u777u CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — RJ Johnson scored 23 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, Daylen Berry added two clutch free throws and Charleston Southern surprised Miami 83-79 on Saturday. The Buccaneers led for the last four minutes of the first half and deep into the second half before a 3-pointer from Austin Swartz gave Miami a 76-75 lead with 3 minutes left in the game. A three-point play by Lynn Kidd gave the Hurricanes a 79-75 lead with 2:11 remaining. Berry hit a 3-pointer to make it 79-78 and Johnson followed with a 3 that gave the Buccaneers an 81-79 lead. Kidd missed in the paint for Miami but came up with a steal a few seconds later. With 15 seconds left, Swartz missed a 3-pointer and the Buccaneers rebounded. Miami put Berry on the line and he made both free throws for a four-point lead with 11 seconds remaining. Miami's Jalen Blackmon missed a 3-pointer with 8 seconds left, the Hurricanes' A.J. Staton-McCray grabbed the rebound and he missed a 3 as time ran out. Taje Kelly had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Buccaneers (2-7), who snapped a five-game losing streak and defeated a Division I opponent for the first-time this season. Thompson Camara made five 3-pointers and scored 21. Brandon Johnson made six 3-pointers and scored 23 for Miami (3-4). Swartz scored 15 points off the bench and Staton-McCray had 13 points. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballTEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Miguel Tomley scored 28 points as Weber State beat Pepperdine 68-53 in the Desert Division championship game of the Arizona Tip-Off on Saturday night. Tomley shot 7 for 12 (6 for 7 from 3-point range) and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Wildcats (4-4). Blaise Threatt added 21 points and seven rebounds. Boubacar Coulibaly led the Waves (2-6) with 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Stefan Todorovic added 13 points and Zion Bethea scored 12. Weber State took the lead with 9:18 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 33-23 at halftime, with Tomley racking up 11 points. T The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs leaves game because of concussionTesla and X CEO Elon Musk spent over a quarter of a billion dollars to help get President-elect Donald Trump back in the White House, according to newly released campaign finance records. The billionaire tech mogul spent over $270 million of his own money through two super PACs that promoted Trump's candidacy and other Republicans, including one that appeared to refer to deceased liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, according to filings released Thursday night by the Federal Election Commission. Musk spent roughly $240 million on his pro-Trump super PAC America. The PAC was created after Musk endorsed Trump in July, which made Musk the single largest political spender in the shortest period of time. Half of the PAC's money came in the final weeks of the election and in the weeks following the election, and by Nov. 25, the PAC only had $2 million left in the account, according to the FEC. Much of the money was spent on direct mail, canvassing and phone calls, the PAC's filing showed. The filing also showed a total of nine $1 million payments given to nine individuals labeled as "spokesperson consultant," which appeared to be the swing state voters that won Musk's controversial daily $1 million prize. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner sued the PAC in October contending Musk was running an illegal lottery in Pennsylvania. Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta denied an injunction request a few weeks later after an attorney for the PAC testified that the giveaway wasn't random, despite Musk's claims that they were. The PAC also reported roughly $433,000 in legal bills paid to THE GOBER GROUP PLLC, according to the FEC. A new filing showed that Musk was the sole funder of a pro-Trump super PAC named RBG PAC, giving $20 million to the group in the final weeks of the election. The PAC used the initials of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and ran online ads featuring women who claimed Trump would endorse potential national abortion bans. Trump has long boasted about his role in ending Roe v. Wade by taking credit for nominating three of the six conservative justices who voted to overturn the case in 2022. Clara Spera, Ginsberg's granddaughter, chastised the PAC in a statement to the Washington Post stating it "has no connection to the Ginsburg family and is an affront to my late grandmother's legacy." Earlier in the election cycle, Musk had written big checks to groups supporting House and Senate GOP, including $12.3 million to two super PACs supporting Senate GOP candidates, and another $1.3 million supporting other down-ballot Republicans, according to FEC filings. In all, Musk spent at least $273 million in support of various Republicans up and down the ballot at the federal level. Musk has been tapped to co-lead, along with Republican businessman and failed presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, an outside advisory board called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to cut as much as $2 trillion from the federal budget of what they called waste. The pair met with Republican leaders on the Hill Thursday to discuss their proposals including removing remote work options for federal workers.

Kelly Loeffler nominated by Trump to lead Small Business AdministrationBeat writer Scott Richey breaks down No. 22 Illinois' Land of Lincoln Trophy-securing victory against Northwestern at Wrigley Field. What happened Turns out Illinois’ offense didn’t lose any of its explosiveness on a frigid Saturday afternoon in Chicago. Chunk plays that doubled as touchdowns from Aidan Laughery and Pat Bryant were the difference maker in the Illini’s 38-28 victory against Northwestern that made sure the Land of Lincoln Trophy was headed back to Champaign from Wrigley Field. Enough “bend, don’t break” defense by the Illini helped those big plays stand up in the 10-point win. What it means Bret Bielema took the Illinois job in December 2020 with the goal of turning the program into a consistent winner. The consistency part is still up for debate given last year’s dip, but the Illini have certainly done more winning in Bielema’s first four years as coach than his predecessors. Hitting the nine-win mark Saturday against Northwestern is a first for the program since 2007 and something just two other teams (1989 and 2001) accomplished in the past 40 years. What’s next Illinois might be seen as virtual lock for a late December trip to Orlando and a spot in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, but the postseason slate won’t be determined until next weekend after the conclusion of conference championship games across the country. But it seems like the only way the Illini won’t play in their highest profile bowl game since the 2007 team went to the Rose Bowl is if Indiana is snubbed out of the 12-team College Football Playoff field. What was said “It’s kind of like a long bye week. You get a deep breath. You get to rest your body and all of that stuff. There’s a lot of transition, but I don’t know if that’s the focus. I don’t think seeing who’s leaving and who’s coming in is the focus. I think it’s where we’re at and where this program is at and where we want to go and how do we get there with all the change that’s going on?” — Illinois safety Matthew Bailey on the Illini’s next month

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TikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what's next?NEW YORK, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Marqeta, Inc. (NASDAQ: MQ) resulting from allegations that Marqeta may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Marqeta securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=32001 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On November 4, 2024, Marqeta, Inc. issued a press release entitled “Marqeta Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results.” In addition to reporting its third quarter results, Marqeta announced lower fourth quarter guidance which reflected “several changes that became apparent over the last few months with regards to the heightened scrutiny of the banking environment and specific customer program changes.” On this news, the price of Marqeta common stock fell 42.5% on November 5, 2024. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.comNone

A year ago, Railport and Port of Antwerp-Bruges announced the launch of a more sustainable and efficient operational model for Single Wagon Load in the Antwerp port area. Since 1 January of this year, all freight payers have been able to use it, so the time has now come to take stock of the situation. For Railport and Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the aim is to improve the quality of rail transport. The rail vision drawn up in collaboration with Infrabel contains a number of measures that will help to achieve that. Bundling the traffic of single railcars (Single Wagon Load) in the port area is one of them. Bundling means that Railport organises a “group purchase” for transportation within the port, which is referred to as the first/last mile. In return for the established price, participating firms can then have railcars picked up and taken to a marshalling yard, or delivered to them from a marshalling yard. After ten months of bundling, participating freight payers are now benefiting from an improved quality of rail transportation in the port area. For many of them, the price for this their first/last mile is also lower than what they were paying before. For the terminals, bundling greatly simplifies matters – they now have a single point of contact for all rail transport between the terminal and the marshalling yard. Transparency is the next big step. For both customers and rail companies alike, it is important to have a better overview of “their” railcars, both in the marshalling yard and while being transported within the port area. Hard work is being done making this digitisation project a reality. To achieve that actually requires the cooperation of every link in the chain. If freight payers share their freight data with Railport, the system knows where their railcars are and where they need to go. That way, the transportation can be coordinated with the unloading and/or loading facilities. In addition, this information is also needed in order to optimise and ensure the safety of rail traffic in the port. As Nils van Vliet, the CEO of Railport explained: “Bundling the first/last mile is already having beneficial effects. We are therefore also calling upon all parties involved to make digitisation a success so that we can provide all of the firms involved with accurate real-time information about their transports.” Rail investment A number of major investments in the rail infrastructure in the port area are planned over the next few years – the doubling and electrification of line 11, the Oorderen bundle, rail works in connection with the second tidal dock on the Left Bank, etc. The more transports are bundled, the easier it will be to maintain efficiency, including while the works are under way. Finally, it should be pointed out that the price advantage of participating in bundling is relatively limited, given the short distances inside the port area. Transportation outside the port area involves much longer distances, and making effective comparisons could potentially deliver much greater benefits for freight payers. Source: Port of Antwerp-BrugesNone

Republicans rally around Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon pick, as Gaetz withdraws for attorney general

NYC's mayor warms to Trump and doesn't rule out becoming a Republican

S&P/TSX composite up Friday, U.S. stock markets also riseJames Argent has given The Mirror a grand tour of his dazzling festive home. The 36 year old is all set to spend his first Christmas with new love, 31 year old Nicoline Artursson, and shared a glimpse into their Christmassy Essex retreat. "This is my Christmas tree - as you can see it is slightly wonky," he shared with a chuckle. "I actually cut this down myself with my bare hands believe it or not but I can't take credit for the decorations. That was my girlfriend Nicoline and my mum Patricia. They made it look beautiful. I am proud of it." The couple's romance blossomed after they first met in July on his way to a gig in sunny Marbella, and things have been looking up ever since. James, affectionately known as Arg, is now integrating Nicoline into his world , complete with her own stocking hung by the fireplace. "This is the first Christmas me and Nicoline are going to be spending together," Arg beamed. "We are going to make it a real special one to remember. I can't wait to make some amazing memories." Their home boasts a quirky yet stunning Christmas tree decked out with oversized red bows, luxury Christmas crackers and twinkling silver and white baubles, all set off by gleaming gold lights. Amid the backdrop sits an elegant white and black grand piano and a chic turquoise electric guitar. The dining table echoes the festive opulence with arrangements of gold, green and white floral displays amongst glass goblets, awaiting guests at the four-person setting. Beaming with pride, Arg shared: "The number one wedding singer and party event man in the country, this is where the preparation and magic happens." But Arg's home has even more unique touches. His beloved garden features a cosy hot tub area for those chilly evenings, which James admits is a personal highlight: "There is nothing better. It is like being in a roasting hot bath." Not just a winter retreat, his backyard transforms into a social hub in warmer weather, complete with chic outdoor furniture reminiscent of Love Island settings. He expressed his affection for this space: "The garden is probably my favourite place in the house. I love spending time out here especially in the summer months." Following his departure from The Only Way Is Essex , the TV show that brought him fame, Arg embarked on a transformative journey that included rehab and a gastric band surgery, resulting in an impressive 14-stone weight loss. Keeping fit is now more convenient than ever with his outdoor home gym. Reflecting on his lifestyle changes, Arg stated: "I'm three years clean and sober. I've managed to maintain a healthy weight and a good relationship with exercise and food. Nicoline is really good at tennis so we want to play doubles. She's going to get me into mindfulness and meditation." Radiating happiness about his current life, he said: "I'm feeling great. I have a job that I love, an amazing girl by my side – life couldn't get any better. I'm no longer embarrassed or ashamed. I'm proud that I've come through the other side." Hailey Bieber loves this Avene moisturiser for sensitive skin - and it's currently on sale for £10

Join Sam McKewon and Amie Just as they dive deep into the Husker sports scene — rationalizing, analyzing, and summarizing as only they can! In the latest episode of The Showdown, Sam McKewon and Amie Just break down a jam-packed week for Nebraska Athletics. The open with the football game between Nebraska and Wisconsin, how the Huskers' can come out victorious in the matchup and the weird comments from Luke Fickell about who will be the Badgers' play caller. They move onto the doubleheader between both Nebraska and Creighton basketball teams, including the loss of Natalie Potts and how Creighton's difficult schedule can help the Husker women. The duo also talk the Husker men's chances against the Bluejays and Ryan Kalkbrenner. They close out with Nebraska volleyball's upcoming match against Wisconsin on Senior Day and the looming match against Penn State. Subscribe to HuskerExtra.com Join co-hosts Sam and Amie as they dive deep into the Husker sports scene – rationalizing, analyzing, and summarizing as only they can! Get local news delivered to your inbox!WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around Pete Hegseth , Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration for attorney general. Gaetz said it was clear he had become a “distraction" amid pressure on the House to release an ethics report about allegations of his own sexual misconduct. An attorney for two women has said that his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. Fresh questions over the two nominees' pasts, and their treatment of women, arose with Republicans under pressure from Trump and his allies to quickly confirm his Cabinet. At the same time, his transition has so far balked at the vetting and background checks that have traditionally been required. While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump's nominees, it became clear after Gaetz's withdrawal that many had been harboring private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, said it was a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” After meeting with Hegseth, though, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Republican senators' careful words, and their early reluctance to publicly question Trump's picks, illustrated not only their fear of retribution from the incoming president but also some of their hopes that the confirmation process can proceed normally, with proper vetting and background checks that could potentially disqualify problematic nominees earlier. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday. Sen. Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested that it would have little bearing on Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions — one at a time,” he said. As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans also appear to be betting that they won't face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct — especially after Trump won election after being found liable for sexual abuse last year. Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” A 22-page police report report made public late Wednesday offered the first detailed account of the allegations against him. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel staffer, another woman at the event and Hegseth. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false.” Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to head off the threat of what he described as a baseless lawsuit, Palatore has said. Wicker played down the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying that “since no charges were brought from the authorities, we only have press reports.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after his meeting with Hegseth that he "shared with him the fact that I was saddened by the attacks that are coming his way.” Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he-said, she-said thing” and called it a “shame” that they were being raised at all. The senator said attention should instead be focused on the Defense Department that Hegseth would head. It's one of the most complex parts of the federal government with more than 3 million employees, including military service members and civilians. Sexual assault has been a persistent problem in the military, though Pentagon officials have been cautiously optimistic they are seeing a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who will be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the nominee is a strong candidate who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power – not the current administration’s woke political agenda.” Senate Republicans are under pressure to hold hearings once they take office in January and confirm nominees as soon as Trump is inaugurated, despite questions about whether Trump’s choices will be properly screened or if some, like Hegseth, have enough experience for the job. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will be the top Democrat on the panel next year, said the reports on Hegseth “emphasized the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI on the background of all the nominees.” It takes a simple majority to approve Cabinet nominations, meaning that if Democrats all opposed a nominee, four Republican senators would also have to defect for any Trump choice to be defeated. Trump has made clear he’s willing to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to give him the nominees he wants – even suggesting at one point that they allow him to just appoint his nominees with no Senate votes. But senators insist, for now, that they are not giving up their constitutional power to have a say. “The president has the right to make the nominations that he sees fit, but the Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In the case of Gaetz, he said, “I think there was advice offered rather than consent.” Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.