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panalo.999 AFRL to Demo New Tech for Reducing Extreme Space TemperatureBlack Galaxies head coach, Didi Dramani, has made it clear that his team is aiming for victory when they face Nigeria in the second leg of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers. After a frustrating 0-0 draw in the first leg in Accra, Dramani believes his team deserved more from the match and is determined to push forward and secure qualification. "We created far more chances and were unlucky not to score. No need crying over spilt milk," Dramani said at a press conference in Uyo ahead of the pivotal clash. He acknowledged the challenge that lies ahead, emphasizing the fierce rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria. “Tomorrow is an opportunity to get the goals and qualify for the CHAN. It is not going to be easy as there is never any clash between Nigeria and Ghana that can be easy,” Dramani added. “The Super Eagles team is a good one, and we have to take our game to another level. We will play an attacking game.” Dramani’s focus remains firmly on securing a spot in the final tournament by outsmarting Nigeria with an aggressive and tactical approach.

Anquiro Ventures And Black Pine Announce Results Of Annual General And Special MeetingsNY Mag editor upset that Trump is 'unfortunately' taking office on MLK DaySmall businesses are taking up the digital world’s frontline of defense. CMMC is changing the game for 300,000 US companies, turning cybersecurity from a tedious must into a strategic business. It’s not just a paperwork exercise. The Department of Defense has created a blueprint for rock-solid digital protection. What if you turned your company into a secure fortress that stands apart from competitors? CMMC is more than just protecting data. It helps small businesses stand out in a constantly changing cyber threat landscape. It protects sensitive information while giving customers the confidence that you take security seriously. Here, you’ll learn the benefits of CMMC to small businesses. Benefits Of CMMC Standards 1. Access to Lucrative DoD Contracts Businesses working with the Department of Defense (DoD) must be CMMC certified. From December 16, 2024, contractors must demonstrate that they can protect sensitive information . In other words, they must meet certain security levels according to the data type they handle. This certification is one that you can’t afford to miss out on, as it is a huge business opportunity. According to the DoD, about 8,350 companies will require Level 2 certification, which requires professional security assessments. It's a sort of security passport on the government work front. Picture the DoD as a selective employer. They want to work with businesses that can keep their information safe. These standards help implement the best security for sensitive data. It’s massive in terms of financial upside. By 2025, the DoD budget for defense contracts could reach $800 billion. For small businesses, this means: Potential for a lot of revenue Opportunities to work on high-tech projects How to build a strong reputation in the defense industry A small cybersecurity firm that meets CMMC requirements could snag advanced defense technology contracts. It's not about short-term money but long-term business credibility and growth. CMMC certification is your business’s golden ticket to a world of government contract opportunities. 2. Enhanced Cybersecurity Posture Adoption of CMMC standards can help small businesses dramatically improve their cybersecurity. That means practicing with robust security tools like multi-factor authentication, which provides an extra layer of security on top of passwords. Advanced encryption and constant monitoring can help businesses defend themselves against data breaches and unauthorized access. As per the CMMC framework, companies must adhere to 110 security practices established by government standards. These are not just checkboxes but fundamental strategies to protect digital assets. A proactive approach to cybersecurity can significantly impact a company’s attack risk. Businesses conducting regular self-assessments can find and fix security weaknesses before hackers can access them. Cybercrime is a vast and growing problem. Damages from global cybercrime are expected to top $10.5 trillion. Driving more cultural awareness around cybersecurity and having solid incident response plans enables small businesses to stay in business even when threats occur. 3. Competitive Advantage CMMC certification is today like a golden badge of honor for small businesses. It lets potential clients know that you’re concerned about security and will do anything to protect sensitive information. Imagine being a defense contractor who can instantly stand out from competitors. Showing your CMMC certification in marketing material makes you more attractive to clients who value security deeply. This certification can be the key to winning crucial contracts. CMMC certification is like a business trust signal — a way to prove you’re a reliable, security-conscious partner. Data breaches are everywhere. In the first half of 2023, over 1,800 breaches exposed millions of records. CMMC certification is your way of saying to your clients, ‘We have your back.’ This certification protects information and creates long-term relationships. As more businesses realize the cybersecurity risks, they want to partner with those who can demonstrate their stringent security standards. If you are CMMC certified, you are not just a vendor but a trusted ally. 4. Cost-Effectiveness of Compliance For small businesses, CMMC 2.0 has good news. Companies can now do Level 1 self-assessments without the expense of a costly third-party review. This approach helps businesses: This approach means one thing. You start where you can and build strength over time. This journey isn’t only for small businesses. Several financial programs help reduce CMMC compliance costs. Small contractors can get grants from the Department of Defense to help them upgrade their cybersecurity. Such resources are a safety net, so businesses can meet security standards without burning a hole in the bank. The idea is to reduce the cost and accessibility of protection for every business. 5. Improved Risk Management Small businesses can easily manage online risks with CMMC. Moreover, this step-by-step approach allows organizations to create security policies that suit their needs. Businesses aren’t faced with a one-size-fits-all solution but can build a custom defense strategy that protects their digital landscape. It’s not just about following rules when investing in strong cybersecurity. That's about securing your business's future. By adopting CMMC standards, companies can: Like business insurance, cybersecurity helps you be prepared for unexpected risks and stay resilient and competitive. 6. Streamlined Compliance Process The CMMC compliance process is meant to help small businesses succeed without feeling overwhelmed. Organizations can adopt the strategy of meeting requirements individually instead of trying to meet them all at once. This allows businesses to breathe, adapt, and improve. Assessors and contractors will be trained and supported in the compliance journey. Like learning a complex skill, you don’t get it all overnight. MSPs can be game changers for small businesses navigating compliance. These experts provide specialized guidance to companies in implementing security controls and managing certification documentation. By partnering with an MSP, businesses can: This is especially helpful when you’re beginning preparation, and new requirements can seem daunting. MSPs are trusted solutions that guide businesses on a clear path to certification. Conclusion Cybersecurity is not a cost. It’s your business’s future. CMMC standards are your way of distinguishing yourself in the defense industry. These guidelines aren’t just data. They are opportunities. So, don’t wait. Take control now. Become CMMC certified and turn your small business into a digital fortress from a potential target. This is where you start to gain your competitive edge. (Disclaimer: Devdiscourse's journalists were not involved in the production of this article. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Devdiscourse and Devdiscourse does not claim any responsibility for the same.)

Every great nation has its great romantic tragedies, those star-crossed lovers who succumb to reckless passion, heedless of convention or personal cost. Ancient Rome had Antony and Cleopatra. France had Napoleon and Josephine. And modern America has the Republican Party’s helpless, hopeless love affair with shutting down the government. As with all great loves, their fervor is wholly irrational. Shutdowns annoy voters, who tend to blame Republicans for that annoyance. Nor does it save any appreciable amount of money, because the major entitlement programs keep rolling out checks, and the furloughed federal workers eventually collect back pay for the time they spent twiddling their thumbs. As for using a shutdown as a political bargaining chip ... well, as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) told reporters last year, “They never have produced a policy change, and they’ve always been a loser for Republicans politically.” Why, then, do Republicans keep flirting with this destructive, abusive old flame? Because too many Republicans haven’t grasped a basic political lesson: In the game of politics, it is not enough for your enemies to lose. You actually have to win. Try to think back to the last time the Republican Party had an agenda that didn’t boil down to “no”? It’s pretty difficult, isn’t it? What is the core of Donald Trump’s appeal to his base? That he owns the libs and refuses to kowtow to progressive pieties. What is his most prominent economic policy? Tariffs that represent a big fat “no” to global trade. What was the most successful political ad campaign of the 2024 campaign? The infamous “they/them” ads that painted Vice President Kamala Harris as a freak who wants to provide government-funded transition surgeries to transgender prisoners. And what have been the biggest recent conservative successes at the Supreme Court? The 2023 Students for Fair Admissions decision in which the court said “no” to affirmative action practices and the recent arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti, which suggested that the justices are set to uphold state bans on giving puberty blockers and hormones to gender-dysphoric kids. The problem isn’t that conservatives are wrong about all these things. I disagree with Trump on the merits of tariffs, but I also have serious reservations about the current research base and practice of youth gender medicine. The prison system shouldn’t provide expensive transition surgeries to people who have committed horrible crimes, or house anyone with male genitalia in a women’s prison. Like many Americans, I think that our nation’s affirmative action programs had an element of unfairness to them and became unworkable as the nation diversified. But “no,” by itself, is not an agenda. And that’s basically all the Republican Party is selling right now, to voters and to itself. No to wokeness, no to foreign aid, no to gun control or vaccine mandates - no, in fact, to anything the left says, including “Happy holidays.” No might be enough to curb the worst excesses of the left, but it leaves massive gaps that the party has mostly filled by rhetorical posturing and empty gestures. A serious Republican agenda would lay out exactly what should be taxed, and what the money should be spent on - make those numbers roughly balance each other out. Anything else is a recipe for endless deficits, perennial policy failures and constant crisis. The lack of a positive agenda keeps bringing us back to the same pointless battles over raising the debt ceiling and funding the government. Democrats have a list of things they want to get done, which forces them to make deals. Republicans have a list of things they don’t want done, and it’s hard to rally your conference around a black hole, or a vague notion that taxes should be lower and so should spending, especially on Democratic constituencies, but no plausible plan for making it so. So, when the debt ceiling inevitably needs to be raised, or the government funded, a chunk of their caucus simply retreats into “No, not that!” without ever answering the question “Okay, then what?” This tactic never worked very well, but it’s becoming increasingly untenable as America’s fiscal problems mount. Republicans can scream “no” as loud as they want, but unless they stabilize Social Security and Medicare, those programs will run out of money, just the same. Nor will it fix other problems that voters - and Republicans - care about. Saying “no” to abortion won’t undo the cultural and economic forces that have made it hard for young people to form healthy, fertile families. Saying “no” to immigration won’t end our housing crisis if you are also deporting construction workers who build new homes. Saying “no” to trade won’t magically bring back the old manufacturing economy that so many Republicans long for. Many of the jobs we lost were displaced by modern machinery, not cheap foreign labor, and many of our current manufacturing jobs depend on inputs from elsewhere, like the high-tech Dutch photolithography machines that are used to make advanced semiconductors. Oh, sure, Republicans can nope out some taxes, as they have done every time they’ve come to power for the last two decades. But unless they are also willing to say no to major spending programs - defense, old age entitlements, veterans’ benefits - the resulting deficits will translate into higher inflation and interest rates. Voters will give that the same resounding “no” they just delivered to President Joe Biden and Harris. If they want to keep the new-won affections of the American voter, they need to ditch their destructive ex.But these simulations can also injure and deceive us G ames are a kind of untrue truth, says Kelly Clancy in Playing With Reality: How Games Have Shaped Our World . The book’s about how human intelligence, morality, trade and military strategy have been bound up with gameplay. Play is an instinct, but games teach us social norms and morality. Moksha Patam (Snakes and Ladders) was designed to teach players about karma and the precarity of fate. Backgammon held cosmic significance in Persia, Buddhist monks saw the board game Go as a kind of moral meditation, senet taught Egyptians about the afterlife. When we play a game, we enter into its order. You can’t be a pacifist while playing Call of Duty, you have to play Monopoly like a ruthless capitalist. Games of chance are latent in our neurob iology, we explore and enjoy uncertainty. Many human societies have used games as a peaceful proxy for war. Following chaturanga and chess, based on warring military formations, the late 18th century game of Kriegsspiel became the basis of all European war simulations. It was critical to world wars, and continues to be used by modern militaries. US military has a dedicated esports unit; video games like America’s Army were used to recruit and train soldiers; Hezbollah released its own game in response. Play is a tool the brain uses to generate data on which to train itself and games represent a model of how our brain works. But they are ultima tely mathematical objects. The orderly randomness of dice is no substitute for the untamed randomness of the world. Real people are not the passive objects of physics, and cannot be understood through models. Much of the book dwells on this distinction, as models and game theory have increasingly pervaded our world. SimCity, the popular computer game, inspired a generation of urban designers, skewing civic ideas. The hyper-libertarian health policy game SimHealth involved spending finite political currency, pitting Liberty against Equality or Community against Efficiency, and so on, as though these values were necessarily opposed. Assumptions are everything, and they can seep in insidiously through play. Gamification is a wonderful idea in principle: by leveraging our natural play instincts, we improve our lives. In practice, corporate thought has hijacked it, to extract money and attention, to addict players with ‘dark design’ practices. Gaming communities have been mobilised into troll armies in US, China uses gamification techniques to control citizens through rewards and punishments. Video games are a great learning technology but also tools of tailored surveillance today, as we trade our autonomy for entertainment. Much of the book focuses on game theory, its wide applications today, as we search for universal solutions through abstract maths. It has allowed amazing feats in biology and genetics, bringing predictive capacities into complex life-science. But games are also dangerous fiction. Their rules and rewards can replace people’s actual preferences. Game theory promises to automate decisions, but it’s never a full account of human behaviour. For the sake of mathematical simplicity, game theorists exclude our social nature, the fact that we learn from each other and from our circumstances. It has been used to launder arbitrary ideologies, which are mistakenly held up as the objective truth. A technical rule-based system can never contend with the surprises of nature, life and human behaviour. It is technocratic folly to imagine it can.

French President Emmanuel Macron named a new government Monday evening, putting together a team under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year, to drag the second-largest EU economy out of political crisis. Macron named former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, 63, education minister in a new cabinet under centrist Bayrou, announced Elysee secretary-general Alexis Kohler. Another former premier, Manuel Valls, 62, returned as overseas territories minister, while former interior minister Gerald Darmanin became justice minister. Both Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot kept their jobs, the presidency said. Lecornu, a 38-year-old loyalist with a keen political nose, has served in every government since Macron's first election as president in 2017. Conservative Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who has vowed to crack down on illegal immigration, and right-wing Culture Minister Rachida Dati, also stayed in their posts. The difficult job of delivering a budget plan for next year falls to Eric Lombard, head of public-sector lender Caisse des Depots (CDC), who was named economy minister. "I'm very proud of the team we're presenting this evening," Bayrou said on X, adding his "experienced" cabinet would aim to "rebuild trust". The inclusion of two former prime ministers indicates Macron's desire for a heavyweight government that will enjoy stability and not share the fate of Bayrou's predecessor, Michel Barnier, ousted in a no-confidence vote. Bayrou had hoped to bring in figures from the left, right and centre to protect his government from possible censure, but his 35-member team does not include any members of the left-wing coalition New Popular Front. Macron will assemble Bayrou's team on January 3 for a first Council of Ministers meeting, the presidency said. Barnier was brought down over his failure to win support for an austerity budget to shore up France's shaky finances with spending cuts and tax rises. The priority for 73-year-old Bayrou is to make sure his government can survive a no-confidence vote and that it passes a cost-cutting budget for 2025. The unexpected comeback of Valls, premier from 2014 to 2016, as the head of the overseas territories ministry indicates the importance of the post after authorities were strongly criticised for their response to the deadly cyclone on the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, which killed at least 35 people. Darmanin had long been known to covet the post of foreign minister, but after days of intense discussions will have to content himself with the justice ministry. Just before the official announcement, heavyweight right-wing politician Xavier Bertrand, who had been tipped for the health ministry, announced he would not be part of the government. He alleged that it had been formed with the implicit "backing" of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who will play a key role in ensuring its survival. "The prime minister informed me this morning, contrary to what he had proposed yesterday, that he was no longer in a position to entrust me with responsibility for the justice ministry due to opposition from (Le Pen's) National Rally," Bertrand said in a statement. "Despite his new proposals, I refuse to take part in a government of France formed with the backing of Marine Le Pen." Bertrand is a major irritant for the far right, which he has long opposed. Le Pen on March 31, 2025 faces the verdict in an embezzlement trial on charges she denies. If convicted, she could lose the chance of standing in the 2027 elections and with it her best chance yet of winning the presidency. The announcement came as France observed a day of mourning for victims in cyclone-hit Mayotte, France's poorest overseas territory. Bayrou, the head of the centrist MoDem group, which is allied to Macron's party, was appointed on December 13. He is the sixth prime minister of Macron's mandate. Many already predict Bayrou will struggle to survive. France has been mired in deadlock since Macron gambled on snap elections this summer in the hopes of bolstering his authority. The move backfired, with voters electing a parliament fractured between three rival blocs. Le Pen suggested Macron has been weakened by months of political crisis and would eventually have to resign. "I am preparing for an early presidential election," she told French newspaper Le Parisien last week.Japan ruling, opposition blocs vow to scrap undisclosed policy fundsNBA urges players to remain vigilant about home security measures amid rash of break-ins

SAN JOSE, Calif. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that Nimrod Ben-Natan , President and CEO of Harmonic, and Walter Jankovic , Harmonic's Chief Financial Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the Raymond James 2024 TMT and Consumer Conference in New York City , on Monday, December 9, 2024 at 8:20 a.m. PT / 11:20 a.m. ET and host investor meetings throughout the day. Mr. Jankovic will also host investor meetings at the Barclays 2024 Global Technology Conference in San Francisco , on Thursday, December 12, 2024 . A live audio webcast of the fireside chat will be available on Harmonic's website at investor.harmonicinc.com . An archived webcast will remain posted on the Company's investor relations website for 30 days. Further information about Harmonic and the company's solutions is available at https://www.harmonicinc.com/ . About Harmonic Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), the worldwide leader in virtualized broadband and video delivery solutions, enables media companies and service providers to deliver ultra-high-quality video streaming and broadcast services to consumers globally. The company revolutionized broadband networking via the industry's first virtualized broadband solution, enabling operators to more flexibly deploy gigabit internet service to consumers' homes and mobile devices. Whether simplifying OTT video delivery via innovative cloud and software platforms, or powering the delivery of gigabit internet cable services, Harmonic is changing the way media companies and service providers monetize live and on-demand content on every screen. More information is available at https://www.harmonicinc.com/ . Harmonic, the Harmonic logo and other Harmonic marks are owned by Harmonic Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/harmonic-to-participate-in-upcoming-december-2024-investor-conferences-302316838.html SOURCE Harmonic Inc.

Prof Dr Shiv Sethi Name of Book : A Cornucopia of Articles Author : Dr.Ravi Prakash Tiwari Publisher: Evincepub Publishing Year of publication: 2024 Price: Rs.250/ Dr.Ravi Prakash Tiwari’s latest book, A Cornucopia of Articles, is a compendious depiction of issues pertaining to science, society, environment, security, academics, spiritualism, politics, economics, health, agriculture, global warming, ISRO and many others. It incorporates thirty articles penned down in a sublime language. This book is socially relevant because it conscientizes us about a medley of consequential temporal and spiritual issues. It will aid the society in learning how to tackle heat, save environment, use gadgets judiciously, assuage depression and suicidal tendency, keep surroundings clean, test food adulteration, soothe mind , diminish food wastage, etc. In the first chapter, Role of the UAE and Israel in Assuaging Water Crisis, Dr. Ravi has depicted how both the countries have solved the water -issue by having invented the technology to purify waste water and used drip irrigation to conserve water. In the next chapter, Artificial Intelligence, he depicts how AI will play major roles in curing cancer, combating crime, predicting pandemics, etc. In the article, Environmental Apocalypse, he discusses causes, impacts and solutions of environmental issues. The article, Upheaval in France, awakens us to the perils posed by immigration. The chapter, Pros and Cons of Using Digital Gadgets, elaborates on the need to employ gadgets judiciously. The article, China :- A Malediction To Humanity, exposes how China blatantly hitched conspiracies to breach territorial integrity of its neighbours and defied international laws. The chapter, Khalistan- A Separatist Movement, is a reminder to separatists that they can’t coerce India into capitulation. The chapter, Self-Reliant India in The Defense Sector, reveals how India’s defence ecosystem has been transformed and how she has embraced women in military. The chapter, Destigmatize Suicides to Save Lives, deals with the causes of suicides and the ways to keep suicidal tendency at bay. The chapter, Changes in Kashmir after the abrogation Of Article 370, depicts how Kashmir has progressed in every sphere of life. The chapter, Food gives the food For thought, explains the need to bolster our staples with micro-nutrients to make our labour force robust. The chapter on Aditya-L1 depicts its journey and functions in India’s progress. The chapter on Chandrayaan-3 does the same. The chapter, Biggest Causes of blood-shed, talks about the undeclared third world war. Society will pressurize the govt. to adopt global strategies to surmount some vexing problems mentioned here. The students with a scientific bent of mind will be intrigued by certain scientific facts mentioned in the articles. Since the articles were published in esteemed newspapers like The Daily Guardian, there can be no misgivings about the quality of their content. The book is replete with all the ingredients to make it a best seller. It will make readers knowledgeable about not only the universal facts but also idioms or phrases and high standard words. It is devoutly hoped that students and teachers will deem it a prized possession.Andrej Jakimovski hit a layup with 8 seconds left, and Colorado upset No. 2 UConn 73-72 in the consolation bracket of the Maui Invitational on Tuesday in Lahaina, Hawaii. Colorado (5-1) rallied from down 11 in the first half to get the win over the two-time defending national champions Huskies. Jakimovski finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Julian Hammond III and Elijah Malone each scored 16 for the Buffaloes, who advanced to the fifth-place game in Maui on Wednesday. Down 72-71, Jakimovski drove the right side of the lane and made a scoop shot as he was falling down. UConn called timeout to set up the final play but Hassan Diarra missed a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left. Liam McNeeley led UConn with 20 points, Solo Ball scored 16 and Diarra finished with 11. The Huskies (4-2) lost two straight for the first time since dropping three in a row from Jan. 11-18, 2023. Colorado trailed by eight at halftime and Diarra hit two 3-pointers early in the second half that made it 46-37. The Buffaloes scored the next 11 points to take a 48-46 lead, their first of the game. Hammond bookended that run with a pair of triples. UConn went back in front 55-52 on Tarris Reed Jr.'s driving layup but Malone's bucket with 8:34 left tied it at 59. McNeeley's hook shot gave the Huskies a 63-60 lead before Jakimovski drained a 3-pointer to tie it again with 5:16 left. Ball hit a 3-pointer and a layup to give UConn a five-point lead but Colorado got within 70-69 on two free throws by Malone with 2:04 left. A putback from Jaylin Stewart made it a three-point game with 1:29 remaining. Malone answered with a layup, Javon Ruffin blocked Diarra's shot and Colorado got an offensive rebound with 24 seconds left to set up the winning basket. McNeeley made his first four shots from deep and had 16 points by intermission to lead the Huskies. Colorado had opportunities to make it a close game by halftime but went just 12-for-19 from the foul line and trailed 40-32. UConn attempted only four free throws in the first half and had five players with two or more fouls, including Reed, who had three. --Field Level Media

California population rebounds to near pre-pandemic level

With Easter Sunday falling on April 20 next year, customers shared their confusion on social media after finding chocolate eggs and hot cross buns already for sale in shops including Morrisons, Tesco and Asda. One user, @Jingle1991, shared an image of Malteser Bunnies in Sainsbury’s on Christmas Eve and pointed out: “Jesus hasn’t even been born yet.” Meanwhile, Gary Evans from Margate shared a shot of Creme Eggs on display in Morrisons in Margate on Boxing Day. “I just think its crazy that everything is so superficial and meaninglessly commercial... (there’s) something quite frantic about it,” the 66-year-old told the PA news agency. Joseph Robinson found Easter confectionary including Cadbury Mini Eggs, and themed Kit-Kat and Kinder Surprise products at his local Morrisons in Stoke-on-Trent on Friday evening. “It’s funny, as they’ve not even managed to shift the Christmas chocolates off the shelves yet and they’re already stocking for Easter,” the 35-year-old admin support worker told PA. “I wish that Supermarkets weren’t so blatantly consumerist-driven and would actually allow customers and staff a time to decompress during the Christmas period.” Asked if he was tempted to make a purchase, Mr Robinson added: “As a vegan it holds no appeal to me!” Mike Chalmers, a devout Christian from Chippenham, Wiltshire, was slightly less critical after spotting a display entitled: “Celebrate this Easter with Cadbury.” “Christmas and Easter are the two centrepoints of the Christian good news story so it’s no bad thing to see the connections,” the 44-year-old said. “It’s about more than shapes of chocolate though!” Marketing consultant Andrew Wallis admitted he was surprised to see Easter eggs in the Co-op in Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, but added it also illustrates “forward-thinking” from big businesses. “It made me reflect on how big brands are always thinking ahead and planning early,” the 54-year-old from the Isle of Man, who provides marketing advice to the fitness industry, told PA. “My message to retailers would be: while planning ahead is important, it’s also essential to be mindful of consumer sentiment. “Some might feel it’s too early for seasonal products like this but others might see it as a sign of forward-thinking. “Striking the right balance is key to keeping customers happy.”Netflix will have one of its biggest days Wednesday since the site launched in 1998 when it airs two NFL games for the first time. "NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix" begins with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m., before Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City. Baltimore faces Houston in the second game. The streaming giant agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Netflix's 282.3 million subscribers in over 190 countries will be able to stream the games, marking the first time one outlet has distributed an NFL game globally. Netflix will have the games available in five languages — English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. The games will also air on CBS affiliates in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston. NFL policy dictates that games on cable or being exclusively streamed must also be on an over-the-air station in the competing teams' markets. It will also be available on mobile devices in the U.S. for those who have NFL+. The biggest reason is money. The league is getting $150 million from Netflix for the two games this season. It also continues the NFL's moves into streaming — Thursday night games are in their third season on Amazon Prime Video and the "Sunday Ticket" package moved to YouTube TV last year. But Christmas is on a Wednesday when games usually aren't played. That's true, but the league wasn't about to give up Christmas after seeing the ratings. Last year's three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million. The Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens and Texans played on Saturday, giving them the same turnaround they would have if they played on Sunday and then Thursday. All four have clinched playoff spots in the AFC, but seeding remains up for grabs. Kansas City (14-1) can clinch the top seed — which would mean a first-round bye and home field throughout the playoffs — with a win over the Steelers. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are tied atop the AFC North at 10-5, with the Steelers holding the tiebreaker due to a better conference record. Houston (9-6) has wrapped up the AFC South and holds the fourth seed. Netflix hopes so. Brandon Riegg, Netflix's vice president of nonfiction series and sports, said the system was stress tested, and then some, during the Nov. 14 bout, along with internet service providers reporting they were also overwhelmed by the surge that occurred before and during the fight. The bout peaked at 65 million concurrent streams, including 38 million concurrent streams in the United States. According to the website Down Detector, nearly 85,000 viewers logged problems with outages or streaming leading up to and during the fight. Possible? Yes. Likely? No. The largest audience for a streamed-exclusive NFL game was 23 million on Peacock for last season's AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs. Nielsen will measure the ratings for the Christmas Day games, with early numbers expected late afternoon on Thursday. It will probably be at kickoff for both games, but especially around 5:45 p.m. EST. That would be near halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, and when Beyoncé will be performing. Mariah Carey will kick off the day with a taped performance of "All I Want for Christmas is You." There is no word if Taylor Swift will make the trip to Pittsburgh to watch her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift has been spending time in Kansas City since she wrapped up her Eras Tour two weeks ago. How many Christmas games will Netflix carry in the next two seasons? The NFL will have at least two games on Dec. 25 in 2025 and '26, with Netflix slated to have at least one each year. Amazon Prime Video will have a night game with Christmas on a Thursday next year. Netflix's worldwide partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment will begin on Jan. 6 when "Monday Night Raw" moves to the streaming service. On Friday, Netflix secured the U.S. rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

NoneWhat Nebraska-Creighton series history tells us about the importance of 3-point shooting

Trump team signs transition agreement with White House

Hydro One Ltd. stock falls Tuesday, underperforms market‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained?Elisabeth Borne, only the second woman to serve as French prime minister, is making a surprise return to frontline politics as education minister less than a year after losing a job that she never wished to relinquish. An experienced technocrat known for her resilience who pushed through a controversial pensions overhaul while in office, Borne served as premier from May 2022 to January 2024. The 63-year-old engineer was the first woman to head a French government in three decades after the brief stint in office of Edith Cresson who lasted under 11 months in the early 1990s, during which time she endured rampant sexism. When Borne took power, she dedicated the moment to "all the little girls". "Follow your dreams, nothing must slow the fight for women's place in our society," she said. But her departure after just over 18 months left her denouncing the "insidious sexism" that she said still permeated French politics. At President Emmanuel Macron's request, she resigned in January and was replaced by the then 34-year-old Gabriel Attal, who became France's youngest head of government but he only lasted to the summer. Borne said after her resignation that women in politics were "constantly" compared to men. "Men in politics, they all have an interest in imposing masculine codes, it eliminates the competition," she added. She also noted that all candidates to succeed her were men. "It's as if commentators were saying to themselves, 'We've just had a woman prime minister for 20 months, that's it, we're back to normal life'," she told RTL. Even when she handed over office to Attal on January 9, Borne had made clear her resentment over sexism in French politics, saying: "I have also been able to see quite often that there is still some way to go for equality between women and men." But she added in a message to women: "Hold on, the future belongs to you." Borne had proved her loyalty to Macron during his first term in office, serving as transport, environment and finally labour minister from 2020. As premier she staunchly defended his flagship pensions reform to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. She deployed a controversial executive power to force through the legislation without a vote, despite previously saying she did not want to use it. Discreet about her private life, Borne was accused by critics of showing too little personality in office. Borne's Jewish father had been deported to Auschwitz during World War II and survived the Nazi death camp but never fully recovered. Her father took his own life when she was just 11 years old. "It's shocking for an 11-year-old girl to lose her father in these conditions," Borne told LCI. "And I think I closed up and that I avoid showing my emotions too much." "I think... this closing up, maybe, goes a little far. Yes," she acknowledged. But she expressed pride over how France had allowed her to study under a special programme for children who have lost parents. "We are a country where you can be the daughter of an immigrant, where you may have lost your father at 11, but the country reaches out to you to allow you to study," she said. "And then you are a prefect (senior local official), and then you are a minister and you are even prime minister," she added. Her father, who was reportedly named Joseph Bornstein, fled to France from Poland in 1940 and then fought in the French resistance during World War II. He was captured and deported to Auschwitz in 1944.

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