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extreme lightning roulette The Twins agreed to contracts with three of their arbitration-eligible players and offered the other eight contracts Friday at the Major League Baseball non-tender deadline. Relief pitchers Brock Stewart, Michael Tonkin and Justin Topa settled on one-year deals. Stewart made $800,000 last season, Tonkin $1.87 million and Topa $1.74 million. Jon Heyman of the MLB Network reported Tonkin will take a cut to $1 million for 2025. The other Twins who were tendered and are eligible for arbitration, with their salaries last season , are third baseman Royce Lewis ($1.925 million); utility player Willi Castro, the team’s MVP ($6.8 million); starting pitcher Bailey Ober ($3.7 million); catcher Ryan Jeffers ($6.1 million); reliever Griffin Jax ($2.81 million); starter Joe Ryan ($3.65 million); outfielder Trevor Larnach ($2.1 million); and closer Jhoan Duran ($1.77 million). The Twins have 37 players on their major league roster, three under the maximum, heading into the Baseball Winter Meetings in December.Musk causes uproar by backing German far-right party ahead of key electionsOver the past few seasons, the Argentine national team has been touted as one of the most exciting and talented defenders in world football. With a solid defensive record and a knack for coming up with crucial tackles and interceptions, the Argentine has been a key player for both club and country. However, his recent performances for Manchester United have raised doubts among fans and pundits alike.

The surge in stock prices across various sectors in the A-share market has been attributed to a combination of factors, including positive economic data, strong corporate earnings, and increased investor confidence. This rally has been particularly notable in technology, healthcare, and consumer goods sectors, reflecting the market's optimism towards these industries.

Let this case serve as a lesson for all businesses and individuals to act with integrity and respect the intellectual property rights of others, ultimately contributing to a fair and transparent marketplace for all.Travis Perkins plc ( OTCMKTS:TPRKY – Get Free Report ) was the target of a large increase in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 800 shares, an increase of 166.7% from the November 30th total of 300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 16,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. Travis Perkins Stock Up 1.7 % Travis Perkins stock opened at $9.06 on Friday. Travis Perkins has a 12-month low of $8.73 and a 12-month high of $13.00. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $10.05 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.96. Travis Perkins Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Read More Receive News & Ratings for Travis Perkins Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travis Perkins and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .After 14 Years, "Final Destination 6" Gets Release Date!

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart's sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are re-evaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups. The changes announced by the world's biggest retailer on Monday followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The retreat from such programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump's incoming deputy chief of policy will be his former adviser Stephen Miller , who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies. “There has been a lot of reassessment of risk looking at programs that could be deemed to constitute reverse discrimination,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher at the Human Capital Center at the Conference Board. “This is another domino to fall and it is a rather large domino,” he added. Among other changes, Walmart said it will no longer give priority treatment to suppliers owned by women or minorities. The company also will not renew a five-year commitment for a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. And it pulled out of a prominent gay rights index . Schweyer said the biggest trigger for companies making such changes is simply a reassessment of their legal risk exposure, which began after U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023 that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, conservative groups using similar arguments have secured court victories against various diversity programs, especially those that steer contracts to minority or women-owned businesses. Most recently, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty won a victory in a case against the U.S. Department of Transportation over its use of a program that gives priority to minority-owned businesses when it awards contracts. Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts, said Dan Lennington, a deputy counsel at the institute. His organization says it has identified more than 60 programs in the federal government that it considers discriminatory, he said. “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches -- the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President -- are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups,” Lennington said. The Trump administration is also likely to take direct aim at DEI initiatives through executive orders and other policies that affect private companies, especially federal contractors. “The impact of the election on DEI policies is huge. It can’t be overstated,” said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at law firm Gibson Dunn. With Miller returning to the White House, rolling back DEI initiatives is likely to be a priority, Schwartz said. “Companies are trying to strike the right balance to make clear they’ve got an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, and they want to get the best talent, while at the same time trying not to alienate various parts of their employees and customer base who might feel one way or the other. It’s a virtually impossible dilemma,” Schwartz said. A recent survey by Pew Research Center showed that workers are divided on the merits of DEI policies. While still broadly popular, the share of workers who said focusing on workplace diversity was mostly a good thing fell to 52% in the October survey, compared to 56% in a similar survey in February 2023. Rachel Minkin, a research associate at Pew, called it a small but significant shift in short amount of time. There will be more companies pulling back from their DEI policies, but it likely won’t be a retreat across the board, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University. “There are vastly more companies that are sticking with DEI," Glasgow said. "The only reason you don’t hear about it is most of them are doing it by stealth. They’re putting their heads down and doing DEI work and hoping not to attract attention.” Glasgow advises organizations to stick to their own core values, because attitudes toward the topic can change quickly in the span of four years. “It’s going to leave them looking a little bit weak if there’s a kind of flip-flopping, depending on whichever direction the political winds are blowing,” he said. One reason DEI programs exist is because without those programs, companies may be vulnerable to lawsuits for traditional discrimination. “Really think carefully about the risks in all directions on this topic,” Glasgow said. Walmart confirmed will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. Walmart says its U.S. businesses sourced more than $13 billion in goods and services from diverse suppliers in fiscal year 2024, including businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans. It was unclear how its relationships with such business would change going forward. Organizations that have partnered with Walmart on its diversity initiatives offered a cautious response. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, a non-profit that last year named Walmart one of America's top corporation for women-owned enterprises, said it was still evaluating the impact of Walmart's announcement. Pamela Prince-Eason, the president and CEO of the organization, said she hoped Walmart's need to cater to its diverse customer base will continue to drive contracts to women-owned suppliers even if the company has no explicit dollar goals. “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World,” Prince-Eason wrote. “Any retailer's ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart." Walmart's announcement came after the company spoke directly with conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck, who has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on the social media platform X. Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford , Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply . Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don’t feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. The company also will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. A Walmart spokesperson added that some of the changes were already in progress and not as a result of conversations that it had with Starbuck. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, senior director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program, said companies that “abandon” their commitments workplace inclusion policies “are shirking their responsibility to their employees, consumers, and shareholders.” She said the buying power of LGBTQ customers is powerful and noted that the index will have record participation of more than 1,400 companies in 2025.Aflac Incorporated to Webcast 2024 Financial Analysts BriefingIn the end, it was not just a victory on the pitch that Real Madrid achieved, but a victory of spirit, determination, and sacrifice. By making the bold decision to return early, the team had proven that they were willing to go to any lengths to achieve success, no matter the obstacles that stood in their way.

SLT-Mobitel’s mCash and Lanka Sathosa unveil bill collection servicesBarely a day after the Northern Elders Forum urged lawmakers from the region to oppose the Tax Reform Bills, a lawmaker from Kano State, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has assured all that both chambers of the National Assembly will pass the bills soon. Jibrin, who serves as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat, made this known during his appearance on the Politics Today programme aired by Television Continental on Sunday night. He stated that the proposed tax reforms, along with other economic policies championed by President Bola Tinubu, are aimed at securing a better future for Nigerians. “I have no doubts about the approval and passage of the tax reform bills. We are committed to ensuring they go through,” Jibrin affirmed. He acknowledged the skepticism surrounding the bills, particularly in northern Nigeria, but stressed that efforts are underway to educate people on the benefits and necessity of the reforms. He explained, “For those of us who have studied the bills comprehensively, the benefits outweigh any perceived drawbacks. “Misconceptions about these reforms largely stem from misinformation being spread.” Jibrin emphasised that Tinubu and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service are not pushing for conflict but are advocating a clear understanding of the reforms’ goals. Related News Tinubu's tax reform bills not retrogressive, says Senate spokesman Tax reform bills: Reps deny govs threatening lawmakers JUST IN: Senate holds valedictory session for late Ifeanyi Ubah These include improved revenue generation and distribution to enhance Nigeria’s economic stability. He also pointed out that contentious elements in the bills should not lead to outright rejection. “Since the bills are now before the National Assembly, it is our responsibility to scrutinise them thoroughly. Any contentious clauses can be reviewed and adjusted, as the bills are not immutable,” he remarked. Jibrin further highlighted the transformative potential of recent economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market. He expressed confidence that these changes, though painful in the short term, will yield significant long-term benefits. “President Tinubu is making sacrifices today for the sake of a better tomorrow for all Nigerians. “His courageous reforms are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient economy,” he concluded.DENVER — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's "America's Got Talent" meets "American Idol," with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it's never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at "Dream Team" status given the men's side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023. The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. "We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport," said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. "We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world." Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores. "Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That's something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok, the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado's two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. "If a receiver is running around, I'm thinking, 'OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,'" Daniels explained. "They're like, 'No, you can't.' I'm just like, 'So I'm supposed to let this guy just run?!' I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn." The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. "I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. "I'm not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, 'I played NFL football for five years. I'm popular. I have a huge name.' I'm still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise." Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It's his way of working on avoiding a "defender" trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. "You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the 'Redeem Team' led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, 'That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. "Everybody thinks, 'Yeah, the U.S. just wins,'" Daniels said. "But we work hard all the time. We don't just walk in. We don't just get off the bus thinking, 'We're going to beat people.'" Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Afghan women turn to entrepreneurship under Taliban