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CLEVLEAND — Shane Bieber's comeback with Cleveland has double meaning. The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians on Wednesday, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stay with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026. It seemed like a long shot that Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts, would return to Cleveland. He had turned down long-term offers in the past from the club, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely one on the West Coast. But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025. A two-time All-Star, Bieber was named MVP of the midsummer event in 2019 when it was held in Cleveland. He has the highest strikeout ratio per nine innings (10.2) and third-highest winning percentage (.660) in the franchise's 124-year history. Bieber is one of just three Cleveland pitchers to start five season openers, joining Stan Coveleski (1917-21) and Corey Kluber (2015-19). While Bieber had some elbow issues in the past, he didn't show any issues before being shut down. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Oakland on March 28, and followed that up with six more shutout innings at Seattle on April 2. DALLAS — Pitchers again dominated the big league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings, comprising 11 of the 15 unprotected players who were picked Wednesday. The 121-loss Chicago White Sox had the first pick and selected 24-year-old right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Smith was an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest when he was signed by Milwaukee in July 2021. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder has gone 13-7 with a 2.69 ERA and 203 strikeouts over 157 innings in 19 starts and 54 relief appearances over three minor league seasons. There were 14 teams who made picks in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft of players left off 40-man rosters after several minor league seasons. Only Atlanta made two selections, after making none since 2017. Atlanta chose right-hander Anderson Pilar from the Miami Marlins with the 11th pick, and then took infielder Christian Cairo from the Cleveland Guardians with the 15th and final pick in the MLB portion. The 26-year-old Pilar was original signed by Colorado as a minor league free agent in 2015 and has pitched in 213 minor league games that included 17 starts. He is 28-20 with a 2.86 ERA. Teams pay $100,000 to take a player in the major league portion. The players must stay on the big league roster all of next season or clear waivers and be offered back to their original organization for $50,000. Six of the 10 players selected during the Rule 5 draft last December — five of them right-handed pitchers — remained last season with organization that selected them. Two of the four position players taken Wednesday by other teams came from the Detroit Tigers organization: catcher Liam Hicks and third baseman Gage Workman. Miami drafted second after Colorado passed making a selection, and took Hicks. Workman was taken by the Chicago Cubs with the 10th pick. Baltimore lost two right-handed pitchers on back-to-back picks, Juan Nunez to San Diego with the 12th pick before Connor Thomas went to Milwaukee. DALLAS — Tom Hamilton, who has called Cleveland games on the radio for 35 seasons, won the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting on Wednesday. Hamilton, 70, joined the team's broadcast in 1990, when he was with Herb Score in the booth and part of the coverage of their World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997. Hamilton became the voice of the franchise when Score retired after that second World Series. Hamilton will be honored during the Hall of Fame’s induction weekend from July 25-28 in Cooperstown, New York. He was selected the hall's Frick Award 16-member committee as the 49th winner. There were 10 finalists on this year's ballot, whose main contributions came as local and national voices and whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card era. The other nine were Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ernie Johnson Sr., Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Sims and John Sterling. DALLAS — The Texas Rangers acquired slugging corner infielder Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday in a trade for three minor league players. Burger hit .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs in 137 games for the Marlins last season, with 150 strikeouts in 535 at-bats with 31 walks. He started 59 games at third base and made 50 starts at first. Five days of service time short of being eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, he will be eligible next winter and can become a free agent after the 2028 World Series. Miami got infielders Max Acosta and Echedry Vargas and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza. The acquisition of Burger comes about a month after the Rangers hired former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a senior adviser for baseball operations. Luis Urueta, Miami's bench coach the past two seasons, also was added recently to manager Bruce Bochy's on-field coaching staff for 2025. BRIEFLY WHITE SOX: Mike Tauchman is switching sides in Chicago. The White Sox announced a $1.95 million, one-year contract for the outfielder. Tauchman, 34, grew up in Palatine, Illinois, about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, and played college ball for Bradley in Peoria, Illinois. He spent the previous two seasons with the Cubs. TRADE: All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet was acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox for four prospects. Catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery are headed to Chicago. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Editor's note: CGTN's First Voice provides instant commentary on breaking stories. The column clarifies emerging issues and better defines the news agenda, offering a Chinese perspective on the latest global events. A quarter century ago, Macao returned to the motherland, a milestone in the grand journey towards the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Since then, following the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, Macao has undergone a spectacular transformation, thanks to achievements across various domains, from politics, economy and society to culture. At a meeting celebrating the anniversary and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on December 20, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the achievement and expressed high expectations from this "pearl on the palm" from the perspective of national development. Achievements and changes in the past 25 years 1. Economy Since its return, Macao has witnessed a remarkable surge in its economy. In the first half of 2024, Macao's GDP was approximately 204 billion Macanese pataca (MOP) (around $25.5 billion). In 1999, before the return, it was 51.9 billion MOP. The per capita GDP is even more impressive. After adjusting for purchasing power parity, Macao's real per capita GDP is around $134,000, the second highest in the world and topping in Asia. This achievement underscores the region's success in advancing the "One Country, Two Systems" policy with distinctive Macao features. Macao has diversified its economic development beyond its long-standing tourism and leisure industries. The convention and exhibition sector, financial services, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), cultural and innovation industries, and the burgeoning digital economy have emerged as pillars of its economic diversification. By the first half of 2024, Macao had 101 licensed financial institutions and the financial sector's total assets amounted to 2.6 trillion MOP. This signifies Macao's strategic shift towards a more balanced and resilient economy. 2. Society President Xi praised Macao's people-centered governance, highlighting its progress in employment, housing, education, healthcare, social security and other social programs. This comprehensive approach has fostered long-term social harmony and stability. Prior to 1999, Macao had limited higher education resources, with few residents going to university. Today, its gross enrollment ratio in higher education has crossed 95 percent. The number of universities in Macao has grown from a single institution to 10, playing a pivotal role in nurturing a pool of talents essential for Macao's ongoing development. The government has instituted a comprehensive medical welfare system that offers complimentary healthcare and additional benefits to residents aged 65 and above. This initiative provides a sense of security and reassurance. The robust economic growth has increased employment opportunities. In 2024, the unemployment rate was just 1.7 percent in 2024. The government is also advancing vocational training and re-employment programs to enhance residents' employability and job security. To ensure residents' well-being, there are comprehensive welfare policies, including housing subsidies and reductions in utility costs, all designed to enhance the living standards and the overall quality of life. 3. Culture Macao's rich history, culture and traditions have earmarked it as one of the 2025 culture cities of East Asia. Cultural events such as the Macao Arts Festival and the Macao International Music Festival enhance its attraction to international visitors. Macao is also capitalizing its geographical and cultural strengths by engaging in national development strategies, like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) integrated development strategy. It has been designated to serve as "one center, one platform and one base" – that is, to be a world center of tourism and leisure, a commercial and trade service platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and an exchange and cooperation base with Chinese culture as its mainstream and the co-existence of different cultures. Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) boasts an abundance of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The Historic Center of Macao, which represents Macao's architectural legacy, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Xi described Macao as "a city where cultures and arts from across the world mingle," and "a living example of harmonious coexistence and integrated development of different civilizations." 4. Urban construction Significant strides have been in transportation infrastructure, highlighted by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. This engineering marvel has enhanced connectivity with the mainland and strengthened Macao's role as a regional transportation hub. Urban greening, beautification and lighting initiatives are making Macao more habitable and appealing for residents and visitors alike. Experience of the past 25 years 1. Committed to the "One Country, Two Systems" policy "The values embodied in the cause of 'One Country, Two Systems,' namely, peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing, are relevant to not only China but also the whole world. These values should be cherished by us all," Xi said in his address. Upholding the policy has ensured Macao's prosperity and stability. Since the return, Macao remains committed to safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, seamlessly integrating the central government's overall jurisdiction with the region's autonomy. On matters of national sovereignty, Macao aligns itself with the national policies, guaranteeing that its stability and development are in harmony with national interests. Within the "One Country, Two Systems" framework, Macao makes policies and regulations tailored to its unique developmental needs. Additionally, the SAR engages in cultural exchanges and collaborations with the Chinese mainland and the global community, amplifying Macao's cultural influence and soft power. 2. Integrating into the nation's development Macao is an active participant in the development of the GBA, leveraging its distinctive strengths to complement and achieve development with the other cities in the region. In the tourism sector, Macao has collaboratively created a world-class tourist destination with its GBA counterparts, introducing "multi-destination" routes that draw an increasing number of visitors from both the mainland and abroad. Macao and Guangdong have inked a series of cooperation agreements for joint endeavors in cross-border e-commerce and the traditional Chinese medicine industry. Education, science and technology, and cultural exchanges are also burgeoning between Macao and other mainland cities. A growing number of Macao's youth are venturing to the mainland for education and business opportunities, infusing fresh energy into its development, stimulating its innovation in science and technology, and enriching its cultural landscape. Macao is also aligned with the BRI, capitalizing on its role as a service platform for commercial and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking economies, enhancing its role as a bridge for connectivity and collaboration with these regions. Macao has embraced Xi's call for alignment with national development strategies, accelerating its integration into China's broader development and enhancing its role as a bridge in the new development paradigm. It is expected to play a key role in the development of the GBA and contribute to national growth. 3. Promoting diversification Xi outlined four key expectations for Macao, including the promotion of "appropriate economic diversification." To achieve this, Macao is advised to focus on key sectors, improve development planning, and enhance policy and funding support to cultivate internationally competitive industries. While ensuring the steady growth of its tourism and leisure industries, Macao has been proactive in fostering appropriate economic diversification, cultivating emerging sectors such as the convention and exhibition industry, cultural and creative industries, and TCM. It has successfully hosted several high-profile MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) events, bolstering its international profile and influence in the MICE sector. In TCM, Macao has collaborated with the mainland to establish a science and technology industrial park, advancing the globalization of TCM. It is strategically enhancing its industrial structure through a multifaceted approach. This includes the development of targeted industrial policies, bolstering financial investments, and nurturing a skilled workforce. A dedicated special fund has been established to foster the growth of emerging industries. Additionally, it is strengthening partnerships with universities and research institutions to cultivate professionals who are equipped to drive the future of Macao's industrial development. 4. People-centered governance Macao has developed a comprehensive social security framework that encompasses pensions, medical care, unemployment and work-related injury protection. Together with its two-tier social security system, the SAR has provided its residents with a sense of belonging and security. In education, Macao has introduced 15 years of free education, ensuring access to high-quality resources for residents. In healthcare, the city offers free basic medical care and enhanced medical services. The government also prioritizes housing, advancing public housing projects for lower-income families. All these efforts are aligned with President Xi's people-centered philosophy. 5. Embracing national pride Xi mentioned "the principle of patriots administering Macao." The Macao SAR government places a high priority on fostering patriotic values. This commitment is woven into the curriculum and extracurricular activities from the earliest years of education through university, with the aim of nurturing a strong sense of national identity and pride among students. Through visits to iconic sites and activities such as the national flag-raising ceremony, students understand the grandeur of the Chinese nation and national pride. 6. Maintaining a stable political environment and efficient governance structure Since Macao's return, a stable political environment has been created with the executive, legislative and judicial sectors working in collaboration. A well-defined division among government departments that work in efficient coordination ensures that social and economic issues are addressed promptly and effectively. Political and social organizations take part in public affairs, offering insights and proposals to advance Macao's development. When significant policies and legislation are made, public opinion is sought, ensuring that people's voices are heard and considered. The government is also advancing e-government initiatives to improve efficiency and transparency in the delivery of public services. The management and oversight of public resources is being improved to ensure their equitable distribution and optimal utilization. Future prospects and tasks ahead Xi's speech highlighted four expectations for Macao, which could be also considered the main tasks for the newly established SAR government. 1. Appropriate diversification of the local economy For Macao’s economic diversification, Xi urged developing high-level economic synergy and alignment of regulations with the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin on the Chinese mainland, with efficient and smooth cross-border flow of various factors between the cooperation zone and Macao. The cooperation zone opened in 2021. Xi said the opportunities stemming from it should be seized to accelerate the development of a modern industrial system centered on scientific and technological innovation in Macao. This will optimize and upgrade Macao's economic structure, leading to sustainable growth. Macao should also strengthen in-depth cooperation with the Chinese mainland to make significant strides in synergistic scientific and technological innovation, complementary industrial development, and market connectivity. In this way, with the mainland it could jointly establish an internationally competitive science and technology innovation hub and a world-class city cluster. To achieve all this, Macao needs to advance integrated development of education, technology and talent, and do more to attract and nurture talent of various types, becoming a magnet for high-caliber talent from across the world. 2. Improving governance efficiency Macao should evolve its governance framework adhering to the "One Country, Two Systems" policy to meet contemporary demands and expand its practical applications. It should advance law-based governance, better respond to its economic and social development needs, improve its institutions, laws and regulations, and deepen public administration reform. It should also improve its organizational structure and the way of governance. By deepening the practice of "One Country, Two Systems," Macao can leverage its distinctive role within the national governance framework, contributing its experience and insights to the evolution of the "good system" that has provided the city with comparative advantages. 3. Building a platform for higher-level opening up The central government has a unique vision for Macao's economic diversification and sustainable growth as "one center, one platform, one base." This is the vision for Macao's development as a world center of tourism and leisure, a commercial and trade service platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and an exchange and cooperation base with Chinese culture as its mainstream and the co-existence of different cultures. "With its development position as 'one center, one platform, one base,' Macao should enhance mechanisms through which it can better play its role in China's opening up, take steps to align with major national strategies, and continue to enhance its global competitiveness," Xi said. As a place where Chinese and Western cultures merge, Macao has great potential in promoting international people-to-people exchanges, better presenting itself and China to the world, and becoming an important window of exchanges between Chinese and Western civilizations. Macao should expand into international markets, enhance its status and influence on the international economic stage, and contribute more substantially to China's high-level opening up. Particularly, it can capitalize on its unique cultural strengths by delving deeper into its historical and cultural resources. By organizing culturally impactful events and exhibitions with international reach, it can showcase its multifaceted cultural attraction, facilitate cultural exchanges, and encourage East-West dialogue. 4. Safeguarding social harmony and stability Since its return, Macao has been doing well in improving public welfare by elevating the quality and standard of public services, particularly in education, healthcare, and social security. In the future, facing the challenges and risks ahead, Macao will promote positive interaction between regulations and residents' participation, guide the development of associations, and build a solid foundation for grassroots governance. With a people-centered approach, it will address the most urgent and practical issues that people are most concerned about, create a fairer social environment, and realize residents' yearning for a better life. Additionally, it will continue to refine opportunities for all talented personnel, focus on addressing the needs of the younger generation, and foster social equity, justice, harmony, and stability. (If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on Twitter to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)

LOGAN ENERGY CORP. ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC MONTNEY ASSET ACQUISITION, $35 MILLION EQUITY OFFERING AND PRO FORMA GUIDANCE FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2024 AND 2025

Opinion: Nvidia Showed Me the Future of AI in Gaming, but I'm Not ConvincedWASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump's picks. The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It's a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time "with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump's “border czar.” In another sign of Vance's influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump's first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships," he said. "But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he's not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.SAN JOSE, Calif. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) will host its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Monday, December 9, 2024 , beginning at 8:00 a.m. PST via audio webcast. Participants will include Cisco Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins . What: 2024 Cisco Virtual Annual Meeting of Stockholders When: Monday, December 9, 2024, 8:00 a.m. PST Listen and Watch: A live audio (including closed captioning) webcast of the meeting with synchronized slides will be available online. Cisco stockholders of record as of October 10, 2024 , can vote and ask questions online during the meeting. Visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CSCO2024 to attend. Online Annual Report: View Cisco's 2024 Annual Report and Proxy at www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/annual-reports.html Replay: A replay of the Annual Stockholder Meeting with synchronized slides will be available on the Cisco Investor Relations website at investor.cisco.com within 24 hours of the conclusion. About Cisco Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco . Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks . Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. Investor Relations Contact: Press Contact: Sami Badri Robyn Blum Cisco Cisco 469-420-4834 408-930-8548 sambadri@cisco.com rojenkin@cisco.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cisco-to-host-2024-virtual-annual-meeting-of-stockholders-302316943.html SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc.

I like the idea of becoming a stock market millionaire. But my approach to aim for a million is focussed on keeping things simple rather than complicated. So I am not trying to hunt down some tiny company few people have heard of hoping it turns out to be the next big thing. Instead, I am building a portfolio based around well-known blue-chip shares – and not that many of them! Getting serious about investment Before digging into the details of such an approach, though, it is worth mentioning that trying to aim for a million needs commitment, both in terms of time and money. This is not some scheme whereby I miraculously hope to turn just a few quid into a seven-figure sum. Rather, I methodically invest over the long term, continuing to put more money in and letting the money I have already invested get to work. The amount depends on one’s own financial circumstances, but here I foresee putting £1k per month (£12k each year) into my . Hitting the million Doing that and compounding my ISA value at 10% annually means I could realistically aim for a million after 24 years. As a , I am comfortable with that. But what if I managed a compound annual growth rate of 20%, not 10%? Then, still making the same monthly contribution of £1,000, I ought to hit my target in just . Zooming in on quality shares at good value prices Both 10% and 20% are quite tough targets to achieve over the long run, when taking the bad years with the smooth ones. Still, I think they are possible. How could I aim for 20% not 10%? I aim to invest in some of the same shares, just a smaller selection of them. Concentrating on a few great shares means spreading my portfolio less thinly (though still keeping diversified), meaning the strong performance of some shares would have greater overall impact on my returns. Putting the theory into practice now That sounds simple enough. The devil in the detail, though, is trying to spot such high performers. As an example, let me discuss one share that has achieved that target over the past five years. During that period, ( ) has increased by 146% in value. On top of that, it is a regular dividend payer. How might I have known five years ago that the company had brilliant potential? At that stage, it already had a proven business model and strong track record: even well-established companies can produce strong performance. It had a large target market of customers wiling to spend substantial sums on gaming paraphernalia. Crucially, Games Workshop had a competitive advantage. Its proprietary fantasy universes and characters helped build customer loyalty, giving it pricing power. The company faces risks such as a weak economy, which might make gamers less keen to keep buying new characters. That could hurt profits. At the current share price, the valuation is too rich for me and I have no plans to buy the share now. But it does offer lessons about the sort of characteristics I am looking for when choosing shares as I aim for a million.

Did 'Time' Magazine Choose Adolf Hitler as Its Person of the Year in 1938?

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‘Dumpster fire’ banner flies over New York Giants game at MetLife StadiumNoneSANTA CLARA, Calif. — At this point the past two seasons, the San Francisco 49ers were fighting for playoff positioning rather than their playoff lives. After snapping a three-game losing streak with a lopsided win last week against Chicago, the Niners head into a Thursday night division showdown against the Los Angeles Rams hoping to play with the same kind of desperation in a game they almost certainly need to win to get to the postseason. "I think just across the board as a team, everybody had just a bit more of sense of urgency and I think we executed and played together as a team, and we didn't let off," quarterback Brock Purdy said. "Really liked that. But, that was last week so now it's on to this week and how can we do that again?" After getting outscored by 53 points in losses at Green Bay and Buffalo, the 49ers (6-7) played their most complete game of the season to keep their playoff hopes alive. While some credited a feeling of desperation or speeches from players such as Purdy and Deommodore Lenoir for the turnaround, linebacker Fred Warner said it was more about execution than anything else. "We didn't go out there in Green Bay, we didn't go out there in Buffalo saying, 'Let's just hope that we win.' Trust me, I felt desperate as hell going into both those games," he said. "It just didn't work out. ... It didn't happen because last week we decided we wanted to. This was weeks in the making." Whatever the reason, the results were obvious to anyone watching, including the Rams (7-6), who had their own signature performance to boost their playoff chances. Los Angeles held off Buffalo 44-42 to remain one game behind Seattle in the NFC West race and a game ahead of the 49ers and Arizona in the tightly packed division. Coach Sean McVay knows his team will need a similar performance to beat San Francisco and earn a season sweep. "I saw they certainly had a very dominant performance," he said. "If there's anything that you do know, it's a week-to-week league. Humility is only a week away. They have excellent coaches, excellent personnel and really good schemes. No matter what's really happened in terms of the trajectory of the injuries, they're going to be ready to go." Puka Nacua is in dominant form with 33 catches for 458 yards and three TDs in the Rams' past four games, highlighted by a 162-yard performance last week against Buffalo in which he also scored his first rushing TD. Nacua was injured for these clubs' first meeting this season — but last year, he broke the NFL's single-game rookie receptions record with 15 in his first game against San Francisco, and he set the NFL rookie season records for catches and yards receiving during his visit to Santa Clara last January. "He's a tough football player," 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said. "Some guys are just competitive. He's got size, he doesn't go down easy. Some things you can't measure and he's just got it." The least productive four-game stretch of Deebo Samuel's career sent the frustrated wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers to social media. In a now-deleted post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Samuel said the reason he gained only 97 yards from scrimmage the past four games was not that he was struggling but that he wasn't getting the ball. His teammates and coaches believe he will get back to his All-Pro form soon. "I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could," Purdy said. "I want to have him break all the records as best as possible. I want Deebo to do Deebo things." The Rams defense got shredded twice in the past three weeks by Saquon Barkley's Eagles and Josh Allen's Bills, dropping the unit to 27th in total defense. LA's vaunted young pass rush led by rookie Jared Verse has no sacks in its past two games and just three in the past four games. Considering Purdy drove the Niners to 425 yards in the teams' first meeting this season without Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle or Samuel, the Rams' offense might need yet another prolific game to overcome its defense's weaknesses. With Nick Bosa sidelined the past three games, the 49ers have had to generate pass rushes from different sources. They had a season-high seven sacks last week with Yetur Gross-Matos getting three and Leonard Floyd two. The 32-year-old Floyd has 5 1/2 sacks in his past four games. "Leonard's just an Energizer bunny," Shanahan said. "It's crazy with him being one of the older guys and stuff and how many different teams he's been to, but I've played against him enough and felt that." Bosa has a chance to return this week and is listed as questionable. AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Los Angeles contributed to this report