On Monday, Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda announced they have begun official negotiations to merge, which could catapult them to the world's third-largest carmaker by sales. During the same day, the company announced its share buyback plans by December 23 next year, which amounts to 24% of its issued shares. Shares of Japanese automaker Honda were on track for their best day in 16 years after it announced to buy back up to 1.1 trillion yen ($7 billion) of its shares on Monday amid merger talks with Nissan . > 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are Nissan and Honda said they had begun official negotiations to merge , which could catapult them to the world's third-largest carmaker by sales. Honda also announced to buy back 24% of its issued shares by Dec. 23 next year. Its shares were last up 15.51%, and would clock their best day since October 2008, if gains hold. Nissan shares fell over 1%. The Honda-Nissan deal would focus on sharing knowledge and resources, achieving economies of scale and creating synergies, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said . A holding company will be established as the parent organization for both Honda and Nissan, and will be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. "These two companies, they are operating in the same market, and they have very similar brand images, they have very similar products," Hakan Dogu, chairman of Alagan Mobility Solutions, told CNBC on Tuesday. "The new management has a big challenge to differentiate the product range and also extend the business," he added. Money Report CNBC Daily Open: Markets begin last trading week with holiday cheer ‘Do the upright thing.' A petition to ban reclining on airplanes has garnered 186,000 signatures Discussions are set to conclude in June 2025. Nissan's strategic partner, Mitsubishi, has been given the opportunity to join the new group and is expected to make a decision by the end of January 2025. Honda reported 1.382 trillion yen in operating profit for the full year to March 2024, versus Nissan's 568.7 billion yen. The automakers would have a combined value of nearly $54 billion, with Honda's market capitalization contributing the greater $43 billion share. Analysts suggested that the potential merger stems from Nissan's financial struggles and the restructuring of its long-standing partnership with France's Renault. In its latest quarterly report, Nissan announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs and reduce its global production capacity by 20%. —CNBC's Jenni Reid contributed to this report. Also on CNBC FDA approves Eli Lilly's weight loss drug Zepbound for sleep apnea FDA says Eli Lilly's weight loss drug Zepbound is no longer in shortage Why Americans are outraged over health insurance — and what could change33 jili 。

Trump aims to appoint son-in-law’s father as US ambassador to France'The Five' co-hosts discuss Walmart's plan moving forward with diversity, equity and inclusion programs and how DEI impacts a company's product and staff morale. First-time Democratic candidate and Army veteran Derek Tran has won California's 45th Congressional District , unseating Trump-endorsed Rep. Michelle Steel in what was considered one of the Golden State's closely watched races, per The Associated Press. Tran challenged Steel in what was a traditionally conservative district, although in recent years it has become somewhat of a swing district. The district covers parts of Orange County, including Fountain Valley, Westminster and Garden Grove. The voting demographic is predominately Asian American. CALIFORNIA REP IN HEAVILY ASIAN AMERICAN DISTRICT FIGHTS AGAINST CHINESE COMMUNIST INFLUENCE IN EDUCATION GOP Rep. Michelle Steel, left, and challenger Derek Tran, right (Getty Images) Steel was first elected to Congress in 2020 in the neighboring 48th District, in which she defeated incumbent Democrat Harley Rhouda, flipping the district red. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In 2018, Democrat Katie Porter flipped the district blue after defeating Republican incumbent Mimi Waters. Steel reclaimed the seat in 2020 and held onto it in 2022 by a narrow lead, making CA-45 one of the Republican-dominated districts that President Biden won in 2020 by around 6%. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. , Nov. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles & Colvard, Ltd. ("Charles & Colvard" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CTHR) today announced that on November 21, 2024 , it received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") notifying the Company that it was not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), which requires the timely filing of all required periodic reports (the "Listing Rule"), as a result of not having timely filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 (the "Form 10-Q"), and because the Company remains delinquent in filing its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 (the "Form 10-K"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Form 10-Q was due on November 14, 2024. The Company filed a Notification of Late Filing on Form 12b-25 with the SEC on November 15, 2024. The Notice has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company's common stock on Nasdaq. Under Nasdaq rules, the Company has until December 17, 2024 , to regain compliance with the Listing Rule or to submit to Nasdaq a plan to regain compliance with the Listing Rule (the "Plan"). If Nasdaq accepts the Company's Plan, then Nasdaq may grant the Company up to 180 calendar days from the Form 10-K filing due date, or until April 14, 2025 to file its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and regain compliance. If Nasdaq does not accept the Company's Plan, then the Company will have the opportunity to appeal that decision to a Nasdaq Hearings Panel. The Company is working diligently to complete its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and plans to file its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q as promptly as practicable to regain compliance with the Listing Rule. About Charles & Colvard, Ltd. Charles & Colvard, Ltd. (Nasdaq: CTHR) believes that fine jewelry should be as ethical as it is exquisite. Charles & Colvard is the original creator of lab grown moissanite (a rare gemstone formed from silicon carbide). The Company brings revolutionary gems and fine jewelry to market by using exclusively Made, not MinedTM above ground gemstones and a dedication to 100% recycled precious metals. The Company's Forever OneTM moissanite and Caydia ® lab grown diamond brands provide exceptional quality, incredible value and a conscious approach to bridal, high fashion, and everyday jewelry. Charles & Colvard was founded in 1995 and is based in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park region. For more information, please visit https://www.charlesandcolvard.com/ . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as "plan," "expect," "will," "working," and variations of such words and similar future or conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the expected filing of its Form 10-K and ability to regain compliance under the Nasdaq listing rule. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks and uncertainties described in more detail in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. For example, there can be no assurance that the Company will regain compliance with the Listing Rule during any compliance period or in the future, or otherwise meet Nasdaq compliance standards. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release, except as required by applicable law or regulation and you are urged to review and consider disclosures that we make in the reports that we file with the SEC that discuss other factors relevant to our business. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/charles--colvard-ltd-receives-non-compliance-letter-from-nasdaq-302317543.html SOURCE Charles & Colvard, Ltd.Two men who tried to smuggle £42 million worth of cocaine into the UK have been jailed. Mark Moran, 23, and Daniel Livingstone, 25, were caught after 524kg of cocaine was found in a hire van outside a hotel where they stayed in Lelley, East Yorkshire, in May, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. Moran and Colombian national Didier Tordecilla Reyes, 40, had sailed a rigid hulled inflatable boat from the Hessle slipway before returning hours later with the drugs and unloading them at a beach near Easington caravan park. On Monday, Moran, of Ardrishaig, Argyll and Bute, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to import cocaine at Hull Crown Court after being convicted by a jury. Livingstone, who had pleaded guilty to the same offence, was sentenced to seven years and nine months’ imprisonment. The NCA said Reyes, 40, who has also pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to import cocaine, is to be sentenced at a later date. Livingstone was spotted shining a torch out to sea and talking on his mobile phone as he waited for Moran and Reyes, who were seen unloading a number of bags into the van and ditching the boat on the beach. Read more: Man dies following light aircraft crash near Scottish airport Over 6,000 Scots waiting for NHS social care assessment​ Warning about tree was not passed on to train driver before 84mph crash – report ​ Earlier in the day Moran had driven a hire van and the boat from Norwich to Grimsby where he met Livingstone and Reyes. They all drove on to Hessle and Livingstone filled two large jerry cans with fuel. After sentencing, NCA senior investigating officer Alan French said: “There’s no doubt these drugs would have been sold into communities around the UK, but working with our partners including Humberside Police and Border Force, we have disrupted this crime group’s offending and made a huge dent in any profits they were due to make. “We are determined to do all we can to tackle the class A drugs threat activity, and protect the public from the horrific damage it causes our society.”

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Check Out What Whales Are Doing With CLSKBy Vanessa G. Sánchez, KFF Health News (TNS) LOS ANGELES — President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations and tougher immigration restrictions is deepening mistrust of the health care system among California’s immigrants and clouding the future for providers serving the state’s most impoverished residents. At the same time, immigrants living illegally in Southern California told KFF Health News they thought the economy would improve and their incomes might increase under Trump, and for some that outweighed concerns about health care. Community health workers say fear of deportation is already affecting participation in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents, which was expanded in phases to all immigrants regardless of residency status over the past several years. That could undercut the state’s progress in reducing the uninsured rate, which reached a record low of 6.4% last year. Immigrants lacking legal residency have long worried that participation in government programs could make them targets, and Trump’s election has compounded those concerns, community advocates say. The incoming Trump administration is also expected to target Medicaid with funding cuts and enrollment restrictions , which activists worry could threaten the Medi-Cal expansion and kneecap efforts to extend health insurance subsidies under Covered California to all immigrants. “The fear alone has so many consequences to the health of our communities,” said Mar Velez , director of policy with the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. “This is, as they say, not their first rodeo. They understand how the system works. I think this machine is going to be, unfortunately, a lot more harmful to our communities.” Alongside such worries, though, is a strain of optimism that Trump might be a boon to the economy, according to interviews with immigrants in Los Angeles whom health care workers were soliciting to sign up for Medi-Cal. Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Clinics and community health workers encourage immigrants to enroll for health coverage through Medi-Cal and Covered California. But workers have noticed that fear of deportation has chilled participation. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Community health workers like Yanet Martinez encourage people to enroll for health benefits. But many California immigrants fear that using subsidized services could hurt their chances of obtaining legal residency. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Selvin, 39, who, like others interviewed for this article, asked to be identified by only his first name because he’s living here without legal permission, said that even though he believes Trump dislikes people like him, he thinks the new administration could help boost his hours at the food processing facility where he works packing noodles. “I do see how he could improve the economy. From that perspective, I think it’s good that he won.” He became eligible for Medi-Cal this year but decided not to enroll, worrying it could jeopardize his chances of changing his immigration status. “I’ve thought about it,” Selvin said, but “I feel like it could end up hurting me. I won’t deny that, obviously, I’d like to benefit — get my teeth fixed, a physical checkup.” But fear holds him back, he said, and he hasn’t seen a doctor in nine years. It’s not Trump’s mass deportation plan in particular that’s scaring him off, though. “If I’m not committing any crimes or getting a DUI, I think I won’t get deported,” Selvin said. Petrona, 55, came from El Salvador seeking asylum and enrolled in Medi-Cal last year. She said that if her health insurance benefits were cut, she wouldn’t be able to afford her visits to the dentist. A street food vendor, she hears often about Trump’s deportation plan, but she said it will be the criminals the new president pushes out. “I’ve heard people say he’s going to get rid of everyone who’s stealing.” Although she’s afraid she could be deported, she’s also hopeful about Trump. “He says he’s going to give a lot of work to Hispanics because Latinos are the ones who work the hardest,” she said. “That’s good, more work for us, the ones who came here to work.” Newly elected Republican Assembly member Jeff Gonzalez, who flipped a seat long held by Democrats in the Latino-heavy desert region in the southeastern part of the state, said his constituents were anxious to see a new economic direction. “They’re just really kind of fed up with the status quo in California,” Gonzalez said. “People on the ground are saying, ‘I’m hopeful,’ because now we have a different perspective. We have a businessperson who is looking at the very things that we are looking at, which is the price of eggs, the price of gas, the safety.” Related Articles National Politics | Mexico tests cellphone app allowing migrants to send alert if they are about to be detained in US National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process National Politics | Advocates train immigrants to ‘prepare to stay’ in the US under Trump National Politics | A key Trump ally on immigration explains how mass deportations could work National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration Gonzalez said he’s not going to comment about potential Medicaid cuts, because Trump has not made any official announcement. Unlike most in his party, Gonzalez said he supports the extension of health care services to all residents regardless of immigration status . Health care providers said they are facing a twin challenge of hesitancy among those they are supposed to serve and the threat of major cuts to Medicaid, the federal program that provides over 60% of the funding for Medi-Cal. Health providers and policy researchers say a loss in federal contributions could lead the state to roll back or downsize some programs, including the expansion to cover those without legal authorization. California and Oregon are the only states that offer comprehensive health insurance to all income-eligible immigrants regardless of status. About 1.5 million people without authorization have enrolled in California, at a cost of over $6 billion a year to state taxpayers. “Everyone wants to put these types of services on the chopping block, which is really unfair,” said state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Democrat and chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “We will do everything we can to ensure that we prioritize this.” Sen. Gonzalez said it will be challenging to expand programs such as Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, for which immigrants lacking permanent legal status are not eligible. A big concern for immigrants and their advocates is that Trump could reinstate changes to the public charge policy, which can deny green cards or visas based on the use of government benefits. “President Trump’s mass deportation plan will end the financial drain posed by illegal immigrants on our healthcare system, and ensure that our country can care for American citizens who rely on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to KFF Health News. During his first term, in 2019, Trump broadened the policy to include the use of Medicaid, as well as housing and nutrition subsidies. The Biden administration rescinded the change in 2021. KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, found immigrants use less health care than people born in the United States. And about 1 in 4 likely undocumented immigrant adults said they have avoided applying for assistance with health care, food, and housing because of immigration-related fears, according to a 2023 survey . Another uncertainty is the fate of the Affordable Care Act, which was opened in November to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are protected by the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals program. If DACA eligibility for the act’s plans, or even the act itself, were to be reversed under Trump, that would leave roughly 40,000 California DACA recipients, and about 100,000 nationwide , without access to subsidized health insurance. On Dec. 9, a federal court in North Dakota issued an order blocking DACA recipients from accessing Affordable Care Act health plans in 19 states that had challenged the Biden administration’s rule. Clinics and community health workers are encouraging people to continue enrolling in health benefits. But amid the push to spread the message, the chilling effects are already apparent up and down the state. “¿Ya tiene Medi-Cal?” community health worker Yanet Martinez said, asking residents whether they had Medi-Cal as she walked down Pico Boulevard recently in a Los Angeles neighborhood with many Salvadorans. “¡Nosotros podemos ayudarle a solicitar Medi-Cal! ¡Todo gratuito!” she shouted, offering help to sign up, free of charge. “Gracias, pero no,” said one young woman, responding with a no thanks. She shrugged her shoulders and averted her eyes under a cap that covered her from the late-morning sun. Since Election Day, Martinez said, people have been more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” she said. “They don’t want anything to do with it.” This article was produced by KFF Health News , which publishes California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation . ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.In a move aimed at repositioning the party in Rivers State, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has inaugurated a 5-man Caretaker Committee (CTC) to pilot the party’s affairs for the next eight months. The inauguration ceremony, which took place in Port Harcourt, saw Nature Dumale Kieghe sworn in as the Acting State Chairman of PRP, while Synchro Uchendu was chosen as Secretary of the committee. Other members of the committee include Anukwu Chinonye Josiah (Organizing Secretary), Nwaigwe Darlington (Youth Leader), and Mary Aghuwah (Women Leader). The National Legal Adviser of the party, Mrs. Juliet Anyata, who performed the swearing-in ceremony, described the event as historic. She urged the new executive to uphold the principles of the party and prioritise its interests. Anyata also tasked the committee to focus on reconciling and winning back members who had left the party, as well as rebuilding a strong party that can win elections in the state. She said: “I am here representing the national body of our great party in this inauguration of the 5-man Caretaker Committee of the Rivers State chapter of PRP. “They have been inaugurated, the task here is that they should go out there, do the needful by bringing all party members together, build a party to win elections in the state, and ensure that by 2027, they occupy at least ninety percent of all elective positions in Rivers State.” The PRP National Legal Adviser also reaffirmed plans by the party to form alliances with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other political parties whose principles align with those of PRP, with the aim of taking over government at the center and across states in 2027, and addressing Nigeria’s leadership and economic challenges. “Yes, our party, the PRP, is open for alliances with other reputable political parties, which could lead to a merger. And the discussion has already started with ADC. That is just a starting point; we are open to other parties with the same values and principles as PRP,” she said. In his acceptance speech, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PRP in Rivers State, Hon. Nature Dumale Kieghe, thanked the national leadership of the party for finding them worthy of piloting the affairs of the party in the state, promising that they would not disappoint the confidence reposed in them. He promised that his administration would promote unity in the party in Rivers State, ensuring that every member is carried along, while more members would be brought in to form a party with the target to take over Rivers State in 2027. “As the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of PRP in Rivers State, I pledge to unite the state and reconcile all aggrieved members of the party. “The doors are also open for new members to come in. I am already receiving calls from different angles; people are willing to join us. The logo of this party is key, and with this key, we are going to unlock every locked-up destiny, door, and prosperity for Rivers people and Nigeria at large. “I have also committed my heart to making sure this party wins elections in Rivers State come 2027. We are very optimistic because there is a lacuna in the state, and PRP has come to fill the gap. So, we are inviting as many people who have ambition to come onboard because PRP is the political party that can give you a platform where you can be rest assured that your integrity will be protected. “I and other members of this Committee are here to serve. And I promise to bring my wealth of experience into PRP and ensure that this party is built to an enviable height. “Our party is built on the foundation of victory, and so we don’t expect less. PRP is here to redeem Rivers State and Nigeria as a country. And to achieve this, all hands must be on deck, so I call on all members to join us in achieving this task,” he said. In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Rivers State, Hon. Solsuema Osaro, congratulated the newly sworn-in CTC members of PRP in the state and advised them to always uphold the principles and values of the party, as well as respect the party’s constitution. He also urged them to always put the party’s interest above personal interest. Former Chairmen of the party in the state, Hon. Roland Opusunji and Hon. Fortune Onuigwe, were present to witness the event.

Miami Dolphins playoff scenarios: How to get to the postseasonEvolution Auto, a pioneer in sustainable electric mobility, has officially opened its flagship showroom on Maradana Road, Colombo, showcasing its revolutionary RV400 and RV400 BRZ electric motorcycles. This launch marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s transition towards eco-friendly transportation. The event was graced by Rattan India Enterprises Ltd.Chairperson Anjali Rattan, Sino Lanka Ltd.Chairman Bob Kundanmal, Director Dhiren Kundanmal, and Atman Group Directors Nathan Sivagnanathan and Ranjith Leon. The RV400 and RV400 BRZ are designed to meet the needs of modern riders, combining performance, efficiency, and cutting-edge technology. Powered by a 3 kW mid-drive motor, the motorcycles deliver a range of up to 150 km on a single charge, making them ideal for both urban commutes and longer journeys. Riders can choose from three distinct modes: Eco, City, and Sport, offering a customised riding experience that balances speed, efficiency, and battery life. The RV400 is well-suited to Sri Lanka’s roads. Its charging capabilities enable a full charge in 4.5 hours and a 75% charge in just three hours. Safety and comfort are prioritised with dual disc brakes, a combined braking system (CBS), and adjustable suspension, making it ideal for the country’s diverse terrain. Smart features such as geo-fencing, keyless ignition, mobile app integration, reverse mode, and real-time alerts enhance convenience and functionality. Additionally, the waterproof battery ensures reliable performance in all weather conditions, while the lightweight frame, LED lighting, and customisable exhaust sounds blend practicality with style. Evolution Auto Ltd. is also offering a limited-time warranty promotion for its valued customers: a 10-year warranty on the lithium-ion 72V 3.24 KWh battery. This special offer is valid from 25 November to 31 December, 2024. With operational costs up to 70% lower than traditional petrol-powered motorcycles, the RV400 BRZ is an affordable and sustainable choice, particularly for Sri Lankan youth. Beyond cost efficiency, both models contribute to global efforts to combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions. The launch is spearheaded by Evolution Auto, a joint venture between Atman Group and Sino Lanka. The company’s stakeholders consist of international cricket legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena, who bring their leadership and strategic insights to power its commitment to transforming transportation in Sri Lanka with affordable and trusted electric vehicles.

After a thrilling double-overtime win over Fresno State, California Baptist makes the nearly 2,500-mile trip to Orlando to face Central Florida on Sunday. The Lancers (5-3) capped their time at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Springs, Calif., with an 86-81 victory over the Bulldogs on Wednesday. That followed a last-second, 79-77 loss to SMU the day before. Dominique Daniels Jr. played 45 minutes against Fresno State and led California Baptist with 29 points. He paces the Lancers with 20.3 points per game, while Kendal Coleman averages 15.1 points and is shooting 59.7 percent form the floor. However, coach Rick Croy's team has struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 30.7 percent entering its first true road game this season. UCF (5-2) is coming off of an 84-76 win over Milwaukee last Wednesday despite being outrebounded 41-31. The Knights were helped by the heroics of senior guard Darius Johnson, who had 28 points as he shot a career-best 8-for-10 from beyond the arc. "Darius was terrific," UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. "He's so comfortable in his leadership role now, he's leading our team and running the show, and our new players are becoming more comfortable playing with him. He's been a rock for us this season, and you love to see it out of a senior point guard." "I had an extraordinary night shooting the ball from three," Johnson said. "I rarely think that would happen again, but it's great. I know my teammates are going to have nights like that as well." Johnson is among the nation's leaders in minutes per game (36.6) and is shooting a team-high 50 percent from 3-point range (23 of 46). He, along with his fellow guard Jordan Ivy-Curry, are each averaging 16.9 points to lead UCF. The Knights opened the season with an impressive win over Texas A&M, now No. 20 in the AP poll, but lost both games at last weekend's Greenbrier Tip-Off, including a triple-overtime defeat against LSU on Sunday. UCF has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2018-19. This will be the first meeting between the Knights and the Lancers, who will each have time off afterwards. UCF won't play until Dec. 8 against Tarleton State, while California Baptist is idle until its Dec. 11 game at San Diego State. --Field Level Media

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Maura Higgins teases Christmas getaway with Pete Wicks in €600 per night Irish hotelNEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell in morning trading Friday as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.4%, with more than 80% of stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. Still, the index is managing to hold onto a modest gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 402 points, or 0.9%, to 42,945 as of 10:41 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 2%. Both the Dow and the Nasdaq are also holding on to weekly gains. Technology stocks were the biggest drag on the market Friday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 3.2%. Its enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes. Other Big Tech stocks losing ground included Microsoft, with a 2.2% decline. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 2.2% and Best Buy slipped 1.9%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy was the only sector within the S&P 500 rising. It gained 0.5% as crude oil prices rose 0.8%. Investors don't have much in the way of corporate or economic updates to review as the market moves closer to another standout annual finish. The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 4.59% from late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury slipped to 4.32% from 4.33% late Thursday. Wall Street will have more economic updates to look forward to next week, including reports on pending home sales and home prices. There will also be reports on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity.Apple approaches $4 trillion valuation as investors bet on AI momentum

Trump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia

President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner, father of Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Mr Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker”. Mr Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former senior Trump adviser who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Mr Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was co-operating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Mr Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Mr Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison – the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the US attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, had sought. Mr Christie has blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Mr Trump’s transition team in 2016, and has called Charles Kushner’s offences “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was US attorney”. Mr Trump and the elder Mr Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate. Last Updated: Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are climbing Thursday after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 was pulling 0.7% higher, as of 2:45 p.m. Eastern time, after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 532 points, or 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.2%. Nvidia's rise of 1.4% was the strongest force pushing the S&P 500 upward after yet again beating analysts’ estimates for profit and revenue. It also gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that topped most analysts’ expectations thanks to voracious demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Its stock initially sank in afterhours trading Wednesday following the release of the results. Some investors said the market might have been looking for Nvidia's revenue forecast to surpass expectations by even more. But its stock recovered in premarket trading Thursday, and Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said it was another “flawless” profit report provided by Nvidia and CEO Jensen Huang, whom Ives calls “the Godfather of AI.” How Nvidia’s stock performs has tremendous impact because it’s quickly grown into Wall Street’s most valuable company at roughly $3.6 trillion. Its meandering up and down through the day dragged the S&P 500 and other indexes back and forth. The frenzy around AI is sweeping up other stocks, and Snowflake jumped 32.3% after reporting stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company, whose platform helps customers get a better view of all their silos of data and use AI, also reported stronger revenue growth than expected. BJ’S Wholesale Club rose 9.1% after likewise delivering a bigger profit than expected. That may help calm worries about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. A day earlier, Target tumbled after reporting sluggish sales in the latest quarter and giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Nearly 90% of the stocks in the S&P 500 were also rising, and the gains were even bigger among smaller companies. The Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped a market-leading 1.9%. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, helped keep indexes in check. It fell 5.5% after U.S. regulators asked a judge to break up the tech giant by forcing it to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser. In a 23-page document filed late Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice called for sweeping punishments that would include restrictions preventing Android from favoring its own search engine. Regulators stopped short of demanding Google sell Android but left the door open to it if the company’s oversight committee continues to see evidence of misconduct. Drops for other Big Tech stocks also weighed on the market, including a 2.4% slide for Amazon. In stock markets abroad, shares of India’s Adani Enterprises plunged 22.6% Thursday after the U.S. charged founder Gautam Adani, 62, in a federal indictment with securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. The businessman and one of the world’s richest people is accused of duping investors by concealing that his company’s huge solar energy project on the subcontinent was being facilitated by an alleged bribery scheme. Indexes elsewhere in Asia and Europe were mixed. In the crypto market, bitcoin eclipsed $99,000 for the first time before easing back to roughly $98,250, according to CoinDesk. It’s more than doubled so far this year, and its climb has accelerated since Election Day. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to make the country “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. Bitcoin also got a boost after Gary Gensler, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission who has pushed for more protection for crypto investors, said he would step down in January . Bitcoin and related investments, of course, have a notorious history of big price swings in both directions. MicroStrategy, a company that's been raising cash expressly to buy bitcoin, saw an early gain of 14.6% for its stock on Thursday quickly disappear. It was most recently down 10.7%. In the oil market, a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 2% to bring its gain for the week to 4.8%. Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 1.8%. Oil has been rising amid escalations in the Russia-Ukraine war. In the bond market, Treasury yields edged higher following some mixed reports on the U.S. economy. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.43% from 4.41% late Wednesday. One report said fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week in the latest signal that the job market remains solid. Another report, though, said manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region unexpectedly shrank. Sales of previously occupied homes, meanwhile, strengthened last month by more than expected. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Yuri Kageyama contributed.