Wisconsin faces its first losing season in 23 years and the end of a bowl streak when the Badgers host arch-rival Minnesota on Friday in the annual Big Ten battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. Minnesota (6-5, 4-4) lost to No. 4 Penn State 26-25. Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) lost its fourth straight, 44-25, at Nebraska in a game that was not as close as the score. "Well 1890 is the first time we played this football team coming up and this is what it's all about," Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said of the rivalry. "And you wouldn't want to have it any other way, being able to end the season with one of your biggest rivals. I know our guys will be ready to go, ready to play." Wisconsin has 22 consecutive winning seasons since going 5-7 under Barry Alvarez in 2001, the longest active streak among Power 4 teams. The Badgers also have played in a bowl game in each of the last 22 seasons, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and third-longest in FBS. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell is more concerned with the rivalry game than the winning season and bowl streaks. "I'm not downplaying it, I'm not saying it's not important, I'm not saying it's another thing that's on our plate," Fickell said Monday. "But when it gets down to this last week, it's about one thing, it's about the rivalry. It's about preparing to play in the most important game of the year." The Gophers have dropped their last two games after winning four in a row. Minnesota averages 26.6 points per game, while allowing 18.5, 15th-best in the country. Max Brosmer has completed 67 percent of his passes for 221 per game with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. Daniel Jackson is the top target with 69 catches for 802 yards and three scores, and Darius Taylor is the top rusher with 730 yards at 4.8 per carry with nine touchdowns. One week after leading Oregon after three quarters, the Wisconsin defense was shredded for 473 yards and five touchdowns by Nebraska. Braedyn Locke, who took over at quarterback when Tyler Van Dyke suffered an early season-ending knee injury, has thrown at least one interception in eight consecutive games. Locke has completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 180.6 yards per game, with 12 touchdowns and 10 picks. Tawee Walker is the leading rusher with 828 yards at 4.7 per carry with 10 touchdowns. He has failed to reach 60 yards in three of the last four games. Former Wisconsin and NFL standout JJ Watt posted on social media his assessment - and frustration - with the Badgers after the Nebraska game. "Losing happens, it's part of the game. Hearing announcers talk about how much tougher and more physical Nebraska & Iowa are while getting blown out ... that's the issue," Watt wrote on X. "We are Wisconsin. Physicality, running game, great O-Line and great defense. That is our identity." Wisconsin defeated the Gophers 28-14 last after Minnesota had won the previous two meetings. The Badgers have won 7 of the last 10 and lead the storied series 63-62-8. --Field Level Mediawinph99. com 。

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NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson is named head coach at MarshallBy Jill Colvin and Alanna Durkin Richer, The Associated Press NEW YORK — A number of President-elect Donald Trump ‘s most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks,” Trump’s transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. Leavitt said law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted and Trump and his transition team are grateful. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations ; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general ; and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak at a meeting of the House GOP conference, followed by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP Law enforcement officials are also looking into whether Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz’s replacement, and other incoming administration officials were also victims — as well as how each was targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity as the investigation continues. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees” and was investigating with its law enforcement partners. The FBI added: “We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said President Joe Biden had been briefed and the White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and Trump’s transition team. Biden “continues to monitor the situation closely,” Sharma said, adding the president and his administration “condemn threats of political violence.” Stefanik’s office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Her office said “New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism.” The New York State Police said a team was dispatched to sweep Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices. The agency directed further questions to the FBI. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X . “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops.” Police in Suffolk County, Long Island, said emergency officers responded to a bomb threat Wednesday morning at an address listed in public records as Zeldin’s home and were checking the property. In Florida, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area” around 9 a.m. Wednesday. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is seated before President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a meeting of the House GOP conference, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP While a family member resides at the address, the office said, Gaetz “is NOT a resident.” No threatening devices were found. Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration after allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump’s West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Trump was also the subject of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot , with a man saying he had been tasked with planning the assassination of the Republican president-elect. Also this week, authorities arrested a man they say posted videos on social media threatening to kill Trump, according to court documents. In one video posted on Nov. 13, Manuel Tamayo-Torres threatened to shoot the former president while holding what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle, authorities said Among the other videos he posted was one from an arena in Glendale, Arizona on Aug. 23, the same day Trump held a campaign rally there, according to court papers. An attorney for Tamayo-Torres did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. About a year ago the FBI responded to an uptick in such incidents at the homes of public officials, state capitols and courthouses across the country around the holidays. Many were locked down and evacuated in early January after receiving bomb threats. No explosives were found and no one was hurt. Some of those targeted last year were Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. In Wu’s case, a male caller told police he had shot his own wife and tied another man up. When police and EMT responders arrived at the address given by the caller, they quickly realized it was the Boston mayor’s home. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio, received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats, with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that anytime a member of Congress is the victim of a swatting' incident, “we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners.” The force declined to provide further details, in part to “minimize the risk of copy-cats.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump,” he wrote on X . “Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats.” He added: “It is not who we are in America.” Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report. Read more political news Ohio governor signs bill limiting bathroom use by transgender students Pa. legislators’ base pay to crack $110K for first time after latest round of raises Walmart’s DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump’s election victory

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Liberal candidate in B.C. byelection seeks Métis membership after identity questionedOusted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russia media say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad has fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally. The reports came hours after a stunning rebel advance swept into Damascus to cheers and ended the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire, joyful after a stifling, nearly 14-year civil war. But the swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country still split among armed factions. One rebel commander said “we will not deal with people the way the Assad family did." Analysis: Collapse of Syria's Assad is a blow to Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — For Iran’s theocratic government, it keeps getting worse. Its decadeslong strategy of building an “Axis of Resistance” supporting militant groups and proxies around the region is falling apart. Hamas has been batttered by Israel's campaign in Gaza. In Lebanon, Israeli bombardment has crippled Iran’s most powerful ally, Hezbollah, even as Israel has launched successful airstrikes openly inside of Iran for the first time. And now Iran’s longtime stalwart ally and client in Syria, President Bashar Assad, is gone. Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad? BEIRUT (AP) — Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader who led the stunning insurgency that toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image and that of his fighters. He renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicts himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. The 42-year-old al-Golani is labeled a terrorist by the United States. He has not appeared publicly since Damascus fell early Sunday. But he and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stand to be a major player in whatever comes next. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of a backpack found in Central Park that they believe was carried by the killer. Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday outside of a hotel in Manhattan. Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is pushing Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump describes it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO. Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says any deal would have to pave the way to a lasting peace. The Kremlin's spokesman says Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine. Gaza health officials say latest Israeli airstrikes kill at least 14 including children DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian health officials say Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza have killed at least 14 people including children, while the bombing of a hospital in northern Gaza has wounded a half-dozen patients. Israel’s military continues its latest offensive against Hamas militants in northern Gaza, whose remaining Palestinians have been almost completely cut off from the rest of the territory amid a growing humanitarian crisis. One airstrike flattened a residential building in the urban Bureij refugee camp Sunday afternoon. That's according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. South Korea's democracy held after a 6-hour power play. What does it say for democracies elsewhere? SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A short-lived martial law decree by South Korea's leader last week raised worries about budding authoritarianism around the world. In the end, though, democracy prevailed. President Yoon Suk Yeol announced that he was declaring martial law and giving his government sweeping powers to crack down on protesters, ban political parties and control the media. Members of the military blocked lawmakers from using the legislature's constitutional power to cancel the power grab. But the National Assembly within hours unanimously voted to do so. Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant about President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump's first term policies skewed heavily in favor of Israel, and he has picked stalwart Israel supporters for key positions in his administration. But much has transpired since Trump left office in early 2021. The turmoil in the Middle East, the lofty ambitions of Netanyahu’s far-right governing coalition and Netanyahu’s own personal relationship with the president-elect could dampen that enthusiasm and complicate what on the surface looks like a seamless alliance. College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama out SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs, losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama of the SEC but one fewer loss. The inaugural 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta.

Six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick interviewed for the head-coaching job at North Carolina, Inside Carolina and the Raleigh News & Observer reported Thursday. According to the News & Observer, Belichick "blew them away in the interview," yet he is not likely to move forward because he is pushing 73 years old and has no experience in the college game. After he and the New England Patriots agreed to part ways following a 24-year stint, Belichick interviewed for the head job with the Atlanta Falcons, who instead hired Raheem Morris. The North Carolina interview is the first known instance of Belichick showing interest in a college position. Belichick is expected to draw interest for NFL openings in the upcoming hiring cycle. The Tar Heels retained an outside advisory firm to identify coaching candidates to replace Mack Brown, whom they fired at the end of the regular season. North Carolina went 6-6, including 3-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "We've had a tremendous response of people across the country, of agents calling us, coaches, people calling on behalf of other people that are in the industry," North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in an in-house interview the school posted online earlier this week. "We are very optimistic of where we are, the interest in our program is just extraordinary, and we'll get a great coach to lead us. Who can lead us in the next three, five, 10 years? We need somebody that can come in and take us from good to great." --Field Level MediaBOLINGBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 5, 2024-- Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA) today announced financial results for the thirteen-week period (“third quarter”) and thirty-nine-week period (“first nine months”) ended November 2, 2024 compared to the same periods ended October 28, 2023. 13 Weeks Ended 39 Weeks Ended November 2, October 28, November 2, October 28, (Dollars in millions, except per share data) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net sales $ 2,530.1 $ 2,488.9 $ 7,808.0 $ 7,653.0 Comparable sales (1) 0.6% 4.5% 0.3% 7.3% Gross profit (as a percentage of net sales) 39.7% 39.9% 39.1% 39.7% Selling, general and administrative expenses $ 682.3 $ 661.4 $ 1,993.0 $ 1,874.2 Operating income (as a percentage of net sales) 12.6% 13.1% 13.4% 15.2% Diluted earnings per share $ 5.14 $ 5.07 $ 16.93 $ 17.99 New store openings, net 26 12 52 19 (1) Comparable sales are calculated based on the comparable 13 and 39 calendar weeks in the current and prior year. “The Ulta Beauty team delivered better-than-expected sales and profitability reflecting improved sales trends and strong financial discipline. I am proud of the progress we’ve made and encouraged by early signs that our efforts to reinforce our market position and drive improved performance are gaining traction. As we look to the remainder of fiscal 2024, we are focused on executing with excellence across our key initiatives to deliver in a dynamic environment,” said Dave Kimbell, chief executive officer. “We remain confident that our model and strategies will drive long-term profitable growth and share leadership by enhancing our position as the destination for beauty enthusiasts for a lifetime.” Third Quarter of Fiscal 2024 Compared to Third Quarter of Fiscal 2023 First Nine Months of Fiscal 2024 Compared to First Nine Months of Fiscal 2023 Balance Sheet Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2024 totaled $177.8 million. Merchandise inventories, net at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 1.9% to $2.4 billion compared to $2.3 billion at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was primarily due to the addition of 63 net new stores since October 28, 2023. Short-term debt at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $199.7 million compared to $195.4 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023, as the Company drew on its revolving credit facility to support ongoing capital allocation priorities, including share repurchases and capital expenditures, and merchandise inventory growth. Share Repurchase Program During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company repurchased 731,458 shares of its common stock at a cost of $267.0 million. During the first nine months of fiscal 2024, the Company repurchased 1.9 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $764.5 million. As of November 2, 2024, $2.9 billion remained available under the $3.0 billion share repurchase program announced in October 2024. Store Update During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company opened 28 new stores, remodeled 27 stores, and closed two stores. During the first nine months of fiscal 2024, the Company opened 57 new stores, relocated two stores, remodeled 36 stores, and closed five stores. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company operated 1,437 stores totaling 15.0 million square feet. Fiscal 2024 Outlook For fiscal 2024, the Company plans to: Prior FY24 Outlook Updated FY24 Outlook Net sales $11.0 billion to $11.2 billion $11.1 billion to $11.2 billion Comparable sales (2%) to 0% (1%) to 0% New stores, net 60-65 no change Remodel and relocation projects 40-45 no change Operating margin 12.7% to 13.0% 12.9% to 13.1% Diluted earnings per share $22.60 to $23.50 $23.20 to $23.75 Share repurchases approximately $1 billion no change Interest income approximately $13 million $13 million to $14 million Effective tax rate approximately 24% no change Capital expenditures $400 million to $450 million $400 million to $425 million Depreciation and amortization expense $265 million to $270 million no change Conference Call Information A conference call to discuss third quarter of fiscal 2024 results is scheduled for today, December 5, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. CT. Investors and analysts who are interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 704-4453. Participants may also listen to a real-time audio webcast of the conference call by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website located at https://www.ulta.com/investor . A replay will be made available online approximately two hours following the live call for a period of 30 days. About Ulta Beauty At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest specialty U.S. beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. In 1990, the Company reinvented the beauty retail experience by offering a new way to shop for beauty – bringing together All Things Beauty. All in One Place ®. Today, Ulta Beauty operates 1,437 retail stores across 50 states and also distributes its products through its website, which includes a collection of tips, tutorials, and social content. For more information, visit www.ulta.com . Forward‐Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflect the Company’s current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” “strategies” or other comparable words. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon the Company’s historical performance and on current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the future plans, estimates, targets, strategies or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: The Company’s filings with the SEC are available at www.sec.gov . Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, the Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Exhibit 1 Ulta Beauty, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Income (In thousands, except per share data) 13 Weeks Ended November 2, October 28, 2024 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net sales $ 2,530,100 100.0 % $ 2,488,933 100.0 % Cost of sales 1,524,456 60.3 % 1,496,866 60.1 % Gross profit 1,005,644 39.7 % 992,067 39.9 % Selling, general and administrative expenses 682,259 27.0 % 661,380 26.6 % Pre-opening expenses 4,883 0.2 % 3,460 0.1 % Operating income 318,502 12.6 % 327,227 13.1 % Interest income, net (1,674 ) (0.1 %) (2,497 ) (0.1 %) Income before income taxes 320,176 12.7 % 329,724 13.2 % Income tax expense 77,997 3.1 % 80,241 3.2 % Net income $ 242,179 9.6 % $ 249,483 10.0 % Net income per common share: Basic $ 5.16 $ 5.09 Diluted $ 5.14 $ 5.07 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 46,928 49,007 Diluted 47,092 49,226 Exhibit 2 Ulta Beauty, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Income (In thousands, except per share data) 39 Weeks Ended November 2, October 28, 2024 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net sales $ 7,808,035 100.0 % $ 7,653,005 100.0 % Cost of sales 4,754,434 60.9 % 4,612,469 60.3 % Gross profit 3,053,601 39.1 % 3,040,536 39.7 % Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,992,993 25.5 % 1,874,201 24.5 % Pre-opening expenses 11,957 0.2 % 5,396 0.1 % Operating income 1,048,651 13.4 % 1,160,939 15.2 % Interest income, net (13,100 ) (0.2 %) (14,294 ) (0.2 %) Income before income taxes 1,061,751 13.6 % 1,175,233 15.4 % Income tax expense 253,903 3.3 % 278,597 3.6 % Net income $ 807,848 10.3 % $ 896,636 11.7 % Net income per common share: Basic $ 17.00 $ 18.08 Diluted $ 16.93 $ 17.99 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 47,519 49,592 Diluted 47,710 49,846 Exhibit 3 Ulta Beauty, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands) November 2, February 3, October 28, 2024 2024 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 177,782 $ 766,594 $ 121,811 Receivables, net 213,621 207,939 202,868 Merchandise inventories, net 2,365,186 1,742,136 2,321,306 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 135,514 115,598 117,282 Prepaid income taxes 62,759 4,251 28,773 Total current assets 2,954,862 2,836,518 2,792,040 Property and equipment, net 1,264,419 1,182,335 1,117,874 Operating lease assets 1,619,055 1,574,530 1,578,316 Goodwill 10,870 10,870 10,870 Other intangible assets, net 281 510 591 Deferred compensation plan assets 48,872 43,516 38,371 Other long-term assets 60,127 58,732 56,946 Total assets $ 5,958,486 $ 5,707,011 $ 5,595,008 Liabilities and stockholders’ equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 593,219 $ 544,001 $ 597,373 Accrued liabilities 333,463 382,468 405,443 Deferred revenue 405,040 436,591 350,937 Current operating lease liabilities 284,985 283,821 287,786 Accrued income taxes — 11,310 — Short-term debt 199,700 — 195,400 Total current liabilities 1,816,407 1,658,191 1,836,939 Non-current operating lease liabilities 1,656,317 1,627,271 1,616,747 Deferred income taxes 91,729 85,921 56,874 Other long-term liabilities 65,024 56,300 55,906 Total liabilities 3,629,477 3,427,683 3,566,466 Commitments and contingencies Total stockholders’ equity 2,329,009 2,279,328 2,028,542 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 5,958,486 $ 5,707,011 $ 5,595,008 Exhibit 4 Ulta Beauty, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) 39 Weeks Ended November 2, October 28, 2024 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Operating activities Net income $ 807,848 $ 896,636 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 197,075 181,273 Non-cash lease expense 235,950 232,772 Deferred income taxes 5,808 1,528 Stock-based compensation expense 27,691 33,477 Loss on disposal of property and equipment 7,280 6,310 Change in operating assets and liabilities: Receivables (5,682 ) (3,446 ) Merchandise inventories (623,050 ) (717,855 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (19,916 ) 12,964 Income taxes (69,818 ) 9,535 Accounts payable 54,210 41,817 Accrued liabilities (45,777 ) (34,955 ) Deferred revenue (31,551 ) (43,740 ) Operating lease liabilities (250,267 ) (248,469 ) Other assets and liabilities 12,240 (9,836 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 302,041 358,011 Investing activities Capital expenditures (300,536 ) (311,030 ) Other investments (6,108 ) (4,870 ) Net cash used in investing activities (306,644 ) (315,900 ) Financing activities Borrowings from credit facility 199,700 195,400 Repurchase of common shares (765,384 ) (840,551 ) Stock options exercised 9,200 9,302 Purchase of treasury shares (23,566 ) (22,328 ) Debt issuance costs (4,159 ) — Net cash used in financing activities (584,209 ) (658,177 ) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (588,812 ) (616,066 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 766,594 737,877 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 177,782 $ 121,811 Exhibit 5 Ulta Beauty, Inc. Store Update Total stores open Number of stores Number of stores Total stores at beginning of the opened during the closed during the open at Fiscal 2024 quarter quarter quarter end of the quarter 1 st Quarter 1,385 12 2 1,395 2 nd Quarter 1,395 17 1 1,411 3 rd Quarter 1,411 28 2 1,437 Gross square feet for Total gross square stores opened or Gross square feet for Total gross square feet at beginning of expanded during the stores closed feet at end of the Fiscal 2024 the quarter quarter during the quarter quarter 1 st Quarter 14,515,593 114,786 15,615 14,614,764 2 nd Quarter 14,614,764 178,624 10,800 14,782,588 3 rd Quarter 14,782,588 258,320 20,083 15,020,825 Exhibit 6 Ulta Beauty, Inc. Sales by Category The following tables set forth the approximate percentage of net sales by primary category: 13 Weeks Ended November 2, October 28, 2024 2023 Cosmetics 41 % 42 % Skincare 23 % 22 % Haircare 20 % 21 % Fragrance 10 % 9 % Services 4 % 4 % Other 2 % 2 % 100 % 100 % 39 Weeks Ended November 2, October 28, 2024 2023 Cosmetics 41 % 42 % Skincare 24 % 22 % Haircare 19 % 21 % Fragrance 10 % 9 % Services 4 % 4 % Other 2 % 2 % 100 % 100 % Certain sales departments were reclassified between categories in the prior year to conform to current year presentation, including moving the bath category from Fragrance to Skincare. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241205470535/en/ CONTACT: Investor Contact: Kiley Rawlins, CFA Vice President, Investor Relations krawlins@ulta.comMedia Contact: Crystal Carroll Senior Director, Public Relations ccarroll@ulta.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COSMETICS RETAIL SPECIALTY SOURCE: Ulta Beauty, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/05/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/05/2024 04:06 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241205470535/enUsers Can Unlock Exclusive Rewards with SoulBound Tokens in the Latest Web3 Gaming Innovation Singapore, Singapore , Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Planetarium Labs has announced the pre-registration kickoff for its Immortal Rising 2 Path of Ascension Play 2 Airdrop campaign during the YGG Play Summit. The announcement was made by JC Kim, CEO and Founder of Planetarium Labs, who also provided a live demo of Immortal Rising 2, captivating attendees with the game's immersive dark fantasy setting and advanced Web3 features. Pre-registration for the P2A campaign is now open, offering participants the opportunity to claim a unique SoulBound Token (SBT) during this phase. This SBT will act as a hidden incentive for players, unlocking a special reward at the end of the campaign. The first season of the P2A campaign begins on November 28, 2024, inviting players to engage in a variety of daily check-in, social and in-game missions. These missions allow users to acquire additional SBTs per mission, each with unique scores that contribute to the users' overall performance. At the end of Season 1, participants can check their final tier based on their SBT collection, unlocking exclusive rewards and benefits. The campaign not only introduces an engaging way for players to interact with Immortal Rising 2 but also provides a new layer of player-driven progression and achievement in Web3 gaming. Since its grand launch, Immortal Rising 2 has garnered significant attention, with over 500,000 players pre-registering ahead of its debut. The game has also achieved over 1 million registrations on Immortal Vault , the official platform where users can complete various social and in-game missions to earn ORB, a mileage point that will later contribute to $IMT allocation. Additionally, the game has surpassed 600,000 downloads and topped the charts for iOS and AOS in South Korea and Vietnam . Built on Immutable's zkEVM, powered by Polygon, the game seamlessly integrates blockchain technology with dynamic RPG mechanics, offering players both traditional gameplay and on-chain utility. "With Immortal Rising 2, we're not only advancing Web3 gaming but also creating opportunities for players to engage with the ecosystem in new and rewarding ways,” said JC Kim, CEO and Founder of Planetarium Labs . "The P2A campaign is an exciting step forward, combining innovative technology with immersive gameplay to deepen player engagement.” To pre-register for the P2A campaign and secure your exclusive SoulBound Token, visit the pre-registration page or join the official website at immortalrising2.com and follow Immortal Rising 2 on X and Discord . About Planetarium Labs Planetarium Labs , which raised $32 million in a Series A funding round led by Animoca Brands, is a community-driven Web3 gaming company that builds immersive and moddable gaming experiences for users around the world. With decades of collective experience in gaming and blockchain technologies, and with industry-leading visionaries and partners, Planetarium Labs is building the protocols and experiences that take Web3 gaming to the next level. Media Contact Robert Penington [email protected]

Bitget, a global crypto exchange and Web3 firm, is in the process of securing registrations and approvals from the Indian government and aims to open its India office by New Year, COO Vugar Usi Zade told ET . The executive, who was in India last week, mentioned that Bitget has been actively engaging with regulators over the past few months to obtain the necessary approvals for its local operations. In a conversation with ET’s Vinod Mahanta, Zade discusses Bitget’s plans for India, the impact of the Trump presidency on cryptocurrencies, the ongoing bull run, and the evolving role of crypto in a post-AI world. Edited excerpts: Q) Do you think that crypto has a future in countries like India where regulators are not in favour of digital currencies? As a company, we firmly believe that having regulations is far better than having none at all. Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with some regulators in India, as compliance is a key priority for us. Binance has recently secured registration to operate in India and we are looking forward to getting ours from authorities. India, in fact, stands ahead of many other major economies like the US or China, where either crypto is outright banned or faces significant restrictions. While Bitget is still a small player in the Indian market, we are committed to growing responsibly by working closely with regulators to ensure full compliance. The safety and security of customer assets, along with preventing fraud and money laundering, are top priorities for both regulators and companies like ours. We believe that with open dialogue and collaboration, it’s possible to build a regulatory framework that not only ensures safety but also fosters innovation in the crypto space. 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Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Q. What are Bitget’s plans in India? India is a key market for us, both in terms of talent and operations. We are actively setting up a local office and hiring the necessary team members, including legal and operational staff, to ensure compliance and efficient operations. Our goal is to establish a strong local presence, moving beyond a globally managed front-facing approach to a more localised operation. India, with its vast population of 1.4 billion people, presents a massive opportunity. Currently, we serve 45 million users globally, so there’s significant potential for growth here. This means not only expanding our services but also investing in more manpower and infrastructure to cater to the Indian market effectively. Initially, we plan to leverage builders and interns to establish our presence in various markets. Over time, as we grow and understand the market better, we’ll expand to a full-time team to manage operations locally. However, our hiring and investment trajectory will depend heavily on how the market evolves. All large players are registered themselves in India and competition will be fierce. Crypto markets are inherently cyclical, and factors like the duration of the current bullish cycle or the onset of another crypto winter could significantly influence our growth plans. That said, with rising competition among global players aiming for a foothold in India, we are committed to making a strong entry and adapting to the dynamics of this promising market. Q. How many users do you currently have in India? At the moment, we have around 65,000 users in India. This number has remained relatively modest because we have not actively operated in the market until recently. Additionally, due to the licensing process, we temporarily paused onboarding Indian users. However, once we secure the necessary approvals and ensure compliance, we are prepared to begin onboarding Indian users again. Our timeline for fully operationalising in India depends on the compliance green light, but we are making significant progress in our discussions. Ideally, we aim to start operations before the end of the year, and we are already in the process of setting up a local office, which should be functional before the new year. By the first quarter of next year, we expect to be in a strong position to expand our presence and serve Indian users more effectively. Q. Rules for crypto assets remain inconsistent across the world. French lawmakers are debating a tax on unrealised capital gains for cryptocurrencies. What are your thoughts on this? The approach of taxing unrealised gains is definitely controversial and, in my opinion, flawed. It reminds me of how regulators handled data privacy after the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal. Before that, there were no significant regulations around user data, but post-scandal, Europe introduced GDPR. While well-intentioned, it ended up being more about creating layers of compliance than truly solving the root issues of data misuse. Similarly, I fear that crypto regulations could become more about revenue generation or control than serving the best interests of end-users or fostering innovation. In Europe, unfortunately, crypto holders and companies are increasingly seen as cash cows. We've seen examples like the UK introducing a 36% capital gains tax, and now discussions about taxing unrealised gains in France. This approach feels inconsistent with broader financial practices. For instance, in the stock market, you wouldn't tax Elon Musk or other major investors for their unrealised gains—taxation applies only when gains are realised. It should be no different for crypto assets. Additionally, taxing during a bull run without considering the cyclical nature of the market is short-sighted. Crypto markets are notoriously volatile; if governments want to tax gains during a rally, will they also refund or compensate investors for losses during a downturn? Such policies lack balance and could discourage participation in the crypto ecosystem. That said, regulators are not entirely unaware—they understand that crypto markets are cyclical and see the bull runs as opportunities to generate revenue quickly. But for a sustainable crypto economy, we need balanced and fair regulations that promote growth and innovation while protecting stakeholders, not just opportunistic tax policies. Q. Do you think the election of President Trump could be a turning point for crypto? I hope it is, he is a business and he can smell money. The election of President Trump could indeed mark a significant moment for the crypto industry, potentially signalling a shift in how the United States approaches this space. While his recent comments on BRICS and their plans for a new currency highlight his concerns over the US dollar's dominance, this very anxiety could push him to view cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as strategic assets to reinforce the United States' position on the global financial stage. Trump, being a businessman, may recognise the opportunity that cryptocurrencies offer. For instance, the US government could theoretically use its ability to print dollars to acquire Bitcoin or other assets, reinforcing its stake in the crypto ecosystem. This would not only elevate the market but also re-establish the US as a leader in the space, which has seen a significant exodus of crypto companies over the past few years due to regulatory challenges. The US's strict regulatory environment has driven major crypto players to relocate to regions like the Middle East and Asia. Events like Consensus, once a cornerstone of the crypto industry, have shifted to Hong Kong, underscoring how the US is losing its foothold in the global crypto landscape. A Trump administration might reverse this trend by adopting a more business-friendly and strategic stance. That said, while Trump might create opportunities for the crypto industry, he is also likely to see cryptocurrencies as a potential revenue stream for the government. Increased taxes on crypto gains could be a part of his approach to demonstrate economic benefits for the American people. Overall, Trump’s presidency could bring both opportunities and challenges, but it has the potential to realign the US's position in the global crypto market. Q. Why are Dubai and UAE becoming crypto hubs? Dubai has become a significant hub for the crypto industry, and several factors contribute to this shift. First, Dubai’s zero-tax policy, especially on personal gains, is a major attraction for entrepreneurs and investors. For many, it offers a more favourable environment compared to the heavy taxation in regions like Europe, the UK, or India. This financial advantage is a key driver for businesses and individuals relocating there. Second, Dubai has positioned itself as an entrepreneurial hub, with a strong influx of venture capital and investment opportunities. While the UAE may not rank among the top 10 or 20 economies for retail crypto adoption or payment use, its entrepreneurial ecosystem makes it a "hot heart" for innovation. For example, we’re seeing oil companies in the region start leveraging crypto, particularly USDT transfers, for fast, cost-effective transactions that bypass the traditional banking system. Another significant factor is the UAE government's progressive stance on crypto. They’ve been open to embracing it as a legitimate form of payment, including legalising salary payments in crypto. This openness, combined with the ease of setting up a business in Dubai, where licensing and compliance take as little as four to six months, makes it a highly attractive destination for crypto ventures. In contrast, other regions like Europe, the US, or even India have more complex regulatory frameworks, making it harder to set up and operate a compliant crypto business. Dubai's straightforward and proactive approach to regulation has given it a significant competitive edge. Finally, there’s an underlying concern among Indian crypto users about the safety of their investments, given the uncertainty in regulatory policies. This has driven many Indian crypto players to consider Dubai as a safer and more stable alternative for operations and investments. Q. After the WazirX hack, Indian investors have been increasingly doubtful about the safety of their money in Indian exchanges. What safety measures does your exchange have in place? Operating at a global level allows us to implement diverse safety protocols and maintain broader liquidity pools, making it much harder for a single breach to compromise the system. Additionally, we’ve established one of the largest Protection Funds in the crypto industry, valued at approximately $600 million. This fund, primarily held in Bitcoin, is stored in publicly accessible wallets, ensuring complete transparency. Users can verify the fund’s existence and availability at any time. The Protection Fund acts as a safety net for our customers. In the rare event of technical issues or if funds are lost due to an exchange error, we use this fund to compensate users. This level of assurance is something most local exchanges cannot offer, as maintaining such substantial reserves requires significant resources and operational scale. Another layer of safety comes from reduced market volatility. Global exchanges like ours benefit from larger liquidity pools and advanced market-making capabilities, ensuring more stable prices and minimising risks like arbitrage or price swings, which are common on smaller, localised platforms. Q. Bitcoin touched $100,000 recently. How long do you think this bull run will last? Ideally, I hope this bull run lasts longer than we anticipate. Based on my personal predictions, we have seen Bitcoin hit $100,000. It could potentially pull back to around $70,000, and then make another surge to $150,000 before the cycle ends. However, several factors will influence the duration and strength of this bull run. A significant driver will be what happens after President Trump’s inauguration in January and how the US government manages its monetary policy. If there’s an increase in liquidity, with more dollars entering the system, we could see greater investments in Bitcoin, especially from institutional players. Additionally, the performance of the US economy and unemployment rates could push ETF holders like BlackRock and others to channel more funds into Bitcoin-focused ETFs, adding further momentum. Outside of the US, global developments are also playing a crucial role. In Russia, for example, recent legislation recognises crypto as property and allows payments in crypto. Such regulatory shifts could drive more capital into the market. Similarly, Apple’s recent collaboration with Ripple to enable crypto payments through Apple Pay could be a game changer. If Apple leads the way, other major mobile players are likely to follow, bringing more retail users into the crypto ecosystem. If these developments unfold back-to-back in the first half of the next year, we could see the bull run extend, potentially onboarding the next billion users into crypto. However, this optimism is tempered by the unpredictability of global events. Factors like Trump’s age and health, or geopolitical uncertainties such as wars, could disrupt the momentum. Ultimately, this bull run represents an exciting time for the mainstream adoption of crypto, but its length and impact will depend on how these factors align in the coming months. Q.: A lot of Indian crypto investors have lost money after investing in dubious tokens. How do crypto invest safely in alt coins? I want to be very frank—it's not just altcoins and meme coins; schemes like MLM structures, lotteries, and fortune games are extremely popular in India. It’s no secret why: there’s a high concentration of people looking to get rich quickly, and these promises appeal to that mindset. The narrative of someone putting $100 into something and becoming a millionaire overnight is incredibly alluring. But honestly, it’s not a trading strategy or an investment strategy. It’s about chasing a fortune, often driven by hope. Many times, these individuals are putting in their last $20 or $30, and it creates a chain reaction. It’s often friends or family who start with $100, double it to $200, then decide to put in $400 to make it $800—and so on. This pattern is common in almost all developing economies, especially where a significant portion of the population lives around the poverty line. That’s what makes these schemes thrive. It’s interesting how these schemes manage to attract people to come and play around. Unfortunately, this often turns into more of a gambling mindset—throwing money into something without any understanding or proper research. It’s one of the most unfortunate aspects of this space. We’ve seen this happen with cases like OneCoin and other big MLM-style structures. Most of these schemes don’t even have anything to do with the actual crypto industry or blockchain technology. They simply ride on the narrative that everyone hears in the media about Bitcoin and crypto. Then, someone comes up with a "new crypto" that promises to make people rich overnight, and individuals end up investing whatever little they have, driven by hope for a better future. It’s a cycle of misplaced trust and a lack of awareness. Q. Critics of crypto argue that it lacks practical use cases and real utility, dismissing it as mere speculative asset. What’s your perspective on this? I think most projects, especially these meme tokens, have zero utility—and they don’t even claim to have any. They aim to be more of a cultural moment, and honestly, I agree that it’s a very Gen Z phenomenon. Whether we like it or not, most jobs and wealth in the world are still held by Boomers. Lifespans are getting longer, these people aren’t retiring, and that leaves fewer opportunities for Gen Z. Buying a home, for example, is nearly impossible for anyone starting out today on an entry-level salary. So, it makes sense that everyone’s looking for a way to make money. For Gen Z, meme tokens often feel like the only shot at becoming a millionaire. For many young people, achieving that kind of wealth through a corporate job is practically impossible, so I understand why they’re drawn to these tokens. That said, as someone who’s been in the tech industry for seven or eight years, I strongly believe that having real utility is crucial. But if we’re being honest, even Bitcoin has limited utility when you look closely. Bitcoin transactions are so expensive now that they’re impractical for everyday use—like buying coffee—unless you use sidechains. In that sense, Bitcoin itself doesn’t have much utility either, except as a store of value. Its value today comes largely from institutional adoption and ETFs, which have cemented its role as a medium of exchange. But we can say the same about global fiat currencies. They’re issued by central banks, and we trust them because of consensus. Yet they’re far from infallible—currencies get devalued all the time, governments wipe zeros off the end, and inflation erodes their worth. At the end of the day, it all runs on a consensus mechanism. So, if there’s a larger consensus around something—whether it’s Bitcoin, a meme token, or even fiat currency—then why not? That’s just how value works in any system. Q: What will be the role of crypto in post-AI world? I think there are two key aspects to consider. First, blockchain as a technology has immense potential for AI. One of AI’s biggest challenges today is the need to distinguish between human-created data and AI-generated data. This often leads to messy and blurred distinctions. In the future, I believe blockchain can play a crucial role by ensuring that any information created by humans is stored on-chain to verify its authenticity. Similarly, putting AI-generated data on-chain will help machines differentiate between human-created and AI-created content, maintaining clarity about what constitutes original data. This makes blockchain an essential infrastructure for the AI industry. On the other hand, if we consider the current hype around crypto and AI, it’s clear that AI has gained significant traction. For instance, OpenAI recently raised $6.6 billion—one of the largest fundraises we’ve ever seen. By comparison, the blockchain industry hasn’t seen anything on that scale. AI’s widespread applications in daily life are largely uncontroversial, as it helps large corporations and enhances efficiency without challenging the status quo. In contrast, crypto has always been positioned as a disruptor, particularly in traditional financial systems, which is why it has faced more resistance and regulatory hurdles. Looking ahead, I believe AI and crypto can coexist without conflicting. We’re already seeing more companies treat crypto as just another payment option, similar to Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. Visa, Mastercard, and bank transfers coexist with crypto-backed solutions like Bitget Cards, which I’m particularly proud of. These cards are crypto-backed but work seamlessly on Visa’s processing network, showing how crypto can integrate with existing systems instead of trying to replace them entirely. Sometimes, building on what already exists is a better approach than attempting to destroy and rebuild everything from scratch. This way, we can innovate while keeping the system familiar and functional for everyone.Colby Rogers, Moussa Cisse lead Memphis to an 87-70 win over No. 16 Mississippi

Anna is a freelance writer with far too much time on her hands. When she’s not writing about memes and internet slang, she can be found running TTRPGs online.NASCAR blasts 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports for 'tactical' move in legal battle

Trump cuts losses on Matt Gaetz for attorney general

Toronto, Nov 28 (AP) Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the United States should President-elect Donald Trump follow through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a senior official has said. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don't stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across southern and northern borders. He said he would impose a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the US from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. Also Read | Donald Trump Cabinet 2.0: US President-Elect Names Kolkata-Born Doctor-Researcher Jay Bhattacharya To Head Health Research Powerhouse. A Canadian government official said on Wednesday that Canada is preparing for every eventuality and has started thinking about what items to target with tariffs in retaliation. The official stressed no decision has been made. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the US in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminium. Also Read | Fake Pregnancy Scam Exposed in Nigeria: Scammers Pose As Medical Professionals, Offer 'Miracle Fertility Treatment' For USD 205; Woman 'Carries' Child For 15 Months. Many of the US products were chosen for their political rather than economic impact. For example, Canada imports USD 3 million worth of yogurt from the US annually and most comes from one plant in Wisconsin, home state of then-House Speaker Paul Ryan. That product was hit with a 10 per cent duty. Another product on the list was whiskey, which comes from Tennessee and Kentucky, the latter of which is the home state of then-Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. Trump made the threat Monday while railing against an influx of illegal migrants, even though the numbers at Canadian border pale in comparison to the southern border. The US Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are happy to work with the Trump administration to lower the numbers from Canada. The Canadians are also worried about influx north of migrants if Trump follows through with his plan for mass deportations. Trump also railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border pale in comparison to the Mexican border. US customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Canadian officials argue their country is not the problem and that tariffs will have severe implications for both countries. Canada is the top export destination for 36 US states. Nearly USD 3.6 billion Canadian (USD 2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60 per cent of US crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85 per cent of US electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminium and uranium to the US and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. "Canada is essential to the United States' domestic energy supply," Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Trump has pledged to cut American energy bills in half within 18 months, something that could be made harder if a 25 per cent premium is added to Canadian oil imports. In 2023, Canadian oil accounted for almost two-thirds of total US oil imports and about one-fifth of the US oil supply. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding an emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday with the leaders of Canada's provinces, who want Trudeau to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States that excludes Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs "if the situation comes to that". (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

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Washington — Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, the top Democrat on the bipartisan House task force investigating the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump, said he's concerned that "there's a culture of silence" at the Secret Service that prevents agents from speaking out when they should. "I was struck by the stories in the recount of the specific actions of officers and agents on the ground that day," Crow said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." "There were some heroic ones, but there were also a lot of examples of people that knew that something was wrong and they didn't say anything." The task force, which the House voted to establish earlier this year, in recent days wrapped up its work probing security failures surrounding the July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the Sept. 15 foiled attempt in West Palm Beach, Florida. In the wake of the initial attack, the Secret Service came under intense scrutiny, leading to the resignation of its director. Last week, Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe testified before the panel in its final hearing, where he acknowledged the Secret Service's failure to adequately secure the area in Butler, noted "critical gaps" within the agency's operations and said "we did not meet the expectations of the American public, Congress, and our protectees." He noted that it has been his "singular focus to bring much-needed reform to the Secret Service. He added that the agency is "operating in a heightened threat environment, with expanding protection requirements." "The responsibilities of the Secret Service are critical to the national security of the United States," Rowe said, adding that "our agency is not defined by one failure, but by our ability to learn from mistakes." Task force chairman Rep. Mike Kelly, a Pennsylvania Republican whose district includes Butler, said the agency lacks the leadership it needs. And he argued that when the Secret Service was brought under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security, "they took away their identity — their exclusivity." "When you're the best of the best, when you're the elite of the elites, if you lose that, then all of a sudden you just become part of a team," Kelly said on "Face the Nation." "That was a huge mistake." On the July 13 attack, Kelly said the Secret Service failed "at every step of the way." "They failed from the first thing, from the picking of the site, the preparing the site to the coordination of the site, the ability to communicate," Kelly said, adding that there was no team meeting before the event, and local law enforcement wasn't included in the planning. "On July 13, there was a lack of professionalism, there was a lack of concern, there was a lack of coordination, and the ability to communicate is the one thing I'll never understand," Kelly said. "You knew you couldn't talk to each other. Why did you go forward?" Crow said important questions remain about the shooter in Butler and would-be shooter in West Palm Beach, saying that the task force submitted numerous requests to the Justice Department and FBI about their motivations. Crow claimed that the requests have been denied because the criminal investigations are ongoing, calling it an "unacceptable position" and accused the agencies of trying to "stonewall" Congress on the issue. The Colorado Democrat argued that when it comes to the Secret Service, there is a "systematic problem here." He noted that although there are "plenty of extraordinary agents and officers" in the Secret Service, there was a "failure of mission" in Butler. "The structure, the personnel, the staffing of the Secret Service hasn't changed in years, at the same time as we are now asking them to do things that they didn't do a decade ago," Crow said, saying the tempo of the job leaves agents without time for adequate training. "We are not developing their skills and their training, and I think you see the results of that." Meanwhile, Kelly said the task force has been working since Day One to try to help restore trust and confidence in the Secret Service, which he said was likely at "the lowest ebb" in its history. And he acknowledged the relentless pressure on the Secret Service. "You've got to be ready every single moment for anything that could possibly happen. Is that a difficult task? Yes, is it almost impossible?" Kelly said. "But you know what's not impossible, our dedication to the fact that we're going to do the best we can do every single day to ensure that the American people have the faith and trust and confidence they must have in us." Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin topped $100,000 for the first time as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency, largely accelerated by the election of Donald Trump, rolls on. The cryptocurrency officially to rose six figures Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared since Trump won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5. The asset climbed from $69,374 on Election Day, hitting as high as $103,713 Wednesday, according to CoinDesk. And the latest all-time high arrives just two years after bitcoin dropped below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . Bitcoin fell below $102,000 by midday Thursday, but its price is still up nearly 7% over the last day. Even amid a massive rally that has more than doubled the value of bitcoin this year, some experts continue to warn of investment risks around the asset, which has quite a volatile history. Here’s what you need to know. Back up. What is cryptocurrency again? Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But chances are you’ve heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, XRP, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but the large majority of daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. Why is bitcoin soaring? A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, has pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. On Thursday morning, hours after bitcoin surpassed the $100,000 mark, Trump congratulated “BITCOINERS” on his social media platform Truth Social. He also appeared to take credit for the recent rally, writing, “YOU’RE WELCOME!!!” Top crypto players welcomed Trump’s election victory last month, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. Trump made a move in that direction Wednesday when he said he intends to nominate Atkins to chair the SEC. Atkins was an SEC commissioner during the presidency of George W. Bush. In the years since leaving the agency, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. He joined the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy organization, in 2017. Under current chair Gary Gensler, who will step down when Trump takes office, the SEC has cracked down on the crypto industry — penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. Gensler has also faced ample criticism from industry players in the process. One crypto-friendly move the SEC did make under Gensler was the approval in January of spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange trade funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly buying it. The spot ETFs were the dominant driver of bitcoin's price before Trump's win — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. What does bitcoin hitting the $100k mark mean? Could it keep climbing? Bitcoin surpassing the coveted $100,000 mark has left much of the crypto world buzzing. “What we’re seeing isn’t just a rally — it’s a fundamental transformation of bitcoin’s place in the financial system,” Nathan McCauley, CEO and co-founder of crypto asset manager Anchorage Digital, said in a statement — while pointing to the growth of who's entering the market, particularly with rising institutional adoption. Still, others note that the new heights of bitcoin's price don't necessarily mean the asset is going mainstream. The $100,000 level is “merely a psychological factor and ultimately just a number,” Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at British investment company AJ Bell, wrote in a Thursday commentary . That being said, bitcoin could keep climbing to more and more all-time highs — particularly if Trump makes good on his promises for more crypto-friendly regulation once in office. If Trump actually makes a bitcoin reserve, for example, supply changes could also propel the price forward. Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is never promised. Worldwide regulatory uncertainties and environmental concerns around bitcoin “mining" — the creation of new bitcoin, which consumes a lot of energy — are among factors that analysts like Coatsworth note could hamper future growth. And, as still a relatively-young asset with a history of volatility, longer-term adoption has yet to be seen through. Is it too late to invest? What are the risks? Today's excitement around bitcoin may make many who aren't already in the space want to get in on the action, but experts continue to stress caution around crypto “FOMO," or the fear of missing out, especially for small-pocketed investors. “A lot of people have got rich from the cryptocurrency soaring in value this year, but this high-risk asset isn’t suitable for everyone,” Coatsworth noted Thursday. “It’s volatile, unpredictable and is driven by speculation, none of which makes for a sleep-at-night investment.” In short, history shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. Coatsworth points to recent research from the Bank for International Settlements, a Switzerland-based global organization of central banks, which found that about three-quarters of retail buyers on crypto exchange apps likely lost money on their bitcoin investments between 2015 and 2022. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs, and again, now the post-election frenzy. But lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could also mean less guardrails. “I would say, keep it simple. And don’t take on more risk than you can afford to,” Adam Morgan McCarthy, a research analyst at Kaiko, previously told The Associated Press — adding that there isn’t a “magic eight ball” to know for certain what comes next. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 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Taoiseach Simon Harris said he is taking a “project truth” approach to calling out Sinn Fein’s spending pledges as election results on the other side of the Atlantic put Ireland’s economic model into sharp relief. Donald Trump’s presidential election victory in the US has brought heightened concern around what his proposals for corporation tax and tariffs could mean for Ireland. Mr Harris, leader of Fine Gael, has argued Ireland and other EU countries need to prepare for the possibility of trade shocks as he criticised the scale of Sinn Fein’s spending pledges as well as their saving plans. He said: “I think that is irresponsible, I think it is dangerous and I think it is reckless.” He accused Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald of not being able to say what her party was prepared to do in the event of an economic crash, adding that Fine Gael would borrow and stop putting money towards a rainy-day fund. Asked if the party was engaging in “project fear” to dissuade voters against Sinn Fein, Mr Harris said: “I call it ‘project truth’. It’s telling people what’s being discussed right across European capitals.” Ms McDonald told an RTE interview on Wednesday morning that a Sinn Fein government would also be prepared to start borrowing in the event of an economic downturn. Both Mr Harris and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who were partners in the last coalition government in Ireland, have made clear they will not countenance Sinn Fein as a potential partner in the next administration in Dublin. One day after the only three-way debate featuring the leaders of the main parties, Mr Martin accused Sinn Fein of being “dishonest” about how they will fund their manifesto plans. Speaking in Dublin on Wednesday, he said he is anxious to get clarity on the issue. “I think Sinn Fein have been very dishonest, frankly, in terms of the funds, because if you go through their figures, and this is a matter of fact, not opinion, they’re predicting a surplus of a billion in 2026, a billion in 2027. “Even in 2025, they’re talking about a mini budget, which would mean reducing the surplus that we’re anticipating in 2025. “There’s a legislative obligation now on any new government to put 0.8% of GDP to one side, and into the funds. There’s no way you can do that with a surplus of a billion in 2026 or 2027, and we would argue they would not have enough funds next year either to put into the funds.” He added: “It means they have no room to manoeuvre if things go wrong, if there’s headwinds come externally, or there are shocks internationally, Sinn Fein is not allowing any headroom at all in terms of room to respond or to move it.” Ms McDonald accused the other two parties of conspiring to keep Sinn Fein out of government and prevent change in Ireland. She said the two men were now “indistinguishable” from each other as she claimed they were suffering “acute amnesia” in regard to their records in government. On a visit to Naas fire station in Co Kildare, she said: “To listen to them, you’d imagine they had just arrived on the scene and that they were going to come up with all of these solutions. “They have had ample chances, ample opportunity, to make things better, and they have failed, and in between the two of them I make the case that now we ask for our chance, with our plans, with our team, to demonstrate how change can happen, how your community, your family, yourself, can be supported when the government is actually on your side.” Mr Martin’s and Mr Harris’ coalition partner Roderic O’Gorman, the leader of the Greens, issued a warning to the public over a future government without his party. On Wednesday, he said it is looking likely that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will be returned to government – but cautioned they may not want the Greens to continue “fighting hard” on policies. He told reporters: “My sense is certainly the mood music from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael is that they’d like an easier life in the next government – and my concern is they use these small populist parties and right-wing independents.” Mr O’Gorman argued that the Greens could continue to provide stability to government at a time when economic shocks may be around the corner. As the Green leader suggested that relying on independents would be unstable, Mr Martin has also argued that “too much fragmentation would lead to incoherence in government”. Reflecting on Tuesday night’s debate, the Fianna Fail leader said the race remained “too close to call” while Mr Harris said it is “all to play for”. The leaders of Ireland’s three main political parties clashed on housing, healthcare and financial management in the last televised debate before Friday’s General Election. The tetchy debate, which was marked by several interruptions, saw the parties set out their stalls in a broadcast that commentators said did little to move the dial before polling day. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland’s Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power – with the Greens as a junior partner. From 2016 to 2020, Fianna Fail had supported Fine Gael in power through a confidence-and-supply arrangement from the Opposition benches in the Dail parliament. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government.