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NEW YORK — There's a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. An animated game, anyway. The real game takes place at Madison Square Garden, where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks in a game televised on ABC and ESPN and streamed on Disney+ and ESPN+. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. Madison Square Garden is a staple of the NBA's Christmas schedule. Now it merges with a bigger home of the holidays, because the "Dunk the Halls" game will be staged at Disney, on a court set up right smack in the middle of where countless families have posed for vacation photos. Why that location? Because it was Mickey Mouse's Christmas wish. "Basketball courts often have the ability to make a normal environment look special, but in Disney it can only turn out incredible," Wembanyama said in an ESPN video promoting his Christmas debut. The story — this is Disney, after all — begins with Mickey penning a letter to Santa Claus, asking if he and his pals can host a basketball game. They'll not only get to watch one with NBA players, but some of them will even get to play. Goofy and Donald Duck will sub in for a couple Knicks players, while Mickey and Minnie Mouse will come on to play for the Spurs. "It looks to me like Goofy and Jalen Brunson have a really good pick-and-roll at the elite level," said Phil Orlins, an ESPN vice president of production. Walt Disney World hosted real NBA games in 2020, when the league set up there to complete its season that had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those games were played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The setting for the Christmas game will be Main Street USA, at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. Viewers will recognize Cinderella's castle behind one baseline and the train station at the other end, and perhaps some shops they have visited in between. Previous alternate animated broadcasts included an NFL game taking place in Andy's room from "Toy Story;" the "NHL Big City Greens Classic" during a game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers; and earlier this month, another NFL matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys also taking place at Springfield's Atoms Stadium as part of "The Simpsons Funday Football." Unlike basketball, the players are helmeted in those sports. So, this telecast required an extra level of detail and cooperation with players and teams to create accurate appearances of their faces and hairstyles. "So, this is a level of detail that we've never gone, that we've never done on any other broadcast," said David Sparrgrove, the senior director of creative animation for ESPN. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 phenom from France who was last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, looks huge even among most NBA players. The creators of the alternate telecast had to design how he'd look not only among his teammates and rivals, but among mice, ducks and chipmunks. "Like, Victor Wembanyama, seeing him in person is insane. It's like seeing an alien descend on a basketball court, and I think we kind of captured that in his animated character," said Drew Carter, who will again handle play-by-play duties, as he had in the previous animated telecasts, and will get an assist from sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Wembanyama's presence is one reason the Spurs-Knicks matchup, the leadoff to the NBA's five-game Christmas slate, was the obvious choice to do the animated telecast. The noon EST start means it will begin in the early evening in France and should draw well there. Also, it comes after ABC televises the "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade" for the previous two hours, providing more time to hype the broadcast. Recognizing that some viewers who then switch over to the animated game may be Disney experts but NBA novices, there will be 10 educational explainers to help with basketball lingo and rules. Beyond Sports' visualization technology and Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking allow the animated players to make the same movements and plays made moments earlier by the real ones at MSG. Carter and analyst Monica McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast, donning VR headsets to experience the game from Main Street, USA. Other animated faces recognizable to some viewers include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who will judge a halftime dunk contest among Mickey and his friends, and Santa himself, who will operate ESPN's "SkyCam" during the game. The players are curious how the production — and themselves — will look. "It's going to be so crazy to see the game animated," Spurs veteran Chris Paul said. "I think what's dope about it is it will give kids another opportunity to watch a game and to see us, basically, as characters." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH FOR NCAA STUDENT-ATHLETES: LG ELECTRONICS CONCLUDES 3RD SEASON OF 'TRANSPARENT CONVERSATIONS' PODCASTAre you looking for a new fintech name to add to your portfolio? It's certainly an area worth a look. The convergence of these two distinct sectors (finance and technology) is creating some incredible growth opportunities. In fact, it has arguably made for too many options. Take Nu Holdings ( NU -0.34% ) and SoFi Technologies ( SOFI -1.30% ) . Both are great online banks, leading their respective markets. But some investors may only have room for one or the other. The question is, which one? Comparing and contracting Nu Holdings with SoFi Technologies You've likely heard of SoFi. A company launched in 2011 as a platform to help college graduates manage their student loans has since become much more. It's truly a full-blown chartered bank with all the expected offerings -- checking accounts, lending of all types, credit cards, investment services, and even insurance. As of the end of September, it was serving nearly 9.4 million customers, extending a four-year growth streak of uninterrupted quarterly customer growth. Its annual revenue on the order of $2.5 billion produces yearly net income in the ballpark of $200 million. That's fantastic for a young bank without any physical branches. Yes, SoFi is truly a 100% online-only banking option . Nu Holdings is a similar company but with a few important differences. Its Nubank business serves more than 110 million customers, for instance, and is on pace to turn roughly $4 billion worth of revenue into income of $2 billion despite offering fewer services; clearly, those it does have are higher-margin offerings. So why have you heard so little about Nu (presuming you've heard of it at all)? Because it doesn't operate in the United States. It only operates in Brazil, Mexico, and Columbia, where the online banking business itself is quickly growing, and where competition isn't quite as robust ... at least, not yet. It's coming, though. Market research outfit Technavio believes that the banking-as-a-service industry -- aka, online banking -- is poised to grow in Latin America at an annualized pace of 19.5% through 2028. As a market leader, Nu is well positioned to capture at least its fair share of this growth. And the winner is... It's a tough decision to make between these two fintech names. Nu Holdings clearly enjoys better growth prospects by virtue of its bigger addressable and largely underserved market. Latin America is home to 665 million people. However, each Latin American country regulates banking businesses differently, which will add to the complexity as Nu expands its footprint. There's also no denying that several South American countries are experiencing political unrest, which adds to the uncertainty of Nu's foreseeable future. On the other hand, SoFi's growth prospects might not be quite as compelling, but at least it has a somewhat predictable growth path that's easy to keep tabs on from where you (probably) sit. So, if you can only invest in one of these names, SoFi Technologies would probably be the better bet for most investors. That said, if you already have a stake in Nu Holdings, you're hardly doomed. The stock just comes with greater risks to match its potential higher rewards. The online bank's actual growth potential is a bit clouded due to South America's backdrop of uncertainty. That's in contrast with SoFi's future -- it might feature slower growth, but it should also be more predictable, and enjoy a much longer growth runway. The numbers: SoFi's 9.4 million U.S. customers are only a fraction of the country's population of 336 million, the majority of which have or will need banking services of some sort. As a greater share of the adult population becomes digitally native -- in other words, people who have only known a world in which using computers and mobile phones is the norm -- online banking will become more popular while brick-and-mortar banking will become decreasingly important. A recent report from Straits Research forecast that North America's digital banking market will grow at an average yearly pace of 12.7% through 2032. Domestic investors will be able to closely follow SoFi's progress in capitalizing on this opportunity. And it's off to a great start. Analysts expect this year's top-line growth of more than 24% to be followed by revenue growth of 17% in 2025. While its percentage growth rates will likely continue to slow down, its absolute whole-dollar growth may not even start showing signs of decelerating until the 2030s. Different enough If you've just got your heart set on investing in Nu Holdings, that's OK. Again, its shareholders are far from being on a collision course with disaster. Do take a step back and consider how Nu Holdings fits into your portfolio's bigger picture, though. It's seemingly more of a growth stock that happens to be in fintech. You can find similar growth potential in a variety of sectors and industries. That's in contrast with SoFi Technologies, which is arguably more of a focused fintech stock that happens to be in a fast-growing sliver of the financial sector. There are fewer ways to expose your portfolio to that particular industry with this particular risk-versus-reward scenario. Of course, although you don't want to own more stocks than you can effectively manage and monitor, there's a case to be made for owning both Nu and SoFi since both are compelling. You might just want to scale back each position from your normal stake size if that's the route you want to go.
It's almost Christmas once again, so it's time to dream a little and hope Santa grants our wishes. or signup to continue reading As many people wrap up their working year, a lot head off on a road trip either to be with family for festivities, or for a long-awaited holiday break. With this in mind, the editorial team has put together a list of its dream road trip cars. Whether it's a low-slung sports car, comfortable executive tourer, all-terrain beast, or a mixture of all of the above, there's no hypothetical budget holding us back this time around. While many of us lust over classic cars, for this challenge we've stuck strictly with new cars that you can currently buy in Australia. Here's what we chose for our ultimate road trip cars. There is nothing like a Rolls-Royce, and when it comes to a road trip, I couldn't think of a better car to eat up the miles in as you cruise from one destination to another. Having spent a lot of time in both the and , my only reason for choosing the Roller is its presence on the road. Otherwise, either of these British super luxury SUVs is ideal for any road trip. To be fair, my is 90 per cent as good as the Cullinan for about 1/7th the price, so that's a far cheaper and more practical solution for a road trip, and you won't look completely out of place the minute you leave the CBD. The open-ended nature of this question forced me to think especially hard about my priorities, and I landed at adequate seating for family and friends, plenty of boot space to stack up presents, a luxurious cabin, and sweet driving dynamics for a beachside blast. Pretty fussy, I know. But thankfully such a car exists, in the form of the . Based on the , the BMW Alpina B3 GT Touring is like an with a prettier face, unique features, and arguably even more curb appeal. Under the bonnet it packs a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine producing 389kW of power and 730Nm of torque... healthy to say the least. The B3 also gains unique Alpina styling – just check it out in Alpina Green Metallic paint with the 20-spoke gold alloys! Inside, I'd opt for the full merino leather package in brown, which dials comfort up to 11. You'll be paying around $200,000 for a fully specced example of the BMW Alpina B3 GT Touring, but I can't imagine a better vehicle in which to rack up kilometres over the Christmas break. My ultimate road trip car would need to be a large off-road SUV, to fit all my gear and allow me to head off the beaten track, and the hottest property in that market segment right now is the new . But as good as it looks and drives, the new 250 Series also brings mega price hikes, so much so it makes even the look cheap. While the Prado now starts at a cool $72,500 before on-roads, you can get a rear-drive twin-turbo four-cylinder turbo-diesel Everest with more power and a 10-speed auto from just $54,240 before on-roads, or the 4×4 version from only $59,240 before on-roads. Or you could get a lusty Everest Sport V6 from $74,640 before on-roads – about $2000 more than a base Prado – or even the go-anywhere Tremor V6 from $76,590 before on-roads, which is still less than a Prado GXL (from $79,990 before on-roads) and way more affordable than its 2.8-litre Prado Altitude equivalent (from $92,700 before on-roads). Given it delivers similar off-road capability, seven-seat flexibility, technology and refinement for far more sensible money, it's no wonder Aussies are voting with their feet for the locally designed and engineered Everest, which will become the nation's favourite large SUV for the first time this year. Bit of a random one, but in a world dominated by SUVs, I didn't want to pick something a little different. The is a forgotten gem, using the capable A6 Avant as a base, jacking it up and fitting adaptive air suspension for a cushy ride. As standard, the A6 allroad's '45 TDI' spec V6 diesel offers a healthy 183kW and 600Nm for effortless and refined cruising, while claiming to use just 6.6L/100km on the combined cycle – meaning nearly 1000km per fill of its 63-litre tank. It's a shame the allroad is now on its way out to make way for the new A6 e-tron coming in 2025. Perhaps we'll see a hybridised A7 allroad at some point, or even an all-electric A6 allroad e-tron somewhere down the track. Anyway, #savethewagons Given I have no budget this time, I'm going all out. My ideal road trip means long stints on the highway and the occasional off-road jaunt, which leaves me with a few options. One that stands out the most is the , which soaks up highway kilometres like nothing and can also carve up virtually any off-road track. In particular I'd go for the 110 OCTA which is a new twin-turbo V8 flagship, set to arrive in local showrooms from March 2025. I know it's a little late for a Christmas present, but Santa knows no bounds. At $355,588 drive-away for Victorian buyers in Edition One guise it's eye-wateringly expensive, but it's filled to the gills with standard equipment and unique touches. I'll take it in Faroe Green exterior paint with the Khaki/Ebony perforated Ultrafabric upholstery. Although it doesn't feature JLR's iconic 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, I'd still gladly take the keys to this BMW twin-turbo V8-powered off-road beast and go for a fang. Both the and are large, comfortable sedans with air suspension and available fuel-efficient powertrains. The A8 50 TDI and long-wheelbase 50 TDI L pack a 210kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 with a 48V mild-hybrid system, and fuel economy of between 6.6 and 6.7L/100km. The LS, in contrast, offers an available 3.5-litre V6 hybrid with 264kW and claimed fuel economy of 6.8L/100km. While I haven't driven the A8, I have spent time with an LS which wafted down the road like a feather floating onto a cloud. And that was the "sporty" LS500 F Sport! Ok, perhaps something with a bit more ground clearance than these two would be preferable if we're road-tripping through regional Australia and its often shocking roads, but I'm a sedan man at heart. So which is it, a German diesel or a Japanese hybrid? I'm not sure. Give me around $230,000 and I'll try to figure it out. You're going to want to be comfortable on a road trip, and there's no doubt the is more than capable of meeting that criteria. The luxury Prado is large outside, spacious inside, and equipped with everything you could possibly need like a 14.0-inch infotainment system, five USB-C ports, tri-zone climate control, as well as even a full-size spare wheel for some extra security. Better yet, the "base" GX550 Luxury is a seven-seater capacity, which means all your friends and family can come along for the ride. If you're like me who would probably be taking a road trip through Victoria's High Country and out to the state's east coast, you'll likely be travelling some rough rural roads and some steep inclines all on the same route. I've found the GX is able to deal with each scenario fairly well, with its comfortable ride and quiet cabin making for comfortable hours behind the wheel. It'll have no problem with power either, because that 3.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 packs plenty of punch at 260kW and 650Nm. Fuel economy might be the only concern given Lexus quotes 12.3L/100km on the combined cycle, but expect that figure to be lower after prolonged stints on higher-speed roads. Equally, there is quite the price to overcome at $116,000 before on-road costs. If you can get past that, why not road-trip in (GX550) Luxury? A fast wagon. That's just about every Dad's dream, provided you don't want to go off-road or look at any potholes. As I get older, my desire for practicality has risen, but the love for performance hasn't faded. The takes what is an extremely capable performance car and adds extra space with minimal compromise to either its go-fast characteristics or luxury styling. I'm not interested in going off the beaten path, I just want to get to my destination in comfort, but once there I want to explore the countryside and not regret passing up on a suitable car for the twisties. I was fortunate enough to drive the B3 GT sedan back-to-back with an M3 a few years ago, and the Alpina reminded me of my old G6E Turbo – if it was all-wheel drive, even more powerful and lavishly equipped with modern technology. I truly believe that so long as you're not going off-road, it's the jack of all trades, plus it has the 'if you know, you know' feeling which you just can't get in the hot BMW M cars. Now this is a topic I can weigh in on! I plan on doing a lap of Australia in the near future, and while my holds a special place in my heart, if I had to pick my ultimate road trip car, it'd be a . I know, shocker, right? But hear me out! When it comes to outback reliability, Toyota really is unmatched. The LC70 might look and feel like it time travelled straight from the 90s, but that's exactly what makes it perfect. The basic electronics means you can splash through creek crossings without turning your rig into an expensive paperweight — and if anything does go wrong, every country town will have the parts you need. Now, I'd love to brag about having the V8, but since Toyota has recently axed it, I'll have to settle for the 2.8-litre four-cylinder (my left leg will thank me later). And of course, I wouldn't hit the road in a stock LC70 — where's the fun in that? No, I'm dreaming big here. Think roof conversion (when available for the new model), rear fitout, ECU remap, lifted suspension, 35s, bullbar, snorkel, and obviously an exhaust upgrade loud enough that you would be able to hear me coming from a mile away. Basically, if I won the lottery tomorrow, the mods list would be longer than the trip itself! But in summary, tough as nails, packed with space, and impossible to kill – the LC70 is my perfect road trip rig! Money no object, I'd be climbing into a , with the Ram Box and a canopy fitted. It's the peak of comfort and practicality, it's reasonably economical at highway speeds, and will handle virtually any terrain you could throw it at. Plus, it looks downright bad-ass in black-on-black. I think this one is a no brainer. A vehicle that can go anywhere, is quick, makes noise and can be decked out with endless accessories is all that you'll ever need for a road trip. And it's the perfect vehicle to help recover Alborz when he gets stuck in his land-going houseboat. Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementNEW YORK — There's a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. An animated game, anyway. The real game takes place at Madison Square Garden, where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks in a game televised on ABC and ESPN and streamed on Disney+ and ESPN+. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. Madison Square Garden is a staple of the NBA's Christmas schedule. Now it merges with a bigger home of the holidays, because the "Dunk the Halls" game will be staged at Disney, on a court set up right smack in the middle of where countless families have posed for vacation photos. Why that location? Because it was Mickey Mouse's Christmas wish. "Basketball courts often have the ability to make a normal environment look special, but in Disney it can only turn out incredible," Wembanyama said in an ESPN video promoting his Christmas debut. The story — this is Disney, after all — begins with Mickey penning a letter to Santa Claus, asking if he and his pals can host a basketball game. They'll not only get to watch one with NBA players, but some of them will even get to play. Goofy and Donald Duck will sub in for a couple Knicks players, while Mickey and Minnie Mouse will come on to play for the Spurs. "It looks to me like Goofy and Jalen Brunson have a really good pick-and-roll at the elite level," said Phil Orlins, an ESPN vice president of production. Walt Disney World hosted real NBA games in 2020, when the league set up there to complete its season that had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those games were played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The setting for the Christmas game will be Main Street USA, at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. Viewers will recognize Cinderella's castle behind one baseline and the train station at the other end, and perhaps some shops they have visited in between. Previous alternate animated broadcasts included an NFL game taking place in Andy's room from "Toy Story;" the "NHL Big City Greens Classic" during a game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers; and earlier this month, another NFL matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys also taking place at Springfield's Atoms Stadium as part of "The Simpsons Funday Football." Unlike basketball, the players are helmeted in those sports. So, this telecast required an extra level of detail and cooperation with players and teams to create accurate appearances of their faces and hairstyles. "So, this is a level of detail that we've never gone, that we've never done on any other broadcast," said David Sparrgrove, the senior director of creative animation for ESPN. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 phenom from France who was last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, looks huge even among most NBA players. The creators of the alternate telecast had to design how he'd look not only among his teammates and rivals, but among mice, ducks and chipmunks. "Like, Victor Wembanyama, seeing him in person is insane. It's like seeing an alien descend on a basketball court, and I think we kind of captured that in his animated character," said Drew Carter, who will again handle play-by-play duties, as he had in the previous animated telecasts, and will get an assist from sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Wembanyama's presence is one reason the Spurs-Knicks matchup, the leadoff to the NBA's five-game Christmas slate, was the obvious choice to do the animated telecast. The noon EST start means it will begin in the early evening in France and should draw well there. Also, it comes after ABC televises the "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade" for the previous two hours, providing more time to hype the broadcast. Recognizing that some viewers who then switch over to the animated game may be Disney experts but NBA novices, there will be 10 educational explainers to help with basketball lingo and rules. Beyond Sports' visualization technology and Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking allow the animated players to make the same movements and plays made moments earlier by the real ones at MSG. Carter and analyst Monica McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast, donning VR headsets to experience the game from Main Street, USA. Other animated faces recognizable to some viewers include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who will judge a halftime dunk contest among Mickey and his friends, and Santa himself, who will operate ESPN's "SkyCam" during the game. The players are curious how the production — and themselves — will look. "It's going to be so crazy to see the game animated," Spurs veteran Chris Paul said. "I think what's dope about it is it will give kids another opportunity to watch a game and to see us, basically, as characters." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Alexander and Boston University secure 80-74 OT win over Albany
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House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minorsThe J. M. Smucker Company Announces Pricing for Cash Tender Offers
WASHINGTON — The House passed a $895 billion measure Wednesday that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. The bill passed by a vote of 281-140 and next moves to the Senate, where lawmakers sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows. The Pentagon and the surrounding area is seen Jan. 26, 2020, from the air in Washington. Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. Lawmakers said service member pay failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. "No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "This bill goes a long way to fixing that." The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation's borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators wanted to increase defense spending about $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a "tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions in the bill. "We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it," Wicker said. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks with reporters Nov. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many nondefense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, proved effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. "These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives," Smith said. "And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar service members' children from having access to that." Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted on the ban and said the provision "taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation." Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, "I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates." Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, "and yet, here it is in this bill." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responds to reporters Dec. 6 during his weekly news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team did not tell Democrats how to vote on the bill. "There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well," Jeffries said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. Rising threats from debt collectors against members of the U.S. armed forces are undermining national security, according to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog that protects consumer rights. To manage the impact of financial stress on individual performance, the Defense Department dedicates precious resources to improving financial literacy, so service members know the dangers of notorious no-credit-check loans. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said Andrew Cohen, the director of financial readiness in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. But debt collectors are gaining ground. Last quarter, debt collection complaints by U.S. military service members increased 24% , and attempts to collect on “debts not owed” surged 40%. Complaints by service members against debt collectors for deceptive practices ballooned from 1,360 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 1,833 in the first quarter of 2024. “There’s a connection between the financial readiness and the readiness of a service member to perform their duty,” said Jim Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Laws exist to protect the mission readiness of U.S. troops from being compromised by threats and intimidation, but debt collectors appear to be violating them at an alarming pace. “If they’re threatening to call your commander or get your security clearance revoked, that’s illegal,” says Deborah Olvera, financial readiness manager at Wounded Warriors Project, and a military spouse who’s been harassed herself by a collection agency that tried to extort money from her for a debt she didn’t owe. But after she requested the name of the original creditor, she never heard from them again. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities.” —Andrew Cohen, Director of Financial Readiness at the Pentagon Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it’s illegal for debt collectors to threaten to contact your boss or have you arrested because it violates your financial privacy. The FDCPA also prohibits debt collectors from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt, even for borrowers with bad credit scores. But according to the data, debt collectors are increasingly ignoring those rules. “Debt collection continues to be one of the top consumer complaint categories,” said a spokesperson at the Federal Trade Commission. The commission released a report earlier this year revealing that consumers were scammed $10 billion in 2023, a new benchmark for fraud losses. In his book Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber argues that debt often creates a relationship that can feel more oppressive than systems of hierarchy, like slavery or caste systems because it starts by presuming equality between the debtor and the creditor. When the debtor falls into arrears, that equality is then destroyed. This sense of betrayal and the subsequent imbalance of power leads to widespread resentment toward lenders. Photo Credit: Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock The debt collector reportedly harassing military service members most was Resurgent Capital Services, a subsidiary of collection giant Sherman Financial Group. The company tacks on accrued interest and junk fees and tries to collect on debts purchased for pennies on the dollar from cable companies, hospitals, and credit card companies, among others. Sherman Financial Group is run by billionaire Benjamin Navarro, who has a reported net worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Sherman Financial also owns subprime lender Credit One Bank and LVNV Funding, which outsource collections to Resurgent Capital. According to CFPB data, the second worst offender is CL Holdings, the parent company of debt-buyer Jefferson Capital Systems. The company has also been named in numerous complaints to the Better Business Bureau for alleged violations of the FDCPA, such as failing to properly validate debts or update credit reports with accurate information. Under the leadership of CEO David Burton, Jefferson Capital Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CompuCredit Corporation, which markets subprime credit cards under the names Aspire, Majestic, and others. The third most referenced debt collector is publicly traded Portfolio Recovery Associates [NASDAQ: PRAA], which was forced to pay $27 million in penalties for making false representations about debts, initiating lawsuits without proper documentation, and other violations. Portfolio Recovery Associates is run by CEO Vikram Atal. Fourth place for alleged worst offender goes to Encore Capital Group [NASDAQ ECPG], which was required to pay $42 million in consumer refunds and a $10 million penalty for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Encore collects under its subsidiary Midland Credit Management Group. These debt collectors all operate under a veritable shell game of company and brand names, almost none of which are disclosed on their websites, sending consumers on a wild goose chase to try and figure out how they’re related to each other. But despite their attempts to hide their tracks behind a smoke screen of subsidiaries, a leopard can’t change its spots, and the CFPB complaint database makes it harder for them to try. Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock Although widely considered a consumer-friendly state, complaints spiked most in California, which saw a 188% increase in complaints filed from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. California is home to 157,367 military personnel, making it the most populous state for active-duty service members. The second-largest increase in debt collection complaints was in Texas, which saw a 66% jump from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense reports 111,005 service members stationed in the Lone Star State, which is the third-most populous state for active-duty military. The rising trends do not correlate to the number of military personnel by state. Complaints against debt collectors in Virginia, the second most populous state with 126,145 active duty personnel, decreased by 29% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. And complaints filed quarter-over-quarter in North Carolina, the fifth most populous state with 91,077 military personnel, decreased by 3% in the same period. The third largest percentage increase in debt collection complaints was from service members stationed in Maryland, where alleged harassment reports jumped 112% from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. Maryland ranks number 12 with just 28,059 active duty service members. Fourth place goes to Ohio – the 28th most populous active-duty state – where complaints doubled, followed by Arizona – the 15th most populous military state – where complaints were up 70% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock In 2007, Congress passed the Military Lending Act to cap the cost of credit to a 36% annual percentage rate, inclusive of junk fees and late charges, for active duty military service members. That rate is still considerably higher than average credit card rates, which range from 8% for borrowers with excellent credit scores to as high as 36% for borrowers with bad credit. But lenders still get hauled into court for violating the MLA. Don Hankey, the billionaire subprime auto lender who funded Donald Trump’s $175 million appeal bond , is among those violators. His company, Westlake Financial, which markets high-interest car loans for bad credit, has been sued twice by the Department of Justice for harassing military service members. In 2017, the DoJ alleged Hankey’s Westlake Financial illegally repossessed at least 70 vehicles owned by military service members. Westlake Financial paid $700,000 to settle the charges. In 2022, Westlake Financial paid $250,000 for allegedly cheating U.S. troops out of interest rates they were legally entitled to. Westlake Financial continues to receive complaints from military service members alleging abusive debt collection practices on its no-credit-check loans. A steady year-over-year increase in the number of complaints filed against Westlake Financial continued from 2020 to 2023. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data shows a 13% increase in the number of complaints against the company from 2020 to 2021, a 28% increase from 2021 to 2022, and a torrential 119% surge from 2022 to 2023. The numbers suggest systemic complaint-handling processes and inadequate customer service resources. Photo Credit: Cynthia Shirk / Shutterstock On May 16, 2024, a deceptively named predatory lending industry front group dubbed the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) lost a legal attempt to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In an effort to deprive Americans of essential consumer protections, the lobby group argued that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure was unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court denied its claim. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court held that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure is indeed constitutional. That means the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be defunded, but it does not mean the agency cannot be defanged. The New York Times suggested that Hankey’s incentive to finance Trump’s $175 million bond could have been a reciprocity pledge to neuter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election. If Trump wins a second term, he could replace Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra, an American consumer advocate, with a predatory lending advocate. In 2020, the Trump Administration secured a Supreme Court ruling that made it easier for the president to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The ruling struck down previous restrictions on when a president can fire the bureau’s director. Like other federal agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also been confronted for overstepping its bounds, pushing too far, and acting unfairly against entities it regulates. Photo Credit: Lux Blue / Shutterstock Seasonality and rising interest rates do not explain the increase in debt collection complaints from service members. The surge in complaints is not tied to predictable seasonal fluctuations or changes in interest rates. The increase in debt collection complaints by service members may point to underlying systemic issues, such as aggressive and predatory debt collection practices that exploit the unique financial vulnerabilities of service members, who face frequent relocations and deployments. Debt Complaints by Service Members The 24% spike in debt collection complaints exhibits no correlation to fluctuations in interest rates. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Pandemic stimulus checks were also not a factor. COVID-19 relief benefit checks went through three major rounds during the pandemic. The final round of Economic Impact Payments went out in March 2021 . To better understand the rising trend of debt collection complaints, we calculated the increase in the total number of complaints and the percentage increase quarter-over-quarter. For example, New Jersey has the second largest percentage increase in complaints quarter-over-quarter, but the total number of complaints increased by just 16. The data for this study was sourced from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database. The dataset specifically targeted complaints filed by U.S. military service members, identified using the tag “Servicemember” within Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. Readers can find the detailed research methodology underlying this news story in the accompanying section here . For complete results, see U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors on BadCredit.org . Homelessness reached record levels in 2023, as rents and home prices continued to rise in most of the U.S. One group was particularly impacted: people who have served in the U.S. military. "This time last year, we knew the nation was facing a deadly public health crisis," Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said in a statement about the 2023 numbers. He said the latest homelessness estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development "confirms the depth of the crisis." At least 35,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2023, according to HUD. While that's about half of what it was in 2009—when the organization began collecting data—things have plateaued in recent years despite active efforts to get that number to zero. Although they make up just 6.6% of the total homeless population, veterans are more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Americans overall. Of every 10,000 Americans, 20 were experiencing homelessness. Of veterans living in the United States, that number jumps to 22, HUD data shows. Complicated by bureaucracy, family dynamics, and prejudice, the path from serving in the military to homelessness is a long one. According to a 2022 study by Yale School of Medicine researchers, homelessness typically occurs within four years of leaving the military, as veterans must contend with the harsh reality of finding a job in a world where employers struggle to see how skills on the battlefield transfer to a corporate environment. These days, veterans also deal with historically high rent and home prices, which causes many to rely on family generosity while figuring out a game plan. Stacker examined academic studies, analyzed government data, and spoke with members of the Biden administration, experts, and former members of the armed forces to see the struggles members of the military face when leaving the armed forces. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers transition assistance to the roughly 250,000 service members who leave each year. However, those programs can be burdensome and complex to navigate, especially for those who don't have a plan for post-military life. Only a small portion of veterans have jobs lined up when they leave, according to 2019 Pew Research. Many also choose to live with relatives until they get on their feet, which can be longer than anticipated. Some former service members are unsure what kind of career they'd like to pursue and may have to get further education or training, Carl Castro, director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California, told Stacker. "It takes years for that kind of transition," Castro said. Many have trouble finding a job after leaving the service, even if they are qualified. Some employers carry misconceptions about those who have served. A 2020 analysis from the journal Human Resource Management Review found that some veterans face hiring discrimination due to negative stereotypes that lead hiring managers to write them off as a poor culture fit. Underemployment, or working low-wage jobs below their skill level, is also an issue. While the unemployment rate for veterans was 3% in March 2024, a study released by Penn State at the end of 2023 found three years after leaving the service, 61% of veterans said they were underemployed because of perceived skill mismatches . This phenomenon can have long-term economic effects, and eventually, that frustration can boil over, strain relationships, and potentially lead to housing instability. Working, especially a low-wage job, is not protection against homelessness. A 2021 study from the University of Chicago found half of people living in homeless shelters and 2 in 5 unsheltered people were employed, full or part-time. High rents make it difficult to save up, even when applying for a VA loan—a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that typically has more favorable terms. While the VA does not require a downpayment, some lenders, who ultimately provide the loan, do. They're not entirely risk-free either, and veterans can still lose their homes if they are unable to keep up with their mortgages. In November 2023, the VA put a six-month pause on foreclosures when an NPR investigation found thousands of veterans were in danger of losing their homes after a COVID forbearance program ended. Biden officials pointed to high rents and the end of COVID-era housing restrictions like eviction moratoriums to explain the spike in Americans experiencing homelessness. In the last year, homelessness rose 12%—to more than 650,000 people—the highest level since data began being collected in 2007. Overall, more than half of people experiencing homelessness in 2023 live in states with high living costs. Most were in California, followed by New York and Florida. Western states, including Montana and Utah, experienced massive population growth during the pandemic, becoming hubs for remote workers who drove home prices and rents even further. For veterans, housing costs certainly play a role, but those who leave the military also face systemic barriers. "It's worrying there are people that continue to fall through the cracks," said Jeanette Yih Harvie, a research associate at Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Just under a quarter of adults experiencing homelessness have a severe mental illness , according to 2022 HUD survey data. They are also likely to have chronic illnesses but are unable to maintain preventative care, which only exacerbates these problems. Veterans facing homelessness are more likely to have experienced trauma , either before or after joining the military, according to Yale researchers who analyzed the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Childhood trauma was among the most significant commonalities among vets who become homeless. Substance use disorder is also widespread and can indicate an undiagnosed mental illness . Racial and ethnic disparities are at play, too. A 2023 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showed that Hispanic and Black veterans were more likely to screen positive for PTSD, and Hispanic veterans were more likely to report having suicidal ideation. Overall, access to mental health care has improved in the last decade or so. In December 2023, the VA announced it would open nine additional counseling centers. However, the stigma of getting help remains, especially after years of being conditioned to be self-reliant and pull oneself up by their bootstraps. That help, in the form of public policy, is slowly working to catch up to the need. In 2023, the Biden administration invested millions into research programs and studies on suicide prevention by the VA office in addition to a proposed $16 billion to improve quality and lower-cost mental health care services for veterans. And, in February of this year, HUD and the VA announced they would give up to $14 million in vouchers to public housing agencies for veterans experiencing homelessness. The program would also offer case management and other services. Still, with a culture that pushes people to keep going, it can be challenging for servicemembers to take advantage of these opportunities, Harvie said. "When you've been doing that for the last 15 or 20 years, it's difficult to stop and say, 'I'm the person that needs help.'" Story editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
The San Francisco 49ers nightmare of a 2024 campaign reached a new low in Week 12 when they suffered a blowout 38-10 loss at the hands of the Green Bay Packers. The Niners were without star quarterback Brock Purdy in this game, and the day after the tough defeat, head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an update on his injury status. Purdy popped up on the injury report last week with a shoulder injury, and it ended up preventing him from suiting up for San Fran in this crucial game. Brandon Allen filled in under center for Purdy, but as you can tell by the final score, he didn't play nearly well enough for the 49ers to have a shot at beating the Packers. Being without Purdy for this clash with Green Bay was obviously tough, but there was hope that this would only be a one week absence for him. A day after the blowout defeat, Shanahan shared that Purdy had done some light throwing on Monday, and that they will see how he feels on Wednesday after he rests on Tuesday. Per Nick Wagoner of ESPN, "49ers QB Brock Purdy did some light throwing today without issue, according to Kyle Shanahan. He'll rest tomorrow and then see how it feels as the week goes on." #49ers QB Brock Purdy did some light throwing today without issue, according to Kyle Shanahan. He'll rest tomorrow and then see how it feels as the week goes on. Injuries have been the story of the 2024 campaign for the 49ers, but losing Purdy for an extended period of time could be what officially pushes them over the edge. San Fran has managed to fend off these injuries all year long to at least stay in the playoff hunt, but they are on the verge of falling out of the NFC wild card hunt. © David Gonzales-Imagn Images The 49ers aren't going to force Purdy onto the field, but given how uncompetitive they were with Allen under center, it's clear that there's going to be some motivation to get him back into the fold as soon as possible. After throwing Monday, all eyes are going to be on Purdy to see how he feels on Wednesday. San Francisco is going to need Purdy, because they have another difficult contest on their schedule in Week 13, as they will be taking on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Related: Packers Player Had Blunt Reaction to 49ers' Brock Purdy 'Excuse'Can ordinary citizens solve our toughest problems?
In 2020, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd BABA prepared for the record-breaking IPO of its affiliate, Ant Group, poised to revolutionize financial technology. Just days before the launch, regulators revealed that Ant had bypassed key banking laws to expand its services. The IPO, valued at $35 billion, was abruptly suspended, causing Alibaba's stock to plummet 13% in a single day. Shortly after, the State Administration for Market Regulation launched an antitrust investigation into Alibaba's monopolistic practices. Investors alleged that Alibaba misled them about regulatory risks tied to Ant Group, its ownership structure, and lending activities. Alibaba has agreed to a $433.5 million settlement with investors to resolve these claims. Affected investors can now file a claim to receive their payouts. Overview In July 2020, Ant Group announced plans for a record-breaking $35 billion IPO, poised to drive significant growth for Alibaba Group Holding Ltd BABA , which held a 33% stake. However, regulatory concerns over Ant's business model, ownership structure, and compliance with new fintech rules led to the IPO's abrupt suspension in November, just days before its launch. The fallout caused Alibaba's shares to plummet, erasing billions in market value, and triggered an antitrust investigation into its monopolistic "Choose One of Two" practices. In response, investors filed a class-action lawsuit, accusing Alibaba of failing to disclose critical regulatory risks. Recently, Alibaba agreed to pay $433.5 million to affected shareholders to settle this lawsuit. SAMR's Crackdown on Alibaba: Legal and Regulatory Implications As Alibaba's market dominance and access to vast consumer data grew, the Chinese government expressed rising concerns about its economic impact. In response, the SAMR introduced new anti-monopoly regulations on September 1, 2019, targeting practices by powerful companies like Alibaba. On November 5, SAMR convened a meeting with around twenty major e-commerce firms, warning that practices like "Choose One of Two" were illegal and must stop. While Alibaba did not deny using such practices, it dismissed the criticism as "slander" and "malicious hype" in a press statement. Under growing regulatory pressure, however, the company eventually committed to compliance, acknowledging potential scrutiny for future violations. Despite the clear warnings, Alibaba continued its anti-competitive behavior. In November 2020, the government introduced new regulations specifically targeting monopolistic behavior in the internet industry, with Alibaba as a primary focus. This announcement triggered a sharp 9% drop in Alibaba's share price on November 10, 2020. By December, SAMR launched a formal investigation, which ultimately found Alibaba guilty and resulted in a record $2.8 billion fine. Political Risk and the Hidden Investors Behind Ant’s IPO Ant Group was spun off from Alibaba in 2011. Jack Ma controlled 50.5% of Ant's shares, while Alibaba held a 33% stake. On July 20, 2020, Alibaba announced Ant’s IPO, aiming to raise a record $35 billion with a $300 billion valuation, sparking excitement among investors, as Alibaba's stake could be worth over $100 billion. However, the enthusiasm was short-lived, as the company revealed in November 2020 that the IPO had been abruptly suspended. The suspension was largely driven by Ant's attempt to bypass financial regulations. Although operating as a financial services company, Ant positioned itself as a tech firm to avoid traditional banking rules. Its high-risk lending activities, with leverage ratios of 50-60 times, raised serious concerns among regulators. In response, China introduced new rules in September 2020, requiring financial holding companies like Ant to maintain higher capital levels, further intensifying scrutiny. Jack Ma's criticism of regulators in an October speech further fueled tensions. Another major risk to the IPO was the hidden identities of private investors whose interests conflicted with those of Chinese President. These investors concealed their ownership through complex and opaque investment structures. Jack Ma was reportedly aware of the political risks tied to these undisclosed ownership interests but failed to address them transparently. When the Chinese government uncovered the identities of these investors during an investigation prior to the Ant IPO, it decided to halt the offering entirely. As a result of the undisclosed information, the share price of Alibaba dropped from $310 on November 2, 2020, to $222 on December 24, 2020, indicating a total fall of 29%. Following these events, investors accused Alibaba of failing to disclose the regulatory risks tied to Ant Group and its monopolistic practices, leading to a lawsuit against the company. Resolving the Case To resolve the lawsuit from investors, Alibaba has agreed to a cash settlement of $433.5 million. If you invested in Alibaba, you may be eligible to claim a portion of this settlement to recover your losses. Despite these efforts, Alibaba’s stock remains below its peak, trading at $85. In August 2024, China's market regulator announced that Alibaba had completed three years of "rectification" for monopolistic behavior. Alibaba called the announcement a "new starting point for development" and pledged to continue fostering the healthy growth of the platform economy. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn announced on Saturday that they’ve made changes to the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) with help from X to “strengthen the bill while safeguarding free speech online and ensuring it is not used to stifle expression.” The Senate passed the bill in July with a vote of 91-3, but it’s since stalled in the House, and its proponents are pushing for it to be passed before the end of the year. X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino also posted about the collaboration, and called for Congress and the House to pass the bill. “After working with the bill authors, I’m proud to share that we’ve made progress to further protect freedom of speech while maintaining safety for minors online,” Yaccarino wrote in a post on X that was shared by the two senators. KOSA is meant to protect minors from “addictive” social media features and potentially dangerous content by placing a “duty of care” on the companies that own the platforms. But critics have argued that it could lead to censorship and other harms. The new changes, according to The Verge , clarify the conditions under which duty of care can be enforced and narrow its application around anxiety and depressive disorders, stating they must be “objectively verifiable” and tied to “compulsive usage.” In their joint statement, Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Blackburn (R-Tennessee) said: KOSA was first introduced in February 2022 and has faced opposition from groups including the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It’s been revised multiple times.A Tale of Two Davids
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