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MK Dons will be aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions when they host Crewe Alexandra in a League Two fixture at Stadium MK on Sunday. The two sides are separated by six places, with the Dons sitting fourth in the table having amassed 35 points, while the visitors are further down in 11th place with 30 points. © Imago MK Dons continued their unimpressive showing in December, with their latest match ending in a 2-0 loss against Notts County on Boxing Day. The defeat, their third in a row in the league, is in contrast to the form they consistently showed since Scott Lindsey was appointed head coach in late September. The former Crawley Town manager rallied his troops to record a string of good results in his first 10 matches in charge - a run that included seven victories, two draws and just one defeat. In that period, the Milton Keynes-based team plundered 17 goals; while the goals have not dried up, the Dons have not done a good job of shutting out opponents - a weakness exemplified by the 38 goals conceded so far. In their latest three-game winless streak, the home side have shipped nine goals — only one fewer than the total number of goals conceded during Lindsey's tenure before the dip in form. However, the Dons have one of the best home records in the league, with six wins, two draws and four losses, racking up 20 points on their turf. Lindsey's men will be confident of claiming all three points, having beaten the visitors in their last two trips to Stadium MK. Should the Dons emerge victorious on Sunday, they could move to ninth position in the table, but that is contingent on Salford City and Bradford City losing their respective matches. Elsewhere, Crewe Alexandra are winless in their last two league matches, drawing one and losing the other, and they will be aiming to avoid back-to-back league defeats for the first time since their first two games of the season. In their last outing, the Railwaymen were edged 2-1 by Cheltenham Town at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium on Thursday. With that loss, the automatic promotion bid of Lee Bell 's team suffered another setback; however, their charge for a League One spot is still alive, as the away side are only a point behind Doncaster Rovers, who occupy the final automatic spot with 36 points. Although Bell's team have a solitary victory in their last five away exertions in the league, the Cheshire-based team have recorded decent results on their travels this campaign. In 11 fixtures away from the Mornflake Stadium, Bell's team have claimed four wins, four draws and only three losses. A win in this fixture will give the visitors their first victory at Stadium MK since April 2021. Although MK Dons have a fully fit squad with no suspensions, Lindsey could make some changes to the starting XI in light of their current dismal run. Nevertheless, top marksman Alex Gilbey , who has scored nine goals this season, is expected to feature from the first blast of the whistle. Similarly, Luke Offord , Nico Lawrence and Laurence Maguire are expected to form the back three, while Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Joe Tomlinson should both be named in the starting XI as wing-backs. As for the visitors, Shilow Tracey and Jack Lankester should form the attacking partnership up front — the pair have 10 goals between them this season. Filip Marschall is the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper and he is expected to keep his place between the sticks. Jack Powell , who is back in action after a year on the sidelines due to a ruptured ACL, should also make the cut. MK Dons possible starting lineup: McGil; Maguire, Offord, Lawrence; Tomlison, Robson, Grant, Lemonheigh-Evans; Gilbey, Holland; Grigg Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup: Marschall; Connolly, Demetriou, Williams; Cooney, Holicek, Powell, Tabiner, Conway; Tracey, Lankester Although the visitors have fared better than the hosts this season, their inability to secure a victory at Stadium MK since April 2021 could be the impetus the home team needs to go all out for an outright win. However, the decent away results of the visiting team cannot be overlooked. Thus, we reckon this match will end in a 1-1 draw. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .Vardy helps Van Nistelrooy to first win with Leicester as Guehi defies the FA with religious messageU.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has been a frequent critic of Elon Musk, clashing with the billionaire on numerous issues, including wealth inequality, foreign relations and space travel. But, now the pair are on the same page — at least when it comes to one issue. “Elon Musk is right,” Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats from Vermont, wrote in a Dec. 1 post on X, formerly Twitter. “The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. It’s lost track of billions,” he wrote. “Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change.” Musk responded to the post with American flag emojis, and wrote in a separate post, “Maybe we can find some common ground.” In November, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO was tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE will “provide advice and guidance from outside of government and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large scale structural reform,” the president-elect wrote in a post on Truth Social. Musk, along with co-head Vivek Ramaswamy, plans to dramatically reduce the size of the federal government by recommending spending cuts and layoffs.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Lorain County is closing 2024 with a list of accomplishments and a bright look ahead at 2025 with various projects. As a nonprofit supporting and advocating for mental illness, NAMI supports Lorain County residents and families of residents who may be struggling, said Greg Klima, executive director of NAMI Lorain County, in a news release. “What a year 2024 has been here at NAMI Lorain County,” Klima said. “I hope you have felt the excitement and experienced at least one of the many varied programs we have initiated to bring NAMI’s amazing message of hope and support to as many members of the Lorain County community as possible,” he said. Among its many accomplishments in 2024, NAMI: offered Signature Programs Familia-de-Familia and Bases y Fundamentos de NAMI for the first time; presented “Ending the Silence” in schools for the first time; started a Bereavement Support Group; and hosted an all-day Alternative Pathways to Wellness event. NAMI Lorain County also launched a mental health podcast and created a mental health book club, among many other feats, Klima said. “We did all of this while presenting a larger number of educational signature programs than ever before and continuing our Community Connection social and wellness events, which bring together people living with mental health conditions and the people who support them for socialization and fun,” he said. In 2025, NAMI Lorain County will focus on young adult/youth services and FaithNet and aims to hire a young adult services coordinator before the end of the year to focus on a variety of programs, Klima said. Programs include establishing NAMI on Campus: High School clubs and NAMI on Campus college clubs to support youth facing mental health issues, he said. FaithNet is a program focused on assembling faith leaders on a quarterly basis to learn about current mental health topics and to learn from each other about ministering to family members or congregants living with mental health conditions, Klima said. “We know that achieving these new plans while maintaining our current programming is an ambitious goal,” he said. “Every program that NAMI Lorain County offers to the residents of Lorain County is provided free of charge. “We need your help to get it done.” Individuals can contribute to NAMI Lorain County in a number of ways, including becoming a volunteer or donating financially, Klima said. “This can help make mental health matters a priority in other public policy decisions,” he said. “Help us change lives and build a supportive community of people who understand that mental health is physical health.” The mission of NAMI Lorain County is to improve the quality of life for individuals living with mental illness by providing them, their families and the public with education, support groups and advocacy in the public arena. And the vision of NAMI Lorain County is a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares. For more information, call 440-240-8477 or visit nami-lc.org .

WASHINGTON — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors . The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people , including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use . The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights. The Biden administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Chief Justice John Roberts, who voted in the majority in a 2020 case in favor of transgender rights , questioned whether judges, rather than lawmakers, should be weighing in on a question of regulating medical procedures, an area usually left to the states. “The Constitution leaves that question to the people’s representatives, rather than to nine people, none of whom is a doctor,” Roberts said in an exchange with Strangio. The court’s three liberal justices seemed firmly on the side of the challengers. But it’s not clear that any of the conservatives will go along. Justice Sonia Sotomayor pushed back against the assertion that the democratic process would be the best way to address objections to the law. She cited a history of laws discriminating against others, noting that transgender people make up less than 1% of the U.S. population, according to studies. There are an estimated 1.3 million adults and 300,000 adolescents aged 13 to 17 who identify as transgender, according the UCLA law school’s Williams Institute. “Blacks were a much larger part of the population and it didn’t protect them. It didn’t protect women for whole centuries,” Sotomayor said in an exchange with Tennessee Solicitor General Matt Rice. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said she saw some troubling parallels between arguments made by Tennessee and those advanced by Virginia and rejected by a unanimous court, in the 1967 Loving decision that legalized interracial marriage nationwide. Quoting from the 57-year-old decision, Jackson noted that Virginia argued then that “the scientific evidence is substantially in doubt and, consequently, the court should defer to the wisdom of the state legislature.” Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion in 2020, said nothing during the arguments. The arguments produced some riveting moments. Justice Samuel Alito repeatedly pressed Strangio, the first openly transgender lawyer to argue at the nation’s highest court, about whether transgender people should be legally designated as a group that’s susceptible to discrimination. Strangio answered that being transgender does fit that legal definition, though he acknowledged under Alito’s questioning there are a small number of people who de-transition. “So it’s not an immutable characteristic, is it?” Alito said. Strangio did not retreat from his view, though he said the court did not have to decide the issue to resolve the case in his clients’ favor. There were dueling rallies outside the court in the hours before the arguments. Speeches and music filled the air on the sidewalk below the court’s marble steps. Advocates of the ban bore signs like “Champion God’s Design” and “Kids Health Matters,” while the other side proclaimed “Fight like a Mother for Trans Rights” and “Freedom to be Ourselves.” Four years ago, the court ruled in favor of Aimee Stephens, who was fired by a Michigan funeral home after she informed its owner that she was a transgender woman. The court held that transgender people, as well as gay and lesbian people, are protected by a landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace. The Biden administration and the families and health care providers who challenged the Tennessee law urged the justices to apply the same sort of analysis that the majority, made up of liberal and conservative justices, embraced in the case four years ago when it found that “sex plays an unmistakable role” in employers’ decisions to punish transgender people for traits and behavior they otherwise tolerate. The issue in the Tennessee case is whether the law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. Tennessee’s law bans puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender minors, but allows the same drugs to be used for other purposes. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer, called the law sex-based line drawing to ban the use of drugs that have been safely prescribed for decades and said the state “decided to completely override the views of the patients, the parents, the doctors.” She contrasted the Tennessee law with one enacted by West Virginia, which set conditions for the health care for transgender minors, but stopped short of an outright ban. Rice countered that lawmakers acted to regulate “risky, unproven medical interventions” and, at one point, likened the use of puberty blockers and hormone treatments to lobotomies and eugenics, now thoroughly discredited but once endorsed by large segments of the medical community. Rice argued that the Tennessee law doesn’t discriminate based on sex, but rather based on the purpose of the treatment. Children can get puberty blockers to treat early onset puberty, but not as a treatment for gender dysphoria. “Our fundamental point is there is no sex-based line here,” Rice said. While the challengers invoked the 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County for support, Tennessee relied on the court’s precedent-shattering Dobbs decision in 2022 that ended nationwide protections for abortion and returned the issue to the states. The two sides battled in their legal filings over the appropriate level of scrutiny the court should apply. It’s more than an academic exercise. The lowest level is known as rational basis review and almost every law looked at that way is ultimately upheld. Indeed, the federal appeals court in Cincinnati that allowed the Tennessee law to be enforced held that lawmakers acted rationally to regulate medical procedures, well within their authority. The appeals court reversed a trial court that employed a higher level of review, heightened scrutiny, that applies in cases of sex discrimination. Under this more searching examination, the state must identify an important objective and show that the law helps accomplish it. If the justices opt for heightened scrutiny, they could return the case to the appeals court to apply it. That’s the course Prelogar and Strangio pushed for on Wednesday, though there did not seem to be much support for it. Gender-affirming care for youth is supported by every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association. But Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh all highlighted a point made by Tennessee in its legal briefs claiming that health authorities in Sweden, Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom found that the medical treatments “pose significant risks with unproven benefits.” If those countries “are pumping the brakes on this kind of treatment,” Kavanaugh said, why should the Supreme Court question Tennessee’s actions? None of those countries has adopted a ban similar to the one in Tennessee and individuals can still obtain treatment, Prelogar said. Kavanaugh, who has coached his daughters’ youth basketball teams, also wondered whether a ruling against Tennessee would give transgender athletes “a constitutional right to participate in girls’ sports.” Prelogar said a narrow decision would not affect the sports issue. Associated Press writers Lindsay Whitehurst, Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas, Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee contributed to this report.NEW YORK , Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CELH) between February 29, 2024 and September 4, 2024 , both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important January 21, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. So what: If you purchased Celsius common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. What to do next: To join the Celsius class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31677 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 21 , 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Celsius materially oversold inventory to PepsiCo, Inc. ("Pepsi") far in excess of demand, and faced a looming sales cliff during which Pepsi would significantly reduce its purchases of Celsius products; (2) as Pepsi drew down significant amounts of inventory overstock, Celsius' sales would materially decline in future periods, hurting Celsius' financial performance and outlook; (3) Celsius' sales rate to Pepsi was unsustainable and created a misleading impression of Celsius' financial performance and outlook; (4) as a result, Celsius' business metrics and financial prospects were not as strong as indicated in defendants' Class Period statements; and (5) consequently, defendants' statements regarding Celsius' outlook and expected financial performance were false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Celsius class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31677 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celh-investors-have-opportunity-to-lead-celsius-holdings-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit-302322852.html SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.The re-establishment of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC) has been welcomed by various stakeholders in the nations sport, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is upbeat about the new prospects for the growth of the sector, even as he has expressed implicit confidence in the competence and capacity of the NSC leadership, Shehu Dikko, the Chairman, and the DG, Bukola Olapade, to deliver. In the past few weeks, the duo have been rejigging the direction and framework of our sports to Reset, Refocus and Relaunch the sector as a veritable asset for national development, and with more professional administration and management. As has been revealed by Shehu Dikko, “The strategic approach of the Renewed Hope Agenda and Shared Prosperity aims to establish sports as a vital pillar of Nigeria’s economy and a unifying factor for national development.” The repositioning covers the entire sports eco-system with the target of improving on sports infrastructure across the country, eliciting mass participation, greater and more gainful youth engagement, generation of about three million direct, indirect and induced jobs, attainment of about 5% share in global sports export, attraction of foreign direct investments and foreign exchange earnings, and provision of an enabling environment for private sector participation and investments to compliment Government efforts. The target is to steer the sports sector to contribute about 3% to the National Gross Domestic Product and for our national teams to achieve more respectable podium finish in international competitions. The strategies include institutional repositioning through the restructuring of the sports sector framework, already began with the establishment of the NSC and the ongoing upscaling of the establishing Act to meet global best practices as an enabler for sustainable growth, the restructuring of the sports federations for greater efficiency and effectiveness, and the deepening of Grassroots and Schools Sport to strengthen the foundation of the sector through wider access to sports for the discovery, nurturing and grooming of elite athletes. The goal is ambitious, bold and daring. It is taking the road less travelled, but the strategies already outlined by the NSC gives assurance of its attainment as it is deliberate and focused. The most critical success factor, perhaps, is the will of the Government under the overall vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda to take sports more seriously than before, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with his natural boldness and vision for the future, has served notice of his willingness, not only by the reclassification of sports as a national asset and critical driver of economic development, national cohesion and image building, but especially also with the deliberate capital allocation of over N78 billion to sports in the 2025 Budget proposal, the highest in about 60 years. The proposed budget is directed at accelerating sports development and growth through the establishment, construction, reconstruction and revival of various capital and critical sports assets, as well as programmes to set the foundation of a robust and virile sports economy in Nigeria. These include the full rehabilitation of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, to set the framework for its eventual concession and transformation to a sports city, together with the completion of its 200 room Athletes’ Hostel, abandoned for over 15 years, but which now will be commercialised after it’s completion to rake in revenue. The reset programme also includes the rehabilitation of various other federal government’s stadiums across the country, the construction of mini sports centres across various communities; the construction and equipping of the High Performance Centre in Abuja; the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Sports Hospital/Clinic which also would be commercialised and open to the public; and the development and equipping of a world class Anti-Doping Laboratory intended to rake in foreign exchange to reverse capital flight, as the nation and most of African countries currently take samples overseas for analysis. Interesting also is, in addition to normal budget line for sporting activities, there is now a specific and separate budget line to take care of preparations for events like the Olympics, Commonwealth, African Games, World and Continental Championships, the Paralympic and other Para-Sports competitions, the World Cup and AFCON qualifiers and support for NUGA Games, School Sports and others. Added to this is a deliberate reserve budget line for international competitions in the service wide vote for the participation of national teams in international competitions. This means that when Team Nigeria qualifies for any international event, funding would be drawn from the vote, as against the old fire brigade approach of having to start seeking for funds after each qualification. The agenda also includes the provision of funding support for the stabilisation of sports federations, and part of the strategy is the acquisition of sports contents from the federations for production, aggregation and monetization. This will also entail the setting up, equipping and training of personnel for the operation of a sports media production unit. The scope of work is wide, deep and challenging, but it is the ultimate game changer we have craved, and it is reassuring that the NSC also understands the need and has plans to recruit and train more hands to cascade its operations across the geographical zones, states and local governments. With President Tinubu having set the agenda and demonstrated willingness, and the vision and direction now clearly articulated by the leadership of the NSC, the next critical success factor is the support of the citizenry, especially the sports and corporate communities, by joining hands in making our bed how we would want to lie in it.

Mutual of America Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of Capri Holdings Limited ( NYSE:CPRI – Free Report ) by 4.6% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 63,660 shares of the company’s stock after selling 3,081 shares during the period. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Capri were worth $2,702,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in Capri by 5.8% during the 2nd quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 6,362 shares of the company’s stock worth $210,000 after purchasing an additional 350 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in shares of Capri by 14.7% during the second quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,734 shares of the company’s stock worth $90,000 after buying an additional 351 shares in the last quarter. EMC Capital Management raised its position in shares of Capri by 32.7% in the first quarter. EMC Capital Management now owns 2,421 shares of the company’s stock valued at $110,000 after buying an additional 596 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Capri by 82.4% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,330 shares of the company’s stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 601 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its position in Capri by 35.2% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,452 shares of the company’s stock worth $81,000 after acquiring an additional 638 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.34% of the company’s stock. Capri Trading Up 4.0 % Shares of CPRI stock opened at $20.48 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. Capri Holdings Limited has a fifty-two week low of $18.70 and a fifty-two week high of $51.23. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $32.47 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.55. The stock has a market cap of $2.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 2.05. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Get Our Latest Research Report on Capri About Capri ( Free Report ) Capri Holdings Limited designs, markets, distributes, and retails branded women's and men's apparel, footwear, and accessories in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through three segments: Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors. The company offers ready-to-wear, accessories, footwear, handbags, scarves and belts, small leather goods, eyewear, watches, jewelry, fragrances, and home furnishings through a distribution network, including boutiques, department, and specialty stores, as well as through e-commerce sites. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CPRI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Capri Holdings Limited ( NYSE:CPRI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Capri Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capri and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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Philadelphia takes on Vegas after overtime win49ers rule out Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa; QB Brandon Allen to start at Green Bay

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks tiptoed to more records amid a mixed Tuesday of trading, tacking a touch more onto what’s already been a stellar year so far. The S&P 500 edged up by 2 points, or less than 0.1%, to set an all-time high for the 55th time this year. It’s climbed in 10 of the last 11 days and is on track for one of its best years since the turn of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 76 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record set a day earlier. AT&T rose 4.6% after it boosted its profit forecast for the year. It also announced a $10 billion plan to send cash to its investors by buying back its own stock, while saying it expects to authorize another $10 billion of repurchases in 2027. On the losing end of Wall Street was U.S. Steel, which fell 8%. President-elect Donald Trump reiterated on social media that he would not let Japan’s Nippon Steel take over the iconic Pennsylvania steelmaker. Nippon Steel announced plans last December to buy the Pittsburgh-based steel producer for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden also came out against the acquisition. Tesla sank 1.6% after a judge in Delaware reaffirmed a previous ruling that the electric car maker must revoke Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package. The judge denied a request by attorneys for Musk and Tesla’s corporate directors to vacate her ruling earlier this year requiring the company to rescind the unprecedented pay package. All told, the S&P 500 rose 2.73 points to 6,049.88. The Dow fell 76.47 to 44,705.53, and the Nasdaq composite gained 76.96 to 19,480.91. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. Continued strength there would raise optimism that the economy could remain out of a recession that many investors had earlier worried was inevitable. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.23% from 4.20% from late Monday. Yields have seesawed since Election Day amid worries that Trump’s preferences for lower tax rates and bigger tariffs could spur higher inflation along with economic growth. But traders are still confident the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate again at its next meeting in two weeks. They’re betting on a nearly three-in-four chance of that, according to data from CME Group. Lower rates can give the economy more juice, but they can also give inflation more fuel. The key report this week that could guide the Fed’s next move will arrive on Friday. It’s the monthly jobs report , which will show how many workers U.S. employers hired and fired during November. It could be difficult to parse given how much storms and strikes distorted figures in October. Based on trading in the options market, Friday’s jobs report appears to be the biggest potential market mover until the Fed announces its next decision on interest rates Dec. 18, according to strategists at Barclays Capital. In financial markets abroad, the value of South Korea’s currency fell 1.1% against the U.S. dollar following a frenetic night where President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and then later said he’d lift it after lawmakers voted to reject military rule. Stocks of Korean companies that trade in the United States also fell, including a 1.6% drop for SK Telecom. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.9% to help lead global markets. Some analysts think Japanese stocks could end up benefiting from Trump’s threats to raise tariffs , including for goods coming from China . Trade relations between the U.S. and China took another step backward after China said it is banning exports to the U.S. of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. The counterpunch came swiftly after the U.S. Commerce Department expanded the list of Chinese technology companies subject to export controls to include many that make equipment used to make computer chips, chipmaking tools and software. The 140 companies newly included in the so-called “entity list” are nearly all based in China. In China, stock indexes rose 1% in Hong Kong and 0.4% in Shanghai amid unconfirmed reports that Chinese leaders would meet next week to discuss planning for the coming year. Investors are hoping it may bring fresh stimulus to help spur growth in the world’s second-largest economy. In France, the CAC 40 rose 0.3% amid continued worries about politics in Paris , where the government is battling over the budget. AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed.Mutual of America Capital Management LLC Trims Stake in Capri Holdings Limited (NYSE:CPRI)

To all the players, coaches and administrators, the following opinions are mine and mine alone. It’s ALWAYS business – and NEVER personal. So, if I name you, shame you, offend you or slap you on the back and put your name up in lights, just accept it for what it is and move on. Watch every game of every round this NBL Season LIVE on ESPN, via Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. CAIRNS (defeated by Melbourne) HOOYAH – With his best statistical game of the season, Tanner Groves scored nearly a third of Cairns’ total. 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks is what your team needs from you night after night. HARDEN UP – Being outrebounded by 27 is one way to keep this losing streak going. Your desperation ain’t desperate enough. MELBOURNE (defeated Cairns) HOOYAH – You were efficient in a game that lacked a lot of efficiency, Jack White, with 14 points at 62% and 8 rebounds. HARDEN UP – 75 total shots, and over half were 3’s. I wouldn’t have an issue if you were making them, but 7/38 from 3-point land is not up to standard. BRISBANE (defeated by Illawarra & Tasmania) HOOYAH – Copy & Paste. Casey Prather is still at it. Against Illawarra you dropped 28 points at 61%, going 4/5 from 3-point land. HARDEN UP – You picked the wrong time to turn in a 7-point performance, Keandre Cook. Down an import in James Batemon, 1/6 FG vs Illawarra cannot be on the menu moving forward. ILLAWARRA (defeated Brisbane) HOOYAH – I can’t go past your double-double, Sam Froling. 15 points and 12 rebounds is grown man’s business. HARDEN UP – It’s your fouling ways, Darius Days. That’s what’s preventing you from staying on the floor long enough to showcase your talents. Respectfully, stop hacking! You’re way better than 5 points and 2 rebounds. ADELAIDE (defeated by Perth) HOOYAH – In your first game back from a hamstring injury, you showed some spirit, DJ Vasiljevic. 23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 25 ‘restricted’ minutes. HARDEN UP – All of you can cop this one – AGAIN! Another embarrassing home loss. The wheels have fallen off and your car is now unroadworthy - I’m scared to look under the bonnet. You owe it to yourselves and your loyal supporters. Please, don’t go out like this. PERTH (defeated Adelaide) HOOYAH – Dylan Windler, you were sensational all over the floor. A former 1st round NBA draft pick, you showed all your class with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks. HARDEN UP – In a good road win, where your defence vastly improved, you gave up 48 PIP (Points in the Paint). Tighten that up to get a lock on a playoff position. TASMANIA – (defeated Brisbane) HOOYAH – Anthony Drmic, you came into the game averaging just under 7 points and finished with a season-high 19 at 61%, and some of your trademark hard-nosed D. HARDEN UP – You sent Brisbane to the foul line 31 times, that’s way too high. And blaming the refs is frowned upon, keep an eye on that. March on. NBL HOOYAH – To the referees (they’re people too) who put out multiple spot fires across the round - even putting themselves in harm’s way to de-escalate volatile situations. You don’t get enough credit for the tough job you do. HARDEN UP – I’m gonna keep banging on about this jersey mess. First we had teams playing on Xmas Day without Xmas themed jerseys, now we have the Hawks wearing Xmas jerseys after Xmas Day! I know the Hawks like to wear jerseys that bring them luck and it’s a superstition thing, but it can get confusing.Justin Baldoni opened up about his struggles while filming It Ends With Us . “It’s a very strange place to be, let alone directing while trying to play a character who does the things that Ryle does in the movie so there were moments in the filming of this where I would just have to leave,” Baldoni, 40, said on the Wednesday, December 4, episode of Elizabeth Day ’s “How to Fail” podcast. “I’d have to remove myself and go shake it out.” Baldoni directed and starred in the film adaption of Colleen Hoover ’s bestselling novel of the same name. Blake Lively played main character Lily Bloom while Baldoni portrayed her husband and the film’s antagonist, Ryle. It Ends With Us features a central theme of domestic violence, and Baldoni confessed that he had moments on set where being in character was emotionally overwhelming. “I’ve done a lot of somatic therapy so there were times when I was actually just shaking. There’s a moment in the movie where Ryle finds Lily’s phone and he finds a phone number and he’s very jealous and he’s heartbroken,” he recalled. “And he’s angry and he doesn’t harm her but you can see in his eyes how dangerous he is. After that scene, I had a near breakdown.” Baldoni shared that he had to “leave” the set so he could “cry and shake” to let out all the “pain” he felt. “What’s hard about a character like that isn’t necessarily what he does,” the actor said. “What he does is a result of what he has kept in and so what’s hard about having that in your body is having the trauma live in your body of what he’s experienced or creating that trauma in your body and creating that insecurity and the pain and the feeling that you shouldn’t actually be alive.” While Baldoni was able to eventually move on from playing Ryle, it was initially hard to get out of that mindset. “That was very hard and that took a few months,” he said. “I had dreams as [Ryle] for a while, and it lived in my body but I think for the most part, he’s out.” In addition to taking on the tolling role, Baldoni also had extra responsibilities on set as director, which he claimed was a “very lonely job.” “Because you are kind of at the top of this totem pole,” he said. “In your moments of quiet, everybody has a thousand questions for you and also nobody wants to disturb you and you don’t really have many people to talk to and you can’t necessarily share your anxiety or your nervousness about something because you’re also the leader.” It Ends With Us premiered in August and controversy followed. Rumors swirled that there was tension between Baldoni and Lively, 37, as the pair did not promote the movie together. A source exclusively told Us Weekly in August that “there were two camps on the film — team Blake and team Justin.” According to the insider, Lively and Baldoni’s “creative struggle set the tone of the negative experience behind the scenes and grew into them not speaking anymore.” The source added that Lively gave “input” in order to “create the best film possible and honor the book” which made Baldoni “feel that his vision wasn’t as important.” You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News There was also controversy surrounding the duo’s approach to how they promoted the film. During Baldoni’s interviews, he spoke about the film’s dark themes . Meanwhile, Lively, who was also an executive producer, received criticism online for not diving deeper into the serious message. (The Gossip Girl alum later shared domestic violence resources on her social media following the premiere.) Despite having serious subject matters, It Ends With Us did not utilize a trigger warning for its audience. Baldoni revealed on Wednesday that he wanted the movie to include it but the idea was shot down. “I just didn’t want to retraumatize the majority of my audience which is why I was advocating for a trigger warning at the front and things like that,” Baldoni told Day. “But those are certain battles you can’t always win.”Stock market today: Wall Street inches higher to set more records

Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. Recommended Videos At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: A somber announcement The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. A Southerner and a man of faith In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Gore remembers Carter for life "of purpose” Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. The Clintons react to Jimmy Carter's death Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end." The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation. The Republican's announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department. Here's the latest: As incoming White House chief of staff, one of Susie Wiles ’ vexing challenges will be policing the buffet line of powerful interests who want something from Donald Trump. It’s a world she knows well. During Trump’s first presidency, she lobbied for many of them. Trump was first elected on a pledge to “drain the swamp” in Washington. But his transactional approach to the presidency instead ushered in a lobbying boom that showered allies, including Wiles, with lucrative contracts, empowered wealthy business associates and stymied his agenda after his administration was ensnared in a series of influence-peddling scandals. Now, as Trump prepares to return to power , his victory is likely to embolden those who think they can get his ear, raising the prospect that his second administration could face many of the same perils as his first. That will test the ability of Wiles to manage a growing number of high-powered figures — including Trump’s children, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and billionaires like Elon Musk — who will not be dependent on her for access to the president. ▶ Read more about Susie Wiles and her new role Vance accompanied Matt Gaetz in meetings with GOP senators on Wednesday. “I’m extremely grateful for the work Matt put into the nomination process,” the Ohio senator posted on X. “Matt is a patriot, and I look forward to seeing what he does next.” President Joe Biden still believes President-elect Donald Trump is a dangerous figure in U.S. democracy, his top spokesperson said Thursday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “his thinking on that has not changed” even as the Biden White House emphasizes its commitment to the “peaceful transfer of power.” Jean-Pierre told reporters there is no double-speak in Biden’s approach. Biden framed Donald Trump as a “fundamental threat” to the nation’s identity as a democracy and its stability as a global superpower when he defeated Trump in 2020. He did it as a candidate for reelection. He did it again when he dropped out and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. But Jean-Pierre said Biden recognizes the legitimacy of Trump’s election to another term, even if it’s not the result he wanted. “The American people spoke,” she said, adding that Biden wants to be an example of how to respect U.S. elections. That was an opaque reference to Trump’s refusal to accept Biden’s victory in 2020 and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters as Congress met to affirm the results. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says she hasn’t spoken to her designated successor, Karoline Leavitt. Jean-Pierre told reporters gathered Thursday at the White House that she hopes the second Trump administration will be forthright with the public by talking to reporters. Trump’s first White House dramatically curtailed its initial interactions with the White House press corps, and Jean-Pierre said Biden and his staff “worked really hard to bring back the norms” with press briefings and interactions. “We’ve tried to do this in a very respectful way,” she said. Jean-Pierre declined to “speak to what any administration is going to do” in the future, but added that the back-and-forth with the press is part of “what democracy is all about.” In other presidential transition news, Trump is urging federal lawmakers to kill a bill that would protect journalists from having to disclose information about anonymous sources or other records obtained during reporting. The proposal that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, but is pending in the Senate, also bars the government from requesting data from phone or email providers. The bill includes exceptions such as when there’s a reasonable threat of imminent violence or an act of terrorism. As of now, only some states grant absolute protection from disclosing sources or other records. “Republicans must kill this bill!” Trump posted on Truth Social and shared a video from PBS News Hour interviewing the CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalist, Jodie Ginsburg, talking about the proposal. Last month, The Associated Press, along with more than 100 news outlets and organizations, signed a letter authored by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press asking senators to support the bill. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre isn’t commenting on Matt Gaetz withdrawing his nomination as president-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general in the new administration. “We really, truly want to respect the transfer of power,” Jean-Pierre said Thursday during a White House press briefing, explaining her steadfast refusal to comment on Trump personnel moves. But Jean-Pierre nonetheless used the matter to take a subtle jab at how Trump, who was twice indicted by the federal government, has reacted to federal law enforcement. “Look, the president has said when it comes to investigation, that department should be independent. there should be no partisanship. There should be no loyalty to one party or the other,” she said. “The loyalty should be to the Constitution, and the loyalty should be to the rule of law.” Trump has insisted that it was Biden and his lieutenants who weaponized the Justice Department by indicting him for his role in trying to overturn Biden’s 2020 election victory and for hoarding national security documents after Trump left the White House in January 2021. That latter case has been thrown out by a Trump-appointed judge. The former case is still pending. Taken together, there are a striking number of incidents in which potential high-ranking government officials in Trump’s second administration face allegations of sexual abuse. Here’s a look at some of the cases: President-elect Donald Trump: He was found liable by a New York City jury for sexual abuse and defamation and eventually ordered to pay the woman, E. Jean Carroll , $83 million in damages. Pete Hegseth, nominee for secretary of defense: A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police the encounter had been consensual and denies wrongdoing. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for secretary of health and human services: A woman who babysat for Kennedy and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine he groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation, telling a podcast: “I had a very, very rambunctious youth.” He texted the woman an apology after the story was published. Linda McMahon, nominee for secretary of education: A lawsuit filed last month alleges McMahon knowingly enabled sexual exploitation of children by a World Wrestling Entertainment employee as early as the 1980s. She denies the allegations. Elon Musk, Trump’s choice to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency: The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX was accused of sexual misconduct by a flight attendant contracted by SpaceX who worked on his private jet in 2016. He denied the claim. ▶ Read more about the allegations of sexual misconduct Among those who were seen as contenders before Gaetz was picked is former acting attorney general Matt Whitaker , who Trump chose earlier this week to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Other names that were floated as potential attorney general nominees include Jeff Jensen, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. Trump last week chose Todd Blanche , an attorney who led the legal team that defended the Republican at his hush money criminal trial , to serve as the second-highest ranking Justice Department official. Emil Bove, a former federal prosecutor, was chosen to be the principal associate deputy attorney general. An attorney who represents two women who say they were paid by Gaetz for sex says his clients are “relieved to have this chapter behind them.” “They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” said Joel Leppard, whose clients testified before the House Ethics Committee. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Leppard revealed earlier this week details about his clients’ testimony to House Ethics Committee to release its report on the Gaetz investigation. Leppard said his clients were paid a total of $10,000 by the congressman. One of his clients testified that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in 2017, while he was in Congress. Though Gaetz has withdrawn his name from consideration for attorney general, he isn’t Trump’s only appointee in hot water. A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Pete Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report made public late Wednesday. Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and Trump’s nominee to be defense secretary, told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. Earlier today, Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” ▶ Read more about the allegations against Hegseth In his Nov. 13 resignation letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Gaetz said, “I hereby resign, as United States Representatives for Florida’s First Congressional District, effective immediately, and I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress, to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration.” He transmitted a similar letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the state began a special election process to fill the vacancy. Attorneys involved in a civil case brought by a Gaetz associate were notified this week that an unauthorized person accessed a file shared between lawyers that included unredacted depositions from a woman who said Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17 and a second woman who says she saw the encounter, according to attorney Joel Leppard. Leppard said that two women he represents told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017 when Gaetz was in Congress. The files the person was able to access were part of a defamation case filed by a Gaetz associate against the former representative’s onetime political ally Joel Greenberg , who pleaded guilty in 2021 to sex trafficking of a minor, and admitted that he had paid at least one underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The apparent breach was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times. Gaetz has denied all the allegations. ▶ Read more about the apparent file breach Trump had announced last week that he’d chosen Todd Blanche, an attorney who’s defended him in some of his criminal cases, to serve as deputy attorney general. That’s the second highest ranking position at the Justice Department. A former federal prosecutor, Blanche has been a key figure defended him both in the New York hush money criminal trial that ended in a conviction in May, and the federal cases brought by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Thursday in a post on X that he believes the now-former congressman “will continue to contribute to our nation’s wellbeing for years to come.” Graham, a member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, also said he looks forward to working with Trump “regarding future nominees to get this important job up and running.” The caption of the Instagram photo reads “The end of an era. No one loves America more than this guy.” The Florida representative was once embroiled in a sex trafficking investigation involving underage girls by the Justice Department, the very department President-elect Trump had tapped him to lead. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and in February 2023 said the investigation ended with no federal charges against him.He was also being investigated by the House Ethics panel, but Republicans declined yesterday to release the committee’s findings over objections from Democrats in a split vote. ▶ Read more about the Justice Department’s investigation into Gaetz He had abruptly resigned from his congressional seat upon being nominated as attorney general amid a long-running House Ethics investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, which was seen as a way to halt the probe. The House Ethics panel’s Republicans declined this week to release the committee’s findings into Gaetz over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. However, Gaetz did win re-election earlier this month for the new Congress which convenes Jan. 3. But it’s unclear if he would take office. There’s also been plans for a special election in Florida for his seat. “President Trump remains committed to choosing a leader for the Department of Justice who will strongly defend the Constitution and end the weaponization of our justice system,” said Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team. In a message on his Truth Social network, Trump also said he was looking forward to seeing what Gaetz will do next after withdrawing as his pick. “He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump posted. “Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” Matt Gaetz has just withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following continued scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on the former congressman’s ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The Florida Republican’s announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department. Gaetz’s withdrawal is a blow to Trump’s push to install steadfast loyalists in his incoming administration and the first sign that Trump could face resistance from members of his own party.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On December 3, 2024, the Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE: RJF) Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend on shares of its common stock of $0.50 per share, payable January 16, 2025 to shareholders of record on January 2, 2025. This is an 11.1% increase over the previous dividend of $0.45 per share paid on October 15, 2024. The Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3984375 per depositary share of 6.375% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (NYSE: RJF PrB) payable January 2, 2025, to shareholders of record on December 16, 2024. The Board also authorized repurchase of the company’s shares of common stock in an aggregate amount of up to $1.5 billion. The $1.5 billion authorization replaces the previous repurchase authorization of $1.5 billion announced on November 30, 2023, under which approximately $644 million was remaining as of December 3, 2024. The repurchases may be made from time to time at prices that the company deems appropriate and subject to market conditions, applicable law, regulatory constraints in connection with previously announced acquisitions and other factors. Such repurchases may be made in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise. The Board’s authorization does not have a fixed expiration date. The repurchase authorization does not obligate the company to repurchase any dollar amount or number of securities and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. About Raymond James Financial, Inc. Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE: RJF) is a leading diversified financial services company providing private client group, capital markets, asset management, banking and other services to individuals, corporations and municipalities. The company has approximately 8,800 financial advisors. Total client assets are $1.54 trillion. Public since 1983, the firm is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RJF. Additional information is available at www.raymondjames.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include information concerning future shareholder distributions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, and they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements and urge you to carefully consider the risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from time to time, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available at www.raymondjames.com and the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement in the event it later turns out to be inaccurate, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Notable quotes by Jimmy CarterYou might think your personality is unique, but all it takes is a two-hour interview for an AI model to create a virtual replica with your attitudes and behaviors. That’s according to published by researchers from Stanford and DeepMind. In the study, 1,052 participants were asked to complete a two-hour interview which covered a wide range of topics, from their personal life story to their views on contemporary social issues. Their responses were recorded and the script was used to train generative AI models – or “simulation agents” – for each individual. To test how well these agents could mimic their human counterparts, both were asked to complete a set of tasks, including personality tests and games. Participants were then asked to replicate their own answers a fortnight later. Remarkably, the AI agents were able to simulate answers with 85% accuracy compared to the human participants. What’s more, the simulation agents were similarly effective when asked to predict personality traits across five social science experiments. While your personality might seem like an intangible or unquantifiable thing, this research shows that it's possible to distill your value structure from a relatively small amount of information, by capturing qualitative responses to a fixed set of questions. Fed this data, AI models can convincingly imitate your personality – at least, in a controlled, test-based setting. And that could make deepfakes even more dangerous. Double agent The research was led by Joon Sung Park, a Stanford PhD student. The idea behind creating these simulation agents is to give social science researchers more freedom when conducting studies. By creating digital replicas which behave like the real people they’re based on, scientists can run studies without the expense of bringing in thousands of human participants every time. They may also be able to run experiments which would be unethical to conduct with real human participants. Speaking to , John Horton, an associate professor of information technologies at the MIT Sloan School of Management, said that the paper demonstrates a way you can “use real humans to generate personas which can then be used programmatically/in-simulation in ways you could not with real humans.” Whether study participants are morally comfortable with this is one thing. More concerning for many people will be the potential for simulation agents to become something more nefarious in the future. In that same MIT Technology Review story, Park predicted that one day “you can have a bunch of small ‘yous’ running around and actually making the decisions that you would have made.” For many, this will set dystopian alarm bells ringing. The idea of digital replicas opens up a realm of security, privacy and identity theft concerns. It doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to foresee a world where scammers – who are already using AI to imitate the voices of loved-ones – could build personality deepfakes to imitate people online. This is particularly concerning when you consider that the AI simulation agents were created in the study using just two hours of interview data. This is much less than the amount of information currently required by companies such as , which create digital twins based on a trove of user data.