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LONDON: Global stock markets mostly edged higher on Monday as traders welcomed below-forecast US inflation data that raised hopes about the health of the world’s biggest economy. A holiday-thinned week got off to a healthy start after last week’s sell-off sparked by the US central bank signaling fewer interest rate cuts than had been expected for 2025. Asian markets followed a strong lead from Wall Street, which rebounded on Friday on the inflation data, with Tokyo and Hong Kong in the green. Shanghai was the sole decliner. European markets struggled for direction, with London edging up and Paris and Frankfurt remaining flat. Sharp losses last week were pared back after US inflation data for November came in lower than expected, providing some optimism that policymakers were winning the battle against prices and would have room to keep cutting rates. Still, there remains some trepidation among investors as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, pledging to cut taxes, slash regulations and impose tariffs on imports, which some economists warn could reignite inflation. “The initial response to the US election was positive as investors focused on the obvious tailwinds to profitability: lower corporate tax rates and less regulation,” said Ronald Temple, chief market strategist at Lazard. “However, I expect much more dispersion within the equity market when the reality of a much-less-friendly trade environment sets in.” Investors were also cheered by news that US lawmakers had reached a deal to avert a Christmastime government shutdown following marathon talks on Friday. In the UK, the government was dealt a fresh blow after official data showed that the economy stagnated in the third quarter, revised down from initial estimates of 0.1 percent growth. “The economy stood still between July and September, and that was before the budget cast another chill, and caused output to shrink in October,” said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves. Official data out of Spain on Monday showed that the Spanish economy grew 0.8 percent in the third quarter as domestic consumption and exports increased, comfortably outstripping the European Union average. In company news, shares in crisis-hit German auto giant Volkswagen lost around two percent on the back of news Friday that it plans to axe 35,000 jobs by 2030 in a drastic cost-cutting plan. Shares in Japanese auto giant Honda rose over three percent after it announced Monday an agreement to launch merger talks with struggling compatriot Nissan that could create the world’s third largest automaker. — AFPThe government has notified the telecom cyber security rules, that aim to safeguard India's communication networks and services, through a host of measures including specified timelines for telcos to report security incidents and make disclosures. The rules also empower the central government/ its authorised agency to seek traffic data and any other data (other than the content of messages) from a telecom entity for the purpose of ensuring cyber security. Telecom entities would also be required to adopt telecom cyber security policy, that would include security safeguards, risk management approaches, actions, training, network testing, and risk assessment. "The central government, or any agency authorised by the central government, may, for the purposes of protecting and ensuring telecom cyber security, seek from a telecommunication entity, traffic data and any other data, other than the content of messages, in the form and manner as may be specified by the central government on the portal; and direct a telecommunication entity to establish necessary infrastructure and equipment for collection and provision of such data from designated points to enable its processing and storage," according to the rules framed under the new Telecom Act. The government and any agency authorised by it to collect data under these rules, as well as persons with whom such data is shared, will place adequate safeguards to ensure that such data is stored and maintained in strict confidentiality and prevent any unauthorised access, it said. The rules clearly outline telecom cyber security obligations. "...no person shall endanger telecom cyber security by misuse of telecommunication equipment or telecommunication identifier or telecommunication network or telecommunication services or by fraud, cheating or personation; transmitting any message which is fraudulent; committing or intending to commit any security incident; engaging in any other use which is contrary to the provision, of any other law for the time being in force; or any other means which may have security risk on telecom cyber security," according to the rules," it said. Under the rules, every telecom entity will be required to implement specified measures to ensure cyber security, including adopting a telecom cyber security policy (security safeguards, risk management approaches, actions, training, best practices and technologies, to enhance telecom cyber security). The policy, it said, should also encompass telecom network testing including hardening, vulnerability assessment and risk assessment, identification and prevention of security incidents among other aspects. The policy should entail a rapid action system to deal with security incidents including mitigation measures to limit the impact of such incidents; and forensic analysis of security incidents to ensure learnings from such incidents and further strengthening telecom cyber security. Telecom entities would be required to appoint a Chief Telecommunication Security Officer, and report security incidents within six hours to the Centre along with "relevant details of the affected system including the description of such incident." In 24 hours of becoming aware of the security incident, telecom entities would be required to furnish information on a number of users affected, duration, geographical area, the extent to which the functioning of the network or service is affected; and the remedial measures taken or proposed to be taken. As per the rules, a manufacturer of equipment that has an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, will register the number of such equipment manufactured in India with the government, before the first sale of such equipment. A telecommunication entity has been defined as any person providing telecommunication services, or establishing, operating, maintaining, or expanding a telecommunication network, including an authorised entity holding an authorisation.
The Dow topped 45,000 for the first time but Wall Street’s main indexes fell on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq leading declines as technology stocks slumped ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Meanwhile, investors focused on the Federal Reserve’s next move following an in-line inflation reading . In afternoon trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 100 points points, or 0.3%, to 44,732. The blue-chip index had closed at record highs for three straight sessions. The S&P 500 lost 0.4%, and the Nasdaq slipped 0.8%. Data showed consumer spending increased solidly in October, suggesting the economy maintained its strong pace of growth early in the fourth quarter, but progress on lowering inflation appears to have stalled in the past months. Traders added to bets the Fed will lower borrowing costs by 25 basis points at its December meeting, according to CME’s FedWatch. However, they anticipate the central bank leaving rates unchanged at its January and March meetings. Dell and HP fell 10.5% and 10.1%, respectively, after downbeat quarterly forecasts and weighed on the Information Technology sector, which led sectoral declines and lost 2%. The sentiment spread to megacaps such as Nvidia and Microsoft, which dropped 3.5% and 1% respectively, while the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index slid 3.2% to hit a more than two-month low. Investors also assessed data earlier in the day which showed the economy grew at a solid clip in the third quarter, while weekly jobless claims fell again last week, leaving the door open for another interest-rate cut from the Federal Reserve in December. “Inflation has proven to be a little stickier than the Fed would have liked, which may give them pause with respect to cutting rates,” said Scott Welch, chief investment officer at Certuity. “There are questions around the effects of Trump’s stated tariff policy, which, if implemented could be pretty inflationary and so the Fed is going to have to balance itself between the economic data and the incoming administration’s policy agenda.” Minutes from the Fed’s November meeting, released on Tuesday, showed policymakers were uncertain about the outlook for interest-rate cuts and how much the current rates were restricting the economy. Concerns include President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tax cuts and tariff policies , including his latest stance on imports from Mexico, Canada and China, which could push up prices, spark a trade war and weigh on growth globally. The benchmark S&P 500 is on track for its biggest one-month rise in a year and its sixth month of gains out of seven, as markets price in the probability of Trump’s policies benefiting local businesses and the overall economy. Among others, Workday lost 7.7% after forecasting fourth-quarter subscription revenue below expectations, hit by weaker client spending on its human capital management software.
Hyatt Hotels's H short percent of float has fallen 5.42% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 4.26 million shares sold short , which is 12.03% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 7.3 days to cover their short positions on average. Why Short Interest Matters Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. Short selling is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises. Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish. See Also: List of the most shorted stocks Hyatt Hotels Short Interest Graph (3 Months) As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Hyatt Hotels has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted. Comparing Hyatt Hotels's Short Interest Against Its Peers Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis. According to Benzinga Pro , Hyatt Hotels's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.91%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers. Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.THREE KEY FACTS Auckland FC took a 2-1 victory in the second Kiwi A-League derby against Wellington Phoenix. The Black Knights have now beaten the Phoenix home and away. Rival coaches Steve Corica and Giancarlo Italiano have shown there’s no love lost between the two sides. Football writer Michael Burgess looks at the key talking points from Saturday’s blockbuster A-League derby, in front of a sold-out crowd at Go Media Stadium at Mt Smart Are Auckland FC lucky? The new team have certainly benefited from their early season schedule, only having to cross the Tasman once in the first six games.
Romania’s telecoms regulator is asking for TikTok to be suspended as the country’s defence council prepares to discuss cyber risks to its elections, after a little-known ultranationalist came from nowhere to win the first round of the presidential vote. The country’s constitutional court will also examine two allegations of electoral fraud after Călin Georgescu, a Moscow-friendly, EU-sceptic and anti-Nato independent, topped the ballot in a result that upended Romanian politics. Georgescu was polling at barely 5% days before Sunday’s vote but surged to a shock victory with a campaign heavily based on viral TikTok videos that were reportedly boosted by bot-like activity, raising fears of possible external interference. The far-right candidate, who has claimed Nato would never help Romania and called for an end to the war in Ukraine, scored almost 23% and will face pro-EU centrist Elena Lasconi in the second round on 8 December after parliamentary elections on Sunday. Georgescu, a sustainable development expert, has also denied the existence of Covid-19, described two second world war-era Romanian fascists as “national heroes” and claimed that in foreign affairs Romania would benefit from “Russian wisdom”. The deputy head of the country’s telecoms regulator, Ancom, said on Wednesday it was calling for the suspension of TikTok, a China-owned platform, from Thursday, pending an investigation into possible election manipulation, profit.ro reported . “I request the suspension of TikTok on the territory of Romania until the completion of the investigation by state institutions regarding the manipulation of the electoral process of the first round of the presidential elections,” Pavel Popescu said. He added that he was asking for the suspension “on the basis of ... some evidence regarding the manipulation of the electoral process by the platform.” The national defence council, chaired by the outgoing president, Klaus Iohannis, said it would analyse “possible risks to national security generated by the actions of state and non-state cyber actors on infrastructures supporting the electoral process”. The country’s national audiovisual council, CNA, has also called on the European Commission to investigate TikTok’s role, saying it suspected “manipulation of public opinion” and “algorithmic amplification” of posts favouring a particular candidate. TikTok has dismissed the CNA’s allegations. A spokesperson said: “These reports are inaccurate and misleading, as most candidates have established a TikTok presence and the winners campaigned on other digital platforms beyond ours.” Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion Two candidates knocked out in the first round, Sebastian Popescu and Cristian Terheș, have further asked the country’s constitutional court to annul the first round result on the grounds that Georgescu did not declare any campaign funding sources. Georgescu, who left the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) after it criticised his pro-Russia, anti-Nato stance, has not responded to the complaints but has previously said he had no campaign budget and all the work was done by volunteers. Romania has been a reliable EU and Nato ally since emerging from communism in 1989 and plays a strategic role in western support for Ukraine, hosting a military base , donating an air defence battery and providing a vital transit route for Ukrainian grain. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Georgescu insisted he did not want Romania to leave Nato or the EU. “What I want, however, is to take a stance, not to kneel over there, not to take everything. Like I said, we should do everything in our national interest,” he said.Since taking office in July, Sir Keir Starmer has said that a "reset" between the UK and EU is high on his list of priorities. The PM has already met with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, and the Remainer PM also met the German at the United Nations in New York. As part of the reset, Sir Keir and his Government may sign the UK back up to various European schemes, that were ditched after the vote to leave in June 2016. Express.co.uk looks at which schemes Brussels and Downing Street may alight upon, and what rejoining them may mean for Brits. After leaving the EU, the UK left the Erasmus student exchange scheme. The UK Government hasn't ruled out rejoining it, but a firm commitment is yet to be made. The scheme, which allows students to study overseas in participating countries, raises concerns about a new route for people to migrate to the UK. It has been reported that negotiators offered a four-year residency permit concession, to ease concerns over Erasmus student migration. However, it's also believed that Brussels negotiators are wary not to push the UK too hard over the issue, given the Government's pressure to reduce migration. Britain may be pulled back into the scheme which between 2014 and 2018 awarded £74.2m to UK creative institutions. It's worth noting that during this period the UK contributed tens of billions of pounds into EU coffers, as a net contributor to the bloc. Nevertheless, the Scottish Government has called on the UK to rejoin the programme and the devolved Welsh government wants to rejoin too. How the UK could rejoin, given it no longer contributes to EU funding, is unclear. However, third countries are eligible to join the scheme, so it is possible the UK could strike a similar deal non-EU nations have agreed upon. Science Secretary Peter Kyle told this website in August that the Government was now “actively exploring” rejoining the £9bn scheme. The UK stopped collaborating with EU scientists in 2021, when the final project the UK was involved in was completed. Mr Kyle said that Labour had a “priority of rebuilding relationships”, adding: “We are extremely open-minded and ambitious for what we can achieve by finding areas of mutual benefit that will have economic and scientific opportunities for Britain without having major sovereignty impacts as well.” The EU's Iris2 space programme is supposed to rival Elon Musk 's Starlink system, which provides broadband connectivity to more than 100 countries. The EU claimed that Iris2 was a “significant step towards Europe’s sovereignty and secure connectivity” which would provide satellite coverage from eastern European states to Ireland. As it stands, the UK is not involved in the programme, but that doesn't mean the Government can't contribute funding. However, senior EU officials told The Guardian that they had “not received any sign or manifestation of interest from our UK partners”. Roaming charges were reintroduced for UK residents in the EU in 2021. However, not all provided passed them on. The UK doesn't currently enjoy the EU's "roam like home" policy, which is only open to member states. However, the UK could still strike a deal on data roaming without joining the bloc's single market. This would be a potential major coup for UK travellers and something within his reach at the negotiating table in Brussels.
Year-round cloud seeding suggested to improve AQICouncil taps out second round of LB 840 housing grantsBEEM stock touches 52-week low at $3.8 amid market challenges
The Prime Minister said the season was a time to remember the importance of “being there for one another”, including in “the more difficult times”. He also expressed hope for “peace, particularly in the Middle East as the birthplace of the Christmas story” amid spiralling conflict across the region. The message comes after a challenging first five months in office for the Labour Government and against the backdrop of a flatlining economy and rising inflation. Sir Keir said: “This Christmas, people will be travelling up and down the country. Heading home, visiting relatives and loved ones to celebrate together the hope and joy of this special season. “It’s a time to remind ourselves what’s really important. Family. Friendship. And fellowship between all people. “Being there for one another – in these celebrations, as well as the more difficult times.” To our military and veterans, the whole nation thanks you for the sacrifices you make to keep us safe. My government will serve you as you have served your country. I wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. pic.twitter.com/LphMZog6np — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 22, 2024 The Prime Minister sought to strike an optimistic note following another year of political upheaval for Britain, which saw Labour win a landslide victory after a surprise election called by Rishi Sunak in the summer. After taking office in July, the new Government made a series of unpopular decisions as ministers confronted the realities of creaking public services and strained national finances. As well as dealing with the economic inheritance, Sir Keir said he needed to fix a “broken society” which manifested itself in summer riots across the country after the Southport knife attack. Sir Keir said: “This Christmas, I will be hoping for peace, particularly in the Middle East as the birthplace of the Christmas story. “I’ll be looking towards a better, brighter future for every person and celebrating the joy and wonder that Christmas brings. “So, from my family to yours, I hope you have a very merry Christmas.” The message comes after revised official figures released on Monday indicated that UK gross domestic product (GDP) showed no growth between July and September. Downing Street defended the Government’s record so far when asked about the data, telling reporters: “We had to take those tough decisions to lay the foundations of growth such that we can then deliver the higher living standards over this Parliament that people want to see.” The Prime Minister also used his message to thank those spending Christmas serving others, including in the NHS and emergency services, the armed forces, churches and charities. “I know that this is not an easy time for everyone, and my thoughts are with all those who are lonely this Christmas. “Having a tough time, missing a loved one. You are not alone,” he said. Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch said Christmas was a time to reflect on “all that’s happened in the year” and “support all of those people who need our assistance”. “I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone, not just in the Conservative Party or in my constituency, but across the country,” the Tory leader said. “For all that you have been doing in your communities, supporting each other and helping to keep all our towns, villages and places going. “I think that Christmas is a time for us to reflect on all that’s happened in the year. “Sometimes we have amazing years. “Sometimes, like when I lost my dad, we have difficult years and we’re commiserating, but we do it together. “But it’s a time for us to support all of those people who need our assistance, who need our help, who need our support.” She added: “And I’m looking forward to 2025. “I wish you all the very best for the New Year and all of the exciting things to come.” Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “This year, I’ve had the chance to spend time with some amazing young carers. “Incredible young people who will spend this Christmas doing what they do all year round; looking after loved ones who are ill or disabled. “Carers embody the Christmas spirit of love, selflessness and generosity. “So I hope we can all take some time to think of them, and keep them in our hearts. “And wish them – and everyone – a Christmas full of peace, joy and love.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s chief of staff denies that she recommended using a “peace circle” to address allegations of sexual harassment or misogyny against former communications director Ronnie Reese, saying that recommendation was made to address other issues Reese was facing in the office. In an interview with WBEZ, Cristina Pacione-Zayas defended the actions she took in response to three complaints made against Reese but said the “peace circle” idea was meant to address other broader communication and management issues that Reese faced. She said those broader issues put Reese on a performance improvement plan, and Pacione-Zayas indicated those issues predated the allegations of misogyny or sexual harassment. “I did not and would not have ever offered [a peace circle] for a serious allegation like sexual harassment,” Pacione-Zayas said. Pacione-Zayas was made aware July 30 of three complaints, including one from a press office staff member that included allegations of misogyny and an alleged inappropriate incident where Reese told a staffer “Love you” after an unwanted hug, according to documents WBEZ obtained. Pacione-Zayas received an email from the city’s human resources department, in which an HR staffer described the allegations generally but did not attach the 29-page complaint. The next day, according to Pacione-Zayas’ email response to the HR department, Pacione-Zayas held a previously scheduled meeting with members of the mayor’s press office. It was there she said she referenced a “restorative justice” model for Reese. A restorative justice “peace circle” is a process where a group can attempt “to restore ‘the peace’ or repair relationships. There’s usually an acknowledgment of harm, and then from there, there is a shared responsibility for repairing the harm,” Pacione-Zayas said. But the suggestion was opposed by staffers who were “unanimously against [Reese’s] inclusion due to the shared fear of retaliation,” the 29-page complaint detailing allegations of misogyny and sexual harassment notes. The suggestion of “peace circles” became a flash point in a budget hearing last week, in which some alderpersons pressed the human resources department commissioner on whether it’s a recommended tool to address sexual harassment complaints. Despite being aware of the general complaints of misogyny at the time she suggested the peace circle, Pacione-Zayas insisted to WBEZ that the suggestion was “separate and apart” from those allegations and meant to address broader management issues he faced. Pacione-Zayas did not provide details on the broader performance issues. She also stressed a need for “due process” around allegations of sexual harassment. “Any type of sexual harassment is not at all tolerated. But again, these were allegations. There did need to be due process,” Pacione-Zayas said. “There is another opportunity for somebody to give ‘Hey, this is my side of the story,’ and you then monitor and check for any changes or any other complaints. So that was one track, and then I was dealing with the writ large general concerns.” In response to the formal complaints of misogyny and more, the city’s human resources department recommended Pacione-Zayas provide coaching to Reese, in addition to him enrolling in two training courses, according to emails obtained by WBEZ via an open records request. The HR department stressed that “Reese should also be informed that as a higher-level supervisor with public-facing duties, he is also held to higher standards and may be subjected to a higher level of discipline, including discharge.” When asked whether she felt training and coaching was sufficient in the face of allegations of misogyny and homophobia, Pacione-Zayas said she followed the recommendations of the city’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, including meeting with Reese on Aug. 5, less than a week after being notified of the complaints. “I followed the EEO policy. They were allegations, and, you know, they did provide me with alternative action to address [them], which I followed all those things,” Pacione-Zayas said. On Aug. 5, Pacione-Zayas also began a performance improvement plan, she said to address the broader management and communication issues. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office said that plan had a Sept. 27 deadline, which Reese failed to meet. Reese asked for an extension and still did not complete the goals of the plan, a spokesperson said. At that point, the process of termination began. The mayor’s office declined to provide copies of the plan, stating it was protected for privacy. Reese did not respond to a request for comment. When asked whether there was anything Pacione-Zayas withheld from the mayor throughout the entire process, she said she informed the mayor of the formal HR complaints against Reese, how she was addressing them and “generally what I was doing across the entire office.” But Pacione-Zayas echoed Johnson’s explanation that neither she nor the mayor were aware of more specific details of the sexual harassment allegations until the complaints were made public a month after Reese was fired. Though Johnson denies finding out the specifics of the allegations against Reese until they were made public by the Chicago Tribune in late November, on Oct. 19, Johnson sent a cryptic text to Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates, Reese’s longtime colleague, stating “Ronnie!” and “Call me,” The Chicago Tribune reported . Johnson has declined to say what the message was in reference to. He was made aware of Reese’s impending termination after Reese failed to meet the performance plan goals, Pacione-Zayas said. That would have been sometime between Sept. 27 and Oct. 22. Reese was put on paid administrative leave on Oct. 23 and officially fired Nov. 5. Reese has since been placed on the city’s do-not-hire list in the wake of the complaints’ release, Pacione-Zayas said. Pacione-Zayas said for the last several months, she has been working with the city’s law and human resources departments to review the city’s personnel rules, which were last updated in 2014 . “With the recent news, people are asking if we’re living up to our values, and you know, I want them to know that I am forcing that question in every single aspect of the infrastructure throughout the city,” Pacione-Zayas said. When asked if the process for reporting complaints needed to be reformed, Pacione-Zays said the process “is what it is.” “It’s what we have to abide by,” Pacione-Zayas said. Alds. Scott Waguespack, 32nd Ward, and Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward — who employs one of the former mayor’s office staffers who was terminated after raising issues under Reese — have called for the city’s do-not-hire policy to be reformed after former mayor’s office staffers believe they were placed on the list in retaliation. Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg cover city politics and government for WBEZ.Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson kept the overall lead in fan voting numbers revealed Monday for the NFL Pro Bowl Games with Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley a close second. Jackson topped vote-getters with 82,402 and Barkley was next, only 320 votes behind. Barkley was 4,079 votes back of Jackson in last week's first voting results. Eagles star Barkley, who set a team one-season rushing record on Sunday in a victory over Carolina, leaped ahead of Ravens rusher Derrick Henry, who fell to third on 76,582. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was fourth on 73,627 with Detroit Lions rusher Jahmyr Gibbs fifth on 73,617. The Lions garnered the most votes from NFL fans overall followed by Baltimore, two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City, Philadelphia and Minnesota. The NFL's all-star event will be staged February 2 in Orlando, Florida, for the second consecutive year as 88 players take part in skills competitions, including a flag football showdown with former NFL star quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning serving as coaches. Fan voting concludes on December 23. No other voting totals were revealed but top vote-getters at their position in the AFC and NFC also were revealed, including NFC rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels of Washington and wide receivers Justin Jefferson of Minnesota in the NFC and Ja'Marr Chase of Cincinnati in the AFC. js/bb
West Ham survive nervy affair to beat Wolves but Julen Lopetegui decision remains unclearDave Chisnall was left with egg on his face after celebrating a checkout - before finding out he had embarrassingly miscounted. The world number six was dumped out of the PDC World Championship by Ricky Evans on Monday night in a five-set thrillier. Chisnall, who averaged an impressive 94.54, lost 3-2 against 'Rapid' in what will go down as one of the most memorable second round contests at Alexandra Palace. And in the fifth set, Chisnall was guilty of a gaffe that will go down in Ally Pally folklore. Trailing 5-4 in the fifth, the 44-year-old needed to hold his throw to send the match into a sudden death leg. He thought he had produced an incredible 139 checkout after taking out D16. But in reality, he should have been taking out D20. Chisnall reacted to the D16 by pointing his finger to the crowd, but was quickly left with his head in his hands after miscounting. The fans in attendance all jeered in unison at Chisnall's expense, who proceeded to speak with the referee about his error. Speaking on talkSPORT 2, a shocked Paul Nicholson said: "He's got it wrong! He's got eight left! "Apparently Professor Chisnall has miscalculated and now Evans can bring the guillotine down." Social media was sent into meltdown over the incident, as one X user said: "Moment of the tournament." Another commented: "Miscount and a missed big number. Absolute scenes." Meanwhile a third added: "Serious darting drama." Thankfully for Chisnall, Evans then proceeded to fluff his own attempt at a checkout after drifting into the 5s after hitting a first T20. Chisnall then closes out the tenth leg of the fifth set to send the game to a sudden death. But ultimately, Chisnall failed to progress into the third round after being blitzed in the deciding leg. It means that he has become the latest top seed to bow out in what has been an enthralling tournament so far.
Moot on 'Advances in Material Sciences' kicks offCoote was sacked earlier this month after the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said that a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”. “Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” PGMOL’s statement on December 9 added. Coote had the right to appeal against the decision but PA understands the Nottinghamshire referee has decided not to. The video which triggered PGMOL’s investigation into Coote’s conduct first came to public attention on November 11. In it, Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “s***”. He then describes Klopp as a “c***”, and, asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying. “I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f****** arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote said. Later in the video, Coote again refers to Klopp, this time as a “German c***”. The Football Association opened its own investigation into that video, understood to be centred on that last comment and whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constituted an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules. The investigation by PGMOL which led to Coote’s contract being terminated is also understood to have looked at another video which appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament. European football’s governing body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.
Fans of Call the Midwife are speculating that newcomer Roger Noble, played by Conor O'Donnell, is set to shake things up as his romance with Nurse Nancy Corrigan, played by Megan Cusack, has been confirmed. As the festive season arrived in Poplar, Nancy found herself feeling lonely until she met Roger, a charming and witty pharmaceutical salesman who walked into Dr. Turner's surgery. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and Roger's return the next day only strengthened their connection. Despite his initial awkward attempt at flirting, Roger eventually asked Nancy out on a date. Initially, Nancy declined, but later had a change of heart. However, she was hesitant to reveal to Roger that she is a single mother to her beloved daughter Colette, played by Francesca Fullilove. As a dedicated midwife and mother, Nancy had put romance on the backburner, but that's all about to change. Roger and Nancy shared a magical evening at the funfair, culminating in a romantic kiss, reports the Express . However, their budding relationship hit a snag when Roger twisted his ankle, leaving Nancy in stitches. The next day, Roger arrived at Nonnatus with thank-you flowers, only to be greeted by Colette, who affectionately called out "mummy" to Nancy. Roger was taken aback, as Nancy had failed to mention her child. Witnessing Roger's interaction with Colette sent Nancy into a panic, and she hastily departed for work. Nevertheless, Roger seemed unfazed by the situation and asked Nancy out again, leaving fans wondering what's in store for the couple. Roger didn't waste any time suggesting a date with Nancy and Colette, charming them with a romantic setup of flowers and sweet talk, which led to Nancy's agreement. Viewers quickly picked up on Roger's keenness to cement his relationship with Nancy after just a few encounters, sparking some concerns. Some avid watchers are convinced that Roger has ties to political activism, and as tensions in Northern Ireland escalate with the dawn of the 1970s, he might become a controversial figure. On social media platform X, one viewer expressed their suspicion: "Why do I think Roger will be trouble for Nancy #CallTheMidwife." Another fan speculated about Roger's potential connection to historical events: "Nancy's Beau has something to do with the Troubles I feel given we're in 1969. #callthemidwife." A third viewer added to the distrust: "I do not trust Nancy's new man #CallTheMidwife." Concern over Nancy's wellbeing was evident as another chimed in: "I hope Nancy's new fella isn't love bombing her #CallTheMidwife". Call the Midwife returns Sunday, January 5, on BBC One and iPlayer at 8pmQuebec students participate in screen time commission
