Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow recordjilibet tricks 。

Retired referee Wayne Barnes has revealed how Richie McCaw would use his knowledge of rugby rules to get into the minds of referees. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner was once dubbed as a “grub” by Australian media and a “master of the dark arts of breakdown cheating” in the lead-up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, his final test for the All Blacks. In a column for The Telegraph , Barnes said McCaw, a three-time World Rugby player of the year, didn’t often get in the referee’s ear but when he did he left a seed of doubt in their mind, the NZ Herald reported. “Some of the greatest players to have ever played are often accused of having the referee in their pocket,” Barnes wrote. “But, in my experience, the greatest players do not intimidate or harangue you; instead, they use their encyclopaedic knowledge of the lawbook to make you question yourself. “Richie McCaw, contrary to what most people think, hardly spoke to referees during a match, but when he did, he knew his stuff. “He asked the right question at the right time, sewing a seed of doubt in a referee’s mind, so when he attempted the next turnover or counter-rucked at the next breakdown, his words were still lingering in your mind.” Barnes also praised British and Irish Lions skipper Sam Warburton for questioning the referee in the pivotal closing stages of the third test against the All Blacks in 2017. With the sides locked up at 15-15 with two minutes to play, Romain Poite originally awarded a penalty within kicking range for the All Blacks, before changing to a scrum. “Sam Warburton’s question to Romain Poite at the end of the final Lions Test in New Zealand not only showed perfect timing but also a captain who knew the laws of the game inside out,” Barnes wrote. The All Blacks failed to score from the attacking scrum and the eventual draw meant a tied series. In his autobiography Throwing the Book released last year, Barnes also tackled the issue of McCaw and the legality of some of his work around the breakdown. Despite playing 148 tests, McCaw was only sin-binned three times. The last was by Barnes himself. “One captain people imagine must have got up refs’ noses was All Blacks great Richie McCaw, because he was widely accused of being a serial cheat,” Barnes wrote. “The list of opposition coaches and players who called him a cheat was long and included France number eight Imanol Harinordoquy, who claimed that McCaw played the whole of the 2011 World Cup final offside. “But I always thought the argument that McCaw was allowed to get away with murder was lazy. If you look at the stats, McCaw gave away more penalties than most international back rows, so the argument that referees were keeping a proper eye on him doesn’t stand up. “Neither does the argument that he intimidated referees because he hardly spoke. “So, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Richie McCaw was fine by me. A good skipper is a wily skipper, and McCaw was as wily as they come.”ST. LOUIS — Top city officials are pushing a plan to put the vast majority of the Rams relocation settlement — about $277 million — into a series of funds dedicated to fixing streets and water pipes, developing affordable housing and small businesses, and trying to reduce the cost of child care and college education for city families. Officials cast the move as their plan to turn the loss of the city’s NFL team and the windfall it yielded into fuel for solutions to the city’s most pressing problems, with benefits for every resident. In a draft bill set to be filed later this week, officials talk about the child care and scholarship plans as ways to bring families back to a city that lost a quarter of its school-age population from 2010 to 2020 . They're hoping the money for infrastructure, housing and business grants will bring back residents after decades of flight. And they're adding money to help pay city workers to get degrees or learn new skills, which would boost recruiting and help with staffing shortages that have hobbled city services in recent years . “From Delmar to Dutchtown to Downtown, every neighborhood deserves to benefit from this investment,” Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said in a statement. A spokesperson for Jones declined to comment further Tuesday. Jones and Aldermanic President Megan Green are scheduled to hold a press conference on the bill Wednesday morning. The plan shrugs off business leaders who pushed hard for more immediate spending focused more tightly on infrastructure and development, with $100 million earmarked for downtown and $130 million for struggling neighborhoods north and south. Jason Hall, the outgoing leader of Greater St. Louis, Inc., the region's main business lobby, promised the private sector would match the investment downtown. But key officials were skeptical. Hall did not immediately return a call seeking comment. But Alderwoman Pam Boyd, who is sponsoring a bill following Greater St. Louis's proposal, blasted the new plan. “They're throwing money everywhere, but they're not trying to collaborate with anybody,” she said. Regardless, the proposal from Jones and Green, two of the city's three most powerful officials, marks a likely turning point in a three-year debate that began almost immediately after the city settled with the NFL for $790 million in late 2021. In November 2022, St. Louis, St. Louis County and the authority that owns the Dome at America’s Center divvied up the $519 million remaining after the attorneys' cut, And aldermen have spent much of the interim surveying residents, debating ideas and holding hearings with experts to sound them out. The plan filed Tuesday borrows liberally from the results of those surveys, which said residents' top priorities were fixing water mains, making streets safer, increasing pay for city workers and reducing the cost of child care. The plan, which Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier will carry at the board, puts the largest chunks of money, $70 million and $60 million, into endowments for building housing and fixing streets and sidewalks, two broadly popular ideas in a city that could use help with both . Another $40 million would go into a pot for the city’s water system, which is struggling with a maintenance backlog after going more than a decade without a rate increase until last year. About $37 million would be made available to subsidize childcare for city residents, with first priority given to parents who are city workers. The last $70 million would be split between three other priorities: paying for city workers to go back to school or get additional training, helping city high school graduates pay for college or trade school, and building up struggling neighborhoods, perhaps with grants to businesses or neighborhood organizations. Officials are hoping to get more bang for their buck by putting the money into investment funds, inviting private interests to donate to the causes, and banking the principal of the funds dedicated to housing, small businesses and child care. The proposal says only the interest could be spent from those funds. Officials could give out low-interest loans to developers or businesses, for instance, but they would have to pay it back into the fund over time.

Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow recordMTCH Stockholders with Large Losses Should Contact Shareholder Rights Law Firm Robbins LLP for Information About the Match Group, Inc. Class ActionRed Kettle rivalry? Denton County mayors to ring the bells to support Salvation Army in friendly competition

Some Atlantic City casino workers call on union boss to resign for opposing a smoking ban

Bronny James to play in first G League road game in reversal of previous setup: Source

CLEVLEAND (AP) — Shane Bieber's comeback with Cleveland has double meaning. And deeper meaning. The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians on Wednesday, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent following last season. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stick with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. There were other offers. None of them matched what he already had in Cleveland. “It's the relationships,” Bieber said on a Zoom call. "The development staff. The coaching staff. My teammates. Having continuity and familiarity in those realms I feel like can prove beneficial not only to me but my family and everybody really involved. "That was big for me to feel confident in my rehab where I’m at right now. Nobody knows me as well as Cleveland does and vice versa, so I’m happy to be continuing with them." Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract . The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026. Not long ago, it seemed as if Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts over seven seasons for Cleveland, was determined to continue his career elsewhere. He had turned down previous long-term offers in the past from the Guardians, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely on the West Coast. But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. And while a setback, the injury and surgery helped Bieber realize that he was already in the perfect place. “I had plenty of great meetings and beneficial and progressive meetings with other ball clubs,” he said. "Everybody handled everything first class all the way, and I’ve got great things to say about plenty of other organizations. “Ultimately, Cleveland made the call and I was happy to receive it and come to terms and so I’m happy with where I’m at. My family’s ecstatic. It was very clearly the right decision for not only myself, my family, and we’re excited to continue it.” Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025. He's throwing three days a week at 90 feet and encouraged by his progress. As for when he'll take the mound in a game, that's currently unknown. “I’m pushing, pushing, pushing.” he said. “I feel great. I haven’t skipped a beat. When I ask for a (return) date, they don’t even give me a date. So there’s a long way to go.” A two-time All-Star, Bieber burst onto the national stage in 2019 when he was named MVP of the midsummer event in Cleveland. He has the highest strikeout ratio per nine innings (10.2) and third-highest winning percentage (.660) in the franchise's 124-year history. Bieber is one of just three Cleveland pitchers to start five season openers, joining Stan Coveleski (1917-21) and Corey Kluber (2015-19). While Bieber had some elbow issues in the past, he didn't appear to be struggling before being shut down. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Oakland on March 28, and followed that up with six more shutout innings at Seattle on April 2. Days later, and with his season officially over, Bieber became emotional during a news conference at Progressive Field. He knew that in the short-term his life would be different and baseball, as he had always known it, would be on the backburner. Bieber said it took a while before he “digested” his new reality. He coped by immersing himself in his recovery, and Bieber found joy in watching his teammates storm through an unexpected season to a division title. Although it may not have been the same because he wasn't contributing on the field the way he always had, the hardships may have given Bieber something he needed. “It’s provided a lot of perspective,” he said. “It was a hard season this year for me and my family, but it was a great one. We’re expecting a baby and it was a season full of growth and I’m very excited to continue that into 2025.” ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB Tom Withers, The Associated Press

Enanta Pharmaceuticals' chief product strategy officer sells $18,400 in stock

FBI Director Wray says he intends to resign before Trump takes office in JanuaryTHOUSAND OAKS, Calif. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN ) will present at Citi's 2024 Global Healthcare Conference at 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday , Dec. 5, 2024. Peter Griffith , executive vice president and chief financial officer at Amgen, Jay Bradner , executive vice president of Research and Development and chief scientific officer at Amgen, and Susan Sweeney , executive vice president of Obesity and Related Conditions at Amgen, will participate in a fireside chat at the conference. The webcast will be broadcast over the internet simultaneously and will be available to members of the news media, investors and the general public. The webcast, as with other selected presentations regarding developments in Amgen's business given by management at certain investor and medical conferences, can be found on Amgen's website, www.amgen.com , under Investors. Information regarding presentation times, webcast availability and webcast links are noted on Amgen's Investor Relations Events Calendar. The webcast will be archived and available for replay for at least 90 days after the event. About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative medicines to help millions of patients in their fight against some of the world's toughest diseases. More than 40 years ago, Amgen helped to establish the biotechnology industry and remains on the cutting-edge of innovation, using technology and human genetic data to push beyond what's known today. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline that builds on its existing portfolio of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases and rare diseases. In 2024, Amgen was named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company and one of "America's Best Large Employers" by Forbes, among other external recognitions . Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average ® , and it is also part of the Nasdaq-100 Index ® , which includes the largest and most innovative non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also part of the Nasdaq-100 index. In 2023, Amgen was named one of "America's Greatest Workplaces" by Newsweek, one of "America's Climate Leaders" by USA Today and one of the "World's Best Companies" by TIME. For more information, visit Amgen.com and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube and Threads . Amgen Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements on the outcome, benefits and synergies of collaborations, or potential collaborations, with any other company (including BeiGene, Ltd. or Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.), the performance of Otezla ® (apremilast) (including anticipated Otezla sales growth and the timing of non-GAAP EPS accretion), our acquisitions of Teneobio, Inc., ChemoCentryx, Inc., or Horizon Therapeutics plc (including the prospective performance and outlook of Horizon's business, performance and opportunities, any potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected as a result of such acquisition, and any projected impacts from the Horizon acquisition on our acquisition-related expenses going forward), as well as estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes, effects of pandemics or other widespread health problems on our business, outcomes, progress, and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Our results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of our products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products, including our devices, after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, our business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, or we may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. We perform a substantial amount of our commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities, including in Puerto Rico , and also depend on third parties for a portion of our manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as COVID-19, and the public and governmental effort to mitigate against the spread of such disease, could have a significant adverse effect on the supply of materials for our manufacturing activities, the distribution of our products, the commercialization of our product candidates, and our clinical trial operations, and any such events may have a material adverse effect on our product development, product sales, business and results of operations. We rely on collaborations with third parties for the development of some of our product candidates and for the commercialization and sales of some of our commercial products. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to many of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of our distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with us. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of our products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on our business and results of operations. Our efforts to collaborate with or acquire other companies, products or technology, and to integrate the operations of companies or to support the products or technology we have acquired, may not be successful. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to realize any of the strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities arising from the Horizon acquisition, and such benefits, synergies or opportunities may take longer to realize than expected. We may not be able to successfully integrate Horizon, and such integration may take longer, be more difficult or cost more than expected. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach of our information technology systems could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems and our data. Our stock price is volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Our business and operations may be negatively affected by the failure, or perceived failure, of achieving our environmental, social and governance objectives. The effects of global climate change and related natural disasters could negatively affect our business and operations. Global economic conditions may magnify certain risks that affect our business. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock. We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Elissa Snook , 609-251-1407 (media) Justin Claeys , 805-313-9775 (investors) SOURCE AmgenOTTAWA - The federal government is hoping a temporary break on GST will address a “vibecession” that has gripped Canadians, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Monday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last week that starting Dec. 14 the goods and services tax will be taken off a slew of items for two months to help with the affordability crunch. In a news conference on Monday, Freeland said there’s a disconnect between recent good news on inflation and interest rates and how Canadians are feeling about the economy, something she said is being referred to as a “vibecession.” The tax cut is meant to help bridge that gap and stimulate consumer spending, she said. “One of the positive impacts of this measure is to help Canadians get past that vibecession because how Canadians feel really does have a real economic impact,” Freeland said. The tax break will apply to a number of items including children’s clothing and shoes, toys, diapers, restaurant meals and beer and wine. It also applies to Christmas trees — both natural and artificial — along with a variety of snack foods and beverages, and video game consoles. The federal government also plans to send $250 cheques in the spring to Canadians who were working in 2023 and earned up to $150,000. Those who weren’t working last year, including retirees and Canadians on social assistance, will not receive cheques, fuelling criticism from opposition parties. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said on Monday that his party would only support the rebate cheques if the draft legislation is expanded to include seniors. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also wants the rebate cheques to be expanded to include retirees, people receiving disability assistance and students. Trudeau acknowledged last week that even though inflation is down and interest rates are falling, Canadians are still feeling the bite from higher prices. And while the government can’t help with prices at the checkout counter, it said it can put more money in people’s pockets. The GST break and cash gifts are estimated to cost the federal government $6.3 billion. Many economists have been critical of the measures, arguing there are better ways to use that money to help stimulate economic growth and productivity. Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, who was an economics professor at Laval University before running for federal office, addressed those critiques on Monday by pointing out that the measures are only temporary. “We need to distinguish between structural and temporary measures. This is a temporary measure which acknowledges that despite all of the wonderful economic news that my colleagues, economists are correct to spread, the average Canadian, doesn’t yet feel that good news,” Duclos said. BMO, which upgrades its economic growth forecast due to these measures, estimates the stimulus amounts to 0.3 per cent of GDP. “That is hefty. But, it will do little to change economic behaviour, or even touch the aforementioned issues of productivity and affordability in comparison to, say, something like permanent income tax reductions,” wrote BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic in a report. “In fact, when set against an incoming U.S. administration that is gearing up for a significant pro-growth policy push, it seems like energy would be better spent on measures with a more lasting impact.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. - With files from David Baxter.FBI Director Wray says he intends to resign before Trump takes office in January