jollibee 8 pcs bucket price

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Balloting in Uruguay’s runoff election came to a close on Sunday, starting a countdown to the announcement of official results in a tight battle for the presidency between the conservative ruling coalition candidate and his left-wing challenger. Independent polling firms will start releasing so-called quick counts now that polls have closed, but the official results are not likely to be released for hours. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days, as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s center-left Broad Front coalition. Though polls show Uruguayans largely satisfied with the current government’s performance, complaints about sluggish growth, persistent violent crime and stagnant wages could add Uruguay to a long list of countries where frustrated voters have punished incumbents in elections around the world this year. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans went to the polls Sunday for a second round of voting to choose their next president , with the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month's vote . The staid election has turned into a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party's candidate, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, a coalition of leftist and center-left parties that governed for 15 years until the 2019 victory of center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou . The Broad Front oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation of 3.4 million people. Orsi's Broad Front took 44% of the vote while Delgado's National Party won 27% in the first round of voting Oct. 27. But other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Congress ended up evenly split in the October vote. Most polls have shown a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, with nearly 10% of Uruguayan voters undecided even at this late stage. Many said they believed turnout would be low if voting weren't compulsory in the country. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation," said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates' lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere . “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over a surge in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, campaigned on a vow to continue the legacy of current President Lacalle Pou — in some ways making the election into a referendum on his leadership. He campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." While a string of corruption scandals rattled Lacalle Pou's government last year, the president — who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term — now enjoys high approval ratings and a strong economy expected to grow 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has also eased in recent months, boosting his coalition. Delgado served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor's pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to iconic former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who raised Uruguay's international profile as one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations during his 2010-2015 term. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , was among the first to cast his ballot after polls opened. “Uruguay is a small country, but it has earned recognition for being stable, for having a citizenry that respects institutional formalities,” he told reporters from his local polling station. “This is no small feat.” While promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay, Orsi plans no dramatic changes. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi similarly pledged a smooth and respectful transition of power, describing Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.BROSSARD, Quebec (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens might be getting some reinforcements soon after Patrik Laine practiced with his teammates Wednesday for the first time since suffering a left knee sprain. Laine skated alone before joining the team for the first few drills at practice. He wore a noncontact jersey and left the ice after about 15 minutes. “It’s nice to have him back with us,” defenseman David Savard said. “It can feel like a long time when you’re not practicing with the team, you don’t see the guys as much. We’ve made an effort to keep him involved as much as possible during team meetings, but it’s tougher when we’re on the road. “But it’s great to see him and to know he’s close to returning to play.” Laine was injured after a collision with Cédric Paré during a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 28. He opted not to undergo surgery. The Canadiens announced on Oct. 1 that he would be sidelined for two to three months . He resumed skating on his own on Nov. 6. At this point, he’s expected to make his official debut in a Canadiens uniform sometime in December. The 26-year-old Finn hasn’t played in the NHL since Dec. 14 as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets . He was sidelined with a fractured clavicle and later entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to focus on his mental health. Laine will likely need some time to get back into game rhythm. “Will it take one game? Two weeks? I don’t know, we’ll see,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. The Canadiens are riding a two-game winning streak and next play the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday at the Bell Centre. ___ A previous version of this story was published with a photo of Adam Boqvist, not Patrik Laine. The incorrect photo has been removed. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL The Associated Press

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee man was convicted Thursday of killing two men and wounding a third in a shooting at a high school basketball game three years ago. Jadon Hardiman, 21, was found guilty in Gibson County of charges including second-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, district attorney Frederick Agee said in a statement. He faces up to 76 years in prison at sentencing in April. Hardiman, of Jackson, attended a basketball game between Humboldt and North Side high schools on Nov. 30, 2021. Then 18, Hardiman entered the Humboldt gymnasium's crowded concession area and pulled a semi-automatic .40 caliber handgun, prosecutors said. He fired three shots at Justin Pankey, a 21-year-old former Humboldt basketball player. Pankey was hit one time and died within seconds, Agee said. A second bullet hit Xavier Clifton, a former North Side student and basketball player, who was standing in the concession line. Clifton was shot in the neck and paralyzed. He died in March 2022. A third shot struck another man in the back of the head. He survived. “Many people were placed in fear of imminent bodily injury by Hardiman’s shooting, as shown by video footage of their fleeing into the gym, into bathrooms, and other areas of the school,” Agee said. Hardiman ran away and drove to Jackson, disposing of the murder weapon along the way, the district attorney said. The U.S. Marshals Service contacted his family, and he was arrested the next day. Agee said the shooting "frightened every adult, student, and child present, who were only there to support their team and enjoy a good game.”Patriots' coaches enter bye week confident Drake Maye can be a franchise quarterback

Yto Barrada to Represent France at Next Venice Biennale(The Center Square) — The next step toward faster permits in Pennsylvania starts with a simpler application process. So says Gov. Josh Shapiro, who traveled to Hazle Township in Luzerne County last week to sign an executive order launching the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program, intended to improve efficiency for complex development projects in the commonwealth. The press conference was held at the site of a newly completed warehouse developed by NorthPoint Development, a primary player in the Hazelnut Project, a 1,300-acre technology campus in Hazle Township that will house tech infrastructure. “This new development will help PA continue to stay at the front of the pack when it comes to attracting jobs to the area,” said NorthPoint Vice President Brian Stahl. The governor’s office hopes to shake off Pennsylvania’s reputation for red tape and slow starts. The Fast Track program should reduce the time it takes for projects, like the one in Hazle Township, to get off the ground and create jobs along the way. The program tasks the Office of Transportation and Opportunity – another Shapiro administration creation via executive order – with overseeing complex high-impact economic development and infrastructure projects. Other work already underway includes the Bellwether District in Philadelphia and the Martinsburg Community Digester. For initiatives within the program, the office serves as a shepherd, facilitating the connections, applications and studies required to move a project forward. Key to the program is a public-facing dashboard that shows progress on the work being done, providing increased transparency for stakeholders affected by ongoing development projects. “Today’s executive order strengthens that critical partnership between private developers and permitting agencies, fostering a streamlined, transparent, and effective process,” Stahl said. “This collaboration accelerates investments, creates meaningful jobs, generates vital tax revenue, and further strengthens the economy for all Pennsylvanians.” Hazleton’s Republican mayor, Jeff Cusat, spoke about the common ground he shares with the Democratic governor. “Under my leadership, we’ve made critical updates to our code department, issuing thousands of permits and business licenses,” he said. “I’m glad to see the state also taking action to speed up their permitting processes.” “It takes everyone working together to get a project like this over the finish line and the township has worked incredibly hard to make this a successful public-private partnership,” said Dr. Anthony Grigoli, chairman of the Township Supervisors Board for Hazle Township. If the program can build upon the successes of earlier phases of the administration’s economic plan, which have dramatically slashed wait times in licensing and permitting processes across industries, officials believe the state can draw new business that may have been otherwise deterred by red tape. Brian Kirshner, who leads the Office of Transportation and Opportunity, hopes to see the state perform more competitively. “Speed and service are what companies care about,” he said.

Lease Management Market to Reach USD 8.44 Billion by 2032 | Driven by Rising Demand for Efficient Lease Tracking and Cost Management | Research by SNS InsiderVICTORIA - British Columbia Premier David Eby says Canada’s premiers and the federal government have hatched a game plan over possible U.S. tariffs, where Conservative premiers lobby their Republican counterparts and left-leaning leaders court the Democrats, while the federal government focuses on president-elect Donald Trump. Eby says the premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked about using their political diversity and connections to approach politicians and business leaders in the United States, as talks over Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico ramp up. He says it has been discussed that Conservative premiers Danielle Smith in Alberta, Doug Ford in Ontario and Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston are well-placed to lobby their contacts with Republican governors and business leaders. In a year-end interview, Eby says as a New Democrat leader he will likely have more in common speaking with Democrat governors and business leaders from the West Coast states. He says Canada’s diversity of representation, ranging from the right and left sides of the political spectrum, can bring leverage and advantages in tariff talks. Eby also says — if it is deemed helpful — he is prepared to appear on American’s right-leaning Fox News TV network as did premiers Ford and Smith. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Tim Houston’s first name was John.Coronation Street fans are ALL saying the same about THIS storyline

Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug useBy ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday reached a required agreement with President Joe Biden’s White House to allow his transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The congressionally mandated agreement allows transition aides to work with federal agencies and access non-public information and gives a green light to government workers to talk to the transition team. But Trump has declined to sign a separate agreement with the General Services Administration that would have given his team access to secure government offices and email accounts, in part because it would require that the president-elect limit contributions to $5,000 and reveal who is donating to his transition effort. Related Articles The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. The agreement is a critical step in ensuring an orderly transfer of power at noon on Inauguration Day, and lays the groundwork for the White House and government agencies to begin to share details on ongoing programs, operations and threats. It limits the risk that the Trump team could find itself taking control of the massive federal government without briefings and documents from the outgoing administration. As part of the agreement with the White House, Trump’s team will have to publicly disclose its ethics plan for the transition operation and make a commitment to uphold it, the White House said. Transition aides must sign statements that they have no financial positions that could pose a conflict of interest before they receive access to non-public federal information. Biden himself raised the agreement with Trump when they met in the Oval Office on Nov. 13, according to the White House, and Trump indicated that his team was working to get it signed. Trump chief of staff-designate Susie Wiles met with Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients at the White House on Nov. 19 and other senior officials in part to discuss remaining holdups, while lawyers for the two sides have spoken more than a half-dozen times in recent days to finalize the agreement. “Like President Biden said to the American people from the Rose Garden and directly to President-elect Trump, he is committed to an orderly transition,” said White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma. “President-elect Trump and his team will be in seat on January 20 at 12 pm – and they will immediately be responsible for a range of domestic and global challenges, foreseen and unforeseen. A smooth transition is critical to the safety and security of the American people who are counting on their leaders to be responsible and prepared.” Without the signed agreement, Biden administration officials were restricted in what they could share with the incoming team. Trump national security adviser-designate Rep. Mike Waltz met recently with Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan, but the outgoing team was limited in what it could discuss. “We are doing everything that we can to effect a professional and an orderly transition,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. “And we continue to urge the incoming team to take the steps that are necessary to be able to facilitate that on their end as well.” “This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” said Wiles in a statement. The Trump transition team says it would disclose its donors to the public and would not take foreign donations. A separate agreement with the Department of Justice to coordinate background checks for vetting and security clearances is still being actively worked on and could be signed quickly now that the White House agreement is signed. The agency has teams of investigators standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers once that document is signed. That would clear the way for transition aides and future administration appointees and nominees to begin accessing classified information before Trump takes office. Some Trump aides may hold active clearances from his first term in office or other government roles, but others will need new clearances to access classified data. Trump’s team on Friday formally told the GSA that they would not utilize the government office space blocks from the White House reserved for their use, or government email accounts, phones and computers during the transition. The White House said it does not agree with Trump’s decision to forgo support from the GSA, but is working on alternate ways to get Trump appointees the information they need without jeopardizing national security. Federal agencies are receiving guidance on Tuesday on how to share sensitive information with the Trump team without jeopardizing national security or non-public information. For instance, agencies may require in-person meetings and document reviews since the Trump team has declined to shift to using secure phones and computers. For unclassified information, agencies may ask Trump transition staff to attest that they are taking basic safeguards, like using two-factor authentication on their accounts. “The signing of this agreement is good news, and a positive step toward an effective transfer of power,” said Max Stier, the president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. “This agreement unlocks direct access to information from federal agencies, which is vital for the incoming administration to be ready to govern on Day One and critical to the transition’s success.”

Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug useHyderabad: On December 25 every year, many parts of India come alive with festive spirit of Christmas with Carol singing, dazzling Christmas lights, decked up Christmas trees, youngsters greeting each other, gift- giving and feasts. It is a blend of cultural festivities and religious observance which symbolises the return of light and hope. Along with that, it is also a day when some great leaders were born in India that is Bharat. This day is remembered for various reasons. It happens to be the birth anniversary of Madan Mohan Malaviya, Ganganath Jha, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Atal Behari Vajpayee will be remembered for ever for shaping post-Independence domestic and foreign policy. A veteran Parliamentarian whose career stretches over four decades, Vajpayee was elected to the Lok Sabha nine times and to the Rajya Sabha twice, a record by itself. Atal Ji made the first serious attempt to make technology accessible to the common man. He was a poet and a compassionate leader. A great statesman and served three terms as the prime minister of India - first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for 13 months from 1998 to 1999 and after that a full term from 1999 to 2004. "Satta ka khel chalega" (the game of power will go on). Governments will come and go. Parties will be made and unmade. This country should survive, its democracy should survive,” he said in Lok Sabha in 1996 when his government faced trust vote which is recalled by many leaders even today in many debates in parliament. The former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday gained importance as it is celebrated as “Good Governance Day.” His first brush with nationalist politics was in his student days when he joined the Quit India Movement of 1942 which hastened the end of British colonial rule. As a student of political science and law, he developed keen interest in foreign affairs - an interest he has nourished over the years and put to skillful use while representing India at various multilateral and bilateral fora. He had tremendous sense of humour. An orator par excellence and was also a composer and writer, a voracious reader. Similarly, we had other great leaders like Madan Mohan Malavia (25 December 1861 – 12 November 1946), who was not only a great freedom fighter, politician, and educationist, but also a great social reformer. Ganganath Jha (25 December 1872 – 9 November 1941), was a great scholar of the Sanskrit language. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari (25 December 1880 – 10 May 1936) a renowned physician, and a nationalist Muslim leader, who participated in the Indian National Movement and lived in Varanasi and contributed to establish the Nationalist University Kashi Vidyapeeth and Jamia Millia in Delhi. Another great son of soil was Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (10 December 1878 – 25 December 1972). Rajaji was an advocate, writer, politician, and philosopher. He was the second Governor-General of independent India and the first Indian Governor-General.Jihadist rebels took control of Hama, Syria , in another critical blow for the government of President Bashar Assad. After November's surprise blitz in Idlib, Syria, anti-government forces took Syria's second-largest city, Aleppo, almost without a fight. Assad's Syrian Arab Army withdrew south to Hama to consolidate its defensive lines, seemingly stabilizing the front around the strategic city. The forces of Hayat Tahrir al Sham, an outgrowth of al Qaeda, surprised the world once again by launching a renewed offensive against Hama. The offensive broke through SAA defensive lines around Hama in a pincer movement , leading to its withdrawal from the city Thursday. "During the past hours, with the intensification of confrontations between our soldiers and terrorist groups and the rise of a number of martyrs among our forces, these groups were able to penetrate several axes in the city and enter it, despite suffering heavy losses in their ranks," the general command of the army and armed forces of the SAA said in a statement . "In order to preserve the lives of civilians in Hama and not to involve them in battles inside the cities, the military units stationed there redeployed and repositioned themselves outside the city," they added. The statement maintained that the SAA will work to reclaim the areas. Videos published on social media showed HTS forces being greeted by supporters upon entering the city. One of their first moves was to open the prisons to free political prisoners. Videos show hundreds of inmates being greeted by supporters. Footage of clashes shows armored columns of HTS-led forces speeding through SAA lines, leading to a flight of SAA soldiers. In one video, panicked SAA vehicles are intercepted by HTS tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, being driven off the road or run over. The loss of Hama is a massive blow to the Assad government, with the city possessing great strategic and symbolic value. On a strategic level, the city was the government's last major population center before Homs, a hub that connects the M5 motorway to the capital and Syria's access to the Mediterranean Sea. If Homs is taken, Syria will effectively be split in two. The coastline is also the regime's heartland, possessing the greatest share of Alawites and Christians — Assad's biggest supporters. On a symbolic level, Hama was the sight of the brutal crushing of an Islamist uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood in 1982 by Assad's father, Hafez al Assad. In the nearly monthlong siege, the SAA surrounded and bombarded the city into submission, killing an estimated 10,000 to 40,000 people. The legacy of the incident played prominently in the 2011 protests and ensuing civil war, feeding a feeling of resentment among the rebels. It also served as a byword for government brutality, with older Syrians warning that Bashar Assad would "do Hama again" if the youth protested. More directly, Muslim Brotherhood survivors served as direct inspirations for many Islamist movements that have taken up arms in the country's civil war. Disciples of one prominent Syrian Muslim Brotherhood member, Abul-Abbas al Shami, went on to found the Ahrar al Sham Islamic Movement, a powerful militant group that helped take Hama on Thursday. In his first video statement announcing the taking of Hama, HTS Emir Abu Mohammad al Julani referenced the 1982 uprising. "I have good news for you, my brothers, that your brothers, the Mujahideen revolutionaries, have begun to enter the city of Hama to cleanse that wound that has continued in Syria for 40 years," he said. Keeping with his rebrand toward moderation, he said it was a conquest "free of revenge" and a "conquest entirely of mercy and love." In a decree Monday, Julani, who once served as head of Syria's al Qaeda affiliate, declared , “In the future Syria, we believe that diversity is our strength, not a weakness.” Shortly after the fall of Hama, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported that Damascus's air defenses had shot down several enemy drones — the first-ever drone attack by rebels against the capital. The situation is worse for Bashar Assad than at any time since September 2015. Its savior at that time, Russia, is assisting with some air assets and missile strikes but is largely distracted by its war in Ukraine. Bashar Assad's main hope is Iran and its proxy militias, which are reeling from recent fighting against Israel. Hezbollah and some Iraqi Shiite militias have reportedly been deployed to Syria in recent days but are largely defensive in posture. A Hezbollah fighter and Iraqi militia commanders speaking with the Washington Post said they are waiting for orders for their next move. Iran sent thousands of proxy fighters to assist Bashar Assad in the early years of the country's civil war, but such forces may not be enough to save the SAA. Footage from recent fighting shows massive quantities of Syrian tanks, equipment, and armored vehicles seemingly abandoned. Bashar Assad's recent decree granting a 50% raise in base salaries for SAA military personnel may not be sufficient. The Iranian government is now floating the prospect of a direct military intervention. “If the Syrian government wants us to deploy troops in Syria, we’ll consider their request,” Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with the United Kingdom-based newspaper Al Araby Al Jadeed. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is already heavily embedded in Syria, with Israel killing many top commanders in strikes within the country. The Iraqi government, closely linked with Iran, is also floating the possibility of an intervention. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Bashar Assad received the public backing of the most prestigious group in the Muslim world of the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance — the Houthis. Houthi Spokesman Mohammed al Bukhaiti said in a Tuesday statement that Bashar Assad was the only Arab head of state who hadn't abandoned the Palestinian and Lebanese cause and that the offensive's "ultimate goal" was to "cut off the resistance’s supply route in service of Israel." Hezbollah also reiterated its support, with newly inaugurated Secretary-General Naim Qassem saying in a Thursday speech that the group would "stand with Syria to thwart this aggression." He denounced HTS and its allies as "tools of Israel and America."

TransMedics Group ( TMDX 3.03% ) was a top-performing stock that more than doubled in value during the months between the end of 2023 and late August. Unfortunately, shares of the healthcare stock have collapsed more than 60% from their previous peak. The stock had already been beaten down this year, but management recently incited another round of losses by announcing a new chief accountant and lowering its revenue guidance range. Recent announcements might not bode well for TransMedics, but its proprietary organ care system (OCS) has been generating tremendous sales growth. In the first half of 2024, total revenue rocketed about 125% higher year over year. Let's look at what's gone wrong to see if this stock could be a bargain buy on the dip. Why TransMedics stock was beaten severely On Dec. 2, TransMedics said the revenue guidance it had already lowered on Oct. 28 was no longer valid; management lowered the midpoint of its revenue guidance range to $430 million from $435 million. The difference was minor, but the stock fell hard . The small guidance reduction had an outsized impact on the stock because American businesses rarely need to walk back revenue guidance in between the quarterly reports they issue every three months. Reminding investors that its growth rate is rapidly decelerating as the CFO departs probably should make investors nervous. TransMedics has attracted some downgrades from sell-side analysts who have noticed intensifying competition for transplant organ preservation services. For example, OrganOx is a privately held British company that markets a similar device called Metra. In late 2021, the OrganOx Metra system earned approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to transport livers. OrganOx is a privately held company that doesn't have to report sales, but we know that liver transplants are responsible for 70% of TransMedics Group's total revenue. In 2023, TransMedics acquired an aviation company, its fleet of jets, and a lot of maintenance expenses. If it's passing those expenses on to transplant centers that don't appreciate the extra service, they'll beat a path to OrganOx's door. Paragonix is another organ transport and preservation business that could apply more pressure on TransMedics' growth rate. In 2023, the Massachusetts company reported just $43 million in sales -- but this September it was acquired by Getinge, an international healthcare giant with over 12,000 employees. Not a bargain Shares of TransMedics have been beaten way down, but I wouldn't say they're in bargain territory. The stock is still trading for 71 times trailing-12-month earnings, or 5.9 times trailing-12-month sales. This rich valuation is only appropriate for businesses you can expect to grow at a double-digit percentage for many years. I recently trimmed my TransMedics position because intensifying competition has slowed sales growth to a trickle, but the stock is still richly valued. Management's new guidance range implies $110 million in revenue during the fourth quarter, which is only slightly more than the $109 million it reported in the third quarter. But I didn't close my position, because the results from the OCS DCD Heart trial could give TransMedics a durable advantage and allow for many years of steady growth. In the study, hearts donated after cardiac death (DCD) and maintained with a TransMedics OCS led to significantly improved survival odds compared to cold-stored hearts that were donated after brain death (DBD). This is a big deal, because most surgeons won't touch cold-stored DCD hearts. Paragonix's SherpaPak produces similar results with DCD hearts but keeps them at a lower temperature. As a warmer device, the TransMedics OCS can carry hearts longer distances than the SherpaPak, which makes it easier to find a matched recipient. Intensifying competition might slow TransMedics Group's growth rate. Still, I expect it to continue growing, albeit at a much slower rate than investors have gotten used to over the past couple of years.Pep Guardiola’s side at least avoided the indignity of a sixth successive defeat in all competitions but alarm bells continue to ring at the Etihad Stadium after a dramatic late capitulation. A double from Erling Haaland – the first from the penalty spot – and a deflected effort from Ilkay Gundogan, all in the space of nine minutes either side of the break, looked to have ensured a return to winning ways. Yet Guardiola was left with his head in hands as Feyenoord roared back in the last 15 minutes with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Sergio Gimenez and David Hancko, two of them after Josko Gvardiol errors. City almost snatched a late winner when Jack Grealish hit the woodwork but there was no masking another dispiriting result. It was hardly the preparation City wanted for Sunday’s crunch trip to Liverpool, and the Feyenoord fans took great delight in rubbing that fact in. They sung the club anthem they share with Liverpool, You’ll Never Walk Alone, and chanted the name of their former manager Arne Slot, the current Reds boss. Guardiola arrived at the ground with a cut on the bridge of his nose and, once again, his side have been struck a nasty blow. Despite not being at their best, they had dominated early on against what seemed limited Dutch opposition. They threatened when a Gundogan shot was deflected wide and Haaland then went close to opening the scoring when he turned a header onto the post. Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther gifted City another chance when he passed straight to Bernardo Silva but Grealish’s fierce volley struck team-mate Phil Foden. Foden forced a save from Wellenreuther but City had a moment of alarm when Igor Paixao got behind the defence only to shoot tamely at Ederson. Nathan Ake missed the target with a header but some luck finally went City’s way just before the break when Quinten Timber, brother of Arsenal’s Jurrien, was harshly adjudged to have fouled Haaland. The Norwegian rammed home the resulting spot-kick and City returned re-energised for the second period. They won a corner when a Matheus Nunes shot was turned behind and Gundogan fired the hosts’ second – albeit with aid of a deflection – with a firm volley from the edge of the box. City turned up the heat and claimed their third soon after as Gundogan released Nunes with a long ball and his low cross was turned into the net by a sliding Haaland. 44' ⚽️ Man City 1-0 Feyenoord50' ⚽️ Man City 2-0 Feyenoord53' ⚽️ Man City 3-0 Feyenoord75' ⚽️ Man City 3-1 Feyenoord82' ⚽️ Man City 3-2 Feyenoord89' ⚽️ Man City 3-3 Feyenoord 🤯🤯🤯 — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) It seemed City were heading for a morale-lifting victory but a couple of Gvardiol errors changed the script. The Croatian, who had a torrid time in Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing by Tottenham, first horribly misplaced a backpass and allowed Moussa to nip in and round Ederson. Ordinarily that 75th-minute reply would have been a mere consolation and City would close out the game, but Gvardiol had another moment to forget eight minutes from time. Again he gave the ball away and Feyenoord pounced. The ball was lofted into the box and Jordan Lotomba fired a shot that glanced the post and deflected across goal, where Gimenez chested in. Ederson then blundered as he raced out of his area and was beaten by Paixao, who crossed for Hancko to head into an empty net. Amid some moments of unrest in the crowd, when objects were thrown, City tried to rally in stoppage time. Grealish had an effort deflected onto the bar but the hosts had to settle for a draw.Patriots' coaches enter bye week confident Drake Maye can be a franchise quarterback