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Jeff Bezos has officially denied the story that Tesla CEO Elon Musk was told regarding the former Amazon CEO’s warning to sell Tesla and SpaceX stock due to a potential Kamala Harris presidency. Bezos and Musk appeared to bury the hatchet and share a laugh on social media platform X. Earlier today , we reported that Musk had heard Bezos was warning people to sell their Tesla and SpaceX shares because Donald Trump was feared to be losing the U.S. Presidential race. Tesla CEO Elon Musk makes shock claim about Jeff Bezos, reigniting rivalry Musk posted on X: “Just learned tonight at Mar-a-Lago that Jeff Bezos was telling everyone that Donald Trump would lose for sure, so they should sell all their Tesla and SpaceX stock.” Bezos immediately denied the story. Musk said he “stands corrected” and included a crying laughing emoji in his response to Bezos: Well, then, I stand corrected 😂 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 21, 2024 Bezos and Musk have been rivals in the past, especially as the two both operate space exploration companies. The two have also frequently traded spots at the top of the World’s Richest Person list. Nonetheless, it appears Musk and Bezos both were happy to end any speculation or potential for a reignition of their rivarly . For what it is worth, Musk’s platform X also hit him with the Community Note that Bezos had denied the story: Please email me with questions and comments at joey@teslarati.com . I’d love to chat! You can also reach me on X @KlenderJoey , or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com .It’s time to get tested for syphilis: Health campaign launches as cases increase in B.C.Fantasy Football Championship game PPR Cheat Sheet: Updated player ratings to guide your toughest lineup calls
10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania Trump
The College Football Playoff committee took SMU’s wins over Alabama’s strength of schedule, picking the Mustangs for the final at-large spot Sunday after a furious public debate and days of lobbying and arguing over which teams should make the 12-team field. SMU (11-2) showed it could compete against a traditional power, losing to Clemson, 34-31, on a 56-yard field goal on the final play of the ACC championship game. The late-game rally probably did the trick. “I just think America saw SMU belongs,” Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee told ESPN on Sunday after his team got in. “We’re a team that has a chance to compete for this championship. And to some degree, I think we’re a little bit America’s team after last night.” The Mustangs, seeded 11th, will visit No. 6 seed Penn State in the first round. The bracket was expanded from four teams this season, but that didn’t help Alabama or save the committee from controversy that began over the past two weeks as the CFP rankings — and “data points” — were parsed and criticized. The squabbling wasn’t limited to who should be in the field but also who should get consideration for first-round byes. The Crimson Tide (9-3) had quality wins against Georgia and South Carolina in their first season under coach Kalen DeBoer. Losses at Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma proved costly. The 24-3 loss to Oklahoma was too much to overcome. The Sooners, who finished 6-6, rushed for 250 yards against the Crimson Tide and dominated despite having several key injuries. Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said the committee’s decision was not good for college football. “Disappointed with the outcome and felt we were one of the 12 best teams in the country,” Byrne said in a social media post. “We had an extremely challenging schedule and recognize there were two games in particular that we did not perform as well as we should have.” All of Alabama’s losses came in conference play. Still, Byrne said he now will reconsider how his program schedules nonconference games. For now, the Crimson Tide will settle for playing Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31. Several teams with strong seasons were left out besides the Crimson Tide, including Miami (two losses), South Carolina and Mississippi (three losses each). Committee chairman Warde Manuel explained that strength of schedule was valued — a comment that didn’t sit well with Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. “Is this fake news??? he didn’t actually really say that ....” Kiffin wrote on a social media post, tagging both the Alabama and SMU football accounts. SMU actually increased its strength of schedule from the previous season by switching from the American Athletic Conference to the ACC. The Mustangs’ only regular-season loss this year was a nonconference game at home to 10-win BYU in the third game of the season. The Mustangs won nine straight before the loss to Clemson. That didn’t make the waiting easier Sunday. SMU was the last qualifier announced. “Until we saw SMU up there, you know, you’re just hanging, hanging on the edge,” Lashlee said. There was more controversy. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said he didn’t believe any Group of Five team should get the bye over a Power Four champion, citing strength of schedule. Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez pushed back hours ahead of the bracket announcement. “Participation in the College Football Playoff isn’t about entitlement,” she wrote on social media. “It should not be contingent upon a conference patch or the logo on the helmet. ... Boise State’s body of work this season, including an 11-game win streak, has earned it one of the top four seeds ahead of the Big 12 champion.” In the end, Boise State of the Mountain West got the No. 3 seed ahead of Big 12 champion Arizona State, which was seeded fourth. But both got first-round byes.The statement made by Union External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar on December 3, 2024 was his first substantive statement in Parliament on developments in India-China relations since the Chinese intrusions in Eastern Ladakh in the summer of 2020. His remarks offer clarity on some issues, but many questions remain unanswered. The Minister’s statement There are several takeaways from the Minister’s statement. First, the Minister recalled the amassing of troops by China, India’s forceful counter deployment, and protracted negotiations, resulting in a disengagement of forces. However, the statement is economical in giving details of the arrangements for disengagement from “friction points” (a recent and inapt coinage in India-China border negotiations to describe areas of Chinese transgressions across the Line of Actual Control, or LAC). Without using the term “buffer zones”, the Minister alluded to the construct when he remarked that in a few places where “friction” occurred in 2020, “steps of a temporary and limited nature were worked out, based on local conditions, to obviate the possibility of further friction”. He said, “This ... applies to both sides and can be revisited as the situation demands.” He flagged disengagement of troops as “an immediate priority”, but no such urgency has been attached to the termination of “steps of a temporary and limited nature”. Second, even while stating that the immediate priority of disengagement has been achieved, he made it clear that more work remains to be done on “de-escalation as well as effective management of our activities in the border areas”. He reiterated India’s consistent position that “the maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas is a pre-requisite for the development of our ties”, a critical linkage China has sought to disavow in recent years. Mr. Jaishankar did not suggest that the border areas have returned to a state of normalcy. That cannot be the case when there is continued large-scale deployment of troops of both countries for the fifth consecutive winter season in forbidding terrain. Third, he did not suggest a major forward movement in overall relations, indicating instead that recent developments have set our ties in the direction of “some improvement” and adding that the conclusion of the disengagement phase “allows us to consider other aspects of our bilateral engagement in a calibrated manner, keeping our national security interests first and foremost”. The Minister has done well to pour cold water on the suggestion from certain quarters about a “reset” in India-China relations. It is naive to think of any major improvement in bilateral ties as long as the borders remain abnormal and a host of structural challenges in the relationship persist. It is intriguing that even some senior government functionaries are proposing integration with Chinese supply chains, disregarding the imperative of economic security vis-à-vis a country with a track-record of weaponising economic dependencies, which unfortunately abound in India’s engagement with China. Key questions The statement in Parliament leaves several core questions unanswered. First, while disengagement is pronounced as completed, India does not have any definitive information on the terms of this exercise. The statement mentions that the “resumption of patrolling to the traditional areas is underway” in Depsang and Demchok. Will this involve Indian troops getting unhindered access to five traditional patrolling points beyond Y-Junction in Depsang Plains? In Demchok, will they be able to resume patrolling to Charding La and Charding Nala – Nilung Nala (CNN) junction which they were visiting earlier? How deep on the Indian our side of the LAC will the Chinese patrols be allowed to come? There is talk of “coordinated patrolling”, which is a new and undefined concept in India-China border management. Will there be restrictions on the size and frequency of India’s patrols? What are “steps of a temporary and limited nature” agreed to elsewhere, in the Galwan Valley, Hot Spring, Gogra and the Pangong Lake area? How many of India’s traditional patrolling points are no longer accessible to its troops (and grazing grounds to Indians graziers) because of these “temporary steps”? These are legitimate questions awaiting answer. Second, the Minister has underlined that the Indian side “would not countenance any attempts to change the status quo unilaterally”. However, has not the status quo along the borders been changed by China since April 2020? In the absence of facts being shared in the public domain, we can only speculate. This writer’s discussions with retired senior military officials who have served in Eastern Ladakh suggest that there is denial of access to several traditional patrolling points under new arrangements. The statement referred to earlier governments having agreed to several steps to defuse situations, including offers to create demilitarised zones (DMZ), limited non-patrolling zones, and so on. The point to note is that the way India and China look at the LAC has changed. Under President Xi Jinping, China considers the LAC within the construct of sovereignty and the mindset of not losing an inch of territory, though the concept of the LAC was agreed to without prejudice to the respective positions of India and China on the boundary question. Unfortunately, this alteration of the LAC by China or through “temporary steps” has territorial implications for India. We will, therefore, be well-advised to terminate the so-called “buffer zones” at the earliest and keep insisting on the restoration of status quo ante in patrolling and grazing activities as a matter of high priority. Besides, there was no understanding on establishing a DMZ either in Barahoti or in Sumdorong Chu Valley as suggested elsewhere. This writer was the Indian lead in the Diplomatic and Military Experts Group which negotiated the disengagement in Sumdorong Chu Valley in 1995. We did not agree to any DMZ or restrictions on Indian patrolling. Earlier, on Barahoti, the two sides could not agree on the extent of the area where a DMZ was proposed by China in 1956. Third, there are reports in credible media outlets (including The Hindu) about Chinese troops being allowed to patrol Yangtse in Arunachal Pradesh. Earlier reports had cited “government sources” as saying that the Chinese demands for patrolling Yangtse were “unreasonable” and “devoid of logic”. Chinese troops have repeatedly attempted to access the Yangtse area but their efforts have been foiled by Indian forces, the last reported instance being in December 2022. If there is no quid pro quo in the Eastern Sector, it must be denied authoritatively. Fourth, the Chief of Army Staff has reiterated even after the announcement of the understanding on disengagement in Depsang and Demchok on October 21 that “we want to go back to status quo of April 2020”. However, the Ministry of External Affairs no longer refers to the restoration of the status quo ante. If we acquiesce in facts on the ground changed to the advantage of China, this will be another example of a successful deployment of the Chinese playbook of grey zone operations which involves making incremental gains while staying under the threshold of an outright military conflict. Bridge the political divide Greater transparency on the part of the government on the one hand and the need for the Opposition resisting the temptation to score points on a sensitive issue affecting our core interests on the other will leave us in a better place in India’s border negotiations with China. This writer recalls that after India had completed negotiations on the Agreement on Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field (November 1996) and the Agreement on the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question (April 2005), he was instructed to brief key Opposition leaders in confidence. Not only was the confidence thus reposed not breached by those leaders, but they also appreciated the government’s gesture, understood the rationale of those sensitive agreements and supported them after they were signed. Can we make an honest attempt to pivot towards a broad consensus on India’s China challenge, even while leaving room for articulation of differences? Ashok K. Kantha is a former Ambassador of India to China, now associated with think-tanks Published - December 09, 2024 12:16 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit India / China / India-China / diplomacy / unrest, conflicts and war / ministers (government) / government / Parliament proceedings / political parties / armed Forces / economy (general) / Ladakh / Arunachal Pradesh
Jefferson keeps seeing double as Vikings aim to stay focused on overall offensive productionVANCOUVER, BC , Nov. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - C21 Investments Inc. CXXI and CXXIF (" C21 " or the " Company "), a vertically integrated cannabis company, is pleased to announce that it intends to commence a normal course issuer bid (the " NCIB "), under which it may purchase up to 6,002,390 common shares of the Company (" Common Shares "), representing approximately 5% of the Company's issued and outstanding Common Shares. The Company may purchase Common Shares under the NCIB over a 12-month period beginning on December 2, 2024 and ending on December 2, 2025 . All Common Shares purchased under the NCIB will be purchased on the open market through the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the " CSE ") or alternative trading systems at the prevailing market price of the Common Shares at the time of purchase and in accordance with the policies of the CSE and applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company will fund the purchases of Common Shares under the NCIB with cash on hand. The exact timing and amount of any purchases of Common Shares made pursuant to the NCIB will depend on market conditions and other factors. The Company is not obligated to acquire any Common Shares and may suspend or discontinue purchases under the NCIB at any time. Any Common Shares purchased by the Company under the NCIB will be cancelled upon their purchase. Under the NCIB, the Company may purchase up to such number of Common Shares equal to 2% of its issued and outstanding Common Shares over any 30-trading day period. The Company intends to commence the NCIB as it believes that the market price of the Common Shares may not fully reflect the value of its business and prospects, and as such it believes that purchasing its own Common Shares for cancellation is an appropriate strategy for increasing long-term shareholder value and represents an appropriate use of the Company's financial resources. The Company has appointed Haywood Securities Inc. as its broker to conduct the NCIB transactions on its behalf. About C21 Investments Inc. C21 Investments Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, processes, and distributes quality cannabis and hemp-derived consumer products in the United States . The Company is focused on value creation through the disciplined acquisition and integration of core retail, manufacturing, and distribution assets in strategic markets, leveraging industry-leading retail revenues with high-growth potential multi-market branded consumer packaged goods. The Company owns Silver State Relief and Silver State Cultivation in Nevada , including legacy Oregon brands Phantom Farms, Hood Oil and Eco Firma Farms. These brands produce and distribute a broad range of THC and CBD products from cannabis flowers, pre-rolls, cannabis oil, vaporizer cartridges and edibles. Based in Vancouver, Canada , additional information on C21 can be found at www.sedarplus.ca and www.cxxi.ca . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements: This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, " Forward-Looking Statements "). Forward-Looking Statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: the timing of commencement and cessation of the NCIB; the means by which the Company will fund the purchases of Common Shares pursuant to the NCIB; and the Company's belief that purchasing its Common Shares under the NCIB is an appropriate strategy for increasing long-term shareholder value and represents an appropriate use of the Company's financial resources. Such Forward-Looking Statements represent the Company's beliefs and expectations regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Forward-Looking Statements are based on assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management of the Company at the time they were provided or made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including: achieving the anticipated results of the Company's strategic plans; and general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which the Company operates. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond the Company's control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the Forward-Looking Statements in this news release. Such factors include, without limitation: risks and uncertainties arising from: the inability to effectively manage growth; inputs, suppliers and skilled labour being unavailable or available only at uneconomic costs; the adequacy of the Company's capital resources and liquidity, including but not limited to, availability of sufficient cash flow to purchase Common Shares under the NCIB and to execute the Company's business plan (either within the expected timeframe or at all); changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws generally and adverse future legislative and regulatory developments involving medical and recreational marijuana; the risks of operating in the marijuana industry in the United States , and those other risk factors discussed in the Company's 20F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Annual Information Form filing on SEDAR+. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such Forward-Looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Should assumptions underlying the Forward-Looking Statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Forward-Looking Statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake to update any Forward-Looking Statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE C21 Investments Inc. View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2024/26/c7036.html © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule: India vs Pakistan Match Set for February 23 in Dubai
Salt Typhoon Builds Out Malware Arsenal With GhostSpiderSALINAS, Calif. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Scheid Vineyards Inc. (dba Scheid Family Wines) (OTC Markets: SVIN) announced today its financial results for the six months ended August 31, 2024 (second quarter of fiscal 2025). Scott Scheid , President and CEO, commented, "It continues to be a difficult time for the wine industry. Bulk wine prices remain depressed and the market for cased goods, which has been impacted by distributor and retailer destocking, continues to be challenging. As a company, we've made significant efforts to do more with less, highlighted by our second quarter results showing a decrease of 16% in sales and marketing expenses and a decrease of over 5% in G & A. These efforts are ongoing and I'm proud of our teams who work each day on finding opportunities for growth and ways to improve our business." Mr. Scheid continued, "We recently executed new forbearance agreements with our lenders extending through July 31, 2025 . The terms of these agreements include forbearing interest and principal payments on the Company's existing debt. In addition, under the agreement with our operating lender, the Company received an additional $5.0 million to strengthen our working capital base." Financial Results Total revenues decreased 6%, to $26.1 million for the six months ended August 31, 2024 , from $27.7 million in fiscal 2024. Cased goods sales decreased 6%, to $21.2 million in the first six months of fiscal 2025, from $22.5 million in fiscal 2024, as the bottled wine business across the entire market slowed in the first few months of calendar 2024. The Company's bulk wine sales decreased 14%, to $1.8 million from $2.1 million , and winery processing and storage revenues remained flat at $1.5 million . Gross margins remained at 20% for each period. Sales and marketing expenses decreased 16%, to $4.8 million , from $5.7 million , and general and administrative expenses decreased 5%, to $3.5 million , from $3.7 million , as the Company continues its cost-cutting efforts. During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company recognized revenue of $3.6 million from proceeds received from the dissolution of a winery processing agreement. In addition, the Company recognized a gain from the sale of non-vineyard land in the amount of $1.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Interest expense rose 150%, to $7.5 million , from $3.0 million , due to increases in interest rates as each of the Company's lenders are accruing interest at the default rate of an average of 14.3%. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased to $4.4 million , from a loss of $1.2 million , primarily from the sale of land and the proceeds from the contract dissolution. In total, the Company reported a net loss of $3.9 million for the six months ended August 31, 2024 , compared to a net loss of $4.8 million for the six months ended August 31, 2023 . SCHEID VINEYARDS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS SIX MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31, 2024 AND 2023 (amounts in thousands, except per share data) Six Months Ended August 31, 2024 2023 REVENUES: Cased goods sales $ 21,233 $ 22,539 Bulk wine sales 1,826 2,145 Winery processing and storage revenues 1,508 1,451 Direct sales revenues 1,340 1,329 Vineyard management revenues 203 229 Other revenues 7 5 Total revenues 26,117 27,698 COST OF SALES (20,962) (22,121) GROSS PROFIT 5,155 5,577 Sales and marketing expenses (4,790) (5,696) General and administrative expenses (3,545) (3,674) LOSS FROM OPERATIONS (3,180) (3,793) Interest expense, net (7,489) (3,008) Proceeds from contract dissolution 3,613 — Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment 1,690 80 Other income (loss) 2 (40) LOSS BEFORE BENEFIT FROM INCOME TAXES (5,364) (6,761) BENEFIT FROM INCOME TAXES 1,509 1,915 NET LOSS $ (3,878) $ (4,846) NET LOSS PER SHARE $ (4.23) $ (5.31) WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING 916 912 About Scheid Family Wines Scheid Family Wines, a family-owned and operated wine company for over 50 years, is ranked among the top 25 largest wine producers in the United States . Based in Monterey County, California , Scheid is vertically integrated to bring high quality estate grown wines to the marketplace from its sustainably and organically certified vineyards and grower partners throughout the Central Coast. Scheid's innovative, luxury-level winery is 100% powered by renewable wind energy generated by a 400-foot-tall wind turbine, which also supplies energy to the local community. The Scheid Family Wines globally distributed brand portfolio includes Scheid Vineyards, Sunny with a Chance of Flowers, VDR (Very Dark Red), Grandeur (organically certified), Fog & Light, Metz Road, District 7, Ryder Estate, and HOXIE, a premium wine spritzer. Scheid Family Wines sells internationally to over 30 countries and is one of the largest producers of premium exclusive brands. Please visit www.scheidfamilywines.com and www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SVIN/quote for more information. CONTACT: Scott Scheid, President and CEO, scott.scheid@scheidfamilywines.com Mike Thomsen, Chief Financial Officer, mike.thomsen@scheidfamilywines.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scheid-family-wines-reports-second-quarter-fiscal-2025-results-302316784.html SOURCE Scheid Family Wines
By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. Related Articles The Five Minute Read Hundreds of bookstore staffers receive holiday bonuses from author James Patterson Nikki Giovanni, poet and literary celebrity, has died at 81 Percival Everett, 2024 National Book Award winner, rereads one book often Gift books for 2024: What to give, and what to receive, for all kinds of readers U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the US illegally, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court. He appeared briefly before a judge and wore a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt. He did not speak. He will remain jailed ahead of his next court date on Friday. The apparently random attack occurred on Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Police said on Tuesday that identification of the victim was still “pending at this time”. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who was sitting motionless in the train car and may have been sleeping, and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire. The woman quickly became engulfed in flames, while the suspect then sat at a bench on the subway platform and watched, according to police. Video posted to social media appeared to show the woman standing inside the train ablaze as some people look on from the platform, and at least one officer walks by. NYPD chief of transit Joseph Gulotta said that several officers had responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be” while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. They were eventually able to douse the fire, but “unfortunately, it was too late”, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said — the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. During Zapeta’s court hearing on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said Zapeta at one point fanned the flames on the woman using his shirt. He said a 911 call from a subway rider helped identify Zapeta. Mr Rottenberg added that under interrogation Zapeta claimed he did not know what happened, noting that he consumes alcohol. But he alleged that Zapeta identified himself to interrogators in images related to the attack. Zapeta was taken into custody on Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after police got a tip from some teenagers who recognised him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta had been previously deported in 2018 but at some point reentered the US illegally. The crime — and the graphic video of it that ricocheted across social media — deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system in a city where many residents take the subway multiple times each day.
Mikel Arteta 's Gunners might have beaten Crystal Palace 5-1 on Saturday and just about kept their title hopes alive, but the match was overshadowed by Saka's injury in the first half. Arteta has since revealed that the winger is set to miss out on action for a number of weeks as a result of a hamstring injury, a devastating blow considering the Englishman had produced five goals and 10 assists in the Premier League, with no other teammate registering more than eight direct goal contributions in the top flight. The Gunners are already six points behind first-placed Liverpool and have played an extra game, and the injury to the 23-year-old could has fans concerned that the team could fall further behind the Reds. However, The Standard report that the Gunners are likely be offered the services of PSG forward Muani on loan in the January window. © Imago Muani has found himself a pariah in France, with the Frenchman having started just twice for the Ligue 1 champions in the top flight this season, but he has still managed to register two goals and one assist. The 26-year-old has averaged 0.75 goals and assists per 90 in the league this season, more than Gabriel Martinelli 's tally of 0.57, Kai Havertz 's tally of 0.52 and Gabriel Jesus 's tally of 0.5. PSG have at times struggled to maintain attacks with Muani leading the forward line, so perhaps he would benefit from playing alongside someone such as Havertz, who could occupy opposition defenders using his physicality. Whether Muani can be relied upon to perform should he be given consistent playing time is difficult to tell, and it is unfortunate that Raheem Sterling 's knee injury - which is set to rule him out for weeks - is likely to add pressure onto Muani if he were to sign. To Muani's credit, he did manage to score 15 league goals and produce 11 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022-23, and a loan deal without an obligation to buy would entail significantly less risk. © Imago Arsenal have become increasingly reliant on Saka to unlock opposition defences this season, with the Gunners' forward regularly creating from the right. The winger is also one of his side's main set-piece takers, and considering Arteta's team have struggled to score from open play in recent weeks, his absence could reduce Arsenal's effectiveness from dead-ball situations. Given that the north London club struggled to create many chances in the absence of Martin Odegaard earlier this campaign, it is entirely possible that they experience similar difficulties without Saka. The Gunners cannot afford to drop many more points in the title race, and in fact can only drop six more if 90 points is seen as the benchmark for winning the Premier League. Saka's absence could be a good opportunity for Arteta to prove that he can come up with innovate solutions and overcome adversity, but the Englishman's injury is certainly an unwelcome challenge.AmpliTech Group Announces Closing of $1.4 Million Registered Direct Offering
The immigration policy changes promised by president-elect Donald Trump raise much concern across the states. During his recent sit-down on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump detailed that he will deport those illegals residing in the US, a move that can send millions of people—whole families—into exodus, especially those holding mixed statuses. His proposal will majorly impact family units that contain at least one illegal resident and one U.S.-born citizen or legal citizen. Trump’s deportation policy is seen to be a measure to oblige what he calls “the necessity” of securing U.S. immigration law. His proposal to deport even the whole family, to which U.S.-born children belong, has provoked wide criticism. “I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back,” Trump said in that interview. The ‘Mixed-Status’ Households Affected The policy would likely affect the 4.7 million “mixed-status” households in the U.S. These households contain at least one undocumented person and at least one legal resident or U.S.-born child. Trump’s proposal raises serious concerns about the well-being of children who may be legally in the country but face the prospect of deportation with their undocumented parents. The Center for Migration Studies has noted that nearly half of the 2.8 million households with undocumented residents also contain at least one child born in the United States. This has caused people to raise alarms about a greater social and emotional cost to children and families when deportations take place. It could be unprecedented family disruption, compelling children born here, who are citizens, to leave their homes and communities. Birthright Citizenship And The 14th Amendment The proposal of the president to end birthright citizenship, a central aspect of the 14th Amendment, has also garnered huge attention. The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to everyone born on the American soil, irrespective of whether the parents are documented immigrants or undocumented immigrants. According to Trump, he has decided to challenge this particular provision and eliminate it as his first act in the administration. “We have to end it. It’s ridiculous,” Trump said, although he did not specify how he would circumvent the Constitution to achieve this goal. Legal scholars have questioned the constitutionality of such a move, speculating that it would most likely face significant legal resistance. The 14th Amendment has been a part of U.S. jurisprudence, and efforts to roll it back would likely trigger considerable judicial scrutiny. Mixed Reactions To Mass Deportations Trump’s mass deportation approach has been met with a divided reaction. While some of his supporters view this as a necessary step to enforce U.S. immigration laws, others have strongly voiced humanitarian objections. The deporting of millions of people, including those who have lived in the U.S. for years and contributed to its economy and society, could have far-reaching consequences. The social and economic impacts on families, especially those with U.S.-born children, remain a major concern. ALSO READ | Ten People Injured As Police Officer On Motorcycle Crashes Into Crowd At California Parade
MEDINA — Cole Callard poured over the Medina record books growing up. But it took years before realizing he could etch his name in them. With the ball at his dancing feet, Callard would make a move in either direction, keeping defenders on high alert in the process. And once an opportunity presented itself, the 6-foot-1 midfielder fired a shot and the goals began to pile up. By season’s end, Callard walked away with numerous accolades, his name at the top of numerous. In 69 career games, Callard recorded 98 goals, 42 assists and 140 points, all new school records . And, along with receiving the Niagara-Orleans League Player of the Year, Callard helped Medina win 15 games and advance to its first Section VI final in four years, finishing as B2 runners-up to Southwestern. Callard was at the top of the section, leading all goal scorers and Medina’s new single-season record 44 goals and had 64 total points. The combination of breaking Medina’s records and being unstoppable on the pitch earned Callard Greater Niagara Newspapers Player of the Year. As Callard gained more experience at the varsity level, the stronger his desire for the records became, after an 18-goal campaign two years ago. “After my first couple years, I was like, ‘I can definitely do this,’” Callard said. “And then, obviously, being able to do it is a big accomplishment, as fun as putting the ball in the back of the net.” Cole Callard, Sr., Medina Named the Niagara-Orleans League Player of the Year, Callard led the Mustangs to a runners-up finish in Class B2. Callard tallied 64 points on 44 goals and 20 assists. Callard led Section VI in goals and points. Callard registered a point in 17 of 19 games, including 11 multi-goal games and five multi-assist games. Callard leaves as Medina’s all-time leader in goals (98), assists (42) and points (140). Jeffrey T. Barnes Photography Keegan Herrmann, Sr., Wilson A first-team All-Niagara-Orleans League pick, Herrmann helped the Lakemen defend their league title. He posted a team-high 26 goals and 47 points. Herrmann recorded a point in 16 of 18 contests, including nine multi-goal games. Herrmann scored a season-high three goals in the season opener against Kenmore West. Herrmann also had seven multi-assist games.. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Tyler Kroening, Sr., Medina In his final season, Kroening was second on the team with 17 goals and finished with 26 points. Kroening recorded a point in 13 contests for the Mustangs, including two four-point outings. Kroening also scored in 11 games and had multi-goal outings five times. Kroening scored a season-high three goals in a regular season contest against Akron. Jeffrey T. Barnes Photography Luke Leardini, So., Lewiston-Porter In his second varsity season, Leardini doubled his scoring totals for the Class A runners-up Lancers, tallying 54 points on 38 goals and 16 assists. Leardini scored at least three goals in six contests, including two five-goal games against CSAT. An All-NFL first team selection, Leardini recorded one point and one goal in 14 of Lew-Port’s 20 games. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Nick Leardini, Sr., Lewiston-Porter Leardini recorded 11 goals and 24 assists for the Class A sectional champions. Leardini recorded a point in 14 contests and scored a season-high three goals against CSAT. Leardini tallied two or more assists in seven contests, including a season-high five in the second meeting with CSAT. Leardini was a first-team All-Niagara Frontier League selection. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Joey Mullen, Sr., Lewiston-Porter Mullen finished with 10 goals and tied for the team-high of 24 assists. Mullen recorded a point in 11 contests and had one multi-goal game when he scored twice against CSAT. Mullen recorded an assist 11 times, including more than two assists in five contests. Mullen recorded a season-high three assists against North Tonawanda. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Aidan Neumann, Jr., Wilson Named to the All-Niagara Orleans League first team, Neumann finished with 20 goals and 32 points to help the Lakemen earn the No. 1 seed in Class C. Neumann scored in 10 contests, including a season-high four goals against Albion. Neumann recorded a point in 12 of the Lakemen’s 18 contests, with six multi-goal games and three multi-assist games. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Seamus O'Keefe, So., Lewiston-Porter After competing abroad in Brazil for two years, O’Keefe scored a hat trick in his debut against CSAT. O’Keefe finished second on the team in goals (28) and points (37). An All-NFL third team pick, O’Keefe recorded a point in 15 of 20 games and 10 multi-goal games. O’Keefe also tallied at least three points seven times, with a season-high five in two separate contests. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Jack Pachla, Jr., Grand Island Pachla led the team in goals (21) and assists (24). Pachla scored twice in Grand Island’s Section VI Class A1 championship win against Williamsville East, one of five multi-goal games. Pachla recorded a point in 12 of 20 games, including five multi-assist games. He notched a season-high five assists against Cheektowaga to open sectional play. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Tyler Parrish, Sr., Lockport In his final season, Parrish led Lockport to the Niagara division title of the Niagara Frontier League. An All-NFL first-team pick, Parrish led the 12-5 Lions with 14 goals and 25 points. The forward recorded a point in 13 of 16 games, including two multi-goal games and three multi-assist games. Parrish scored a season-high four goals against North Tonawanda. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Owen Redfern, Sr., Grand Island Named Niagara Frontier League Player of the Year for his defensive prowess, Redfern also tallied a career-high eight goals Redfern scored twice against CSAT and later in the Class A1 semifinal against Williamsville South. Redfern also recorded a point in five contests for Grand Island and scored his final goal in the Class A1 championship against Williamsville East. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging SLIDESHOW: Meet the GNN Sports All-Area boys soccer team Cole Callard, Sr., Medina Named the Niagara-Orleans League Player of the Year, Callard led the Mustangs to a runners-up finish in Class B2. Callard tallied 64 points on 44 goals and 20 assists. Callard led Section VI in goals and points. Callard registered a point in 17 of 19 games, including 11 multi-goal games and five multi-assist games. Callard leaves as Medina’s all-time leader in goals (98), assists (42) and points (140). Jeffrey T. Barnes Photography Keegan Herrmann, Sr., Wilson A first-team All-Niagara-Orleans League pick, Herrmann helped the Lakemen defend their league title. He posted a team-high 26 goals and 47 points. Herrmann recorded a point in 16 of 18 contests, including nine multi-goal games. Herrmann scored a season-high three goals in the season opener against Kenmore West. Herrmann also had seven multi-assist games.. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Tyler Kroening, Sr., Medina In his final season, Kroening was second on the team with 17 goals and finished with 26 points. Kroening recorded a point in 13 contests for the Mustangs, including two four-point outings. Kroening also scored in 11 games and had multi-goal outings five times. Kroening scored a season-high three goals in a regular season contest against Akron. Jeffrey T. Barnes Photography Luke Leardini, So., Lewiston-Porter In his second varsity season, Leardini doubled his scoring totals for the Class A runners-up Lancers, tallying 54 points on 38 goals and 16 assists. Leardini scored at least three goals in six contests, including two five-goal games against CSAT. An All-NFL first team selection, Leardini recorded one point and one goal in 14 of Lew-Port’s 20 games. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Nick Leardini, Sr., Lewiston-Porter Leardini recorded 11 goals and 24 assists for the Class A sectional champions. Leardini recorded a point in 14 contests and scored a season-high three goals against CSAT. Leardini tallied two or more assists in seven contests, including a season-high five in the second meeting with CSAT. Leardini was a first-team All-Niagara Frontier League selection. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Joey Mullen, Sr., Lewiston-Porter Mullen finished with 10 goals and tied for the team-high of 24 assists. Mullen recorded a point in 11 contests and had one multi-goal game when he scored twice against CSAT. Mullen recorded an assist 11 times, including more than two assists in five contests. Mullen recorded a season-high three assists against North Tonawanda. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Aidan Neumann, Jr., Wilson Named to the All-Niagara Orleans League first team, Neumann finished with 20 goals and 32 points to help the Lakemen earn the No. 1 seed in Class C. Neumann scored in 10 contests, including a season-high four goals against Albion. Neumann recorded a point in 12 of the Lakemen’s 18 contests, with six multi-goal games and three multi-assist games. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Seamus O'Keefe, So., Lewiston-Porter After competing abroad in Brazil for two years, O’Keefe scored a hat trick in his debut against CSAT. O’Keefe finished second on the team in goals (28) and points (37). An All-NFL third team pick, O’Keefe recorded a point in 15 of 20 games and 10 multi-goal games. O’Keefe also tallied at least three points seven times, with a season-high five in two separate contests. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Jack Pachla, Jr., Grand Island Pachla led the team in goals (21) and assists (24). Pachla scored twice in Grand Island’s Section VI Class A1 championship win against Williamsville East, one of five multi-goal games. Pachla recorded a point in 12 of 20 games, including five multi-assist games. He notched a season-high five assists against Cheektowaga to open sectional play. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Tyler Parrish, Sr., Lockport In his final season, Parrish led Lockport to the Niagara division title of the Niagara Frontier League. An All-NFL first-team pick, Parrish led the 12-5 Lions with 14 goals and 25 points. The forward recorded a point in 13 of 16 games, including two multi-goal games and three multi-assist games. Parrish scored a season-high four goals against North Tonawanda. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Owen Redfern, Sr., Grand Island Named Niagara Frontier League Player of the Year for his defensive prowess, Redfern also tallied a career-high eight goals Redfern scored twice against CSAT and later in the Class A1 semifinal against Williamsville South. Redfern also recorded a point in five contests for Grand Island and scored his final goal in the Class A1 championship against Williamsville East. Jim Hibbard/Total Sports Imaging Callard provided his talents in other facets for Medina’s offense, too. He registered a point in 17 games, with five multi-assist games, including a season-high three in a Class B2 quarterfinal win against Silver Creek/Forestville. But once he found the back of the net, Callard couldn’t be stopped, scoring multiple goals in 11 contests. Callard recorded a season-high five goals twice in contests against Albion and Roy-Hart, one year after his seven-goal performance against Buffalo Academy set the single-game record at Medina and the second most ever in a New York State game. Callard didn’t have to look far to get hooked on playing soccer. Growing up, Callard enjoyed watching his cousin, Medina 2018 graduate and Roberts Wesleyan player Ethan Leonard, play as a center midfielder, the same position he would eventually play. But along with watching YouTube videos and Medina games or competing in travel leagues, Callard participated in multiple camps. To start, Callard’s parents enrolled him in the Olympic Development Program, a once-a-month program for five months at Sahlen's Field when he was 13 or 14 years old. Callard later joined training camps at Buffalo State and Roberts Wesleyan two years ago, where he learned how to attack the open space and not be afraid to make mistakes. But the ODP camp helped develop his craft. “The ODP helped a lot with my ball skills, learning different touches and different moves,” Callard said. “That was probably the main thing I learned from them, just a lot of ball skills and stuff that helped open up space on the field. ... Just doing 100 touches or 1,000 touches, it’s a bunch of different skills that you can do. Just working on your first touch. Wall ball is a big thing.” Since attending the offseason camps, Callard also spent three years playing year-round with the Lockport Lightning of the Lockport Soccer Club, allowing him to compete against faster and more skilled players. But the progression also came during each of his four seasons at Medina. With Callard in the lineup, the Mustangs won 48 games, the most by any player in program history, and posted double-digit wins three times. Along with his skill with the ball, Callard expanded his offensive style of the play with his passing over the four years. “He knows to give the ball up to get it back in a better position,” Medina head coach Steve Luksch said. “Let the defense concentrate on him, whoever has the ball, and he just takes off and everybody forgets about him for a second or two and then he’s got you beat... He’s super unselfish but he’s super smart at the same time ... I knew he wouldn’t take a bad shot.” Medina’s Cole Callard was named Greater Niagara Newspapers Player of the Year after tallying 44 goals and 64 points this season. With the high school season over, Callard faces a decision on what he wants to play next, between continuing with soccer or pursuing kicking in football, which he dual sported with the Mustangs for three seasons. Callard is weighing his options and hasn’t made an official choice, but is contemplating a roster spot for kicking at SUNY Cortland and an offer for soccer from Berkeley College, a USCAA Division II school in New Jersey. Soccer became Callard’s first passion at age 5, but his interest in kicking grew as he got older. For three years, Callard worked with Medina coach and NFL Pro Bowler Mike Vanderjagt on his kicking, which led to competing in events, including the Kohl’s Eastern Showcase in May in Pennsylvania . “It kind of opened my eyes,” Callard said. “I think, with football, I kind of have a better opportunity, because it’s here in America. And then soccer, you got all those European countries where there’s a lot of good, good players, so I think I have a better chance to go farther at football.”Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus WASHINGTON (AP) — A powerful government panel has failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of a nearly $15 billion proposed deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. Steel. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on Monday sent its long-awaited report to President Joe Biden, a longtime opponent of the deal. Some federal agencies represented on the panel were skeptical that allowing a Japanese company to buy an American-owned steelmaker would create national security risks. That's according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. Both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump opposed the merger and vowed to block it. Nippon Steel says it is confident the deal will go ahead. Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Survey: Small businesses are feeling more optimistic about the economy after the election A survey shows small business owners are feeling more optimistic about the economy following the election. The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Small Business Optimism Index rose by eight points in November to 101.7, its highest reading since June 2021. The Uncertainty Index declined 12 points in November to 98, following October’s pre-election record high of 110. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said small business owners became more certain about future business conditions following the presidential election, breaking a nearly three-year streak of record high uncertainty. The survey also showed that more owners are also hoping 2025 will be a good time to grow. American Airlines briefly halts flights nationwide after technical issue American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue just as the Christmas travel season kicks into high gear. American flights were cleared to fly by federal regulators about one hour after the ground stop order was issued Tuesday. Just before 7 a.m. Eastern time, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the U.S. at the airline’s request. American had reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions traveling for the holiday. The groundings couldn’t come at a worse time for the millions of travelers expected to fly over the next 10 days. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. Stock market today: Wall Street holds near breakeven ahead of Christmas Stock indexes are edging higher in morning trading on Wall Street as gains for some Big Tech stocks make up for weakness elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 was up 0.4% Tuesday. Chip company Broadcom was again helping to pull the index higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite was up 0.7%. American Airlines fell 1.2% after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields rose. U.S. markets will close at 1 p.m. Eastern and stay closed Wednesday for Christmas. An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally. In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration. What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. American consumers feeling less confident in December, Conference Board says American consumers are feeling less confident in December, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Monday that its consumer confidence index fell back in December to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Consumers had been feeling increasingly confident in recent months. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market tumbled more than a dozen points to 81.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda's U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market.Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is AP college football player of the year