16 slotvip

16 slotvip

Adventure Toys in Northallerton has become a well-known toy destination of dreams described as "wall to floor" full of toys - selling everything from stocking fillers to slides, swings and more. This year will be their 35th Christmas selling wares to the families of North Yorkshire after the store was dreamed up by husband and wife Belinda and Noel Metcalfe in 1989. Adventure Toys, Northallerton. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Adventure Toys, Northallerton. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Their daughter, Louise Ingham, 40, now works at the store too - and they've been growing every year since. Louise told The Northern Echo: "Now there are not many toy shops at all never mind independent toy shops. "We’ve just kept trying different things and have been going out to Europe to get unusual toys as well as the classics." Adventure Toys, Northallerton. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) The store has built up a reputation for outdoor things like slides climbing frames and swings but also does indoor toys like trains wooden toys and model animals. Despite the large shift to online shopping, Louise says that business has still been thriving and many customers are making journeys from further afield. She added: "95% of our business was online but recently that has changed with people actually wanting to come in, to come to the shop and see the toys. Adventure Toys, Northallerton. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) "They say that there aren’t any toy shops anymore and that they like to see, choose, and handle what they want. "More customers are coming through as it’s normal now to travel about an hour plus from places like Newcastle, and Sheffield. "When people are spending several hundred pounds on big outdoor setup, they want to come and see if it will be worth it." Adventure Toys, Northallerton. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Now heading into the festive season once again, Louise and her parents say they are filled with pride when it comes to what they have achieved and look forward to many more years in business. She added: "We are incredibly proud of what we've done and what we continue to achieve. We are unique and we're known because of my mum and dad. "People know us and say 'Oh yes, you're that toy place'."

Carl Black Chevrolet Introduces the 2025 Chevy Suburban for Sale Near Nashville with New Research Pages AvailableNEW CANAAN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2024-- Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BWFG), the parent company of Bankwell Bank, has announced board approval of a measure that will allow individual shareholder and director, Lawrence B. Seidman, to increase his position in the Company from a maximum of 9.9% to 14.99% of common stock. Mr. Seidman is the Manager of Seidman and Associates, LLC based in Parsippany, NJ. He has served on Bankwell’s board of directors since 2020. Christopher R. Gruseke, President and CEO of Bankwell, commented, “Larry has been a steadfast supporter of the Company’s strategic direction and growth initiatives. We look forward to our continued relationship.” Mr. Seidman added, “My decision to increase my position in Bankwell aligns with my long-term investment strategy to purchase undervalued publicly traded community banks and reflects my strong support for the management team and the Company’s promising outlook.” About Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. is the holding company for Bankwell Bank (“Bankwell”), a full-service commercial bank headquartered in New Canaan, CT. Bankwell offers its customers unmatched accessibility, expertise, and responsiveness through a range of commercial financing products including working capital lines of credit, SBA loans, acquisition loans, and commercial mortgages as well as treasury management and deposit services. More about Bankwell can be found at www.mybankwell.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223418285/en/ CONTACT: Courtney E. Sacchetti (203) 652-0166 KEYWORD: CONNECTICUT UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Bankwell Financial Group, Inc Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/23/2024 03:41 PM/DISC: 12/23/2024 03:41 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223418285/enNone

OAP, 95, was forced to wait on pavement with broken hip for hours after being told by NHS staff she’s ‘not a priority’Peter Dutton (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch) NUCLEAR COSTINGS DAY The day has finally arrived. Some said it would never happen but here we are — today we get the much-promised, long-awaited nuclear power costings from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton . While nothing says “please pay real close attention to my policy’s details” like an announcement on a Friday 12 days before Christmas, unfortunately for Dutton people have been waiting a mighty long time to hear more information on his plans to build seven nuclear power stations around the country and previews of his big reveal are leading the agenda most places this morning. The Nine papers report Dutton “will ask Australians to support hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending on nuclear energy, including a controversial move to use taxpayer subsidies to build the industry while promising to bring down household electricity bills”. The papers say a key part of the Coalition leader’s plans will be an assumption coal-fired power stations will continue to operate as the nuclear plants are built, despite energy companies planning to stop using coal in the near future. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) reckons 90% of coal-fired plants will be shut down before 2035, with complete closure five years later. Disagreeing analysis over the cost of the nuclear plans compared to Labor’s renewable pledges has filled many column inches recently. A rough summary of The Sydney Morning Herald’s reporting goes a bit like: the Coalition handily cites analysis which claims Labor’s renewables rollout will cost $642 billion while its nuclear plan will come in less than $400 billion. The government rejects those figures and cites other analysis that claims its plan will cost $122 billion. Defending the nuclear plans, the Coalition reckons there will be less renewable energy added to the electricity grid than Labor predicts by 2030 and claims renewables will risk blackouts and raise bills. Meanwhile, the CSIRO says the first potential nuclear plant would be completed by 2040 at the earliest (the coalition says 2035) and “a fully operational fleet of nuclear reactors cannot be expected before 2050”. The Nine papers also say the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis believes power bills would rise by $665 a year to repay the cost of building the nuclear plants, while (as previously flagged ) the CSIRO projects nuclear will cost twice as much as renewable energy. So... a whole load of disagreeing over something that potentially isn’t due to provide any help to people’s power bills for decades — something the ABC has picked up and is leading with this morning. The broadcaster points out “senior Coalition sources” have expressed reservations over the nuclear plans, highlighting the fact they will “not map out an energy future in which households would get any immediate or even long-term relief”. A member of the Coalition is quoted as saying: “The fundamental problem is that whichever way you cost it, nuclear power is not hugely cheap. Nuclear will keep the lights on, but it’s hardly going to bring prices back down to where they were 10 years ago.” The ABC reports Coalition strategists are frustrated at the amount of scrutiny Dutton’s plans are getting, complaining Energy Minister Chris Bowen didn’t receive as much over his target of 82% renewable energy by 2030. One could argue perhaps if they’re annoyed over all the attention, maybe they should have considered telling the country a bit earlier about how they planned to fund their eye-catching plan... Anthony Albanese ( see Wednesday’s Worm ) will be shocked to learn The Australian is keen to sell the opposition’s costings vs Labor’s, claiming “wind and solar will still dominate the grid under the Coalition’s model”. RATES CUT HOPES SLIDE There was significant excitement at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) more dovish interest rates statement earlier this week (even though they were held at 4.35% yet again) but it appears to have already faded. The AAP reports the “drastically stronger than predicted” labour market data yesterday caused economists and traders to scale back their previous predictions of a rate cut finally coming in February. The previous excitement was cut short by the unexpected drop in unemployment to 3.9%. The newswire flags ANZ, Westpac and NAB now reckon the RBA will start its monetary easing cycle in May “given the central bank’s concerns inflation remains too high and unemployment too low”. (Reminder: there’s an election due by May.) Commonwealth Bank still reckons a cut could come in February. For that to happen CBA economist Gareth Aird says trimmed mean inflation (released on January 29) would need to come in below 0.6% (it was 0.8% in September) and the labour market would also need to show signs of softening. The Australian Financial Review says yesterday’s figures cemented Australia’s jobs market “as among the strongest in the developed world”. The paper quotes economists as saying the slowing private sector and employment gains meant “the bulk of the jobs created last month were likely in government-funded industries such as public service, healthcare and education”. Betashares chief economist David Bassanese is quoted as saying: “A low unemployment rate alone should not stand in the way of lower official interest rates next year if inflation continues to decline. Instead, falling inflation and still-low unemployment — were that to occur — should force the RBA to reconsider what it deems to be the non-inflationary rate of unemployment — from its current assumption of 4.5%.” Treasurer Jim Chalmers tried to maintain the enthusiasm at the start of the week by saying: “More jobs and better pay are key parts of our plan to help ease cost of living pressures.” Elsewhere, the AFR provides a few more details on yesterday’s announcement about the payments facing tech firms if they don’t agree to deals to pay news publishers. The paper reports: “Apple and Microsoft could also be caught by the new policy with their Apple News and LinkedIn products respectively if they meet the threshold of having Australian revenue greater than $250 million a year.” The paper also flags AMP has invested $27 million in bitcoin, becoming the first major superannuation fund to buy into cryptocurrency. Finally, The Wall Street Journal flags Meta has donated US$1 million to Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. The Guardian says the donation “appears to be the latest effort by the social media company and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg , to improve relations with the incoming president, and comes just weeks after Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago”. ON A LIGHTER NOTE... If you’ve ever wanted diamante-encrusted spectacles in the shape of the Sydney Opera House, have we got the auction for you! In February next year, Christie’s in London will auction 250 items from the personal collection of the late Barry Humphries. As well as the pair of glasses from his infamous Dame Edna Everage character, paintings by artist Charles Conder and a first edition copy of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest are also being sold at the auction, the Press Association reports. Benedict Winter , associate director of private and iconic collections at Christie’s, said: “ Barry Humphries is best remembered for his comedic genius, but behind his famous figure was a true polymath and connoisseur. “This refined and engaging collection provides compelling insights into the private world of this very public performer.” Say What? I will not touch bread if it is moist. Kemi Badenoch The Conservative Party leader claimed this week “lunch is for wimps”, sandwiches are not real food and she sometimes has steak brought to her while she works. The UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said in response that the PM enjoyed a sandwich lunch (tuna, in case you were wondering) “and occasionally a cheese toastie”. The row continues. CRIKEY RECAP Australia’s media movers and shakers on the biggest threats to journalism DAANYAL SAEED Joe Aston, Kate McClymont, Waleed Aly, Janine Perrett and Sue Chrysanthou (Image: Private Media) It has been a dire, unpredictable year for the Australian media. Jobs have been cut en masse , outlets grappled with ideals of objectivity, newspapers prosecuted campaigns that could see wholesale changes to how audiences interact with news, new outlets formed , others died , there were landmark defamation decisions and investigations into newsroom culture, and an executive allegedly shoulder-charged a reporter. After a year of volatility, job cuts, uncertainty and brilliance, Crikey chased down Australia’s biggest media figures — from journalists to editors to defamation lawyers to academics — to pick their brains about our industry. What they shared has formed the backbone of a multi-part Crikey series, Movers and Shakers , holding a mirror up to the industry and asking it to reflect on itself. Labor elevates early childhood education as Coalition tells regions: less childcare for you BERNARD KEANE It’s hard to know whether the Coalition’s support for retaining the activity test is driven by fiscal discipline — difficult to believe given the hundreds of billions it plans to waste on nuclear power — or by hostility to low-income families. It is, after all, the Dutton style to prefer identifying people to demonise rather than make policy work better. But the Coalition’s formal position is now that children — and, in the long-term, the community — should be deprived of the benefits of early childhood education because their parents are assessed as not worthy. The fact that the Coalition will go to the election telling outer suburban and regional communities that it will be withdrawing funding for more childcare services is likely to be something Labor will constantly draw attention to. Indeed, the Coalition will go to the election as the first party in decades actively promising to cut childcare and childcare funding. On the other hand, Labor, backed by the Productivity Commission and even the business community, is investing in “long-term economic benefits” and “maximising the human talent pipeline of our nation”. Even this shambolic outfit can’t mess that up... surely? Nicolette Boele ‘gave up’ on politics over Labor’s climate inaction. Now she wants to win a Liberal seat RACHEL WITHERS Did the backlash to the speech contribute to Fletcher throwing in the towel? “I don’t know what was in Mr Fletcher’s mind,” Boele tells me. “If you can see your main opponent, and it’s a two-horse race, has been in the field for that long ... Maybe the 12 letters to The Sydney Morning Herald as soon as he insulted everybody was a feedback loop that he needed.” Boele has been critical of the speech, arguing it showed little respect for Fletcher’s constituents. Her statement about it was titled , “Bradfield voters aren’t dopes, Paul”. When I ask how it made her feel, she gives a very teal answer. “It was disappointing, but it wasn’t a surprise. I get very protective, kind of a mum instinct, with the constituents. Like, hang on a second, what do you mean we’re dim-witted? Obviously there were some overtones about the gendered part of it, too, which I didn’t take very nicely to.” READ ALL ABOUT IT John Pesutto defies calls to resign after being ordered to pay $300,000 for defaming Moira Deeming ( Guardian Australia ) Sydney street artist revealed as man found not guilty of two counts of rape ( The Sydney Morning Herald ) ($) Donald Trump 2024 TIME Person of the Year ( TIME ) Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people in biggest single-day act of clemency (Associated Press) Trump’s Middle East adviser pick is a small-time truck salesman ( The New York Times ) ($) Mystery New Jersey drones not from Iranian ‘mothership’ — Pentagon (BBC) THE COMMENTARIAT Peter Dutton’s nuclear policy would have coal-fired power stations operating for a lot longer — Michelle Grattan (ABC): The release of the costings unleashes a tsunami of claims and counterclaims about numbers. That debate will be eye-glazing for many voters. Not to worry. We are talking the span of a generation. Numbers that stretch out to 2050 don’t mean a great deal. Hundreds of things — in technology and politics, for starters — can and will change as the years pass. Moreover, numbers from modelling have an extra layer of complexity and uncertainty. They depend heavily on assumptions that are, in many cases, necessarily arbitrary. Anyone inclined to take modelling at face value should reflect on the Labor experience. Before the 2022 election, it released modelling that gave it the basis to promise a $275 reduction in household power bills by next year. We all know what happened to that. Regardless of the problems in attempting to be precise, the broad debate about nuclear’s cost will be intense. Social media gorged itself on a free lunch of news. The buffet could be over — James Massola ( The Sydney Morning Herald ): In an age when hot-takes and “feelpinions” abound, the federal government’s levy on social media giants is designed to shore up the future of news outlets across the country. In regional areas in particular, where local newspapers are part of the fabric of small communities, the measure could slow or halt their retreat. At their press conference announcing the policy, Rowland and Jones argued it was vital that Australians who accessed news through social media had access to “fact-checked information”. One need only look at the spread of dis- and misinformation about vaccines during the pandemic to see why. In the dispute between social and legacy media, it’s clear the government has picked a winner. Now the ball is in Meta’s court to respond.

Jamiya Neal's monster game leads Creighton past UNLVDunnes Stores fans set to love new Christmas kitchen essentials ‘perfect for Santa’s snack’ from €2New pro-European coalition approved in Romania amid period of political turmoil

In this article SBUX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Customers wait in a long line at a Starbucks cafe in a terminal at Miami International Airport, in Miami, Dec. 12, 2022. Jeff Greenberg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Air travelers face a host of headaches on their journeys: slow security lines, long waits for plush lounges , the threat of delays or cancellations — and the airport Starbucks . Many travelers, flight crews and even airport employees have at some point encountered long wait times for their Starbucks cappuccinos, cold brews and egg bites. "They need to have a better system," said Coresa Barrino, a Starbucks patron at New York's LaGuardia Airport Terminal B earlier this month who said she had been waiting 10 minutes and counting for her coffee. The nursing assistant, who was taking a flight back to Charlotte, North Carolina, said the wait when she buys her coffee at a Starbucks in Charlotte is about two minutes. The long waits have caught the attention of the coffee chain's new CEO, Brian Niccol , who joined Starbucks from Chipotle in September, pledging to win back customers and reverse the company's sales slump. Niccol told investors he thinks that licensed locations, such as those inside Target stores or airports, are interested in following the company's strategy of "getting back to Starbucks." "When I think about the airports and such, there's such a huge opportunity for us to simplify some of the execution there so that we get people the great throughput that they want so they can get on their way," Niccol said on the company's quarterly conference call Oct. 30. Starbucks' airport location staff — and company technology — will be put to the test this week during some of the busiest travel days of the year. The Transportation Security Administration forecast a record number of travelers during Thanksgiving week and said Sunday, Dec. 1, could be the busiest day of the year, with more than 3 million people screened at U.S. airports. The surge in air travel, especially during peak times such as Thanksgiving, has led to congestion in airport security lines, in lounges and at gates — problems that airlines and the federal government are trying to fix . For the aviation industry, bottlenecks at airport Starbucks are just another sign of soaring demand and overcrowded airports. A record 1.05 billion people boarded airplanes going either to, from or between U.S. airports in 2023, narrowly topping the total in 2019, before the pandemic, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Struggles and fresh approaches Starbucks has recently struggled. Its sales fell for the third straight quarter in the period ended Sept. 30, as consumers pushed back against higher prices and ignored initiatives such as discounts and energy drinks aimed at bringing customers back. Same-store sales in the U.S. declined by 6% from a year earlier. In late October, Niccol unveiled plans aimed at improving customers' experiences and reviving the company's sales, from bringing back condiment bars, to eliminating surcharges for dairy alternatives and cutting down the menu. Cutting wait time is a key goal: He wants to trim service times down to four minutes, which would shrink long lines and improve the customer experience. And while Starbucks started rolling out mobile order and pay to its airport locations in 2022, the change can sometimes add to the confusion and chaos at the cafe counter instead of resolving it. Plus, some travelers might not be regular Starbucks customers who already have the app downloaded. Improving the coffee chain's airport outposts could boost both sales and the brand's reputation during a time when it needs it most. Even the customers Starbucks has lost might visit an airport location while they're traveling. With travelers returning in droves after the pandemic, it gives Starbucks and other restaurant chains a chance to boost sales. Concessions contribute about 4% of U.S. airport revenue annually, according to the latest available Federal Aviation Administration data, but they're an important feature to many passengers, who have limited time — and, often, energy — to fuel up before a flight. At Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, revenue from food and beverage outlets is growing faster than passenger numbers, said Jennifer Simkins, the airport's assistant vice president of concessions. The airport has become the world's third-busiest for passengers, up from 10th place in 2019, according to Airports Council International. Airlines are also packing more seats on their aircraft and in some cases are flying larger jets . More passengers per plane means restaurants can become crowded during peak times with more customers waiting to be served and space limited, said Ursula Cassinerio, an assistant vice president at Moody's Ratings who covers airports. She noted that many airports have been undergoing major renovations, if not building new terminals. That means "more opportunities for revenue if you have more square footage for retail and restaurants," she said. The 25 busiest airports in the U.S. have an average of 80 food and beverage brands as options for travelers, according to data from market research firm Technomic. Licensing model A challenge for Starbucks is that licensees — not Starbucks itself – operate its airport locations. Starbucks opened its first airport location with licensee HMSHost in 1991 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which serves Starbucks' hometown. For nearly three decades, HMSHost operated the chain's airport locations through an exclusive deal with Starbucks and gradually grew its airport footprint to roughly 400 outposts. But in 2020, HMSHost ended the deal, giving the operator flexibility to offer more coffee options to airports. While HMSHost still operates the overwhelming majority of Starbucks' airport cafes, more operators, such as Paradies Lagardere and OTG, have since taken a swing at it. HMSHost, Paradies Lagardere and OTG did not respond to requests for comment for this story. "Airport locations are tricky because they can make good money, but operationally, at times, they can be very challenging," said Mark Kalinowski, restaurant analyst and CEO of Kalinowski Equity Research. Customers wait in line at a Starbucks cafe in a terminal at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, Nov. 11, 2024. Leslie Josephs/CNBC Licensing its stores saves Starbucks the hassles of operating inside an airport, such as staffing problems, high rents and security checkpoints. And though the coffee chain is used to handling a surge of undercaffeinated customers in the mornings, the swell in demand at an airport can be even more erratic. "A plane lands, and all of a sudden there's a hundred people when there were zero people there before," said Kevin Schimpf, director of industry research for Technomic. The trade-off is that Starbucks makes less money from those licensed restaurants. The company has more than 16,300 locations in the U.S. as of Sept. 24. But it only runs about 60% of those cafes itself; licensees operate the rest. That number includes its cafes in 47 of the 50 busiest airports in the U.S., according to Starbucks. The company did not disclose its current airport store count to CNBC. In fiscal 2024, licensed locations accounted for 12% of Starbucks' revenue, or $4.51 billion. From those stores, Starbucks collects only licensing fees, a percentage of monthly sales through royalties, and payments for supplying its coffee, tea and food to licensees, according to company filings. For every dollar spent in a licensed store, Starbucks generates about 7 cents of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, according to estimates from Bank of America analyst Sara Senatore. Company-owned stores make about 23 cents per dollar spent, Senatore wrote in a research note in September. watch now VIDEO 3:46 03:46 Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol: We're evaluating strategic ways to grow in China Squawk Box If its business partners and third-party providers slack off, Starbucks' brand could be damaged, the company noted in the risk factors section of its latest annual filing. "The vast majority of customers, they don't know whether that is a company-owned Starbucks or a licensed Starbucks," Kalinowski said. "They just want their Starbucks. They want it made properly. They want it quickly. And they're in a situation of heightened stress because they're trying to get to their gate." Airports themselves have been adopting more technology in their restaurants to help move lines along. Labor challenges have led to more kiosks and tablets inside airport restaurants, for example. "It's harder and harder to staff a lot of these restaurants, so any front-of-house savings that you can make by having consumers order on kiosks or tablets or whatever, that really, really helps," Schimpf said. Laurie Noyes, vice president of concessions and commercial parking at Tampa International Airport, said that "sometimes the airports are a little bit behind the street." But she said the airport has made strides in offering more digital options and now, travelers can order food ahead of time via Uber Eats, and pick it up at airport restaurants. Dallas Fort Worth offers DFWOrderNow, a website and platform available at digital kiosks so travelers can order food ahead. Simkins said the airport's platform will reroute Starbucks customers to Starbucks' own platform. Starbucks offers more than 170,000 possible drink orders, according to the chain's website. "We just found the value in keeping the familiarity for their customers," Simkins said. Simkins said the airport is developing robotic technology for delivery to speed up service. It's also experimenting with offering meal and retail bundles from airport restaurants and shops, she said, so passengers "no longer have to plan their route for multiple stops" in an airport. A local coffee company, Fort Worth, Texas-based Ampersand, plans to open a robotic barista at DFW's Terminal C, Simkins said. It will be available 24/7, to accommodate flight crews arriving at off-hours. Simkins said popular chains still draw a crowd. "There are some brands that people will line up for," she said. For Barrino, who was waiting for her coffee at LaGuardia, Starbucks is one of those companies. "I just really love the brand," she said.From a 10-year-old to a Muppet to a president-elect, NYSE bell-ringers range from famous to obscure

La Salle defeats Temple 83-75ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia quarterback Carson Beck will not return after he was hit on his throwing hand on the final play of an ugly first half Saturday in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Texas. Beck was hit by outside linebacker Trey Moore, forcing a fumble recovered by Anthony Hill Jr., who then lost the ball on an errant attempt to extend the play with a lateral as time expired. Beck was one of the last players to return to the field following halftime. He was holding his helmet but did not warm up remained on the sideline as backup Gunner Stockton led the offense to its first touchdown on the Bulldogs' first drive of the second half. Georgia coach Kirby Smart told ESPN Beck would not return to the game and said he had no details on the hand injury. Beck had the right arm wrapped in ice on the Georgia bench. No. 2 Texas outgained No. 5 Georgia 260-54 but led only 6-3 at halftime. The Bulldogs netted minus-2 yards rushing and Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Messenger: Failure of Amendment 6 in Missouri is a lesson about criminalizing povertyNTET 2024: Provisional Answer Keys Out, Check Steps To Raise Objections

A "mysterious" fire has broken out at a drone warehouse located in the western region of Russia , leaving expensive devices "destroyed." The warehouse stocks drone parts worth $16 million, said the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine , including the parts for the Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicles, reported News Sky. The Ukraine 's ministry of defense released a Telegram statement in light of the fire, which appears to gloat about the destruction. In an interview with News Sky, the ministry said "there will be fair retribution for every war crime committed against the Ukrainian people." In a translated post, the ministry said the following: The occupier will not escape - scouts continue to eliminate the enemy on the southern front ❌Soldiers of the active operations units of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, who perform combat missions on the southern front, destroy the invaders and Russian equipment with the help of artillery and FPV drones. 👉The video shows the results of the combat work of military intelligence officers over the week: successful strikes on personnel and fortifications of the Russian occupation army, camouflaged enemy artillery, military equipment and vehicles of the invaders, as well as the spectacular destruction of Russian reconnaissance UAVs in the air. ⚔️The fight continues - the occupier will not escape! 🇺🇦Glory to Ukraine! "The mysterious destructive fire was another blow to the military-industrial complex of terrorist Russia ," Ukraine's ministry said in a Telegram statement. Last week, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said he is willing to compromise with US President-elect Donald Trump on the Ukraine war.Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. Raises Stake in IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE:IDA)

Boys basketball: Bulldogs roll to win Stagg High tournament, Mustangs go 1-2 at Edison Winners Classic

Hayleys Electronics Limited (HEL), a trailblazer in sustainable energy solutions, hosted an impactful Partner Forum in Kandy, uniting over 40 local businesses and key representatives from Huawei Technologies. This initiative is part of HEL’s strategic vision to drive Sri Lanka’s transition toward smarter, more efficient energy solutions. The event spotlighted cutting-edge technologies, including Huawei’s FusionSolar Smart PV and Energy Storage System (ESS) products, which are revolutionising the energy landscape with unparalleled efficiency and reliability. Attendees also delved into the advanced capabilities of Solax inverters, featuring intuitive mobile app integration for seamless energy management, and the sleek, high-performing JA Solar panels, which combine efficiency with aesthetic appeal. The forum served as a platform to foster collaboration and dialogue, empowering HEL’s partners to leverage advanced energy solutions tailored to meet Sri Lanka’s growing renewable energy demands. Backed by a legacy of trading excellence, HEL is renowned for its unwavering commitment to quality, reliability, and customer support. The company ensures that all solar system components adhere to the highest global standards, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner in renewable energy solutions.

Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October. In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova says there is not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel. Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation but some Swedish media reported it was Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league. At the time, Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. 2034 World Cup visitors will live in 'a bubble' and not see real life, Saudi rights activist says LONDON (AP) — A Saudi human rights activist says soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” that doesn't reflect real life there. Lina al-Hathloul is a London-based activist whose sister was jailed in Saudi Arabia then banned from travel after campaigning to end a ban on women driving. When FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday its president Gianni Infantino acknowledged “the world will be watching” for positive social change. Al-Hathloul says western people “will be very safe” at the World Cup but "will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is.” Chelsea teenager Marc Guiu scores twice in 3-1 win over Astana in Conference League A youthful Chelsea lineup made the most of a long trip to Kazakhstan by beating Astana 3-1 to stay perfect in the UEFA Conference League. Eighteen-year-old Marc Guiu struck twice within five minutes early in the first half in freezing conditions in the Kazakh capital. Renato Veiga, who is 21, headed home the third off a corner. Chelsea has 15 points atop the standings of the third-tier competition with one more game to play in the league phase. More games including those in the second-tier Europa League were scheduled later Thursday. Among them unbeaten Manchester United is at Viktoria Plzen while Rangers host Tottenham. Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Hunter received 26 of the 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. A throwback player who rarely left the field, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. He had four interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a shutdown corner. Hunter helped the the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick's deal ahead of introductory news conference North Carolina’s trustees have approved terms of the deal to hire Bill Belichick as the Tar Heels’ new football coach. The board met Thursday morning to sign off on the agreement, announced Wednesday night by the school as a five-year deal. Specific terms of that deal have yet to be released. The school is set to hold its introductory news conference for the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Thursday afternoon. Belichick has never coached in college football. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. Raiders player Charles Snowden facing misdemeanor DUI charge after Las Vegas arrest LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders football player Charles Snowden was arrested in Las Vegas on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence and released from custody. The NFL, the Raiders and Snowden’s attorneys acknowledged Thursday the 26-year-old first-year defensive end was arrested early Tuesday. He faces a scheduled court date in April. It’s not clear yet whether the arrest will affect Snowden’s status with the team. He has played every game this season, and the Raiders' next game is at home on Monday. Commissioner Roger Goodell can impose a three-game suspension without pay for a first violation of the league's alcohol abuse policy. Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15-year deal NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto will be introduced by the New York Mets at Citi Field, a day after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized. Soto chose the Mets’ offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. The 26-year-old’s contract value eclipsed Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Its length topped Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million, 14-year agreement with San Diego that runs through 2034. Team claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy new charter unless federal antitrust suit is dropped CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A new court filing says NASCAR rejected Front Row Motorsports’ agreement to purchase a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing unless the team and 23XI Racing dropped their federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series. Front Row and 23XI rejected NASCAR's new revenue sharing agreement and have gone to court. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo.

A closer look at the best-selling automotive groups for plugin vehicles — part 2 of 4. This is the second edition of a look into the top EV-selling OEMs . To have a look at the first edition, please check it out here . In this second one, we have a look at Hyundai–Kia, Toyota, GAC, and Mercedes. For more information on these OEMs, don’t forget to check out our report on the top 20 EV brands and auto groups in the world . Hyundai Motor Company, as it is officially known, is a South Korean automotive group based in Seoul. It was founded in 1967 and currently it is the full owner of the namesake brand (Hyundai) and the luxury brand Genesis , while being the largest shareholder (34%) in former rival Kia — since Kia declared bankruptcy in 1997, during the Asian financial crisis . While Kia is formally part of the Hyundai group, because it isn’t fully owned by Hyundai, that means that Kia retains a certain degree of autonomy. So, while the Hyundai–Kia association isn’t an Alliance of Equals , like the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance , Kia’s status isn’t as limited as, say, Audi, within Volkswagen Group. Hence why on the sales articles I call them Hyundai–Kia. Within the three brands, Kia is the best selling one, with 51% of the OEM’s sales. It is closely followed by Hyundai, with about 47% of the OEM’s sales. Niche Genesis is responsible for the remaining 2%. Looking at individual models, the OEM has a balanced lineup, with the top sellers being the retro-futuristic Hyundai Ioniq 5 , representing 19% of the OEM’s EV sales this year, and its sportier cousin, the Kia EV6 , is second, with 13% of sales. Those two are followed closely by the Kia Niro (BEV+PHEV) and Hyundai Kona EV , with 12% of sales each. With several new models landing or in ramp-up stage ( Kia EV3 & Kia EV5 , Hyundai Inster/Casper EV , & Hyundai Ioniq 9 ), expect the Korean OEM to continue growing steadily in 2025, probably reaching the break-even point in its EV business as a consequence. When it comes to China, the fact that its operations there are minimal — they represent just 1% of all of the OEM’s plugin sales, and counting all powertrains sales, they move fewer than 250,000 units a year, or 6% of total Hyundai–Kia sales — will eventually serve as an advantage to the Koreans. It means that if they eventually leave China, their sales and production output will not be seriously affected. Something that other legacy OEMs cannot say.... It feels a bit strange to treat Toyota as a middle-of-the-pack OEM , but that is the current reality of the Japanese make when it comes to plugins. Toyota is the biggest Japanese carmaker (and the largest in the world). Based in the Aichi prefecture, it started making vehicles in 1936, and it is a familiar name worldwide. The Toyota OEM has a few brands under its umbrella: Toyota itself Lexus — luxury arm of Toyota Daihatsu — brand focused on city and kei cars, but also offers a few compact MPVs and crossovers Hino — commercial vehicle maker. Besides these fully-owned brands, Toyota is also the largest shareholder of Subaru (20%) and part of a couple of joint ventures (JV) in China, like FAW–Toyota and GAC–Toyota , where it holds 50% of them. FAW–Toyota makes the China-only Toyota bZ3 sedan, while GAC–Toyota makes the local Toyota bZ4X . In this case, we will be focusing on the namesake brand, which is by far the best-selling plugin make in the group, representing 80% of sales. Unlike what some might believe, Toyota’s sales aren’t that PHEV-heavy, as 44% of Toyota’s total plugin sales are actually coming from pure electrics, and two out of the three best-selling models are BEVs. The bZ4X SUV is responsible for 24% of its plugin sales, while the China-only bZ3 sedan amounts to 19% of deliveries. Still, the best-selling Toyota plugin is a PHEV. That version of the Toyota RAV4 represents 25% of sales. The Japanese brand has significant exposure to China, with that market representing 22% of its plugin sales this year. So, if by any chance Toyota gets swallowed by the downward spiral of other Japanese brands in China (Honda, we are looking at you) , its overall output will be significantly reduced. No wonder, then, that Toyota needs to reach out to its Chinese partners in order to launch its upcoming EV models, the bZ3C and the bZ3X . As for 100% Toyota-developed new EVs? (crickets....) Guangzhou Automobile Group Co, also known as GAC Group, is a state-owned Chinese OEM based in Guangzhou, a city of 19 million people in the Guangdong province. It was founded in 1954 and is currently the 5 th largest OEM in China, with around 2 million units sold in 2023. Despite not having a galaxy of brands , like other Chinese OEMs, GAC has a few of them under its belt: Trumpchi — GAC’s ICE brand, focusing on SUVs and MPVs, with a few of its models also offering PHEV versions Aion — mainstream BEV brand Hyptec — luxury sub-brand of Aion GAC–Hino — joint venture, where GAC owns 90% of shares — makes Hino-based commercial vehicles. It has 50% stakes in joint ventures with Honda ( GAC–Honda ) and Toyota ( GAC–Toyota ), where it makes models from the respective Japanese OEMs. Finally, GAC has a minority (25%) stake in Hycan , a small BEV brand born out of cooperation with NIO. But since the startup brand left Hycan, in 2022, there hasn’t been any investment in it, and the brand is expected to disappear soon. The main brand in the plugin market is Aion, which represents 80% of the group’s plugin vehicle sales. The share it has of the OEM’s exports is marginal (1%), but it is expected to grow in 2025. With slowing sales in 2024, due to the lack of successful new models, and a BEV focus that led GAC to lose out in the current PHEV/EREV surge in China, the OEM hopes that new models, like the revised Aion V crossover or the new Aion UT compact hatchback, will pull them back into the growth path. Looking at the best-selling models, Aion lives on the continued success of the Aion S and Aion Y , with the sedan being responsible for 39% of the brand’s sales while the crossover represents 46% of its sales. Mercedes-Benz Group AG , also known as Mercedes, or Merc to its closest friends, is one of the most famous automotive brands worldwide, making cars in one form or another since 1885. It is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and is known as one of the Three German Premium Mary’s (Audi, BMW, and Mercedes). The OEM is made of its namesake brand and a number of sub-brands associated with it, like the sport-focused Mercedes-AMG , the high-end luxury Mercedes-Maybach , and Mercedes Vans. On top of this, it still has a 30% stake in Daimler Truck AG , a spinoff company of its former commercial vehicle division, as well as a 50-50% joint venture with Geely, Smart , which started in 2019. For the purpose of counting its sales volume, because Smart is now based in Ningbo, China, and is using Geely’s platforms, drivetrains, and technology, with Mercedes being only responsible for design, I have been counting these sales under the Geely umbrella. This means that the OEM’s volume output is basically the same as the namesake brand’s output now. Mercedes has a large lineup of EVs, both BEV and PHEV, which means that the sales of its three best-selling EV models ( Mercedes EQA , EQB , and GLC PHEV ) counted together represent just 40% of its total sales. Looking at the glass half full, this means that it is not dependent on the lifecycle of one particular model, but looking at the glass half empty, it means that it lacks a star player on the team. While its exposure to the Chinese EV market is not that significant, with that market representing just 8% of Mercedes’ total PEV sales, when looking at the total number of sales, all powertrains included, things become more concerning. In 2023, over one third of all Mercedes global sales were in China , surpassing even the total number of Mercedes sold in Europe during the same period. This sales discrepancy with regard to China (8% of EV sales vs. 33%+ of overall sales) should be one of the major items of concern for the German make, because Mercedes could lose some 25% of its total sales, or over half a million sales, in a PEV-based Chinese market. And that scenario is less than five years away.... Looking at the sales of each OEM , one can see the extraordinary evolution of these OEMs in the past five years. In fact, while the best-selling one had little more than 100,000 sales in 2019, in 2024, the lowest selling of them is expected to clock in over 300,000 units. Looking at individual OEMs, the good work being done by Hyundai–Kia is clearly visible, with steady development over the years, and with the exception of 2023, it’s always the one with the highest volumes among these OEMs. Given its low exposure to the Chinese market, consistent sales performances, and technological expertise, the Korean group is probably the legacy OEM that is best managing the EV transition, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it became the largest of the legacy OEMs in a PEV-based global market. And that would allow Hyundai–Kia to compete for the 4 th position in a future global OEM ranking. Mercedes was also growing consistently, until this year, so the next couple of years will be decisive for the German OEM. The much expected 2025 CLA BEV needs to land sooner than later, and it has to be a success, just like the 2026 GLC BEV, or else things can start to get messy in Stuttgart.... GAC is also in trouble, dropping sales YoY by over 50,000 units in 2024. Next year will need to see it return to growth. Hence the launch of new models and a new focus on exports. In the cut-throat Chinese market, GAC doesn’t have the scale of Geely or SAIC, let alone BYD, to be safe in the future. Finally, Toyota. A giant in the overall market, not so much in the plugin market. Looking at the graph, while the past two years have finally seen it move the needle, that has more to do with a need to follow the electrification trend in China, where Toyota is expected to sell over 1.5 million units this year, all powertrains included, than a concerted effort to make itself noticed in the EV arena. The Japanese OEM still has tremendous potential to be one of the main players in a PEV-based automotive market. The thing is, as years go by, the window of opportunity is starting to close, and markets where Toyota is still a major player, like China and Southeast Asia, are going EV and losing their loyalty to the Japanese OEMs, and Toyota in particular. Unlike Hyundai–Kia, where one can see consistent deployment of new vehicles and platforms, on the Toyota side, excluding the China-only models (which are made with the help of local players), besides some average-specced PHEVs and the middle of the road bZ4X, there’s little more than plans, or concepts of a plan . Quo Vadis , Toyota? CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook Bluesky Email RedditCHICAGO — It looked like the Vikings had put the game away for good on Sunday afternoon at Solider Field when a chip-shot field goal attempt from kicker Parker Romo sailed through the uprights in the final minutes. ADVERTISEMENT That made it 27-16 in favor of the Vikings with the Chicago Bears needing a miracle. They got it. After a big kick return put the Bears in very good field position, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams led an impressive drive, throwing a touchdown pass to receiver Keenan Allen to cut the deficit to 27-24. A blunder by the Vikings on the onside kick allowed the Bears to recover, then kicker Cairo Santos nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired to tie the game at 27-27 and send it into overtime. In the extra session, veteran quarterback Sam Darnold took over for the Vikings. He went 6 for 6 passing on the final drive, setting up Romo for a game-winning field goal that helped the Vikings escape with a 30-27 win. The game looked like it was going to be a hot start for the Vikings after running back Aaron Jones got loose for a 41-yard gain. He was stripped of the ball at the goal line a couple of plays later, however, marking another missed opportunity for the Vikings in the red zone. ADVERTISEMENT That cracked the door open for the Bears, and the mobility of their rookie quarterback took centerstage. On a particular play, Williams avoided pressure from Andrew Van Ginkel off the edge, rolled to his right, then dropped a dime to D’Andre Swift along the sideline. That put the Bears in position to score, and running back Roschon Johnson found the into the end zone shortly thereafter to make it 7-0. In need of a response, the Vikings got it almost immediately when Darnold dropped back and unleashed a deep pass to receiver Jordan Addison. It was an incredible catch from Addison as he hauled it in while being dragged down from behind. On the very next play, Addison finished the drive, catching a touchdown pass in traffic to help the Vikings to tie the game at 7-7. The vibes shifted in favor of the Vikings on the following possession. ADVERTISEMENT It looked like the Bears had picked up a big gain when receiver Keenan Allen caught a ball along the sideline. After a challenge flag thrown by head coach Kevin O’Connell, however, the officials ruled that Allen did not get both feet in bounds. On the very next play defensive tackle Jerry Tillery blocked a field goal, and the Vikings kept the Bears off the board. That paved the way for the Vikings to take control as star receiver Justin Jefferson drew a 35-yard defensive pass interference penalty that put the ball in the red zone. A couple of plays later, Darnold found receiver Jalen Nailor for a touchdown to make it 14-7 in favor of the Vikings. After a punt by the Vikings, the Bears got a field goal Santos to cut the deficit to 14-10 at halftime. ADVERTISEMENT With an opportunity to take control coming out of halftime, Darnold found Addison with a perfect ball near the sideline that went for 69-yard gain. Unfortunately for the Vikings, they stalled out in the red zone, setting for a field goal from kicker Parker Romo to stretch the lead to 17-10. The biggest swing of the game came when receiver DeAndre Carter muffed a punt for the Bears, and edge rusher Bo Richter recovered the fumble for the Vikings. Not long after that, Jones atoned for his fumble with a touchdown to make it 24-10. After the Bears got a touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-16, it seemed like the Vikings put the game away with a field goal to restore the lead to 27-16. Not so fast. ADVERTISEMENT After an impressive drive by Williams helped cut the deficit to 27-24, the Bears recovered the onside kick. That set the stage for Santos to nail a 48-yard field goal to tie the score at 27-27 and send the game into overtime. In the extra session, the Vikings stepped up on defense by forcing a punt, then stepped up on offense with Darnold leading an impressive drive of his own. That set the stage for Romo and he nailed a 29-yard field goal to give the Vikings the win. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .

Eden Prairie’s Northern Oil and Gas takes unusual step to deny rumors of high-priced acquisition

Red-hot Devils seeking rare success against Predators

'I hope it's a complete disaster for them': Former BYU linebacker and father of Sam Leavitt fully backs Sun Devils