News from November 13, 2025

Technology

Bindi Irwin's daughter melts hearts supporting uncle Robert ahead of emotional DWTS performance

Bindi Irwin's four-year-old daughter, Grace, looked like a princess ahead of Tuesday night's episode of Dancing With the Stars, which saw her uncle, Robert Irwin, perform an emotional dance in honor of his sister and his late father, Steve Irwin. Grace's smile was miles wide as she posed in the doorway of a trailer on the DWTS set alongside her parents, Bindi and Chandler Powell. She wore a floor-length forest green dress with long sleeves and a tulle skirt, featuring green butterflies sewn into the skirt and beaded detailing on the neckline. Chandler beamed from behind his daughter in a suave, all-black outfit, while Bindi shone in a sparkling black gown, which she wore onstage alongside her brother and his dance partner, Witney Carson. "Can't wait for @dancingwiththestars! VOTE for @robertirwinphotography and @witneycarson," Bindi wrote in the caption, as fans rushed to the comment section to exclaim over how heart-meltingly cute Grace was. "Here's to another 20 years so we can see Grace continue this other legacy," one fan wrote, while another added: "Grace is daddy's twin!" and a third chimed in: "Ahhh beautiful family! And little Grace looks just like her beautiful mama." Another said: "Omg I loveeee their dresses!!!!! So pretty," while a fifth declared: "Grace's dress is adorable and so pretty." A day prior to the family's dressed-up appearance, Grace joined her uncle in the dance studio to learn some moves, with Bindi sharing an adorable video of their bonding time. "I love when Grace stops by rehearsals and we can teach her some new dance moves. I'm so lucky to be her uncle," Robert wrote in an Instagram post alongside the clip. "Makes me think about when I was a little kid watching my sister in rehearsals on her season of DWTS, it really is a full circle moment." Learn more about Robert's DWTS journey below... In the video, Grace stood between Robert and Witney while holding their hands, as Witney led them through a series of simple dance moves. "She's so happy," Bindi commented below. Tuesday marked an emotional night for the siblings, after Robert dedicated his performance to his sister and his father. The 21-year-old danced to "Footprints in the Sand" by Leona Lewis, which is the same song that Bindi and her dance partner, Derek Hough, danced to in 2015. Towards the end of the song, Bindi walked on stage in her stunning black gown, and finished the dance with Robert as a clip of the pair with Steve was projected onto the dance floor. Robert was then overcome with emotion and crouched down on the floor while Bindi and Witney comforted him. "Tonight was healing. This dance was emotional, beautiful and so deeply meaningful," Robert wrote on Instagram on Tuesday, alongside a video of the dance. "I carry Dad's legacy with me in everything I do, and it was a privilege to dedicate our foxtrot to him. Thank you @bindisueirwin for inspiring us with your freestyle to this song, and thank you @witneycarson for once again choreographing such a beautiful story through dance and for creating a space for me to convey raw emotions that I've never gotten to share before. I'm a proud Wildlife Warrior, and I'll always carry on my dad's mission. I'm so grateful that I can do that in the ballroom." Bindi shared her own tribute to Robert and Steve on Instagram, writing: "Incredibly honored that Robert and Witney danced to 'Footprints In The Sand', a song that I dedicated to Dad 10 years ago during my time on Dancing With The Stars. This dance healed part of my heart and I hoped it would do the same for Robert." "Enormous gratitude to Derek and Witney for giving us both the indescribable gift of dancing through grief and finding so much love and peace. And Robert, I know with all my heart that Dad is beaming with pride because of the wonderful man you are today."

Katie Fitzpatrick 1 days ago

World

AC/DC review – a thrilling show stuffed with classics … and your eardrums will never be the same

In the band’s ‘ancestral homeland’, Accadacca’s first Australian concert in a decade shows Angus Young is still a frenzied force to be reckoned with

Sian Cain 1 days ago

Sports

AJ Brown Doubles Down on Criticisms of Eagles' Struggling Offense

The Philadelphia Eagles have been the talk of the NFL following their win on Monday night over the Green Bay Packers for all the wrong reasons. Star wide receiver A.J. Brown publicly voiced his frustrations with the team’s stagnant offense. Instead of walking back these comments, he further poured fuel on the fire on Wednesday when speaking with reporters. During an appearance on a Madden live stream on Tuesday night, Brown spoke candidly about the team’s offensive struggles. In particular, he described his current situation as a “s***-show” despite the team currently sitting at 7-2 on the year. On Wednesday, Brown was asked about his comments, explaining how the team’s winning results do not indicate the true state of where the Eagles’ offense is. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 19: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Eagles defeated the Vikings 28-22. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) More news: Lions’ Dan Campbell Shares Surprising ‘Tush Push’ Take Ahead of Eagles Game “It’s not just solely about my situation,” said Brown. “Guys, I want to win too. If we are really focused on winning and doing our job, we can’t keep slapping a band-aid over it. The defense is doing their job and getting us out of trouble. At what point are we going to pick up our slack as an offense? We’re so great? That’s what I am getting at. It’s not about caring about winning and all I care about is stats. No, week after week, we aren’t contributing. We aren’t doing out job on offense. You can’t just slap a Band-Aid over that and expect to win late in the year. “It’s not gonna happen. Last year was what it was. Thank you for the ring. But it’s a new season. They adapted; we have to adapt. We have to continue to get better and try and find new ways. That is where the frustration comes in. It’s not about winning. I want to win, but help contribute as well. Do our thing on offense as well. I think that’s fair.” A.J. Brown said he won’t apologize for talking about his frustration on a Twitch stream Tuesday.He said “if you have eyes” you can see why he’s frustrated and that he is pushing for the offense to improve because he wants to win and make an impact.Here’s part of his comments: pic.twitter.com/gWDKV5wRKP— EJ Smith (@EJSmith94) November 12, 2025 More news: Jaguars Could Make Major Change after Travis Hunter’s Season-Ending Injury Most Eagles fans likely don’t disagree with Brown’s assessment. Things do need to get better on offense for Philadelphia to truly contend when it matters most down the stretch of the 2025 season and into the postseason. However, some certainly believe that sharing these frustrations on a public live stream isn’t the best way to approach things. For those critics, Brown further added that he “will not apologize” for what he said or how he went about airing his grievances. “After the game, I said all the right answers,” added Brown. “And I still made a story. In that moment where I am talking with my friend, having fun with my friend, I am not apologizing for that. Like I said, if you have eyes, you can see that. It’s not that I was throwing anybody under the bus. I am literally trying to laugh through this s***. This s*** is tough. But I am trying to make fun of the situation to try and get through it. It is what it is.” Brown and the Eagles offense should certainly get a bit of a preview of what a postseason game may feel like when they face off against the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football in Week 11. So it will certainly be interesting to see whether Brown’s comments help bring a spark on offense that is desperately needed. For more on the Philadelphia Eagles and all things around the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.

Reice Shipley 1 days ago

World

School Assembly News Headlines (Nov 13): Top National, International & Sports Updates + Thought of the Day

If you’re a student on the lookout for news headlines to read out in your school assembly, you’re at the right place! We’ve compiled a list of the most important national, international, and sports-related news items to keep students well-informed about the latest events happening both within the country and across the world. National NewsIndia says deadly car blast was terror attack by anti-national forcesIndia’s air passenger traffic reaches 202 million in first half of this fiscalHigh Court junks plea to let CBI probe Haryana IPS officer’s suicideAmid worsening AQI in Delhi, the Supreme Court seeks report on stubble burningGovernment approves Rs 25,000 crore export mission and extra credit for traders hit by tariffsSchools across India closed or running hybrid on November 13 due to bye-elections and pollution. Tap to check the LIVE Updates on Delhi schools (both government and private)India unveils its first indigenous Quantum Diamond Microscope for advanced magnetic imagingWorld News UK and US issue advisories after Delhi Red Fort explosion draws international concernWhite House denies fake narrative claims in Trump-Epstein email leakAll 20 die in Turkish military plane crash in GeorgiaUkraine suspends justice minister in corruption probeIndia and Vietnam discuss defence and ship-building cooperationUS Supreme Court extends block on full SNAP payments in landmark decisionIndia among top 10 nations hit by climate change: reportSports News India defeat Australia by 209 runs in Women’s T20 World Cup for the BlindArjun Erigaisi, Harikrishna and Praggnanandhaa draw in Round 4 of FIDE World Cup 2025Ben Stokes defends England’s Ashes preparation against AustraliaLA28 shifts women’s 100m final to opening day in athletics schedule revampMyanmar beat Timor-Leste by 93 runs in Bali Bash Tri-Series; Qatar beat Hong Kong in T20IPraggnanandhaa survives tough round as Aronian claims win in chess World CupIndia advances to mixed team final in archery at Asian championships in DhakaThought of the dayEnglish: Your attitude determines your directionHindi: आपका दृष्टिकोण ही आपकी दिशा तय करता है। Stay tuned for latest news headlines from across the world.

TN Education Desk 1 days ago

Politics

Transgender members of the Air Force sue over losing retirement pay

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of 17 transgender members of the Air Force are suing the U.S. government over what they say is the military’s unlawful revocation of their early retirement pensions and benefits. The lawsuit, filed in federal court Monday, comes several months after the Air Force confirmed that it would deny all transgender service members who have served between 15 and 18 years the option to retire early and would instead separate them without retirement benefits. It is just the latest in a series of legal challenges to the Trump administration’s policies that have sought to push transgender troops out of the military since the early days of his second term. The U.S. Supreme Court in May, however, allowed the ban on trans troops to be enforced while legal challenges proceed. According to GLAD Law, one of the advocacy groups that helped bring the lawsuit, service members affected by the policy will now face a loss of up to $2 million owed for their service over the course of their lifetimes in addition to the loss of health insurance benefits. Michael Haley, a staff attorney with the group, said the revocation of the early retirement benefits was part of “the general cruelty in attacking transgender people.” He noted that many of the plaintiffs had received orders allowing their retirements and that some had even begun the process of getting out of the military. Logan Ireland, a master sergeant in the Air Force with 15 years of service that includes a deployment to Afghanistan, joined the lawsuit after having his early retirement denied. He told The Associated Press that “the military taught me to lead and fight, not retreat.” “Stripping away my retirement sends the message that those values only apply on the battlefield, not when a service member needs them most,” he added. “These are folks who are going to move on with their lives, have received the OK to do so, and then have that taken away from them once again,” Haley said. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to comment but has a longstanding policy of not commenting on ongoing litigation. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have targeted diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in what they say is an effort to make the military more lethal. Pentagon officials say 4,240 troops have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which the military is using as an identifier of being transgender. The Air Force has been unique in implementing policies that have gone beyond just separating troops from military service. In addition to revoking retirement benefits, the service moved in August to deny transgender members of the Air Force the chance to argue before a board of their peers for the right to continue serving. The Pentagon rolled out a similar, military-wide version of that policy less than two weeks ago.

Associated Press 1 days ago

Technology

Judge denies Rose Bowl's request for TRO to prevent UCLA from moving to SoFi Stadium

The Rose Bowl threw a gutter ball in court on Wednesday. But it has another ball to roll. Via Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times, a judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order preventing UCLA from moving to SoFi Stadium despite a Rose Bowl lease that runs through 2044. The judge found that there was no basis for emergency relief, because UCLA (after its November 22 home finale) isn’t due to host another game until the 2026 season. The judge also suggested that the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company seek information from UCLA regarding any discussions with SoFi Stadium regarding a move. A motion for a preliminary injunction could then be filed before the 2026 season begins. UCLA continues to insist that no decision to leave the Rose Bowl for SoFi Stadium has been made. It has never said it’s not considering relocation. Continuing to hover over the litigation is the possibility that SoFi Stadium will receive a mandatory invitation to the party, based on the possible argument that the facility (owned by Rams owner Stan Kroenke) intentionally interfered with the Rose Bowl’s contractual relationship with UCLA.

Mike Florio 1 days ago

Sports

Will Luka Doncic Play Against Oklahoma City Thunder Tonight? LA Lakers Await Final Verdict

After recovering from a calf contusion and a sprained left finger, Luka Doncic is officially scheduled to play tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Doncic is free to play without any limitations, according to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers, who presently have an 8-3 record and are hoping to challenge the Thunder, who lead the Western Conference with an outstanding 11-1 record, are eager for his return. Doncic's ability to lead and score is crucial, especially now that LeBron James is out with sciatica. Despite battling ailments early in the season, Doncic has shown incredible tenacity this season, averaging about 37 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists each game. His play is crucial for the Lakers, particularly in a crucial game that might have a big impact on playoff positions. Team Dynamics and ExpectationsDoncic's role is even more important as the Lakers get ready to play the Thunder. Given the absence of other important players like Gabe Vincent and rookie Adou Thiero, his capacity to produce critical performances and open doors for teammates will be crucial. Doncic and Anthony Davis must be the team's leaders, as Austin Reaves is listed as probable. Supporters are excited for Doncic to return, expecting his explosive style of play to infuse the Lakers with energy as they try to win a pivotal game against the Thunder. Doncic is expected to have a big influence tonight due to his progress in his recuperation, maybe making game-changing baskets and providing highlight-worthy assists. This game is more than simply a contest; it is an opportunity for the Lakers to make an impression on the Western Conference. In addition to boosting team spirit, Doncic's presence on the court gives the squad a tactical edge against the powerful Thunder defence.

Nikhil 1 days ago

Sports

Second, Third Place Not Good Enough for Genesis Motorsports

Genesis is economically successful as a car company but their motorsports division is perhaps too successful, company president and chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke told Newsweek during an interview at The National AutoMuseum – The Loh Collection this autumn. The automaker, a division of Hyundai Motor Group, is using the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season as an extended testing session ahead of the company’s official entry into the series in 2026, racing alongside models from other automakers including Ferrari and Porsche. The company plans to enter the car in the IMSA SportsCar Championship’s GTP category from 2027. Genesis Magma Racing team drivers. “He really does not want to make us take any shortcuts,” Donckerwolke said, describing the company’s motorsports directive from Hyundai Motor Group executive chair and CEO Euisin Chung. Donckerwolke talked of showing Chung photos and video of the team testing in the south of France in the early days of Genesis Magma Racing. The president shared Chung’s reaction saying, “He said, clearly, second place or third place is not enough. Tell me what you need to win.” He continued: “He could say it’s good enough to be racing against Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche, etc. Ferrari. No, he wants to win and he’s ready to invest.” But, there are strings attached to that investment. Chung does not want the company’s portfolio of passenger cars to suffer while attention is also paid to the motorsports program. “He’s not going to invest in a motorsport program to win if the product is actually being compromised,” Donckerwolke said. Training today for tomorrow’s success Genesis team drivers André Lotterer and Luis “Pipo” Derani drove the GMR-001 Hypercar in WEC this season under the project name Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program. Jamie Chadwick joined the effort and has signed to stay as a Program driver through 2026. Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 Hypercar. “Since the beginning of the Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program, we targeted top five results, and challenging for podiums,” said Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director Gabriele Tarquini in a late October press release. “We have far exceeded that with three race wins from six races, and some other great individual and team performances.” Despite the team’s standout performance while trialing this year, Donckerwolke expects it to take “two, three years” to be a contender for the WEC championship. Will Genesis enter F1? When pressed about future race series plans, including Formula One, Donckerwolke said, “We see all the other ones. But at the moment, we’ll focus on [WEC]. First, we have Kilimanjaro to climb, and then we will have Everest.” He continued the analogy saying, “We have a long-term strategy, but we will not do the next steps if we’re not successful in the first step. We, at the moment, are saying that we don’t look at the other peaks and mountains to climb. We say we need to be successful climbing this one.” Starting from zero in Korea Donckerwolke pointed out that it’s important to note that Korea and Hyundai Motor Group have historically not been involved in motorsports. It’s only in the last decade that it has truly invested in its efforts. “Motorsport is something which is new to Korea. It is about generating another level of emotional binding with the brand. And, it is very important because it brings another level of competitiveness,” he said. “It’s about never resting on your laurels. It’s also about learning to do things which are not forbidden, instead of doing things that are allowed. It’s a different mentality. If you want to be innovating, you have to read between the lines of the rules, and you have to do things that people didn’t think to forbid, and that means that things that your competitors did not do. This is a mentality that we have to bring into the company, because Koreans are very, very respectful of the rules.” Donckerwolke noted the speed with which the Genesis motorsports program spun up. He proposed the program, including the costs, to the executive chair and within four days he had an answer. Eleven months later, the team was testing in France with a team and a car. “This shows that you can dream and you can make those dreams a reality,” he said. November 2025 marks 13 months since the program was approved. Jamie Chadwick in a Genesis Magma Racing car. Learning from lessons of the past Before he worked for Hyundai Motor Group, Donckerwolke worked for Volkswagen Group, which was the subject of the notorious Volkswagen emissions scandal (also known as Dieselgate). A decade ago, various global government agencies began an investigation that would eventually reveal that Volkswagen had manipulated the emissions testing results of 11 million vehicles globally. The vehicles emitted 40 times more nitrogen oxide than they registered.

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull 1 days ago

Politics

Arizona’s Adelita Grijalva sworn in after seven weeks in move that triggers Epstein vote

Mike Johnson, the House speaker, had prevented the representative from taking her seat after a special election

Joseph Gedeon in Washington and Lauren Gambino 1 days ago

Technology

‘Big Brother’: Deadly new Aus move exposed

It’s a stark illustration of how Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as wheel-tugging lane-keeping assist and beeping driver monitors are proving intrusive hinderances, rather than the beneficial lifesavers they ought to be. The survey conducted by Insurance Australia Group (IAG) revealed more than a third of Aussie drivers found ADAS features distracting, and sometimes made driving more difficult or dangerous. Alarmingly, from the 2000 drivers who responded, more than two in five (43 per cent) said ADAS had negatively impacted their driving. Disabling these systems could be seen as putting lives in danger, but to frustrated drivers, poorly calibrated or overly annoying ADAS is in itself the danger. The shocking statistics will come as no surprise to Australians mystified by systems that feel more Big Brother than trusted companion. With such advanced camera, radar and LiDAR-based technology in most modern cars, crashes and the road toll should be plunging. WORST ROAD TOLL IN OVER A DECADE Yet 2024 saw Australia’s highest road toll since 2012, with 1300 lives lost. And things are even worse this year, according to the Australian Government’s own road safety data hub. According to the latest figures available through the 12 months ending September 2025, the road fatality rate is 5.2 per cent higher than over the same time last year. There were 990 deaths on Australian roads this year through to the end of September, according to the data/ The survey conducted by IAG, Australia and New Zealand’s largest general insurance company, with brands such as NRMA Insurance and RACV, previews a year-long study on ADAS by partnering with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and iMOVE, Australia’s national centre for transport and mobility research and development. Beginning in January next year, the field study of 60 drivers at a testing facility seeks to learn how Aussie drivers interact with ADAS, and how we can better realise its life-saving potential. The first nut to crack will be why 60 per cent of drivers switch off systems designed to help and protect them. MORE: ‘F***ing stupid’ car tech backdown “ADAS has got to be a good coach and not an annoying schoolmaster,” said IAG Research Centre Head Shawn Ticehurst. “Not all (ADAS) systems are equal, but I’m really pleased to see a lot of car companies are now saying they’ve got to calibrate their ADAS for Australian roads.” This has been a regular complaint of new car owners and motoring journalists alike. It feels like many assist systems have been added for box-ticking or to meet ANCAP safety protocols, without enough time spent on ensuring they function effectively on our varied roads. WORST ‘OVER-NANNYING’ OFFENDERS As a motoring writer who drives hundreds of new cars each year, the worst over-nannying ADAS offenders include models from Subaru, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Kia. But most hair-pulling is from new Chinese players such as GWM, Deepal, Leapmotor and Chery … in some instances, I’ve had to stop driving and turn off every system to preserve my sanity. MORE: World-class motor tech designed by Australians But as many owners know, most ADAS defaults to “on” again with each new journey. Many drivers disable some or all ADAS systems as part of the start process, as second nature as putting on a seatbelt. But turning off systems that could and should prevent accidents must be putting lives at risk. “People are frustrated,” Ticehurst said. “But we really want to understand, are there some things about driving skill that perhaps needs to change too?” IS THE DRIVER AT FAULT? And here’s the rub. While we may find ADAS annoying, is it merely pointing out that our driving skills, concentration and road rule following aren’t up to scratch? “Is lane departure warning just pointing out a time when the driver hasn’t put on an indicator?” said Ticehurst. “Maybe there’s some education around that, so we really want to do this practical research.” It’s much needed. The IAG survey showed 70 per cent of drivers would welcome more information on how to best use ADAS, and half the responders said their ADAS learnings came only from trial-and-error. Speaking of errors, the study must also investigate the efficacy of ADAS, and if Aussies are disabling it due to the technology stuffing up. The survey revealed the ADAS considered most helpful were blind spot warning and forward collision warning; least useful were driver monitoring/fatigue protection, road sign recognition, and lane keep assist. MORE: Car giant ditches ‘nightmare’ Aus driving tech Some systems scold if you briefly take your eyes off the road to operate the infotainment (or, ironically, to disable the driver monitor), while speed sign recognition can be notoriously unreliable, bonging at the driver as it incorrectly believes you’re speeding. “Manufacturers are explicit that these systems can make errors and therefore require drivers to remain engaged,” said Professor in Intelligent Transportation Systems at QUT, Sebastien Glaser. “Alerts can confuse people, and repeated warnings or steering interventions can lead to annoyance and distrust. “Manufacturers face a difficult balance: should a system overreact and sometimes brake unnecessarily, or risk not braking when it’s most needed?” Other aspects to be studied include how ADAS ages – is it affected by weather and wear-and-tear? – and crash claims analysis, such as the cost of repairing and recalibrating ADAS in damaged cars. IAG also wants to find how it can craft the right ADAS education for drivers, such as informing them that some systems offer sensitivity levels to suit a driver’s preference. Those running the study said the overarching goal was to help play a role in reducing accidents through improving ADAS and the way drivers use it. Understanding why 60 per cent switch systems off must be the primary focus. Clearly, an insurance company wants fewer accidents to reduce payouts for repairs or replacement cars, but it’s in everybody’s interests for ADAS to reach its full potential and help reduce our scandalous road toll. “Our research project findings will provide evidence for regulators to make informed decisions about ADAS, driver training, and behaviour change,” said Glaser. For those driving ADAS-enabled cars each day, having these systems working with us rather than against us is an imperative. And as my test car beeps, bongs, flashes and tugs the wheel on my drive home, smart research and improvements can’t come quickly enough. Originally published as ‘Big Brother’: Deadly new Aus move exposed

1 Comment 1 days ago

Politics

Fed split deepens as Collins says she would hesitate to support another cut

BOSTON Federal Reserve President Susan Collins, who voted for both of the Fed's policy-rate reductions this year, said on Wednesday she sees a "relatively high bar" for additional easing in the near term, citing worries about elevated inflation. "Absent evidence of a notable labor market deterioration, I would be hesitant to ease policy further, especially given the limited information on inflation due to the government shutdown," Collins said in remarks prepared for delivery to a bankers conference in Boston. "It will likely be appropriate to keep policy rates at the current level for some time to balance the inflation and employment risks in this highly uncertain environment." Her remarks underscore the deepening divisions at the Fed and the lack of consensus around another rate cut, challenges Fed Chair Jerome Powell flagged two weeks ago. Despite "solid" support for the most recent interest-rate cut, Powell said, another reduction at the Fed's December meeting was "not a foregone conclusion, far from it." Collins "has never dissented and has always been aligned with the center of the Committee so this seems significant," wrote III Capital Management's chief economist, Karim Basta. "January may well be more likely than December for the next move as it gives them time to look at more data." The U.S. House on Wednesday was poised to vote to end the record-long shutdown, which has delayed the release of key economic data. The White House on Wednesday said October jobs and inflation reports might never be released. October's quarter of a percentage point reduction in the policy rate range to 3.75%-4.00% drew two dissents, one from Kansas City Fed chief Jeffrey Schmid, who wanted to leave rates unchanged, and the other from Fed Governor Stephen Miran, who wanted a bigger half-point cut because he feels inflation is falling faster than is widely appreciated. Since then a few others of the Fed's 12 voting rate-setters, like Collins on Wednesday, have signaled growing caution on rate cuts. They include St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem who worried about policy becoming too easy, and Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson who said proceeding slowly is particularly prudent given the lack of official data during the U.S. government shutdown. Non-voting rate-setters including Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic have also expressed a preference for holding rates steady, given inflation risks, while others such as San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly call for being open-minded. On Wednesday, Collins said she views short-term borrowing costs as "mildly restrictive" amid financial conditions that are a tailwind for economic growth. The labor market has clearly softened, she said, but downside risks have not worsened since the summer. And while tariffs have pushed up inflation less than expected and their effect may abate in early 2026, she said, she is worried inflation that has run above the Fed's 2% target for nearly five years could remain elevated. "It seems prudent to ensure that inflation is durably on a trajectory back to 2% before making any further adjustments to our policy stance," Collins said. - Reuters

The Star Online 1 days ago

Sports

Marquette-Little Rock: Game updates from Fiserv Forum, starters, prediction, TV info, odds

The Marquette men's basketball team looks to shake off an ugly performance against Indiana when the Golden Eagles (2-1) take on Little Rock (1-1) on Nov. 12 at Fiserv Forum. Don't know much about the Trojans of the Ohio Valley Conference? They just lost to UW-Milwaukee, 92-72, on Nov. 10. MU has a lot to figure out. Head coach Shaka Smart has been playing all 12 available players, but ahead of a key matchup with Maryland on Nov. 15, he might want to tighten the rotation to help his team establish a rhythm. Smart will definitely be looking to see more defensive disruption after allowing the Hoosiers to score 100 points at the United Center in Chicago. It will also be interesting to watch if Smart plays Nigel James Jr. more after an impressive start to the season for the freshman guard. Follow along for live updates from Fiserv Forum: Sean Jones is out for game with injury MU junior Sean Jones, who started as point guard for the first three games, will sit out against Little Rock with a right shoulder injury. The school said Jones will be evaluated again later in the week. Jones' injury likely will give freshman guard Nigel James Jr. his first start of the season. Marquette's probable starters Guards: Sean Jones, Chase Ross, Zaide Lowery Forwards: Ben Gold, Caedin Hamilton Marquette-Little Rock prediction This is the definition of a "get right" game for MU. After getting schooled by Indiana, the Golden Eagles should know they are not good enough to overlook any opponent. Look for crisper defense and a more patient offense from the Golden Eagles. Predicted score: MU 84, Little Rock 65 How to watch Marquette-Little Rock TV: NoneStream: You can stream the game on ESPN+, which requires a subscription.Date: Wednesday, Nov. 12Time: 7 p.m. CTAnnouncers: Josh Maurer (play-by-play) and Brian Butch (analyst) will call the action. Marquette vs Little Rock odds Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Nov. 12 Spread: Marquette (-20.5)Over/under: 157.5Moneyline: Marquette -5000, Little Rock +1400 Next five games for Marquette men's basketball team Nov. 15: Maryland, 1 p.m.Nov. 19: Dayton, 6:30 p.m.Nov. 22: Central Michigan, 1 p.m.Nov. 28: vs. Oklahoma in Chicago, 1 p.m.Dec. 2: Valparaiso, 7 p.m. (ESPN+ streaming) See the complete schedule here.

Journal Sentinel 1 days ago

Sports

Brock Purdy remains limited in Wednesday's practice

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy remained limited in Wednesday’s practice. Coach Kyle Shanahan said before the session that Purdy would have an “aggressive practice,” even if it was limited. Shanahan previously said he wants Purdy to have three aggressive practices before returning to game action. Purdy has not played since Week 4, when he aggravated the toe injury he originally hurt in Week 1. He has not had a full practice since Sept. 26, with 13 consecutive limited practices since returning to practice. “I think each week, it’s gone better, with last week being the best,” Shanahan said of Purdy’s practices, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “Each week has been different. So, if he takes a big step forward this week, like he did last week, he should have a good chance to play.” Mac Jones, whose knee injuries kept him on the practice report as a full participant, has made eight starts in place of Purdy this season. Shanahan said Purdy will not return until he is fully healthy. The 49ers practiced without left tackle Trent Williams and running back Christian McCaffrey, who took a day off for load management. Defensive tackle Alfred Collins (hip), wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) and linebacker Dee Winters (knee/knee) were limited participants.

Charean Williams 1 days ago

Business

Inadequate gas throws Geometric Power into first blackout in 60 days

By Udeme Akpan Geometric Power, Nigeria’s foremost integrated electricity group, has suffered its first blackout in 60 days. The blackout started at 4.33 am, according to Edise Ekong, the Senior Brand and Communication Manager of Aba Power Electricity Company Ltd, the distribution subsidiary of the group. Ekong, in a statement in Aba, attributed the power failure to a lack of gas supply from the Geometric Power business partner, Heirs Energies, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPL) joint venture with Heirs Energies on the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17 at Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State. “We are sorry that our customers in nine of the 17 LGAs in Abia we serve faithfully to both local and international acclaim have been without light since 4.33 am because of what Heirs Energies calls a facility trip”, Ekong stated. “We are working relentlessly with our gas suppliers to restore electricity to the Aba Ring-fenced Area”. On why Geometric Power is not receiving power from the national grid as a backup as it does anytime there has been a gas shortage, the communications manager explained that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has just completed a new substation dedicated to his firm, but added that it has yet to be commissioned. The new substation is undergoing completion tests, he added. “Our engineers who have been with them for several hours are expecting the commissioning to take place anytime from now because of the urgency of the situation in Aba and the environs which play a major role in the Nigerian economy”. Aba is a leader in domestic manufacturing in Nigeria, as it hosts both indigenous and multinational firms. Meanwhile, experts have been lauding Aba Power, Nigeria’s 12 electricity distribution company (DisCo), for being the first firm in Nigeria to supply constant and quality power for two months. “This is an important record”, declared Cliff Eneh, a former engineer with Texas Power and Light Company in Dallas, Texas in the United States, before joining the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) where he retired as a senior engineer and branch manager. “I am confident that Geometric Power would have made electricity supply to its customers constant for years if not for the gas shortage and the TCN bureaucracy as a government enterprise”, he told our correspondent on phone this morning. “I was amazed at not only the sophistication of the engineering and technical facilities when I visited Geometric Power a few months ago but also the dedication of the highly accomplished workforce”.

Urowayino Jeremiah 1 days ago

Technology

Ex-Twitter CEO Agrawal's AI search startup Parallel raises $100 million

(Reuters) -AI startup Parallel Web Systems, founded by former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, has raised $100 million to build web search infrastructure for artificial intelligence agents and fund deals with online content owners, Agrawal said in an interview. The Series A round, which values the company at $740 million, was co-led by venture firms Kleiner Perkins and Index Ventures, with participation from other existing backers including Khosla Ventures. Parallel aims to address what it sees as a fundamental shift in internet use, as AI agents increasingly become the web's primary users. The company builds application programming interfaces (APIs) that let AI systems search the live web for up-to-date information to complete tasks. Agrawal said its enterprise customers use Parallel to power AI agents that write software code, analyze customer data for sales teams and assess risk for insurance underwriting - areas where high-quality web data, alongside internal systems, is critical. "How many jobs are there where we could turn off web access and ask you to do the same job fully?" Agrawal told Reuters. "You can't deprive an M&A lawyer from not being able to use the web, so why would you deprive their agents?" He said he believed the startup's technology was superior to built-in web search functions offered by AI-model providers. Unlike traditional search engines that rank links for humans to click, Parallel's system returns optimized content, or "tokens," designed to feed directly into an AI model’s context window. The company says this approach improves accuracy, reduces "hallucinations", or false information, and cuts operational costs for customers. Agrawal said the new capital will allow Parallel to “go all in” on product development and customer acquisition. Some of the funds will also go toward tackling the challenge of web content increasingly being locked behind paywalls and login barriers to prevent AI web scraping, as web owners from publishers to social media platforms see traffic decline as the rise of AI chatbots changes how people access information. Agrawal said Parallel plans to develop an "open market mechanism" - a new economic model to incentivize publishers to keep content accessible to AI systems, though he did not provide details. Founded two years ago, Parallel first launched its products in August 2025. The company previously raised $30 million in January 2024. (Reporting by Krystal Hu in New York; Editing by Jamie Freed)

Krystal Hu 1 days ago

Business

Target's 10-4 smile requirement ignores the retailer's biggest problem

Target, the retail store giant, which had enjoyed a favored status among Black shoppers because of its practice of helping advance the careers of Black entrepreneurs, has been largely avoided by Black shoppers this year after announcing that it was ending its vaunted diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Now that its shares have plummeted more than 30% year to date, what is the beleaguered brand doing? Ordering its employees to smile. You laugh, but the musicians kept playing while the Titanic sank, right? USA TODAY, after speaking to Target brass Monday, reported that the store’s new 10-4 policy “requires employees who are within 10 feet of customers to smile, make eye contact, wave, and use friendly, approachable, and welcoming body language” and employees within 4 feet of customers “must personally greet the guests, smile, and initiate a warm, helpful interaction.” “We know when our guests are greeted, feel welcomed and get the help they need that translates to guest love and loyalty,” Adrienne Costanzo, Target’s executive vice president and chief stores officer told the newspaper in a statement. How embarrassing for a company named “Target” to miss the mark so badly. The Minneapolis-based retailer isn’t suffering lower sales because its employees have a reputation for being rude or unhelpful to customers. Sales are suffering, at least in large part, because the company disrespected a significant portion of its customer base. “Until you do right by me,” Celie tells Mister at the end of the movie “The Color Purple,” “everything you even think about gonna fail.” Before he stepped aside in the summer, then-Target CEO Brian Cornell penned an op-ed for Essence Magazine, in which he claimed, “This year, we will complete our commitment to invest $2 billion in Black-owned businesses, more than doubling the number of Black-owned brands on our shelves. Through our Accelerator program, we’ve supported more than 500 entrepreneurs, helping them scale and succeed in retail.” Cornell also wrote that Target was “completing our $100 million investment in Black-led community organizations.” But the person who spearheaded the Target boycott — the Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor of Georgia’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church — told PBS that Target hadn’t provided any documentation to support its claims and that it would “continue to hemorrhage” if it didn’t. Between January, when Target announced that it was ending its DEI policies, and the Aug. 22 publication of that PBS interview, Target’s stock price had fallen 28%. Since Bryant’s prediction that Target would “continue to hemorrhage,” the stock price has fallen another 7%. But the likelihood that the smile policy won’t stanch Target’s bleeding out, isn’t the biggest problem. The biggest problem is that when Target employees aren’t happy, their employer will be forcing them to project happiness — and giving certain meddlesome customers a new reason to tattle on employees who don’t smile. “When a customer is unhappy, it really makes your heart race, that was my experience,” Allison Wiltz told me Wednesday. She’s a psychology Ph.D. and freelance journalist who previously worked as a server, as a bartender and as a manager in restaurants. “There are some people who can be a little mean to service workers, and so it does kind of give the customer another tool to say, ‘Well, you know what? I’m about to make your day even worse.” An op-ed Wiltz wrote in 2022, “Never Make Black Employees Smile At White Customers,” addresses a history of Black employees being forced to smilingly absorb racist abuse. She also points out in that piece the sexist expectation, particularly from men, that women smile at work. During our conversation Wednesday, Wiltz pointed out that a 2019 report from the National Center for Health Statistics found that in 2019, “18.5% of adults had symptoms of depression that were either, mild, moderate, or severe in the past 2 weeks.” Wiltz is right when she says, “They shouldn’t lose the ability to make money or provide for themselves or their families just because they can’t muster up a smile.” Also in 2019, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology published a paper called “Perceiving happiness in an intergroup context,” which Wiltz summarized as finding that “white people struggle to identify genuine smiles on Black people’s faces.” A consequence of Target’s new policy, then, could be that “white managers may actually think that a Black person isn’t trying to be genuine and smile when they really are.” Neither customers nor managers are wrong to appreciate good customer service, but mandating smiles isn’t the way to accomplish that. “I had a friend cry before because of this,” Wiltz said. “She was working at the restaurant, and this woman was trying to make her smile.” As tears began to form in her friend’s eyes, Wiltz said, the customer continued to complain, “She’s not smiling at me!” “I said, ‘Ma’am, has she done anything wrong? Has she brought you everything you need? Did she say anything disrespectful?’” The woman couldn’t point to any problems with the service. “And I said, ‘We’re just gonna have to let it go. I’ll wait on you from here on, but I’m not about to make her smile.’”

Jarvis Deberry 1 days ago

Sports

Australian restaurant chain apologises for burger curse as Oscar Piastri hopes to turn F1 season around

Grill’d apologises for jinxing 24-year-old with promotion as Mark Webber backs McLaren driver to rebound from Formula One woes

Agencies and Guardian sport 1 days ago

Sports

Thomas Tuchel Explains Why England's Best Players 'Cannot Play' Together

Thomas Tuchel faces some tough decisions ahead of next year's World Cup, with the England boss revealing some players will be omitted as they won't all fit into his playing system. The Three Lions head coach has warned a big-name trio they can't start a game together as he puts the final touches to his plans ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Many managers would love to enjoy the attacking options at Tuchel’s disposal. The German boss possesses a wealth of talent, but faces the challenge of harmonising them effectively. Harry Kane remains the central figure, though Tuchel must decide how best to integrate other stars. Phil Foden offers versatility, while rising talents like Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer (injured in recent weeks) challenge for creative midfield spots. The competition for places means the final attacking line-up for the World Cup is far from settled. The relationship between Tuchel and midfielder Jude Bellingham has been a notable issue. Bellingham was controversially left out of the October squad, with Tuchel citing a need for rhythm and team cohesion. The manager has also publicly commented on Bellingham's aggressive on-field demeanour, suggesting it can be "repulsive" and must be channelled constructively. Bellingham was recalled for the November games, but the saga highlights the pressure on the young dynamo to adapt to Tuchel's structured approach. And that could mean heartbreak for certain stars, with the German tactician saying Kane, Bellingham and Foden "cannot play" together. Tuchel told talkSPORT: "At the moment, if we keep the structure, they cannot play. They can, but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed. Not for the structure that also comes with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. At the moment, we play with a No. 6, a No. 8, a No. 10 and a No. 9. "There is a lot of congruence, especially in the No. 10 position, if you think about Phil can play there, you think about Jude, you think about Morgan Rogers who played fantastic for us in this position. You have Cole Palmer, you have Morgan Gibbs-White, so there are a lot of players, and there is the chance that we will not take everyone. Not because we don't like (them), not because they don't individually deserve it, but we will always do what's best for the team. We will always do what's best for winning, we will always do what's best for balance, and we will try to keep the clarity, even if it means that we have to take tough decisions. We take tough decisions in any camp, and this will not change when we go to a tournament." When asked if this decision puts Foden’s place under the most jeopardy, Tuchel replied: "Yes and no. If you're a unique player, you can play both positions. I think he can play the No.9, he can play the No.10, it gives him an advantage to compete for both positions. For Man City, he plays almost like a No.8/10, so maybe during the next months, we consider him as a No.8. But again, I see a very, very low percentage that we take five No.10s into a tournament, I don't see how this will help." England have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup after securing a first-place finish in Group K with two matches to spare. The Three Lions have so far gone unbeaten in their qualification campaign by winning all six of their games and have two final qualifiers coming up against Serbia at Wembley on Thursday and Albania in Tirana on Sunday.

Unknown 1 days ago

Sports

Tennis-Do not judge match by its scoreline, says Zverev after Sinner defeat

TURIN, Italy (Reuters) -Alexander Zverev was beaten for the fourth time this year by Italy's Jannik Sinner in a 6-4 6-3 defeat at the ATP Finals on Wednesday, but the German does not believe the scoreline reflected his performance. Zverev's previous loss to Sinner came 11 days ago, going down 6-0 6-1 at the Paris Masters, but in Turin the two-times winner of the season-ending championships had the majority of break points, but unlike the Italian, he failed to take advantage. Sinner forced break points in one game in each set, enough to claim victory and a place in the semi-finals, while Zverev had seven across four games. In the Vienna Open final 17 days ago, Zverev managed to win one set, but this time around the German could not find a way past Sinner's serve. "I think generally today, the biggest difference was how he was serving on the break points," Zverev said. "I had more break points than him. I felt very good from the baseline, actually better than in Vienna almost, when we were in the rally. "To be honest, he had two chances to break me, and he used both of them. I had a lot of chances, and I didn't use any." Sinner hit 12 aces, many of which came at crucial points. In the opening game, the Italian served up four aces alone, two of which saved break points, and came from 0-40 down early in the second set with an ace winning that game. "Sometimes when he's serving like this, it's even more difficult because, seven break points, seven first serves, not one second serve I had," Zverev said. "I was not even in the rally at all. I think I made one return. He hit a forehand winner. "He improved his serve a lot. All in all, from the baseline, how the game was, I thought it was a good match, which maybe was closer than the score says." Zverev was asked if Sinner's performance was unplayable. "It's not unplayable. I had many opportunities. He had one, he used the chance," Zverev replied. "Of course I think it's quite easy for you guys to ask these questions because the score says 6-4 6-3. If you look deeper into the match, I really believe that it could have been better than 6-4 6-3. "So... don't always judge it by the score." Zverev won his opening match against Ben Shelton, and a win over Felix Auger-Aliassime on Friday would see him advance to the semi-finals from the Bjorn Borg Group, and he could meet defending champion Sinner again in the decider. "Listen, I hope to see him again, it's as simple as that, this week," Zverev said. (Reporting by Trevor StynesEditing by Toby Davis)

Trevor Stynes 1 days ago

World

Judge signals hundreds of people detained in Chicago immigration crackdown could be released on bond

By SOPHIA TAREEN CHICAGO (AP) — Hundreds of people who have been arrested and detained in the Chicago area during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown could soon be released on bond while they await immigration hearings, a federal judge signaled Wednesday. During a hearing in Chicago, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings said he would order the full release of 13 detained individuals based on a 2022 consent decree outlining how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can make so-called warrantless arrests. He also gave government attorneys a Friday deadline to comb through a list of 615 people detained at county jails and federal facilities nationwide to see if they qualify for alternatives to detention under the decree, such as using an ankle monitor, while their immigration cases proceed. The judge said he’d issue an order for their release next week, and in the meantime would temporarily pause any deportation proceedings for people who might qualify for bond under the decree. Attorneys for the detainees hailed Cummings’ move as a win and said they plan to bring more cases. “All of the tactics of ICE have been unlawful in the vast majority of arrests,” said Mark Fleming, a lawyer with the Chicago-based National Immigrant Justice Center. Attorneys said they were racing against the clock, as many of the more than 3,300 people suspected of immigration violations who have been arrested in Chicago and its suburbs since “Operation Midway Blitz” began in September have already been deported or left of their own accord. “We’re concerned they have no access to counsel and no understanding of what their situation is,” Fleming told the judge. Will Weiland, a Justice Department attorney, told Cummings that at least 12 people on the list of 615 were “high risk” and shouldn’t be released into communities. “Nothing has been easy with this case your honor,” he said. Cummings previously determined that ICE had violated the consent decree which, among other things, requires the agency to show documentation for each arrest it makes for people besides those being specifically targeted in an operation. During Wednesday’s hearing, Cummings listed instances since the crackdown started in which immigration agents have arrested people while they were at work, out walking or pulling through the drive-thru lane at a fast-food restaurant. “It also seems highly unlikely to me that any of these foreign nationals … fall into the category of what ICE has called the ‘worst of the worst,’” he said. The Trump administration has touted its federal intervention efforts as effective at fighting crime and applauded agents’ aggressive tactics that have been challenged in court. But leaders in Illinois say violent crime had already been trending downward in the Chicago area and that federal agents only inflamed tensions. While the consent decree covers arrests by ICE, it doesn’t include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which has been behind the most controversial tactics used during the immigration operation, including the liberal use of chemical agents. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees both agencies, hasn’t offered details about its arrests, only highlighting a handful of people living in the country without legal permission who also had criminal histories. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin deemed Cummings an “activist judge,” a common Trump administration label for judges who’ve down struck parts of the Republican’s agenda. In a Wednesday statement, McLaughlin claimed that an order to release the detainees put “the lives of Americans directly at risk.” The consent decree, which expired earlier this year, was extended until February. Although its policy on ICE’s warrantless arrests applies nationwide, remedies for individual cases have been focused in six states covered by the ICE field office in Chicago, where the original lawsuit over immigration sweeps was filed. Those states are Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

Associated Press 1 days ago