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(BPT) - Has it been a while since you purchased a new TV? You might be surprised by how far TV technology has come since you bought your last set! Today's smart televisions offer dramatic improvements in picture quality and home screens that are far easier to navigate. Plus, they come with a host of cool features like voice control that you may not even know about. It's time to discover what you've been missing — and if you're asking yourself where to start, the Fire TV Buyer Insights Report can help. This independent study surveyed over 2,000 recent purchasers of smart TVs to learn everything from where they did their product research to why they decided to buy. With the holidays almost upon us, the insights in this report can help guide you as you kick off your seasonal shopping. Whether you're buying a gift, hosting a holiday gathering or looking for the perfect game-day screen, read on to find the best TV for your needs. How do you find the right TV? Here's how recent purchasers did it. When it comes to buying a new TV, there are several factors you'll want to consider, starting with who's going to be using it. The study found that spouses (36%), kids (13%), and even grandparents (1%) were involved in the purchase process, so be sure to keep your home's audience in mind. Beyond that, you'll also want to think about: Room size Smart TVs range in size from a 32-inch screen all the way up to a whopping 100 inches or more. To determine the right screen size for your room, follow this guideline: Small rooms: 32"–43" screen Medium rooms: 43"–55" screen Large rooms: 55+" screen As for viewing distance, divide the screen's diameter by 8 to get the ideal viewing distance in feet. For example, a 32-inch screen should be watched from about 4 feet away, while you'll want to be about 8 feet away from a 65-inch screen. Usage How you plan to use your new TV should play a large part in your decision-making process. If you're always looking for the latest show or movie to watch, your smart TV should offer optimal access to the latest streaming services. Gamers will experience better play on a TV with a high refresh rate, while sports enthusiasts will want to watch the big game on a set with smooth motion handling. Connected TV experience One of the most important considerations is how you'll use TV. In the study, 83% of TV purchasers said that easy access to content was one of the things they liked best about their new TV. But beyond being an all-in-one source for entertainment, your smart TV should also play well with other smart home devices. For instance, Fire TV allows you to pair compatible devices seamlessly like video doorbells, smart home devices, and more. And with select models, Fire TV's Ambient Experience can turn the biggest screen in your home into a beautiful, always-on smart display rotating through beautiful art, personal photos, and glanceable information like calendars and reminders. Knowledge is power Before you land on the perfect TV, you'll need to do a little research first. The study found that only 12% of shoppers bought their TV on an impulse, while 65% engaged in some form of product research. Most (82%) respondents conducted some or all of their research online for instant access to smart TV reviews and feature comparisons. In fact, over half of respondents who searched online mentioned digital retailers like Amazon as a great source for honest ratings and buyer reviews. Timing is everything According to the study, the time from research to purchase takes about two weeks, so plan ahead — especially if you're thinking about giving a TV as a holiday gift. There are also some great deals available during this time of year, so keep an eye out for sales and promotional offers. The big picture A new TV is a big purchase, so don't make it an impulsive one. Take the time to do your research and remember that everyone takes a different path to finding the perfect TV. Whether your search begins online, offline, or with a mix of both, it will end with a next-level viewing experience that's just right for the way you watch.
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EXCLUSIVE Mother of schoolgirl who took her life amid claims she was being cyber-bullied 'utterly heartbroken' after coroner ruled it was 'banter' For confidential support call Samaritans on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org By RICHARD MARSDEN Published: 20:26, 27 November 2024 | Updated: 20:37, 27 November 2024 e-mail View comments The mother of a teenage girl who took her own life amid claims of cyber-bullying said her family has been left 'utterly heartbroken' after a coroner ruled it may have been 'just banter'. Nicola Harteveld, whose daughter Megan Evans was just 14 when she was found dead, said she felt the comments gave the 'green light' to online abusers. Ms Harteveld said it was 'beyond disgusting to see a conclusion that tries to blur the lines between bullying and banter, as if phrases like 'Go kill yourself' can ever be dismissed as a joke or not taken literally'. Schoolgirl Megan Evans, 14, was found dead at her home after allegedly being targeted on social media with an 'I hate Megan Evans' campaign. But, concluding an inquest, coroner Paul Bennett said other personal factors were involved instead of pinning the blame on online bullying. Mr Bennett said phrases such as 'go kill yourself' were in 'regular use' online, adding that children and young people had 'different perceptions of bullying'. The coroner said such comments could be perceived in different ways, adding: 'What may be bullying to one could be banter to another'. Speaking after Mr Bennett gave a conclusion of suicide, but declined to find online bullying as a contributory factor, Ms Harteveld said the family are 'beyond heartbroken'. The mother of Megan Evans, 14, who took her own life amid claims of cyber-bullying said her family has been left 'utterly heartbroken' after a coroner ruled it may have been 'just banter' Nicola Harteveld, mother of Megan Evans, 14, who died after a cyber-bullying campaign, said it was 'beyond disgusting to see a conclusion that tries to blur lines between bullying and banter' She said: 'Megan is dead, she clearly did not take it as banter. Additionally, (for him to say) that unkind words were proven by witnesses to be sent online and in group chats to Megan, social media played no part. 'How is it acceptable to claim that such words don't amount to targeted bullying or abuse? This kind of reasoning minimises the pain and harm caused by toxic behaviour, especially on social media. 'It's ultimately given the green light for every child to use these words with no repercussions.' Ms Harteveld, a mother of eight, from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, added: 'We are beyond heartbroken that all of the evidence given has been completely dismissed or refuted altogether. 'Yet Megan's perception of how things were affecting her were not considered. 'The facts were disclosed all week, and witnesses corroborated events, yet these have all been ignored. 'We need accountability, not excuses, to ensure no one else suffers like Megan did.' She continued: 'When the verdict came, we were completely blindsided. I literally can't explain how I felt. Megan was described as a talented artist and hockey player who had been looking forward to attending a Justin Bieber concert 'It was when we heard that Megan had died. I've kind of likened it to a grenade just being thrown - you're disoriented, you go out of sync. 'I was transported right back to that moment. 'I felt like we lost her all over again. I literally couldn't believe what I was hearing. 'And the fact that it was just brushed aside as banter completely invalidated her feelings.' During the inquest, Ms Harteveld and Megan's friends gave evidence that Megan was unhappy at school from online bullying and feeling she was being 'persecuted' by staff at Milford Haven School in Pembrokeshire. But Mr Bennett found Megan's decision to take her own life 'was not influenced by bullying or, per se, by social media'. He said the 'key issue upsetting Megan' was her boyfriend's alleged relationship with another girl. Although she received messages about this, the hearing heard it was 'the substance of the messages' rather than social media itself that upset Megan. Megan's mother claims she was not supported by Milford Haven Comprehensive school in Pembrokeshire. Pictured: Floral tributes left to the teenager He said: 'She was troubled by concerns over her father's illness and there were arguments with other children over suggestions that her boyfriend was behaving badly. 'It is, however, impossible to be certain what drove her to take the steps she did. I am equally satisfied that the steps she took were not related to bullying or a failure to prevent such bullying.' The inquest heard that a photo of Megan 'smoking' had also been posted on social media - which resulted in students name calling her at school. The Haverfordwest inquest, held last week, heard Megan was told to 'kill herself' and sent a picture message saying 'die' on social media - and hate groups had been made before they were reported to the school and taken down. The hearing was told the 'I hate Megan Evans' group had been created online. Read More Mother says daughter, 14, found dead at home after cyber-bullying campaign was 'let down' by school But Mr Bennett did not find grounds to support the family's claims that the school had done nothing to combat bullying before her death in February 2017. He said the school had a range of safeguarding and anti-bullying policies. Ms Harteveld said a verdict would never bring Megan back, but they had hoped there was going to be some accountability and lessons to be learned. She added: 'We weren't ever looking to blame any single person - it was a culmination of things that had happened, that all surmounted to what she did. 'But I do blame the fact that these things aren't picked up and they're not dealt with properly and there's no culpability for it.' Hearing the coroner say that social media wasn't involved in her death left Nicola completely 'dumbfounded.' She added that before the coroner finished speaking she and Megan's dad Shaun Evans, 49, walked out of the inquest at separate times to not let themselves down with their reactions. Ms Harteveld said she and the family found the inquest process difficult - after pushing for answers for nearly eight years to finally having a date set a week after Megan's 22nd birthday. 'We've got to go through the disappointment, the injustice that we all feel. We've got to go through Christmas with that. 'It could have been done at a time where, you know, maybe we'd have been in a better place to be able to cope with this aftermath of it.' She added: 'I feel had somebody who had a better understanding of social media and the devastating effect and the power of it, it would have been a very different verdict.' She expressed that the ruling 'completely downplayed' and 'bypassed the impact and the danger of social media' - and the danger of using words like 'go kill yourself.' Megan, described by her mother as 'kind', 'empathetic', 'popular' and 'mature' was a keen hockey player who was looking forward to attending a Justin Bieber concert. The teenager had aspirations to be a special effects makeup artist or a tattoo artist. Ms Harteveld said: 'She was obsessed with The Walking Dead because of the zombie makeup,' Nicola said, and so she would 'practice that on her little brothers.' 'She had that real creative flair about her,' she added. The coroner did not support the family's claims that Milford Haven Comprehensive School Pembrokeshire had done nothing to combat bullying before Megan's death Megan took her own life on February 7, 2017, while her parents were out and she was at home with three of her siblings. She did not leave a suicide note but the coroner said the fact she was in a room rarely used by her family and had barricaded the door suggested that she did not want to be interrupted or found quickly. In the years following Megan's tragic death, Nicola has worked to raise awareness of mental health and the dangers of social media bullying, founding Megan's Starr Foundation which provides free counselling and peer support to young people. After the verdict, Ms Harteveld received support internationally from hundreds of people, reminding her that 'Megan's story resonated with so many people' and is making a difference. 'So we will we will carry on raising awareness and campaigning that it's never okay to say those words, be it meant in jest or not. It's never okay,' she said. The family - including Megan's siblings Morgan, 23, Max, 21, Molly, 19, Miles, 18, Mitchel, 16, Marley, 14 and Monty, 13, who were homeschooled following Megan's death - all work together to keep her legacy alive through the foundation. For confidential support call The Samaritans on 116123. Share or comment on this article: Mother of schoolgirl who took her life amid claims she was being cyber-bullied 'utterly heartbroken' after coroner ruled it was 'banter' e-mail Add comment
Arguments over whether Luigi Mangione is a 'hero' offer glimpse into unusual American moment
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patagonia Gold Corp. ("Patagonia” or the "Company”) (TSXV: PGDC) announces that it has granted an aggregate of 8,000,000 incentive stock options under the Company's stock option plan (the "Stock Option Plan”) to the directors of the Company, 3,500,000 incentive stock options to certain officers of the Company and 3,800,000 incentive stock options to members of senior management of the Company as part of a long term incentive plan (the "Option Grant”). All of the Options are exercisable for a period of five years at a price of $0.035. The Options vest as to one-third on each of the first, second and third anniversary of the date of the Option Grant. The Stock Option Plan allows for the issuance of up to 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company in the form of Options. As of the date hereof, a total of 465,051,490 shares of the Company are issued and outstanding and the Option Grant represents approximately 3.3% of the issued and outstanding shares. About Patagonia Gold Patagonia Gold Corp. is a South America focused, publicly traded, mining company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company seeks to grow shareholder value through exploration and development of gold and silver projects in the Patagonia region of Argentina. The Company is primarily focused on the Calcatreu project in Rio Negro and the development of the Cap-Oeste underground project. Patagonia, indirectly through its subsidiaries or under option agreements, has mineral rights to over 415 properties in several provinces of Argentina and is one of the largest landholders in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina. For more information, please contact: Christopher van Tienhoven, Chief Executive Officer Patagonia Gold Corp T: +54 11 5278 6950 E: [email protected] FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about the Company's focus on growing shareholder value and the development of the Cap Oeste underground project, advancement of the Calcatreu project and the Company's future plans and intentions. Wherever possible, words such as "may”, "will”, "should”, "could”, "expect”, "plan”, "intend”, "anticipate”, "believe”, "estimate”, "predict” or "potential” or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
HOUSTON, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Talen Energy Corporation (“Talen” or the “Company”) ( NASDAQ: TLN ) announced today that the Company has closed on its previously announced $850 million incremental Term Loan B credit facility (the “Financing”) and the repurchase (the “Repurchase”) of an equivalent value of shares of Talen’s outstanding Talen common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”) from affiliates of Rubric Capital Management LP (collectively, “Rubric”). The Company previously announced it would use the proceeds from the Financing to repurchase an equivalent value of shares of Common Stock held by Rubric. Upon the successful upsizing of the Financing from $600 million to $850 million, the Company determined it would use cash on hand to further increase the value of the Repurchase from $850 million to $1 billion in aggregate purchase price. Shares repurchased using the proceeds from the Financing are incremental to the Company’s previously announced share repurchase program. The additional shares repurchased with $150 million of cash on hand utilized capacity under the existing share repurchase program, leaving approximately $1.08 billion of remaining capacity available under the program through 2026. “Demonstrating our commitment to shareholder returns, we have now repurchased more than 20% of our outstanding Common Stock in the past year and, through these repurchases, have bought back nearly 75% of our market capitalization as of our emergence from bankruptcy in May 2023,” said Mac McFarland, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We will continue to deliver value to all our stakeholders, including Rubric, which remains a valued and substantial owner of Talen stock.” The Repurchase was priced at a 4% discount to a 15-day VWAP prior to the closing of the Repurchase, resulting in the repurchase of 4,893,507 total shares at a price of $204.35 per share. Following the Repurchase, 45,961,910 shares of the Company’s Common Stock remain outstanding. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Talen Talen Energy ( NASDAQ: TLN ) is a leading independent power producer and energy infrastructure company dedicated to powering the future. We own and operate approximately 10.7 gigawatts of power infrastructure in the United States, including 2.2 gigawatts of nuclear power and a significant dispatchable fossil fleet. We produce and sell electricity, capacity, and ancillary services into wholesale U.S. power markets, with our generation fleet principally located in the Mid-Atlantic and Montana. Our team is committed to generating power safely and reliably, delivering the most value per megawatt produced and driving the energy transition. Talen is also powering the digital infrastructure revolution. We are well-positioned to capture this significant growth opportunity, as data centers serving artificial intelligence increasingly demand more reliable, clean power. Talen is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, visit https://www.talenenergy.com/. Investor Relations: Ellen Liu Senior Director, Investor Relations InvestorRelations@talenenergy.com Media: Taryne Williams Director, Corporate Communications Taryne.Williams@talenenergy.com Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this communication, or incorporated by reference into this communication, are forward-looking statements. Throughout this communication, we have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” or other forms of these words or similar words or expressions or the negative thereof, although not all forward-looking statements contain these terms. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions concerning, among other things, capital expenditures, earnings, litigation, regulatory matters, hedging, liquidity and capital resources and accounting matters. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our future business, financial condition, results of operations or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this communication. All of our forward-looking statements include assumptions underlying or relating to such statements that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, and are subject to numerous factors that present considerable risks and uncertainties.
DALLAS (AP) — The championship vision that led Nathan Eovaldi to sign with Texas as a free agent two years ago is the same one that brought him back to the Rangers. A World Series title in his first season was followed by a losing record this year. “I believe in the guys in the group that we have. We were able to do it in ‘23. I don’t feel a lot has changed,” Eovaldi said Friday, a day after finalizing a $75 million, three-year contract . “We had a down year last year, but I've said it before, you learn a lot from losing seasons.” Eovaldi had declined a $20 million player option to become a free agent again and reached an agreement during the winter meetings in Dallas. Texas also acquired slugging corner infielder Jake Burger in a swap with Miami. Burger had fallen asleep before getting a call late Tuesday night that he had been traded to Texas, where his family is planning to move after the October birth of a daughter with Down syndrome. “The other city that is really good other than Nashville in terms of children's hospital and resources for her Downs is in Dallas," Burger said. “Not just from the baseball spectrum, from the life aspect as well ... I feel like it was meant to be, and we couldn’t be more more excited about that.” In the Nashville area, Burger lives close to Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, whom he plans to visit with soon. His former Marlins manager, Skip Schumaker , was hired last month by the Rangers as a senior adviser for baseball operations, and Luis Urueta, Miami’s bench coach the past two seasons, recently joined Bochy’s on-field coaching staff for 2025. Burger and Rangers pitcher Dane Dunning were once roommates in the Chicago White Sox organization. Burger hit .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs in 137 games for the Marlins last season, when he started 59 games at third base and 50 starts at first. He was with the White Sox in Texas when he got traded to Miami on Aug. 1, 2023, and four days later hit his first homer with the Marlins at Globe Life Field. When the Rangers made the title run in 2023, Eovaldi was 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA in six postseason starts. He was the winning pitcher in their World Series-clinching Game 5 at Arizona. He was also part of Boston’s 2018 title. Eovaldi was 12-8 this year with a 3.80 ERA in 29 starts, the last seven scoreless innings in the regular-season finale. He is 24-13 with a 3.72 ERA in 54 starts for Texas the past two seasons. The new deal for the Texas native, who who turns 35 in February, includes a $12 million signing bonus, half payable on Nov. 15, 2026, and the rest on Jan. 15, 2028, and salaries of $18 million next season, $25 million in 2026 and $20 million in 2027. He gets a full no-trade provision. After being welcomed back by Chris Young, the team's president of baseball operations, the pitcher said he never felt like he really left. The Rangers stayed in contact throughout the process after he declined his option Nov. 4. “Kind of listening to the market and everything, I’m extremely happy to be back. I’m glad we were we were able to make it all work out,” Eovaldi said. “We had a lot of teams reach out right away and we were in contact with most them across the league. Ultimately we were able to make it back here.” AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbNEW YORK — There’s more than one connection to Colorado at this year’s Heisman Trophy ceremony than the obvious. While Travis Hunter became just the fourth Buffaloes player to be named a finalist for the top individual trophy in college football, Miami quarterback Cam Ward also has a close relationship to the Sanders family. Ward and CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders have shared the same trainer, Darrell Colbert, for years, working out together during the summer and communicating throughout their respective college careers — which both began at the FCS level. “Our relationship is good,” Ward said Friday. “We both push each other. When we work out together in the offseason, it’s gonna be heated battles. We’re both competitors.” Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward, of Miami, speaks during a college football media availability, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) They did square off, briefly, last season when the Buffs visited Ward and his former team, Washington State, but Sanders got hurt in the first half of the blowout win for Ward’s Cougars. The duo are projected to be the two top quarterbacks taken in next year’s NFL draft, so that game in Pullman last November probably wasn’t the last time they faced off on the football field. “I’m pretty sure one day we’ll get a rematch,” Ward said. Figuratively and literally, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is representing the little guy this weekend in New York. Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty, of Boise State, poses with the trophy during a college football media availability, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) The star running back, considered the biggest threat to Travis Hunter’s bid to win the Heisman, is the shortest of the four contenders and he’s the only player not from a Power 4 program. He’s the first Group of Five player to earn a trip to the Heisman ceremony since Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch in 2013. He’s the first Mountain West player to do so since fellow Boise State legend, quarterback Kellen Moore, went in 2010. It’s something that’s not lost on him. “It would mean a lot,” Jeanty said when asked about potentially winning the Heisman on Saturday night. “Not just for me and Boise but for the world as a whole, just (to) change everybody’s perspective. I think it’ll inspire a lot of people. No matter what school or place you come from, it doesn’t matter what odds are against you, if you want to accomplish something, you can do it.” Of the four Heisman finalists, Dillon Gabriel is the elder statesman in the room. While all but Jeanty have played for multiple schools, Gabriel’s invitation to New York is the culmination of a six-year journey in college football that has spanned three different schools and so many big games. The Oregon quarterback is certainly one for sentimentality and said he plans to keep all of his jerseys and helmets from his lone season with the Ducks, which will continue into the College Football Playoff later this month. “I think I still have my Pop Warner jersey from when I was a kid,” Gabriel said. “I think all the memories start to roll back in your mind when you have those items and it’ll all be priceless and things you can appreciate.” Heisman Trophy finalist Dillon Gabriel, of Oregon, speaks during a college football media availability, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) As the old head in the room, it’s not much of a surprise that Gabriel was inundated Friday with questions about the current era of college football dominated by the transfer portal and NIL, something he’s witnessed evolve plenty from his freshman year at Central Florida in 2019. “About the wildest world you can live in,” Gabriel said. “I think now because it’s so new it’s hard to grasp, but in 10, 20 years we’ll appreciate the beginning of it all and how we can create rules that make sense. For the most part, there’s a lot of good.”
Baker Mayfield, high-flying Bucs visit Chargers in matchup of teams with winning recordsArguments over whether Luigi Mangione is a 'hero' offer glimpse into unusual American momentNoneHow to openly talk to your kids about changing social media rules
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Jaylen Reed’s hands were still dirty and his face smeared with eye black as he took a seat in the Beaver Stadium media room. The hard-nosed veteran of nearly 50 college football games looked weary after Penn State pounded Maryland on Saturday, but lit up as he watched media members gather around teammate Audavion Collins next to him. The sophomore was excitedly describing his first career interception. Reed grinned, his pride was evident. One of Penn State’s captains, Reed loves when underclassmen earn playing time. He knows, especially on defense, the No. 3 Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten, No. 4 CFP) will likely rely on them to make a run at their first national championship since 1986. “Having that type of depth, having that type of guy that can step up and play the game every week, that’s something that’s going to help us down the stretch,” Reed said. “Having depth at all positions, I feel like that’s the main thing and I feel like we have huge depth.” Reed knows Collins is far from the only reserve player who has been effective for Tom Allen’s defense this season. Heading into Saturday’s Big Ten championship game against No. 1 Oregon in Indianapolis, Penn State has used 39 players on a defense that ranks seventh nationally against the run and pass. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions are fourth overall in total defense (266.8 yards) and sixth in scoring defense (14 points) entering the showdown with the Ducks' 15th-ranked offense with a College Football Playoff first-round bye at stake. It’s not just the starting 11 getting it done. Since mid-October, Penn State has regularly rotated at least nine defensive linemen, six linebackers and nine defensive backs early and midway through games. As a result, seven players have snagged their first interceptions this season, while five others have recorded their first sacks. “We believe in everybody coming in behind us,” linebacker Tony Rojas said. “Our defense, we know what we’re capable of and I feel like our defense is top tier, if not the best.” It technically hasn’t been at full strength since Week 2 of the season. Then, star safety KJ Winston was lost to an unspecified long-term injury. He tried to play at Wisconsin on Oct. 26, but hasn’t seen action since. In the meantime, Winston’s absence has allowed Allen and head coach James Franklin to get a good look at Collins and other young backend players like Eliot Washington, Zion Tracy and Dejuan Lane. Tracy and Lane have seen their snap counts go up since November, and both have interceptions since. The Nittany Lions haven’t been immune to injuries up front, either. Star end Dani Dennis-Sutton was limited midway through the season by an unspecified ailment. Before last weekend’s game against Maryland, Penn State listed defensive tackles Alonzo Ford and Kaleb Artis and defensive end Zuriah Fisher out with injuries. While not near 100% healthy, Dennis-Sutton continued to suit up, but yielded reps to Amin Vanover and Smith Vilbert. Vanover and Vilbert are seniors who were slowed over the years by injuries but have stuck around, and are now shoring up the team’s depth. “I think getting Dani back healthy, that’s been important,” Franklin said. “I think this was his first game back where he was really healthy, Abdul (Carter) the second half of the season, has gotten very comfortable playing defensive end. We’ve been able to rotate and get production out of guys like Amin as well, so I think all those things have been really important.” So is the fact that Penn State’s defense has continued to close out games. The Nittany Lions have allowed just 445 yards on 125 third-quarter plays this season. Meanwhile, they’ve outscored opponents 192-55 in the second half and overtime and held 19 of their last 22 Big Ten opponents to fewer that 100 rushing yards. Like Reed, senior Dvon J-Thomas spent much of the second half against Maryland cheering on his freshman teammates. Notably, tackle Ty Blanding who had his first career tackle for loss in his first defensive series. “I’ve seen a tremendous leap in their attention to detail,” J-Thomas said. “There’s not a lot of moments or times in your career where you’ll have an opportunity like this and I think they realize that." Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThe US is somewhat unique in letting its chief executive pardon without having to get signoff – here’s what to know
CORNELIUS, N.C. and NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha Modus Holdings, Inc. ("Alpha Modus" or the "Company”), a technology company with a core focus on artificial intelligence in retail, is pleased to announce that the business combination between Insight Acquisition Corp. and Alpha Modus Corp. has closed, and Alpha Modus's common stock and warrants will begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbols "AMOD” and "AMODW”, respectively, on Monday, December 16, 2024. In connection with the closing of the business combination, the combined company consummated and issued a secured convertible promissory note to an investor, in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $2.6 million, which will be used primarily to cover transaction costs and for working capital. The structure of the financing does not include commitment or warrant shares and is structured with the potential for an additional $5 million capital infusion for working capital purposes in the future. Advisors Maxim Group LLC served as capital markets advisor to Alpha Modus. Brunson Chandler & Jones, PLLC acted as legal counsel to Alpha Modus. Loeb & Loeb LLP served as legal counsel to Insight Acquisition Corp. About Alpha Modus Alpha Modus engages in creating, developing and licensing data-driven technologies to enhance consumers' in-store digital experience at the point of decision. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Cornelius, North Carolina. For additional information, please visit alphamodus.com. About Insight Acquisition Corp. Prior to the closing, Insight Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: INAQ) was a special purpose acquisition company formed solely to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Insight Acquisition Corp. was sponsored by Insight Acquisition Sponsor LLC. For additional information, please visit insightacqcorp.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Insight's and Alpha Modus' actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Insight's and Alpha Modus' expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the Business Combination. Insight and Alpha Modus caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Insight and Alpha Modus do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Contacts: Alpha Modus Shannon Devine MZ Group +1(203) 741-8841 [email protected]
Michigan AG Says Trump's Deportations May Leave Serial Killers on the LooseMONACO — Canadians Alex Tessier, Sophie de Goede and Laetitia Royer have been named to World Rugby's Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year. Canada sevens captain Olivia Apps, meanwhile, was selected to World Rugby's Women’s Sevens Dream Team. The women's 15s world all-star squad also featured six players from top-ranked England and three from No. 2 New Zealand. The other three came from the U.S., Ireland and France. Tessier was also a finalist for the World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year award won by England fullback Ellie Kildunne. France's Pauline Bourdon Sansus and England's Alex Matthews were the other finalists. Tessier won her 50th cap in 2024 and, playing at inside centre alongside fly half Claire Gallagher, led the Canada women to a historic first-ever victory over New Zealand to win the 2024 Pacific Four Series in May. The 22-19 comeback victory lifted Canada into second place in the women’s world rankings, its highest position since November 2016. Tessier's strong kicking game was also key for Canada. The 31-year-old from Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., scored 27 points in starting all six matches for Canada in 2024 to up her career total to 48 points (including five tries) in 54 appearances. Tessier plays professionally in England for the Exeter Chiefs. De Goede made the all-star team despite tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in training in June. A finalist for the Women's Player of the Year award in 2022, the Victoria back-rower plays in England for Saracens. Royer, from Loretteville, Que., is a second-row forward who plays in France for ASM Romagnat. Top-ranked South Africa dominated the men's 15s all-star squad with seven players represented. Ireland had four players with New Zealand three and Argentina one. --- World Rugby's 15s Dream Teams of the Year Women 1. Hope Rogers (U.S.); 2. Georgia Ponsonby (New Zealand); 3. Maud Muir (England); 4. Zoe Aldcroft (England); 5. Laetitia Royer (Canada) ; 6. Aoife Wafer (Ireland)' 7. Sophie de Goede (Canada) ; 8. Alex Matthews (England); 9. Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France); 10. Holly Aitchison (England); 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo (New Zealand); 12. Alex Tessier (Canada) ; 13. Sylvia Brunt (New Zealand); 14. Abby Dow (England); 15. Ellie Kildunne (England). Men 1. Ox Nche (South Africa); 2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa); 3. Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand); 4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa); 5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland); 6. Pablo Matera (Argentina); 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa); 8. Caelan Doris (Ireland); 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); 10. Damian McKenzie (New Zealand); 11. James Lowe (Ireland); 12. Damian de Allende (South Africa); 13. Jesse Kriel (South Africa); 14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa); 15. Will Jordan (New Zealand). World Rugby Sevens Dreams Team of the Year Women Olivia Apps (Canada) , Michaela Blyde (New Zealand), Kristi Kirshe (U.S.), Maddison Levi (Australia), Ilona Maher (U.S.), Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Séraphine Okemba (France). Men Selvyn Davids (South Africa), Antoine Dupont (France), Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (France), Terry Kennedy (Ireland), Nathan Lawson (Australia), Ponipate Loganimasi (Fiji), Matías Osadczuk (Argentina). This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. The Canadian PressSTATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Jaylen Reed’s hands were still dirty and his face smeared with eye black as he took a seat in the Beaver Stadium media room. The hard-nosed veteran of nearly 50 college football games looked weary after Penn State pounded Maryland on Saturday, but lit up as he watched media members gather around teammate Audavion Collins next to him. The sophomore was excitedly describing his first career interception. Reed grinned, his pride was evident. One of Penn State’s captains, Reed loves when underclassmen earn playing time. He knows, especially on defense, the No. 3 Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten, No. 4 CFP) will likely rely on them to make a run at their first national championship since 1986. “Having that type of depth, having that type of guy that can step up and play the game every week, that’s something that’s going to help us down the stretch,” Reed said. “Having depth at all positions, I feel like that’s the main thing and I feel like we have huge depth.” Reed knows Collins is far from the only reserve player who has been effective for Tom Allen’s defense this season. Heading into Saturday’s Big Ten championship game against No. 1 Oregon in Indianapolis, Penn State has used 39 players on a defense that ranks seventh nationally against the run and pass. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions are fourth overall in total defense (266.8 yards) and sixth in scoring defense (14 points) entering the showdown with the Ducks' 15th-ranked offense with a College Football Playoff first-round bye at stake. It’s not just the starting 11 getting it done. Since mid-October, Penn State has regularly rotated at least nine defensive linemen, six linebackers and nine defensive backs early and midway through games. As a result, seven players have snagged their first interceptions this season, while five others have recorded their first sacks. “We believe in everybody coming in behind us,” linebacker Tony Rojas said. “Our defense, we know what we’re capable of and I feel like our defense is top tier, if not the best.” It technically hasn’t been at full strength since Week 2 of the season. Then, star safety KJ Winston was lost to an unspecified long-term injury. He tried to play at Wisconsin on Oct. 26, but hasn’t seen action since. In the meantime, Winston’s absence has allowed Allen and head coach James Franklin to get a good look at Collins and other young backend players like Eliot Washington, Zion Tracy and Dejuan Lane. Tracy and Lane have seen their snap counts go up since November, and both have interceptions since. The Nittany Lions haven’t been immune to injuries up front, either. Star end Dani Dennis-Sutton was limited midway through the season by an unspecified ailment. Before last weekend’s game against Maryland, Penn State listed defensive tackles Alonzo Ford and Kaleb Artis and defensive end Zuriah Fisher out with injuries. While not near 100% healthy, Dennis-Sutton continued to suit up, but yielded reps to Amin Vanover and Smith Vilbert. Vanover and Vilbert are seniors who were slowed over the years by injuries but have stuck around, and are now shoring up the team’s depth. “I think getting Dani back healthy, that’s been important,” Franklin said. “I think this was his first game back where he was really healthy, Abdul (Carter) the second half of the season, has gotten very comfortable playing defensive end. We’ve been able to rotate and get production out of guys like Amin as well, so I think all those things have been really important.” So is the fact that Penn State’s defense has continued to close out games. The Nittany Lions have allowed just 445 yards on 125 third-quarter plays this season. Meanwhile, they’ve outscored opponents 192-55 in the second half and overtime and held 19 of their last 22 Big Ten opponents to fewer that 100 rushing yards. Like Reed, senior Dvon J-Thomas spent much of the second half against Maryland cheering on his freshman teammates. Notably, tackle Ty Blanding who had his first career tackle for loss in his first defensive series. “I’ve seen a tremendous leap in their attention to detail,” J-Thomas said. “There’s not a lot of moments or times in your career where you’ll have an opportunity like this and I think they realize that." Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
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NEW YORK — Major stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market. The Standard & Poor’s 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1%, after wavering between tiny gains and losses most of the day. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first after three straight weekly gains. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%, ending just below the record high it set on Wednesday. There were more than twice as many decliners as gainers on the New York Stock Exchange. Gains in technology stocks helped temper losses in communication services, financials and other sectors of the market. Broadcom surged 24.4% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend. The company’s big gain helped cushion the market’s broader fall. Pricey stock values for technology companies like Broadcom give the sector more weight in pushing the market higher or lower. Artificial intelligence technology has been a focal point for the tech sector and the overall stock market over the last year. Tech companies, and Wall Street, expect demand for AI to continue driving growth for semiconductor and other tech companies. Some tech stocks were a drag on the market. Nvidia fell 2.2%, Meta Platforms dropped 1.7% and Google parent Alphabet slid 1.1%. Among the market’s other decliners were Airbnb, which fell 4.7% for the biggest loss in the S&P 500, and Charles Schwab, which closed 4% lower. Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 17% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year. All told, the S&P 500 lost 0.16 points to close at 6,051.09. The Dow dropped 86.06 points to 43,828.06. The Nasdaq rose 23.88 points to 19,926.72. Wall Street’s rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve’s last meeting of the year. The central bank will meet next week and is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September. Expectations of rate cuts have driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year. The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate after an aggressive rate hiking stint that was meant to tame inflation. It raised rates from near zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Under pressure from higher interest rates, inflation eased nearly to the central bank’s 2% target. The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed’s policy. Inflation rates have been warming up slightly over the last few months. A report on consumer prices this week showed an increase to 2.7% in November from 2.6% in October. The Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released next week. Wall Street expects it to show a 2.5% rise in November, up from 2.3% in October. The economy, though, remains solid heading into 2025 as consumers continue spending and employment remains healthy, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “Still, the outlook is clouded by unusually high uncertainty surrounding regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy,” he said. Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.40% from 4.34% late Thursday. European markets slipped. Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. Britain’s economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% month to month in October, after a 0.1% decline in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Asian markets closed mostly lower. Troise and Veiga write for the Associated Press.
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OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party is ready to introduce motions as early as today that would help the Liberals pass legislation to create their promised GST holiday but only if they separate it from their parallel promise to send $250 cheques to working Canadians. Singh said his party would open the procedural "gates" including motions to extend the sitting hours of the House of Commons to debate and pass the legislation in time for it take effect as promised on Dec. 14. Last week, the Liberals brought forward a plan to pause the GST on items like premade grocery items, beer and wine, toys and other holiday staples. The pause would last for two months. Singh says the NDP supports this idea, but oppose the associated $250 working Canadians benefit that is supposed to be mailed in the spring to anyone who earned an income up to $150,000 last year. Singh wants the benefit expanded to include non-working seniors and people who rely on disability benefits who did not have a working income in 2023. The Liberals have put the GST and benefit cheque bill on notice in the House of Commons but have been unable to introduce it because of an ongoing filibuster by the Conservatives over an unrelated matter of privilege. A Conservative motion demanding the government turn over unredacted documents to the RCMP on a green technology fund has been debated since late September, preventing any bills or other motions from being introduced or debated. The Conservatives insist that debate will continue until the documents are given to the RCMP or the NDP join them and the Bloc Québécois to vote non confidence in the government. At least two parties would need to support a motion to end or pause that debate. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that both the GST holiday and the $250 cheques are aimed at helping people struggling with the cost of living. The rebate as planned would be issued to an estimated 18 million Canadians in the spring and cost around $4.7 billion. The government has issued notice of the legislation but hasn't introduced it in the House yet. It also has put on notice a motion calling for debate on the bill, when it is introduced, to be limited to one 10-minute speech per party, and undergo just one vote for all the required stages of debate. Some Liberal MPs said Wednesday they think their government should consider expanding the eligibility for the benefit cheques. After the Liberal caucus meeting Seniors Minister Steven MacKinnon said the government has created a number of benefits to help low-income seniors. But Milton MP Adam van Koeverden said he wants to see more ambition in helping seniors and Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski said if the government can afford to include seniors in the payments it absolutely should. The Bloc Québécois is also calling on the government to offer the rebate to seniors who are fully retired. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called the measure a "tiny, two month tax trick" and says if Trudeau cared about affordability he'd get rid of the carbon tax. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. David Baxter, The Canadian PressTeam India will have their task cut out when they come on day three of the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). After a chaotic final hour on day two at the iconic venue that saw India lose three wickets, a lot relies on Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, especially with the tourists still trailing by 310 runs. Australia, meanwhile, will hope to continue to plot India's slide in this game and have the runs to play with as well. Steve Smith's classy 140 combined with the top three scoring half-centuries put the hosts in the box seat. With cloud cover also expected in Melbourne on day three, the home side's bowling unit should enjoy bowling.
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