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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score, and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana 38-15 on Saturday. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. NO. 25 ILLINOIS 38, RUTGERS 31: Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending Illinois to a wild road victory over Rutgers. Illinois (8-3, 5-3) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. IOWA 29, MARYLAND 13: Kaleb Johnson rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 35 carries, and Kamari Moulton scored on a 68-yard run in the fourth quarter to help Iowa outlast Maryland in College Park. Johnson scored from 2 yards out in the second quarter for his 21st rushing touchdown of the season, and the Hawkeyes (7-4, 5-3) rebounded from their loss to UCLA in their previous game. Maryland (4-7, 1-7) needed to win its final two regular-season games to reach six wins and bowl eligibility, but the Terrapins were dominated in the first half and eventually fell behind 16-0. Drew Stevens made five field goals for Iowa, including kicks from 54 yards in the second quarter, then 50 and 49 in the third. LATE FRIDAY MICHIGAN STATE 24, PURDUE 17: Aidan Chiles threw for two scores in the first half to build a three-touchdown lead and Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) held on to beat Purdue (1-10, 0-8) at home. The Spartans are a win away from being eligible for a bowl with first-year coach Jonathan Smith and they play Rutgers at home in the final regular-season game.Josette Dandurand was an advocate of education, working in the Langley School District as a cultural presenter to teach students and staff about the Indigenous experience. In 2015, the Kwantlen First Nation elder travelled to Ottawa to provide testimony of her experiences as a child in residential schools as part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). “Josette was an advocate for social justice and Indigenous rights, and a dedicated leader in the journey of Truth and Reconciliation,” said Candy Ashdown, Langley School Board chair. “We are grateful for her contribution over the years, as she has educated students and staff in classrooms all over the district using the power of story.” Ashdown's comments came as the board of trustees announced that the new school in the North Latimer neighbourhood will be named for the longtime resident. “Her impact on the community is far-reaching and extends beyond our schools. Many of our staff, including myself, believed that she was an inspiring role model, caring matriarch, and community connector, who brought Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together,” explained Mike Pue, district principal of Indigenous education. Dandurand, whose ancestral name was “Tsakwiah” which means “she who always remembers” was born and raised in Vancouver. Josette was the youngest of six siblings of George and Mabel Fillardeau. She lived most of her early and latter years on Kwantlen First Nation reserve. Dandurand died at the age of 81 on Nov. 13, 2023. Now the school at 20143 82 Ave. will bear the name Josette Dandurand Elementary when it opens its doors to students in autumn 2025. This is the second time the local board of education has named a school after a member of the Kwantlen First Nation. In 2020, a new elementary school in the Southwest Yorkson area was named after retired long-time teacher Donna Gabriel Robins. The newspaper profiled Dandurand in 2013 when she shared her experiences with a Brookswood Secondary class.

The Israeli cabinet is set to vote on a ceasefire proposal for Lebanon on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who indicated that Netanyahu had approved the plan “in principle.” The prime minister’s potential approval of the ceasefire emerged following a security consultation with Israeli officials on Sunday night, a source familiar with the matter said. Lebanese government sources have stated that Lebanon is awaiting Israel’s official response to the US-backed ceasefire proposal. They emphasized that Lebanon is not relying on media reports or unofficial positions. The sources confirmed that Lebanon “wants an immediate ceasefire” and has expressed its approval of the American proposal, which is based on UN Resolution 1701, committing to its terms. The proposal seeks a 60-day cessation of hostilities, with some hopeful that it could pave the way for a lasting peace. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that an Israeli airstrike on the town of Maarka in the Tyre district resulted in six deaths and four injuries, including one individual in critical condition requiring intensive care. Additionally, an Israeli raid on Ain Baal in the Tyre district led to eight more injuries, including another critical case. Hezbollah confirmed on Monday that its forces targeted a group sheltering in a house on the southern outskirts of Al-Bayada, following heavy losses inflicted on Israeli forces in the area on Sunday. The strike destroyed the house and caused fatalities and injuries among the group. As the Gaza war entered its 416th day, shelling continued across the Strip, exacerbating the suffering of displaced civilians, particularly with the onset of rains that flooded tents. Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defence, reported significant damage to shelters, with water flowing into tents and destroying personal belongings. The Gaza government media office accused the Israeli military of systematically targeting Gaza’s health infrastructure, destroying hospitals and medical centers, and killing over 1,000 health workers. It also reported the detention and torture of more than 310 health personnel, while blocking the entry of medical supplies and international health delegations into the region. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported two massacres over the past 24 hours, with 24 dead and 71 injured. The total death toll from Israeli aggression has reached 44,235, with over 104,000 wounded since 7 October 2023. Hamas reaffirmed that ending Israeli aggression is its top priority, insisting on no ceasefire deals that do not address the suffering of Palestinians and ensure their return home, along with full reconstruction. The movement has been actively campaigning with international and regional organizations for urgent humanitarian relief.BIG TEN ROUNDUP

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Bill to establish new national eye centres scales second readingBanque Cantonale Vaudoise lowered its stake in SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. ( NASDAQ:SEDG – Free Report ) by 47.9% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 5,647 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after selling 5,199 shares during the period. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise’s holdings in SolarEdge Technologies were worth $129,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of SEDG. Swedbank AB purchased a new position in shares of SolarEdge Technologies in the first quarter worth about $261,312,000. Quarry LP purchased a new position in shares of SolarEdge Technologies in the second quarter worth about $36,627,000. Marshall Wace LLP increased its holdings in shares of SolarEdge Technologies by 425.1% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 555,959 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $14,044,000 after buying an additional 450,081 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its holdings in shares of SolarEdge Technologies by 1,634.6% in the third quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 214,368 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $4,911,000 after buying an additional 202,010 shares during the period. Finally, E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB increased its holdings in shares of SolarEdge Technologies by 109.3% in the third quarter. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB now owns 373,581 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $8,559,000 after buying an additional 195,085 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.10% of the company’s stock. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Chairman More Avery purchased 156,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $13.65 per share, with a total value of $2,129,400.00. Following the acquisition, the chairman now directly owns 244,478 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,337,124.70. This represents a 176.32 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . 0.67% of the stock is owned by company insiders. SolarEdge Technologies Stock Performance SolarEdge Technologies ( NASDAQ:SEDG – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The semiconductor company reported ($15.33) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.55) by ($13.78). SolarEdge Technologies had a negative return on equity of 65.79% and a negative net margin of 158.19%. The firm had revenue of $260.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $272.80 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned ($1.03) earnings per share. SolarEdge Technologies’s revenue was down 64.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. will post -19.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently issued reports on SEDG shares. Susquehanna reduced their price target on SolarEdge Technologies from $20.00 to $11.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on SolarEdge Technologies from $19.00 to $10.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 7th. StockNews.com upgraded SolarEdge Technologies to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, November 8th. TD Cowen reduced their price target on SolarEdge Technologies from $16.00 to $11.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Scotiabank reduced their price target on SolarEdge Technologies from $46.00 to $41.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nineteen have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $22.79. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on SEDG About SolarEdge Technologies ( Free Report ) SolarEdge Technologies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells direct current (DC) optimized inverter systems for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, rest of Europe, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Solar and Energy Storage. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SEDG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. ( NASDAQ:SEDG – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for SolarEdge Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SolarEdge Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Luke DeCock: Bill Belichick ready to cut sleeves off an Alexander Julian blazer as UNC football coach

How major US stock indexes fared Thursday, 12/12/2024

Global Gen Z Views on Beijing: A Journey Through the City's Culture, Innovation, and EcologyTributes have been paid to Grace Nevens, 22, who tragically ended her life on November 4, with her loved ones now planning a fundraiser in her memory. The Psychology student from Morpeth, Northumberland was studying drama at Leeds University and volunteered for mental health charity Mind’s befriending service in the city. In a tribute on social media her sister Lucy said: “Grace was the most beautiful person, both inside and out, with chocolate button eyes. We have all been so incredibly lucky to have had her in our lives, even for the short 22 years that we have been allowed together. “She has left a huge hole in our hearts, and she will be sorely missed by everyone that she touched in this life. Grace Nevens (Image: FAMILY) “She was funny, strong, passionate, and she would give anyone her last penny if it meant helping someone out even slightly. She achieved so much already and still had much more to do. She was an amazing daughter, sister, girlfriend and friend. “For now, all we can do is cherish the many happy memories we have.” Uni friend Caitlin Minns, who has planned a 22km run in 22 hours on Tuesday (November 26) added: “Since Grace had been with us for 22 years, I thought we could run 22km in 22 hours for those 22 years she was alive.” Grace and friend Caitlin Minns. (Image: CAITLIN MINNS) “Grace was so funny, always up for a laugh, But she was also the kind of girl that nothing was ever too much for, if it meant she was helping someone else. She was so giving and if she could help anyone in any way she would.” A fundraiser set up by Caitlin, who is currently in Australia but planning to take part in the run from the other side of the world, has raised more than £15,000, having initially hoped to raise £200, with the money going to Mind. Grace on holiday with friends in Portugal. (Image: CAITLIN MINNS) Recommended reading: Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. As we get ready for 2025, get access for 12 months for just £25 with our latest offer. Click here . Her sister Lucy and devastated parents Sharon and Neil Nevens will also be taking part around her hometown in Morpeth, while uni friends will do the run in Leeds. Some are doing the 22km in one stint, while others will run it in sections, with the aim of finishing around 6pm. Anyone wishing to donate can do so via a Just Giving page.

Kroger Reiterates Its Commitment to Lower Prices and Initiates New $7.5B Share Buyback Program

BEIJING , Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 22, 2024 , the " Global Gen Z Views on Beijing " event organized by China Daily New Media Center and 21st Century Media and Education officially launched. The event will spotlight three key themes: Beijing's cultural legacy, technological innovation, and environmental conservation. During the event, over 20 international influencers will visit notable sites including the Capital Museum and the Zhoukoudian Site Museum to explore the Beijing's rich history. They will also visit Beijing's leading tech enterprises and innovation hubs to experience the city's technological advancements. Additionally, the influencers will visit iconic locations such as the Yanqing Ecological Civilization Exhibition and the Beijing Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park, gaining a firsthand perspective on the integration of environmental conservation and industrial development in the city. Through dynamic and youthful storytelling, the event aims to showcase Beijing's rich cultural heritage and its achievements in sustainable, high-quality development to audiences worldwide. During the first day of the event, Veronica, an Italian exchange student at Tsinghua University, expressed her excitement, saying, "I am delighted to be part of this event. My deep interest in Chinese culture brought me to China for my studies, and I have gained a lot from this experience." This event serves not only as a cultural exploration but also as a key platform for sharing Beijing's historical and modern development with audiences worldwide. Through the influencers' firsthand experiences, Beijing's rich cultural heritage and contemporary achievements will be vividly showcased to worldwide audiences. This event offers an international stage for Beijing to highlight its unique appeal, while promoting cultural exchange and fostering global understanding. SOURCE China DailyNew roof completed at East Oxford Community CentreDear Lucas : Every year our extended family gets together for the holidays. The only issue is one member randomly starts listening to YouTube videos loudly during family time. Watching “White Christmas” or listening to Christmas music together has not been the same since. Any suggestions? Dear Reader : I know I put the word “nephew” in the headline, but, upon further inspection, I realize you didn’t specify who was doing this. I guess I just pictured a real-life Bart Simpson with an iPad blasting Cardi B or watching an ISIS recruitment video while the rest of the family is pretending to enjoy green bean casserole. If so, perhaps this is what we get for giving kids iPads instead of letting them smoke cigarettes and shoot pool or whatever kids used to do back in the day. There’s a part of me that thinks it is you who is playing the videos, and you’re looking for permission to indulge your anti-social behavior. If so, you’ve come to the right advice column. Don’t let them stop you from enjoying the holidays your way. After all, what is the point of those Black Friday sales if you can’t use these newfangled devices to torment everyone around you? Perhaps the desire to pull up an internet video stems from the fact that the family is forcing each other to watch a movie that came out when Eisenhower was in office. People nowadays need more audio/visual stimulation than Bing Crosby can provide. There are plenty of activities that can bring the family together while also meeting your need to be perpetually overstimulated. If a more modern Christmas movie won’t do the trick, you could always watch street fights on the internet or start a makeshift gambling ring while you wait for someone to volunteer to do the dishes. Previous questions Ask Lucas: How do I get my family to avoid politics at Thanksgiving dinner? Ask Lucas: How do I tell other drivers ‘sorry!’ if I make a mistake on the road? Ask Lucas: My wife and I can’t agree on a temperature for our house RECOMMENDED • cleveland .com Cleveland Ballet hosts ‘Nutcracker’ tea on Dec. 8 Nov. 20, 2024, 12:40 p.m. Democrat Marcy Kaptur extends tenure as longest-serving woman in U.S. House with election win Nov. 20, 2024, 1:19 p.m. Ask Lucas: My wife doesn’t want to help me with all the leaves Ask Lucas: Can women use men’s restrooms when the lines are too long? Look at this handsome fella. His name is Lucas and he will be writing more columns like this, despite common sense saying this should stop while he’s ahead. If you want to send hate mail or, for some reason, ask for his advice, please send an email to ldaprile@cleveland.com.

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus has granted asylum to a former Polish judge who faced espionage charges at home following his defection in May to the Kremlin-allied country. A decree published Friday by Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus’ autocratic president, described Tomasz Szmydt as being “prosecuted for political reasons” in Poland. The country is an EU and NATO member that has lent vocal support to Ukraine in . Szmydt’s defection to Belarus in May trained the focus on Poland as a key target for Russian intelligence activity and ignited a bitter political row over the circumstances of his rapid ascent through the ranks of the Polish justice system. Poland’s prosecutors and special services launched an investigation the same month after Belarus media reported that Szmydt arrived in the country and asked for protection. Warsaw responded days later by , a step toward an international arrest warrant on spying allegations that would restrict his ability to travel internationally. Polish officials have been working to determine how harmful Szmydt’s knowledge of any classified information might be to the interests of Warsaw and its Western allies. Poland’s Prime Minister has publicly called him a traitor. Szmydt fled to Belarus after resigning from his post as a judge at the Warsaw Administrative Court, saying in a public statement that he was doing so in protest against Poland’s “harmful and unjust” policy toward Belarus and Russia. A short time later, he appeared at a press conference in Belarus, praising Lukashenko’s regime and presenting himself as a victim of repression. A Polish court later that month lifted Szmydt’s immunity, allowing him to be tried in absentia for spying allegations that he has denied. Szmydt was notorious in Poland for having engaged in a 2019 online smear campaign against other judges that was sponsored by the . Three years later, he appeared to switch sides, appearing in a TV documentary to expose what he said was unethical behavior by judges close to the ruling party. Szmydt’s defection came as a shock in Poland, which has a history of distrust of Russia. Belarus has been one of the Kremlin’s few close allies since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Lukashenko has relied on Moscow’s subsidies and support. In return, he has allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to send troops and weapons into the neighboring state, and to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil. Authorities in Minsk have been ratcheting up repressive measures ahead of a presidential election in January in which the strongman leader is seeking a seventh term, including by who have shown solidarity with Kyiv. Authorities responded to massive protests following the widely disputed with a wide-ranging crackdown in which about 65,000 people were arrested. Major opposition figures were either imprisoned or fled the country, and human rights activists say Belarus is holding about 1,300 political prisoners.Reiterates Commitment to Investing in America to Lower Grocery Prices, Raise Associate Wages, and Support Local Communities Highlights Resilience of Value Creation Model and Strong Momentum to Drive Long-term, Sustainable Growth Board of Directors Authorizes $7.5B Share Repurchase Program including $5B Accelerated Share Repurchase CINCINNATI , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today terminated its merger agreement with Albertsons after the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon granted the Federal Trade Commission's request for a preliminary injunction to block the proposed merger. After reviewing options, the company determined it is no longer in its best interests to pursue the merger. "Kroger is moving forward from a position of strength. Our go-to-market strategy provides exceptional value and unique omnichannel experiences to our customers which powers our value creation model. We look forward to accelerating our flywheel to grow our alternative profit businesses and generate increased cash flows. The strength of our balance sheet and sustainability of our model allows us to pursue a variety of growth opportunities, including further investment in our store network through new stores and remodels, which will be an important part of our 8 – 11% TSR model over time," said Rodney McMullen , Kroger's Chairman and CEO. America's Grocer is Committed to Lowering Grocery Prices & Investing in Associates "Kroger has an extraordinary track record of investing in America," said McMullen. "We are at our best when we serve others – our customers, associates, and communities – and we take seriously our responsibility to provide great value by consistently lowering prices and offering more choices. When we do this, more customers shop with us and buy more groceries, which allows us to reinvest in even lower prices, a better shopping experience and higher wages. We know this model works because we've been doing it successfully for many years, and this is exactly what we will continue to do." Kroger's ongoing investments in America include: $5 billion in lower prices since 2003 $2.4 billion in incremental wage increases on top of industry-leading benefits since 2018, a 38% increase in average hourly rate, while growing opportunities for a largely unionized grocery workforce $3.6 - $3.8 billion in annual capital investments to build new and remodel stores, food processing and other facilities, improve the customer experience and create additional job opportunities $2.3 billion to support local communities through charitable giving since 2017, including $1.5 billion to feed hungry families "I appreciate our associates who remained focused on taking care of our customers, communities and each other throughout the merger process," added McMullen. Share Repurchase Program Including Accelerated Share Repurchases Now that Kroger has terminated the merger agreement, the company is ready to deploy its capacity. With its strengthened balance sheet, Kroger will resume share repurchases after a more than two-year pause. Since announcing the merger, Kroger used its strong free cash flow and debt financing to build meaningful balance sheet capacity while maintaining its investment-grade rating. Kroger's Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $7.5 billion of common stock. The new repurchase authorization replaces Kroger's existing $1 billion authorization which was approved in September 2022 . Kroger intends to enter an accelerated share repurchase ("ASR") agreement for the repurchase of approximately $5 billion of common stock. "Our strong balance sheet and free cash flows position us to deliver on our commitment to grow the business and return capital to shareholders, maintaining capacity to invest in lower prices and higher associate wages," McMullen said. Kroger expects to continue to generate strong free cash flow and remains committed to its capital allocation priorities including maintaining its current investment grade debt rating, investing in the business to drive long-term sustainable net earnings growth, and returning excess free cash flow to shareholders via share repurchases and a growing dividend over time, subject to board approval. Looking forward, Kroger plans to host an Investor Day event in late spring of 2025 to share an update on its strategic priorities, future growth prospects and long-term financial outlook. Merger Debt Redemption In connection with the termination of the merger agreement, Kroger will begin the process of redeeming the $4.7 billion of its senior notes issued on August 27, 2024 , that include a special mandatory redemption provision in accordance with their terms. The notes will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the special mandatory redemption date. Termination of Exchange Offers In connection with the termination of the merger agreement, Kroger has also elected to terminate its previously announced offers to exchange (collectively, the "Exchange Offers") any and all outstanding notes (the "ACI Notes") issued by Albertsons Companies, Inc., New Albertsons, L.P., Safeway Inc., Albertson's LLC, Albertsons Safeway LLC and American Stores Company, LLC (collectively, the "ACI Issuing Entities"), for up to $7,441,608,000 aggregate principal amount of new notes to be issued by Kroger and cash. Kroger has also elected to terminate the related solicitation of consents (the "Consent Solicitation" and, together with the Exchange Offer, the "Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation") on behalf of the ACI Issuing Entities to adopt certain proposed amendments to the indentures governing the ACI Notes (the "ACI Indentures"). As a result of the Exchange Offer being terminated, the total consideration, including any consent fee, will not be paid or become payable to holders of the ACI Notes who have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn their ACI Notes for exchange in the Exchange Offer, and the ACI Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be promptly returned to the tendering holders. As a result of the Consent Solicitation being terminated, the proposed amendments to the ACI Indentures and the supplemental indentures previously entered into reflecting such proposed amendments will not become operative. About the Exchange Offers Global Bondholder Services Corporation served as exchange agent and information agent for the now terminated Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation. You should direct questions and requests for assistance to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at (855) 654-2015 (toll-free) or (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers), or by email at contact@gbsc-usa.com . About Kroger At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human SpiritTM. We are, across our family of companies nearly 414,000 associates who serve over eleven million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names , serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" about Kroger's financial position and the future performance of the company. These statements are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Such statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "achieve," "committed," "confidence," "continue," "deliver," "expect," "future," "guidance," "model," "outlook," "strategy," "target," "trends," "well-positioned," and variations of such words and similar phrases. Various uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include the specific risk factors identified in "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for our last fiscal year and any subsequent filings, as well as the following: Kroger's ability to achieve sales, earnings, incremental FIFO operating profit, and adjusted free cash flow goals may be affected by: the termination of the merger agreement and our proposed transaction with Albertsons and related divestiture plan; labor negotiations; potential work stoppages; changes in the unemployment rate; pressures in the labor market; changes in government-funded benefit programs; changes in the types and numbers of businesses that compete with Kroger; pricing and promotional activities of existing and new competitors, and the aggressiveness of that competition; Kroger's response to these actions; the state of the economy, including interest rates, the inflationary, disinflationary and/or deflationary trends and such trends in certain commodities, products and/or operating costs; the geopolitical environment including wars and conflicts; unstable political situations and social unrest; changes in tariffs; the effect that fuel costs have on consumer spending; volatility of fuel margins; manufacturing commodity costs; supply constraints; diesel fuel costs related to Kroger's logistics operations; trends in consumer spending; the extent to which Kroger's customers exercise caution in their purchasing in response to economic conditions; the uncertainty of economic growth or recession; stock repurchases; changes in the regulatory environment in which Kroger operates, along with changes in federal policy and at regulatory agencies; Kroger's ability to retain pharmacy sales from third party payors; consolidation in the healthcare industry, including pharmacy benefit managers; Kroger's ability to negotiate modifications to multi-employer pension plans; natural disasters or adverse weather conditions; the effect of public health crises or other significant catastrophic events; the potential costs and risks associated with potential cyber-attacks or data security breaches; the success of Kroger's future growth plans; the ability to execute our growth strategy and value creation model, including continued cost savings, growth of our alternative profit businesses, and our ability to better serve our customers and to generate customer loyalty and sustainable growth through our strategic pillars of fresh, our brands, personalization, and seamless; the successful integration of merged companies and new strategic collaborations; and the risks relating to or arising from our proposed nationwide opioid litigation settlement, including our ability to finalize and effectuate the settlement, the scope and coverage of the ultimate settlement and the expected financial or other impacts that could result from the settlement. Our ability to achieve these goals may also be affected by our ability to manage the factors identified above. Our ability to execute our financial strategy may be affected by our ability to generate cash flow. Kroger assumes no obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable law. Please refer to Kroger's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kroger-reiterates-its-commitment-to-lower-prices-and-initiates-new-7-5b-share-buyback-program-302329493.html SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Starting on Jan. 1, 2025, the city of Moline plans to hire six new firefighters/paramedics with the intention of staffing a third ambulance in the city. This will be the first major staffing increase for the department in more than 40 years. According to a city press release, an additional ambulance will help reduce response times, improve service and ease the workload faced by current staff. Moline Fire Chief Steve Regenwether said that his top priority is the safety and well-being of the community and his staff. “Adding six additional firefighters to staff a full-time third ambulance is not just a necessity; it’s a commitment to the people of Moline. With over 90% of our 9,100 annual calls being EMS-related, ensuring prompt emergency response can be the difference between life and death for our citizens. At the same time, this addition will alleviate the strain on our current firefighters, improving their safety and morale,” Regenwether said in the press release. People are also reading... QCT Reporter Tom Loewy chats with Kathleen Locke about her inspiration to become a paramedic. Photos: Davenport Firefighters gift care bags to cancer patients Cancer patient Denise Wright receives a care bag and t-shirt from Eric Griffin and Ryan Hanghian, of the Davenport Association of Professional Firefighters Local #17, at the MercyOne Genesis Infusion Center in the Davenport West Medical Center on Wednesday, October 16, in Davenport. The association raised money by selling Breast Cancer Awareness Month t-shirts to buy and assemble care bags for cancer patients to use while they are receiving infusions. Denise Wright shows off her new t-shirt from the at the MercyOne Genesis Infusion Center on Wednesday, October 16, in Davenport. The firefighters explained that they raised funds through t-shirt sales and they themselves wear them throughout the month of October while on duty. The Davenport Association of Professional Firefighters Local #17 assembled about 100 care bags to hand out to cancer patients at the MercyOne Genesis Infusion Center at the Davenport West Medical Center on Wednesday. From left, Eric Griffin and Ryan Hanghian, of the Davenport Association of Professional Firefighters Local #17, gift cancer patient Belinda Hicks a care bag at the MercyOne Genesis Infusion Center on Wednesday in Davenport. Hicks, who was decked out in sparkles and rhinestones, says that she wears rhinestones to get infusions, because cancer won't dull her sparkle. Within the Thirty-One bags was a blanket, word puzzles, lotion and hand sanitizer to use while cancer patients wait during their infusions. From left, Ryan Hanghian, Denise Wright, and Eric Griffin pose for a photo at the MercyOne Genesis Infusion Center on Wednesday, October 16, in Davenport. Each patient also received a t-shirt featuring pink ribbons and the firefighter emblem to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Denise Wright chats with Eric Griffin and Ryan Hanghian at the MercyOne Genesis Infusion Center on Wednesday, October 16, in Davenport. Firefighters bring care bags to the cancer patients at the MercyOne Genesis Infusion Center on Wednesday, October 16, in Davenport. From left, Eric Griffin and Ryan Hanghian, of the Davenport Association of Professional Firefighters Local #17, gift cancer patient Belinda Hicks a care bag at the MercyOne Genesis Infusion Center on Wednesday in Davenport. Hicks, who was decked out in sparkles and rhinestones, says that she wears rhinestones to get infusions, because cancer won't dull her sparkle. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Love Island star Tasha Ghouri topped the leaderboard once more last week on Strictly Come Dancing - and shows no signs of backing down. The 26-year-old earned a near perfect 39 points for her Paso Doble with Aljaz Skorjanec to Nathan Lanier's Torn, which judge Motsi Mabuse branded the "dance of the night". The reality TV contestant faces stiff competition if she wants to lift the Glitterball Trophy - Miranda star Sarah Hadland joined her on top of the leader board thanks to her couple's choice routine to Kylie Minogue's banger Padam Padam. Comedian Chris McCausland is also consistently good, earning 37 points for his dreamy American Smooth this week. But you wouldn't bet against Tasha as the determined star has overcome serious adversity to achieve success and has been forced to hit back at the cruel online trolls for targeting her due to her disability. Tasha responded in the best possible way, telling the Sun : "I'm in my slay era. This era is payback, proving everyone wrong. "A lot of people doubted me and a lot of people didn't think I'd get far at all. This is the moment I can show I never stopped believing in myself, it's got me to where I am now." Tasha's time on the dance contestant comes three years after Rose Ayling-Ellis became Strictly's deaf contestant, going onto lift the Glitterball Trophy. The reality star from Yorkshire was born deaf too and uses a cochlear implant, prompting mean social media users to make videos about the way she speaks. "When I came off Love Island , I had to deal with a lot of people saying stuff about my voice, people tweeting about ripping out my cochlear implant and throwing it in the pool," said Tasha. "Being brutally honest, there were two girls on TikTok and I still remember to this day, they took the mickey out of my voice and that went viral. It's still not been taken down." After her stint on Love Island as the first deaf contestant, Tasha vowed not to let the trolls win and today, she has 2.2 million followers across her social media platforms. "For the younger Tashas out there that struggle with self confidence, self love or just trying to accept their disability, I want to be that voice to show them it doesn’t define who you are," she said. Offscreen, Tasha is loved up with Love Island's Andrew Le Page , 29. The couple live together, have matching tattoos and own a dog together, with marriage on the cards in the future. "Andrew's the man I'm going to marry at some point," the star told the Sunday Times .NFL will consider replay assist for facemask penalties and other playsRuby Moon, which is situated along Castle Street, was illegally entered by either one person or a group of people in the evening of Tuesday, November 19 after the store had closed. Several items were stolen which included hair dye, incense, bongs, hats, crystal bracelets and necklaces, sunglasses and silver rings and earrings. The shop announced via their Facebook page about the intrusion, where they were met with an outpouring wave of sympathy from customers. Co-founder Matt Moon told the Free Press: “It’s a real pain in the a**e but we’re trying to make light of it despite the fact it was a considerable amount of stuff they took. “It made me laugh they took hair dye which we sell for about £6. “The amount they took would have taken us two/three months to sell. “It won’t be easy for them to sell. “With that being said, the timing has not been great. “At the end of November, we lay out all our cash on stock and we still have more to get. “November is also our VAT quarter, so I have just spent money on a VAT bill. “We are also up on spending at the end of November just before Christmas, and the people who came took half of our stock. “They also took ornaments. “They just ransacked as they took whatever they had their eyes on.” Despite the huge setback just weeks before Christmas, many people in High Wycombe have clubbed together to help the business which recently celebrated its 26th anniversary. A GoFundMe page has been launched and within a week, £1,140 has been raised for its £1,200 target. Numerous positive comments have been left on their social media channels, and it is hoped they can recoup some of their lost earnings from the burglary before the festive period begins through their loyal customers. Jemma Jolliffe, who is Ruby Moon’s shop manager added: “They took the door off – they completely destroyed it but the response we have had has been overwhelming. “The money was raised almost immediately and we had someone come in to fit it in for us. “Apart from paying for the materials needed, he took no money whatsoever. “He said he wanted to do us a favour. “He helped us off his own back. “Every cloud has a silver lining and the people of High Wycombe have been so lovely.” To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/f/help-ruby-moon-replace-stolen-stock .House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minors

Republican Jefferson Griffin narrowly lost his race for a seat on the state Supreme Court. Now he’s asking that 60,000 ballots be thrown out based on a theory that an election denier said amounted to “voter suppression.” By Doug Bock Clark for ProPublica Months before voters went to the polls in November, a group of election skeptics based in North Carolina gathered on a call and discussed what actions to take if they doubted any of the results. One of the ideas they floated: try to get the courts or state election board to throw out hundreds of thousands of ballots cast by voters whose registrations are missing a driver’s license number and the last four digits of a Social Security number. But that idea was resisted by two activists on the call, including the leader of the North Carolina chapter of the Election Integrity Network. The data was missing not because voters had done something wrong but largely as a result of an administrative error by the state. The leader said the idea was “voter suppression” and “100%” certain to fail in the courts, according to a recording of the July call obtained by ProPublica. This novel theory is now at the center of a legal challenge by North Carolina appeals court Judge Jefferson Griffin, a Republican who lost a race for a state Supreme Court seat to the Democratic incumbent , Allison Riggs, by just 734 votes and is seeking to have the result overturned. The state election board dismissed a previous version of the challenge , which is now being considered in federal court . Before the election, a Trump-appointed judge denied an attempt by the Republican National Committee to remove 225,000 voters from the rolls based on the same theory. The latest case is getting attention statewide and across the country. But it has not yet been reported that members of the group that had helped publicize the idea had cast doubt on its legality. “I don’t comment on pending litigation,” Griffin wrote to ProPublica in response to a detailed list of questions. “It would be a violation of our code of judicial conduct.” Embry Owen, Riggs’ campaign manager, disputed the challenge and called on Griffin to concede. “It’s not appropriate for this election to be decided in court, period. NC voters have already made the decision to send Justice Riggs back to the Supreme Court,” she said. The theory Griffin is citing originated with a right-wing activist, Carol Snow, who described herself to ProPublica in an email as “a Bona Fide Grade-A Election Denier.” Snow promoted it with the help of the state chapter of the Election Integrity Network, a national group whose leader worked with President Donald Trump in his failed effort to overturn the 2020 election. The network also was behind extensive efforts to prepare to contest a Trump loss this year in other states, as ProPublica has reported , as well as in North Carolina, according to previously unreported recordings and transcripts of meetings of the state chapter. State election officials have found that missing information on a voter’s registration is not disqualifying because there are numerous valid reasons for the state’s database to lack that those details. Those reasons include voters registering before state paperwork was updated about a year ago to require that information or using alternate approved documents, such as a utility bill, to verify their identities. What’s more, voters must still prove their identity when casting a ballot — most often with a driver’s license. “There is virtually no chance of voter fraud resulting from a voter not providing her driver’s license or social security number on her voter registration,” attorneys for the state election board wrote in response to the RNC lawsuit. Bob Orr, a former GOP state Supreme Court justice who left the Republican Party in 2021 , said he too doubts the theory. “I appreciate fighting for every vote: If you honestly think illegal votes have been cast, it’s legitimate to try to prove that,” he said. “But the bottom line is: Did anyone vote illegally? Have you been able to prove one person voted illegally? At this point, no. And we’re weeks past the election and multiple recounts, and there’s no evidence of that.” In modern history, the state board’s decision on who wins elections has been final, said Chris Cooper, a professor specializing in North Carolina politics at Western Carolina University. That includes an even tighter race in 2020, when a Democratic justice conceded to a Republican after protesting her 401-vote loss to the board. “We’re used to close elections, we’re used to protests, we’re used to candidates pushing every legal action up to the point the state election board rules,” Cooper said. But, he added, there is an important difference with Griffin’s petition, which goes beyond the state election board to the courts. “This is basically saying the state elections system is wrong, and we’re going to court to try to change the rules of the game after the game has been played — which is unprecedented.” In July 2024, the North Carolina chapter of the Election Integrity Network convened online to plan its efforts ahead of the presidential election. Worried about a surge of voter registrations from nonwhite voters who they believed would back Democrats, the activists discussed how to assemble a “suspicious voters list” of people whose ballots they could challenge. Then, one of the group’s board members, Jay DeLancy, said he had another idea “that’s a lot slicker.” DeLancy said that if a candidate lost a close election, the loss could be overturned by questioning the validity of voters whose registrations are missing their driver’s license and Social Security information. “Those are illegal votes,” he claimed. “I would file a protest.” Jim Womack, the leader of the chapter, immediately pushed back: “That’s a records keeping problem on the part of the state board. That’s not illegal.” Later in the call Womack said, “I’m 100% sure you’re not going to get a successful prosecution.” And he told the group, “That’s considered to be voter suppression, and there’s no way a court is going to find that way.” But DeLancy asked for backup from the originator of that theory: Carol Snow. She argued that her theory could in fact overturn the outcome of an election. “I guess we’re gonna find that out,” Snow said. Snow is a leader of the conservative activist group North Carolina Audit Force and lives in the state’s rural mountains. After Trump’s loss in 2020, she threw herself into questioning the election’s results. In 2022, she accompanied a pair of far-right activists to a North Carolina election office where the two men unsuccessfully tried to forcefully access voting machines, and she participated in a failed pressure campaign to oust the election director who resisted them, ProPublica previously reported . She also began filing overwhelming numbers of records requests and complaints to state election officials, an effort that Womack praised on the July call: “I think Carol has shown a way of really harassing — not that we want to do it for harassment purposes — but really needling the Board of Elections to do their jobs by just constantly deluging them.” Since late 2021, the state elections board had spent far more time on her requests and complaints than those of any other individual, spokesperson Patrick Gannon said in a statement. “Ms. Snow’s constant barrage of requests and complaints causes other priorities and responsibilities to suffer,” Gannon said. Snow described her work to ProPublica as “simply taking the time to learn about my state’s electoral process” and acting for the public good. “The records I’ve requested are owned by the public. In other words, I’m asking for what belongs to me,” Snow wrote to ProPublica . “If government agencies are understaffed and unable to comply with this state’s Public Records law, they should address the issue with the entities that fund them.” In the fall of 2023, Snow filed a complaint alleging that North Carolina’s voter registration form did not clearly require voters to provide their driver’s license number and the last four digits of their Social Security number, as required by federal law — instead that information was coded as optional. Snow later described the missing information as a “ line of attack ” through which bad actors could cast fraudulent votes using fake identities. (A right-wing conspiracy theory holds that this was how Biden won the 2020 election.) But she was not able to demonstrate that the missing information had led to anyone improperly voting. After obtaining public records for hundreds of thousands of voter registrations, Snow provided the state board with only seven examples of what she called potential double voting. The state board found all seven to be innocuous things like data entry errors . The state board quickly updated the form to require the information. But from late 2023 through the fall of 2024, six complaints , some of which were partly based on Snow’s theory, were filed with the state election board. Aside from the updates to the form, the state board dismissed the complaints. By the time of the July call, some of Snow’s peers seemed dismissive as well. “I’m not suggesting that we can’t arm a candidate that loses a short, a close race with the information they need to file a protest using this,” Womack said on the call. “But I would just suggest to you that that’s not the way to win on this thing.” Yet the information did end up in the Republican National Committee’s lawsuit trying to disqualify 225,000 voters, a challenge DeLancy filed against Riggs’ victory in North Carolina’s most populous county, and, the day after that was dismissed, Griffin’s challenge to over 60,000 voters. DeLancy wrote to ProPublica that he filed the challenge on his own and did not coordinate with Griffin. He also said he disagreed with Womack’s description of such challenges as “voter suppression.” Instead, he said, he saw it as “a proper response” to the state election board’s “violation of federal law.” “Carol Snow deserves an Order of the Long Leaf Pine for exposing this treasonous behavior on the part of the election officials,” he wrote, referring to an award bestowed by North Carolina’s governor . Womack wrote to ProPublica that the group he leads “is a non-partisan, neutral organization” that does “not favor one party over another.” He also said that recordings of the group’s calls are “prohibited and violate our internal policies” and “whatever bootleg recording you may have is unauthorized and may well be altered.” ProPublica has seen a video recording of the call and verified portions of it with some participants. Though Griffin’s challenge of Riggs’ victory is now being considered in federal court, legal experts say it could still end up back where he intended: in front of the state Supreme Court. Griffin’s petition is making what experts describe as extreme asks to the Supreme Court: to allow him to bypass the lower courts, to allow ballots to be thrown out without proving that voters did anything knowingly wrong and to essentially decide whether to change its composition to six Republicans and one Democrat. “Even if they do their best to be open-minded and independent, the facts of the potential conflicts of interest are just too obvious to the public,” said Orr, the former Republican justice. Griffin has described Republican Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby as a “good friend and mentor,” and Newby promoted Griffin’s 2020 run for the court of appeals. What’s more, a ProPublica review of campaign finance reports show that the spouses of three justices, including Newby’s wife, donated over $12,000 to Griffin’s most recent or previous campaigns. (The husband of the Supreme Court’s other Democratic justice donated to Riggs.) Newby and other justices did not respond to a detailed list of questions sent to spokespeople for the Supreme Court. When announcing his candidacy for the Supreme Court , Griffin declared, “We are a team that knows how to win — the same team that helped elect Chief Justice Paul Newby and three other members of the current Republican majority.” A cartoon illustration that hangs in the Supreme Court depicts all the Republican appellate jurists as superheroes from the Justice League, with Newby caricatured as Superman and Griffin as the Flash. Related story: Republicans are trying to steal a seat on swing state's top courtMoline to staff a third ambulance in the new year

BEIJING , Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 22, 2024 , the " Global Gen Z Views on Beijing " event organized by China Daily New Media Center and 21st Century Media and Education officially launched. The event will spotlight three key themes: Beijing's cultural legacy, technological innovation, and environmental conservation. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.