CVB Financial to effect stock buyback program of up to 10M shares

Workday Announces Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Financial ResultsIndia key market for Dolby: Global vice prezHow Labour's new green drive will cost you £32,000: JEFF PRESTRIDGE's guide to protect YOUR cash from the eco-zealots By JEFF PRESTRIDGE Updated: 22:47, 26 November 2024 e-mail View comments The drive to turn us into a nation of heat-pump owners is back in fifth gear. Led by the fervent Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, homeowners are once again being encouraged to rip out their gas boilers and replace them with expensive heat pumps to help save the planet (believe me, heat pumps will make NO difference to the planet’s survival). Although the Tory government of Boris Johnson was the initial flag-waver when it came to heat pumps, Mr Miliband – a heat pump zealot – has taken the flag-waving to a new level. A sea of green flags is now being waved before our very eyes. Earlier this month, he threw more buckets of money at the so-called Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) to ensure that homeowners who want to make the leap from gas boiler to heat pump will have ready access to grants worth up to £7,500. Without the grants, heat pumps would be out of the financial reach of most households (more on this in a minute). Even with them, they remain an option that only a minority of households can afford. He also announced that planning rules would be relaxed to ensure that nearly everybody who wants a heat pump installed on an exterior wall of their home will soon be able to go ahead – irrespective of the fact that the pump’s noise could well keep the neighbours awake for most of the night. Get pumped: Homeowners are once again being encouraged to rip out their gas boilers and replace them with expensive heat pumps to help save the planet Cities could soon be turned into ‘cacophonous’ heat pump farms, according to one respected commentator. Ear plugs at the ready for the heat pump raves. Mr Miliband wasn’t finished. He also said that the boiler tax will return from next April – a fine paid by boiler manufacturers unable to meet unachievable heat pump sales targets – and passed on to buyers of gas boilers in the form of higher prices. It will be a modest fine to begin with, but is likely to be cranked up every year while green Labour (green in so many other ways) remains in power. Mr Miliband has supporters. The grandiose Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit followed the announcements with a ludicrous press release that played the patriotic card. It said heat pumps would help wean the UK off foreign imported gas – without squaring the circle by admitting that most heat pumps are manufactured in Asia and then imported into the UK. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next The ultimate five tricks energy experts use to keep heating... How can I make a foolproof insurance claim for flood damage... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to save money on energy: What you need to know and energy-saving tips that work Even manufacturers here assemble heat pumps primarily from components brought into the country on container ships sailing the seven seas. Yet there are more discerning experts who believe that the Government’s belief in a heat pump future – with its target of 600,000 installations a year by 2028 (more than ten times last year’s installation figure) – will end in failure. Yesterday, Gordon Hughes, a former senior adviser on energy and environmental policy at the World Bank, told Money Mail that the 2028 installation target is not credible, even if larger subsidies were handed out to buyers of heat pumps. He also said that even at an installation rate of 600,000 a year, it would take 45 years to convert all houses to heat pumps – way beyond the country’s legally binding commitment under the Climate Change Act 2008 to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Mr Hughes added: ‘Almost everyone with practical knowledge of the energy sector knows that current heat pump targets are both daft and unachievable. ‘But policies are a matter of religious faith, and few are willing to be cast out for saying the emperor has no clothes.’ Money Mail searches for the answers to the key questions facing households thinking about joining Mr Miliband in his heat pump crusade. How much is it going to cost? It depends on the type of heat pump installed – air pump or ground source. The air source pump sits on the outside wall of a home – and looks like the air conditioning units that you see outside many industrial buildings. This pump is painful on the eyes (an eyesore), ears (it’s noisy and gets noisier as it ages) and wallet, costing an average of £13,200 to install. In basic terms, it sucks air from the outside which then interacts with a refrigerant – a chemical substance – to produce heat which can be used to warm radiators and create hot water. Then there is the grander ground source pump which, through the laying of underground pipes (typically in the back garden), draws upon natural-occurring heat stored in the ground to ultimately heat radiators and water in the home. These can cost anything between £15,000 and £30,000, which makes them the Louis Vuitton of heat pumps. But this government – and Mr Miliband in particular – is desperate for households to wean themselves off gas boilers and buy these expensive pumps. So desperate, in fact, that it offers grants of £7,500 to those who get them installed (properly). These are provided through BUS (gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme) and available to households in England and Wales (other energy-efficiency grants are on offer in Scotland and Northern Ireland). So that takes the price of the respective pumps down to a more reasonable £5,700 (air) and £7,500 to £22,500 (ground). To put these sums into perspective, the cost of replacing a gas boiler is around £2,500. So, should you buy a pump? Mike Foster, chief executive of energy trade association the Energy and Utilities Alliance, says that if people want a heat pump and can afford it, ‘they should go out and get one’. Yet a survey by consumer group Which? indicates that cost remains a big issue – 71 pc of respondents who know about heat pumps say they are out of their financial range. Installation costs are also not necessarily the only financial hit. Heat pumps are not effective in homes where windows are single glazed (as opposed to double glazed), or where walls are not insulated. According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), the cost of fitting A-rated windows (the most energy-efficient double-glazed windows) for a semi-detached house typically cost £15,000, while cavity wall insulation will cost £2,700. Grants: Secretary of State for Energy Security Ed Miliband If you have solid walls and want them insulated, the EST reckons that will set you back £7,500 if fitted internally, or £11,000 externally. In short, fitting a heat pump in a solid-wall, semi-detached house with A-rated windows and external wall insulation will set you back £39,200 – £31,700 net of the £7,500 grant. Running costs will still be more than that of a gas boiler, too. Mr Foster says: ‘You may hear from supporters of heat pump technology that it is three times more efficient than a gas boiler. ‘What they fail to mention is that the average unit price of electricity is four times higher than that for gas. This means a heat pump works out slightly more expensive to run over a full year than a gas boiler.’ For the 50 per cent of homes that use gas for cooking, Mr Foster adds that a conversion to heat pumps will mean the need for electric cooking appliances – yet more cost (typically, £250 for an electric oven, £225 for an electric hob, and £250 for installation) on top of the £39,200. Mr Hughes agrees. He says the differential between gas and electricity prices makes it financially ‘daft’ to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump. He adds: ‘Electricity prices would have to be less than half their current level – with gas prices not changing – to even make a heat pump a consideration.’ Is the boiler tax a game-changer? From April next year, the Government’s Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM) will impose swingeing taxes on boiler manufacturers if heat pumps represent less than 6 per cent of all domestic heating installations. For every heat pump installation short of their target, the manufacturers will be hit with a £500 fine. But Mr Miliband’s zealotry towards heat pumps means the sky is the limit in 12 months’ time. The tax will be passed on by manufacturers to buyers of gas boilers in the form of higher prices. Based on the current demand for gas boilers and heat pumps, Mr Foster estimates that it is likely to add £25 to the average cost of a gas boiler when fines are set at £500. But if Mr Miliband were to impose a more onerous heat pump installation target and bigger fines, the gap between heat pump and gas boiler installation costs would start closing. If the Secretary of State demanded a 24 per cent installation target – similar to the electric vehicle targets imposed on car manufacturers – and a fine of £5,000 per heat pump short of the target, Mr Foster says this would result in a boiler tax for customers of £1,000. Peter Thom, founder of energy efficiency specialist Green Heat, says the financial mathematics for households aren’t changed by CHMM. He says: ‘My advice would still be to replace a failing gas boiler with another gas boiler.’ But he adds: ‘I would ensure that any new installation works effectively at a lower temperature – which may mean putting in higher-output radiators. I’d also make sure that the heating controls are upgraded. ‘This would mean your heating system is heat-pump ready for when the dice is loaded so heavily against gas boilers that heat pumps are the way forward.’ Eyesore: Air source heat pumps sit on the outside wall of a home – and looks like the air conditioning units you see outside many industrial units Could better tech drive down prices? Not according to Mr Foster. He says heat pumps are already sold in their millions worldwide (especially in the Far East) and their basic design has not changed much. Yes, he says, they could become quieter – but that will come at a price. Unless a vicious boiler tax is introduced, a gas boiler will always be cheaper than a heat pump. Is the funding sustainable? No. Mr Thom says the installation target of 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028 will cost the taxpayer £4.5 billion annually (assuming the BUS grant remains at £7,500). If the annual target of 1.6 million new heat pumps is achieved in 2035, it will cost £12 billion a year. He adds: ‘This is like being at the Mad Hatter’s party on Fantasy Island. ‘I also question the moral compass of a government which is providing grants of £7,500 to help essentially wealthy people install heat pumps while, at the same time, taking away the winter fuel allowance from millions of pensioners – with some four million people now in fuel poverty.’ A damning comment. Are you a heat pump sceptic or a zealot? Email: jeff.prestridge@dailymail.co.uk Can you save money on energy bills? Check the best fixed deals When energy prices spiked most households slipped energy price cap tariffs, but it is now possible again to switch to fixed rate energy deals that can save you money. This is Money's recommended partner uSwitch lets you compare the best energy deals for you, based on your home and gas and electricity costs. > Compare the best energy deals with uSwitch* By entering your address and energy usage, you can search for energy deals that can cut your costs and suit how you live. Switching energy provider can also help the planet, if you move to one of the a green deals offering electricity from renewable sources and more environmentally-friendly gas. > Check the best fixed rate energy deals with uSwitch and This is Money * *Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. This does not affect our editorial independence. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS Easy investing Stocks & shares Isa £1.50 fund dealing 0.25% fee on fund holdings Investment ideas Free fund dealing Free fund dealing 0.45% account fee capped for shares Flat-fee investing No fees From £4.99 a month Trade shares and funds for £3.99 Social investing Social investing Share investing 30+ million global community No account fee Investment account Free share dealing Free fractional share* Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. This does not affect our editorial independence. *T&Cs apply. > Compare the best investing platform for you Share or comment on this article: How Labour's new green drive will cost you £32,000: JEFF PRESTRIDGE's guide to protect YOUR cash from the eco-zealots e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. 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CHICAGO (AP) — Blackhawks defenseman Alec Martinez and forward Craig Smith could return in time for the NHL Winter Classic. Martinez and Smith participated in the team's optional morning skate ahead of Sunday night's game against the Dallas Stars. Martinez was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 13 because of a neck injury, and Smith went on IR on Dec. 20 with a back injury. Interim coach Anders Sorensen described Martinez and Smith as day to day. “They're close,” Sorensen said. Martinez and Smith signed with Chicago in free agency last summer. Martinez has one goal and three assists in 15 games, and Smith has six goals and four assists in 26 games. The Blackhawks host the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field — home of baseball's Chicago Cubs. The Blackhawks shuffled their defensemen ahead of their matchup with Dallas, recalling Wyatt Kaiser from Rockford and assigning Kevin Korchinski to their American Hockey League affiliate. The 20-year-old Korchinski, who was selected by Chicago with the No. 7 pick in the 2022 draft, had five goals and 10 assists in 76 games with the Blackhawks last season. He was brought up by Chicago on Dec. 8 and skated in nine games before he was sent back down. “If you look at his overall development, throughout the season, he’s taken big steps forward in his development,” Sorensen said. “We saw flashes of that early when he was up here and we want to make sure he stays on that track.” AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHLBy: Sir Henry Olujimi Boyo (Les Leba) first published in January 2018 Intro: Last week this column repub­lished “Money, Money, Money, Ev­erywhere but None to Borrow!” The article discussed CBN’s inefficient control of money supply and the miseducation of the masses through media. (See www.betternaijanow.com for this series and more articles by the Late Sir Henry Boyo) The below republication refers to previous rates that date back as far as 2015 to emphasize the consistent devaluation of the Naira till date. The article describes how the CBN in claiming to defend the Naira, con­tinually implements a contradictory strategy that actually fights Naira appreciation. As you read through the below article taking note of previous events or rates, keep in mind its year of pub­lication (2018), a clear indication that Nigeria’s economic situation is yet to improve even after all this time. “A s I speak to you, our exter­nal reserves stand above $31bn and that provides us with enough fire power to be able to defend the Naira (N305=$1)” (Godwin Emefiele CBN Governor, April 25th, 2017). However, fast forward to January 2018 with reserves above $40bn, i.e., over 30 percent increase since April 2017, and despite the reduction in ex­change outflows caused by the ban of non-essentials imports, the naira inexplicably remains between N305- 360=$1. The question, therefore is: “Is CBN actually defending the Naira?” The above title, was first published in Punch and Vanguard Newspapers on 12th January, 2015. A summary follows hereafter: “Evidently, the serial devalua­tion from stronger than N1=$1 to an abysmal low of about N70=$1, at that time, was probably, the most sig­nificant instigator of the oppressive economic challenges, induced by the IMF imposed Structural Adjustment Programme’ (SAP). Nigeria’s once pulsating industrial base gradually became almost silent, with increas­ing idle capacity, while millions of workers were offloaded into a rapidly contracting job market. Worse still, the oppressive Naira devaluation re­duced wages to ‘peanut’ value; con­sequently, the ‘check out’ syndrome became fashionable, as, well-heeled professionals, and technocrats sought greener pastures abroad, in order to maintain the accustomed dignity in their lifestyles. Sadly, the impact of the near fatal blows from SAP has truncated our development till this day, and Nigeria is now listed as one of the world’s poorest nations. Inexplicably, despite exceptionally high crude oil prices, around $140/ barrel some years back, with the attendant bountiful dollar reserves accumulated thereafter, the econo­my has continued to falter. Ironically, rising dollar reserves, and extended payments cover for our imports, have unexpectedly fostered weak­er Naira exchange rates, such that one wonders if less reserves would in contrast, unexpectedly induce a stronger Naira! However, the reduction in export revenue, when crude oil prices later fell below $60/barrel, undeniably, constituted another onslaught on the Naira exchange rate and inclusive economic growth and employment. Thus, in our quest for a socially and industrially supportive ex­change rate, we find ourselves in a bizarre twist of “heads or tails”, we lose. Indeed, as with SAP, the em­bedded role of IMF technocrats in the management of our economy, also fostered the unfortunate no­tion that Naira rate is overvalued, even when we had best ever foreign reserves above $60bn and largely extended imports payments cover, Regrettably, government economic blueprints, such as NEEDS, were predicated on this obtuse mindset, that if the economy is not diversi­fied, fortuitously bountiful reserves, will neither induce, a stronger Naira nor spur inclusive economic growth. Well, today (January 2015), the Naira exchange rate is close to the N180=$1 exchange rate projected to induce economic diversification and growth in the NEEDS blueprint, but sadly, in reality, catalytic lower rates of inflation, and cost of borrowing, with exchange rate stability which should drive inclusive growth, still remain unattainable. Certainly, no economy can per­form creditably, when cost of funds, to real sector remains over 20 percent while stable consumer demand, re­mains, severely constrained with annual inflation rates of 8-12 per­cent, while Naira exchange rate, is also sliding nearer N200=$1, despite increasing dollar revenue and ex­tended payments cover. Furthermore, it is clearly, reckless financial management, for any gov­ernment to readily pay over N600bn as annual interest to store away the perceived surplus funds it borrows, to restrain inflation, only to turn around to simply sterilize the pro­ceeds of the loan from use, despite the acute shortage of cheap funds with single digit rates of interest, required to drive real sector growth. Sadly, CBN and our Economic Management Teams have never been able to construct an appropri­ate growth model which supports low cost of funds (i.e. 3-6 percent), low inflation rate (1-3 percent), with a non-monopolistic and, open forex market that will drive the elusive quest for economic diversification and growth. Nonetheless, politicians, critics, and a gullible public are once again united in singing the chorus of eco­nomic diversification, while they apparently share the illusion that El-Dorado will be attained by simply throwing billions of Naira as inter­vention funds at various economic sub-sectors. Indeed, in an economy with a burdensome, abiding problem of stupendously surplus Naira, such intervention funds, regrettably, sim­ply compound the existing problem of inflation, which is sustained by systemic surplus Naira. Ultimately, the presence of such surplus funds, would usually instigate another kind of intervention, which compels CBN to step up its own borrowing, despite having to pay excruciatingly high and destabilising interest rates on such sovereign borrowings, which crowd out the productive sector, from access to cheaper loanable funds, which are necessary, to drive lower rates of inflation and boost econom­ic growth, that is characterised by increasing job opportunities, and stable income values. Clearly, the inexplicable burden of eternally surplus Naira is actually also the major obstacle to achieving best practice supportive indices, required to grow and diversify the economy. Systemic surplus Naira supply is, clearly also, responsible for weaker Naira exchange rates, as CBN’s weekly auctions of modest dollar rations, are pitched, in a mar­ket, with excess Naira supply, which invariably creates an imbalance in favour of the dollar! Nigerians do not usually interro­gate the process through which CBN consolidates it’s so called “own re­serves”! Indeed, CBN’s strategy of creating fresh Naira values, every time it substitutes Naira budgetary allocations, for dollar denominat­ed revenue, undeniably, induces a market imbalance of an avalanche of Naira surplus, chasing the much smaller dollar rations, which are in­termittently auctioned by the CBN; consequently, with this arrange­ment, CBN, ironically becomes a stronger defender of the dollar, in­stead of the Naira exchange rate! Thus, the higher the dollar rev­enue from rising crude prices and output, the greater also would be the fresh supply of Naira that CBN, would create and place in the econ­omy, as Naira substitute allocations to government, for the actual export dollar income it had earlier captured. Thus, whenever we celebrate CBN’s rising dollar reserves, we must recognise that the process of accumulating such reserves, is un­fortunately, distortional, primitive and retrogressive, as it creates an ob­tuse paradigm that ensures that the larger the reserves captured by CBN, the greater is Naira liquidity, and the harsher and more counter-produc­tive also, would ultimately be CBN’s monetary control measures. Thus, it is ironical that the CBN which instigates a market disequi­librium in favour of the dollar when it substitutes fresh Naira values for dollar denominated revenue, should later turn round, in seeming defence of the Naira exchange rate, to invari­ably bet against its own currency, by intermittently auctioning small ra­tions of dollars in the same market, which it had earlier inundated with Naira supply; unfortunately such a market imbalance will invariably always precipitate weaker Naira exchange rates, which will inevita­bly increase fuel price, regardless of crude price and output. In this event, the CBN must imme­diately stop digging itself into a deep­er hole with a Naira defence strategy that has consistently worked against the domestic currency (Naira), over time to deepen poverty. Furthermore, the elimination of the oppressive burden of excess Naira liquidity will also induce lower rates of inflation and cost of borrowing and leave the door wide open for inclusive economic growth, economic diversification and rapidly increasing job opportunities (Janu­ary 2015). Fast forward January 2018: Re­serves are now over $40bn; inflation 15 percent plus; Interest rate on real sector borrowing over 20 percent; N305-N400=U$1; unemployment remains untamed, while excess li­quidity remains unyielding! Heaven help us! Surely, the adoption of dollar cer­tificates for government allocations of dollar denominated revenue will eliminate or critically reduce the burden of excess Naira liquidity and therefore give the Naira a fighting chance against the dollar in the forex market.” Save the Naira, Save Nigeri­ans!!The UK is prepared for “all eventualities” if Donald Trump slaps import tariffs on goods from Britain, Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said. The US president-elect has already announced plans to hit China, Canada and Mexico with tariffs as part of his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. But he has indicated he is prepared to use tariffs far more widely as part of his plan to protect American industry. Mr Trump has suggested he wants to increase tariffs on goods imported from around the world by 10% or 20%, rising to 60% on items from China. The UK could retaliate in the form of tariffs targeted at symbolically important US products such as whiskey, blue jeans and motorbikes – hitting brands like Jack Daniel’s, Levi’s and Harley-Davidson – as Britain and the European Union did during trade wars in Mr Trump’s first term in the White House. Mr Reynolds would not be drawn on what actions he would take but insisted the UK was prepared. He told the Commons Business and Trade Committee: “This is the big question facing global trading relationships.” The UK should be an advocate for “open, transparent, free trading relationships around the world”, he said. “Yes, it’s true to say, if any country imposed tariffs on UK companies exporting, it would hurt our companies. “But let’s also remember that it also hurts the consumers in whatever country are being asked to pay those tariffs. And there’s an inflationary pressure, there’s an impact on the cost of living.” The Cabinet minister acknowledged that a 20% tariffs on goods exported to the US would result in a “not insignificant” impact on UK economic growth. Asked if the Government had options ready to respond to tariffs from Mr Trump, the minister said: “I wouldn’t want to speculate, but the committee should assume that all eventualities have been prepared for.” The options in any dispute would be to do nothing, retaliate or negotiate. Asked if retaliatory tariffs on goods such as Harley-Davidson bikes were already prepared, the Trade Secretary said: “You would expect this department to prepare for every eventuality. But I think we should just be a little bit sensitive at this stage about speculating about how we would respond to something which hasn’t happened.” Mr Reynolds said the trade deficits with the US in relation to other European countries did not apply to the UK so Mr Trump might not feel the need to act in the same way as he would with other nations. He said: “There are a whole range of areas where we, as a country, I think could and should – if we could do it – welcome closer trading relationships with the US. “The US is a fundamental ally of ours. We have an incredibly strong trading relationship as it stands, and when I look to areas like services, technology, critical minerals, if there was the opportunity to work more closely together, I don’t think anyone should turn around immediately and say ‘not interested in that’.” He acknowledged there were “challenges” in seeking a closer trading relationship, or even a free-trade deal, which would have knock-on impacts with other important markets for the UK in the EU and China. “I don’t see the need at this stage to rule anything out or in, but to be realistic about where our national interest lies and being frank with the committee about the fact that any negotiation in any major principal market that we might do has to be considered not in isolation, but its relationship to other key markets, and what the consequences of that negotiation would mean for business and trade in those areas.” But he insisted he did not see the coming years as a “binary choice” between trading more closely with the US or EU.

A baseline scenario for the global economy in 2025

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would empower the Treasury Department to eliminate the tax-exempt status of any nonprofit it deems to be supporting terrorism. The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act was approved in a 219-184 vote, with all but one Republican backing it and only 15 Democrats voting for it, on Nov. 21, 2024. The Conversation U.S. philanthropy and nonprofits editor Emily Schwartz Greco spoke with Beth Gazley, an Indiana University scholar of nonprofits, local governance and civil society, to better understand the outcry over this measure — which would have to pass in the Senate before a U.S. president could sign it into law. READ MORE: Trump names hedge fund founder Scott Bessent as pick for Treasury secretary President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office in January 2025, will begin his second term with narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. That means an identical or similar bill could come across his desk after being reintroduced in the next Congress. Why are so many people concerned about this bill? I believe that this is part of a strategy to preempt opposition to Republican policies and encourage self-censorship. It's a way for the GOP to try to restrict what activists and nonprofit organizations can say or do. And, essentially, it's a threat to political opponents of President-elect Donald Trump. This kind of law could become a blunt sword that can be used against everybody. This kind of law could become a blunt sword that can be used against everybody. I'm not the only one who feels this way. U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat who previously was a constitutional law professor, called the bill "a werewolf in sheep's clothing." Raskin observed that "rendering support to terrorists is already a felony" and warned that this bill could end up "capsizing" all rights to due process. Several nonpartisan groups and associations representing a wide array of nonprofits,...WASHINGTON: The United States imposed sanctions on Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili on Friday, accusing the former prime minister of undermining democracy in Georgia and enabling Russia to benefit from his actions. Ivanishvili, a former metals and telecom magnate, has been a prominent figure in Georgian politics and is widely viewed as the de facto leader of the country. The US Department of State, led by Secretary Antony Blinken, announced that the sanctions were in response to Ivanishvili’s role in weakening Georgia’s democratic processes and supporting policies that benefit Russia. The sanctions freeze any US-based assets belonging to Ivanishvili, making it harder for him to conduct business or access financial resources in the United States. Ivanishvili, who amassed a fortune in Russia during the 1990s, has long been accused of steering Georgia away from its Western allies while fostering closer ties with Russia. Critics argue that under his leadership, the country has grown more authoritarian and increasingly aligned with Moscow. Ivanishvili has dismissed these allegations, accusing foreign intelligence agencies of attempting to push Georgia into a conflict with Russia. The sanctions come at a time of growing tension between the West and Georgia, a former Soviet republic that is a candidate for European Union membership. Georgia’s ruling party, the Georgian Dream, has struggled to balance its pro-Western rhetoric with pragmatic relations with Russia. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze condemned the sanctions as “blackmail” and characterized them as a “reward” for Ivanishvili’s efforts to protect Georgia from war. He also reiterated claims from Ivanishvili’s supporters that the billionaire has been under informal US sanctions for years—allegations the US government denies. Georgian Dream, which is heavily influenced by Ivanishvili, has been facing increasing scrutiny for its domestic policies. The party recently froze talks with the European Union, postponing negotiations for membership until 2028. This decision led to widespread protests and a subsequent crackdown, with over 400 people, including opposition politicians, detained. Opposition leader Giorgi Vashadze of the United National Movement welcomed the US sanctions, calling them a “serious success” of the Georgian people’s protest against Ivanishvili’s influence. The US had previously sanctioned several Georgian officials from the interior ministry on December 18, accusing them of involvement in the crackdown on protesters. Tensions have also been exacerbated by a disputed election in October, which saw Georgian Dream win nearly 54% of the vote. Opposition parties have alleged electoral fraud, and President Salome Zourabichvili, a critic of Georgian Dream, has refused to recognize the results. Zourabichvili has indicated that she will not vacate her office at the end of her term, despite the party’s efforts to install a new president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, who will be inaugurated on Sunday. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 30, 2024"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.

Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick, a co-defendant in the ongoing YSL gang trial in Atlanta, was stabbed while behind bars and awaiting a jury’s verdict, his attorney said Monday. The rapper, who’s facing charges in a criminal street gang case involving fellow rapper Young Thug, is expected to make a full recovery after suffering minor injuries at the Fulton County Jail on Sunday, his attorney Douglas Weinstein said on social media. “I did get to speak with him briefly last night. He sounded tired. He was alert,” Weinstein said in a TikTok video. Kendrick was seen in court on Monday with staples in his forehead, local station WSB-TV reported. A Fulton County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said the incident followed a physical altercation with another inmate. “Kendrick received treatment for minor injuries from a sharp object at the Fulton County Jail,” confirmed Natalie Ammons in an email to HuffPost Monday. “This is an active investigation to determine the aggressor in this incident and if charges will be pending.” Kendrick is awaiting a jury’s verdict along with co-defendant Shannon Stillwell on gang, murder, drug and gun charges. Stillwell was also stabbed last year in the same jail. The pair were among 28 people charged in 2022 on charges that include participating in criminal street gang activity and conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Prosecutors said the two men were part of a criminal street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL, which was formed by Young Thug, born Jeffery Williams, in 2012. Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone. Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. Williams was released on probation in October after pleading guilty to drug- and gun-related charges and no contest to charges of conspiracy and participating in a street gang. The conditions of his release included a ban on him returning to Atlanta for 10 years, with a few exceptions given. Related From Our Partner

When Colorado voters were asked in 2022 to allow grocery stores to sell wine — lifting a 107-year restriction the industry repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to beat back legislatively for decades — proponents billed it as a win for consumers’ pocketbooks and the leveling of the playing field for alcohol sales statewide. With far less money in their campaign war chest against Proposition 125, independent liquor store owners fought back with claims that their businesses would be ravaged by an already-competitive market that ultimately favored the larger retailers. The days of the local family-owned liquor store, they said, would be numbered. For many of those stores, the predictions were right. In the two years since 50.6% of state voters passed the measure, dozens of independently owned liquor stores have closed, a Denver Gazette analysis found. The way they described it, with Proposition 125 in place, they were to the edges of fiscal solvency by grocery store chains that sustained penny profits until their competition was emaciated. And the likelihood that scores more are expected to shutter in the coming year — a handful of industry watchers estimate that as many as 400 additional liquor stores will be forced to close by 2026 — appears by some to be a conservative guess. The trade group of grocers in Colorado countered that the change is ultimately benefitting consumers. The reasons are varied, the owners and industry insiders told the Denver Gazette. In some cases, it was a liquor industry that couldn’t compete with chain-owned grocers that drew in and kept the clientele that would normally have stopped only for dinner items and then elsewhere for wine or beer. In other cases, it was savvy big-box retailers that also dispensed prescriptions — Costco and Sam’s Club among them — that tapped into a little-used decades-old liquor license that was originally designed for local pharmacies. And in still others, it was grocery chains that saw they could simply outlast any nearby independent liquor store owner long enough to make the latter’s license virtually worthless for any resale consideration. What voters ultimately approved was a cutthroat industry that in a short timeframe has turned into a bloody and apparently one-sided brawl. What’s more, the state’s craft brewers say they are equally feeling the pinch — dozens have already closed or have diminished their output — because demand for their product lines has also dropped, largely the combined result of fewer local-friendly liquor stores and grocers with little appetite to offer prime shelf space to unproven brands. “The number of stores closing or near closing is a train wreck that is happening and we can see it getting worse,” said Bruce Dierking, co-founder of Hazel’s Beverage World in Boulder and longtime proponent of independent liquor store rights. “I’d say broadly that I knew it would be bad (if Proposition 125 passed), but it’s been worse. For every independent it’s been at least a gut punch if not more devastating.” What stung all the more was only 15 of 64 counties passed the measure, carried mostly by the largest Front Range counties, although it did lose in Jefferson, Boulder, Pueblo and Larimer counties. Another, Proposition 126, which sought to allow third-party deliveries of booze was narrowly defeated. When Prop 125 went into effect in March 2023, the number of stores competing to sell beer and wine literally doubled, as 1,934 outlets that sold 3.2 beer were converted. At the time, there were 1,603 licensed retail liquor stores in Colorado, state records show. By September 2024, the number of independent liquor store licenses had dropped to 1,572, a number experts say is deceptive since licensees are not required to report whether they’ve closed their shop or intend to sell. “I hear of so many others who say they can hold on another year or two until their lease is up,” Dierking said. “Remember, if they close they still have to pay that lease.” The biggest hit hasn’t been in overall sales — state sales tax figures suggest the consumption of alcohol has actually dropped the past few years — but rather foot traffic through the front door. Some store owners have said it’s been a one-third drop; others said their customer traffic has decreased by more than half. “The people through the door has fallen so precipitously,” Dierking said. “We knew it would hurt wine sales, but it’s been much more than expected.” In 2016, independent liquor store owners witnessed a renewed effort by retail grocers to land the right to sell full-strength alcohol. It had been nearly 35 years since the last time voters were asked to allow wine into grocery stores and it failed. To shortcut what might be a more successful process, though, liquor licensees came up with a grand compromise in the Colorado Senate that looked to preserve some of the old ways of selling booze while allowing for newer phased-in rules to apply. It would set up a 20-year phase out of the state’s post-prohibition ban on grocery store alcohol sales. Grocers with drugstore components were allowed to sell beer in a single location, but could add additional stores over time with an eventual unlimited number of licenses allowed by 2037. Put simply, grocers and convenience stores could sell full-strength beer by 2019 and if grocers wanted to sell anything harder or add locations, they’d have to first acquire the liquor license of an existing store if it was within a 1,500-foot radius or 3,000 feet for towns of fewer than 10,000 people. “I was part of that compromise and I regret it,” Dierking said. “It was like a compromise with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. A few short years later, they came back to break the deal.” A key restriction was that drug-store liquor licensees would not be limited in the number of locations they could operate, while independent liquor store owners were. “A retail liquor store ... could never have more than four stores selling beer and wine and spirits in competition with grocery chains and their hundreds of stores selling everything from food to tires to dog food — something independent liquor stores cannot do,” Jim Shpall of Applejack Wine & Spirits told legislators in July 2023 during unsuccessful efforts to change the laws. Prop 125 “blew open the doors” and the industry has tried to grapple with the outcome, Shpall said. Worst, one store owner said, was its passage came just after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “COVID years must be asterisked as most liquor store owners saw a large boost in sales that eroded as soon as the world started re-opening,” said Peter Cook, owner of ACME Liquor Store in Crested Butte. “Since then, the addition of wine to the chain stores has been devastating. Immediately, we saw sales drop 35%. Last fall, off-season sales were down 40%. This year has trended 10-15% down from those numbers.” Struggling to keep up, shop owners chose not to fill employee vacancies as they occurred rather than strip their ranks. Others pared down the amount they bought from wholesalers, with some even stopping altogether. “At the end of the day, I didn’t have a business that could hold water anymore,” said Joe Brunner, owner of Lukas Liquors in Highlands Ranch. The shop closed after 27 years and auctioned its inventory this summer. “Bigger pockets than me blocked me out. Colorado is a horrible state for small business and a great state for corporations.” Brunner predicted as many as 800 additional liquor stores will close over the next two years. “I thought I could survive but at the end of the day the consumers simply didn’t want it anymore,” he said. “We voted for this and I was on the other side of the vote and I lost. That’s how it works. It sucks that it happened to me and I wish it was them instead.” Retail grocers were supported by the Colorado Retail Council in all its battles, a trade association that argued consumers would ultimately win. “Go into any grocery store and see the wine and the variety and see if people are buying and that’s a pretty good way to tell,” CRC president Christopher Howes said. “Yeah, it’s been wildly popular. As we said for at least a decade, the customer ultimately wins and the prices are really appealing and the convenience is there.” During the Prop 125 campaign, proponents said selling alcohol in grocery stores was a safer prospect than those in corner liquor shops. But state law enforcement records show it’s a draw. Ninety retail liquor licensees were cited for selling alcohol to a minor in 2022, while 92 grocery locations were similarly cited, records obtained by The Denver Gazette show. In 2023, after Prop 125 took effect, the state cited 112 retail liquor stores for selling to minors and 113 grocery and convenience stores. The numbers are nearly identical for 2024, with 83 licensees cited in each category through October. In 2024, liquor store owners made an effort with House Bill 24-1373 to lessen the sting of Prop 125 by eliminating the liquor-licensed drugstore license and convert them to malt beverage and wine retailer licenses — in essence, protecting liquor stores’ right to sell spirits by allowing only a single store in a grocery chain to do so. It also would prevent “large national grocery store chains from mandating they receive free labor from alcohol distributors, which currently occurs daily,” according to a letter United Food & Commercial Workers Local 7 president Kim Cordova sent to legislators in April 2024. In essence, liquor stores provide the labor to stock their shelves, while grocers have demanded the distributors do it. "We don't require the sales reps to unload or stock," said Trent Olson, owner of Riverwalk Wine & Spirits in Edwards. "Grocery stores have been demanding it without any increase in sales. What folks didn't realize is that wine into grocery stores added about 1,500 new stops to those locations for distributors, increasing costs we have to cover." Most didn’t see HB 24-1373 as a panacea, but did hope, as Dierking said, “that it slowed down the nails being driven into our coffins.” HB 24-1373 made it through a trio of committees at the House of Representatives before the full House approved it, 42-19. But it survived only three more days in the Colorado Senate before it died in that branch’s Finance Committee on a 4-3 vote, in which Rep. Chris Hansen, a Denver Democrat, sided with the Republican minority. The impact of Prop 125 has magnified ever since, several liquor store owners said. “Our beer sales are down so much more than we expected,” Dierking said. “And we didn’t think the impact would be so large and that the foot traffic shift would be such an issue.” By extension, craft brewers — there are more in Colorado than any other state — have been impacted as well, Dierking said. “It’s just a token to them,” he said of large grocery stores. “They’re not really committed and over time they cut the independent and stock the larger brewers. And those whose product is given shelf space, it’s only their most popular and not the whole lineup, which is what independents offered.” The Colorado Brewers Guild, which represents the bulk of independent craft brewers in the state, said its members are either scaling back, consolidating or, at the worst, closing. “We’ve had about 30 close already this year and last year was 35,” CBG executive director Shawnee Adelson said. “It hurts the smaller guys when you don’t have access to the market like the small independents.” By picking and choosing what they’ll put on a shelf, larger grocery stores have a stronger say over which small businesses survive, Adelson said. “Losing retail liquor stores does impact our smaller crafts that can’t get into the grocery stores; they don’t have the volume,” she said. “The margins are awfully small.” For the grocers, however, a competitive marketplace is ultimately a survival of the fittest. “We said over and again that we didn’t believe the apocalyptic forecast that they’ll all go out of business,” Howes at the Colorado Retail Council said. “And if you keep an eye on those stores around town, they’re not out of business, and the larger ones are doing well. There’s enough room to compete.” He added: “They’re still in business because the smart business owners craft a strategy successfully.”Wild first season in expanded Big 12 comes down to final weekendKEARNEY — The 40th Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference is scheduled for Feb. 20-21 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, 110 Second Ave., in Kearney. Attendees can look forward to hearing from keynote speakers Elaine Froese, Emily Reuschel, Leah Peterson and Jena Oschner. In addition to the keynote speakers, participants will select from more than 20 workshop options that cover the five areas of agricultural risk management: production, market, financial, human and legal. Selected workshops will offer Continuing Education Credits for Certified Crop Advisors. The photography exhibition, “Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture,” will be on display at the event to help celebrate 40 years of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. “We are thrilled to present such a diverse and inspiring lineup of speakers at this year’s conference,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. “The experts, innovators, and leaders joining us are truly exceptional, and their insights will provide invaluable knowledge for everyone involved in agriculture. This is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.” Elaine Froese has coached more than 1,000 families helping decrease their anxiety over the uncertainty of their future. She has authored five books and written a Grainews column for 30 years. Froese Family Farms, a certified seed farm near Boissevain in southwestern Manitoba is her home base, where she farms with her husband, son, and daughter-in-law. She says she “understands the culture of agriculture and is gifted at helping folks see great outcomes and workable paths for their family farms.” She also says her mission is to help families find harmony through understanding. Emily Reuschel is a “champion for the leaders, thinkers, doers and dreamers of rural communities and beyond.” Her “thoughtful leadership defies expectations, busts limiting beliefs, and asks better questions to understand this big, beautiful world and the people in it.” Whether from the stage, behind the Gather in Growth podcast mic, or within her signature virtual communities, she fosters conversations to help women heal, grow, evolve, and build empathy bridges to transform them from the inside out. Jena Ochsner is a fifth-generation farm wife and entrepreneur. She and her family raise cattle and grow commercial row crops with a commitment to faith, stewardship and sustainability. Known for her “relatable, educational content,” Ochsner connects her audience to the realities of farm life through social media, where she shares insights into rural life, modern farming practices, and her love for the land. “With deep roots in her community and an unwavering Christian faith, she encourages others to embrace the values of hard work, family and legacy.” She also speaks about diversifying farm income, using technology on the farm, healthy living, and all things relatable to being a woman in agriculture. Ochsner also ships their premium dry-aged beef nationwide and is cohost of Beyond the Crops Podcast. Leah Peterson started her social media account, Clear Creek Ranch Mom, in the midst of the 2019 Bomb Cyclone as it rolled across Nebraska. What began as a landing page where people could share help and resources for those affected, became a community of people engaged in supporting one another through the ups and downs of farm and ranch life. In the years since, Clear Creek Ranch Mom has become a page where people can come to learn about modern agriculture, with doses of reality, nostalgia and humor. The exhibition, “Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture,” aims to highlight the vital role of women in Nebraska’s agricultural landscape with a collection of over 70 portraits captured at the 2024 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference by renowned photographer John Noltner. Each portrait is accompanied by the subject’s short answer to the question, “what has called you to this work?” “Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture” is funded in part by a grant from Humanities Nebraska. Registration opens on Jan. 1. The cost for a two-day registration is $150 for participants who register on or before Feb. 7. The two-day registration fee increases to $175 on Feb. 8. A one-day registration is available for $90. The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program and the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition are offering scholarships for students and producers to attend this year’s conference. The deadline for these applications is Feb. 1. To learn more, visit the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website at https://wia.unl.edu . Get local news delivered to your inbox!LONDON , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The EY organization announces today the appointment of Joe Depa as the new EY Global Chief Innovation Officer, effective immediately. Within this role, he will spearhead applied innovation to help improve service delivery and guide EY teams to address and solve business challenges. Depa joins the EY organization at a pivotal moment, as a range of emerging technologies are reshaping businesses and industries, creating a multitude of new challenges and opportunities. To keep pace, the EY organization is continuing to make significant investments in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and blockchain, and most recently formed the EY.ai Global AI Advisory Council. In his new role, Depa will be leading the organization's global innovation strategy. This will include overseeing efforts to successfully implement emerging technologies for tangible business applications, both internally and across work of EY member firms with clients. Raj Sharma, EY Global Managing Partner of Growth and Innovation, says: "At this time of constant disruption, success would require a forward-thinking approach and willingness to make bold decisions, which are at the heart of an innovative mindset. We're thrilled to have Joe's deep experience and knowledge around AI and data to lead on our strategic approach to innovation so that EY teams can help clients shape their future more confidently." Throughout the last decade, Depa has worked closely with C-suite leaders and boards to bring innovative products and services to market, improve client and employee experiences, and help enhance operational efficiencies through technology. Most recently, he served as the inaugural Chief Data and AI Officer at a leading university and health care organization. At the university, he helped to promote AI literacy, launch a responsible AI governance program and enable a secure data foundation. Prior to that, he acted as Senior Managing Director and Global Lead for Data and AI at a global multinational professional services company, where he led a team of AI strategists and data engineers in developing and implementing new products and services. Joe Depa , EY Global Chief Innovation Officer, says: "I'm truly excited to join an organization that is 'All in' on its commitment to the transformative potential of emerging technologies. I look forward to working with the EY teams and clients to help empower them to apply innovation in bold, new ways that help create value for clients through data, AI and emerging technologies to make the world a better place." A renowned thought leader in the field of AI, Depa has been recognized as one of the "Top 50 Global Leaders" by World Summit AI and has received Fast Company's "World Changing Idea" award, among other accolades. For more information, visit: ey.com . About EY EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets. Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow. EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories. All in to shape the future with confidence. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy . EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com . This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/joe-depa-named-as-ey-global-chief-innovation-officer-to-lead-its-global-innovation-strategy-302316910.html SOURCE EYGS LLP

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Xavier Bell had 29 points in Wichita State's 87-72 victory over Friends University on Sunday. Bell shot 11 of 16 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Shockers (10-3). Quincy Ballard added 17 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. Corey Washington totaled 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Collin Maclin finished with 18 points for the Falcons. Cahlese Lee added 11 points and two steals. Randy Woolf Jr. recorded 10 points, five assists and two steals. Wichita State took the lead with 8:30 left in the first half and never looked back. Bell led his team in scoring with 21 points in the first half to help put them up 45-36 at the break. Wichita State pulled away with a 12-1 run in the second half to extend a nine-point lead to 20. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .None*Approves 2025 World Bank business enabling action plan *As Sokoto professionals canvass indigenous support for govt Onuminya Innocent Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has assented to the 2025 Appropriation Bill, promising to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state. Aliyu described the 2024 budget implementation as a success story, and reiterated his administration’s determination to continue to execute people-oriented projects already started. In another development, the Sokoto State government took a significant step towards economic growth and development by approving the 2025 World Bank Business Enabling Action Plan. The plan is an annual document that outlines the state’s 12-month business strategy, which is a requirement for the state to participate in the World Bank’s $750 million programme. Meanwhile, Sokoto Professional Network (SPN) appealed to indigenes of the state from different fields to support the state government for rapid development of the state. Chairman of SPN, Engineer Zayyanu Yabo, made the appeal at the network’s second Annual General Meeting, (AGM) held in Sokoto. Elaborating on his government’s 2024/2025 budgets, Aliyu stated, “In the outgoing financial year, we succeeded in executing many developmental projects that had impacted positively on the lives of our people. “We would, in sha Allah, sustain this invaluable gesture by delivering more dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of our people.” He reaffirmed his administration’s support to the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality in the state. The governor thanked the lawmakers for the speedy passage of the bill, stating that it has clearly demonstrated their unwavering commitment towards making the lives of their people better. He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and continued support for his administration. Earlier, Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Tukur Bodinga, said the lawmakers had subjected the appropriation bill to thorough scrutiny to ensure it was line with the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate. Bodinga commended the governor for the myriad dividends of democracy he had so far delivered across the state. The speaker assured of the lawmakers’ support to the governor’s policies and programmes aimed at transforming the state. Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the World Bank meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Alhaji Bello Danchadi, explained that the programme aimed to improve land administration, investment processes, and access to finance, as well as increase sustainable large-scale investments and resolve commercial disputes efficiently Danchadi was accompanied by his colleagues, including Professor Jabir Maihulla (Ministry of Religious Affairs); Professor Attahiru Sifawa (Ministry of Science and Technology); and Alhaji Haruna Bashir (Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry). Danchadi explained that with the state executive council’s approval, Sokoto State was now eligible to participate in the World Bank’s 2025 programme. In addition to the World Bank programme, the Sokoto State Executive Council also approved several other projects. The council approved the renovation and upgrading of nine Juma’at mosques across three senatorial districts in the state, with contracts awarded to various companies at a total cost of over N1.2 billion. It approved the construction of pedestrian bridges along Airport Road and Shehu Shagari College of Education road, at a cost of N331.135 million, to improve safety and reduce accidents in the area. SPN chairman, Yabo described the network as a coalition of professionals from Sokoto State working across various sectors, including science, technology, humanities, arts, and other public and private domains. He highlighted the organisation’s objectives, which included promoting sustainable professionalism, supporting advocacy and capacity development, and implementing initiatives to enhance the skills and scholarship opportunities for Sokoto youths to drive state-wide development. Reflecting on the network’s achievements over the past two years, Yabo stated significant milestones, including the training of 50 youths in solar installation and maintenance. He said many of the beneficiaries were now gainfully employed or running their own businesses. “Our network remains committed to supporting the development of Sokoto State and its people. The ultimate goal is to build a skilled and empowered population that contributes positively to societal growth,” Yabo stated. Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Goronyo, commended the network for its initiatives. Goronyo emphasised that this year’s theme, “A Year of Consolidation and Progress,” aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which advocated strategic partnerships and collaborations as catalysts for economic growth. “The efforts of SPN are commendable, and I applaud the leadership for organising such a significant gathering to consolidate its achievements and chart new paths for progress,” Goronyo said.The Gross Law Firm Reminds Humacyte, Inc. Investors of the Pending Class Action Lawsuit with a ...

Thailand has made substantial progress in reducing carbon emissions and has set a target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, says the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE). Phirun Saiyasitpanich, DCCE director-general, said Thailand, as a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), recently submitted its First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) to the UNFCCC secretariat. The report outlines Thailand's progress in combating climate change, highlighting actions taken to meet global climate commitments and enabling access to technology, expertise, and international funding. Thailand, the report said, emitted 278,039.73 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (ktCO2eq) of greenhouse gases, including emissions from forestry and land use, and 385,941.14 ktCO2eq excluding these sectors. The country reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 60.33 MtCO2eq in 2021 and 65.23 MtCO2eq in 2022, aligning with its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Thailand has achieved 30.4% of its NDC target compared to business-as-usual (BAU) projections, as stipulated under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement. Mr Phirun emphasised the need to raise this target to 40% in the near future to mitigate the risks of global warming. In a significant milestone, Thailand transferred 1,916 tCO2eq of international carbon credits, marking its first year of such transfers. The report also highlighted pilot projects in six fields across six provinces to combat climate change. To date, Thailand has received USD $1.1 billion (38.6 billion baht) in international financial support to develop and distribute climate-related technologies. To achieve its 2050 carbon neutrality goal and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065, Thailand must address emissions from key sectors such as energy, transport, industry, and agriculture.

A wild first season of the expanded Big 12 is down to what should be a chaotic final weekend. Through all the upsets, unexpected rises and falls, there are nine teams still in the mix to play in the conference championship game. No. 14 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State have the best odds, yet a multitude of scenarios could play out — 256 to be exact. There's even the possibility of an eight-team tie. It may take a mathematician to figure out which teams are in the Dec. 7 game in Arlington, Texas — even for the ones who win. Star power Travis Hunter, Colorado. The Buffaloes' two-way star has excelled on both sides of the field, making him one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State. The senior running back can do a little of everything, but excels at punishing would-be tacklers. He's one of the nation's leaders in yards after contact and the focal point of the Sun Devils' offense. Shadeur Sanders, Colorado. If it weren't for Hunter, Sanders might be the Heisman favorite. The son of coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur is fifth nationally with 3,488 yards passing and has been a big part of the Buffaloes' turnaround. DJ Giddens, Kansas State. The Wildcats' running back is one of the nation's most versatile players. He is ninth nationally with 1,271 rushing yards and has added 21 receptions for 258 yards. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona. The Wildcats have struggled this season, but McMillan has not. He is third nationally with 1,251 receiving yards with seven touchdowns on 78 catches. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' junior linebacker leads the Big 12 with 68 tackles, averaging 10.2 per game. He also has four sacks. Brendan Mott, Kansas State. He's a menace to opposing quarterbacks, leading the Big 12 with 8 1/2 sacks. Going bowling The Big 12 has nine teams already bowl eligible and two more a win away. The winner of the Big 12 championship game will be in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot. Arizona State, Iowa State, No. 19 BYU, Colorado, Kansas State, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia have already clinched bowl berths. Kansas and Cincinnati can get into the postseason with wins this weekend. Hot seats Gus Malzahn, UCF. Despite successes in recruiting, the Knights are 10-14 in two seasons since moving to the Big 12. Maybe not enough to get shown the door this year, but another mediocre season could lead UCF to make a change. Kyle Whittingham, Utah. Whittingham was one of the Pac-12's best coaches, leading the Utes to consecutive conference titles. Utah was expected to contend for the Big 12 title its first year in the league, but enters the final weekend 1-7 in conference play, which could push Whittingham toward retirement since it's doubtful he'd be fired. Neal Brown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers' coach was in a precarious spot at the end of last season and West Virginia hasn't lived up to expectations this season. The Mountaineers are eligible to go to a bowl game for the second straight season, but Brown could be on the hot seat even after signing a contract extension before the season. Youth movement Josiah Trotter, West Virginia. The redshirt freshman is the latest Trotter to have success at the linebacker position, following the footsteps of his father, former Philadelphia Eagles player Jeremiah Trotter, and brother Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a current Eagles linebacker. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State. The Michigan State transfer has been just what the Sun Devils' needed: an agile quarterback who extends plays with his legs and rarely makes bad decisions. Bryson Washington, Baylor. The Bears' running back has rushed for 812 yards — 196 against TCU — and 10 TDs. Recruiting watch TCU has the Big 12's highest rated 2025 recruiting class with six four-star players among 26 commitments, according to the 247 Sports composite. Receiver Terry Shelton of Carrollton, Texas, is the highest-rated recruit at 71st nationally. Baylor is next with five five-star players among its 20 commitments, including running back Michael Turner, rated 13th at his position out of North Richland Hills, Texas. Texas Tech is ranked seventh in the Big 12, but has four four-star recruits.