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bet88 download LOS ANGELES — Until he sustained a season-ending knee injury last week in the Western Conference final, Galaxy playmaker Riqui Puig was having a tremendous season. So I heard. I watched Puig play only twice this year, once in the Galaxy's season-opening 1-1 draw with Inter Miami and a second time in his team's Fourth of July defeat to LAFC at the Rose Bowl. Outside of short highlight clips on social media, I never saw the former Barcelona prospect, not even when he assisted on the goal that sent the Galaxy to the MLS Cup final. That wasn't a reflection of my interest. Some of my friends will make fun of me for publicly admitting this, but I like Major League Soccer. I covered the league in my first job out of college and have casually kept up with it since. I take my children to a couple of games a year. My 11-year-old son owns Galaxy and LAFC hats but no Dodgers or Lakers merchandise. People are also reading... Bill Haisten: There still is no resolution, but a Gundy-OSU divorce seems imminent Bill Haisten: As OSU regents meet, Mike Gundy’s contract should be a hot topic How did Oklahoma flip Cowboys QB commit less than 48 hours before signing day? Court 'bulldozes' tribal law in Tulsa case over jurisdiction, attorney says In a flash, OU loses a receiver to the portal and another from its 2025 recruiting class Berry Tramel: Jackson Arnold shows OU should save its high-end shopping for the portal Ben Arbuckle is the new OU offensive coordinator. Have Sooners found the next Lincoln Riley? Deep into Week 2, new names emerge in Tulsa football coaching search These 11 new restaurants are coming to the Tulsa area soon — and 8 that just opened 10 potential candidates to replace Kasey Dunn as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State Meet Oklahoma's complete 2025 class. 5-star OT commits to Oklahoma Bill Haisten: Cooper Parker and the Bixby Spartans are at home in a new, $12M facility Stitt fires Cabinet secretary at odds with governor's stance on poultry lawsuit Cooper Parker secures Bixby's seventh consecutive state title in OT thriller versus Owasso Jenks football coach Keith Riggs resigns; DC Adam Gaylor named Trojans head coach When flipping through channels in the past, if presented with the choice of, say, college football or MLS, I usually watched MLS. But not this year. While the MLS Cup final between the Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will be shown on Fox and Fox Deportes, the majority of games are now exclusively behind a paywall, courtesy of the league's broadcasting deal with Apple. MLS Season Pass subscriptions were reasonably priced — $79 for the entire season for Apple TV+ subscribers, $99 for non-subscribers — but I was already paying for DirecTV Stream, Netflix, Amazon Prime, PlayStation Plus and who knows what else. MLS became a casualty in my household, as well as in many others, and the possibility of being out of sight and out of mind should be a concern for a league that is looking to expand its audience. Which isn't to say the league made a mistake. This was a gamble MLS had to take. Now in the second year of a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal with Apple, MLS did what Major League Baseball is talking about doing, which is to centralize its broadcasting rights and sell them to a digital platform. Regional sports networks have been decimated by cord cutting, making traditional economic models unsustainable. The move to Apple not only increased the league's broadcast revenues — previous deals with ESPN, Fox and Univision were worth a combined $90 million annually, according to multiple reports — but also introduced a measure of uniformity in the league. The quality of the broadcasts are better than they were under regional sports networks. Viewers know where to watch games and when, as every one of them is on Season Pass and most of them are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. local time either on Wednesday or Saturday. "That's been fueling our growth and driving our fan engagement," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Friday at his annual state of the league address. Apple and MLS declined to reveal the number of League Pass subscribers, but the league provided polling figures that indicated 94% of viewers offered positive or neutral reviews of League Pass. The average viewing time for a game is about 65 minutes for a 90-minute game, according to Garber. In other words, the League Pass is well-liked — by the people who have it. The challenge now is to increase that audience. The launch of League Pass last year coincided with the arrival of Lionel Messi, which presumably resulted in a wave of subscriptions. But the league can't count on the appearance of the next Messi; there is only one of him. MLS pointed to how its fans watch sports on streaming devices or recorded television than any other U.S. sports league, as well as how 71% of its fans are under the age of 45. The league also pointed to how it effectively drew more viewers to the Apple broadcast of Inter Miami's postseason opener with a livestream of a "Messi Cam' on TikTok, indicating further collaborations with wide-reaching entities could be in its future. Garber mentioned how Season Pass is available in other countries. The commissioner also made note of how Apple places games every week in front of its paywall. "What we have, really, is a communication problem," Garber said. "This is new, and we've got to work with Apple, we've got to work with our clubs and we've got to work with our partners to get more exposure to what we think is a great product." The greatest benefit to the league could be Apple's vested interest in improving the on-field product. MLS insiders said Apple has not only encouraged teams to sign more high-profile players but also pushed the league to switch to a fall-to-spring calendar more commonplace in other parts of the world, reasoning that doing so would simplify the process of buying and selling players. The on-field product is what matters. The on-field product is why MLS continues to face competition for viewers from overseas leagues. The on-field product is why the league hasn't succeeded in converting every soccer fan into a MLS fan. And ultimately, if casual viewers such as myself are to pay to watch the Galaxy or LAFC on a screen of some kind, the on-field product will be why.

( MENAFN - IANS) Seoul, Dec 16 (IANS) South Korea's Semiconductor exports face growing threats from China, Taiwan and Malaysia amid intensifying global competition in advanced industries, an industry report showed on Monday. The report from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, better known as KOTRA, on the export similarity index (ESI) for semiconductors showed China as being South Korea's top competitor in the sector, with an ESI score of 72.2 in the third quarter of the year. Taiwan's ESI with South Korea in semiconductors rose significantly, increasing 7.6 points over four years to reach 32.5, the largest growth among major semiconductor exporters, reports Yonhap news agency. Malaysia's ESI increased 6 points to 50.5 over the same period, marking the second-highest growth after Taiwan. KOTRA noted that Malaysia has emerged as a notable competitor, ranking fifth globally in semiconductor exports and handling 13 per cent of the world's semiconductor assembly, testing and packaging processes. The report highlighted concerns that South Korea's failure to secure a technological edge over competitors could weaken its export competitiveness in the sector. "This is a critical time to leverage technological strengths to expand South Korea's market share in export sectors," KOTRA said in the report, adding, "South Korean firms must urgently prepare strategies to strengthen their export competitiveness." Meanwhile, South Korea's exports grew 12.4 per cent from a year earlier in the first 10 days of this month on strong shipments of semiconductors, data showed on Wednesday. Outbound shipments reached $17.6 billion in the December 1-10 period, compared with $15.6 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports gained 11.6 per cent on-year to $19.1 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $1.55 billion. Adjusted for the number of working days, daily average exports increased 5 percent on-year to $2.34 billion, the agency said. This year's period included 7.5 working days, compared with 7 working days over the same timeframe last year. "Our exports continue to show upward momentum as both the total and daily average exports have increased compared to the same period last year," said Jo Eek-no, director general for international trade policy at the industry ministry. Exports of semiconductors surged 43 per cent on-year to $3.61 billion over the cited period. -IANS na/ MENAFN15122024000231011071ID1108995780 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Signing with Dodgers was really easy decision for 2-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell

Jones scores 20 in Cent. Conn. St.'s 69-56 win against Holy CrossStocks closed higher on Wall Street, giving the market its fifth gain in a row and notching another record high for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% Friday. The Dow added 1%, and the Nasdaq composite tacked on 0.2%. Retailers had some of the biggest gains. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts’ estimates. EchoStar fell after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company’s Dish Network unit. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Crude oil prices gained ground. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Stocks rose on Wall Street in afternoon trading Friday, keeping the market on track for its fifth straight gain. The S&P 500 was up 0.2% and was solidly on track for a weekly gain that will erase most of last week's loss. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 333 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite was essentially flat with a gain of less than 0.1% as of 3:07 p.m. Eastern. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump's victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 10.8% after handily beating analysts' third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 1.5% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.4% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 were gaining ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.3%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.6%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.8% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, Bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts' expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It's still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers' inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank's meeting in December.NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Tariq Francis had 23 points in NJIT's 69-64 win over Navy on Saturday. Francis shot 9 for 26 (1 for 8 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Highlanders (2-9). Sebastian Robinson added 19 points while shooting 9 of 16 from the field while they also had five rebounds. Tim Moore Jr. went 4 of 6 from the field (1 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 10 points. The Midshipmen (3-7) were led in scoring by Donovan Draper, who finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Austin Benigni added 18 points and five assists for Navy. Aidan Kehoe also put up 10 points and seven rebounds. NJIT went into the half tied with Navy 33-33. Moore scored 10 points in the half. Francis' 17-point second half helped NJIT close out the five-point victory. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Learning Management Systems Market Revolutionizing Education with Digital Learning Platforms 11-23-2024 12:19 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: SkyQuest Technology Group Learning Management Systems Market "In recent years, the global Learning Management Systems Market has witnessed a dynamic shift, influenced by changing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and a growing emphasis on sustainability. The Research report on Learning Management Systems Market presents a complete judgment of the market through strategic insights on future trends, growth factors, supplier landscape, demand landscape, Y-o-Y growth rate, CAGR, pricing analysis. 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Who are the major manufacturers who dominate the world market? 3. What are their current capacity, production, sales, pricing, cost, gross, and revenue operating levels? 4. What are the market's risks and opportunities? What's more, it likewise covers the request and give of the promoting research concentrate in the assessed figure time frame. Explained investigation of the market players with their profile, deals examination and serious scene is given in the report. Besides, organization, joint effort and consolidations in the business are referenced for the accommodation of the investigation of the global Learning Management Systems industry. Take Action Now: Secure Your Learning Management Systems Market Today - https://www.skyquestt.com/buy-now/learning-management-systems-market Objectives of the Study: • To forecast the market size, in terms of value, for various segments with respect to five main regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), Middle East & Africa (MEA) • To provide detailed information regarding the major factors influencing the growth of the Market (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) • To strategically analyze the micro markets with respect to the individual growth trends, future prospects, and contribution to the total market • To provide a detailed overview of the value chain and analyze market trends with the Porter's five forces analysis • To analyze the opportunities in the market for various stakeholders by identifying the high-growth Segments • To identify the key players and comprehensively analyze their market position in terms of ranking and core competencies, along with detailing the competitive landscape for the market leaders • To analyze competitive development such as joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, new product launches and development, and research and development in the market Looking ahead, the Learning Management Systems Market is poised for continued growth, driven by evolving consumer preferences and ongoing innovations. 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Browse Complete Report Learning Management Systems Market 2024 for Better Understanding - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/learning-management-systems-market Table of Contents Global Learning Management Systems Market Research Report 2024-2031 Chapter 1 Learning Management Systems Market Overview Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions Chapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Chapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Chapter 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis Chapter 12 Global Learning Management Systems Market Forecast ... About Us: SkyQuest is an IP focused Research and Investment Bank and Accelerator of Technology and assets. We provide access to technologies, markets and finance across sectors viz. Life Sciences, CleanTech, AgriTech, NanoTech and Information & Communication Technology. We work closely with innovators, inventors, innovation seekers, entrepreneurs, companies and investors alike in leveraging external sources of R&D. Moreover, we help them in optimizing the economic potential of their intellectual assets. Our experiences with innovation management and commercialization have expanded our reach across North America, Europe, ASEAN and Asia Pacific. Contact Us: SkyQuest Technology 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Visit Our Website: https://www.skyquestt.com/ This release was published on openPR.

Founder of failed crypto lending platform Celsius Network pleads guilty to fraud charges NEW YORK (AP) — The founder and former CEO of the failed cryptocurrency lending platform Celsius Network has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges, admitting that he misled customers about the business. Alexander Mashinsky entered the plea Tuesday in Manhattan federal court to commodities and securities fraud. He admitted illegally manipulating the price of Celsius’ proprietary crypto token while secretly selling his own tokens at inflated prices. A plea agreement Mashinsky reached with prosecutors calls for him to be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. Sentencing was scheduled for April 8. Celsius filed for bankruptcy in 2022. A judge has once again rejected Musk's multi-billion-dollar Tesla pay package. Now what? DETROIT (AP) — For a second time, a Delaware judge has nullified a pay package that Tesla had awarded its CEO, Elon Musk, that once was valued at $56 billion. On Monday, Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick turned aside a request from Musk’s lawyers to reverse a ruling she announced in January that had thrown out the compensation plan. The judge ruled then that Musk effectively controlled Tesla’s board and had engineered the outsize pay package during sham negotiations. Lawyers for a Tesla shareholder who sued to block the pay package contended that shareholders who had voted for the 10-year plan in 2018 had been given misleading and incomplete information. US job openings rose last month, though hiring slowed, in mixed picture for labor market WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of job postings in the United States rebounded in October from a 3 1/2 year low in September, a sign that businesses are still seeking workers even though hiring has cooled. Openings rose 5% to 7.7 million from 7.4 million in September. The increase suggests that job gains could pick up in the coming months. Still, the latest figure is down significantly from 8.7 million job postings a year ago. Last month, job openings rose sharply in professional and business services, a category that includes engineers, managers, and accountants, as well as in the restaurant and hotel and information technology industries. Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is underscoring his intention to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp., and he’s pledging to use tax incentives and tariffs to strengthen the iconic American steelmaker. Trump said during the campaign that he would “instantaneously” block the deal, and he reiterated that sentiment in a Monday night statement. President Joe Biden also opposes Nippon Steel’s purchase of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel. A secretive U.S. committee is reviewing the transaction for national security concerns, and federal law gives the president the power to block the transaction. Nippon Steel is pledging to invest in U.S. Steel’s factories and strengthen the American steel industry. Stock market today: Wall Street inches higher to set more records NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks tiptoed to more records after a quiet day of trading. The S&P 500 edged up by 2 points, or less than 0.1%, on Tuesday to set an all-time high for the 55th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record set a day earlier. Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. The South Korean won sank against the dollar after its president declared martial law and then later said he’ll lift it. China bans exports to US of gallium, germanium, antimony in response to chip sanctions BANGKOK (AP) — China has announced a ban on exports to the United States of gallium, germanium and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. The Chinese Commerce Ministry announced the move after the Washington expanded its list of Chinese companies subject to export controls on computer chip-making equipment, software and high-bandwidth memory chips. Such chips are needed for advanced applications. Beijing earlier had required exporters to apply for licenses to send strategically important materials such as gallium, germanium and antimony to the U.S. The 140 companies newly included in the U.S. so-called “entity list” subject to export controls are nearly all based in China. Small business owners brace for Trump's proposed tariffs Small businesses are bracing for stiff tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump has proposed as one of his first actions when he takes office. Trump has proposed importers pay a 25% tax on products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. This means small businesses may end up paying more for goods and services. Small business owners say they’re waiting to see what final form the tariffs take, but are bracing for higher costs that they may in turn need to pass on to consumers. A top Fed official leans toward December rate cut but says it depends on economic data WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Federal Reserve official says he is leaning toward supporting an interest rate cut when the Fed meets in two weeks but that evidence of persistent inflation before then could cause him to change that view. Speaking at George Washington University, Christopher Waller, a key member of the Fed’s Board of Governors, said he was confident that inflation is headed lower and that the central bank will likely keep reducing its key rate, which affects many consumer and business loans. But he noted that there’s a risk that inflation “may be getting stuck above” the Fed’s 2% target, which would support an argument for keeping the Fed’s rate unchanged this month. US closes investigation into E. coli outbreak linked to onions in McDonald's Quarter Pounders The federal government has closed its investigation into an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers after determining there is no longer a safety risk. The outbreak began in late October and sickened at least 104 people in 14 states, including 34 who were hospitalized, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. One person in Colorado died and four people developed a potentially life-threatening kidney disease complication. The FDA linked the outbreak to yellow onions distributed by California-based Taylor Farms and served raw on Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and other states. McDonald’s briefly pulled Quarter Pounders from one-fifth of its U.S. restaurants. Melinda French Gates plans to match $1M in GivingTuesday gifts to groups that support women NEW YORK (AP) — Melinda French Gates is offering to match up to $1 million in gifts to two nonprofit organizations to help spur donations on GivingTuesday. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, GivingTuesday has become a major annual fundraising day for nonprofits. Through her organization Pivotal Ventures, French Gates will match up to $500,000 in donations to the Vote Mama Foundation and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. In an interview with The Associated Press, she said, “It’s a great time to remind people that we’re better off when we give something back and we all have something to give back."LONDON — What does a spy agency give for Christmas? How about a riddle wrapped in an enigma inside a mystery. GCHQ, Britain’s electronic and cyber-intelligence agency, on Wednesday published its annual Christmas Challenge — a seasonal greeting card that doubles as a set of fiendishly difficult puzzles designed to excite young minds about solving cyphers and unearthing clues. The challenge is aimed at young people aged 11 to 18, who are encouraged to work in teams and use “lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance” to crack the seven brainteasers set by GCHQ’s “in-house puzzlers.” The card is sent by the head of GCHQ — short for Government Communications Headquarters — to other national security chiefs around the world. Puzzles were first included in 2015 and have become an annual tradition. The card can be downloaded from the GCHQ website and has become popular with teachers — the agency says a third of British secondary schools have downloaded it. The agency admits the festive fun has an ulterior motive. GCHQ Director Anne Keast-Butler said she hoped the card would inspire young people to explore STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — “and to consider what a career in cybersecurity and intelligence might have to offer.” It also aims to dispel some myths about intelligence work, fueled by super-agent James Bond and other fictional spies. GCHQ’s “chief puzzler,” Colin, said the challenge is best solved by teamwork, in contrast to the popular image of the lone genius or solo secret agent. “Don’t get me wrong — we have geniuses in the department,” said Colin, who gave only his first name because of the secret nature of his work. “But critically what we have is a large number of people with different skills coming together. “The skills we want are quite diverse. We like analytical skills but also lateral thinking skills. And we like the idea with some of these puzzles that it involves a certain amount of perseverance to get to the answer.” The card features a map of the U.K., linked to the locations where GCHQ has bases, including its high-tech headquarters in Cheltenham, western England, nicknamed the doughnut because of its shape. Many British people are keen puzzle-solvers, and the link between puzzlers and spycraft is often celebrated — notably in the many books, films and TV shows about Bletchley Park, a complex of buildings and wooden huts northwest of London where, during World War II, hundreds of mathematicians, cryptologists, crossword puzzle experts and computer pioneers worked to crack Nazi Germany’s secret codes. Historians say their work shortened World War II by as much as two years. Colin said that among new recruits to GCHQ, “we now hear more and more that they first heard of GCHQ through puzzling.” “It definitely inspires people.” Technology has advanced immeasurably since the days of Bletchley Park, but — reassuringly — making and solving puzzles is one area that still needs the human touch. “AI doesn’t have a good record either setting or solving puzzles, not of this sort,” Colin said. “It is still the case that people are able to set interesting puzzles in a way that AI isn’t — thank goodness.” — By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press

After a year of anticipation, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour lands in Vancouver on Friday, with the first of three shows at BC Place. Sunday’s performance will be the last show of the entire tour. Here are some facts about Swift’s record-breaking tour. — A Place in This World The Eras Tour began almost 21 months ago, on March 17, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz., and has covered 19 countries on five continents over a 149-show schedule that included North American cities as well as London, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve The number of total countries visited and concert dates would have been even higher, but three shows scheduled in Vienna, Austria, in August were cancelled after police foiled an alleged terrorist plot. Everything Has Changed According to music industry publication Pollstar, The Eras Tour is the first ever to break the billion-dollar mark after bringing in US$1.04 billion in revenue up to Nov. 15, 2023. The publication says about 4.35 million tickets were sold for the first 60 dates on the tour, and Swift will likely gross more than US$2 billion after the Vancouver shows are finished. If This Was a Movie Swift’s success has not been limited to concerts. The movie, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” became the highest-grossing concert documentary film in history, taking in more than US$261 million at the box office worldwide — about US$180 million from North America alone. Long Story Short The records extend into the literary market, where Swift’s “Eras Tour Book” sold about 814,000 copies over the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, all exclusively through retailer Target. It was the biggest publishing launch of 2024 so far. Shake It Off Swift’s concerts have also been compared in scale to natural phenomena, with seismologists in the U.S. Pacific Northwest detecting signals equal to a 2.3-magnitude earthquake for a July 2023 concert that drew more than 70,000 fans to Seattle’s Lumen Field. The Last Time At the Eras Tour’s only other Canadian stop in Toronto last month, tourism industry estimates put the six-concert slate’s anticipated economic impact at $282 million. That includes $152 million of direct spending during the 10 days the tour was in the city. You Need to Calm Down Telecom giant Rogers Communications says Toronto concert goers shattered the single-event data usage record for Rogers Centre where the shows were held. The company says fans at the Nov. 21 show used 7.4 terabytes of mobile data — the equivalent of the storage capacity of about 10,000 CDs. End Game Vancouver tourism officials say the final three shows of The Eras Tour will generate an estimated $157 million in economic impact for the city, including $97 million in direct spending on accommodations, food, retail and transportation. More than 70 per cent of that will be coming from visitors outside of the city, translating into more than $27 million in tax revenue. Is It Over Now? Swifties at the shows this weekend might break BC Place’s attendance record of 65,061, set in September 2023 by singer Ed Sheeran. Before that, the attendance record was held by U2, who drew 63,802 fans in 2009. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2024.

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG Takes Position in Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLY)Maresca led the Foxes to the Sky Bet Championship title last season before joining Chelsea over the summer. Leicester famously toasted their improbable Premier League success in 2016 with an impromptu bash at Vardy’s house. But the venue for last April’s party was not at the striker’s abode, but at Maresca’s house when the players turned up unannounced at 2am. Maresca recalled: “The best present I had from last season was when we got promoted and they arrived at my home. All the team. “This showed the connection between the players; they could go for a party at a different place but they all arrived at my home. It was a fantastic connection and I will always be thankful for them. “I was at home celebrating with my staff and my family and about two o’clock in the morning all the squad was there. We celebrated all together. “When I was a player and I won things I never thought to go to the manager’s home. That shows the connection.” Similarly to when they clinched the Premier League crown, Leicester were not actually playing when they found out they were promoted after Leeds lost at QPR. “To be honest I was at home watching the game and when it finished all the staff came over – and later the players,” added the Italian. “They didn’t knock on the door, they were in the garden and knocked on the window. What time did they leave? I don’t remember.” Vardy might not be having a party at the end of this season but he is still banging in the goals at 37 and Maresca rates the striker even more highly than England’s two top goalscorers – Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney. “People don’t realise how good he is,” added Maresca. “I know England have been quite lucky because of Kane and Rooney, this type of striker, they are fantastic. “But Jamie is, if you ask me, the best one.” Maresca returns to the King Power Stadium for the first time with Chelsea on Saturday, but he will be without captain Reece James due to a hamstring problem.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A top Romanian court on Friday annulled the first round of the country's presidential election, days after allegations emerged that Russia ran a coordinated online campaign to promote the far-right outsider who won the first round. The Constitutional Court’s unprecedented decision — which is final — came after President Klaus Iohannis declassified intelligence on Wednesday that alleged Russia organized thousands of social media accounts to promote Calin Georgescu across platforms such as TikTok and Telegram. The court, without naming Georgescu, said that one of the 13 candidates in the Nov. 24 first round had improperly received “preferential treatment” on social media, distorting the outcome of the vote. Georgescu denounced the verdict as an “officialized coup” and an attack on democracy, as did the second-place finisher, reformist Elena Lasconi of the center-right Save Romania Union party. Despite being an outsider who declared zero campaign spending, Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner who was to face Lasconi in a runoff on Sunday. Some 951 voting stations had already opened abroad on Friday for the runoff for Romania’s large diaspora, but had to be halted. Iohannis said he would remain in office until a new presidential election could be rerun from scratch. On Dec. 1, one week after the first round of the presidential race, Romania also held a parliamentary election , which saw pro-Western parties win the most votes but also gains for far-right nationalists. Iohannis said that once the new government is formed, the date of the new presidential vote would be set. On Wednesday the president had released intelligence files from the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunication Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In a televised statement Friday, Iohannis said he was “deeply concerned” by the contents of the intelligence reports. “Intelligence reports revealed that this candidate’s campaign was supported by a foreign state with interests contrary to Romania’s. These are serious issues," he said. The Constitutional Court in its published decision cited the illegal use of digital technologies including artificial intelligence, as well as the use of “undeclared sources of funding.” It said one candidate received “preferential treatment on social media platforms, which resulted in the distortion of voters’ expressed will." Georgescu slammed the verdict as putting “democracy is under attack.” “I have only one pact ... with the Romanian people and God,” he said in a video statement. “We are no longer talking about fairness but rather about a mockery that betrays the principles of democracy ... It is time to show that we are a courageous people who know that the destiny and rights of the Romanian nation are in our hands.” Lasconi also strongly condemned the court's decision, saying it was “illegal, immoral, and crushes the very essence of democracy" and that the second round should have gone forward. “Whether we like it or not, from a legal and legitimate standpoint, 9 million Romanian citizens, both in the country and the diaspora, expressed their preference for a particular candidate through their votes," she said. “I know I would have won. And I will win because the Romanian people know I will fight for them, that I will unite them for a better Romania,” she added. Some 9.4 million people — about 52.5% of eligible voters — had cast ballots in the first round in this European Union and NATO member country. The president serves a five-year term and has significant decision-making powers in national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. Most surveys had predicted the top candidate would be Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the ruling center-left Social Democrats. They indicated that second place would be claimed by either Lasconi or the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, George Simion. As the surprising results came in with Georgescu on top, and Lasconi narrowly beating Ciolacu, it plunged the political establishment into turmoil. The same court last week ordered a recount of the first-round votes, which added to the myriad controversies that have engulfed a chaotic election cycle. Following a recount, the court then validated the first-round results on Monday. Many observers have expressed concerns that annulling the vote could trigger civil unrest. The court said Friday that its decision was meant “to restore citizens’ trust in the democratic legitimacy of public authorities, in the legality and fairness of elections.” Simion, of the far-right party, said the development was a “coup d’état in full swing” but urged people not to take to the streets. “We don’t let ourselves be provoked, this system has to fall democratically,” he said. Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, said the court's decision amounts to a “crisis mode situation for Romanian democracy.” “In light of the information about the external interference, the massive interference in elections, I think this was not normal but predictable, because it’s not normal times at all, Romania is an uncharted territory,” he told The Associated Press. “The problem is here, do we have the institutions to manage such an interference in the future?” Georgescu’s surprising success left many political observers wondering how most local surveys were so far off, putting him behind at least five other candidates before the vote. Many observers attributed his success to his TikTok account, which now has 6 million likes and 541,000 followers. But some experts suspected Georgescu’s online following was artificially inflated while Romania’s top security body alleged he was given preferential treatment by TikTok over other candidates. In the intelligence release, the secret services alleged that one TikTok user paid more $381,000 (361,000 euros) to other users to promote Georgescu content. Intelligence authorities said information they obtained “revealed an aggressive promotion campaign” to increase and accelerate his popularity. Georgescu, when asked by the AP in an interview Wednesday whether he believes the Chinese-owned TikTok poses a threat to democracy, defended social media platforms. “The most important existing function for promoting free speech and freedom of expression is social media,” he said.Counting will start at 8 am on Saturday in the Bhokar assembly constituency along with other 287 assembly seats in Maharashtra. The seat recorded a turnout of 76.33 % on November 20 in a high-stakes electoral battle between two first-time candidates, both carrying strong yet contrasting legacies. Representing the BJP, Shreejaya Chavan, daughter of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, fought against Congress candidate Tirupati Kondhekar, popularly known as Pappu Kondhekar, a grassroots leader with a reputation for being the voice of farmers. Bhokar, long considered a stronghold of the Chavan family, has been represented by the family for six terms in the Maharashtra Assembly. Shreejaya Chavan, a third-generation politician with roots in Mumbai where she studied and briefly practised law, fought to retain her family's legacy in this key constituency. Her father Ashok Chavan has served Bhokar as MLA in 2009 and 2019, while her mother won the seat in 2014. Before them, her grandfather and two-time Chief Minister Shankarrao Chavan represented Bhokar in the state assembly thrice. However, Shreejaya faced great challenges. Ashok Chavan’s switch from Congress to BJP ahead of the recent Lok Sabha election alienated many in Nanded district, where residents have traditionally resisted BJP nominees. Adding to the pressure were widespread discontent over low soybean and cotton prices, Maratha agitation over reservation, and voter frustration with dynastic politics. On the other side was Tirupati Kondhekar, a second-generation Congressman and former district president of the Youth Congress. Hailing from a farmer’s family, Kondhekar spent two decades working under Ashok Chavan and was leveraging his grassroots connections to challenge the BJP in a constituency that has long stood against the saffron party. Kondhekar’s campaign, though modest in structure, resonated with local voters. His self-proclaimed identity as a “son of a farmer” and his criticism of the Chavans for failing to address agricultural issues have struck a chord with Bhokar’s rural electorate. Locals have rallied behind him, raising Rs 80 lakh for his campaign — a show of solidarity that could tilt the scales in his favour. Bhokar, with 3.03 lakh voters, presents a complex demographic landscape: - OBC voters: 1.2 lakh - Marathas: 80,000 - Dalits: 48,000 - Muslims: 35,000 This diversity makes it a battleground where caste dynamics, economic grievances and political loyalties collide. While Shreejaya Chavan fought to retain the Chavan family’s grip on Bhokar, Kondhekar portrayed himself as a people’s candidate, using the “common man Vs dynasty” narrative to challenge the BJP. With both debutants vying to make their mark, the election outcome will not only shape Bhokar’s future, but also signal the shifting political dynamics in Nanded district. This clash of legacies and grassroots politics made Bhokar one of the most closely watched contests in Maharashtra's assembly elections.

China set to narrow digital divide

Austin Tice’s family says long-missing journalist is alive as war resurges in SyriaBennett Oghifo Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has highlighted Nigeria’s rich resources, talents, expertise and opportunities as assets capable of transforming the country’s economy. Obasanjo stated this at the Design and Build Expo 2024, an initiative of Ecobank Nigeria which ended in Lagos weekend. The former Nigerian President who commended the bank for the initiative while urging others to take a cue, also disclosed his ambition to have a house completely designed with made-in-Nigeria furniture products. Speaking at the Julius Berger-AFP pavilion at the expo, Obasanjo expressed his admiration for the high quality of furniture products on display. The former president who was accompanied by the Managing Director of Ecobank, Mobolaji Lawal and was welcomed to the AFP stand by the General Manager of the furniture company, Oliver Cohnen, said, I want to have a house completely designed with furniture made in Nigeria like these ones; this is very important to me , even as he added, I am impressed with what I am seeing here; and I like it so much. Another visitor to the AFP stand was the Head of SMEs, Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, Omoboye Odu who expressed her enthusiam about the strong lineup of partnerships and exhibitors. She emphasized Ecobank commitment to deliver a seamless and mutually beneficial experience, provide a platform to showcase cutting -edge trends, innovations and sustainable practice across achitecture, construction, building materials and household appliances, engineering and interior design. She said the the expo serves as a prime opportunity for professionals in the architecture and building sectors to present and market their products to a broader audience The czar of Doyin Industries, Prince Chief Adedoyin who also visited, was impressed that such beautiful furnitures are being produced in Nigeria. He described the company’s furniture range as, of a very high standard; while the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Kamar Olowoshago also visited the AFP stand. He was captivated with the beautiful furniture range and interior decor displayed by the company. In his welcome address, the Managing Director who also doubles as a Regional Executive of Ecobank, stated that the exhibition was designed to highlight the latest trends, innovations and sustainable practices in architecture, construction, building materials, household appliances, engineering and interior design. According to him, the expo serves as a hub to empower businesses to offer tailored financial solutions, promote economic growth and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders in the real estate, design, and construction sectors. The expo’s objective includes facilitating connections between industry professionals, including architects, builders, suppliers, and clients, offering education and training as well as raising awareness about sustainable building practices and materials, encouraging eco-friendly designs and low-impact construction methods, Lawal said. The bank chief continued: the expo also aims to foster partnerships between designers, contractors and suppliers to streamline the design and construction process, as well as provide insights into market trends, consumer preferences, and emerging technologies in the design and construction sectors.”

AP Business SummaryBrief at 6:23 p.m. EST