bass fish Aaron Rodgers insists there's nothing uncertain about his status for the New York Jets' game Sunday at Buffalo. “There's no way I'm not playing,” the quarterback said during a video call Tuesday. Rodgers acknowledged he has “a little MCL” issue in a knee, but added: “I've had a lot worse. I lucked out. I avoided major stretchage of the MCL.” Rodgers was hurt in the Jets’ 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday but remained in the game. “I’m gonna play,” Rodgers said of the game against the Bills. “It feels pretty good.” Rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu’s promising first season is over, though, as the first-round pick was placed on injured reserve with an injury to the plantar fascia in his left foot. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said earlier Tuesday that it was “just too early to tell” what Rodgers' availability might be, but he was optimistic about the 41-year-old quarterback's chances. “If I’m a betting man," Ulbrich said, “I’m betting on Aaron Rodgers to play.” Rodgers said he didn't need an MRI on the knee, the latest ailment in what has been an injury-filled season. He earlier dealt with knee, hamstring and ankle issues that hindered his play at times. One of the four-time MVP's goals entering the season was playing in all 17 games after being limited to four snaps in his debut last year because of a torn Achilles tendon. “I definitely felt like at midseason that was going to be difficult,” Rodgers said of playing in every game. “But right now, it looks like, for sure, 16. And hopefully get through this one and get to 17.” The Jets held a walkthrough Tuesday and their next full practice is Thursday, giving Rodgers some extra time to recover. Rodgers has 24 touchdown passes and eight interceptions this season, and he's one TD throw from becoming the fifth player in NFL history with 500 for his career in the regular season. While his plans for the final two games appear clear, his playing future beyond this season is uncertain. Rodgers has another year left on his deal with the Jets, but the team is looking for a new general manager and head coach. Whether the quarterback will be part of the new regime's plans will be a major storyline this offseason. During an appearance Monday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers suggested he could be released the day after the regular season ends. He said there's also a chance he could be retained but acknowledged he's going to take some time to decide if he even wants to play in a 21st NFL season. “I think anything is truly possible,” Rodgers said Tuesday of potentially being released. "Whether it happens or not, I’m sure that there will be decisions that, I don’t think there will be surprises where there’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t know what we want to do with certain people.’ I think there’s going to be some decisions that want to be made the day after the season or a couple days after the season, so I don’t know. I’m just not naive. “There’s not zero percent in my mind. I don’t think it’s a high percentage. I think there’s probably a conversation to be had, but I’m just not naive to that being a zero percent chance. I think it’s more than a zero percent chance and less than a certainty, so somewhere in the middle.” Rodgers said he hasn't spoken recently to owner Woody Johnson and doesn't necessarily think the lack of any indication of whether he's wanted back means he won't be. “I would be surprised if there was a conversation now because there’s so many uncertainties,” he said. “There’s a GM that has to get hired, I would assume first, and then he’s going to be part of hiring the head coach, so I have to be in the plans of multiple people, starting with the ownership and then the GM and then the head coach." Rodgers added that if he's told the Jets want him back, it would mean they see him as an important part of trying to change the culture of a team that hasn't made the postseason in 14 years. “That’d be special to hear that,” he said, “but if they don’t, again, no offense at all will be taken.” Fashanu had a solid first NFL season after being the 11th overall draft pick in April out of Penn State. He began the year as veteran Tyron Smith's backup before filling in at right tackle for two games when Morgan Moses was injured. Fashanu, who played only left tackle in college, also stepped in at right guard for an injured Alijah Vera-Tucker against Houston. When Smith was lost for the season with a neck injury last month, Fashanu took over as the starter and excelled in five starts. He was hurt midway through the fourth quarter against the Rams and was seen on crutches in the locker room after the game. Ulbrich said he believed Fashanu would need surgery, but the team later clarified that a procedure won't be required. “It's unfortunate,” Ulbrich said. “He's having a great rookie season. But at the same time, these injuries sometimes give you an opportunity to step back and really start absorbing some of the information as you were kind of thrown into the fire. He'll use it as an opportunity to grow, I know that.” The Jets signed veteran kicker Greg Joseph to the practice squad and he'll compete with Anders Carlson for the job this week. Ulbrich said Greg Zuerlein, on IR since late October with a knee injury, also could be in the mix. Carlson, the fourth kicker used by the Jets this season, missed an extra point and a 49-yard field goal try late in the fourth quarter against the Rams. He is 8 of 10 on field goal tries and 9 for 11 on extra points in five games with New York. “We'll see how it goes and we'll put the best guy out there,” Ulbrich said. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflLuke Williams feels Swansea ‘lost grip’ on game despite sealing victory at DerbyManchester United manager Ruben Amorim hailed Arsenal as one of the best set-piece teams he has ever faced following the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal. The Gunners took two points out of Liverpool’s lead at the summit of the Premier League after Jurrien Timber and William Saliba struck in the second half – both from corners – to condemn Amorim to his first defeat as United boss. The hosts’ second-half strikes took their goals-from-corners tally to 22 since the start of last season – a statistic that is unmatched by any other team in the division. Asked if Arsenal are one of the best teams he has come up against on corners, Amorim replied: “If you follow the Premier League for a long time you can see that. “They are also big players and you see every occasion when (Gabriel) Martinelli and (Bukayo) Saka have one-on-ones, a lot of times they go outside and they cross, and they know that if the cross goes well, they can score, and if it is a corner they can score, too, so we have to be better on that. “You have seen in all Arsenal games that every team have had problems with that (corners). And the difference today was the set-pieces. “You see a goal and then the momentum changed, and it is really hard for us to take the full control of the game after that.” Timber leaned into Rasmus Hojlund at the front post before diverting Declan Rice’s set-piece into the back of Andre Onana’s net after 54 minutes to send Arsenal into the lead. Thomas Partey’s header from Saka’s corner then deflected in off Saliba’s shoulder with 17 minutes left. Arteta and the club’s set-piece guru Nicolas Jover embraced on the touchline as Amorim was left with his head in his hands. The Arsenal supporters cheered raucously every time they won a corner – landing 13 in all without reply. However, Arteta moved to play down the significance of Arsenal’s set-piece threat. “We need that, but we want to be very dangerous and very effective from every angle and every phase of play,” said Arteta. “Today we could have scored from open play like we did against West Ham and Sporting. Last year we scored the most goals in the history of this football club. Arsenal have won four consecutive Premier League matches against Man Utd for the first time ever! 💫 pic.twitter.com/biv1kvsJEP — Premier League (@premierleague) December 4, 2024 “Not because of only set-pieces, but because of a lot of things that we have. We want to create individual and magic moments, too.” Arsenal’s win against United – the first time they have recorded four victories in a row against the Red Devils in the league – was their fourth in succession since the international break. They will head to Fulham on Sunday bidding to keep the momentum going. Arteta continued: “The will to win is there. We try our best to do that. We won four in a row, but it doesn’t matter. We have to go to Fulham now, try to be better than them and try win the game. “It’s every three days that we play. It’s a crazy schedule. We’re going to need everybody and to mentally be very strong.”

How major US stock indexes fared Wednesday, 11/27/2024The top US securities regulator, a skeptic towards cryptocurrency who was appointed by President Joe Biden, announced Thursday he will step down in January when Donald Trump takes office. Gary Gensler, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said he will resign on January 20, the same day Trump assumes the presidency. The move clears the way for the Republican president-elect to pick Gensler's successor. The news comes as bitcoin hit a fresh record of $98,473,64 on Thursday. Gensler's five-year term does not end until 2026, but agency chairs customarily step down when the party of presidential administration turns over. Gensler took office in April 2021 shortly after the so-called "meme stock" frenzy in January 2021 prompted massive volatility in GameStop and a handful of other stocks. A former mergers and acquisitions partner at Goldman Sachs, Gensler led rulemaking proposals intended to improve efficiency in capital markets. But his future in Washington looked precarious in light of the SEC's confrontational approach to cryptocurrency throughout the Biden years. During the campaign, Trump drew heavy financial support from cryptocurrency backers, some of whom are also close to the president-elect's close ally, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In the absence of clear regulations, Gensler took an aggressive stance toward digital currencies, treating them like traditional financial securities such as stocks and bonds. The approach has prompted SEC lawsuits against major trading platforms including Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken, along with various smaller startups. Leading legislation in Washington would shift oversight to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, known for its lighter-touch approach to regulation. Gensler thanked Biden and fellow commissioners, saying in a statement, "The SEC has met our mission and enforced the law without fear or favor." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world

Trump's tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be differentMoment that ‘proves’ I’m A Celeb’s Dean is ‘faking his fears’ say ITV viewers

On Wednesday, Wall Street's major indexes concluded a tumultuous session lower, with technology stocks bearing the brunt of the decline. Leading the drop, the Nasdaq raised alarms as investors speculated on the Federal Reserve's cautious stance towards rate cuts amid lingering inflation concerns in the U.S. economy. Despite strong consumer spending data for October pointing to robust economic growth, the challenge of lowering inflation persisted. Traders have doubled down on expectations for a 25 basis points rate cut in December, though they foresee stable rates in January and March, according to CME's FedWatch. Adding to the uncertainty, investors evaluated the impact of President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on imports and their potential inflationary implications. Tech heavyweights like Dell and HP saw significant stock declines, affecting the Information Technology sector and spreading unease across megacap stocks including Nvidia and Microsoft. (With inputs from agencies.)Luke Williams feels Swansea ‘lost grip’ on game despite sealing victory at Derby

Fresh graduates, their faces pale and uncertain, spent 2024 poring over newspaper job advertisements, applying for any suitable position and frantically appearing for recruitment exams in Dhaka. The year was marked by somewhat regular public recruitments until June -- before a nationwide student movement turned into a full-blown anti-government campaign. However, the private sector offered far fewer new jobs than the number of fresh graduates entering the job market. Throughout the year, economic and political gauges constantly beeped red: a slowing economy, falling capital machinery import, sluggish private sector credit appetite, a nationwide upheaval culminating in the government ouster and the formation of an interim government. Amid the turmoil, the overall job market fared poorly in 2024. The year began with roughly 10 lakh unemployed graduates, according to the latest official data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). In Bangladesh, public jobs represent around 6 percent of the employment while the private players accommodate the remaining workforce. In 2024, a combination of factors such as global crises, local political instability, a worsening US dollar crisis and high inflation halted expansion plans. Therefore, private firms saw their appetite for fresh credit waning. Private sector credit growth decelerated to 8.30 percent in October, the lowest in 41 months, according to the Bangladesh Bank. This figure is the lowest since May 2021, when credit growth fell to 7.55 percent during the Covid-induced lockdowns. Besides, private investment as a percentage of the country's GDP has declined for the past three years. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the private investment to GDP ratio decreased by 0.67 percentage points year-on-year to 23.51 percent, according to BBS data. These figures suggest that businesses were hesitant to expand or take up new ventures, limiting the potential for new job opportunities. AKM Fahim Mashroor, CEO of Bdjobs.com, the largest job site in Bangladesh, said hiring remained stagnant in the first half of 2024. This trend had been continuing for the previous two years. "Political upheaval severely impacted hiring between July and September," Mashroor said. "However, the situation has shown some improvement in October to November." He said that hiring has not fully normalised as the economic situation still remains uncertain. After the government ouster in August and the formation of the interim government, a crackdown on corruption opened up investigations of several business tycoons. This also impacted the labour market to some extent. For instance, Beximco Group recently laid off nearly 40,000 workers across its 15 apparel units in Gazipur citing a lack of work orders. Following the August changeover, Beximco came to the spotlight with its Vice-Chairman Salman F Rahman, an adviser to the previous prime minister who allegedly weaponised his influence for business gains, being arrested and now staying behind bars. 'FORMAL JOBS MIGHT HAVE SHRUNK' "The year 2024 has seen a sharp decline in investment and output growth. The projected GDP growth for the year is significantly lower than recent trends," said Rizwanul Islam, a special advisor for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva. "Consequently, employment growth must have also declined substantially," he said. "In all likelihood, growth in formal sector jobs, especially in manufacturing, has been negative," he added. "In such circumstances, people often resort to lower-quality jobs in the informal economy or share work in agriculture." "To my knowledge, little has been done to address overall employment and youth employment in particular," he added. "The government set an ambitious target of increasing the [private investment to GDP] ratio to 27.34 percent in the FY25 budget. However, achieving this goal remains uncertain due to persistent economic challenges and uncertainty," said Deen Islam, an associate professor of economics at the University of Dhaka. 'TICKING TIME BOMB' A white paper panel that assessed the state of the economy and submitted its report to the interim government referred to the mismatch between employability and labour market dynamics in Bangladesh as a "ticking time bomb". According to the white paper, the unemployment rate among educated youth has increased 2.5 times since 2010 due to a mismatch between their qualifications and the structure of industries and the economy. "Not only that, despite having tertiary-level education, these graduates are ill-prepared for the market due to low technical knowledge," the paper added. Over the past 12 years, the number of tertiary graduates has increased by about 2.5-fold, accounting for around 9 percent of the total labour force in 2022. Hand in hand, the unemployment rate of this group increased from 4.9 percent in 2010 to 12 percent in 2022. "Special attention must be given to address the precarious job situation, especially for educated job seekers," said Rizwanul Islam. He also said, "It's easy to say that they should create their own jobs. However, in a situation where the real economy is struggling, it is difficult for anyone to find a way to create decent jobs, let alone for newcomers to the labour market. Special programs are needed to help them." "Ultimately, there is no alternative to reviving the economy's growth trajectory." All efforts must be made to restore investor confidence and channel investments towards sectors that can drive higher employment growth, he said. Fresh graduates, their faces pale and uncertain, spent 2024 poring over newspaper job advertisements, applying for any suitable position and frantically appearing for recruitment exams in Dhaka. The year was marked by somewhat regular public recruitments until June -- before a nationwide student movement turned into a full-blown anti-government campaign. However, the private sector offered far fewer new jobs than the number of fresh graduates entering the job market. Throughout the year, economic and political gauges constantly beeped red: a slowing economy, falling capital machinery import, sluggish private sector credit appetite, a nationwide upheaval culminating in the government ouster and the formation of an interim government. Amid the turmoil, the overall job market fared poorly in 2024. The year began with roughly 10 lakh unemployed graduates, according to the latest official data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). In Bangladesh, public jobs represent around 6 percent of the employment while the private players accommodate the remaining workforce. In 2024, a combination of factors such as global crises, local political instability, a worsening US dollar crisis and high inflation halted expansion plans. Therefore, private firms saw their appetite for fresh credit waning. Private sector credit growth decelerated to 8.30 percent in October, the lowest in 41 months, according to the Bangladesh Bank. This figure is the lowest since May 2021, when credit growth fell to 7.55 percent during the Covid-induced lockdowns. Besides, private investment as a percentage of the country's GDP has declined for the past three years. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the private investment to GDP ratio decreased by 0.67 percentage points year-on-year to 23.51 percent, according to BBS data. These figures suggest that businesses were hesitant to expand or take up new ventures, limiting the potential for new job opportunities. AKM Fahim Mashroor, CEO of Bdjobs.com, the largest job site in Bangladesh, said hiring remained stagnant in the first half of 2024. This trend had been continuing for the previous two years. "Political upheaval severely impacted hiring between July and September," Mashroor said. "However, the situation has shown some improvement in October to November." He said that hiring has not fully normalised as the economic situation still remains uncertain. After the government ouster in August and the formation of the interim government, a crackdown on corruption opened up investigations of several business tycoons. This also impacted the labour market to some extent. For instance, Beximco Group recently laid off nearly 40,000 workers across its 15 apparel units in Gazipur citing a lack of work orders. Following the August changeover, Beximco came to the spotlight with its Vice-Chairman Salman F Rahman, an adviser to the previous prime minister who allegedly weaponised his influence for business gains, being arrested and now staying behind bars. 'FORMAL JOBS MIGHT HAVE SHRUNK' "The year 2024 has seen a sharp decline in investment and output growth. The projected GDP growth for the year is significantly lower than recent trends," said Rizwanul Islam, a special advisor for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva. "Consequently, employment growth must have also declined substantially," he said. "In all likelihood, growth in formal sector jobs, especially in manufacturing, has been negative," he added. "In such circumstances, people often resort to lower-quality jobs in the informal economy or share work in agriculture." "To my knowledge, little has been done to address overall employment and youth employment in particular," he added. "The government set an ambitious target of increasing the [private investment to GDP] ratio to 27.34 percent in the FY25 budget. However, achieving this goal remains uncertain due to persistent economic challenges and uncertainty," said Deen Islam, an associate professor of economics at the University of Dhaka. 'TICKING TIME BOMB' A white paper panel that assessed the state of the economy and submitted its report to the interim government referred to the mismatch between employability and labour market dynamics in Bangladesh as a "ticking time bomb". According to the white paper, the unemployment rate among educated youth has increased 2.5 times since 2010 due to a mismatch between their qualifications and the structure of industries and the economy. "Not only that, despite having tertiary-level education, these graduates are ill-prepared for the market due to low technical knowledge," the paper added. Over the past 12 years, the number of tertiary graduates has increased by about 2.5-fold, accounting for around 9 percent of the total labour force in 2022. Hand in hand, the unemployment rate of this group increased from 4.9 percent in 2010 to 12 percent in 2022. "Special attention must be given to address the precarious job situation, especially for educated job seekers," said Rizwanul Islam. He also said, "It's easy to say that they should create their own jobs. However, in a situation where the real economy is struggling, it is difficult for anyone to find a way to create decent jobs, let alone for newcomers to the labour market. Special programs are needed to help them." "Ultimately, there is no alternative to reviving the economy's growth trajectory." All efforts must be made to restore investor confidence and channel investments towards sectors that can drive higher employment growth, he said.The ‘Dune: Prophecy’ Sets Have a Secret Built Into Them

Canada didn't live up to its values on immigration in recent years, Carney says

Amanda Holden gives update on Jamie Theakston's cancer ordeal after concerns from fans

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. A senior Biden administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private consultations, said Wednesday that the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18 from the current age of 25 to help expand the pool of fighting-age men available to help a badly outnumbered Ukraine in its nearly three-year-old war with Russia. The official said “the pure math” of Ukraine's situation now is that it needs more troops in the fight. Currently Ukraine is not mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replace its battlefield losses while keeping pace with Russia's growing military, the official added. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. But with time running out, the Biden White House is also sharpening its viewpoint that Ukraine has the weaponry it needs and now must dramatically increase its troop levels if it's going to stay in the fight with Russia. The official said the Ukrainians believe they need about 160,000 additional troops, but the U.S. administration believes they probably will need more than that. More than 1 million Ukrainians are now in uniform, including the National Guard and other units. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been hearing concerns from allies in other Western capitals as well that Ukraine has a troop level problem and not an arms problem, according to European officials who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic conversations. The European allies have stressed that the lack of depth means that it may soon become untenable for Ukraine to continue to operate in Russia’s Kursk border region . The situation in Kursk has become further complicated by the arrival of thousands of North Korean troops , who have come to help Moscow try to claw back the land seized in a Ukrainian incursion this year. The stepped-up push on Ukraine to strengthen its fighting ranks comes as Ukraine braces for President-elect Donald Trump to take office on Jan. 20. The Republican said he would bring about a swift end to the war and has raised uncertainty about whether his administration would continue the vital U.S. military support for Ukraine. “There are no easy answers to Ukraine’s serious manpower shortage, but lowering the draft age would help,” said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "These are obviously difficult decisions for a government and society that has already endured so much due to Russia’s invasion.” Ukraine has taken steps to broaden the pool of draft-eligible men, but the efforts have only scratched the surface against a much larger Russian military. In April, Ukraine’s parliament passed a series of laws, including one lowering its draft-eligible age for men from 27 to 25, aimed at broadening the universe of men who could be called on to join the grinding war. Those laws also did away with some draft exemptions and created an online registry for recruits. They were expected to add about 50,000 troops, far short of what Zelenskyy said at the time was needed. Zelenskyy has consistently stated that he has no plans to lower the mobilization age. A senior Ukrainian official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ukraine does not have enough equipment to match the scale of its ongoing mobilization efforts. The official said Ukrainian officials see the push to the lower the draft age as part of an effort by some Western partners to deflect attention from their own delays in providing equipment or belated decisions. The official cited as an example the delay in giving Ukraine permission to use longer-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory. The Ukrainians do not see lowering the draft age to recruit more soldiers as a substitute for countering Russia’s advantage in equipment and weaponry, the official said. Conscription has been a sensitive matter in Ukraine throughout the war. Russia’s own problems with adequate troop levels and planning early in the war prevented Moscow from taking full advantage of its edge. But the tide has shifted and the U.S. says the Ukrainian shortage can no longer be overlooked. Some Ukrainians have expressed worry that further lowering the minimum conscription age and taking more young adults out of the workforce could backfire by further harming the war-ravaged economy. The senior Biden administration official added that the administration believes that Ukraine can also optimize its current force by more aggressively dealing with soldiers who desert or go absent without leave. AP White House correspondent Zeke Miller and AP writer Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed to this report.Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus WASHINGTON (AP) — A powerful government panel has failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of a nearly $15 billion proposed deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. Steel. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on Monday sent its long-awaited report to President Joe Biden, a longtime opponent of the deal. Some federal agencies represented on the panel were skeptical that allowing a Japanese company to buy an American-owned steelmaker would create national security risks. That's according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. Both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump opposed the merger and vowed to block it. Nippon Steel says it is confident the deal will go ahead. Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Survey: Small businesses are feeling more optimistic about the economy after the election A survey shows small business owners are feeling more optimistic about the economy following the election. The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Small Business Optimism Index rose by eight points in November to 101.7, its highest reading since June 2021. The Uncertainty Index declined 12 points in November to 98, following October’s pre-election record high of 110. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said small business owners became more certain about future business conditions following the presidential election, breaking a nearly three-year streak of record high uncertainty. The survey also showed that more owners are also hoping 2025 will be a good time to grow. Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about one hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by an issue with a vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. The flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that more than 3,200 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed. Twenty-eight flights were canceled. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. Stock market today: Wall Street rallies ahead of Christmas Stocks closed higher on Wall Street ahead of the Christmas holiday, led by gains in Big Tech stocks. The S&P 500 added 1.1% Tuesday. Trading closed early ahead of the holiday. Tech companies including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom helped pull the market higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended mostly higher after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was little changed at 4.59% An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally. In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration. What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. American consumers feeling less confident in December, Conference Board says American consumers are feeling less confident in December, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Monday that its consumer confidence index fell back in December to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Consumers had been feeling increasingly confident in recent months. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market tumbled more than a dozen points to 81.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda's U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market.Published 3:26 pm Tuesday, December 24, 2024 By Data Skrive The Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns square off in one of many exciting matchups on the NBA schedule on Wednesday. Seeking additional betting intel for Wednesday’s NBA action? 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Unai Emery feels confidence returning after Aston Villa end winless run

Dubai [UAE], December 24 (ANI/WAM): Dubai is set to host the 19th World Congress of Neurosurgery in 2025, bringing one of the most prestigious congresses in the medical field to the Middle East for the first time. The awarding of the event to Dubai follows a successful bid led by the Emirates Society of Neurological Surgeons, and supported by Dubai Business Events, the city's official convention bureau and part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Set to take place under the theme 'Connecting the Neurosurgical World', the congress is the flagship event of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), and is typically held every two years. Dubai will welcome approximately 4,000 delegates for the event, set to take place during 1st to 4th December 2025, including key opinion leaders from the industry, innovators and changemakers. The decision by WFNS to award the event to Dubai highlights its rapid growth as a host for international association conferences and congresses, and builds on the city's status as the highest ranked destination in the Middle East for the number of association events hosted, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said, "The decision by the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies to bring this prestigious event to Dubai is a testament to the evolution of our knowledge economy, driven by the city's visionary leadership. It also further highlights the platform that Dubai is able to provide to associations around the world for sharing knowledge, networking, and professional development. Business events continue to be important catalysts for Dubai's development, driving economic growth and powering key sectors, including healthcare and medical sciences. The congress will attract luminaries from the field of neuroscience as well as business leaders and innovators, pushing Dubai to the forefront of scientific and technological innovation." In a statement, the Administrative Council of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, said, "There is no better place in the world than Dubai to bring the neurosurgical world together. Science, technology and innovation have been the hallmarks of Dubai's knowledge economy - and we are delighted that the World Congress of Neurosurgery will be held in such a vibrant and dynamic city. Dubai's infrastructure, business-friendliness and leisure activities make it a top-of-mind destination for large scale global events, and we are confident this will be an engaging and insightful event." Dubai's focus on attracting more business events is closely tied to wider Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai's economy in the decade up to 2033, and consolidate its position as a leading global city for business and leisure. As the city's official convention bureau, DBE collaborates with stakeholders across the public and private sector to grow the pipeline of events taking place in Dubai. Among its key initiatives is the Al Safeer Congress Ambassador Programme, through which it engages with local experts and leaders to identify, bid for, capture, and host international business events in their respective fields. Dr. Mohamed Al-Olama, President of the Emirates Society of Neurological Surgeons, President of the Gulf Neurosurgical Society, General Secretary of Arab Pediatric Neurosurgical Society, Treasurer of Asian Australasian Society of Neurological Surgeons, and an Al Safeer Congress Ambassador, added, "This conference will bring some of the most intelligent and talented doctors from around the world to Dubai, to discuss their innovations in the field of neurosurgery. Their surgical skills will add tremendous value to the field of medicine and elevate Dubai's positioning as a destination of choice for specialised events. I'm proud to say that as Al Safeer Ambassador, I have worked to bring many society meetings to Dubai, including the Walter E. Dandy Neurosurgical Society Annual Meeting in 2015, the Leksell Gamma Knife Society Meeting in 2018, as well as the International Federation of Neuroendoscopy Interim Meeting took place in December 2024. The success of these events continues to pave the way to attract even larger and more prominent congresses to Dubai." (ANI/WAM) (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)