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Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal’s 5-2 win at West Ham was “crazy”, but he believes his side have got their momentum back in the Premier League title race. The Gunners have proved reports of their demise have been exaggerated after three thumping wins in the space of a week. Advertisement Having gone five Premier League matches without a win until they beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 last weekend, Arsenal then thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday. They then put in another five-star display in a breathless encounter – or first half at least – at the London Stadium. Advertisement Just as they had in Lisbon, Arsenal had five different scorers, with Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka finding the net. West Ham waited until they were 4-0 down before showing a modicum of fight, with goals from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri briefly making things interesting. But Saka rolled in a penalty to put Arsenal back in charge and ensure the second half was a non-event. The Gunners can now put their feet up and watch title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City try to take points off each other on Sunday. Advertisement It was a record-equalling score-line, only the fourth time seven goals have been scored in the first half of a Premier League match. Advertisement “That tells you how crazy it was,” said Arteta. “A spectacular 30 minutes, straight away showed how much the team wanted it, to score three great goals in different ways and then the fourth. “But then after that we had a period with the quality of them, at 4-2 and it’s game on, the energy changed. And what’s next? So it was great to score the fifth one and we could play a very different game in the second half. “We’ve got some momentum, some flow back, three consecutive wins is great. We’re going to enjoy tonight and watch a good game of football tomorrow. “We are in a great moment. But in football, be on your toes. It’s so competitive. We’ll analyse today and go again tomorrow.” Advertisement Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui felt Arsenal’s first goal, another inventive corner routine which saw Jurrien Timber barge Lucas Paqueta out of the way before Gabriel headed home, should not have counted. Lukasz Fabianski’s inadvertent punch on Gabriel earned Arsenal a penalty (Chris Radburn/PA). He had no complaints about Trossard’s tap-in from Saka’s cross, or the foul on Saka by a combination of Emerson and Paqueta which allowed Odegaard to add the third from the spot. Arsenal’s fourth came from a mistake from Max Kilman which allowed Havertz to race through. But Lopetegui also felt Lukasz Fabianski’s inadvertent punch on Gabriel, rather than the ball, was not sufficient to give the Gunners a second penalty. Sport Saturday Sport: Cuala crowned Leinster football ch... Read More “It was a very strange first half – we didn’t deserve two goals and they didn’t deserve five,” he said. “Some very strange things happened. The first goal was a set-piece that we prepared for and it’s a clear foul. We have to do better with the second and third goals. “We scored two goals with positive energy and then the fifth goal, the penalty, in my opinion is not a penalty. The fifth goal killed the match.”Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a pivotal figure in India's economic reform history, has died at the age of 92. Singh was instrumental in steering India through a critical financial crisis as Finance Minister in 1991, laying the groundwork for economic liberalisation. At the time, India faced dire economic challenges, including a fiscal deficit of 8.5% of GDP and meager foreign reserves. Singh's bold policy measures, presented in the Union Budget 1991-92, abolished the 'licence raj' and invited both domestic and foreign investment, resulting in a substantial shift towards a market-oriented economy. Singh's vision of liberalisation, globalisation, and privatisation led to monumental growth in sectors like IT and telecom. As Prime Minister, he continued these reforms while introducing social welfare programs to support millions of Indians. Singh's legacy lives on as a testament to transformative policy in the face of adversity. (With inputs from agencies.)7xm app download 。

NoneThe future of the Astrodome is being reassessed as the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation (HCSCC) has commissioned a study to explore its next steps: refurbishment or demolition. Kirksey Architecture, a Houston-based firm, has been assigned to analyze the costs of two options for the iconic structure—restoring essential utilities, including plumbing and HVAC systems, to make the building operational, or evaluating the expenses involved in its demolition. According to a report by KHOU , the study will provide an assessment that stops short of full historic preservation, focusing on "fundamental systems" to resume a basic level of operations within the Astrodome. The initiative aligns with HCSCC's ongoing efforts to ensure the NRG Park facilities continue to serve the residents of Harris County efficiently. A contrasting cost analysis for demolition will also form a part of the study. "The Astrodome has been a symbol of Houston's innovation and community pride for decades, since 1965," Bishop James Dixon, HCSCC Chairman stated. The examination of options comes amid a campaign spearheaded by the Astrodome Conservancy, which is promoting a transformation of the iconic dome. This proposal, dubbed "Vision: Astrodome," is being factored into HCSCC's master planning process for NRG Park. The outcome of the study, expected within a few months as reported by Click2Houston , will crucially inform the decisions on whether the Astrodome can be feasibly repurposed for the future, or if Houstonians will bid farewell to their "Eighth Wonder of the World".What to watch for: Nebraska football looks to finish regular season with rivalry win against Iowa

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College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama out SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs, losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama of the SEC but one fewer loss. The inaugural 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta. Alabama left out of playoff as committee rewards SMU's wins over Crimson Tide's strong schedule The College Football Playoff committee took wins over strength of schedule, taking SMU over Alabama for the final at-large spot in the field. The field was expanded from four to 12 teams this season, but that didn’t save the committee from controversy. SMU showed it could compete against a traditional power, losing to Clemson 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal in the ACC title game on Saturday. Alabama had some ups and downs in its first season under coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide had quality wins against Georgia and South Carolina, but lost at Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Big Ten wins playoff selection derby, followed by SEC despite notable Alabama omission College football’s conference shakeup left concerns about two super conferences dominating the playoff field. They weren’t totally unfounded, or 100% born out. The Big Ten, not the Southeastern Conference, was the biggest winner. The ACC scored, too. The Big Ten led the initial 12-team playoff field with four making the cut, topped by a No. 1 Oregon team that was part of the Pac-12 exodus. Then came the SEC — and one notable omission. ACC runner-up SMU got the nod over college football blue-blood Alabama, another blemish in Kalen DeBoer’s first season as Nick Saban’s championship-or-bust successor. Darnold delivers for Vikings with career-high 347 yards and 5 TDs to beat Falcons, Cousins 42-21 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 347 yards and five touchdowns, both career highs, and the Minnesota Vikings pulled away from Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons 42-21 for their sixth straight victory. Darnold added another highlight to his brilliant first season with the Vikings following Cousins' departure in free agency to Atlanta with a 22-for-28 performance and no turnover-worthy plays despite heavy first-half pressure. Jordan Addison had eight catches for 133 yards and three scores and Justin Jefferson racked up seven receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Cousins threw two more interceptions without a touchdown in his return to Minnesota. Saquon Barkley sets Eagles season rushing record and has Dickerson's NFL mark in his sights PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley has broken LeSean McCoy's Eagles franchise record for rushing yards in a season. Barkley has 1,623 yards. He surpassed McCoy's mark of 1,607 yards with a 9-yard run in Sunday's 22-16 win over Carolina. Barkley finished the game with 124 yards, within a yard of his season average. He has four games left and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson's 40-year-old NFL record of 2,105 yards. Dickerson set that record in a 16-game season and Barkley has one more game. Eagles fans serenaded Barkley with “MVP!” chants and McCoy congratulated him on social media. Saints QB Derek Carr injures left hand on dive in 4th quarter of win over Giants EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr injured his left hand late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 14-11 victory over the New York Giants when he went airborne while trying for a first down and crashed to the turf. Carr tried to leap over a Giants tackler and landed at the New Orleans 39-yard line, extending his non-throwing hand to break his fall. He was on the turf for a minute or two before walking to the medical tent. He was examined and slowly walked to an area where X-rays are done. The injury could hurt the already slim playoff hopes of the Saints. Tamar Bates scores 29 points to help Missouri beat No. 1 Kansas 76-67 COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Tamar Bates had 29 points and five steals to help Missouri beat Hunter Dickinson and No. 1 Kansas 76-67. Mark Mitchell scored 17 points in Missouri’s first win over Kansas since a 74-71 victory on Feb. 4, 2012. Anthony Robinson II had 11 points and five steals for the 8-1 Tigers. Dickinson had 19 points and 14 rebounds, but he also committed seven turnovers. The 7-2 Jayhawks have lost two straight on the road after falling 76-63 against Creighton on Wednesday night. Scottie Scheffler ends his big year in the Bahamas with his 9th victory NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler ended his biggest year with another victory. Scheffler was coming off a two-month break and looked as good as ever. He shot 63 in the Hero World Challenge and set tournament records at Albany with a 72-hole total of 263 and a six-shot victory. Tom Kim was the runner-up and Justin Thomas finished third. Scheffler ends his year with nine victories in 21 tournaments. That includes the holiday tournament in the Bahamas and the Olympic gold medal in Paris. It's the third-highest winning percentage in the last 40 years. Tournament host Tiger Woods had two better years. Lindsey Vonn is encouraged by how close she is to being competitive in ski racing return at age 40 COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn is encouraged by how close she is to being competitive again in her ski racing return at 40 years old. Vonn is still getting her ski equipment dialed in and getting used to going full speed again on her new titanium knee. That’s why all that she's reading into being more than two seconds behind in a pair of lower-level super-G races Sunday is that she’s right there. This after nearly six years away from ski racing and an abbreviated prep period. She was 2.19 seconds behind in the first race and 2.06 in the second. Both were won by her American teammate Lauren Macuga. Plane circles MetLife Stadium with message to co-owner John Mara to fix the Giants' 'dumpster fire' EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — A small plane circled MetLife Stadium roughly 90 minutes before New York was to play host to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, asking Giants co-owner John Mara to overhaul the team that has made the playoffs twice since winning the Super Bowl in February 2012. “Mr. Mara, enough. Please fix this dumpster fire!” the message read as it was towed behind the rear of a small plane.The JPM Healthcare Conference is the largest and most informative health care investment symposium in the industry which connects global industry leaders, emerging fast-growth companies, innovative technology creators and members of the investment community. Pioneering the Economics of Health to examine the interdependencies of the healthcare ecosystem which are often overlooked when only considering a singular silo of it. AI In Biopharma to highlight how AI-driven technologies can revolutionize drug discovery, accelerate development timelines, enhance patient accessibility, foster quicker innovation, and significantly reduce operating costs. Panelists to include David Rhew (Global Chief Medical Officer and VP of Healthcare, Microsoft), Sean Tunis (Principal, Rubix Health), Peter Ehrhardt (Senior Partner, Simon-Kucher), and Poonam Alaigh (Former Acting Under Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). WARREN, N.J., Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tevogen Bio ("Tevogen" or "Tevogen Bio Holdings Inc.") TVGN , will host panel discussions at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, California. Event Details Date: Monday, January 13, 2025 Location: Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel, 609 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94102 Time (PST): 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM – AI in Biopharma: Next Frontier of Medical Innovation Panelists: Dr. David Rhew – Global Chief Medical Officer and VP of Healthcare, Microsoft MSFT Dr. Sean Tunis – Principal, Rubix Health Mittul Mehta – Chief Information Officer and Head of Tevogen.AI, Tevogen Bio 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm – Afternoon Coffee Break 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM – Pioneering the Economics of Health: Balancing Access and Outcomes Victor Sordillo – MD, Risk Advisory Services, Verita CSG, Inc; Member, Board of Directors, Tevogen Bio Peter Ehrhardt – Senior Partner at Simon-Kucher & Partners Dr. Poonam Alaigh – Former Acting Under Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Former Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Health Dr. Sean Tunis - Principal, Rubix Health; Senior Fellow, Tufts Center for Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health; Venture Mentor, Johns Hopkins Tech Ventures Dr. Ryan Saadi – Founder and CEO, Tevogen Bio 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Reception and Cocktails For inquiries regarding additional event details, please contact communications@tevogen.com . About Tevogen Bio Tevogen is a clinical-stage specialty immunotherapy company harnessing one of nature's most powerful immunological weapons, CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, to develop off-the-shelf, genetically unmodified precision T cell therapies for the treatment of infectious diseases, cancers, and neurological disorders, aiming to address the significant unmet needs of large patient populations. Tevogen Leadership believes that sustainability and commercial success in the current era of healthcare rely on ensuring patient accessibility through advanced science and innovative business models. Tevogen has reported positive safety data from its proof-of-concept clinical trial, and its key intellectual property assets are wholly owned by the company, not subject to any third-party licensing agreements. These assets include three granted patents, nine pending US and twelve ex-US pending patents, two of which are related to artificial intelligence. Tevogen is driven by a team of highly experienced industry leaders and distinguished scientists with drug development and global product launch experience. Tevogen's leadership believes that accessible personalized therapeutics are the next frontier of medicine, and that disruptive business models are required to sustain medical innovation. Contacts Tevogen Bio Communications T: 1 877 TEVOGEN, Ext 701 Communications@Tevogen.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

49ers QB Brock Purdy, DE Nick Bosa out, Brandon Allen to start at Green BayNURSES : WE WERE LIVING LIKE MICE'Being king of the castle is an important thing for Limerick's Willie O'Dea', says close ally

Rivian Automotive, Inc. ( NASDAQ:RIVN – Get Free Report )’s stock price shot up 5.8% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $12.45 and last traded at $12.22. 48,609,797 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 21% from the average session volume of 40,022,539 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.55. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on RIVN shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Rivian Automotive from $15.00 to $11.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Rivian Automotive from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Guggenheim lowered their price target on shares of Rivian Automotive from $21.00 to $18.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Needham & Company LLC decreased their price objective on shares of Rivian Automotive from $18.00 to $14.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of Rivian Automotive from $20.00 to $18.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $15.73. View Our Latest Stock Report on RIVN Rivian Automotive Price Performance Insider Transactions at Rivian Automotive In related news, CEO Robert J. Scaringe sold 83,334 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.25, for a total transaction of $937,507.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 863,361 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,712,811.25. This represents a 8.80 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CFO Claire Mcdonough sold 3,210 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.03, for a total value of $32,196.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 378,498 shares in the company, valued at $3,796,334.94. The trade was a 0.84 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 261,307 shares of company stock worth $3,178,479 over the last three months. 2.51% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rivian Automotive A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in RIVN. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in shares of Rivian Automotive by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 36,684 shares of the electric vehicle automaker’s stock worth $492,000 after purchasing an additional 604 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Rivian Automotive by 30.7% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 2,852 shares of the electric vehicle automaker’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 670 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in shares of Rivian Automotive by 28.0% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,470 shares of the electric vehicle automaker’s stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 760 shares in the last quarter. Certuity LLC raised its position in shares of Rivian Automotive by 8.1% during the 2nd quarter. Certuity LLC now owns 10,831 shares of the electric vehicle automaker’s stock valued at $145,000 after buying an additional 815 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sanders Morris Harris LLC raised its holdings in Rivian Automotive by 8.9% during the 2nd quarter. Sanders Morris Harris LLC now owns 10,105 shares of the electric vehicle automaker’s stock valued at $136,000 after buying an additional 823 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 66.25% of the company’s stock. About Rivian Automotive ( Get Free Report ) Rivian Automotive, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles and accessories. The company offers consumer vehicles, including a two-row, five-passenger pickup truck under the R1T brand, a three-row, seven-passenger sport utility vehicle under the R1S name. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Rivian Automotive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rivian Automotive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Zarigue Nutter scored 22 points and secured the victory with a jump shot with two seconds remaining as Georgia State defeated Tulsa 74-71 on Wednesday. Nutter shot 9 of 15 from the field and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Panthers (4-3). Cesare Edwards scored 18 points and added 16 rebounds. Nicholas McMullen had 13 points and shot 4 of 9 from the field and 5 for 8 from the line. The Golden Hurricane (4-4) were led in scoring by Keaston Willis, who finished with 18 points. Tulsa also got 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from Dwon Odom. Tyshawn Archie had 12 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Beirut: Syrian rebels announced they had gained full control over the key city of Homs early on Sunday after only a day of fighting, leaving President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule dangling by a thread as insurgents marched on the capital, Damascus. Thousands of Homs residents poured onto the streets after the army withdrew from the central city, dancing and chanting “Assad is gone, Homs is free” and “Long live Syria and down with Bashar al-Assad”. A giant portrait of Bashar al-Assad sits on a building in Damascus. Credit: AP Rebels fired guns into the air in celebration, and youths tore down posters of the Syrian president, whose territorial control has collapsed in a dizzying week-long retreat by the military. The fall of Homs gives the insurgents control over Syria’s strategic heartland and a key highway crossroads, severing Damascus from the coastal region that is the stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect and where his Russian allies have a naval base and air base. Homs’ capture is also a powerful symbol of the rebel movement’s dramatic comeback in the 13-year-old conflict. Swaths of Homs were destroyed by gruelling siege warfare between the rebels and the army years ago. The fighting ground down the insurgents, who were forced out. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the main rebel leader, called the capture of Homs a historic moment and urged fighters not to harm “those who drop their arms”. Syrian opposition fighters on a seized Syrian air force fighter plane at the Hama military airport on Friday. Credit: AP Rebels freed thousands of detainees from the city prison. Security forces left quickly after burning their documents. Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghani said in a statement early on Sunday that operations continued to “completely liberate” the countryside around Damascus and rebel forces were looking towards the capital. In one suburb, a statue of Assad’s father, the late former president Hafez al-Assad, was toppled and torn apart. The Syrian army said it was reinforcing around Damascus, and state television reported on Saturday that Assad remained in the city. People arrive at the Jordanian side of the border as others wait in their cars on Saturday, after a ban on crossings into Syria. Credit: Getty Images The lightning rebel advance suggests Assad’s government could fall within the next week, US and other Western officials said. Since the rebels’ sweep into Aleppo a week ago , government defences have crumbled at a dizzying speed as insurgents seized a string of major cities and rose in places where the rebellion had long seemed over. The twin threats to Damascus and the strategically vital city of Homs now pose an existential danger to the Assad dynasty’s five-decade reign over Syria and the continued influence in the country of its main regional backer, Iran. The rebels’ moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of the southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is backed by Russia and Iran, but both are bogged down in separate conflicts. Credit: Saudi Press Agency/AP The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaeda and is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad’s government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian Army. The UN’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition”. Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, Pedersen said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad’s chief international backer, said he felt “sorry for the Syrian people”. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria’s border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the city were shuttered, a resident told the Associated Press, and those still open had run out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle [in Damascus] or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018 when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a years-long siege. The UN said it was moving non-critical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad rumours Syria’s state media denied social media rumours that Assad had left the country, saying the president was performing his duties in Damascus. Assad has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad’s forces, has been weakened by a year-long conflict with Israel. Iran has had its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that the US should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. A Syrian opposition fighter holds a rocket launcher in front of the provincial government office. Credit: AP Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on implementing a 2015 UN resolution calling for a Syrian-led political process would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with UN-supervised elections. Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pedersen, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha summit on Saturday to discuss the situation. No details were immediately available. The insurgents’ march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were also marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he said. An insurgent commander, Hassan Abdul Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani. Credit: Al Jazeera HTS controls much of north-west Syria and, in 2017, set up a “salvation government” to run daily affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaeda, ditching hardline officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third-largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began on November 27, during which rebel fighters captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama, the country’s fourth-largest city. Opposition activists on Friday said insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites that had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra, including the main Baath City, activists said. The Syrian Observatory said government troops had withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and were sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle loomed. If the insurgents were to capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The army said in a statement that it had carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists”. The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area”, apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since the conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is the main backer of the rebels. Qatar’s top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticised Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there was a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity”. He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. AP, Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs earned a much-deserved extended rest after their Christmas Day rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which capped an unbeaten stretch of three games in 11 days and clinched them the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs . That extended rest? Well, it can be just about as long as Chiefs coach Andy Reid wants it to be. The Chiefs (15-1) face the Broncos in their regular-season finale next weekend, a game whose kickoff remains up in the air. But it will be at least 10 days after their 29-10 win in Pittsburgh, a nice rest for a weary team whose bye was back in Week 6. But with nothing to play for in that game, Reid could conceivably give some of his most important players the entire week off ahead of the playoffs. And now that the Chiefs have a first-round bye , that means they wouldn't face anybody until at least Jan. 18 in the divisional round, meaning a full 24 days between games. People are also reading... “It's been almost 10 weeks of football, grinding on this short schedule at the very end of the year,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “We'll see how Week 18 goes — who plays, who doesn't play. That's up to Coach. But having this break, getting healthy, getting ourselves ready for the playoffs, it was super important, especially with the guys we have banged up.” The Chiefs dominated the Steelers without four-time All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, who was resting his sore calf on Wednesday. They also have not had cornerback Chamarri Conner, who has been out with a concussion, or D.J. Humphries, the former Pro Bowl left tackle who appeared in one game for Kansas City before straining his hamstring. All of them figure to be healthy for the playoffs. The same for guys who have been dealing with minor injuries, such as right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who played against the Steelers despite straining his hamstring the previous week against Houston, and running back Isiah Pacheco, who dinged up his ribs in the win in Pittsburgh. “It will definitely help with some of the guys that are banged up, to get guys back, freshened up a little bit,” said Reid, who has rested important players in Week 18 in the past, including last season against the Chargers. “I think it will be a positive for us.” The trick is to decide exactly how much rest to give everyone. For those dealing with injuries, that full 24-day span without a game could be exactly what they need. For others, it might be too long between games, and getting at least a half of play against the Broncos would help prevent some rust from setting in. “I was just talking to my family about it,” Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie said. “My rookie year, we were able to get, you know, all home games, and you just can't be out (on the road) in the playoffs. I mean, I'm excited to go out there. I know we got the first round, you know, off, but I mean, I can't wait to play now.” What’s working The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last season with a wide receiver group that — outside of Rashee Rice — was lacking in dynamic ability. But with the trade for DeAndre Hopkins, the return of Hollywood Brown from an injury and the emergence of rookie Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs have gone from a position of peril to one of profound strength. What needs help The Chiefs have struggled to the run the ball consistently the past few weeks. Pacheco gained just 18 yards on six carries before hurting his ribs against Pittsburgh, and Kareem Hunt was held to 20 yards on nine carries — a 2.2-yard average. Stock up Worthy has smashed through the rookie wall, just as Rice did at this point last season, and has proven to be more than a speedster. He had eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown Wednesday, giving him at least five catches in each of his past five games. Stock down Pacheco has not been the same after missing more than two months to injury. He has been held to 55 yards rushing or fewer in each of his past five games, and he's averaging just 2.7 yards per carry over his past three. Injuries There were no significant injuries sustained against the Steelers. Key number 77 — Travis Kelce caught his 77th touchdown pass, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez for the Chiefs record. Kelce finished with eight catches for 84 yards and a score against Pittsburgh, making him the third tight end in NFL history with at least 1,000 receptions. Gonzalez had 1,325 and Jason Witten had 1,228 while Kelce has 1,004 and counting. Next steps The Chiefs get the long weekend off before deciding who will play in Denver in their regular-season finale. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A has two big tax advantages over a : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future.

Several legal regulators across Australia have combined to issue strict guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by lawyers, highlighting several areas where professional standards could be breached if its use is not carefully monitored. Some law practices are already using large language models (LLMs)—forms of AI that can process and generate text—and are even developing in-house versions using their own data. The initiative was led by the Victorian Legal Services Board and the Commissioner of Legal Services, but the resultant rules have also been adopted by the Law Society of New South Wales (NSW) and the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. “While enjoying the benefits of AI, it’s important for lawyers to remember that it’s their duty to provide accurate legal information, not the duty of the AI program they use,” warned Victorian Legal Services Commissioner Fiona McLeay. “Unlike a professionally trained lawyer, AI can’t exercise superior judgement, or provide ethical and confidential services.” “No tool based on current LLMs can be free of ‘hallucinations’ (i.e. responses which are fluent and convincing, but inaccurate),” the guideline says. “Generative AI tools can be biased, and cannot understand human psychology or other external complicating factors that may be relevant.” And, if they do use AI, lawyers should ensure that it does not unnecessarily increase costs for their client because of additional time spent verifying or correcting its output, beyond what they would have paid if the law firm had used traditional methods. Among the other risks is loss of client confidentiality. “Lawyers cannot safely enter confidential, sensitive or privileged client information into public AI chatbots/copilots (like ChatGPT), or any other public tools,” the guideline warns. President of the Law Society of NSW Brett McGrath said the adoption of the statement reflects the need and willingness of lawyers to adapt to changing technology. “In more than 200 years of legal practice in Australia, technology has evolved from parchment and quill to digital communication, remote working and most recently, the widespread availability of AI. This statement reflects lawyers’ commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting individual rights and freedoms and promoting access to justice,” McGrath said.Cerity Partners LLC Purchases 133,810 Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH)

A late power-play goal by Kaapo Kakko lifted the New York Rangers to their first win in six games, as they beat the visiting Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in a matinee on Saturday. With the score tied 3-3, Canadiens forward Kirby Dach took an ill-advised high-sticking double-minor, cutting Mika Zibanejad deep in the Rangers zone. With time winding down, a falling/tripped up Joel Armia and Jake Evans couldn’t get the puck out, enabling the Rangers to capitalize. Rangers forward Will Cuylle , who facilitated Armia’s fall to the ice, eventually ended up with the puck on his stick. He then delivered a nifty backhand feed to Kakko, who slid it past Samuel Montembeault for the 4-3 game-winning goal at 19:36. It was something of a redemption story for Cuylle. He had been unable to get the puck out of his own zone on Nick Suzuki’s game-tying goal 5:30 earlier. Defenseman Lane Hutson kept it in, giving and going with Cole Caufield , who found Suzuki for the tip-in past Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick. Caufield had scored 10 minutes earlier to pull the Canadiens within one, after they had fallen behind 3-1, late goals in each frame and an underwhelming penalty kill that allowed three overall, ultimately doing the now 8-12-3 Habs in. With the score tied 1-1, Vincent Trocheck deflected in an Alexis Lafreniere shot with just four seconds left in the first. Zibanejad also scored with less than three minutes to go in the second, before the Canadiens attempted to earn their first point(s) of the season after trailing after two periods in a game. They are no 0-10-0 under those circumstances, with one such game, a 7-2 defeat, coming Oct. 22 against the Rangers . Considering the magnitude of that loss, there were positives the Canadiens could take away from this defeat. They kept things close, nearly completed an impressive comeback and actually held a late lead in shots on goal against an initial Stanley Cup contender, despite being near the bottom of the league in terms of expected goals percentage for (45.15%, ranked 29th, per MoneyPuck.com ). As a result of the Dach penalty and the Rangers ending up with a late power play though, shots ended up at 28 apiece. For their part, the Rangers got back into the win column . They had last won Nov. 19, 4-3 against the Vancouver Canucks . Both Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil returned to the lineup after extended absences. Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson also returned after missing two games. His delay-of-game penalty led to a two-man advantage for the Rangers, leading to Artemi Panarin’s game-opening goal. Matheson got that one back later in the frame, setting the stage for all the late-goal and uncompleted-comeback theatrics that ensued. The 13-9-1 Rangers next play on Monday, Dec. 2, hosting the New Jersey Devils. The Canadiens visit the Boston Bruins tomorrow in another matinee before returning home to face the New York Islanders on Tuesday, Dec. 3. This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. The city stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. Its capture is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and with the government forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only four of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Homs, Latakia and Tartus. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. No details were immediately available. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle loomed. If the insurgents capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.Stocks down 1,991 points amid future contracts rollover pressureManmohan Singh, The Finance Minister Who Rescued India From Economic Collapse: A Look Back

How a hedge fund exodus reshaped global cocoa markets A person walks next to the bottles of Coca-Cola and other products on shelves. — Reuters/File LONDON: Behind a record surge in cocoa prices this year, a corner of financial markets that drives the cost of chocolate underwent a seismic shift: the hedge funds that oiled its workings headed for the exit. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); Confectionery prices, from candy bars to hot chocolate, are heavily influenced by futures contracts for cocoa beans. These financial instruments, traded in London and New York, allow cocoa buyers and sellers to determine a price for the commodity, forming a benchmark for sales across the world. In the middle of last year, hedge funds -- a class of investors that use privately pooled money to make speculative bets -- started pulling back from trading cocoa futures because price swings in the market were raising their cost of trading and making it harder to make profits. They accelerated their retreat in the first half of this year as cocoa prices hit a record in April, driven by supply issues in West Africa, according to Reuters calculations based on data from the US Commodity Trading Futures Commission (CFTC), which oversees the New York market, and ICE Futures Europe, an exchange that compiles figures for trading in London. “This market became increasingly volatile,” said Razvan Remsing, director of investment solutions at Aspect Capital, a $9.3 billion London-based fund that uses coding and algorithms to find trades. “Our system’s response was to trim our positions.” Aspect slashed the exposure to cocoa in its Diversified Fund from nearly 5.0 per cent of its net asset value in January to less than one percent after April, according to a presentation reviewed by Reuters. The departure of hedge funds and other speculators caused liquidity in the market to slump, making it harder to buy and sell, stoking volatility to record highs and fuelling the price spike still further. Reuters spoke to a dozen fund executives, cocoa market brokers and traders who said the retreat -- described here in detail for the first time -- has left lasting strains on the market. That has resulted in greater gaps between the price at which cocoa can be bought and sold, and has prompted some industry players to seek alternative instruments, leaving a lasting impact on the sector. This month, the number of futures contracts held globally at the end of a given trading day -- a key indicator of market health known as ‘open interest’ -- hit its lowest since at least 2014, the global figures show, a sign the futures market overall has shrunk significantly. Data prior to 2014 was not available. On Wednesday, New York cocoa futures prices topped their April peak.The futures market is a crucial cog in the cocoa industry, allowing producers and chocolate companies to hedge their exposure to swings in the price of beans. Futures dictate income for the farmers and low-income nations that produce the world’s cocoa -- the majority of which comes from Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa. Hedge funds and speculators have become bigger players in commodity markets over the past two decades as the value of their overall assets has grown. But, as purely financial investors, they have no need to remain in the market at times of stress. The impact of hedge funds’ exit illustrates how reliant trading has become on these lightly regulated funds that increasingly shape financial markets. Reuters has reported this year on how hedge funds are piling into the euro zone’s $10 trillion government bond market, drawing regulatory scrutiny, and on their growing sway in European stock trading. Contacted by Reuters, the CFTC declined to comment. A representative for Britain’s regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, said that, in line with its market supervision practice, “we have been working with trading venues and participants to monitor the orderliness of the market.” Bernhard Troster, an economist at the Austrian Foundation for Development Research(OFSE) in Vienna, who last year co-authored a paper on the growing role of financial actors in commodities derivatives markets, said the withdrawal of hedge funds had helped fuel the crisis in cocoa markets.“When markets became so volatile this year, it was clear how hedge funds and other financial actors have become so important,” he said.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday said that it would set up an eight-member committee to develop a framework for responsible and ethical enablement of artificial intelligence or FREE-AI in the financial sector. The AI panel will also review regulatory and supervisory approaches on artificial intelligence with focus on the financial sector globally. The panel will also identify potential risks associated with AI, if any, and recommend an evaluation, mitigation and monitoring framework and consequent compliance requirements for financial institutions, including banks, NBFCs, FinTechs, PSOs, etc. Headed by IIT Bombay professor Pushpak Bhattacharyya (Department of Computer Science and Engineering), the panel will assess the current level of adoption of AI in financial services, globally as well as in India. The central bank further said that the committee would submit its report within six months from the date of its first meeting. “The committee will recommend a framework including governance aspects for responsible, ethical adoption of AI models / applications in the Indian financial sector,” the RBI said. The other members of the panel are: Debjani Ghosh (Independent Director, Reserve Bank Innovation Hub); Balaraman Ravindran (Professor and Head, Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, IIT Madras); Abhishek Singh (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology); Rahul Matthan (Partner, Trilegal); Anjani Rathor (Group Head and Chief Digital Experience Officer, HDFC Bank); Sree Hari Nagaralu (Head of Security AI Research, Microsoft India); and Suvendu Pati (CGM, FinTech Department, RBI).

Mumbai: After noticing sub-standard road concretisation work at several locations, the BMC has imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakhs on the contractor and the quality control agency responsible for the poor work. On Thursday, during a visit to a road concretisation project in Borivali, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani instructed civic officials and engineers to personally inspect the work sites and closely monitor the progress. The civic authorities have taken action after complaints about poor construction quality in certain locations, initiating an inquiry into ongoing concretisation work. The evaluation is being conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay (IIT-B). "A contractor and a quality control agency were fined Rs 1.5 lakhs each for substandard work on a road in Lokhandwala, Andheri West. Similar actions have been taken in other areas where poor quality road concretisation was found. Additionally, the contractor will be instructed to carry out rectification work to address the issues," said a senior civic official. Meanwhile, Gagrani inspected ongoing concretisation work in R- Central - Borivali area along with deputy municipal commissioner (Zone- 7) Bhagyashree Kapse and Assistant municipal commissioner Sandhya Nandedkar on Thursday. Gagrani instructed the officials to ensure that all roadworks in the area are completed before the onset of the monsoon. The area near Borivali (East) station experiences waterlogging every year during the rainy season. During his visit, Gagrani also reviewed the proposed drainage improvement work by the Stormwater Drain Department, emphasising the need for timely execution to prevent the usual waterlogging issues. The BMC's ambitious project to concretise roads in Mumbai had faced setbacks due to substandard work at some locations. In Phase 1, the BMC has completed only 46 km of the planned 324 km of concretisation within a year. Currently, work is ongoing on 213 roads, with 298 roads yet to be concretised. In Phase 2, of the 1,420 roads scheduled for concretisation, 433 are currently under construction, with many still pending.Tommy Fury rival Genadij Krajevskij dead at 37 as tributes pour in for boxing starTrump uses NBC News interview to defuse panicky liberal fearmongering, teases sweeping agenda

Wafer Bumping Service Market Analysis By Top Keyplayers - ASE Global, Fujitsu, Amkor Technology, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Maxell, JCET Group, Unisem Group, Powertech Technology, SFA Semicon, Semi-Pac Inc, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES, NEPES, TI, IntNo. 7 Tennessee gives up 1st 14 points before rallying to rout Vanderbilt 36-23

FSR Doubles Investment in Cardiac Sarcoidosis Research with $200,000 in Grants to Advance Diagnostic and Treatment BreakthroughsThroughout the last three months, 14 analysts have evaluated Apple AAPL , offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish. Summarizing their recent assessments, the table below illustrates the evolving sentiments in the past 30 days and compares them to the preceding months. Bullish Somewhat Bullish Indifferent Somewhat Bearish Bearish Total Ratings 4 4 3 3 0 Last 30D 0 1 0 0 0 1M Ago 1 2 0 0 0 2M Ago 2 1 1 1 0 3M Ago 1 0 2 2 0 Analysts' evaluations of 12-month price targets offer additional insights, showcasing an average target of $245.14, with a high estimate of $325.00 and a low estimate of $184.00. A decline of 0.04% from the prior average price target is evident in the current average. Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown The standing of Apple among financial experts becomes clear with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets. Analyst Analyst Firm Action Taken Rating Current Price Target Prior Price Target Daniel Ives Wedbush Raises Outperform $325.00 $300.00 Erik Woodring Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight $273.00 $273.00 Laura Martin Needham Maintains Buy $260.00 $260.00 Daniel Ives Wedbush Maintains Outperform $300.00 $300.00 Erik Woodring Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight $273.00 $273.00 Tom Forte Maxim Group Raises Hold $215.00 $203.00 Tim Long Barclays Lowers Underweight $184.00 $186.00 Barton Crockett Rosenblatt Raises Buy $262.00 $261.00 Laura Martin Needham Maintains Buy $260.00 $260.00 Brandon Nispel Keybanc Announces Underweight $200.00 - Matt Farrell Piper Sandler Maintains Neutral $225.00 $225.00 Kyle Mcnealy Jefferies Raises Hold $212.92 $205.00 Wamsi Mohan B of A Securities Maintains Buy $256.00 $256.00 Tim Long Barclays Maintains Underweight $186.00 $186.00 Key Insights: Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Apple. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company. Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of Apple compared to the broader market. Price Targets: Analysts explore the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Apple's stock. This examination reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time. Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of Apple's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table. Stay up to date on Apple analyst ratings. Delving into Apple's Background Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution. Understanding the Numbers: Apple's Finances Market Capitalization Analysis: Above industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization emphasizes a noteworthy size, indicative of a strong market presence. Revenue Growth: Apple's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 6.07% . This indicates a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Information Technology sector. Net Margin: Apple's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 15.52% . This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health. Return on Equity (ROE): Apple's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 23.83% , the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance. Return on Assets (ROA): Apple's ROA stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 4.23% , the company demonstrates effective utilization of assets and strong financial performance. Debt Management: With a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87 , Apple faces challenges in effectively managing its debt levels, indicating potential financial strain. The Core of Analyst Ratings: What Every Investor Should Know Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter. Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability. Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. Click here for urgent details . This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Zarigue Nutter scored 22 points and secured the victory with a jump shot with two seconds remaining as Georgia State defeated Tulsa 74-71 on Wednesday. Nutter shot 9 of 15 from the field and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Panthers (4-3). Cesare Edwards scored 18 points and added 16 rebounds. Nicholas McMullen had 13 points and shot 4 of 9 from the field and 5 for 8 from the line. The Golden Hurricane (4-4) were led in scoring by Keaston Willis, who finished with 18 points. Tulsa also got 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from Dwon Odom. Tyshawn Archie had 12 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .None