD. But luckily, so has the number of shelters. Between 2022 and 2023, the HUD reports that emergency shelters added 28,760 more beds in emergency shelters, though this is a reduction in the amount of beds available during the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. What Is Emergency Housing? Emergency homeless assistance, or emergency housing, is a temporary solution. It's designed to provide shelter while those facing housing instability figure out their next step. Emergency housing for homeless seniors gives someone the immediate ability to remain housed and safely sheltered. Local nonprofits are often involved in placing people experiencing homelessness or housing instability into emergency shelters. Low-income seniors, seniors who are low on funds and might not make rent, or seniors who need to leave their homes for other reasons can use emergency housing. How To Find Emergency Housing For Seniors Many cities have their own emergency housing programs. There are also nationwide programs that provide emergency housing for seniors. The internet is the fastest tool for locating local emergency housing. Libraries have free internet access, for those who might not have a computer or Wi-Fi to begin their search. The list below leads to websites that include phone numbers for emergency homeless assistance. Senior Programs for Emergency Housing Crisis Hotline 2-1-1 Seniors in need of immediate assistance and resources should call 2-1-1 or contact the United Way online . The 2-1-1 crisis hotline partners with United Way, which is committed to helping homeless seniors find local shelters or access transitional housing. The service can also connect seniors with other resources, including food, mental health support, or funding for health care expenses. Calling 2-1-1 is often required as a prerequisite before trying to get into a shelter or obtaining other assistance. Eligibility information Because 2-1-1 is for people in crisis, there are no eligibility requirements. However, some programs seniors may access through 2-1-1 do have eligibility requirements. Application information Seniors can simply dial 2-1-1 from nearly anywhere in the U.S. to be put in touch with the programs and resources they need. Housing Choice Voucher Program Designed specifically for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families, the Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federal program offering low-income housing options and rent assistance. These vouchers are available through your local public housing agency (PHA). This program enables and encourages participants to choose their own housing. Housing options don't need to be a part of subsidized housing projects, but there are limits on unit size. Typically, participants must pay 30% of their monthly adjusted income towards their rent, and the voucher program pays the remainder. Eligibility information Applicant income and family size help the PHA determine eligibility. Citizenship and eligible immigration status also play a factor. The family's income cannot exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area where they're applying to live. Of the vouchers, 75% must go to people whose income is at or less than 30% of their area's median income. Application information Contact your local public housing agency . Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program The Section 202 program helps expand the supply of affordable housing with supportive services for seniors. This program gives low-income seniors options that allow them to live independently, with support for cooking, cleaning, transportation, etc. Eligibility information This program is open to any very low-income household that has at least one person 62 years old or older. Application information Applicants must submit an application in response to a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) posted on Grants.gov . U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing Voucher (HUD-VASH) The HUD-VASH program was created as emergency homeless assistance for veterans. Its goal is to give homeless veterans access to permanent housing through public housing authorities. Veterans receive rental assistance through the HUD Housing Choice Voucher program and additional case management services through the VA. By December 2023, the HUD had allocated nearly 112,000 vouchers to help house veterans nationwide. To help veterans achieve stability and remain housed, VA case managers may connect veterans with support services such as health care, mental health treatment, and substance use counseling. Eligibility information If you or your loved one is a low-income senior with eligible military service, you may apply. Your local VA can tell you if your service qualifies you for HUD-VASH. Application information Senior veterans may apply online or call (877) 424-3838. Emergency Housing Resources by State Click here to learn more about the emergency housing options for seniors available in your state. The Bottom Line Low-income seniors who aren't in assisted living or independent living communities might find themselves facing housing instability. Emergency housing for seniors can help you or your loved one seek shelter. Crisis hotlines and public housing agencies can offer support. Senior Emergency Housing FAQ How long does it take to find emergency senior housing? Finding emergency housing for seniors depends heavily on your area. The first step is to call the Crisis Hotline at 2-1-1. Finding a shelter takes less time than applying and getting approved for low-income housing voucher programs. The 2-1-1 hotline can direct you to local resources and locators. Is there a limit to how long a senior can live in emergency housing? Yes and no. The duration depends on the type of housing. Shelters have limits that vary. Some shelters allow people to stay for up to six months, though that can vary based on demand. Seniors can remain in Section 202 supportive housing as long as they meet age and income requirements. Is there additional assistance for disabled seniors facing homelessness? Yes. Many counties have financial emergency programs that help seniors handle home repairs or short-term financial crises like utility shutoff. These programs allow the senior to focus their funds on their rent or mortgage. This story was produced by Caring.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. ShotPrime Studio // Shutterstock

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is underscoring his intention to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp. , and he's pledging to use tax incentives and tariffs to strengthen the iconic American steelmaker. Trump had vowed early in the presidential campaign that he would “instantaneously” block the deal, and he reiterated that sentiment in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday night. “I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company” and will use tax incentives and tariffs to make U.S. Steel “Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST!” he wrote. “As President," he continued, "I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!” President Joe Biden , like Trump, also opposes Nippon Steel's purchase of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel. Biden’s White House in September said that it had yet to see a report from the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States , which was reviewing the transaction for national security concerns. The committee, which is chaired by the treasury secretary and includes other Cabinet members, can recommend that the president block a transaction, and federal law gives the president that power. Ahead of the November election, the proposed merger carried political importance in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state that Trump eventually won. Biden publicly sided with the United Steelworkers, the labor union, in seeking to reject the deal. When he announced his opposition in a March statement, Biden said: “U.S. Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.” Nippon Steel has said it is the only company that can make the necessary investment in U.S. Steel's factories and strengthen the American steel industry. Both Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel on Tuesday released statements in support of the acquisition. "This transaction should be approved on its merits. The benefits are overwhelmingly clear. Our communities, customers, investors, and employees strongly support this transaction, and we will continue to advocate for them and adherence to the rule of law," U.S. Steel said. The deal follows a long stretch of protectionist U.S. tariffs that analysts say has helped reinvigorate domestic steel, including U.S. Steel. U.S. Steel's shareholders have approved the deal, but the United Steelworkers oppose it. In a statement Tuesday, the union said the deal carries “serious long-term implications for U.S. economic and national security.” “It’s clear that President Trump understands the vital role a strong domestic steel industry plays in our national security, as well as the importance of the jobs and communities the industry supports," the union said. The deal has drawn bipartisan opposition in the U.S. Senate, including from the incoming vice president, Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, although the federal government's objections to the deal have drawn criticism that the opposition is political. Some U.S. Steel workers would prefer Nippon Steel acquire the company, given that it appears to have a better financial balance sheet than another potential buyer, Cleveland-Cliffs. U.S. Steel “provided a very, very good life for our families for a lot of years,” said Jack Maskil, a vice president at the Steelworkers local branch in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. “And we feel that with the Nippon deal that a lot more families for futures to come will be able to share the same.” West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly said he met with Nippon Steel executives and found himself satisfied by their commitments. Located southeast of Pittsburgh, West Mifflin is home to U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant. “There’s no question in my mind that it’s the best deal moving forward,” Kelly said at a panel hosted on Tuesday by the conservative think tank Hudson Institute, where Maskil was also speaking. The Biden administration committee vetting the merger is scheduled later this month to decide on the acquisition or possibly extend the ongoing review. William Chou, a deputy director at the Hudson Institute specializing in relations with Japan, said that "President-elect Trump's view on the deal are important." But given the upcoming deadline, “It's up to President Biden to recognize how this deal will advance the interests of future generations of U.S. Steel union steelworkers.” Trump’s statement came two weeks after Nippon Steel’s vice chairman, Takahiro Mori, visited Pittsburgh and Washington to meet with lawmakers, local officials and workers in an ongoing persuasion campaign. That campaign has included Nippon Steel's promises to boost its capital commitments beyond the original deal and, more recently, a pledge that it won’t import steel slabs that would compete with U.S. Steel’s blast furnaces. As part of its proposed $14.9 billion purchase of U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel also pledged to invest at least $1.4 billion in USW-represented facilities, not to conduct layoffs or plant closings during the term of the basic labor agreement, and to protect the best interests of U.S. Steel in trade matters. Boak reported from Washington.

10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025With just four days to go until the December 7 elections, parliamentary candidates across Ghana are pulling out all the stops to sway voters, and in Kwesimintsim constituency, one incumbent MP has made a surprising appearance in an attempt to connect with his constituents. Dr. Prince Hamid Armah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Kwesimintsim, was recently filmed in a viral video taking on the role of a trotro conductor, or ‘mate.’ The footage showed Dr. Armah assisting passengers on a crowded trotro traveling from Whindo, a suburb in his constituency, through Assakae to the Kwesimintsim lorry station. This unexpected move left many residents stunned, with some questioning the sincerity of his actions. Diana Yankey, a local resident, expressed her frustration, saying, “I’m fed up with our MP. He’s hardly ever in the constituency, and now he’s pretending to be one of us by boarding a Trotro? We’ll see something new in this election, and I’m voting him out!” Dr. Armah, a first-time MP, has held prominent roles, including serving as the Acting Director-General of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and currently as the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing. Despite his achievements, his move to assume a more relatable role as a trotro conductor appears to be an effort to connect with voters as the race heats up. In the Kwesimintsim constituency, 57,648 voters will decide between three candidates on December 7. Dr. Armah faces stiff competition from Lawyer Philip Fiifi Buckman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and Joe Mensah, a former Member of Parliament running as an independent candidate. Each candidate is confident about their chances, with Mensah emphasizing his past record as an MP, Armah highlighting his tenure and experience in education, and Buckman leveraging his legal background and influence in the constituency. Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has announced that it will recall the Western Region ballot papers and reschedule special voting for Thursday, December 5. This will impact the Kwesimintsim constituency, where around 348 individuals will cast their votes ahead of the main election day.

"We have been working hard to prove that Atlanta is evolving into a force to be reckoned with in European football," Lukman said in a recent interview. "Each match, each victory, is a step towards our goal of establishing ourselves as one of the top teams in the world. And facing a powerhouse like Real Madrid is an opportunity for us to show how far we have come."

Despite the intentions behind the "shrinking" of subscription options, some users have expressed concerns about the implications of the changes. For instance, those who previously enjoyed the exclusive benefits of the premium plan may feel that they are now missing out on certain perks. Additionally, the reduction in membership tiers may result in some users paying for features they don't necessarily need or use, leading to questions about the value of the new subscription model.The response from Zhang Jupin comes at a time when many companies are facing the challenging task of adapting to a rapidly changing business landscape. With technology evolving at a breakneck pace and market conditions becoming increasingly competitive, organizations must constantly assess their strategies and make tough decisions to remain relevant and profitable.

The investigation stems from allegations that Google and Meta have been engaging in a secret agreement that allows Google to gain preferential treatment in Meta's digital ad network. This partnership, if proven true, could potentially distort competition in the advertising market and hinder the ability of other players to compete on a level playing field.

Army, Wapda reach National Women’s Basketball semis

Time and time again, Mbappé was flagged for offside, much to the frustration of Real Madrid fans and the coaching staff. It seemed that the training drills designed to exploit Barcelona's high defensive line had backfired, with Mbappé mistiming his runs and getting caught offside on multiple occasions. This not only disrupted Real Madrid's attacking momentum but also allowed Barcelona's defense to regroup and nullify their threat.