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big fish casino real money Topline President-elect Donald Trump’s popularity has reached a seven-year high and the majority of Americans approve of his handling of the transition process — even though he's still less popular than former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were at this point in their transitions. Key Facts Contra Confidence in Trump to appoint the best people to his administration has declined to 26% compared to 32% in 2016, with fewer Republicans (56% versus 72%) and independents (18% versus 26%) expressing deep confidence in Trump to appoint the best people. Big Number 68%. That’s the share of Americans who disapprove of Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, on federal tax and gun charges earlier this month. Biden made the surprise decision after repeatedly saying he had no plans to pardon his son. Key Background The poll is consistent with a November CBS/YouGov survey that also found the majority of respondents (59%) approve of Trump’s handling of the transition process. Trump has announced new appointments to his administration nearly every day since Nov. 7, starting with his campaign manager Susie Wiles as chief of staff. Several controversial appointees face uncertain futures in the Senate confirmation process, particularly Trump’s choice for Defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth , who has faced allegations of concerning drinking habits and was accused of sexual assault in 2017 (which he has denied). Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz , R-Fla., bowed out of the process amid a sexual misconduct scandal as it became clear he may not have the votes to pass Senate muster. Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to replace Gaetz. Further Reading Most Americans Approve Of Trump Transition—As Controversial RFK Jr. Gets High Marks, Poll Finds (Forbes) Trump’s Cabinet And Key Jobs: Kimberly Guilfoyle, Jacob Helberg And Andrew Ferguson Are Latest Picks (Forbes) Hegseth Cabinet Nomination: Hegseth Lauds Women In Military—After Previously Saying They Shouldn’t Serve In Combat (Forbes)Teaching Strategies listed to GSV 150 for fifth consecutive year; one of six early childhood companies to earn a spot for 2025 WASHINGTON , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teaching Strategies, the country's leading developer of early childhood curriculum, assessment, professional learning, and family engagement solutions, has been named to the GSV 150, an annual list of the top 150 private companies transforming digital learning and workforce skills, for the fifth year in a row. Selected from over 2,500 private education technology companies, Teaching Strategies is one of six early childhood education companies to receive the recognition. "We're honored to again be recognized by GSV, and alongside these transformative companies, for leading the field in digital solutions that support early childhood educators, young learners and their families," said Teaching Strategies CEO John Olsen . "This recognition is a great way to close 2024–a year defined by innovations to our early childhood curricula , by improvements to our learning assessments , and by an expansion of professional development opportunities for our hardworking educators—and we look forward to 2025." "The rapid rise of generative AI is fueling knowledge and creating opportunities we had not imagined before," says Luben Pampoulov, Partner at GSV Ventures. "Multi-modality is making education more engaging, AI tools are driving personalization and productivity, and learning is happening at the speed of light. Effectively everyone across the 2025 GSV 150 has generative AI deeply embedded in their offering." To arrive at its listing, GSV evaluated venture capital and private equity-backed private for-profit companies using their proprietary rubric of revenue scale, revenue growth, user reach, geographic diversification, and margin profile. The selected companies are collectively reaching approximately 3 billion learners and generating $25 billion in annual revenue. By sector, 48% of the 2025 GSV 150 are K-12 companies, followed by 46% workforce learning, 31% higher education, 12% adult consumer learning, and 4% early childhood. A quarter of the companies stretch across multiple "PreK to Gray" sectors. See the full GSV 150 list. Many of the companies will attend the ASU+GSV Summit April 6-9 in San Diego . About Teaching Strategies Teaching Strategies ® is the leading provider of early childhood curriculum, assessment, professional development, and family engagement solutions. Its products, including the most widely used curriculum and assessment solutions, The Creative Curriculum ® and GOLD ® , reach over 4 million children each year in more than 80 countries around the world. A trusted partner and advocate for the early education community for 45 years, today Teaching Strategies connects teachers, children and families to inspired teaching and learning experiences, insightful data, stronger family partnerships, and robust professional learning through SmartTeachTM, the leading early learning platform. Learn more at www.teachingstrategies.com . A bout GSV Founded in 2011, GSV is a global platform that drives education and workforce skills innovation. Our mission is that ALL people have equal access to the future, and we believe that scaled innovations in " PreK to Gray" learning and skills are crucial to achieving this goal. The GSV platform includes the ASU + GSV Summit, hosted annually in San Diego with 7,000+ attendees; the India -based ASU + GSV & Emeritus Summit, now entering its third year; and The AI Show @ ASU + GSV , an immersive exploration of the AI Revolution in education, which welcomed 10,000+ attendees this year. GSV Ventures, GSV's investment arm founded in 2015, is a multi-stage venture fund investing in the most transformational companies across the global " PreK to Gray" landscape. SOURCE Teaching StrategiesTrump brings back government by social media

By Jasper Ward and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department may need to take "extraordinary measures" by as early as Jan. 14 to prevent the United States from defaulting on its debt, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told lawmakers in a letter on Friday. Yellen urged lawmakers in the U.S. Congress to act "to protect the full faith and credit of the United States." U.S. debt is expected to decrease by about $54 billion on Jan. 2 "due to a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund associated with Medicare payments," she added. She said: "Treasury currently expects to reach the new limit between January 14 and January 23, at which time it will be necessary for Treasury to start taking extraordinary measures." Under a 2023 budget deal, Congress suspended the debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025. The U.S. Treasury will be able to pay its bills for several more months, but Congress will have to address the issue at some point next year. Failure to act could prevent the Treasury from paying its debts. A U.S. debt default would likely have severe economic consequences. A debt limit is a cap set by Congress on how much money the U.S. government can borrow. Because the government spends more money than it collects in tax revenue, lawmakers need to periodically tackle the issue -- a politically difficult task, as many are reluctant to vote for more debt. Congress set the first debt limit of $45 billion in 1939, and has had to raise that limit 103 times since, as spending has consistently outrun tax revenue. Publicly held debt was 98% of U.S. gross domestic product as of October, compared with 32% in October 2001. (Reporting by Jasper Ward and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Chris Reese and Rosalba O'Brien)

ATLANTA , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties Incorporated (the "Company" or "Cousins") (NYSE:CUZ) announced today that its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP (the "Operating Partnership"), has priced an offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2032 at 99.463% of the principal amount. The offering is expected to close on December 17, 2024 , subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Cousins intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the purchase price of 601 West 2nd Street, also known as Sail Tower, an 804,000 square foot trophy lifestyle office property in Austin (the "Sail Tower Acquisition"), and the remainder to repay borrowings under its credit facility and for general corporate purposes. In the event the Sail Tower Acquisition is not completed, Cousins will use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition and development of office properties, other opportunistic investments and the repayment of debt. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company. J.P. Morgan, Truist Securities, US Bancorp, BofA Securities, Morgan Stanley, PNC Capital Markets LLC, TD Securities and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers. A shelf registration statement relating to these securities is effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York , 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, 3rd Floor, telephone collect at 1-212-834-4533; Truist Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 303 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308, telephone: 800-685-4786, or e-mail: TruistSecurities.prospectus@Truist.com ; or U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Attention: High Grade Syndicate, 214 North Tryon Street, 26th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202, or by telephone at: (877) 558-2607. Electronic copies of these documents are also available from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov . This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the notes, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About Cousins Properties Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust ("REIT"). The Company, based in Atlanta, GA and acting through the Operating Partnership, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments. Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risks, as itemized in Item 1A included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 . These forward-looking statements include information about the Company's possible or assumed future results of the business and the Company's financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives. They also include, among other things, statements regarding subjects that are forward-looking by their nature, such as: guidance and underlying assumptions; business and financial strategy; future debt financings; future acquisitions and dispositions of operating assets or joint venture interests; future acquisitions and dispositions of land, including ground leases; future acquisitions of investments in real estate debt; future development and redevelopment opportunities; future issuances and repurchases of common stock, limited partnership units, or preferred stock; future distributions; projected capital expenditures; market and industry trends; future occupancy or volume and velocity of leasing activity; entry into new markets, changes in existing market concentrations, or exits from existing markets; future changes in interest rates and liquidity of capital markets; and all statements that address operating performance, events, investments, or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance, taking into account information that is currently available. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations may change as a result of possible events or factors, not all of which are known. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements due to, but not limited to, the following: the availability and terms of capital and our ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements on terms favorable to us or at all; the ability to refinance or repay indebtedness as it matures; any changes to our credit rating; the failure of purchase, sale, or other contracts to ultimately close; the failure to achieve anticipated benefits from acquisitions, developments, investments, or dispositions; the effect of common stock or operating partnership unit issuances, including those undertaken on a forward basis, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock; the availability of buyers and pricing with respect to the disposition of assets; changes in national and local economic conditions, the real estate industry, and the commercial real estate markets in which we operate (including supply and demand changes), particularly in Atlanta , Austin , Tampa , Charlotte , Phoenix , Dallas , and Nashville , including the impact of high unemployment, volatility in the public equity and debt markets, and international economic and other conditions; threatened terrorist attacks or sociopolitical unrest such as political instability, civil unrest, armed hostilities, or political activism, which may result in a disruption of day-to-day building operations; changes to our strategy in regard to our real estate assets may require impairment to be recognized; leasing risks, including the ability to obtain new tenants or renew expiring tenants, the ability to lease newly-developed and/or recently acquired space, the failure of a tenant to commence or complete tenant improvements on schedule or to occupy leased space, and the risk of declining leasing rates; changes in the preferences of our tenants brought about by the desire for co-working arrangements, trends toward utilizing less office space per employee, and the effect of employees working remotely; any adverse change in the financial condition or liquidity of one or more of our tenants or borrowers under our real estate debt investments; volatility in interest rates (including the impact upon the effectiveness of forward interest rate contract arrangements) and insurance rates; inflation; competition from other developers or investors; the risks associated with real estate developments (such as zoning approval, receipt of required permits, construction delays, cost overruns, and leasing risk); supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and increased construction costs; risks associated with security breaches through cyberattacks, cyber intrusions or otherwise, as well as other significant disruptions of our information technology networks and related systems, which support our operations and our buildings; changes in senior management, changes in the Company's board of directors, and the loss of key personnel; the potential liability for uninsured losses, condemnation, or environmental issues; the potential liability for a failure to meet regulatory requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws or the impact of any investigation regarding the same; the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, joint venture partners; any failure to comply with debt covenants under debt instruments and credit agreements; any failure to continue to qualify for taxation as a real estate investment trust or meet regulatory requirements; potential changes to state, local, or federal regulations applicable to our business; material changes in dividend rates on common shares or other securities or the ability to pay those dividends; potential changes to the tax laws impacting real estate investment trusts and real estate in general; risks associated with climate change and severe weather events, as well as the regulatory efforts intended to reduce the effects of climate changes and investor and public perception of our efforts to respond to the same; the impact of newly adopted accounting principles on our accounting policies and on period-to-period comparisons of financial results; risks associated with possible federal, state, local, or property tax audits; and those additional risks and environmental or other factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company cannot guarantee the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, and the Company does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts Roni Imbeaux Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations 404-407-1104 rimbeaux@cousins.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cousins-properties-announces-pricing-of-senior-notes-offering-302330787.html SOURCE Cousins Properties

Bake Off fans divided as very first Welsh winner is crowned despite thinking it was 'game over'Qatar Social Work Foundation (QSWF), which is affiliated with the Ministry of Social Development and Family, and its centres -- Shafallah Center, Aman Center, and Al Noor Center -- participated in the fourth edition of the Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination, held in Barcelona, Spain, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, and Unesco. This annual forum serves as an important platform that brings together representatives from governments, municipalities, civil society organizations, and academic circles to discuss prominent issues and exchange the best solutions to strengthen the global movement against racism and discrimination. The fourth edition of the forum focused on key issues, including combating racism, empowering women, and empowering people with disabilities, while enhancing the exchange of experiences between civil society organizations, which contributes to the development of effective policies to combat discrimination at both the local and global levels. The participation of the Qatar Social Work Foundation is part of its commitment to combating discrimination and promoting equality in society, making it a fundamental pillar in supporting the social sector in Qatar. The foundation also seeks to strengthen institutional partnerships with relevant international organizations as part of achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to build an interconnected society that ensures the well-being of all its members and enhances social solidarity values, with a focus on sustainable human and social development in all areas. Related Story Darb Al Saai a place to enjoy Qatari traditions

Minutes after the University of North Carolina announced it had hired Bill Belichick as its next head football coach, the Tar Heels’ Instagram account posted a photo of the legendary NFL coach — at no more than 3 years old — sitting in the UNC bleachers. “Welcome home, Coach,” the post reads , dredging up the memory of when the young Belichick shadowed his father, Steve, who was a UNC assistant from 1953 to 1955. As news of his hiring spread around the NFL world, the reaction ranged from excitement at seeing him back on the sideline to disbelief. The most decorated coach in NFL history after earning six Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots, and two more as the defensive coordinator with the New York Giants, Belichick is officially making his next challenge college football after agreeing to a five-year deal with UNC. “I will have to see him on the sideline to believe that’s happening,” Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury joked Thursday. “We’ll see how the NFL job search goes and all that. I will have to see him on the sideline coaching in Chapel Hill to believe that’s happening." While Belichick’s knowledge of the sport, and his success, are unquestioned, there has been debate among those who have played for the 72-year-old coach during his 40-plus years in football about how well his style will translate to the college game. Some of his former players believe his skill set will work at any level. That list apparently includes Tom Brady, the quarterback during all six of Belichick’s Super Bowl wins with New England. “Congrats, coach. The Tar Heel way is about to become a thing,” Brady posted on Instagram on Thursday, referencing “The Patriot Way” that he popularized in New England. Some cautioned that the players he brings into the UNC program should prepare to have their limits tested like never before. “I think he’s going to do good,” said Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne, who played under Belichick during his final three years in New England. “Bill does a good job of developing players, developing young men. I think it will be a challenge for the young man. He’s a tough coach, which we all know. But I think it will be good for certain players that have the right mindset.” Bourne's advice? Always stay locked in mentally. “Just stay tough,” Bourne said. “Have a gritty mindset because it’s not going to be easy, but in the end, it’s going to be worth it." Though some have questioned why the Tar Heels would even consider hiring Belichick after parting ways with 73-year-old Mack Brown this season, current Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said good coaching is ageless. “To me, it doesn’t matter if you’re a young man or a 10-year vet in the league, he’s a great teacher,” said Mayo, who played eight seasons under Belichick, winning a Super Bowl during the 2014 season, and then succeeded him as head coach after last season. "I wish him nothing but the best. It doesn’t really matter what level, I think he’ll be successful.” NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is a relative newcomer to the college game himself. He spent three seasons at Jackson State before going to Colorado in 2023. In a message posted to the X social media platform, he welcomed Belichick as a competitor. “Coach Bill Belichick is a coaches coach to all us Coaches along with my man coach (NIck) Saban,” Sanders posted. “They’re game changers and they know how to move people forward. I know this is a great thing for College Football & for North Carolina. God bless u Coach, if you’re happy I am 2.” But former Patriots defensive back Je’Rod Cherry wonders how well Belichick’s old-school coaching style will be received in an era in which in-your-face methods don't always fly as well as they did when Belichick began his career. “You can’t coach hard anymore,” Cherry said during an appearance on ESPN GameNight. “You can’t yell at guys, curse at guys and that’s what he does. You are going to have to find guys who are going to accept that brand of coaching and will accept someone constantly getting on them." New York Jets safety Jalen Mills, who played for Belichick with the Patriots from 2021 to 2023, said he was surprised by the news. “I thought he definitely was going to try to wait it out until after the season and come back to the NFL,” Mills said. "But I think it’s gonna be a good thing for him because now you get a guy who has won and, of course, he’s going to try to turn that program around. But he also gets to connect with the younger generation and kind of modify and adjust to this younger generation of football on top of what he already knows. So I think that’ll just help him as far as coaching. And then, of course, he’ll give those guys, those young guys, structure as far as what the NFL looks like, too.” Just how much the Belichick on the college sidelines will resemble the one in the cutoff hooded sweatshirt who patrolled NFL sidelines is unclear. Belichick hinted they will be one and the same. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN prior to agreeing to the UNC job, Belichick laid out what his approach at the college level would be. “The program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players than have the ability to play in the NFL,” Belichick said. “It would be a professional program — training, nutrition, scheme, coaching, techniques — that would transfer to the NFL. It would be an NFL program at a college level.” AP National Writer Howard Fendrich and Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflCardinals' feel-good month comes to a screeching halt after a head-scratching loss to SeahawksDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kobe Magee had 23 points in Drexel's 83-71 win against Chicago State on Tuesday. Magee had nine rebounds for the Dragons (5-3). Yame Butler shot 6 of 10 from the field and 8 for 11 from the line to add 20 points. Cole Hargrove went 5 of 7 from the field to finish with 10 points. Troy McCoy finished with 19 points and six rebounds for the Cougars (0-8). Jalen Forrest added 14 points for Chicago State. Matthew Robinson finished with 10 points and two steals. Jason Drake led Drexel in scoring with eight points in the first half to help put them up 35-28 at the break. Magee scored 16 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Houston Rockets at Timberwolves Tuesday, 7 p.m., Target Center TV, radio: FanDuel Sports North, iHeartRadio app This is the third game for both teams in the Emirates Cup in-season tournament. Houston leads West Group A with a 2-0 record and a +49 point differential after beating the Clippers (0-2) and Trail Blazers (1-1). The Wolves are 1-1 and -14 with a victory over Sacramento and a loss to Portland. The Wolves’ final game in round robin play is Friday at home against the Clippers. Rockets update: They are 12-6 and one game out of the Western Conference lead. G Jalen Green (18.7) and C Alperen Sengun (18.3) lead Houston in scoring a season after the Rockets finished 41-41 and missed the playoffs. Wolves update: They are 8-8 and 11th in the Western Conference after road losses to Toronto and Boston. G Anthony Edwards leads the NBA in three-pointers (78) and is shooting 43.8% behind the arc. Injury report: Houston C Steven Adams (knee) is probable. Wolves G Mike Conley (toe) is questionable.

Minutes after the University of North Carolina announced it had hired Bill Belichick as its next head football coach, the Tar Heels’ Instagram account posted a photo of the legendary NFL coach — at no more than 3 years old — sitting in the UNC bleachers. “Welcome home, Coach,” the post reads , dredging up the memory of when the young Belichick shadowed his father, Steve, who was a UNC assistant from 1953 to 1955. As news of his hiring spread around the NFL world, the reaction ranged from excitement at seeing him back on the sideline to disbelief. The most decorated coach in NFL history after earning six Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots, and two more as the defensive coordinator with the New York Giants, Belichick is officially making his next challenge college football after agreeing to a five-year deal with UNC. “I will have to see him on the sideline to believe that’s happening,” Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury joked Thursday. “We’ll see how the NFL job search goes and all that. I will have to see him on the sideline coaching in Chapel Hill to believe that’s happening." While Belichick’s knowledge of the sport, and his success, are unquestioned, there has been debate among those who have played for the 72-year-old coach during his 40-plus years in football about how well his style will translate to the college game. Some of his former players believe his skill set will work at any level. That list apparently includes Tom Brady, the quarterback during all six of Belichick’s Super Bowl wins with New England. “Congrats, coach. The Tar Heel way is about to become a thing,” Brady posted on Instagram on Thursday, referencing “The Patriot Way” that he popularized in New England. Some cautioned that the players he brings into the UNC program should prepare to have their limits tested like never before. “I think he’s going to do good,” said Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne, who played under Belichick during his final three years in New England. “Bill does a good job of developing players, developing young men. I think it will be a challenge for the young man. He’s a tough coach, which we all know. But I think it will be good for certain players that have the right mindset.” Bourne's advice? Always stay locked in mentally. “Just stay tough,” Bourne said. “Have a gritty mindset because it’s not going to be easy, but in the end, it’s going to be worth it." Though some have questioned why the Tar Heels would even consider hiring Belichick after parting ways with 73-year-old Mack Brown this season, current Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said good coaching is ageless. “To me, it doesn’t matter if you’re a young man or a 10-year vet in the league, he’s a great teacher,” said Mayo, who played eight seasons under Belichick, winning a Super Bowl during the 2014 season, and then succeeded him as head coach after last season. "I wish him nothing but the best. It doesn’t really matter what level, I think he’ll be successful.” NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is a relative newcomer to the college game himself. He spent three seasons at Jackson State before going to Colorado in 2023. In a message posted to the X social media platform, he welcomed Belichick as a competitor. “Coach Bill Belichick is a coaches coach to all us Coaches along with my man coach (NIck) Saban,” Sanders posted. “They’re game changers and they know how to move people forward. I know this is a great thing for College Football & for North Carolina. God bless u Coach, if you’re happy I am 2.” But former Patriots defensive back Je’Rod Cherry wonders how well Belichick’s old-school coaching style will be received in an era in which in-your-face methods don't always fly as well as they did when Belichick began his career. “You can’t coach hard anymore,” Cherry said during an appearance on ESPN GameNight. “You can’t yell at guys, curse at guys and that’s what he does. You are going to have to find guys who are going to accept that brand of coaching and will accept someone constantly getting on them." New York Jets safety Jalen Mills, who played for Belichick with the Patriots from 2021 to 2023, said he was surprised by the news. “I thought he definitely was going to try to wait it out until after the season and come back to the NFL,” Mills said. "But I think it’s gonna be a good thing for him because now you get a guy who has won and, of course, he’s going to try to turn that program around. But he also gets to connect with the younger generation and kind of modify and adjust to this younger generation of football on top of what he already knows. So I think that’ll just help him as far as coaching. And then, of course, he’ll give those guys, those young guys, structure as far as what the NFL looks like, too.” Just how much the Belichick on the college sidelines will resemble the one in the cutoff hooded sweatshirt who patrolled NFL sidelines is unclear. Belichick hinted they will be one and the same. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN prior to agreeing to the UNC job, Belichick laid out what his approach at the college level would be. “The program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players than have the ability to play in the NFL,” Belichick said. “It would be a professional program — training, nutrition, scheme, coaching, techniques — that would transfer to the NFL. It would be an NFL program at a college level.” ___ AP National Writer Howard Fendrich and Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Kyle Hightower, The Associated Press

While Nick Pivetta never blossomed into the frontline starter many hoped he could become, he has been a solid and reliable contributor for the Boston Red Sox over the past four seasons. In 623 innings between 2021-24, Pivetta has pitched to a 4.33 ERA with a 26.9% strikeout rate and 7.7 FanGraphs WAR. He’s not a flashy name, but every team needs guys who can pitch bulk innings with an ERA close to league average. Pivetta can be that guy. However, there is one thing that could scare off potential suitors for Pivetta, and it has nothing to do with his arm. The right-hander received and rejected a qualifying offer from the Red Sox at the beginning of the offseason. That means whichever team signs him will have to forfeit at least one pick in next year’s draft, and possibly international bonus pool money as well. It’s easy for a team to justify such a sacrifice when it comes to a game-changing talent like Juan Soto or Max Fried. For Pivetta, however, it could significantly reduce his earning potential. Nonetheless, a dependable starter like Pivetta will ultimately find a home, even if he has to settle for fewer years or less money than he could have earned without the QO attached. Here are five potential landing spots for Nick Pivetta. New York Mets The Mets have already signed Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes to join their rotation in 2025, but rumor has it they aren’t done adding. Earlier this month, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic linked the Mets to several starting pitchers, including Pivetta. New York has plenty of question marks in the rotation right now. Kodai Senga missed almost all of 2024 with injury. Paul Blackburn and David Peterson dealt with injuries last year, too, and neither has ever pitched a full, qualified season. Meanwhile, Holmes hasn’t started an MLB game since 2018. A high-floor signing like Pivetta could be just what the Mets need. Moreover, if any team isn’t afraid of the qualifying offer penalties, it’s the Mets. That’s especially true this offseason. While they will be penalized for signing Soto, they could also earn three compensation picks for losing QO free agents. They’ll get one bonus pick because Luis Severino signed with the A’s, and they could get two more if Pete Alonso and Sean Manaea also sign elsewhere. Boston Red Sox Despite pulling off a blockbuster trade for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox are still in the market for starting pitching . While they haven’t publicly expressed interest in a reunion with Pivetta, there is reason to believe they’d be open to the idea. After all, they did extend him a qualifying offer knowing there was a very good chance he might accept. On that note, the Red Sox are also the only team that wouldn’t have to sacrifice a draft pick to sign Pivetta. In that regard, Pivetta is more valuable to Boston than any other club. Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Pivetta seemed to like pitching for the Red Sox. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive , the righty “thoroughly enjoyed his time in Boston and on an emotional level, would love to return.” Presumably, Pivetta will follow the money this offseason. Still, it’s not for nothing that there seems to be a good relationship between the free agent and his former club. San Francisco Giants While the Giants currently seem to be focusing all their efforts on Corbin Burnes, they’ll need a fallback option if the 2021 NL Cy Young winner signs elsewhere. Indeed, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area writes that the Giants are “likely to add a veteran starting pitcher” even if they don’t land Burnes. Do you know who’s a veteran starting pitcher? Nick Pivetta. The Giants are another team with lots of question marks in the rotation after ace Logan Webb. Robbie Ray has been injured for most of the last two years. Jordan Hicks is still a work in progress as he transitions into a full-time starter. Young arms like Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong are promising but unproven. Pivetta would bring some much-needed stability to that group. What’s more, the Giants seem pretty eager to spend this offseason in hopes of contending in 2025. They probably won’t be too deterred by Pivetta’s qualifying offer. Toronto Blue Jays The Blue Jays are another team in hot pursuit of Burnes. If they miss out on yet another star free agent, they might just start throwing money around to see where it sticks. Pivetta isn’t the flashy upgrade the Blue Jays are desperately seeking, but if they can’t land that flashy upgrade, they still need to make additions. Pivetta would raise the floor for the Blue Jays rotation in 2025. It’s also worth mentioning that Pivetta is Canadian. Not only could that make him more appealing to the Blue Jays, but it might also make him more attainable. It often seems as if the Blue Jays miss out on top free agents because those guys simply don’t want to move to another country. That probably wouldn’t be an issue for this free agent. Cincinnati Reds To be perfectly honest, I don’t really see the fit here. At the same time, I can’t ignore the reports. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post , the Reds have expressed interest in signing Pivetta. That’s enough to earn them a spot on this list. It’s not that the Reds couldn’t use another reliable starting pitcher. They absolutely could. The only pitcher on their staff who has ever pitched a qualified season is Brady Singer, who did so for the first time in 2024. Yet, this team has far more to worry about on the other side of the ball. Despite playing in a hitter-friendly home stadium, the Reds ranked 16th in runs scored last season. According to wRC+, their hitters were 13% worse than league average. One would think they’d prefer to focus their financial resources on the offense. This article first appeared on Just Baseball and was syndicated with permission.10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania Trump

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Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) is aware of a document prepared in Russia forecasting the development of the military-political situation in the world until 2045, which includes a plan to divide the Ukrainian territory into three parts. Source: Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Head of DIU, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "The first thing is that DIU is aware of this document... I will say more, this document was prepared by the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces around December last year. This document serves as the basis for long-term defence plans for a certain period – at least 10 years. Specifically, this document was developed for 2026-2035 with a perspective until 2045." Details: Skibitskyi added that the document addresses the further development of the situation at the global and regional scale, and the threats that Russia sees for itself. He also emphasised that in order to have a powerful economic, demographic, territorial and military potential, Putin needs all of Ukraine. Quote: "Regarding the possible division of Ukraine. Undoubtedly, Russia's strategic goal remains the complete occupation of our country... And this scenario of further development with a possible division of the territory is relevant, not even for 2035-45. It will already be relevant in the near future, in 2026, and maybe even earlier. You have heard Putin's statements about Ukrainian territories. He is already saying that Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Crimea are allegedly Russian territories according to their Constitution." Support UP or become our patron !Quanex: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2024-- On December 10, 2024, Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II (the “Company”) received a letter from the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American” or the “Exchange”) stating that the staff of NYSE Regulation has determined to commence proceedings to delist the Company’s class A common stock, units, and redeemable warrants (collectively, the “Company Securities”), pursuant to Sections 119(b) and 119(f) of the NYSE American Company Guide because the Company failed to consummate a business combination within 36 months of the effectiveness of its initial public offering registration statement, or such shorter period that the Company specified in its registration statement. As a result of the determination, trading of the Company Securities on NYSE American has been suspended. As indicated in the letter from NYSE American, the Company has a right to a review of the delisting determination by the Listings Qualifications Panel of the Committee for Review of the Board of Directors of the Exchange, provided that the Company submits a written request for such review no later than December 17, 2024. The Company is working towards consummating its previously announced business combination with Ace Green Recycling, Inc. If the Company Securities are delisted from NYSE American, the Company intends to seek a listing of the Company Securities on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC in connection with the consummation of the Company’s proposed initial business combination. About Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE American: ATEK.U, ATEK, ATEK WS), incorporated in Delaware, is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. ATEK is the third SPAC founded by Isabelle Freidheim, who also serves as its Chief Executive Officer, with Kirthiga Reddy as President and Jennifer Calabrese as Chief Financial Officer. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release are not historical facts but may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the “safe harbor” provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” “intend,” or continue or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology or expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on the current expectations of the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s ability to consummate its previously announced business combination and to list the Company Securities on Nasdaq in connection with the consummation of the proposed business combination. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general economic, political and business conditions; the number of redemption requests made by the Company’s stockholders in connection with a potential business combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company; the risk that the approval of the Company’s stockholders for a potential transaction is not obtained; expectations related to the timing of a potential business combination; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of a business combination; the risk that a business combination may not be completed by the Company’s business combination deadline; costs related to a business combination; and other risks that will be detailed from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on September 27, 2024 and in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. There may be additional risks that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in these forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements provide the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. And while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Nothing herein should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that the results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213050198/en/ CONTACT: Bevel PR Athena@bevelpr.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/13/2024 03:56 PM/DISC: 12/13/2024 03:57 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213050198/en3 reasons to involve your kids in Small Business Saturday

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Monday dismissed the federal criminal case accusing Donald Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat after prosecutors moved to drop that prosecution and a second case against the president-elect, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. The order from U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan puts an end to the federal effort to hold Trump criminally responsible for his attempts to hold onto power after losing the 2020 election, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters. The move came after Special Counsel Jack Smith, the lead prosecutor overseeing both cases, moved to dismiss the election case and end his attempt to revive a separate case accusing Trump of illegally retaining classified documents when he left office in 2021 after his first term as president. It represents a big legal victory for the Republican president-elect, who won the Nov. 5 U.S. election and is set to return to office on Jan. 20. The Justice Department policy that the prosecutors cited dates back to the 1970s. It holds that a criminal prosecution of a sitting president would violate the U.S. Constitution by undermining the ability of the country's chief executive to function. Courts will still have to approve both requests from prosecutors. The prosecutors in a filing in the election subversion case said the department's policy requires the case to be dismissed before Trump returns to the White House. "This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant," prosecutors wrote in the filing. Prosecutors in the documents case signaled they will still ask a federal appeals court to bring back the case against two Trump associates who had been accused of obstructing that investigation. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung hailed what he called "a major victory for the rule of law." Trump had faced criminal charges in four cases - the two brought by Smith and two in state courts in New York and Georgia. He was convicted in the New York case while the Georgia case, which also relates to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, is in limbo. In a post on social media, Trump railed on Monday against the legal cases as a "low point in the History of our Country." The moves by Smith, who was appointed in 2022 by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, represents a remarkable shift from the special prosecutor who obtained indictments against Trump in two separate cases accusing him of crimes that threatened U.S. election integrity and national security. Prosecutors acknowledged that the election of a president who faced ongoing criminal cases created an unprecedented predicament for the Justice Department. Chutkan left open the possibility that prosecutors could seek to charge Trump again after he leaves office, but prosecutors would likely face challenges bringing a case so long after conduct involved in the case happened. Trump pleaded not guilty in August 2023 to four federal charges accusing him of conspiring to obstruct the collection and certification of votes following his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump, who as president will again oversee the Justice Department, was expected to order an end to the federal 2020 election case and to Smith's appeal in the documents case. Florida-based Judge Aileen Cannon, who Trump appointed to the federal bench, had dismissed the classified documents case in July, ruling that Smith was improperly appointed to his role as special counsel. Smith's office had been appealing that ruling and indicated on Monday that the appeal would continue as it relates to Trump personal aide Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, a manager at his Mar-a-Lago resort, who had been previously charged alongside Trump in the case. Both Nauta and De Oliveria have pleaded not guilty, as did Trump. In the 2020 election case, Trump's lawyers had previously said they would seek to dismiss the charges based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution over official actions taken while in the White House. Trump denied wrongdoing in all cases and argued that the U.S. legal system had been turned against him to damage his presidential campaign. He vowed during the campaign that he would fire Smith if he returned to the presidency. Trump in May became the first former president to be convicted of a crime when a jury in New York found him guilty of felony charges relating to hush money paid to a porn star before the 2016 election. His sentencing in that case has been indefinitely postponed. The criminal case against Trump in Georgia state court involving the 2020 election is stalled. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward. Additional reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis, Will Dunham and Bill Berkrot)NFL world reacts with excitement, surprise, questions after Bill Belichick is hired to coach UNC

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Monday dismissed the federal criminal case accusing Donald Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat after prosecutors moved to drop that prosecution and a second case against the president-elect, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. The order from U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan puts an end to the federal effort to hold Trump criminally responsible for his attempts to hold onto power after losing the 2020 election, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters. The move came after Special Counsel Jack Smith, the lead prosecutor overseeing both cases, moved to dismiss the election case and end his attempt to revive a separate case accusing Trump of illegally retaining classified documents when he left office in 2021 after his first term as president. It represents a big legal victory for the Republican president-elect, who won the Nov. 5 U.S. election and is set to return to office on Jan. 20. The Justice Department policy that the prosecutors cited dates back to the 1970s. It holds that a criminal prosecution of a sitting president would violate the U.S. Constitution by undermining the ability of the country's chief executive to function. Courts will still have to approve both requests from prosecutors. The prosecutors in a filing in the election subversion case said the department's policy requires the case to be dismissed before Trump returns to the White House. "This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant," prosecutors wrote in the filing. Prosecutors in the documents case signaled they will still ask a federal appeals court to bring back the case against two Trump associates who had been accused of obstructing that investigation. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung hailed what he called "a major victory for the rule of law." Trump had faced criminal charges in four cases - the two brought by Smith and two in state courts in New York and Georgia. He was convicted in the New York case while the Georgia case, which also relates to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, is in limbo. In a post on social media, Trump railed on Monday against the legal cases as a "low point in the History of our Country." The moves by Smith, who was appointed in 2022 by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, represents a remarkable shift from the special prosecutor who obtained indictments against Trump in two separate cases accusing him of crimes that threatened U.S. election integrity and national security. Prosecutors acknowledged that the election of a president who faced ongoing criminal cases created an unprecedented predicament for the Justice Department. Chutkan left open the possibility that prosecutors could seek to charge Trump again after he leaves office, but prosecutors would likely face challenges bringing a case so long after conduct involved in the case happened. Trump pleaded not guilty in August 2023 to four federal charges accusing him of conspiring to obstruct the collection and certification of votes following his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump, who as president will again oversee the Justice Department, was expected to order an end to the federal 2020 election case and to Smith's appeal in the documents case. Florida-based Judge Aileen Cannon, who Trump appointed to the federal bench, had dismissed the classified documents case in July, ruling that Smith was improperly appointed to his role as special counsel. Smith's office had been appealing that ruling and indicated on Monday that the appeal would continue as it relates to Trump personal aide Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, a manager at his Mar-a-Lago resort, who had been previously charged alongside Trump in the case. Both Nauta and De Oliveria have pleaded not guilty, as did Trump. In the 2020 election case, Trump's lawyers had previously said they would seek to dismiss the charges based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution over official actions taken while in the White House. Trump denied wrongdoing in all cases and argued that the U.S. legal system had been turned against him to damage his presidential campaign. He vowed during the campaign that he would fire Smith if he returned to the presidency. Trump in May became the first former president to be convicted of a crime when a jury in New York found him guilty of felony charges relating to hush money paid to a porn star before the 2016 election. His sentencing in that case has been indefinitely postponed. The criminal case against Trump in Georgia state court involving the 2020 election is stalled. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward. Additional reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis, Will Dunham and Bill Berkrot)The Sacramento Kings have fired coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his third season with the team mired in a five-game losing streak, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the firing hadn't been announced by the team. ESPN first reported the firing. Brown won NBA Coach of the Year in his first season in 2022-23, when he helped Sacramento end the longest playoff drought in NBA history at 16 seasons. But Sacramento lost in the play-in tournament last year and was off to a 13-18 start this season, leading to the move to fire Brown about six months after he agreed to a contract extension through the 2026-27 season. The Kings have lost an NBA-worst nine games this season after leading in the fourth quarter with the worst one coming in Brown's final game as coach Thursday night against Detroit. Sacramento led by 10 points with less than three minutes to play only to collapse down the stretch. Jaden Ivey converted a four-point play with 3 seconds left when he made a 3-pointer in the right corner and was fouled by De’Aaron Fox. That gave the Pistons a 114-113 win, leaving the Kings in 12th place in the Western Conference. The Kings came into the season with hopes of finishing in the top six in the West and avoiding the play-in tournament after acquiring DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal over the summer to add to a core that featured Fox, Domanta Sabonis and Keegan Murray. Fox, who is in the second-to-last year of his five-year, $163 million contract, declined to sign an extension in the offseason. He said on a podcast with Draymond Green earlier this month that he wanted to be on a team that could “compete at a high level.” Sacramento has been far from that this season, thanks in large part to an NBA-worst 3-11 record in games decided by five points or fewer. Brown publicly criticized Fox for his role in the game-winning play Thursday night, saying he should have been closer to Ivey instead of committing a foul on a close out. "You should be hugged up to your man at the 3-point line,” Brown said. “Everybody should, and why there was a closeout by Fox, I’m not sure. I got to go back and watch the tape. But for sure 100% we told our guys, can’t give up a 3, can’t give up a 3, can’t give up a 3, stay on the high side, stay on the high side.” Brown has a 107-88 record in two-plus seasons in Sacramento with a winning record in both of his full seasons. Rick Adelman is the only other coach to post a winning record in a full season since the Kings moved to Sacramento Brown previously had two stints as coach in Cleveland and spent one-plus season as Lakers coach. He has a 455-304 record and has made the playoffs in seven of his nine full seasons. He won Coach of the Year twice, also getting the award in Cleveland in 2008-09. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA