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CHICAGO (AP) — N.J. Benson had 22 points and 17 rebounds in DePaul's 84-65 victory over Loyola Maryland on Saturday. Benson added 17 rebounds for the Blue Demons (9-4). Jacob Meyer added 12 points while shooting 4 for 11 (0 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line while they also had five rebounds. CJ Gunn went 4 of 11 from the field (1 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 11 points. The Greyhounds (5-6) were led in scoring by Jacob Theodosiou, who finished with 22 points. Milos Ilic added 13 points, six rebounds and two steals for Loyola (MD). Jordan Stiemke had 10 points. DePaul took the lead with 18:45 left in the first half and did not relinquish it. Benson led their team in scoring with 14 points in the first half to help put them up 44-26 at the break. DePaul extended its lead to 64-36 during the second half, fueled by an 8-0 scoring run. Isaiah Rivera scored a team-high 10 points in the second half as his team closed out the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
I’ve always fantasised about what it’s like to be rich. And I had a taste of it on my second sojourn to Monaco this year for the prestigious Monaco Yacht Show with Italian luxury yacht manufacturer Benetti. Giovanna Vitelli, chairwoman of the Azimut-Benetti Group, raised a glass to welcome us, bubbles effervescent against the glittering lights of Monaco in the distance from the upper deck of the Calex, a beautiful 67m superyacht anchored at Port Hercule. It was a sophisticated soiree for an intimate group of 14, including journalists from all around the world, as we sat down to dine in shoes-off luxury with Vitelli as our host, together with group CEO Marco Valle, in exceedingly elegant al fresco surrounds. One-Michelin-starred Italian chef Andrea Sarri made an appearance, specially flown in from Italy to tell us about the sumptuous courses he has prepared for us, beautifully presented between gilded cutlery on either side, and lovingly paired with some fine Italian vino including a 2016 Marchese Antinori vintage. We then adjourned to the saloon where a sole cellist in black tie accompanied by an opera singer in a sparkly black gown performed a captivating aria. It appears the Italians do do it better, and this is what it’s like living like the 1 per cent aboard a megayacht in Monaco, I thought to myself. LORO PIANA PLUSHNESS Custom-built in 2022, the Calex represents the pinnacle of what’s possible from the oldest Italian shipyard specialising in luxury yachts. The US$90 million (S$120.7 million) award-winning yacht was built to the b espoke specifications of a Californian owner said to be David Wilson, who owns one of the largest car dealership chains in the USA under the Wilson Automotive Group. And for €680,000 (US$ 716,623; S$ 960,887) a week, you could possibly charter the Calex and live like the billionaire in question ensconced in Loro Piana plushness. The vessel’s sleek exterior styling is by renowned Rome-based yacht designer Giorgio Cassetta, spread over six lavishly appointed decks that are fully accessible by wheelchair via an indoor elevator and segmented into an array of well-proportioned indoor and outdoor spaces masterfully conceived to optimise the expansive views of the ocean while balancing the need for privacy while out at sea. Indoors, it’s Benetti’s style department that has curated a cushy environment for 12 to sleep comfortably in seven cabins, as ivory leather furnishings, Loro Piana fabrics, white statuary and crema marfil marble, and an extensive use of fine maple and American walnut wood tell the story of luxury through a tastefully contrasting light and dark palette. In the marble baths? Molten Brown toiletries, of course. Living like a billionaire also means having a 17-member crew to wait on you (and your 11 guests) hand and foot on a yacht so brilliantly designed with dumb waiters and a series of separate secret passages for staff to stealthily go about their business almost entirely hidden from sight. One can certainly imagine spending one’s summer vacays aboard the Calex, simply soaking up the sun at the beach club with a book in hand, hitting the gym or relaxing at the spa onboard. Oh, did we forget to mention the helicopter pad so your other billionaire friends can easily pop by for a weekend visit? SIZE MATTERS Now the Calex isn’t even the biggest boat Benetti has built. In 2019, the yacht builder created a 108m megayacht, the IJE, which a quick Google search shows could still be yours this winter season at an eye-watering price tag of €1.8 million plus expenses per week. “ The demand for bigger boats is higher than for smaller boats right now,” said Valle in an interview with CNA Luxury the following day. According to the Group CEO, size equals status and this could be one reason Benetti is seeing its business boom more so than compared with its sister brand Azimut, which produces smaller yachts of between 42 ft and 125 ft. B enetti’s revenue for the 2023/2024 financial year ending September was €1.3 billion, bolstered by an order backlog worth €2.6 billion. The company has forecasted growth of 15 per cent for the coming year, underscored by a €160 million investment plan to further shore up the company’s strategic initiatives until 2027. Altogether, that’s another 58 multi-million dollar super- and megayachts that will make their way to multi-millionaire and billionaire owners around the world – and keep the 151-year-old privately-owned company happily busy for the next three years. LOFTY PURSUITS In the last decade, Valle has seen the average age of a Benetti yacht owner fall from 70-plus years of age to about 55 years currently; a trend reflected by other marques at the apex of luxury like Rolls-Royce where the average age of a new Rolls-Royce customer is now 43. “There’s a new generation of rich people, especially in Asia,” observed Valle, a yacht industry veteran of almost 30 years, all of which have been entirely with the Azimut-Benetti Group. That said, the majority of Benetti’s boats in development, he said, are going to the Middle East. While business is quite evenly split among Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East, it’s the latter that seems to be driving demand at this point – and for the next couple of years ahead, at least. But it’s a different story for Azimut where the United States is clearly the strongest market for the brand. These younger clients are also prompting a wave of change in yacht design, with Valle noticing a key theme emerging: Less formality. “The new generation is pushing for a much more liveable boat than before,” he explained. “I remember in the ’90s, people were asking for a private dining area, many rooms, everything separated. Now, they are asking for more informal social areas to enjoy with friends like in a home, and they want it to be more open with more contact with the sea.” In response to these trends, Benetti unveiled its seventh and newest product line during the Monaco Yacht Show: the B.Loft 65m. It’s a revolutionary concept characterised by a unique architectural plan featuring lofty ceilings, as its name suggests, of up to 4m high, as well as more open-concept layouts that give way to more fluidity in connecting the flow of indoor and outdoor spaces. From initial renderings seen, there are also more lounging areas to enjoy the panoramic ocean views like in the Cabana on the main deck, which offers a remarkable 270-degree view with fold-down wings to bring you even closer to the water’s edge while relaxing onboard. Overall, it’s giving the kind of contemporary residential feels that this writer could certainly call home.By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a key policy-setting meeting of the country's ruling party last week ahead of the new year, state media KCNA reported on Sunday. The meeting of party and government officials decided that North Korea would launch the "toughest" strategy to counteract the United States for its security and national interests, the report said, without elaborating. The alliance between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan has expanded to a "nuclear military bloc" and South Korea has become an "anti-communist outpost" for the U.S., the KCNA report added. "This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how." The Dec. 23-27 meeting also reviewed the handling of floods earlier this year, including the plan that brought those affected to Pyongyang, the capital, according to the report. The reclusive state also vowed to promote relations with "friendly" countries during the meeting. Kim also called for progress in defence science and technology to bolster the country's war deterrence. Such meetings often last a few days and have been used in recent years to make key policy announcements. In a reshuffle, Pyongyang named Pak Thae Song, a party secretary, as a new premier to replace Kim Tok Hun. Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui was named a member of the powerful Politburo of the party's Central Committee. The 11th plenary session of the eighth central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea wraps up a year in which Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit with Kim and signed a deal that included a mutual defence pledge. Washington and Seoul have criticized the two countries' military cooperation, including what they say is a dispatch of North Korean troops to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine. (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Leslie Adler and Richard Chang)
Attorneys for election workers that Rudy Giuliani defamed wrote a scathing letter accusing the former New York City mayor of launching a crusade meant to “to obstruct and intimidate” them as they try to recover his assets. In a Friday letter to a federal judge, Michael Gottlieb, a lawyer representing election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, accused Giuliani of orchestrating a “public relations campaign” meant to stop the women from collecting the belongings they are owed. Last December, Giuliani was ordered to pay Freeman and Moss nearly $150 million after a court found he defamed them by falsely claiming they manipulated election results in 2020. The decision led Donald Trump ’s disgraced attorney to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which has since been dismissed . The mother-daughter duo are now allowed to seize his valuables to recover what they are owed. But a barrage of recent court filings, including Giuliani’s attempts to appeal, reveal a weeks-long legal battle that the women argue is the former mayor’s attempts to delay, block or obstruct them from collecting what he has been ordered to turn over. Both Giuliani’s new lawyer and those in his inner circle have argued that the former mayor was wronged and have set out on a mission “designed to interfere” with the women’s “efforts to perform their duties by attacking the underlying judgment,” the letter said. Joey Cammarata, who is representing Giuliani after his previous legal team abruptly quit , held a press conference on Wednesday outside of the offices of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, the firm representing the election workers, where he “launched a variety of attacks” against this case, Gottlieb wrote. There, Cammarata called the court-ordered turnover of Giuliani’s belongings a “seek and destroy mission of America’s mayor.” “We will not relent,” he said. “They are doing everything they can to stop Mr. Giuliani from having a formidable defense. We are not going to allow it. ... This firm is doing everything in its power to break an 80-year-old patriot to its country, an American who did so many great things for us.” This rhetoric was also echoed on social media, where the hashtag “IStandWithRudy” started trending, according to lawyers for the election workers. The online campaign was meant to interfere with the turnover efforts by “inciting members of the public to fight (whatever that means),” they wrote. Ted Goodman, Giuliani’s spokesperson who has been subpoenaed in this case, used the hashtag in a post voicing his opposition to the forced turnover of Giuliani’s 1980 Mercedes-Benz : “I’m calling on ALL Americans to speak out against this lawfare. Shame on the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher for participating in this injustice. #IStandWithRudy .” The alleged owner of the Long Island storage facility — where the former Trump lawyer is accused of hiding some items from his New York City apartment — also posted on X that “this is not going to happen. America has to come back real fast. Pray for Rudy Giuliani , today is his day.” “The public relations campaign described above has no legal purpose — this is a turnover proceeding governed by facts and law, not a political campaign — and, instead, is an obvious attempt to obstruct and intimidate Receivers from effectuating the duties that this Court has authorized them to perform,” Gottlieb wrote. Cammarata’s “publicity stunt, reinforced by Mr. Giuliani’s social media campaign, continues Mr. Giuliani’s habit of litigating in the press issues that he has conceded or stipulated to in court,” he added, seemingly referencing Giuliani’s baseless claims about the 2020 election and his defamatory statements about Freeman and Moss, among other spurious statements Giuliani has made on his podcasts and to the media. Earlier this week, the election workers asked a judge in Washington, DC who had presided over their initial defamation case to consider sanctions against Giuliani after he repeated “the exact same lies for which [he] has already been held liable, and which he agreed to be bound by court order to stop repeating” during recent livestreams. The judge required him to respond to the complaint by December 2 — or risk being held in contempt. The women say they have received18 watches and a diamond ring, but they are still waiting on nine other watches and all of his “costume jewelry,” according to their letter. As for the Mercedes, they have physical possession of the vehicle, but still don’t have the deed, title, or right of ownership to the car, or any signed documents transferring its ownership, they said. The Manhattan penthouse is in the process of being transferred, but the former mayor hasn’t delivered the keys, stock, or proprietary lease for the apartment “and apparently has been unable to locate any of the underlying ownership documents,” according to the letter. And there’s been another roadblock: the penthouse remains in the names of both Giuliani and his ex-wife Judith. Attorneys said they have also struggled to obtain the contents of a storage unit in Ronkonkoma, New York, since it’s unclear what is being held there that could be turned over. The unit holds eight storage boxes, more than 20 pallets of moving boxes, and furniture, according to the letter. They are asking Giuliani to segregate his property from all property in the storage unit that they are entitled — along with a list of those items — no later than December 6. It’s unclear whether his Joe DiMaggio jersey, signed art, or sports memorabilia that he has been ordered to turn over is in that facility, the letter says. So the election workers have instructed Giuliani to provide instructions as to where to find these items before the next hearing on November 26 “or explain why he is incapable of doing so” before 3 p.m. on November 25, Gottlieb said. Invoices show that Giuliani appeared to have moved “a substantial amount of his property” from his Manhattan apartment to the storage unit before the judge ordered him to turn over his belongings. That storage unit is under the name of Maria Ryan, Giuliani’s business associate , the election workers discovered earlier this month.Every Black Friday, there’s a number of viral products that everyone has on their Christmas wish list, and we don’t expect this year to be any different. However, not all of these popular items are going to stay in stock, and we have some insight on the ones that won’t. Black Friday is big business, and last year shoppers spent $222.1 billion during the entire holiday shopping season, according to Queue-it. Sales on Black Friday reached $16.4 billion (online and in stores), and this was a 9% increase from the year before. While it comes as no surprise that electronics are the most sought-after products of the holiday season, Queue-it said this accounts for the majority of holiday sales, jumping to $50.8 billion in 2023. Apparel, furniture, groceries and toys are the other hot sellers of Black Friday. Together, these five categories accounted for 65% of sales during the holidays last year and is only expected to grow in 2024. While many items that sell out over Black Friday are driven by a good deal, we also know that a hot product is just that — a gift that most people want to open on Christmas Day. So, here are our picks for the top 10 hot-ticket items that could sell out over Black Friday. Samsung 98-inch QLED TV The holidays are ripe for TV deals, and we expect shoppers to buy a ton of them in 2024, especially at Walmart. Consumers are trending toward bigger TVs and the super low-price deals over Black Friday force many models to sell out. This is especially true of popular models from Samsung, Hisense, LG and more favorites. Apple Watch Series 9 Apple's smartwatches are a top pick among Apple fans. We’ve seen prices on the Apple Watch continue to trend downward, which was only spurred by the release of the new Apple Watch 10 in September. This pushed down prices on earlier models, with the best deals coming on the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch 9. For Black Friday, we think the prices will drop even lower and sell out due to high demand. Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones are one of the most popular products of 2024, and Beats are one of the top brands. We’re already seeing big markdowns on Beats Wireless Headphones, and we expect these price drops to continue into Black Friday. The Beats Solo3 is likely to be on sale for even cheaper than we’ve already seen, and we think they will sell out for Black Friday, with the possibility of other popular Beats headphones joining them. Apple AirPods (3rd gen) If you haven’t picked up a pair of Apple AirPods yet, this could be your year to do it. With Apple launching a fourth generation of AirPods earlier this year, the price on prevvious models are creeping lower. We think over Black Friday they’ll be at their cheapest price ever, with the AirPods (3rd Gen) likely to sell out. JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth speakers are a must-have for many this year, and with the big sound that comes from JBL’s speakers, it’s easy to see why they might sell out for Black Friday. These popular speakers come in a variety of portable sizes and waterproof designs. We expect big deals on JBL’s top-rated Clip 5 and Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker models. Apple iPad (10th Gen) One of Apple’s most sought-after products of the year was the iPad, and we saw the 9th Gen and 10th Gen models drop to their lowest prices ever. We think this year will bring some iPad bliss with even better discounts, but these deals will disappear just as fast as they arrive. We think that mega discounts on the iPad (9th Gen) and iPad (10th Gen) could cause sell outs, especially on Amazon. Dyson Airwrap The Dyson Airwrap just might be the top product of Black Friday, as this is one of the rare times there’s a discount on the beloved hair styling tool. At $600, the Airwrap carries a hefty price tag, so any discount presented is a welcome surprise. But as we’ve seen in the past, any Black Friday deal on the Dyson Airwrap causes a crush of interest that’s followed by a sell out. Ugg Tasman slippers If you’ve tried to scoop up the UGG Tasman Slippers in previous years, you already know they never stay in stock for long. As the “it” slipper of the holiday season, UGG’s Tasman sells out multiple times over the holidays, even without a discount offered. We think that this year will be similar, with popular sizes and colors of the Tasman Slipper snatched up fast over Black Friday. Bissell Little Green The Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner is a popular home product that just can’t seem to stay in stock. With prices falling under $90, this mighty machine can be a blessing for pet owners and parents, as its compact size makes it easy to store and use when needed. We’ve seen the Little Green Machine sell out before, and we’d be surprised if it didn’t do it again over Black Friday. Furby Galaxy Edition We’d be remiss if we didn’t include a top toy that we think will be hard to find and gift this year. Our pick is the Furby Galaxy Edition. This glow-in-the-dark Furby is based on the original Furby from the late ’90s with even more features, interactive modes and more fun. Making a comeback in 2023, we saw the revival of this popular toy sell out last year, and we expect the new Furby Galaxy Edition to do the same. For the holidays: Get inspiring home and gift ideas – sign up now!
CNN claims Robinson's defamation lawsuit 'political theater'A top Fed official leans toward December rate cut but says it depends on economic data WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Federal Reserve official says he is leaning toward supporting an interest rate cut when the Fed meets in two weeks but that evidence of persistent inflation before then could cause him to change that view. Speaking at George Washington University, Christopher Waller, a key member of the Fed’s Board of Governors, said he was confident that inflation is headed lower and that the central bank will likely keep reducing its key rate, which affects many consumer and business loans. But he noted that there’s a risk that inflation “may be getting stuck above” the Fed’s 2% target, which would support an argument for keeping the Fed’s rate unchanged this month. Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year's biggest day for online shopping Consumers in the U.S. are scouring the internet for online deals as they look to make the most of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon on Cyber Monday. The National Retail Federation coined the term for the Monday after Black Friday in 2005. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people’s regular routine, Cyber Monday continues to be the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to steady discounts and a fair amount of hype. Several major retails actually started their Cyber Monday promotions over the weekend. Consumer spending for the online shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday provides an indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays. Supreme Court justices question block on flavored vapes, but don't appear convinced FDA was unfair WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of Supreme Court justices didn’t seem convinced Monday that federal regulators misled companies as they refused to allow them to sell sweet flavored vaping products following a surge in teen e-cigarette use. The court did raise questions about an FDA crackdown that included denials on sales of more than a million nicotine products formulated to taste like fruit, desert or candy. The case comes a month before the start of the second Trump administration, which could change the FDA's approach after he vowed to “save” vaping. Can AI chatbots make your holiday shopping easier? Tired of thinking about what gifts to get everyone this year? Artificial intelligence chatbots might help, but don’t expect them to always give you the right answers. Scouring the internet for Cyber Monday deals may yield an encounter with more chattier iterations of the chatbots that some retailers built to provide customer service. Some companies have integrated models that allow shoppers to ask questions like “What’s the best wireless speaker?” Retailers hope consumers use these shopping assistants as virtual companions that help them discover or compare products. The technology is still in its infancy, though, and chatbots are prone to hallucinations, so most of the new tools sometimes get things wrong. Intel CEO Gelsinger retires; Zinsner and Johnston Holthaus named interim co-CEOs Struggling chipmaker Intel says in a surprise announcement that CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired. Two company executives, David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus, will act as interim co-CEOs while the company searches for a replacement for Gelsinger, who also stepped down from the company’s board. The departure of Gelsinger, whose career spanned more than 40 years, underscores turmoil at Intel. The company was once a dominant force in the semiconductor industry but has ben eclipsed by rival Nvidia, which has cornered the market for chips that run artificial intelligence systems. Nvidia’s ascendance was cemented earlier this month when it replaced Intel on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another record NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Better drugs through AI? Insitro CEO on what machine learning can teach Big Pharma WASHINGTON (AP) — Artificial intelligence is changing the way industries do business. But executives in the pharmaceutical industry are still waiting to see whether AI can tackle their biggest challenge: finding faster, cheaper ways to develop new drugs. Despite billions poured into research and development, new medicines still typically take a decade or more to develop. Insitro is part of a growing field of AI companies promising to accelerate drug discovery by using machine learning to analyze huge datasets that could lead to new medicines. FTC opens Microsoft antitrust investigation that Trump administration must carry on or drop Antitrust enforcers with the Federal Trade Commission have opened a wide-ranging investigation into Microsoft’s business practices, starting off a big legal project that an incoming Trump administration must take up or abandon. The FTC is investigating Microsoft’s cloud computing business and related product lines such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, according to a person who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It’s the latest action of more than three years of aggressive antitrust enforcement shepherded by FTC Chair Lina Chan, who was elevated to lead the agency by President Joe Biden after he came into office pledging tougher scrutiny of monopolistic behavior by Big Tech companies. More than 3 million travelers screened at US airports in a single day. That's a record Travelers heading home after the Thanksgiving holiday are setting a record. The Transportation Security Administration says that it screened nearly 3.1 million travelers on Sunday, breaking the previous record by about 74,000. That mark was set on July 7, also a Sunday after a holiday, July Fourth. Hundreds of thousands of travelers were delayed or had their flights canceled. FlightAware says more 6,800 flights were delayed on Sunday, with the highest numbers at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. General Motors to sell its stake in Lansing, Michigan, battery factory to LG Energy Solution DETROIT (AP) — General Motors has reached an agreement to sell its stake in a nearly completed electric vehicle battery plant in Lansing, Michigan. The company said Monday that it has a nonbinding agreement for the sale to joint venture partner LG Energy Solution of South Korea. The companies expect to close the sale by the end of March. Financial details were not released Monday, but GM said it expects to recoup its investment. The company has spent about $1 billion on the Lansing factory. GM says it will rely on joint venture factories in Warren, Ohio, and Spring Hill, Tennessee, to supply factories that make seven electric vehicles now on sale in the U.S.
How I Love Lucy changed televisionLOS ANGELES — It's always a good idea to bundle up at Mammoth Mountain, but anyone hoping to get in some holiday ski runs may want to consider some additional layers. A storm forecast to hit this weekend is expected to bring strong winds with gusts of up to 70 mph at the mountain's summit, according to the National Weather Service . A high-wind watch has been issued for most of Sunday, with sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph expected along with the more powerful gusts. A new snow layer of 1 to 2 inches is also possible — welcome news for those looking to hit the slopes before ringing in the new year. But while conditions may be blustery, visitors shouldn't expect the same sort of scene depicted in a viral video that's been making the rounds on social media. That video, which was posted on X on Christmas Day, showed hundreds of skiers lining up for a ski lift while being pelted by snow and wind. However, the video was originally posted on Instagram more than a week earlier — and was taken at a time when most lifts had been closed due to wind gusts up to 100 mph at the mountain's summit, Mammoth Mountain spokesperson Emily van Greuning told SFGate. Jake Baisley, who took the original video, said it was on the fourth day of his first trip to Mammoth Mountain. "The conditions were pretty crummy," he said, "lots of rocks showing and the lines were long on the weekends." Despite the wind and lines, he'll likely head back to Mammoth, he said, adding that the area is good for van life . Other than that now-viral moment, Van Greuning said, the busy holiday season has been going as expected. The Eastern Sierra ski resort has seen a good turnout so far this season, which usually starts in November and ends in May. With 3,500 acres available for skiing, there's not much concern for crowding on a typical day, Van Greuning told The Times in an email Thursday. Last year's season extended into August for only the third time in the resort's seven-decade history, when the main lodge saw a record 60 feet of snow. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Byfield scores in 200th career game as Kings hold off Kraken for 2-1 winAfter-hours movers: Marvell Technology, Salesforce, Okta and moreThe past week in Seoul, officials and academics warn, is what a threat to democracy looks like in 2024. It's a democratically-elected president declaring martial law over the nation he leads, asserting sweeping powers to prevent opposition demonstrations, ban political parties and control the media. It's members of the military attempting to block lawmakers from exercising their power to vote on cancelling the power grab. And here's what it took to defeat President Yoon Suk Yeol 's lurch toward government by force: Unified popular support for democracy. Legislators storming the National Assembly past midnight, live-streaming themselves climbing over fences. A politician grabbing at a soldier's rifle and yelling “Aren't you ashamed?” until he retreated. And finally, decisively, Parliament assembling a quorum and voting unanimously to cancel martial law. It was a victory for a hard-won democracy — and for the idea that checks and balances among branches of government must work to counteract each other's ambitions, as the American founders wrote in the Federalist Papers in 1788. But as the drama played out in Seoul, the scaffolding of democracy rattled around the world. In other countries, the grab for power might have worked. Other would-be authoritarians might have been better prepared than Yoon. In deeply polarized societies — the United States, for example, where Republicans are staunchly loyal to president-elect Donald Trump — there might not have been decisive support from the public or the opposition. The military might have used force. And the members of the legislature might not have voted as one to snuff out the attempted takeover. “President Yoon's attempt to declare martial law reveals the fragility of the rule of law in divided societies, especially those with governments in which the chief executive cannot be easily dismissed by the legislature," said Tom Pepinsky, a government professor at Cornell University who studies backsliding among democracies in Southeast Asia. Notably, he said in an email, “No members of President Yoon’s own party were willing to defend his actions in public." Nevertheless, Yoon’s surprise attempt to impose martial law revealed both the fragility and resilience of the country’s democratic system. Within three hours of his stunning announcement to impose military rule — claiming the opposition was “paralyzing” state affairs — 190 lawmakers voted to cancel his actions. In so doing, they demonstrated the strength of the country’s democratic checks and balances. Yoon’s authoritarian push, carried out by hundreds of heavily armed troops with Blackhawk helicopters and armored vehicles sent to the National Assembly, harked back to an era of dictatorial presidents. The country’s democratic transition in the late 1980s came after years of massive protests by millions that eventually overcame violent suppressions by military rulers. Civilian presence was again crucial in shaping the events following Yoon’s late night television announcement on Tuesday. Thousands of people flocked to the National Assembly, shouting slogans for martial law to be lifted and Yoon to step down from power. There were no reports of violent clashes as troops and police officers. “We restored democracy without having a single casualty this time,” said Seol Dong-hoon, a sociology professor at South Korea’s Jeonbuk National University. It’s virtually impossible for any leader of a democracy to pull off a transition toward martial law without a public willing to support it, or at least tolerate it. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, attracted millions of views as he began live-streaming his journey to the National Assembly, pleading for people to converge to the parliament to help lawmakers get inside. The shaky footage later shows him exiting his car climbing over a fence to get onto the grounds. The vote at the National Assembly was also broadcast live on the YouTube channel of Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik, who also had to scale a fence to get in. Yoon’s sense of crisis clearly wasn’t shared by the public, whose opinions, Seol said, were shaped predominantly by the shocking videos broadcast to their devices. “Ultimately, democracy is all about moving public opinion,” he said. “What was most crucial in this case was that everything was broadcast live on smartphones, YouTube and countless other media.” Opposition lawmakers are now pushing to remove Yoon from office, saying he failed to meet the constitutional requirement that martial law should only be considered in wartime or a comparable severe crisis — and that he unlawfully deployed troops to the National Assembly. On Saturday, an opposition-led impeachment motion failed after most lawmakers from Yoon’s party boycotted the vote. Yet the president’s troubles persist: The vote’s defeat is expected to intensify nationwide protests and deepen South Korea’s political turmoil, with opposition parties preparing to introduce another impeachment motion when parliament reconvenes next Wednesday. Han Sang-hie, a law professor at Seoul’s Konkuk University, said the martial law debacle highlights what he sees as the most crucial flaw of South Korea’s democracy: that it places too much power in the hands of the president, which is easily abused and often goes unchecked. Political scientists call what happened in South Korea an “autogolpe” — a “self-coup” — defined as one led by incumbent leaders themselves, in which an executive takes or sponsors illegal actions against others in the government. Yoon qualifies because he used troops to try to shut down South Korea's legislature. Self-coups are increasing, with a third of the 46 since 1945 occurring in the past decade, according to a study by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Penn State University. About 80% of self-coups succeed, they reported. In 2021, a power grab by Tunisian President Kais Saied raised similar concerns around the world after the country designed a democracy from scratch and won a Nobel Peace Prize after a largely bloodless revolution. In the United States, some have expresed worry about similar situations arising during the second administration of Donald Trump. He has vowed, after all, to shake some of democracy's pillars . He's mused that he would be justified if he decided to pursue “the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” That’s in contrast to the oath of office he took in 2017, and will again next year, to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” as best he can. Nearly half of voters in the Nov. 5 election, which Trump won, said they were “very concerned” that another Trump presidency would bring the U.S. closer to authoritarianism, according to AP Votecast survey data. Asked before a live audience on Fox News Channel in 2023 to assure Americans that he would not abuse power or use the presidency to seek retribution against anyone, Trump replied, “except for day one," when he'll close the border and “drill, drill, drill.” After that, Trump said, "I'm not a dictator.” Kellman reported from London.
Haynes' 18 help George Mason defeat Mount St. Mary's 64-56President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction
EDITORIAL: This December 27th was the 17th anniversary of two-time former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in Rawalpindi at about the same place where the first prime minister of Pakistan and one of its founding fathers Liaquat Ali Khan fell to an assassin’s bullet nearly 73 year earlier. Both shocking incidents that left an indelible mark on the nation’s democratic journey remain shrouded in mystery. The latter’s assassin was killed on the spot, providing an alibi to whosoever planned and orchestrated the heinous act. Still, nagging questions persist given the uncontested fact that the shooter was sitting in the front row reserved for police officers from the Crime Investigation Department, making it easy for him to target the PM while he delivered his address. Regarding Benazir’s case, there is no doubt whatsoever that the deadly attack on her life was the result of a conspiracy. She was first targeted in October of that fateful year upon return from self-exile. Her massive homecoming procession came under a bombing attack at Karsaz in Karachi. Miraculously, she survived unhurt but hundreds of her party workers and supporters lost their lives. The second time the would-be assassins did everything to achieve their nefarious designs. Sharp shooters placed on rooftops of buildings surrounding her election rally, apparently, failed to find the right opportunity to hit her on stage. But others lay in wait on her way back in an armoured vehicle. As soon as she stood up to respond to a cheering crowd an attacker opened fire followed by a suicide bombing that left her mortally wounded and some 20 other people dead. The then government of Gen Pervez Musharraf blamed it on a Taliban commander, Baitullah Mehsud, who denied any involvement. Ten year later, an anti-terrorism court acquitted five Taliban suspects of conspiracy to murder the former prime minister, but sent two policemen to jail for purported negligence to prevent the attack, and also declared by then ex-president Musharraf - charged in the case - a fugitive from justice. As expected, her son PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari rejected that verdict. The court, obviously, had overlooked the findings of a UN Commission of Inquiry appointed at the request of PPP government, which brought to light some crucial details. Its April 2010 report noted that the government was quick to blame Baitullah Mehsud, although Bhutto’s foes potentially included elements from the establishment itself. Though it failed to reach a conclusion as to the organizers/sponsors of the attack, the commission said the security arrangements by federal and local authorities to protect Benazir were “fatally ineffective”, and subsequent investigations into her death were “prejudiced” and involved “a whitewash”. No surprise therefore if 17 year on the people and Benazir’s family as well as of those who lost their lives both in the Karsaz and Rawalpindi bombings await justice. This only encourages other potential killers to get rid of any political leader with impunity. In fact two years ago, former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan faced a botched assassination attempt in Wazirabad during a protest march on Islamabad. Luckily, he escaped with bullet injuries to a leg. But he was unable to lodge an FIR with the police even though his party ruled in Punjab where it happened. All these appalling incidents underscore the need for democratic accountability over which hangs a big question mark. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games. Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on. Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle. Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14. Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings' lone opportunity with the man-advantage. After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals. The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods. The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Stock market today: Wall Street inches higher to set more recordsNoneLOS ANGELES — Historically, before they find their rhythm, Eric Musselman’s teams have never quite stacked the deck. For three consecutive years, when Musselman arrived in Fayetteville, Arkansas didn’t play a single top-25 team across their nonconference slate before diving into SEC play. That changed, into 2023-24, when the Razorbacks took on powers North Carolina, Duke and Oklahoma in November and December as part of a rough-and-tumble season. But with Musselman’s return to Southern California roots this spring, and a roster carefully pieced together from transfer-portal remnants, he returned to a softer slate in the early months. That’s come in matchups and in travel, as USC hasn’t and won’t travel beyond Palm Desert for a single nonconference game this season. “When you take the two games in Palm Springs, and 20 league games, and Cal, that’s a good enough strength of schedule,” Musselman said, after USC’s early November opener against Chattanooga. The Trojans’ early-season slate, though, was as cushy a Musselman-led team has had in recent memory. And they bounced, quickly, to a 5-1 record, with four games against teams currently under .500. Then they traveled two hours east to the desert, and came away thoroughly embarrassed. USC’s 71-36 loss to Saint Mary’s on Thursday was the worst loss in program memory since Andy Enfield’s Trojans were smacked by TCU by 35 points in 2018. The underlying realities, too, were even uglier than the final score: USC shot 26% from the floor, went 0 for 12 from deep, recorded a total of six assists and were doubled in rebounding. After a subsequent loss to New Mexico on Saturday, any fuzzy feelings from Musselman’s early tenure have quickly faded, with the Trojans sitting at 5-3 entering their Big Ten debut against 12th-ranked Oregon on Wednesday night. With a roster of new faces, USC’s defensive identity still hasn’t clicked, and their offensive identity looks even more fragile. Entering conference play, here’s a breakdown of three key takeaways from the Trojans’ nonconference slate. USC’s roster was constructed on versatility, with Musselman often emphasizing that USC would turn smaller or bigger based upon game flow and style of opponent. But eight games in, it’s abundantly clear Musselman’s still tinkering, a development that suggests his program hasn’t yet found a consistent identity. Twelve Trojans have seen stints, of one form or another, in Musselman’s rotation in this early part of the season. In an 83-73 loss to New Mexico that had ballooned to a 20-point deficit with six minutes to play, USC closed with freshman Isaiah Elohim and sophomore Kevin Patton Jr., both of whom had rarely played for extended stretches. Center Josh Cohen is USC’s top scorer through eight games, but wasn’t on the floor late against Cal and New Mexico. It’s clear, at the moment, Musselman trusts USC’s wings to finish games more than relying on Cohen or another big. But precisely which wings, still, is yet to be determined. More does not mean more production. Through eight games, the Northern Colorado transfer is USC’s leader in rebounds, assists and steals, playing the kind of 6-foot-7 do-everything role Musselman saw early in his blend of ball-handling and physicality. “When we got the commitment, we felt like he was going to have to carry a load,” Musselman said in early November. But one key ingredient is missing: The fiery Thomas hasn’t been the go-to scorer he so often showed in exhibition games. He’s averaging just 8.3 points a game, shooting 37% from the floor and 25% from deep while often passing up shots in the flow of USC’s offense. These Trojans desperately need shot creators. Thomas consistently taking 10-plus shots a game and finding a rhythm would go a long way. For long stretches in USC’s first few games, Washington transfer Wesley Yates III has looked like USC’s best player and completely unaware of the concept of shot selection, a maddening conundrum that saw him score in double figures for four straight games before falling in Musselman’s rotation. “Wes has a great ability to score the ball, but he’s got a lot of things – as a lot of young players need to grow – and understand how to play with discipline on both ends of the floor,” Musselman said earlier in the year. Elohim, a Sierra Canyon product, has gotten a few looks but little consistent run to establish himself as a scorer. Patton Jr., a San Diego import, has seen some opportunity since returning from injury. Freshman Jalen Shelley looked dynamic in a preseason scrimmage, but has barely played. Musselman, thus far, has shown much more trust in his veteran transfers – keep an eye on the stock of USC’s youth quadrant.
Trudeau told Trump Americans would also suffer if tariffs are imposed, a Canadian minister says‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Devastated by Botched $75k Bonus Round Despite Big BoostRanger Energy director Michael Kearney sells $409,964 in stock
Black Friday is big business, and last year shoppers spent $222.1 billion during the entire holiday shopping season, according to Queue-it. Sales on Black Friday reached $16.4 billion (online and in stores), and this was a 9% increase from the year before. While it comes as no surprise that electronics are the most sought-after products of the holiday season, Queue-it said this accounts for the majority of holiday sales, jumping to $50.8 billion in 2023. Apparel, furniture, groceries and toys are the other hot sellers of Black Friday. Together, these five categories accounted for 65% of sales during the holidays last year and is only expected to grow in 2024. While many items that sell out over Black Friday are driven by a good deal, we also know that a hot product is just that — a gift that most people want to open on Christmas Day. So, here are our picks for the top 10 hot-ticket items that could sell out over Black Friday. 1. Big TVs The holidays are ripe for TV deals, and we expect shoppers to buy a ton of them in 2024, especially at Walmart. Consumers are trending toward bigger TVs and the super low-price deals over Black Friday force many models to sell out. This is especially true of popular models from Samsung, Hisense, LG and more favorites. 2. Apple Watches Apple's smartwatches are a top pick among Apple fans. We’ve seen prices on the Apple Watch continue to trend downward, which was only spurred by the release of the new Apple Watch 10 in September. This pushed down prices on earlier models, with the best deals coming on the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch 9. For Black Friday, we think the prices will drop even lower and sell out due to high demand. 3. Beats headphones Wireless headphones are one of the most popular products of 2024, and Beats are one of the top brands. We’re already seeing big markdowns on Beats Wireless Headphones, and we expect these price drops to continue into Black Friday. The Beats Solo3 is likely to be on sale for even cheaper than we’ve already seen, and we think they will sell out for Black Friday, with the possibility of other popular Beats headphones joining them. 4. Apple AirPods If you haven’t picked up a pair of Apple AirPods yet, this could be your year to do it. With Apple launching a fourth generation of AirPods earlier this year, the price on prevvious models are creeping lower. We think over Black Friday they’ll be at their cheapest price ever, with the AirPods (3rd Gen) likely to sell out. 5. JBL bluetooth speakers Bluetooth speakers are a must-have for many this year, and with the big sound that comes from JBL’s speakers, it’s easy to see why they might sell out for Black Friday. These popular speakers come in a variety of portable sizes and waterproof designs. We expect big deals on JBL’s top-rated Clip 5 and Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker models. 6. Apple iPad One of Apple’s most sought-after products of the year was the iPad, and we saw the 9th Gen and 10th Gen models drop to their lowest prices ever. We think this year will bring some iPad bliss with even better discounts, but these deals will disappear just as fast as they arrive. We think that mega discounts on the iPad (9th Gen) and iPad (10th Gen) could cause sell outs, especially on Amazon. 7. Dyson Airwrap The Dyson Airwrap just might be the top product of Black Friday, as this is one of the rare times there’s a discount on the beloved hair styling tool. At $600, the Airwrap carries a hefty price tag, so any discount presented is a welcome surprise. But as we’ve seen in the past, any Black Friday deal on the Dyson Airwrap causes a crush of interest that’s followed by a sell out. 8. UGG Tasman slippers If you’ve tried to scoop up the UGG Tasman Slippers in previous years, you already know they never stay in stock for long. As the “it” slipper of the holiday season, UGG’s Tasman sells out multiple times over the holidays, even without a discount offered. We think that this year will be similar, with popular sizes and colors of the Tasman Slipper snatched up fast over Black Friday. 9. Bissell Little Green The Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner is a popular home product that just can’t seem to stay in stock. With prices falling under $90, this mighty machine can be a blessing for pet owners and parents, as its compact size makes it easy to store and use when needed. We’ve seen the Little Green Machine sell out before, and we’d be surprised if it didn’t do it again over Black Friday. 10. Furby Galaxy Edition We’d be remiss if we didn’t include a top toy that we think will be hard to find and gift this year. Our pick is the Furby Galaxy Edition. This glow-in-the-dark Furby is based on the original Furby from the late ’90s with even more features, interactive modes and more fun. Making a comeback in 2023, we saw the revival of this popular toy sell out last year, and we expect the new Furby Galaxy Edition to do the same.
ST. PAUL — Former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic died Friday following a battle with cancer. She was 62. Her family said she died surrounded by loved ones. “She had a heart of gold, willing to go to any measure to help those she loved,” they said in a statement. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin the Minneapolis Democrat was committed to working for Minnesotans. She served in the Minnesota Senate for more than a decade. “It is impossible to overstate the positive impact that Senator Dziedzic’s leadership has had on our state,” Martin said in a statement. “She devoted her life to making her fellow Minnesotans’ lives better, and she refused to allow cancer to get in her way. Minnesota has lost a giant, but her extraordinary legacy will outlast us all.” Dziedzic was instrumental in holding together the Senate DFL caucus in 2023 as they passed, with a one-vote majority, a variety of Democratic priorities like funding universal school meals for students, approving a paid family and medical leave program, cementing legal protections for abortion and gender-affirming care and legalizing cannabis for recreational use. She was respected on both sides of the political aisle and her demeanor was always steady, even amid tense times in the Senate. Dziedzic’s laid-back style made her a surprising pick for majority leader after the 2022 election. Leaders from both major political parties said they were heartbroken by her death. “Senator Kari Dziedzic was a passionate legislator, a respected leader, and a trusted colleague and friend. She will be remembered for her integrity and her compassion for Minnesotans, something that we all saw as she continued to serve even as she battled cancer,” said Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, an East Grand Forks Republican. “I’m deeply saddened at her passing and am praying for her family and friends as we all mourn this loss.” House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said she was “one of the most skilled diplomats ever to serve in elected office.” “Her legacy includes significant achievements in policy and investment in Minnesota, but more importantly she will be remembered for treating people with dignity and respect and never giving up on finding workable compromises,” Hortman said. “She had an incredible ability to work diligently through the most arcane and difficult policy issues to find resolution.” Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, agreed, saying she was “an uncommon leader.” “Her talents as a consequential and thoughtful leader made us all better legislators, and her examples of kindness humor, and selflessness made us all better people,” Murphy said. Former Senate DFL Leader Melisa López Franzen praised Dziedzic as a hard worker. “The last time I spoke to Kari a few weeks ago she was still serving her constituents,” she wrote on social media. “That’s Senator Dziedzic, the hardest working legislator I have ever had the honor to serve with. Rest in peace my friend.” Dziedzic was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023 and underwent emergency surgery to limit its spread. She stepped down from her leadership position in February after her cancer recurred. The Senate will now stand in a 33-33 tie between Democrats and Republicans heading into the 2025 legislative session. Gov. Tim Walz has not yet said when he might call for a special election in the Minneapolis district. Dziedzic had a degree in engineering but couldn’t resist the family pull into public service. Her father, Walt, was a colorful Minneapolis city council member who later served on the park board. Dziedzic told MPR News that she felt drawn into politics after watching her father’s example. “I knew the long hours. I knew the phone calls at home. I knew what I was walking into,” she said. “But I also knew the opportunity that you have to help other people. And it’s about helping people and making your community better.” Dziedzic began a career in public service as a campaign volunteer and later moved on to become a scheduling aide for former U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone. After a stint working for a Hennepin County commissioner, she was nudged to run for a state Senate seat when longtime lawmaker Larry Pogemiller stepped down to take another government job. Gov. Tim Walz called Dziedzic a “one-of-a-kind leader.” He added, “Her legacy should inspire all of us in elected office to be better public servants.” Details for a memorial service have not yet been announced.Stocks likely to keep up positive momentum on strong valuations
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