baccarat demo Texans WR Nico Collins says he was fined for tossing TD ball to kidOperations teams have confirmed NASA’s mission to “touch” the Sun survived its record-breaking closest approach to the solar surface on Dec. 24, 2024. Breaking its previous record by flying just 3.8 million miles above the surface of the Sun, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe hurtled through the solar atmosphere at a blazing 430,000 miles per hour — faster than any human-made object has ever moved. A beacon tone received late on Dec. 26 confirmed the spacecraft had made it through the encounter safely and is operating normally. This pass, the first of more to come at this distance, allows the spacecraft to conduct unrivaled scientific measurements with the potential to change our understanding of the Sun. Flying this close to the Sun is a historic moment in humanity’s first mission to a star. Nicky fox NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate "Flying this close to the Sun is a historic moment in humanity’s first mission to a star,” said Nicky Fox, who leads the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “By studying the Sun up close, we can better understand its impacts throughout our solar system, including on the technology we use daily on Earth and in space, as well as learn about the workings of stars across the universe to aid in our search for habitable worlds beyond our home planet.” Parker Solar Probe has spent the last six years setting up for this moment. Launched in 2018, the spacecraft used seven flybys of Venus to gravitationally direct it ever closer to the Sun. With its last Venus flyby on Nov. 6, 2024, the spacecraft reached its optimal orbit. This oval-shaped orbit brings the spacecraft an ideal distance from the Sun every three months — close enough to study our Sun’s mysterious processes but not too close to become overwhelmed by the Sun’s heat and damaging radiation. The spacecraft will remain in this orbit for the remainder of its primary mission. “Parker Solar Probe is braving one of the most extreme environments in space and exceeding all expectations,” said Nour Rawafi, the project scientist for Parker Solar Probe at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), which designed, built, and operates the spacecraft from its campus in Laurel, Maryland. “This mission is ushering a new golden era of space exploration, bringing us closer than ever to unlocking the Sun’s deepest and most enduring mysteries.” Close to the Sun, the spacecraft relies on a carbon foam shield to protect it from the extreme heat in the upper solar atmosphere called the corona, which can exceed 1 million degrees Fahrenheit. The shield was designed to reach temperatures of 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough to melt steel — while keeping the instruments behind it shaded at a comfortable room temperature. In the hot but low-density corona, the spacecraft’s shield is expected to warm to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. “It’s monumental to be able to get a spacecraft this close to the Sun,” said John Wirzburger, the Parker Solar Probe mission systems engineer at APL. “This is a challenge the space science community has wanted to tackle since 1958 and had spent decades advancing the technology to make it possible.” By flying through the solar corona, Parker Solar Probe can take measurements that help scientists better understand how the region gets so hot, trace the origin of the solar wind (a constant flow of material escaping the Sun), and discover how energetic particles are accelerated to half the speed of light. “The data is so important for the science community because it gives us another vantage point,” said Kelly Korreck, a program scientist at NASA Headquarters and heliophysicist who worked on one of the mission’s instruments. “By getting firsthand accounts of what’s happening in the solar atmosphere, Parker Solar Probe has revolutionized our understanding of the Sun.” Previous passes have already aided scientists’ understanding of the Sun. When the spacecraft first passed into the solar atmosphere in 2021, it found the outer boundary of the corona is wrinkled with spikes and valleys, contrary to what was expected. Parker Solar Probe also pinpointed the origin of important zig-zag-shaped structures in the solar wind, called switchbacks, at the visible surface of the Sun — the photosphere. Since that initial pass into the Sun, the spacecraft has been spending more time in the corona, where most of the critical physical processes occur. “We now understand the solar wind and its acceleration away from the Sun,” said Adam Szabo, the Parker Solar Probe mission scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “This close approach will give us more data to understand how it’s accelerated closer in.” Parker Solar Probe has also made discoveries across the inner solar system. Observations showed how giant solar explosions called coronal mass ejections vacuum up dust as they sweep across the solar system, and other observations revealed unexpected findings about solar energetic particles . Flybys of Venus have documented the planet’s natural radio emissions from its atmosphere, as well as the first complete image of its orbital dust ring . So far, the spacecraft has only transmitted that it’s safe, but soon it will be in a location that will allow it to downlink the data it collected on this latest solar pass. The data that will come down from the spacecraft will be fresh information about a place that we, as humanity, have never been. Joe Westlake Heliophysics Division Director, NASA Headquarters “The data that will come down from the spacecraft will be fresh information about a place that we, as humanity, have never been,” said Joe Westlake, the director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. “It’s an amazing accomplishment.” The spacecraft’s next planned close solar passes come on March 22, 2025, and June 19, 2025. By Mara Johnson-Groh NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Media Contact: Sarah Frazier

What to do with leftover snack mixMill Creek Road in Head of the Harbor to be rebuilt after August storm

Thailand midfielder Worachit Kanitsribumphen believes that the War Elephants will have no problems taking on the Philippines on the artificial grass surface at Manila's Rizal Memorial Stadium. Thailand, who topped the Group A standings after four straight victories, are scheduled to face the Philippines in the away leg of the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Asean Cup semi-final on Friday. The Philippines reached the last four stage of the regional championship after finishing runners-up in Group B. Worachit said: "I am not saying that we won't have any problems playing on the artificial pitch, but I think we will adjust to it if we train well. I don't think it will be a cause for any major concern for us. "The Philippines have a number of foreign-based stars and their players have good potential. We need to avoid making any mistakes against them. If we can do that, I am sure we will win the away leg of the semi-final. "It is in fact good that we are playing the first game away. We can count on home support in the second leg and accomplish whatever is needed to be done. "Even if we end up with a draw on the artificial pitch, we will still have the home ground advantage in the second leg to make amends." The match will kick off at 8pm (Thai time) on Friday and will be televised live by Thai Rath TV (32), AIS Play, True Sport 2 (667) and the BG Sports channel on YouTube. Meanwhile, Thai League 1 defending champions Buriram United extended their lead to six points following a 1-0 victory over Muang Thong United on Sunday night. Guilherme Bissoli netted the winner in the 68th minute after the Kirins were reduced to ten men on 55 minutes when Theerapat Laohabut was handed his second yellow card of the night.

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins scored a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in his most recent home game and tossed the ball to a child in the stands pleading for it. On Thursday, Collins told reporters the NFL did not approve and assessed him a fine of about $5,000. "It's for the kids," Collins said. "I seen he was screaming and was thinking, ‘Here you go, big dog. Here's the ball.'" Collins said he was not penalized last season on the handful of occasions he threw a ball into the stands, so he wasn't expecting a fine. But making a child's day was "definitely worth it." The 25-year-old said he plans to appeal the fine, but if it isn't overturned, he'll pay up. "The only thing that matters was making that kid happy," he said. "He ain't never going to forget that moment. So that's all that matters to me." Collins followed up a 92-yard, one-touchdown performance that day against Tennessee with eight receptions for 119 yards last week at Jacksonville. The fourth-year wideout is Houston's leading receiver despite missing five games due to a hamstring injury. He has caught 49 passes for 832 yards and four touchdowns in just eight appearances. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.Colby Rogers made 6 of 9 3-pointers and scored 28 points as host Memphis defeated No. 16 Ole Miss 87-70 on Saturday afternoon. Rogers fouled out and finished one 3-pointer and one point short of his career-highs in both categories and Memphis never trailed. PJ Haggerty added 17 points, Dain Dainja had 16 and Moussa Cisse, an Ole Miss transfer who's in his second stint with the Tigers (10-3), had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sean Pedulla scored 13, Jaylen Murray had 12 and Malik Dia added 11 to lead the Rebels (11-2), who had won their last five games. Memphis scored the first five points of the second half to increase its lead to 43-36. Pedulla made a layup for Ole Miss' first points, but Nicholas Jourdain made consecutive field goals to push the lead to nine. Mikeal Brown-Jones made two free throws for the Rebels before Haggerty made a 3-pointer and Cisse added a tip-in for a 52-40 lead. Pedulla made a jumper before Brown-Jones was ejected for committing a Flagrant 2 foul. Haggerty made both of the technical free throws and Rogers added two 3-pointers to push the lead to 16. Ole Miss got within 11 points four times, but couldn't get any closer until Matthew Murrell's dunk trimmed the lead to 76-67 with five minutes remaining. Rogers answered with a 3-pointer and Dainja added two field goals to increase the lead to 16. Murray made a free throw, but the Rebels didn't make a field goal during the final 5:32. The Tigers scored the first four points of the game and Haggerty had four as they opened a 9-2 lead. The Rebels made consecutive field goals before Memphis scored eight straight points for a 17-6 lead. Eduardo Klafke made a 3-pointer to end the run, but Rogers' 3-pointer helped the Tigers increase the lead to 27-14. Ole Miss scored the next seven points before Cisse's basket ended the run. The Rebels closed within four points four times Brown-Jones made two free throws to trim the lead to 38-36 at halftime. --Field Level Media

AP News Summary at 5:31 p.m. EST

Dallas (5-8) at Carolina (3-10) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, FOX. BetMGM Odds: Panthers by 3. Against the spread: Cowboys 4-9, Panthers 6-7. Series record: Cowboys lead 11-3. Last meeting: Cowboys beat Panthers 33-10 on Nov. 19, 2023 in Carolina. Last week: Cowboys lost to Bengals 27-20; Panthers lost to Eagles 22-16. Cowboys offense: overall (20), rush (28), pass (11), scoring (21) Cowboys defense: overall (25), rush (30), pass (22), scoring (31) Panthers offense: overall (30), rush (22), pass (27), scoring (28) Panthers defense: overall (31), rush (32), pass (12), scoring (32) Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-8; Panthers minus-5. Cowboys player to watch Panthers edge rusher Micah Parsons vs. Panthers offensive line. Parsons seems to be getting better as the season progresses and will be a tough matchup for Carolina's offensive line regardless of where he lines up. Parsons has 3 1/2 sacks over his past three games. Panthers players to watch WR Adam Thielen. The veteran wide receiver was Bryce Young's favorite option last season and is finally developing into that again this season after battling back from a hamstring injury that left him on injured reserve. Thielen has 17 catches on 21 targets for 201 yards and a touchdown over the past two games. When the Panthers need a first down on fourth down, the pass is almost always going to Thielen. Key matchup Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle vs. NFL's worst run defense. Dowdle has had the first two 100-yard outings of his career the past two weeks, resetting his career best both times. The undrafted fifth-year player on an expiring contract had 131 yards in the loss to the Bengals. Since taking over as the lead back at the start of November, Dowdle is averaging 16 carries and 81 yards with a touchdown rushing and another receiving. On Sunday, he will face the league’s 32nd-ranked run defense. Carolina allowed Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley to run for 124 yards last week and Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving to run for a career-high 152 yards the week before that. The Panthers are allowing more than 170 yards per game on the ground and 4.97 yards per carry. Key injuries Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown was set for season-ending surgery on the right knee he injured in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Bengals. The second-year player from Texas missed all of his rookie season after tearing a ligament in his left knee in a preseason game. ... DE DeMarcus Lawrence, who hasn’t played since Week 4, is close to returning from a foot injury. With the playoff hopes all but gone, the question remains whether to press the 32-year-old into action. Lawrence is on an expiring contract. ... Rookie C Cooper Beebe sustained a concussion against Cincinnati.. ... The Panthers are hoping to get WR Jalen Coker back on the field this week after he has missed the past three games with a quad injury. ... Also, No. 1 CB Jaycee Horn has been playing with a groin injury, and that could be problematic against CeeDee Lamb. Series notes The Cowboys are 7-2 against the Panthers since losing a wild-card game at Carolina 29-10 during the 2003 season, the first of Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells’ four years leading Dallas. Stats and stuff The Cowboys are 4-2 on the road this season, including victories over playoff contenders Pittsburgh and Washington. ... QB Cooper Rush is 2-3 filling in for Dak Prescott, who is out for the season after surgery for a torn hamstring. Assuming Rush starts, this will be his longest stint as Prescott’s replacement. He went 4-1 in 2022 after Prescott broke the thumb on his throwing hand in the opener. ... Dowdle’s 7.3-yard average per carry on 18 attempts against the Bengals was the highest for a Dallas back since Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.9 per carry at Philadelphia in 2018. ... WR CeeDee Lamb has just one 100-yard receiving game this season after finishing with eight in his breakout 2023 All-Pro season. But Lamb has five other games with at least 89 yards. He has reached 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of his first five seasons, the fifth receiver to do that. ... S Malik Hooker’s interception of Joe Burrow was his second of the season. He has seven interceptions in his four Dallas seasons. He also had seven in four years with Indianapolis, where he spent four injury-filled years as a 2017 first-round draft pick. ... The Panthers have endured six straight seasons with at least 10 losses. ... Carolina’s past five games have come down to the last possession. ... Panthers 1,000-yard RB Chuba Hubbard needs one rushing touchdown to pass Stephen Davis for fifth in team history. He is also 9 rushing yards away from reaching 3,000 for his career. ... Rookie WR Xavier Legette had three drops last week vs. the Eagles, including one for a potential go-ahead score in the final minute. ... OLB Jadeveon Clowney is tied for 11th in sacks among active NFL players. ... The Panthers have 15 sacks in the past four games. Carolina’s improved pass rush has coincided with OLB D.J. Wonnum getting on the field after missing the first nine games of the season on injured reserve. Fantasy tip Chuba Hubbard is expected to see the overwhelming majority of carries for the Panthers, who are now thin at the position. Miles Sanders and Jonathon Brooks are on injured reserve and Raheem Blackshear is working through a chest injury. That leaves Mike Boone as the Hubbard's backup. ___ NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl The Associated PressCooper Rush is making a good case to stay as Dak Prescott's backup with CowboysGiants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn’t improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. Red Bull brings wrong rear wing to Las Vegas in mistake that could stall Verstappen's title chances LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen is suddenly in jeopardy of being denied a fourth consecutive Formula 1 title Saturday night. Red Bull apparently brought the wrong rear wing to Las Vegas and GPS data showed its two cars to be significantly slower on the straights than both McLaren and Mercedes, which led both practice sessions. Red Bull says it doesn’t have a replacement rear wing in Las Vegas to fix the issue and little chance of getting two flown in from England ahead of the race. Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probe PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A lawyer for former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller says the 22-year-old sat for a long interview with the NCAA amid an investigation into unusual gambling activity. But neither the lawyer nor federal law enforcement officials on Friday would confirm reports that a federal probe is now under way. Lawyer Jason Bologna says Miller cooperated because he hopes to play again. Miller was released last month after transferring to Virginia Tech. Temple President John Fry says the Philadelphia school has not been asked for any information from federal law enforcement officials. Caitlin Clark to join Cincinnati bid for 16th National Women's Soccer League team WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for an expansion National Women’s Soccer League team. Major League Soccer franchise FC Cincinnati is heading the group vying to bring a women’s pro team to the city. The club issued a statement confirming Clark had joined the bid group. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has said the league plans to announce the league’s 16th team by the end of the year. The league's 15th team will begin play in 2026 in Boston. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Aaron Judge won't be bothered if Juan Soto gets bigger contract from Yankees than his $360M deal NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract. Speaking a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second MVP, Judge says “It ain’t my money” and adds "that’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees, then became a free agent at age 26.

NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KYTX) pursuant and/or traceable to the Company's initial public offering conducted on February 8, 2024 (the "IPO"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 7, 2025 . Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Corhen 7-11 0-0 14, G.Diaz Graham 1-3 0-0 2, Dunn 1-3 0-0 2, Leggett 6-14 8-9 21, Lowe 6-13 6-7 22, Cummings 1-5 0-0 3, Austin 2-5 5-6 10. Totals 24-54 19-22 74. R.Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Reed 6-10 1-4 14, Bailey 3-6 0-0 6, Carter 3-12 5-7 11, Sears 2-8 0-0 5, V.Miller 3-6 6-7 14, Givens 1-4 0-0 2, Chest 3-7 0-0 6, Fountain 1-2 0-0 3, Collins 0-2 2-2 2. Totals 22-59 14-20 63. Halftime_LSU 28-27. 3-Point Goals_Pittsburgh 7-24 (Lowe 4-7, Austin 1-4, Cummings 1-5, Leggett 1-5, Corhen 0-1, G.Diaz Graham 0-2), LSU 5-21 (V.Miller 2-3, Fountain 1-1, Reed 1-1, Sears 1-4, Collins 0-1, R.Miller 0-1, Givens 0-2, Bailey 0-3, Carter 0-5). Fouled Out_Dunn. Rebounds_Pittsburgh 32 (Lowe 8), LSU 30 (Chest 8). Assists_Pittsburgh 13 (Lowe 6), LSU 9 (Bailey, Carter, Sears, Givens 2). Total Fouls_Pittsburgh 20, LSU 20. A_1,112 (2,000).DK Metcalf is happy to block as Seahawks ride streak into Sunday night matchup with Packers

DK Metcalf is happy to block as Seahawks ride streak into Sunday night matchup with Packers

Fresno State QB Mikey Keene transferring to MichiganThe best snowboard bindings to raise your game on the slopesHow to watch USC vs. Texas A and M in the Las Vegas Bowl for free

Aziz Shamuratov Listen below or on the go on Apple Podcasts and Spotify The department store chain accepts at $6.5B buyout offer. (0:16) The Container Store files for Chapter 11 . (1:15) U.K. looks to facial recognition to limit social media use. (4:46) This is an abridged transcript of the podcast. Our top story so far. Department store chain Nordstrom ( NYSE: JWN ) has accepted a $6.25 billion all-cash buyout offer to end its 53-year run as a publicly traded company. Operators signed a deal with Erik, Pete, Jamie Nordstrom and other members of the Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool, S.A.B. de C.V. ( OTCPK:ELPQF ). Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. Common shareholders will receive $24.25 per share. In addition, the board intends to authorize a special dividend of up to $0.25 per share immediately before and contingent on the close of the transaction. Nordstrom first went public in August 1971. At that time, it offered shares under the name "Nordstrom Best" and was recognized as the West Coast's largest volume fashion specialty store shortly thereafter, with annual sales surpassing $100 million by 1973. The company then formally changed its name to Nordstrom, Inc. Shares of the retailer peaked in 2015. In addition, the Container Store Group ( OTC:TCSG ) filed for Chapter 11 after 46 years in business. The company plans to implement a recapitalization transaction to bolster its financial position, fuel growth initiatives, and drive enhanced long-term profitability. CEO Satish Malthora said, "The Container Store is here to stay. Our strategy is sound, and we believe the steps we are taking today will allow us to continue to advance our business, deepen customer relationships, expand our reach, and strengthen our capabilities." Looking to the economy, November durable goods orders (moved a day earlier due to the shortened trading day on Christmas Eve) sank more than expected. New orders of durable goods fell -1.1% M/M , reversing from a 0.8% increase in October, which was revised up from 0.2%. The forecast was for a drop of -0.3%. Core durable goods, which excludes transportation, saw orders tick down -0.1% vs. a 0.2% rise in October and a +0.3% rise expected. Nondefense new orders for capital goods dipped 0.3% during the month. Pantheon Macroeconomist Samuel Tombs notes: “A slump in aircraft orders was responsible for nearly all the drop in headline durable goods orders. In addition, orders ex-transportation were held back by a 12% decline in defense orders.” “The somewhat better performance of orders compared to shipments in November might reflect businesses starting to place orders for delivery in a few months time, in order to lock in prices ahead of potential import tariffs.” In addition, the Conference Board’s measure of consumer confidence unexpectedly fell to 104.7 in December from 112.8 in November. Economists predicted a small rise to 113 with a change in the White House ahead. But the Expectation Index sank 12.6 points to 81.1 points, just above the threshold of 80 that usually signals a recession ahead. The Present Situation Index fell by 1.2 points to 140.2, and Tombs said: “Households have become more downbeat on future business and employment conditions, as well as income expectations. The cutoff for the survey was December 16, before the FOMC meeting and the associated drop in stock prices, so we think the deterioration likely reflects the incoming administration starting to talk about spending cuts, which were not part of Mr. Trump's election pitch.” Among active stocks today, the fact that a federal jury ruled in favor of Qualcomm ( QCOM ) on two of three counts in its lawsuit with Arm Holdings ( ARM ) is seen as a "clear win" for the San Diego-based chipmaker. Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon says, "At this point Qualcomm’s roadmap (and their license?) appear safe." Perhaps most importantly, the third question that the jury decided on — whether Qualcomm's CPUs that use designs from Nuvia are licensed under Qualcomm's Arm architectural license — was a big decisive victory, Rasgon added. Xerox ( XRX ) said it will acquire Lexmark International from Ninestar , PAG Asia Capital and Shanghai Shouda Investment Centre in a $1.5 billion deal. The deal is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings per share and free cash flow. And ResMed ( RMD ) and Inspire Medical Systems ( INSP ), two companies reliant on sleep apnea devices, are under pressure after Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) Zepbound gained an additional indication for sleep apnea in obese individuals . ResMed is a top manufacturer of CPAP machines, considered the gold standard treatment for sleep apnea. Inspire makes a neurostimulation implant for sleep apnea. In other news of note, social media companies will be expected to remove millions of underage users from their platforms using facial recognition age checks, according to John Higham, head of online safety policy at the U.K.'s communications watchdog Ofcom. Apps like Meta's ( META ) Facebook, Instagram, TikTok ( BDNCE ), and Snapchat ( SNAP ) could face multi-billion-pound fines under the Online Safety Act if they fail to protect children from harmful content online. According to Ofcom estimates, around 60% of children aged 8-11 years - about 1.6M kids - in the U.K. have social media accounts despite the apps having a minimum 13-year age limit. And a third of children aged 5-7 are reportedly using social media unsupervised. Higham said in a newspaper interview: "It doesn't take a genius to work out that children are going to lie about their age," adding that Ofcom will announce plans next month detailing how apps would be expected to handle the issue. "The sort of thing we might look to is some facial age estimation technology that we see companies bringing in now, which we think is really pretty good at determining who is a child. We will expect the technology to be highly accurate and effective," he said. And in the Wall Street Research Corner, Goldman’s equity team introduced a model to pick industries that are poised to outperform an equal-weighted index by 5 percentage points or more “to identify ‘high conviction’ views with significant alpha potential.” Strategist David Kostin says: “Our model incorporates macro, fundamental, and valuation data as independent variables. We run the profit model for each sector separately and only include variables with statistical and economic significance. Our model does not capture fiscal policy changes or secular themes such as artificial intelligence.” The model's highest-conviction picks are in materials and in software and services, while it also currently recommends Overweights in health care, utilities and real estate. “Our model recommends a large number of defensive Overweights in part because of the level of economic growth optimism already priced into the equity market today,” Kostin said. Among the value stock picks in those sectors are Akamai ( AKAM ) and IBM ( IBM ) in software, Mosaic ( MOS ) and Eastman Chemical ( EMN ) in Materials, NRG Energy ( NRG ) and ConEd ( ED ) in Utilities and Biogen ( BIIB ) in Healthcare. Growth names include Palantir ( PLTR ) and ServiceNow ( NOW ) in software, FreeportMcMoRan (FRE) in Materials, Realty Icome ( O ) in Real Estate and Merck ( MRK ) and Lilly ( LLY ) in Healthcare. Editor's Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.

The company opens international research contest to strengthen technology leadership; open for entries until January 31, 2025 Selected researchers to receive annual research funding of up to USD 150,000 annually BIC program revamped to enhance two-way collaboration between industry and academia SEOUL, South Korea , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220) has announced its launch of the 'Battery Innovation Contest (BIC) 2025' to identify and support the next groundbreaking battery technologies. Innovators from universities and research institutions worldwide are encouraged to submit proposals until January 31, 2025 , at https://bridge.lgensol.com/ . Since its inaugural competition in 2017, BIC has been LG Energy Solution's flagship research contest. This year's edition has been revamped to foster greater collaboration between academia and industry. Selected researchers will receive annual research funding of up to USD 150,000 annually. Additional funding may be granted to projects making significant achievements through extended contracts. Maximizing Industry–Academia Benefits through Two-way Communication Unlike previous iterations of the competition, 'BIC 2025' allows participants to submit proposals on specific topics pre-announced by LG Energy Solution. "By presenting specific research optics, we aim to go beyond merely supporting academia and maximize the mutual benefits between the industry and academia," said an LG Energy Solution spokesperson. To facilitate active collaboration, LG Energy Solution has introduced the ' BRIDGE ' system, a platform designed to manage open innovation programs like BIC. The system facilitates seamless collaborations with features that help teams working on joint research projects track their objectives and deliverables. LG Energy Solution has unveiled the preselected 18 research topics for collaborative projects on the ' BRIDGE ' platform, such Battery Safety diagnosis algorithm technology and New materials for LFP Batteries topic. At the same time, the contest retains its traditional format to ensure participants are free to propose completely original research ideas. All research proposals must be submitted through the ' BRIDGE ' system. "Providing Differentiated Customer Value via Enhanced Technology Leadership" To protect the original ideas of every participant, LG Energy Solution has split the application process into two stages: initial proposals that provide concise information, followed by detailed proposals from a shortlist of candidates. This change aims to safeguard the ideas of researchers not selected for funding. "The BIC platform serves as a bridge of wisdom between members of academia and industry, driving technological innovation for the all-important battery sector," said Je-Young Kim , CTO of LG Energy Solution. "Through this initiative, we aim to provide differentiated value to our customers by strengthening our technology leadership." As of today, LG Energy Solution has supported 26 battery research projects through the 'BIC' initiative, with some evolving into large-scale projects that have received additional funding and resources. Thanks to the success of this competition, the company continues to establish partnerships with world-leading universities and research institutions, reinforcing its commitment to preparing the battery field for the future. About LG Energy Solution LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220), a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 58,000 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, and Asia , includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers. Committed to building sustainable battery ecosystem, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution's ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com . SOURCE LG Energy SolutionNew gene drive reverses insecticide resistance in pests... then disappears November 22, 2024 University of California - San Diego Geneticists have developed a gene drive-based solution to the widespread problem of insecticide resistance. In an effort to protect valuable crops, the researchers created an 'e-Drive' that reverses insecticide resistance and then disappears from the insect population. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Insecticides have been used for centuries to counteract widespread pest damage to valuable food crops. Eventually, over time, beetles, moths, flies and other insects develop genetic mutations that render the insecticide chemicals ineffective. Escalating resistance by these mutants forces farmers and vector control specialists to ramp up use of poisonous compounds at increasing frequencies and concentrations, posing risks to human health and damage to the environment since most insecticides kill both ecologically important insects as well as pests. To help counter these problems, researchers recently developed powerful technologies that genetically remove insecticide-resistant variant genes and replace them with genes that are susceptible to pesticides. These gene-drive technologies, based on CRISPR gene editing, have the potential to protect valuable crops and vastly reduce the amount of chemical pesticides required to eliminate pests. Still, gene-drive systems have come under scrutiny with concerns that once they are released into a population they could continuously spread unchecked. University of California San Diego geneticists have now developed a solution to this concern. Publishing in the journal Nature Communications , School of Biological Sciences Postdoctoral Scholar Ankush Auradkar and Professor Ethan Bier led the creation of a new genetic system that converts insecticide-resistant forms of mutated insect genes back to their natural, native form. The novel system is designed to spread the original "wild type" version of the gene using the biased inheritance of specific genetic variants known as alleles and then disappear, leaving only a population of insects with the corrected version of the gene. "We have developed an efficient biological approach to reverse insecticide resistance without creating any other perturbation to the environment," said Bier, a professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, of the self-eliminating allelic drive, or "e-Drive." "The e-Drive is programmed to act transiently and then disappear from the population." As described in the paper, the researchers created a novel genetic "cassette," a small group of DNA elements, and inserted it inside fruit flies as a proof-of-concept technology that could be applied to other insects. They developed the e-Drive to target a gene known as the voltage gated sodium ion channe l, or vgsc , which is required for proper nervous system functioning. The e-Drive cassette is designed to spread through CRISPR gene editing and features a guide RNA that binds to a Cas9 DNA protein and makes a cut at the targeted vgsc insecticide resistant gene site. The gene is then switched out for a native copy of the gene that is susceptible to insecticides. Per the study, when insects carrying the cassette are introduced into a target population, they mate randomly and transmit the e-Drive cassette to their offspring. To maintain control of the e-Drive's spread, the researchers imposed a fitness check on those carrying the cassette, either through limited viability or fertility. The cassette was inserted on the X-chromosome and reduced the mating success of males, resulting in reduced offspring. The frequency of the cassette in the population eventually declines through each generation until it fully vanishes from the population. In laboratory experiments all of the offspring were converted to native genes in eight-to-10 generations, which took about six months in flies. "Because insects carrying the gene cassette are penalized with a severe fitness cost, the element is rapidly eliminated from the population, lasting only as long as it takes to convert 100 percent of the insecticide-resistant forms of the target gene back to wild-type," said Auradkar. The researchers note that the self-eliminating nature of the e-Drive means it can be introduced and re-introduced as needed, and as different types of pesticides are used. The researchers are now developing a similar e-Drive system in mosquitoes to help prevent the spread of malaria. In addition to Auradkar and Bier, the coauthors of the Nature Communications paper included their close collaborators Rodrigo Corder of the Institute of Biomedical Science, University of SãoPaulo; and John Marshall of the Innovative Genomics Institute, who performed sophisticated mathematical modeling that revealed important hidden features of the e-Drive system, including its ability to efficiently cull a class of individuals in which the drive process did not occur. Story Source: Materials provided by University of California - San Diego . Original written by Mario Aguilera. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :

USC women move to No. 4 in AP poll as top three unchangedNew gene drive reverses insecticide resistance in pests... then disappears

Airship AI Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AISP – Get Free Report ) shot up 7.2% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $6.22 and last traded at $5.94. 2,177,096 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 20% from the average session volume of 2,728,073 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.54. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $6.00 target price on shares of Airship AI in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Read Our Latest Report on Airship AI Airship AI Trading Down 2.6 % Insider Transactions at Airship AI In other news, CTO Yanda Ma sold 30,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.39, for a total value of $101,700.00. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer now directly owns 60,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $203,400. The trade was a 33.33 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . 57.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Airship AI Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Airship AI by 54.2% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 128,685 shares of the company’s stock valued at $296,000 after buying an additional 45,247 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of Airship AI by 1,982.9% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 27,411 shares of the company’s stock valued at $63,000 after acquiring an additional 26,095 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Airship AI by 12.1% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 199,701 shares of the company’s stock valued at $459,000 after acquiring an additional 21,616 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Airship AI by 70.6% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 29,507 shares of the company’s stock worth $68,000 after acquiring an additional 12,214 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.89% of the company’s stock. Airship AI Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Airship AI Holdings, Inc offers AI-driven video, sensor, and data management surveillance platform in the United States. The company provides Airship Acropolis OS, an IP and analog video surveillance; Airship Command, a suite of visualization tools that allows users to view data and evidence ingested from the edge; and Airship Outpost for high-definition recording with user defined low-bit rate video stream encoding. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Airship AI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Airship AI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Watchdog finds FBI missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were present

'I have never seen things this bad': Poverty in WalesEagles look extra healthy ahead of Week 15 Steelers game