Gratitude to the Almighty is the theme of Thanksgiving and has been ever since the Pilgrims of Plymouth brought in their first harvest. “Instead of famine, now God gave them plenty,” their leader, Governor William Bradford, would later write in “Of Plymouth Plantation,” his celebrated history of the colony’s first decades, “and the face of things was changed to the rejoicing of the hearts of many, for which they blessed God.” The annual presidential Thanksgiving proclamations always invoke God, and they frequently itemize the favors for which we owe Him thanks. “For all the blessings that have been bestowed upon our nation during the past 12 months, it is a small thing to give thanks to Almighty God,” declared Lyndon Johnson in 1965, to mention just one example. “Our nation is rich and strong and united in the cause of liberty and justice. Our physical comforts are unmatched anywhere in the world. Our medicine has conquered ancient diseases. ... We have broadened the horizons of opportunity for our poor. And all the while, we have enjoyed the greatest prosperity in history.” This week, in millions of homes across the nation, God will be thanked for many gifts — for the feast on the table and the company of loved ones, for health and good fortune in the year gone by, for peace at home when there is so much war abroad, for the incalculable privilege of having been born — or having become — American. But it probably won’t occur to too many of us to give thanks for the fact that the local supermarket had plenty of fresh turkey for sale this week. Even the devout aren’t likely to thank God for airline schedules that made it possible for some of those loved ones to fly home for Thanksgiving. Or for the arrival of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” at the local movie theater in time for the holiday weekend. Or for that great salted caramel pecan pie recipe in the food section of the newspaper. Those things we take more or less for granted. It hardly takes a miracle to explain why grocery stores stock up on turkey before Thanksgiving, or why Hollywood releases big movies in time for big holidays. That’s what they do. Where is God in that? And yet, isn’t there something wondrous — something almost inexplicable — in the way your Thanksgiving weekend is made possible by the skill and labor of vast numbers of total strangers? To ensure supermarkets would be stocked with turkey for Thanksgiving required the efforts of thousands of far-flung people. An astonishing level of coordination was required to pull it off. Even more astonishing is that there was no coordinator. (Photo: Nam Y. Huh/AP) To bring that turkey to the dining room table, for example, required the efforts of thousands of people — the poultry farmers who raised the birds, of course, but also the feed distributors who supplied their nourishment and the truckers who brought it to the farm, not to mention the architect who designed the hatchery, the workers who built it, and the technicians who keep it running. The bird had to be slaughtered and defeathered and inspected and transported and unloaded and wrapped and priced and displayed. The people who accomplished those tasks were supported in turn by armies of other people accomplishing other tasks — from refining the gasoline that fueled the trucks to manufacturing the plastic in which the meat was packaged to scheduling the shifts of the cashiers who rang up customers’ sales. The activities of countless far-flung men and women over the course of many months had to be intricately choreographed and precisely timed, so that when you showed up to buy a fresh Thanksgiving turkey, there would be one — or more likely, a few dozen — waiting. The level of coordination that was required to pull it off is astounding. But what is even more astounding is this: No one coordinated it. No turkey czar sat in a command post somewhere, consulting a master plan and issuing orders. No one rode herd on all those people, forcing them to cooperate for your benefit. And yet they did cooperate. When you arrived at the supermarket, your turkey was there. You didn’t have to do anything but show up to buy it. If that isn’t a miracle, what should we call it? Adam Smith called it “the invisible hand” — the mysterious phenomenon that leads innumerable people, each working for his own gain, to promote ends that benefit many and enrich society. Out of the seeming chaos of millions of uncoordinated private transactions emerges the spontaneous order of the market. Free human beings freely interact, and the result is an array of goods and services more immense than the human mind can comprehend. No dictator, no bureaucracy, no supercomputer plans it in advance. Indeed, the more an economy is planned, the more it is plagued by shortages, dislocation, and failure. It is commonplace to speak of seeing God’s signature in the intricacy of a spider’s web, the grandeur of a mountain range, or the ethereal beauty of a rainbow. But even they pale against the kaleidoscopic energy and productivity of the free market. If it is a blessing from Heaven when seeds are transformed into grain, how much more of a blessing is it when our private, voluntary exchanges are transformed — without our ever intending it — into prosperity, innovation, and growth? The social order of freedom, like the wealth and the progress it makes possible, is an extraordinary gift from above. On this Thanksgiving Day and every day, may we be grateful.AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca expressed satisfaction with his team's decisive 6-1 victory against Sassuolo in the Coppa Italia last-16 matchup held at San Siro on Tuesday. Milan's commanding four-goal lead by halftime eliminated any chance for an upset by Serie B's leaders, allowing Fonseca the luxury of introducing four substitutes at the beginning of the second half. In a post-match interview with Mediaset, Fonseca praised his squad's focused approach. "We played a great game, a magnificent first half, which also helped us manage the players," he said, commending the serious attitude his players showcased. The match saw Fonseca make eight changes from the squad who bested Empoli 3-0 over the weekend, a rotation he felt paid off effectively. Fonseca emphasized the importance of maintaining faith in his entire squad, noting that his players are ready to perform regardless of prior play time. He expressed satisfaction with their adaptability against smaller teams, which had been an area of concern in the past. As he looks ahead, Fonseca remains concentrated on their next league fixture against Atalanta, temporarily putting aside potential future clashes with former club AS Roma in the quarter-finals. (With inputs from agencies.)KyKy Tandy, FAU close out Oklahoma State in Charleston

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Shares of Sonoro Gold Corp. (SMO.V) ( CVE:SMO – Get Free Report ) were up 3.6% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$0.29 and last traded at C$0.29. Approximately 25,000 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 65% from the average daily volume of 71,465 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.28. Sonoro Gold Corp. (SMO.V) Stock Performance The company has a market cap of C$23.34 million and a P/E ratio of -8.29. The company has a quick ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 0.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 702.99. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$0.29 and a 200-day moving average price of C$0.29. Sonoro Gold Corp. (SMO.V) Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Sonoro Metals Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Mexico and the United States. It primarily explores for gold and silver. The company holds interest in the San Marcial project covering an area of approximately 1,000 hectares located in Sonora, Mexico. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Sonoro Gold Corp. (SMO.V) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sonoro Gold Corp. (SMO.V) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pickNRG Energy Inc. stock outperforms competitors despite losses on the day

ATLANTA (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Energy will make a $6.6 billion loan to Rivian Automotive to build a factory in Georgia that had stalled as the startup electric vehicle maker struggled to become profitable. It's unclear whether the administration can complete the loan before Donald Trump becomes president again in less than two months, or whether the Trump administration might try to claw the money back. Trump previously vowed to end federal electric vehicle tax credits , which are worth up to $7,500 for new zero-emission vehicles and $4,000 for used ones. Rivian made a splash when it went public and began producing large electric R1 SUVs, pickup trucks and delivery vans at a former Mitsubishi factory in Normal, Illinois, in 2021. Months later, the California-based company announced it would build a second, larger, $5 billion plant about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Atlanta, near the town of Social Circle. The R1 vehicles cost $70,000 or more. The company plans to produce R2 vehicles, a smaller SUV, in Georgia with lower price tags aimed at a mass market. The first phase of Rivian’s Georgia factory is projected to make 200,000 vehicles a year, with a second phase capable of another 200,000 a year. Eventually, the plant is projected to employ 7,500 workers. But Rivian was unable to meet production and sales targets and rapidly burned through cash. In March, the company said it would pause construction of the Georgia plant. The company said it would begin assembling its R2 SUV in Illinois instead. CEO RJ Scaringe said the move would allow Rivian to start selling the R2 sooner and save $2.25 billion in capital spending. Since then, German automaker Volkswagen AG said in June it would invest $5 billion in Rivian in a joint venture in which Rivian would share software and electrical technology with Volkswagen. The money eased Rivian's cash crunch. Tuesday's announcement throws a lifeline to Rivian's grander plans. The company said its plans to make the R2 and the smaller R3 in Georgia are back on and that production will begin in 2028. “This loan would enable Rivian to more aggressively scale our U.S. manufacturing footprint for our competitively priced R2 and R3 vehicles that emphasize both capability and affordability,” Scaringe said in a statement. The Energy Department said the loan would substantially boost electric vehicles made in the United States and support Biden’s goal of having zero-emission vehicles make up half of all new U.S. sales by 2030. “As one of a few American EV startups with light duty vehicles already on the road, Rivian’s Georgia facility will allow the company to reach production volumes that make its products more cost competitive and accelerate access to international markets,” the department said in a statement. The loan includes $6 billion, plus $600 million in interest that will be rolled into the principal. The money would come from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans to make fuel-efficient vehicles and components. The program has focused mostly on loans to new battery factories for electric vehicles under Biden, but earlier helped finance initial production of the Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf, two pioneering electric vehicles. The loan program, created in 2007, requires a "reasonable prospect of repayment" of the loan. Under Biden, the program has announced deals totaling $33.3 billion, including $9.2 billion for massive battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky for Ford’s electric vehicles. Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff , who has been a vocal supporter of electric vehicle and solar manufacturing in Georgia, hailed Tuesday's announcement as “yet another historic federal investment in Georgia electric vehicle manufacturing.” Ossoff had asked Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to support the loan in July. “Our federal manufacturing incentives are driving economic development across the state of Georgia,” Ossoff said in a statement. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says his goal is to make Georgia a center of the electric vehicle industry. But the Republican has had a strained relationship with the Biden administration over its industrial policy, even as some studies have found Georgia has netted more electric vehicle investment than any other state. Kemp has long claimed that manufacturers were picking Georgia before Biden's signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, was passed. Efforts to bring Rivian to Georgia predated the Biden administration and "our shared vision to bring opportunity to Georgia will remain no matter who resides in the White House or what party controls Congress,” Kemp spokesperson Garrison Douglas said Tuesday. The loan to Rivian could rescue one of the Kemp administration's signature economic development projects even as Biden leaves office. That could put Rivian and Kemp in the position of defending the loan if Trump tries to quash it. State and local governments offered Rivian an incentive package worth an estimated $1.5 billion in 2022. Neighbors opposed to development of the Georgia site mounted legal challenges. State and local governments spent around $125 million to buy and prepare the nearly 2,000-acre (810-hectare) site. The state also has completed most of $50 million in roadwork that it pledged. The pause at Rivian contrasts with rapid construction at Hyundai Motor Group’s $7.6 billion electric vehicle and battery complex near Savannah. The Korean automaker said in October that it had begun production in Ellabell, where it plans to eventually employ 8,500. Associated Press writer Matthew Daly in Washington contributed to this story.NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction , arguing continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that dismissal is warranted because of the “overwhelming national mandate granted to him by the American people on November 5, 2024.” They also cited President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of tax and gun charges . “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’" Trump’s legal team wrote. The Manhattan district attorney, they claimed, engaged in the type of political theater "that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. Former President Donald Trump walks to make comments to members of the news media May 30 after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York. In their filing Monday, Trump's attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies wrongdoing. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, also would allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and since were selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. A dismissal would erase Trump’s historic conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office. Trump takes office Jan. 20. Merchan hasn’t set a timetable for a decision. Merchan could also decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. Prosecutors cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses — concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump pledged to appeal the verdict if the case is not dismissed. He and his lawyers said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts — things they did in the course of running the country — and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes. Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, with Melania Trump and Barron Trump, arrives to speak at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks as Melania Trump looks on at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives with former first lady Melania Trump and son Barron Trump at the Palm Beach County Convention Center during an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks as former first lady Melania Trump listens after they voted on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks as former first lady Melania Trump listens after they voted on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks as former first lady Melania Trump listens after they voted on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump visits his campaign headquarters, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, joined by, from right, Melania Trump and Barron Trump, arrives to speaks at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives with =former first lady Melania Trump and son Barron Trump at the Palm Beach County Convention Center during an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks as former first lady Melania Trump listens after they voted on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump walk after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump walk after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.

Iowa QB Cade McNamara slams 'ridiculous' rumorsAfter losing 7-2 to the worst team in the Pacific Division on Monday, the Kings will pivot straight into Wednesday’s showdown with the NHL’s best club. The Winnipeg Jets just moved to 18-4-0 with a resounding 4-1 win over another early-season powerhouse, the Minnesota Wild. Now, Winnipeg’s trip south will signify a visit from some former Kings cohorts: Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari, all of whom became Jets as a result of the disastrous Pierre-Luc Dubois trade . Vilardi has continued to be one of the top net-front presences in the NHL on the power play as well as a threat from the slot offensively, while providing outstanding defense and winning 63.6% of his faceoffs this season. Iafallo has emerged as a solid second-unit contributor for Winnipeg and scored two goals against Minnesota, including one with the extra man that was his 100th career tally, while Kupari recorded an assist. They’ve operated behind the team’s top-five scorers – Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk – who have combined for 115 points in 22 games. During last season’s only meeting in Los Angeles, Vilardi scored a career-high four points to match the contributions of then-linemate Ehlers as the Jets turned a two-goal deficit into a comfortable win by way of five unanswered goals. That was part of a stretch of 34 straight games in which Winnipeg and its top goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, allowed three goals or fewer. This season, more feats have followed as the Jets have compiled the NHL’s best points total, points percentage, goal differential, power-play conversion rate, goals-against average and save percentage, all while scoring the most goals of any team. They’ve had two winning streaks of seven or more games in just 22 matches. While the Jets soared, the Kings remained in a holding pattern. They appeared to have four winnable games heading into this clash with the league’s top team, but continued their one-step-forward-one-step-back pattern by splitting bouts with Buffalo , Detroit , Seattle and San Jose. They’ve won consecutive games three times this season, but never more than two in a row. Their latest disappointment saw them fall to 0-2-0 in San Jose in 2024-25, losing to the lottery-bound Sharks on Monday in a game that was tied at the second intermission. No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini got the third-period party started with a goal for San Jose and later drew a penalty before scoring a second goal, five-on-three. Kings coach Jim Hiller said that no one should “disrespect” San Jose – which had dropped six of seven decisions entering the contest – but finally deemed an effort, in this case a five-goals-allowed final frame, to be “unacceptable.” “That’s not a team that’s trying to tank, that’s a good hockey team, strong players, real good back end. We played them three times, they beat us twice, we barely beat them in the one at home,” Hiller said. “We completely fell apart in the third period. That’s just unacceptable, what happened in the third.” Anže Kopitar’s hand stayed hot with a goal and an assist to match the two points of linemate Adrian Kempe. Kempe has notched 13 points over his past 12 games while Kopitar has 16 points across those same dozen contests, putting the 37-year-old on track to top his best single-season total of 92 points from the 2017-18 season. When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: Crypto.com Arena How to watch: FDSNWIt was a fine first win for Ruud van Nistelrooy , and perhaps one final defeat for Julen Lopetegui. Leicester marked Van Nistelrooy’s first match in charge of the team by surging to a 3-1 win over Lopetegui's West Ham in the Premier League on Tuesday. Van Nistelrooy, the former Manchester United striker, is back in English soccer this time as a manager, with Leicester taking something of a gamble on the Dutchman after his brief and impressive spell as interim coach at United this season following Erik ten Hag's departure. He faces the tough task of keeping Leicester, one of the top candidates for relegation, in the top division. For that to happen, he’s likely to need goals from Jamie Vardy — and the 37-year-old former England international delivered immediately. Nine years after breaking Van Nistelrooy’s record for scoring in consecutive games, Vardy scored the first goal of the Dutchman’s tenure at Leicester by beating the offside trap and slotting home a finish with less than two minutes gone. Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss supplied the pass for Vardy’s goal and scored himself with a low shot in the 61st minute to make it 2-0. Patson Daka added a third for Leicester in the 90th minute, before a stoppage-time consolation by West Ham substitute Niclas Füllkrug. “We are very happy with the new manager," El Khannouss said of Van Nistelrooy. “He arrived two days ago, and there’s a new dynamic in the group.” Van Nistelrooy praised the “spirit and energy” in his team. “The foundation for us going forward is everyone working their socks off, fighting for every inch and defending together,” he said. “We can look further then, and they did that in an unbelievable way.” This dismal result for West Ham came three days after its 5-2 thrashing at home by Arsenal , which piled more pressure of Lopetegui early in the former Spain and Real Madrid coach's first season with the London club. West Ham's disgruntled traveling fans chanted "You’re getting sacked in the morning” toward Lopetegui during the second half — even if his team dominated large parts of the game but only had one goal to show from 31 shots on goal. “We're very frustrated but in the same way I can say nothing about the players — they fight until the end,” Lopetegui said. "It’s not easy to explain football some days.” West Ham has lost seven of its 14 games so far and is in 14th place in the 20-team league, one spot above Leicester. Crystal Palace won for just the second time in the league this season, beating relegation rival Ipswich 1-0 to pull clear of the bottom three. Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the goal in the 59th minute. Palace’s only other league victory was against Tottenham in October. While Ipswich stayed in next-to-last place, Palace moved three points above the relegation zone. Much of the focus ahead of the game was on the teams’ captains , Sam Morsy of Ipswich and Marc Guehi of Palace, during another round when the Premier League was celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion in its campaign to promote equality and diversity. For the second straight game, Morsy chose against wearing a rainbow armband issued to the captain of each of the 20 teams in the league. He has made the decision “due to his religious beliefs,” Ipswich says. Guehi did wear the rainbow armband but defied Football Association rules by writing a religious message on the item. The message read “Jesus loves you” — using a heart sign instead of the word “loves.” During the match against Newcastle on Saturday, Guehi wrote “I love Jesus” — and was later contacted by the FA for acting in contravention of its regulations. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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The Gross Law Firm Reminds Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Investors of the Pending Class Action Lawsuit with a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of December 13, 2024 – EWAP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:34 p.m. EST

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LaMelo Ball Injury Status – Hornets vs. Bulls Injury Report December 30Unwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire TabletsNew Delhi : The Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI ) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are set to start trials in some high-profile cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Although the federal investigative agencies had filed several charge sheets against the accused - most of whom are out on bail - the trials had not been initiated. Most of these cases are at the stage of Section 207 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrpC), which requires that the accused be provided with certain documents used by the prosecution to buttress its case against the accused. In one of the high profile cases, CBI has concluded its arguments on framing of charges against former Union railway minister Lalu Prasad and co-accused. The need to kick-start trials also stems from the recent orders of the Supreme Court which, while granting bail to the accused, has repeatedly underscored the need to commence trials without delay. Besides completing investigations and starting trials, ED is also focusing on restitution of assets to victims. ET takes a deep dive into the high-profile cases in which agencies will try to commence the trial in 2025. 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In September 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had accorded sanction to prosecute Prasad. A month later, the sanction to prosecute 30 co-accused was also received from the authorities. CBI had previously received sanction to prosecute Prasad for his alleged involvement in the alleged scam. The agency had filed two charge sheets, elaborating his alleged role in illegal recruitment of employees in two railway zones - central and western. But CBI filed its final and composite charge sheet in the case, including all the remaining railway zones. Prasad and other public servants were also charged in the final charge sheet. It is for this final charge sheet that the agency had sought sanction from the authorities in June. CBI is awaiting sanction to prosecute a former government servant, RK Mahajan, private secretary to Prasad, following which the agency will argue on framing of charges against Prasad, his kin and co-accused. After CBI, the accused will be given an opportunity to counter the agency's contentions. The counsel of accused will demand discharge, following which the court will take a decision whether to start trial or discharge accused. ED has attached properties of Prasad's family worth ₹6 crore in connection with the case. The properties attached by the agency include Delhi and Patna properties, including a house in New Friends Colony. CBI, in its charge sheet, has described Prasad, his wife and son (Tejashwi) as "ultimate beneficiaries". All three have denied the allegations against them. IRCTC case This is another alleged scandal in which CBI has filed charge sheets against Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav and Rabri Devi. The agency has already concluded its arguments on framing of charges. The special CBI court has already made it clear that hearing needs to be "expedited" and "adjournments are to be avoided". The defence is yet to present its counter arguments, following which the court will pronounce its verdict on whether or not to frame charges against the accused. If the court decides to frame charges, it will mean commencement of trial. The trial hasn't commenced because a co-accused - former government official Vinod Kumar Asthana - had last year obtained a stay from the Supreme Court on framing of charges against him. Asthana has demanded quashing of cognisance of CBI's charge sheet taken by the special court. He had moved SC after the Delhi High Court dismissed his plea in October 2022, ruling "it would not be feasible to quash the proceedings at such an initial stage". CBI has moved an application for early hearing of its plea seeking to vacate the stay granted in favour of Asthana. The plea is yet to come up for hearing in SC. The CBI court in July 2018 took cognisance of a charge sheet against Prasad and the other co-accused registered a year earlier for allegedly making illegal gains by tweaking the terms of a tender for IRCTC hotel contracts. CBI had booked Prasad, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and others in July 2017 for allegedly making ill-gotten gains by tweaking the terms of tender of IRCTC hotels. As per CBI, Prasad had colluded with the owners of Chanakya and Sujata Hotel in Patna through IRCTC officials and owners of a front company belonging to Prasad and his wife. Delhi excise policy case All the accused in the erstwhile excise policy case of Delhi have been released on bail. The case includes senior AAP leaders - former CM Arvind Kejriwal , former deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and others. The case is at the stage of Section 207 of CrPC. After furnishing of documents sought by the accused, CBI will argue on framing of charges. In a first, in May 2024, the ED filed a charge sheet against AAP as an accused under PMLA. AAP became the first political party to have been accused under anti-money laundering laws. ED invoked Section 70 (1) of PMLA to implead AAP as an accused. It will be significant to observe whether the court decides to charge AAP as an accused and start a trial against it. SC, while ordering release of the accused in the case, had recorded that the trial had not commenced. Granting bail to Kejriwal on September 13, the top court had slammed CBI. "It is imperative that CBI dispel the notion of it being a caged parrot," justice Ujjal Bhuyan, as part of a bench, had said in his judgment. "In a functional democracy governed by the rule of law, perception matters. Like Caesar's wife, an investigating agency must be above board," he had said. CBI's perception should rather be "that of an uncaged parrot", he said. VVIP chopper case CBI is likely to press for deciding its application seeking to segregate the trial. In December 2022, the agency had moved a special court, urging it to segregate the trial of the accused who have been served summons and joined investigation from those (accused) who have till date either not been served upon or have evaded the investigation. In its application, CBI argued that the accused who joined the probe cannot be denied their "right to speedy trial". The trial has yet to begin nearly 12 years after a probe was launched into alleged irregularities in an air force deal to purchase helicopters for transporting VVIPs. So far, CBI and ED have filed more than a dozen chargesheets in the case. However, the trial court could not make a decision on CBI's application seeking segregation of trial because CBI moved the Delhi High Court challenging orders passed by the special CBI court permitting a co-accused to inspect documents not relied upon by the agency. The appeal stated that the agency was required to produce only before the court all material collected by it during investigation which it proposes to rely upon. In July 2024, the CBI had informed the Delhi High Court that it had no difficulty if the accused inspected unrelied documents and statements of witnesses. The agency's stand had contrasted with its earlier position. The high court disposed of CBI's petition after the agency told it that "only for the purpose of expedience and without going into the merits, the present petition may be disposed of" and the accused "may be allowed to inspect unrelied documents and unrelied statements of witnesses". This meant the decks were cleared for the CBI to seek commencement of trial. The accused are being supplied documents, following which CBI will press its application for segregation of trial, said people in the know. Cash-for-jobs case (Bengal) SC in December directed the trial court to decide on framing of charges before the commencement of winter vacations or before December 31, 2024, whichever is earlier. The alleged cash-for-jobs scandal involves former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee. SC ordered expediting the trial on a bail plea of Chatterjee. A bench headed by justice Surya Kant ordered that Chatterjee can be released on bail on or before February 1, 2025, in the money laundering case registered against him by ED. The bench directed the trial court to record the statements of prosecution witnesses who are most material and vulnerable in the second or third week of January 2025. Subject to the completion of these steps, Chatterjee can be released on bail. ED had also arrested Chatterjee's alleged associate, Arpita Mukherjee, in the case. Restitution of assets by ED After taking charge as the new ED director in August 2024, Rahul Navin had made it clear to sleuths that the focus must be on concluding investigations in key cases and initiating trials. The agency has also made significant progress in restitution of assets to victims. The agency has restored properties worth ₹22,280 crore to the victims or rightful claimants and the fight against economic offenders will continue unabated, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had informed the Lok Sabha in the winter session. ED has recovered assets worth ₹17,750 crore in connection with various cases involving fugitives Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. Sitharaman had also informed that ₹14,131.6 crore worth of properties belonging to Mallya have been restored to public sector banks. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Share Tweet Share Share Email Managing expenses effectively is crucial to maintaining financial integrity. However, the rise in fraudulent expense claims poses a significant challenge for organizations worldwide. Fraudulent activities not only drain resources but also damage trust within the workplace. Detecting such fraud manually can be tedious, time-consuming, and error-prone. This is where machine learning comes into play, offering innovative ways to combat expense fraud efficiently and proactively . What Is Expense Fraud? Expense fraud refers to the act of submitting false or exaggerated claims for reimbursement. Employees may manipulate receipts, inflate mileage claims, or create fake invoices to gain undeserved compensation. Common examples of expense fraud include: Submitting personal expenses as business-related costs. Altering the amounts on genuine receipts. Creating entirely fictitious receipts or invoices. Reimbursing duplicate claims for the same expense. These fraudulent activities can cost businesses thousands, if not millions, of dollars annually. While traditional audits can uncover some discrepancies, they often miss more sophisticated schemes. This highlights the need for advanced technologies like machine learning to tackle fraud more effectively. The Role of Machine Learning in Fraud Detection Machine learning (ML) leverages algorithms that analyze data, learn patterns, and make predictions. Unlike rule-based systems, ML models continuously improve over time as they process new data. In the context of expense fraud detection, machine learning offers the following advantages: Automated Data Analysis: ML systems can process vast amounts of expense data in real time, identifying anomalies that may signal fraudulent behavior. Pattern Recognition: By analyzing historical data, machine learning models can detect unusual patterns that deviate from normal expense behaviors. Risk Scoring: ML algorithms assign risk scores to expense claims, flagging those with high likelihoods of fraud for further review. Adaptive Learning: As fraud tactics evolve, machine learning models adapt by learning new patterns and identifying emerging threats. Key Machine Learning Techniques for Expense Fraud Detection Machine learning employs various techniques to identify fraudulent expense claims. Below are some of the most commonly used approaches: Supervised Learning Supervised learning involves training a model on labeled data, where the outcomes (fraudulent or non-fraudulent) are already known. The model learns to classify new expense claims based on the patterns it observes in the training data. Algorithms like decision trees, support vector machines (SVM), and neural networks are commonly used in supervised learning for fraud detection . Unsupervised Learning Unlike supervised learning, unsupervised learning works with unlabeled data. This approach is ideal for detecting unknown types of fraud. Techniques like clustering and anomaly detection help group similar data points and identify outliers. For instance, if an employee’s expense claim is significantly higher than their peers’, the system flags it for investigation. Natural Language Processing (NLP) Natural language processing is used to analyze text-based data, such as descriptions in expense claims. NLP can identify inconsistencies, suspicious keywords, or unusual phrasing that may indicate fraudulent intent. Reinforcement Learning Reinforcement learning involves training models through a reward-based system. In fraud detection, the algorithm receives rewards for accurately identifying fraudulent claims and penalties for false positives or negatives. This iterative process improves the model’s accuracy over time. Building an Effective Machine Learning Framework for Fraud Detection Implementing a machine learning-based expense fraud detection system requires careful planning and execution. Below are the critical steps: Data Collection and Preprocessing The first step is gathering expense-related data, such as receipts, invoices, and transaction records. Preprocessing this data is crucial to ensure accuracy and consistency. Steps include: Cleaning and removing duplicate entries. Converting unstructured data into structured formats. Normalizing numerical data for better model performance. Feature Engineering Feature engineering involves selecting and creating relevant variables (features) that help the model identify fraud. Examples include: Frequency of claims per employee. Average claim amount by department. Expense categories with unusually high costs. Model Training and Testing Once features are defined, the next step is training machine learning models. A portion of the data is used for training, while the rest is reserved for testing. This ensures that the model performs well on unseen data. Deployment and Monitoring After successful testing, the model is deployed to monitor expense claims in real-time. Continuous monitoring and periodic retraining are essential to maintain effectiveness and adapt to new fraud patterns. Challenges in Machine Learning-Based Fraud Detection While machine learning offers powerful tools for expense fraud detection, it is not without challenges. Some common obstacles include: Data Quality Issues: Inaccurate or incomplete data can lead to unreliable model predictions. High False Positives: Over-sensitive models may flag legitimate claims as fraudulent, leading to inefficiencies. Evolving Fraud Tactics: Fraudsters continuously adapt, requiring models to be updated regularly. Privacy Concerns: Handling sensitive financial data necessitates strict adherence to data protection regulations. Addressing these challenges requires a collaborative approach involving robust data governance, regular model audits, and input from domain experts. Benefits of Machine Learning in Expense Fraud Detection Despite the challenges, machine learning brings numerous benefits to expense fraud detection: Efficiency: Automating fraud detection reduces the manual workload, allowing finance teams to focus on high-priority tasks. Accuracy: ML models often outperform traditional methods, identifying subtle patterns that humans might miss. Scalability: Machine learning systems can handle large volumes of data, making them suitable for organizations of all sizes. Cost Savings: By preventing fraud, businesses can save significant amounts of money that would otherwise be lost. Real-World Applications of Machine Learning in Expense Fraud Detection Many organizations have successfully implemented machine learning to combat expense fraud. For instance: Corporate Finance Departments: Large corporations use ML tools to monitor employee expense reports, flagging anomalies in real-time. Expense Management Software: Companies like Expensify and Concur integrate machine learning algorithms to provide fraud detection features for their clients. Financial Institutions: Banks and credit card companies employ ML models to detect suspicious transactions that could indicate fraudulent expense claims. Conclusion Expense fraud is a pressing issue that requires proactive measures to mitigate its impact on businesses. Machine learning offers a transformative solution, enabling organizations to detect and prevent fraud with unprecedented efficiency.Furthermore, By leveraging techniques like supervised and unsupervised learning, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning, companies can build robust fraud detection systems that evolve alongside emerging threats. Although challenges remain, the benefits of machine learning far outweigh the drawbacks, making it an indispensable tool in the fight against expense fraud. Organizations that invest in this technology not only safeguard their finances but also foster a culture of transparency and trust . Related Items: Catching Fraud Before It Strikes , Expense Fraud Detection , machine learning Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Can Machine Learning Models Truly Revolutionize Retail Sales Forecasting? AI and Machine Learning Reshape Modern Data Center Operations How Machine Learning is Driving a New Era in Healthcare? CommentsNoneCyberQ Group Marks 8 Years of Cybersecurity Leadership Across Global Markets