Panic among spectators at soccer game kills at least 56 in the West African nation of Guinea
Intech Investment Management LLC Increases Position in Trupanion, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRUP)SOUTHERN MISS 66, MILWAUKEE 65NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks are pulling Wall Street toward another record amid mixed trading on Monday. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% in afternoon trading after closing its best month of the year at an all-time high . The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 86 points, or 0.2%, with a little more than an hour remaining in trading, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.9% higher. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 31.1% to lead the market. Following accusations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor , the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company's board. It also said it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 2.9% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 1.1% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street's frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the announcement of its CEO’s departure . Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 3.7% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday . Target, which recently gave a forecast for the holiday season that left investors discouraged , fell 1.6%. Walmart , which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.3%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.3%. The stock market largely took Donald Trump’s latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government’s budget . The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for Federal Reserve, which recently began pulling interest rates lower to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday's headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off October's lackluster growth that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by Trump once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
Women will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. The number of Republican women, at least 851, will break the previous record of 815 state lawmakers set in 2024. "But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. Eddie Moore, The Albuquerque Journal By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. Jeffrey Collins, Associated Press At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." November 7, 2024: Trump Victory Adam Zyglis Adam Zyglis
There are many parts to the new Arsenal but none as valuable as their most reliable goalscorer, and most talented attacker, , who once again made the difficult parts look much easier than they can for so many of his peers. Another Champions League night in north London and another two goals for the golden boy, who now has nine to go with 12 assists across 21 appearances this season. That last assist depends on his team-mate Kai Havertz being credited with the third goal, which took a touch off the Monaco captain Thilo Kehrer, once of West Ham, before it went in. Although for Saka one would assume there will be many more of these kinds of games. The great homegrown star of scores all sorts of goals, and the two on this night were by no means his most spectacular. But they come in all flavours, and it is the volume of goals expected now of the elite players, a group to whom Saka now belongs, which is critical. This will be a long career for Saka and the older he gets, the greater the expectations will be – although thus far he has skipped up the levels every time. Europe’s top club competition? Saka now has eight goals in the 14 games he has played in the Champions League since the start of last season. His second Champions League season has been impressive and he is on the kind of career progression that puts him on a par with some of the competition’s best players at the same age. It is easy to forget that he is just 23 and three months. This is already his sixth season as a Premier League regular. “It has been an evolution,” said Mikel Arteta, reflecting on the Saka era that has, fortunately for the Arsenal manager, coincided with his own time at the club. “He [Bukayo] wasn’t able to do that at 17, 18, 19 years old. He has developed the right way physically and mentally. Now he has the right habits to play every three days and to be at the highest level.” The absolute top end of the game is relentless for the likes of Saka – but it will make him very rich, very famous and possibly one of the greats. That he is a homegrown star is such an important part of it all for Arsenal. He was joined by two more academy graduates, the 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who made his first Champions League start, and Ethan Nwaneri, 17, a late substitute. For Lewis-Skelly, a left-back, this was a big moment – he made the key pre-assist pass to Gabriel Jesus to create the first goal. It will help Arsenal that these young players are coming into a stable side. They are unbeaten at home in 14 games in all competitions. “A really proud moment,” said Arteta of Lewis-Skelly. “It’s just a joy to watch him. It’s a privilege to give a chance to somebody to change his career. It is great that we can trust him.” Arsenal go into Christmas with 13 points from six Champions League games which, in the old format, would have been enough to win the group and progress to the old knockout round of 16. Indeed, it was the total that Arsenal finished with last season in their group. Under the new format there are still two more games to come next month, with Arsenal third in the 36-team table on goal difference. They are one of six teams on 13 points, which means that the order of the automatic qualifying spots for the last 16 will likely change again – yet this is undoubtedly an Arsenal side comfortable in Europe. Last season it ended with the 1-0 defeat by Bayern in Munich in April. This time they will be a difficult side to eliminate – especially with that home record. Against Monaco, the club who turbocharged Arsene Wenger’s coaching career, and also the same team who launched Thierry Henry, Arsenal never looked like they might be discomfited. Monaco gave up three big first-half chances and their Polish goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki, in particular, did well. Still, they played a dangerous game and eventually handed Arsenal the second and third goals. Monaco’s Austrian manager Adi Hutter has some brave ideas about playing the game that Arsenal eventually picked apart. Gabriel Jesus was afforded the first two Arsenal chances – they were the kind of classic through-on-goal, goalkeeper-striker face-offs of another era. Both were accompanied by a centre-half breathing down his neck and a sense of expectation in the stadium. The 27-year-old is no longer Arteta’s idea of a first-choice starter in the big games and the long-standing sense lingers that this is not a top-tier dispatcher of chances. Neither of Jesus’s opportunities were easy. The first was a traditional big hit over the top from Jakub Kiwior. The ball slowed as it bounced, but Jesus nudged it on and forced a good save from Majecki. Second time around it was Gabriel Martinelli’s through-ball and Jesus was holding off Kehrer as he struck a shot that was also saved. It would eventually be Jesus’s cross to the back post that created the chance that Saka converted. Martin Odegaard would miss when he seized on a poor touch by Soungoutou Magassa and slipped the ball past Kehrer. For all the Arsenal captain’s many qualities he never felt like a likely goalscorer in that one-on-one situation. Hutter brought on the former Liverpool winger Takumi Minamino at half-time, in place of Magassa, and his side were better. A mistake from the former Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu presented Saka with the ball for his second. The third for Havertz came late. Arsenal face six games in 21 days over Christmas, including the Carabao Cup tie with Crystal Palace. The challenge for them and their star name is to keep rolling out the big performances. 10:37 PM GMT Fortress Emirates 14 - Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 14 home games in all competitions (W12 D2), their best run under Mikel Arteta and best since an 18-game run under Arsene Wenger between March and November 2017. Surging. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 10:29 PM GMT Arteta reacts Very happy with scoring three goals and keeping the clean sheet in the game, extremely happy. We started the game very well in the first half, it should have been three or four at least and then we could have put the game to bed. We didn’t, and in the Champions League, you have difficult moments, and we had that for a period of time, probably longer than expected because we weren’t precise enough, we didn’t adjust to the press well enough, and we suffered. But then with the second goal I thought the game was in control and I’m happy with the three points. 10:23 PM GMT Lewis-Skelly reacts On his involvement in the first goal: I saw the ball getting switched over from Martin, I was getting pressed, so I just thought keep calm, take the ball away from him. I saw Gabby peeling off and I played it through. Bukayo, great timing for the finish, he’s always there man. On his first Champions League start: I’m proud of myself. I believe in myself, but I’ve come a long way and I just want to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity and hopefully it’s the first of many. I’ll push on from here. On using Saka as an inspiration: Looking up to Bukayo, he has everything. Just the mindset, I’ve learnt a lot from him and I want to keep learning from him, 10:16 PM GMT Arsenal’s main man delivered again 10:10 PM GMT Saka praises Lewis-Skelly I just said to [Myles] that this is his level, have no doubts and play with confidence. He was a big part of the first goal. His future is very bright. He’s always asking questions and looking to learn. I’m so proud of him. 09:54 PM GMT FULL TIME: Arsenal 3 Monaco 0 All over at the Emirates. They move onto 13 points and firmly put themselves in position to qualify in the top eight. Scoreline slightly flatters Arsenal but all that matters is the win. 09:51 PM GMT 90+2mins: Arsenal 3 Monaco 0 Three goals. None from corners. Critics of Arsenal’s struggles in open play won’t have much to say tonight. 09:49 PM GMT 90mins: Arsenal 3 Monaco 0 Three minutes added on. 09:48 PM GMT 88mins: Arsenal 3 Monaco 0 GOAL Definitely game over now. Saka fires a shot towards goal and Havertz deflects the ball in. Replays suggest it might be an own goal by Kehrer, who was very close to Havertz. VAR check for offside but the goal stands. It's another for Arsenal, this time through Kai Havertz 💥 Bukayo Saka get an assist on top of his 2️⃣ goals tonight 🤩 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 09:43 PM GMT 83mins: Arsenal 2 Monaco 0 Saka at the Emirates in the Champions League: 7 games 10 goal contributions 09:41 PM GMT ‘A matter of time before Arsenal converted one of their chances’ Arsenal have been really sloppy in the final third in this second half but it always felt like a matter of time before they converted one of their chances. Painfully for Monaco, this one was created by their own inadequacy rather than any attacking genius from Arsenal. That’s game over, I’d say. Bukayo Saka’s two goals tonight have taken him to nine goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season. That’s 20 goal involvements in 21 appearances. 09:40 PM GMT 81mins: Arsenal 2 Monaco 0 Monaco sub: OFF Camara, Vanderson, Embolo ON Matazo, Teze, Ilenikhena 09:38 PM GMT 79mins: Arsenal 2 Monaco 0 Arsenal sub: OFF Odegaard ON Nwaneri 09:38 PM GMT 78mins: Arsenal 2 Monaco 0 GOAL That should ease all the tension. Great pressing by Havertz to force an error by Majecki, who gives it away to Saka and the winger fires in from close range. Game over? What a mistake from Mohammed Salisu 🫣 Bukayo Saka gets gifted his second goal of the night against Monaco 💫 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 09:34 PM GMT 74mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Nice feet by Havertz to release Trossard and Arsenal have a two-on-one with Odegaard. Trossard tries to find him but the pass is blocked. He retains the ball and takes a shot from distance but the ball is high and over the bar. 09:32 PM GMT 72mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Arsenal sub: OFF Jesus ON Havertz Jesus will think he should be leaving the pitch with at least one goal tonight. 09:28 PM GMT 69mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Havertz is getting ready to come on for Arsenal. 09:26 PM GMT ‘You can see why there is so much excitement about Lewis-Skelly’ What an excellent hour of football it has been from Lewis-Skelly, only 18 years old. You can see why there is so much excitement about him at Arsenal. It’s not just Ethan Nwaneri... they have two top talents coming through. 09:25 PM GMT 65mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Big chance for Monaco. Saliba gives the ball away in his half. Minamino picks it up and drives forward. He plays a pass to Embolo, who lets the ball roll across and shoots but his effort is wide. 09:23 PM GMT 64mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Arsenal subs: OFF Jorginho, Timber and Trossard ON Martinelli, Rice and Lewis-Skelly 09:22 PM GMT 63mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Henrique pulls the ball back on the byline and finds the unmarked Minamino but his tame shot is saved. Yellow card for Vanderson after pulling back Martinelli. 09:21 PM GMT 62mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Triple sub for Arsenal is imminent. Jorginho, Timber and Trossard coming on. 09:19 PM GMT 59mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Arsenal get their first corner of the match. Rice comes over to take it. The Arsenal fans are getting excited. No Gabriel remember. Monaco have kept three players up. Rice’s cross is punched clear. Merino picks up a yellow for a trip. 09:16 PM GMT 57mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Arsenal need to see this little period out because Monaco are certainly encouraged by the errors the home side are making. 09:15 PM GMT 55mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 First corner of the match goes to Monaco. Ben Seghir whips in an inswinger but Raya collects easily. 09:14 PM GMT 53mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Arteta is telling his team to calm down and take their time but he will be annoyed by how his team have started the second half. Not got going at all. 09:09 PM GMT 49mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Sluggish start by Arsenal to the half. A few misplaced passes and Monaco have started sharply. 09:06 PM GMT 47mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Kiwior brings down Akliouche midway in Arsenal’s half. From the free kick whipped in by Camara, Kehrer attacks it and his thumping header flashes wide. A warning for Arsenal. 09:04 PM GMT SECOND HALF: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Martinelli comes out for the second half. Strong argument that Arteta should have taken him off as a precaution. Will he repay his manager’s faith? A change for Monaco: OFF Magassa ON Minamino 08:56 PM GMT Arsenal’s main man 19 - Only Mohamed Salah (16 goals, 12 assists) has been involved in more goals in all competitions among Premier League players this season than Bukayo Saka (8 goals, 11 assists). Production. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 08:48 PM GMT HALF TIME: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Finally a save for Raya to make as Akliouche shoots at goal but it’s an easy take for him. The whistle blows and Arsenal lead at the break. They should be much further ahead but are fortunate not to be down to 10 men. 08:46 PM GMT 45mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Martinelli is very lucky not to get another yellow card after bringing down Camara. It’s a cynical foul. On another day, he could have been off. One minute added on. 08:45 PM GMT 44mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 With a makeshift defence, it is important Arsenal’s attackers take the pressure off them. To do that, they really need to finish the chances they are creating. 08:43 PM GMT 41mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 The offside flag is up but it is another poor finish by an Arsenal player. An outrageous pass by Odegaard into Martinelli and the wide man curls his shot wide. Painfully for Arsenal, had Martinelli scored the goal would have stood because he was onside. 08:42 PM GMT ‘All about Lewis-Skelly’ Saka goal, Jesus assist, but that’s all about Lewis-Skelly in midfield. Spins away from the midfield and slices apart the Monaco defence with the pass to Jesus. 08:41 PM GMT 39mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Odegaard intercepts a pass from Magassa near the half way line and bursts clear towards goal. The Norweigan has the freedom of the Emirates but he never looks comfortable and fires his shot wide of the far post. A really bad miss. 08:40 PM GMT 38mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 Partey fires a cross into the box, Martinelli tries to redirect it but his effort is wide. Arsenal well on top at the moment. 08:39 PM GMT 36mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 That goal is Arsenal’s first from open play for 286 minutes. 08:36 PM GMT 33mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 GOAL Arsenal get the goal their play has deserved. Great feet by Lewis-Skelly to beat Akliouche. The teenager slips in Jesus, who times his run well and plays an inch perfect ball across the box to Saka at the far post to tap in. There’s a VAR check but the goal stands. Great move. Bukayo Saka with an easy finish following a brilliant Gabriel Jesus pass 😮💨 Some incredible play from Myles Lewis-Skelly on his first Champions League start 👏 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 08:33 PM GMT 31mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 Yellow card for Martinelli after pulling back Golovin. No arguments with that decision. 08:32 PM GMT ‘Poor Gabriel Jesus’ Poor Gabriel Jesus is having a horrible time in front of goal at the moment. Those two misses mean he has still scored only twice in 2024. Once against Nottingham Forest in January, and then against Preston in the League Cup in October. Safe to say it’s not what you’d expect of a £45 million striker. 08:31 PM GMT 27mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 Another chance for Jesus. Arsenal cut through their defence again and Jesus is through on goal. Kehrer stays tight on him and deflects Jesus’ effort which is saved. Arsenal starting to take over the match now but need a goal to cement their dominance. 08:29 PM GMT 25mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 Glorious chance for Jesus to score his 25th Champions League goal. He spins in behind off a Kiwior long ball. Majecki should come and get it but he stays back and gives the Brazilian a clear sight on goal but the striker’s shot hits the Monaco keeper’s legs. 08:25 PM GMT 24mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 A little bit flat inside the Emirates. Needs a moment to spark fans into life. Odegaard does his best to provide it but again he curls a shot wide. It has been an easy night for Monaco keeper Majecki so far. 08:22 PM GMT 19mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 The Odegaard and Saka combination makes its first impact on the game. Saka finds Odegaard in a bit of space on the edge of the box and the skipper curls an effort over the bar. 08:18 PM GMT 16mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 Early stages but enough signs that this won’t be an easy night for Arsenal. Monaco are happy to press the home side high and play the ball out from the back. 08:14 PM GMT 12mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 Arsenal fans are furious when Embolo goes down. They don’t want the Arsenal players to kick the ball out but Partey eventually does. Of course, Embolo slowly gets himself up eventually. 08:11 PM GMT 9mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 Kiwior fails to clear his lines and Monaco win the ball back. They shift it nicely and Golovin fires a shot just past the post. That’s the closest chance of the match. 08:10 PM GMT 8mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 This is the first time that Rice, Odegaard and Merino have started in midfield for Arsenal and it has been a promising first few minutes for Merino, especially. The Spaniard has worked his way into the left channel a few times already. 08:07 PM GMT 6mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 Another chance for Arsenal. They work the ball well, Martinelli finds Merino in the box and the Spaniard fires in a cross which just evades Jesus in the six-yard box. 08:06 PM GMT 4mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 Arsenal in for the first time. Jesus wins the ball back, Odegaard then slips him in on goal on the left side but his sidefoot finish is a comfortable save for Majecki. 08:03 PM GMT 2mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0 An important evening for Gabriel Jesus. He has 24 goals from 50 appearances in the Champions League. But he hasn’t scored in the Premier League since January. 08:01 PM GMT Kick Off: Arsenal vs Monaco Arsenal get the match underway! 07:59 PM GMT Here we go! The teams walk out onto the pitch at the Emirates and the Champions League anthem plays out. The Arsenal players are wearing a very nice varsity jacket. Ally McCoist is a fan and I am too. Kick off is moments away!! 07:52 PM GMT A reminder of the teams Raya, Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Merino, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus. Neto, Setford, Timber, Tierney, Robinson, Heaven, Monlouis, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling, Havertz. Majecki, Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Henrique, Magassa, Camara, Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir, Embolo. Kohn, Lienard, Teze, Matazo, Minamino, Ouattara, Ilenikhena, Michal, Nibombe, Tincres. 07:47 PM GMT Is this Arsenal’s best midfield combination? This is the first time that Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino have started a match together for . — Sam Dean (@SamJDean) 07:38 PM GMT ‘Set piece again, ole ole’ Right now, the most popular man among the Arsenal supporters is not a player. Strangely enough, it is a set piece coach. Arsenal’s last three goals have all come from set pieces and Nicolas Jover is the architect of their remarkable success from these corners and free-kicks. Such is Jover’s popularity, he now has his own mural outside the Emirates Stadium. We can’t be certain of this but I would be quite confident in suggesting that he’s the first set-piece coach to ever have such a thing created in his honour. In recent matches the Arsenal fans have been singing “set piece again, ole ole”. It’s all quite good fun, really. Unless you’re defending the back post as a bunch of red-shirted giants descend on you to attack a corner. Let’s see if Monaco can handle it. Set-piece kings 👑 Set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has his own mural in North London 🎨 — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) 07:28 PM GMT Opta stat Aged 18 years and 76 days, Lewis-Skelly is the youngest player to start a UEFA Champions League match for Arsenal since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in September 2011 vs. Olympiakos (18y 44d). Pre-match thoughts from Arteta on Lewis-Skelly: There are the circumstances and then the fact the kid has done really well for us. He deserves a chance. We are buzzing to see one of our own coming out and playing in a big match like this. 07:20 PM GMT ‘One of the most highly-rated young players in the country’ It’s a big night for young Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is making his first start in the Champions League. The 18-year-old has long been one of the most highly-rated young players in the country and, alongside his close friend Ethan Nwaneri, he is regarded as a player with the ability to become a genuine star of the first-team. Lewis-Skelly came through the youth ranks as a midfielder but is being remoulded by Mikel Arteta as an inverting full-back. It’s a complicated position but Lewis-Skelly is a determined, driven and confident young man. With so many injuries at left-back, this is his big chance. 07:15 PM GMT Best betting sites Betting on the game today? Take a look at for free bets and betting offers. 07:10 PM GMT Monaco starting XI Majecki, Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Henrique, Magassa, Camara, Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir, Embolo. Kohn, Lienard, Teze, Matazo, Minamino, Ouattara, Ilenikhena, Michal, Nibombe, Tincres. 07:05 PM GMT Sign up to our Telegraph Football newsletter 07:00 PM GMT Arsenal team news explained Mikel Arteta has made four changes to his side for tonight’s match, with Myles Lewis-Skelly handed his second start for the club. The 18-year-old comes in at left-back in place of Jurrien Timber, who drops to the bench. Mikel Merino is also handed a start with Jorginho dropping to the bench. Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are also handed starts ahead of Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz who are named on the bench. 06:53 PM GMT Arsenal’s team to face Monaco Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Jesus. Neto, Setford, Tierney, Heaven, Timber, Robinson, Monlouis, Jorginho, Sterling, Nwaneri, Trossard, Havertz. 06:45 PM GMT Arsenal welcome Monaco to Emirates Hello and welcome to coverage from the Emirates as Arsenal host AS Monaco in the Champions League. A win for the home side would edge them closer to booking their place in the last-16 of the competition and avoid having a knockout play-off match in February 2025. Arsenal have ten points from their five matches so far, including three victories. Their last match in Europe was a resounding 5-1 win over Portuguese side Sporting. But they come into this match with an injury crisis in defence. Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey were all absent from open training on Tuesday. With Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu also on the sidelines, manager Mikel Arteta may turn to Kieran Tierney at left-back after his recovery from a torn hamstring. Arteta said: “He (Tierney) is ready and he’s training really well and he’s going to have an opportunity for sure with the way the team is looking at the moment. He’s earned it as well with the way he’s behaved and the way he’s been with us because he’s willing to do it and when that happens you have to give opportunities to those kind of players.” Despite their mounting injury issues, captain Martin Odegaard believes they are ready to go all the way and deliver their first ever Champions League title. “That’s the feeling in the squad,” he said. “Everyone believes so much in what we are doing. We have confidence in everything we do as a team. “Last year we learned a few good lessons. We wanted to go all the way (in the Champions League) and we didn’t so we had to take those lessons and make sure we got better. “If you look at the last game (against Sporting) it was a really tough fixture away from home and we did amazingly. That is a sign of improvement. We believe in what we do and hopefully this can be the year.”Five Champion Teams crowned at Volleyball Tournament finalsITV I'm a Celeb fans angered minutes before show as they ask 'where is it'
Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. stock rises Friday, still underperforms marketNew AI leader outshines Magnificent 7 stocks in top funds listLos Angeles Chargers (7-4) at Atlanta (6-5) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Chargers by 1 1/2 Series record: Falcons lead 8-4. Against the spread: Chargers 7-3-1, Falcons 5-6. Last meeting: Chargers beat Falcons 20-17 on Nov. 6, 2022, in Atlanta. Last week: Ravens beat Chargers, 30-23; Falcons had bye week following 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17. Chargers offense: overall (21), rush (13), pass (20), scoring (18). Chargers defense: overall (13), rush (10), pass (10), scoring (13). Falcons offense: overall (8), rush (14), pass (5), scoring (16). Falcons defense: overall (25), rush (19), pass (26), scoring (26). Turnover differential: Chargers plus-8, Falcons minus-3. RB Gus Edwards will move up as the lead back for Los Angeles after J.K Dobbins (knee) was placed on injured reserve on Saturday. Edwards was activated from IR earlier this month following an ankle injury and had nine carries for 11 yards with a touchdown in Monday night's 30-23 loss to Baltimore. WR Drake London has 61 catches, leaving him four away from becoming the first player in team history to have at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. London has 710 receiving yards, leaving him 140 away from becoming the first player in team history with at least 850 in each of his first three seasons. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Chargers' run defense. Robinson was shut down by Denver, gaining only 35 yards on 12 carries, and the Atlanta offense couldn't recover. The Chargers rank 10th in the league against the run, so it will be a challenge for the Falcons to find a way to establish a ground game with Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. A solid running attack would create an opportunity for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to establish the play-action passes for quarterback Kirk Cousins. Besides Dobbins, the Chargers also placed S Alohi Gilman (hamstring) on injured reserve. CB Cam Hart (ankle) and LB Denzel Perryman (groin) also have been ruled out. ... The Falcons needed the bye to give a long list of injured players an opportunity to heal. WR WR KhaDarel Hodge (neck) did not practice on Wednesday. WR Darnell Mooney (Achilles), CB Kevin King (concussion), DL Zach Harrison (knee, Achilles) and WR Casey Washington (concussion) were hurt in the 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17 and were limited on Wednesday. CB Mike Hughes (neck), nickel back Dee Alford (hamstring), ILB Troy Andersen (knee), TE Charlie Woerner (concussion) and ILB JD Bertrand (concussion) also were limited on Wednesday after not playing against Denver. C Drew Dalman (ankle) could return. The Chargers have won the past three games in the series following six consecutive wins by the Falcons from 1991-2012. Los Angeles took a 33-30 overtime win in Atlanta in 2016 before the Chargers added 20-17 wins at home in 2020 and in Atlanta in 2022. The Falcons won the first meeting between the teams, 41-0 in San Diego in 1973. Each team has built its record on success against the soft NFC South. Atlanta is 4-1 against division rivals. Los Angeles is 2-0 against the NFC South this season. The Chargers have a four-game winning streak against the division. ... Atlanta is 0-2 against AFC West teams, following a 22-17 loss to Kansas City and the lopsided loss at Denver. The Falcons will complete their tour of the AFC West with a game at the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 16. ... The Falcons are the league's only first-place team with a negative points differential. Atlanta has been outscored 274-244. The loss of Dobbins, who has rushed for eight touchdowns, could put more pressure on QB Justin Hebert and the passing game. Herbert's favorite option has been WR Ladd McConkey, who has four TD receptions among his 49 catches for 698 yards. McConkey, the former University of Georgia standout who was drafted in the second round, could enjoy a productive return to the state against a Falcons defense that ranks only 26th against the pass. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski scored 14 points apiece, and Ustby added 14 rebounds to lead No. 16 North Carolina to a 53-36 victory over Villanova in a semifinal game at the Women's Battle 4 Atlantis on Sunday. The Tar Heels (5-1) play Indiana in the championship game on Monday. The Hoosiers upset No. 18 Baylor 73-65 in Sunday's first semifinal. Ustby made 6 of 8 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer for North Carolina on the way to her first double-double of the season. Donarski hit 6 of 10 shots with a pair of 3-pointers. Maddie Webber led the Wildcats (4-2) with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Lara Edmanson pitched in with 11 points and seven rebounds. The Tar Heels held Villonova's leading scorer Jasmine Bascoe to two points after she came in averaging 16.6 per game. Bascoe missed all seven of her shots — three from distance — and made 2 of 4 at the free-throw line. Ustby had seven points and Donarski scored five to guide the Tar Heels to a 17-7 lead after one quarter. Donarski scored five more in the third quarter to help North Carolina turn a 30-18 lead at halftime into a 44-23 advantage heading to the final period. North Carolina shot 40% from the floor, made 5 of 17 from beyond the arc (29.4%) and 4 of 6 at the foul line. Villanova shot 23.5% overall but made 5 of 18 from distance (27.8%) and 7 of 10 free throws. The Tar Heels scored 15 points off of 21 Villanova turnovers. They turned it over 14 times but it led to only three points for the Wildcats. North Carolina outscored Villanova 30-14 in the paint and never trailed. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballLedecka says 2026 Winter Olympic schedule will hurt her medal hopes
More than 99 Million Ballots Processed During 2024 General Election On Average, Ballots Were Delivered from Voters to Election Officials Within One Day WASHINGTON , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the United States Postal Service released its 2024 Post-Election Analysis Report, outlining the agency's steps to process more than 99.22 million ballots in the 2024 general election. The full report can be read here: 2024 Post-Election Analysis Report . " In 2024, the Postal Service once again admirably performed our role of efficiently and effectively delivering the nation's ballots," said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy . "As we continue to transform the nation's postal network to better meet the demands of the modern mailing and shipping customer, we stand ready to work with policymakers at all levels to make the nation's effective vote by mail process even stronger." The Postal Service's success in 2024 was the result of a deepened focus on operational precision and integrated communications, the engagement of the USPS Election and Government Mail Services team and execution of longstanding, proven operational processes and procedures, including extraordinary measures. As in previous general elections, the Postal Service deployed extraordinary measures in the final weeks of the election season to swiftly move Ballot Mail entered close to or on Election Day and/or the state's return deadline. Extraordinary measures began on Monday, Oct. 21 , continued nationwide through Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5 , and extended through the last day in each state that boards of elections accepted completed mail-in ballots as timely. In 2024, the Postal Service's extraordinary measures included but were not limited to: extra deliveries and collections; special pick-ups; specialized sort plans at processing facilities to expedite delivery to boards of elections; and local handling and transportation of ballots. Key 2024 Election Mail Performance Statistics As part of the nation's critical infrastructure, USPS is responsible for processing, transporting, and delivering the nation's Election Mail safely, securely, and on time. During the General Election, USPS processed more than 99 million ballots. On average, Ballot Mail sent from voters to election officials were delivered within one day. 99.22 Million Ballots Processed in the 2024 General Election: During the general election period of September 1 – November 15 , the Postal Service delivered at least 99.22 million ballots to or from voters.* 99.88 Percent of Ballots Delivered to Election Officials Within a Week: The agency successfully processed, transported and delivered 99.88 percent of ballots from voters to election officials within seven days, and 99.64 percent within five days.** 97.73 Percent of Ballots Delivered from Voters to Election Officials Within Three Days: The Postal Service successfully returned 97.73 percent of ballots from voters to local election officials in fewer than three days. 1 Day Average Delivery Time for Ballots from Voters to Election Officials: On average, the Postal Service delivered ballots from voters to election officials within one day. 3.37 Billion Pieces of Political and Election Mail Delivered in 2024: The total mail volume surpassed 3 billion mailpieces for both Political and Election Mail tracked. As an essential part of the nation's disaster response network, readiness and preparation for natural disasters are standard procedure for the Postal Service. In September and October 2024 , Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated portions of Florida , South Carolina , and North Carolina just weeks before the election. However, through the deployment of extraordinary measures in the weeks before Election Day, voters in the impacted areas who chose to use the mail to vote received performance comparable with the rest of the nation. Recommendations To Improve the Nation's Vote by Mail System in Future Election Cycles The Postal Service is both a national service and a world-class logistics organization. As such, consistent policies are needed nationwide to ensure that operations run smoothly, that the 640,000 USPS employees understand what is expected of them, and the millions of customers can have trust in the Postal Service's ability to deliver for them. At the same time, when it comes to the delivery of Election Mail, there are 50 states and nearly 8,000 election jurisdictions that are far from uniform in their election laws and practices, and that often do not consider how the mail system works. This can result in a mismatch of timeframes, deadlines, ballot return suggestions and the practical reality of using the mail. Many of these laws and practices were not established with the Postal Service's operations in mind. As USPS continues to transform the nation's postal network to better meet the demands of the modern mailing and shipping customer, the organization stands ready to work with policymakers at all levels to continue educating them on how the mail works. While the Postal Service provides effective, efficient, and reliable service for all mail, including Election Mail, there are long-standing recommendations that policymakers should consider to help expedite the transport of mail-in ballots to and from voters including: Following and implementing USPS recommendations on mail piece preparation Applying visibility tools to Election and Ballot Mail Better understanding of Postal Operations Continuing voter education initiatives on state laws and reasonable mailing deadlines * Total volume reflects volume that was identifiable as Ballot Mail by the Postal Service. **Performance data for outbound Ballot Mail (sent from local boards of elections to voters) includes only those ballots that were properly identified as ballots and consistent with our service performance measurement rules. Performance data for inbound Ballot Mail (sent from voters to local boards of elections) includes both those ballots that were properly identified as ballots and consistent with our service performance measurement rules as well as the volume identified by a survey for which data is available from 10/21/2024 to 11/13/2024 . Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America , to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom . Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , Pinterest and LinkedIn . Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook . For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com . Contact: Martha Johnson [email protected] usps.com/news SOURCE U.S. Postal Service
Bears general manager Ryan Poles was granted a reprieve complete with a second swing at hiring a head coach in Chicago. Poles will interview candidates and select a replacement for Matt Eberflus, who was fired Friday after the Bears' sixth consecutive loss and fourth of the season decided on a final play. "Ryan Poles is the general manager of the Chicago Bears, and he will remain the general manager of the Chicago Bears," president and CEO Kevin Warren said Monday. "Ryan will serve as the point person of our upcoming search for a head football coach. We will closely, we will work together on a daily basis to make sure we have the right person as our head football coach." Warren said the McCaskey family provided "all the resources" to build a championship environment. He confirmed that Thomas Brown, who a month ago was passing game coordinator before replacing Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, will serve as interim head coach and shift from the press box to the sideline starting this week. Warren did not say whether Brown would automatically receive an interview for the full-time coaching position, which he said "will be the most coveted head coaching job in the National Football League." Poles said consideration will be given to candidates with the plan to develop rookie No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, but there are no set plans to involve the quarterback in the interview process. He said the Bears showed great progress through two seasons but couldn't sustain growth. "At the end of the day, we just came up short too many times," Poles said of firing Eberflus, his pick to be the Bears' head coach in January 2022. Brown promoted wide receivers coach Chris Beatty to interim offensive coordinator on Monday and announced that defensive coordinator Eric Washington will be the defensive play caller, a role Eberflus previously held. Trailing 23-20 on Thanksgiving Day, the Bears were within field-goal range when quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked. With 32 seconds remaining, Eberflus elected not to use his final timeout as Williams heaved an incompletion down the right sideline as time expired. "When you look at the end-of-the-game situations, detailing to finish in some of those moments. We all know a lot of games come down to those critical moments where we weren't able to get over the hump," Poles said. Eberflus said after the game that everything was handled properly and held a press conference via Zoom on Friday voicing confidence he'd have the team ready to play the 49ers this week. But three hours later, he was fired. Warren admitted the franchise could've handled the timing better, but clarified there was no decision on Eberflus' status at the time of his media session. "The decision was made to terminate the employment of head coach Matt Eberflus," Warren said 72 hours later. "We try to do everything in a professional manner. That decision was made on Friday." "Coach Eberflus had his press conference, we had not made a final decision. I think you know me, you know Ryan you know George McCaskey. One thing we stand for is family, integrity, doing it the right way. In retrospect, could we have done it better? Absolutely." Eberflus, 54, went 14-32 in two-plus seasons. The Bears (4-8) travel to San Francisco (5-7) in Week 1. --Field Level MediaIndia’s new central bank head is a detail-oriented bureaucrat known for working long hours. That discipline will come in handy as he looks to reverse India’s growth slowdown and keep price rises in check. Sanjay Malhotra , the Princeton-educated revenue secretary and three-decade veteran of India’s civil service, is the second career bureaucrat in a row to lead the Reserve Bank of India , replacing Shaktikanta Das after six years in the post. Colleagues and other officials describe Malhotra, 56, as a savvy communicator and a meticulous administrator, known for working late, drinking lots of coconut water and going into the weeds on India’s byzantine tax laws — at times demonstrating more knowledge in meetings than the subject-matter experts reporting to him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s appointment of Malhotra came as a last-minute surprise to many in the government. Described by officials as a “dark horse” whose appointment was like “pulling a rabbit out of the hat,” Malhotra comes with a low profile and a history of shunning the spotlight — qualities that likely worked in his favor with an Indian leader known for his preference for team players over outspoken challengers. While Malhotra’s precise views on monetary policy remain something of a mystery, analysts and officials say his years in the Finance Ministry have given him a consensus-building approach that prioritizes economic growth and revenue generation. Officials also say he won the confidence of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with Modi. 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In one of his few public appearances ahead of Monday’s announcement, he told tax officials to keep economic growth in mind and avoid saddling businesses with overly large tax demands. “Revenue comes in only when there is some income,” he told officers at the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, according to local media reports. “Therefore, we have to be very cautious so that we do not, as they say, kill the golden goose.” As the head of India’s central bank, Malhotra inherits the management of an economy beset with the dual challenge of rising prices and slowing growth. Last month, the RBI said the economy expanded at a seven-quarter low of 5.4% between July and September, putting pressure on the bank to reduce what other top officials in Modi’s government have said are overly high borrowing costs. At the same time, the inflation rate remains well above the government-mandated target of 4%, with price gains accelerating to a 14-month high of 6.21% in October, lifted by volatile food prices. While the combination leaves the new central banker with a difficult balancing act, several analysts said they expect Malhotra to take an accommodative approach to India’s monetary policy in the months ahead. Economists at Nomura Holdings Inc. said they expect a quarter-point cut to the central bank’s benchmark interest rate at the next meeting of the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee in February, projecting a total cut of one percentage point to 5.5% by the end of next year. “A rate cut at the February MPC meeting is now likely cemented (and also warranted, in our view),” the economists, Sonal Varma and Aurodeep Nandi, wrote in a note to clients. Dhiraj Nim, economist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Corp., also forecast a February rate cut of a quarter-point. Still, he said it was too soon to form a full picture of Malhotra’s views. “We don’t know much about the new governor’s views on growth, inflation and the rupee,” Nim wrote. He added: “It may not be prudent to categorize him strictly as a dove or a hawk just yet.” Another challenge facing Malhotra will be overseeing a six-person policy committee in the midst of major turnover. Three new members joined in October alone, and Deputy Governor Michael Patra is due to step down in January. Like his predecessor, Malhotra is not a trained economist and doesn’t come with a history of vocal positions on fiscal or monetary policy. This may make him more closely aligned with the central government on policy matters while avoiding any outward public spats — at least at first, economists said. While at the Finance Ministry, he worked to expand the adoption of India’s more simplified tax regime, intended to boost revenue by easing the compliance burden for ordinary Indians. He was a key driver of an online gaming tax of 28% and was instrumental in leading the global anti-money laundering watchdog FATF’s evaluation of India. He was also credited with managing the backlash to changes by the government earlier this year to India’s long-term capital gains tax. Known for a long schedule sometimes running from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Malhotra could often be found working late into the night tweaking press releases and social-media posts, while also helping to ease concerns from stakeholders, officials said. Another asset, they said, was his methodical approach to problems, coming to a decision after hearing out all views. That quality will likely prove useful at a central bank staffed with a large number of senior executives, they said. “One has to understand the turf, all perspectives and do what’s the best for the economy,” Malhotra told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 15, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )