Waitrose reveals the identity of the mystery 'dessert thief' as it unveils part two of its Christmas advert The supermarket have revealed the identity of the pudding poacher READ MORE: Waitrose unveils star-studded festive advert as viewers are tasked with identifying the dessert thief at the dinner party By ALICE WADE Published: 20:30, 26 November 2024 | Updated: 20:43, 26 November 2024 e-mail View comments Waitrose has unveiled the criminal mastermind behind the mystery dessert thief - concluding their two-part festive ad. On 5 November, the luxury supermarket released the first part of their star-studded whodunnit advert - Sweet Suspicion, A Waitrose Mystery, which teased a mysterious dessert thief among a group of festive diners. After weeks of pondering the puzzling pilferage - who stole the No1 Red Velvet Bauble Dessert - the British retailer have finally released the identity of the sweet treat stealer today. The mystery sees a family getting everything ready for Christmas Day, only to discover their special pudding as disappeared, leaving an amateur detective to try and figure out who is the thief. In the newly released second-part, curious customers discover that the pudding poacher was Steve. Played by Dustin Demri-Burns, the Christmas dinner cook is caught red-velvet handed tucking into a slice of the delectable treat in the shed, much to the shock of the nation - who voted Steve the least likely of all the suspects. After the first-part of the advert was released earlier this month, the weeks that followed were full to the sugar dusted brim with conspiracy theories, alibis and guessing across shops and social media. And while most were fooled by Fig the Cat, who accumulated the highest number of accusers, it was Steve - the innocent Christmas cook - who was the mastermind behind the pudding pilferage. Waitrose have unveiled the criminal mastermind behind the dessert thief mystery, concluding their two-part festive ad On 5 November, the luxury supermarket released the first part of their star-studded whodunnit advert - Sweet Suspicion, A Waitrose Mystery, which teased a mysterious dessert thief among a family One of the nation's most-loved detective duos, Line of Duty stars, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston , even reunited in an effort to crack the case of the missing pud. Viewers were treated to the first instalment earlier this month, featuring Fleabag 's Sian Clifford, Succession star, Matthew Macfadyen , and Afterlife comedian, Joe Wilkinson. Sex Education star Rakhee Thakrar and Dustin Demri-Burns of 'Slow Horses', were also among those seated at the festive dinner table. The second part of sees amateur detective, played by Matthew Macfadyen , crack the case of the disappearing dessert. In the second instalment he asks the group of suspect gathered around the diner table: 'How could someone pull off such a delicious crime with so many witnesses?' 'Distracting the kids, keeping the host busy, giving me this irresistible gift and going to such extreme lengths to have the dessert all to themselves,' he notes, wondering who could have managed the criminal feat. While May absent mindedly stirs a pot of cranberry sauce, sneaky Steve silently retrieves the decadent treat from the fridge before scurrying away. But not long before he is noticed by Fig the cat, who witnesses the crime taking place while perched on a chair with a view of the fridge. Steve then puts a finger to his lips in a bid for secrecy, before throwing a ball to throw the feline off the scent. 'It was Steve, he hid the dessert in the gingerbread house!' the detective then reveals. The rest of the guests then head to the shed where they find a guilty looking Steve just about to tuck into a with a spoonful of pudding. Caught in the act, Steve sheepishly says, 'I found it... It's really good. Anyone want some?' And while most were fooled by Fig the Cat (pictured), who accumulated the highest number of accusers, it was Steve - the innocent Christmas cook - who was the mastermind behind the pudding pilferage In the newly released second-part, curious customers discover that the pudding poacher was Steve, played by Dustin Demri-Burns (pictured), who was caught red-velvet handed tucking into a slice of the delectable treat in the shed Customers across the nation were left scratching their heads as they rallied to crack the case of the vanishing dessert. The advert caught the attention of shopper when it was released earlier this month, with the first part of the campaign having brought in 150 million views across social media, TV and other digital channels. The impressive traction makes the Sweet Suspicious the retailer's biggest ever festive campaign. But despite drawing in curious customers attempts to detect the culprit, less than 10 per cent guessed correctly. The guilty cook drew in the least votes of all those up the crime, with the lowest ranking 8 per cent of votes. Nearly a fifth of Waitrose detectives guessed Fig the Cat was the pudding poacher, with 18 per cent pinning the crime on the feline. The polls revealed Gamma was the second highest suspect with 17 per cent of votes, followed by May with 15 per cent. Nathan Ansell, Customer Director at Waitrose, said: 'The last few weeks have been filled with suspicion, guessing and alibis. Customers and Partners alike have been getting into the 'whodunnit' spirit, from wearing the ad t-shirts in store with their predictions of who the culprit is, we've also seen huge engagement on social media polls and I've even had customers getting in touch with their own detailed theories and pictures. 'I can't wait for everyone to find out who did it! So here's to celebrating with some amazing GOOD food and seeing the surprise or smug looks on everyone's faces.' In the newly released second-part, curious customers discover that the pudding poacher was Steve After the first-part of the advert was released earlier this month, the weeks that followed were full to the sugar dusted brim with conspiracy theories, alibis and guessing across shops and social media Viewers were treated to the first instalment in a double part mystery this year, featuring a star studded cast including Fleabag 's Sian Clifford, (right) Succession star, Matthew Macfadyen , and Afterlife comedian, Joe Wilkinson Viewers are made to guess the culprit of the pudding thief. Was it the downtrodden grandma - once the Christmas pudding baker, now the cranberry sauce maker - the cheese feaster May, or turkey roaster Steve Earlier this month, the supermarket released a star studded whodunnit advert - Sweet Suspicion, A Waitrose Mystery - featuring a two-part campaign and festive cliffhanger Joe Wilkinson, who played the part of Uncle Phil, said: 'I've been getting accused left right and centre so I'm glad the public now knows that it WASN'T ME.' Dustin Demri-Burns, who played Steve said: 'I can fully empathise with Steve and his pud-thieving ways. The pressure of making Christmas wonderful can get to us all - sometimes we just want to eat our pudding in the shed and that's ok.' . The first 90-second film follows one family preparing the Christmas meal. While Steve, played by Demri-Burns, glazes the turkey and roasts the spuds, May, played by Clifford, sneaks off from parsnip peeling to munch on a predinner cheese selection. Meanwhile, Samira, played by Thakrar, shakes up the Christmas cocktails and the kids, played by Naya and Sonny, layer the gingerbread house. But amid the preparations for the festive feast, the family soon discover there is a thief among them. Much to their horror, the Waitrose Red Velvet Bauble Dessert, generously provided by Uncle Phil, played by Wilkinson, mysteriously vanished from the fridge. The amateur detective, played by Macfadyen, makes it his mission to find out whodunnit amongst the equally dubious dinner guests. Viewers were made to guess the culprit of the pudding thief. Was it the downtrodden grandma - once the Christmas pudding baker, now the cranberry sauce maker - the cheese feaster May, or turkey roaster Steve? Also a potential suspect is the family cat, Fig - played by a feline actor of the same name. The second installment revealing the identity of the pudding poacher was released on 26 November. The supermarket chain is releasing 550 new products for the festive season, including more than 150 new items to mix up the mystery at the dinner table. Customers across the nation were left scratching their heads as they rallied to crack the case of the vanishing dessert The supermarket chain is releasing 550 new products for the festive season, including more than 150 new items to mix up the mystery at the dinner table Among them is The No.1 Red Velvet Dessert, the stolen pudding at the centre of the story. The family sized festive delight will be available for families to fill their fridges from 19 December. Meanwhile, sweet treat fiends can get their hands on individual Red Velvet Bauble Desserts which are available instore and online. Several other delectable products from the chain's Christmas range feature in the campaign. Among those is their gooey Reuben Rarebit cheese bake, crumbly Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac and a sticky Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown. The culprit will be revealed on TV tonight during the Great British Bake Off on Channel 4 at 8:15pm and in I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on ITV at 9:15pm. Share or comment on this article: Waitrose reveals the identity of the mystery 'dessert thief' as it unveils part two of its Christmas advert e-mail Add commentKing Charles to break with tradition for 2024 Christmas message

By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. What happened at Enron? Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. Is Enron coming back? On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. What do former Enron employees think of the company’s return? Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70Strike viewers were left saying the same thing as the latest episode of the BBC show aired on Monday, December 23. The latest series of the BBC show is based on the novel The Ink Black Heart, which is penned by J. K. Rowling, and published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. It follows the story of Cormoran Strike as he tries to solve crimes. This series focuses on the shock murder of the writer of a cult YouTube cartoon called The Ink Black Heart. Before her death, she had met with Robin and explained that she was being harassed and threatened by someone, who she thought was the anonymous creator of an unofficial spin off game - but who is it and did they kill her? As the latest episode aired, those tuning into the show took to social media to share their thoughts. One fan wrote: "So many names. I've totally lost track of who everyone is! #Strike ," whilst a second added: " #strike I’m lost with this storyline." A third shared: " #strike bbc1 #TheInkBlackHeart Can’t say I’m really understanding what this current Strike series is all about, not being into gaming or reading comics. Good acting throughout, no foul language but the storyline is for youngsters, presumably." However, others heaped praise on the series, describing it as "brilliant". " #Strike @BBCOne Loving the latest series #TheInkBlackHeart Amazing as always. Brilliant cast and great storyline," one wrote, whilst another added: "Another great season of Strike. Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger have great chemistry. This season was definitely different from the rest, but the atmosphere and style were still quality. 10/10 series. #TheInkBlackHeart #Strike ." Another penned: "Could you drop 4 more i really dont want to wait another 2 years #Strike #TheInkBlackHeart ," whilst a fourth wrote: "Every case ends with each season of Strike but the romantic intrigue just keeps intriguing. And I’m drowning in it. Help!" For fans of the show, their favourite part is the budding romance between Cormoran and Robin. Actress Holliday Grainger said of their romance: "Their relationship is so complicated and there’s a real fear of stepping over the line and there being a sense of no return. It’s written so well in the book, the breakdown of thoughts Robin has, of not knowing if he’s going to regret it in the morning, if he’s drunk a bit too much, or if this is not the right thing for him, and what it would mean for their business. It’s only afterwards that she’s like, 'Oh, that could have been something, maybe I was overthinking it'. "That moment makes her realise how she feels towards him properly for the first time, I think. But in that moment there’s also fear of rejection, and of losing what they have, which is friendship. Robin has very few close friends, which is a big element." *Strike airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.Three years ago, Vancouver’s John Phillip Fraser was struggling to rebuild his life after falling on hard times. After securing an entry-level job at a local construction company, he faced a hurdle: the only boots he could afford were worn hand-me-downs. “There were holes in the soles,” said the 39-year-old, who immigrated to Canada from Venezuela as a child and settled in the Downtown Eastside. “My feet were always soaked and smelled like mould.” Fraser pressed on, despite his work boots being a constant reminder of his struggle. Then he heard about Working Gear, a charity dedicated to providing clothing and equipment for those who need proper workwear. Fraser visited the non-profit’s pantry, where he was welcomed by executive director Sarah Beley and outfitted with new steel-toed boots and gear donated by workwear companies such as Red Wing, Keen and Fiber. “Having clean boots and proper PPE (personal protective equipment) improved my performance, and soon after I was hired by an excavation company offering higher pay,” he said. Since then, Fraser has secured permanent housing and explored other career opportunities. “Because of this experience, I know that I will never again be that close to poverty.” Fraser’s story is one of many in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where low-income individuals and newcomers can face barriers to employment. Beley said that due to growing demand, Working Gear, which began in 2007 as a small, volunteer-driven initiative to help residents of the DTES, has evolved to support low-income workers, immigrants and refugees throughout Metro Vancouver. Of the approximately 1,700 people served this year, Beley said 40 per cent reside outside Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. She added that over the last two years, Working Gear has seen a significant shift in its client base: newcomers now account for 66 per cent of clients, compared to 14 per cent previously. Clients used to require referrals from social service agencies, but many of them now walk into the shop after hearing about the organization from friends. “The one thing in common with all of our clients is they don’t have family or a community around,” Beley said. “Whether a youth who has aged out of foster care, a person who just got out of prison, or a newcomer from Ukraine or Africa, they just don’t have that support.” This was the case for Stephen Sijenyi, who immigrated to Vancouver and sought help from Working Gear in 2018. “I went from Kenya, where I was celebrated by a large group of family and friends, to feeling like I wasn’t trusted by others in Canada — whether because of my clothes or my immigrant status,” the 42-year-old said. “I didn’t have friends, I didn’t have anyone who I could turn to and ask for help.” Sijenyi needed work and safety gear, including steel-toe boots and waterproof pants for his first job as a labourer at a coffee recycling plant. “When I walked in, I went from facing adversity to being welcomed with open arms — it felt like family,” said Sijenyi, who made some of his first Vancouver friends at the organization. Five years later, Sijenyi owns his own business, has two children, and a large network of friends he considers family. He regularly returns to the organization as one of 60 volunteers who are mostly former clients. “I couldn’t be living the life I am today without them.” sgrochowski@postmedia.com • For 106 years, The Province’s Empty Stocking Fund has been dedicated to making the holidays brighter for B.C. residents who are less fortunate. With the generosity of our readers and supporters, the fund gives money to 25 B.C. community organizations that provide food hampers and gifts to children, needy families and single people. Donations can be made by: Scan the QR code here. Online at: https://theprovince.com/esf By mail to: The Province Empty Stocking Fund 968 East Cordova St., Vancouver, B.C., V6A 1M6 By calling: 604-253-6911

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Zscaler Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

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Quantum Computing Market to Grow by USD 17.34 Billion (2024-2028), Rising Stakeholder Investments, Report on AI-Driven Market Transformation - TechnavioNEW YORK — There's a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. An animated game, anyway. The real game takes place at Madison Square Garden, where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks in a game televised on ABC and ESPN and streamed on Disney+ and ESPN+. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. Madison Square Garden is a staple of the NBA's Christmas schedule. Now it merges with a bigger home of the holidays, because the "Dunk the Halls" game will be staged at Disney, on a court set up right smack in the middle of where countless families have posed for vacation photos. Why that location? Because it was Mickey Mouse's Christmas wish. "Basketball courts often have the ability to make a normal environment look special, but in Disney it can only turn out incredible," Wembanyama said in an ESPN video promoting his Christmas debut. The story — this is Disney, after all — begins with Mickey penning a letter to Santa Claus, asking if he and his pals can host a basketball game. They'll not only get to watch one with NBA players, but some of them will even get to play. Goofy and Donald Duck will sub in for a couple Knicks players, while Mickey and Minnie Mouse will come on to play for the Spurs. "It looks to me like Goofy and Jalen Brunson have a really good pick-and-roll at the elite level," said Phil Orlins, an ESPN vice president of production. Walt Disney World hosted real NBA games in 2020, when the league set up there to complete its season that had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those games were played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The setting for the Christmas game will be Main Street USA, at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. Viewers will recognize Cinderella's castle behind one baseline and the train station at the other end, and perhaps some shops they have visited in between. Previous alternate animated broadcasts included an NFL game taking place in Andy's room from "Toy Story;" the "NHL Big City Greens Classic" during a game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers; and earlier this month, another NFL matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys also taking place at Springfield's Atoms Stadium as part of "The Simpsons Funday Football." Unlike basketball, the players are helmeted in those sports. So, this telecast required an extra level of detail and cooperation with players and teams to create accurate appearances of their faces and hairstyles. "So, this is a level of detail that we've never gone, that we've never done on any other broadcast," said David Sparrgrove, the senior director of creative animation for ESPN. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 phenom from France who was last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, looks huge even among most NBA players. The creators of the alternate telecast had to design how he'd look not only among his teammates and rivals, but among mice, ducks and chipmunks. "Like, Victor Wembanyama, seeing him in person is insane. It's like seeing an alien descend on a basketball court, and I think we kind of captured that in his animated character," said Drew Carter, who will again handle play-by-play duties, as he had in the previous animated telecasts, and will get an assist from sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Wembanyama's presence is one reason the Spurs-Knicks matchup, the leadoff to the NBA's five-game Christmas slate, was the obvious choice to do the animated telecast. The noon EST start means it will begin in the early evening in France and should draw well there. Also, it comes after ABC televises the "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade" for the previous two hours, providing more time to hype the broadcast. Recognizing that some viewers who then switch over to the animated game may be Disney experts but NBA novices, there will be 10 educational explainers to help with basketball lingo and rules. Beyond Sports' visualization technology and Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking allow the animated players to make the same movements and plays made moments earlier by the real ones at MSG. Carter and analyst Monica McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast, donning VR headsets to experience the game from Main Street, USA. Other animated faces recognizable to some viewers include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who will judge a halftime dunk contest among Mickey and his friends, and Santa himself, who will operate ESPN's "SkyCam" during the game. The players are curious how the production — and themselves — will look. "It's going to be so crazy to see the game animated," Spurs veteran Chris Paul said. "I think what's dope about it is it will give kids another opportunity to watch a game and to see us, basically, as characters." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

A 7-5 record feels a whole better than 6-6 for East Tennessee State football coach Tre Lamb. Lamb knows it’s important to finish his first season leading the Bucs with a victory. While they’ve doubled the number of wins which ETSU achieved each of the previous two seasons, a winning record is something everyone can hang their hats on. It’s not an easy task for the Bucs (6-5 overall, 4-3 Southern Conference) who play at Virginia Military Institute on Saturday at noon. Sure the Keydets are 1-10 and 1-6, but just two weeks ago they beat the same Furman team which defeated the Bucs in Johnson City last week. “Our guys have a lot to play for — winning record in the Southern Conference, pride, a winning day for our seniors and getting to seven wins,” Lamb said. “We can carry so momentum into recruiting into the offseason, 7-5 feels a lot better than 6-6.” The Bucs will have to take care of the football, which has been the most frustrating part of the season for Lamb. They rank second in the country for most interceptions with 20, while Lamb played three quarterbacks — Gino English, Jaylen King and Baylor Hayes — against Furman. He promised that won’t happen Saturday, although he is waiting until game day to name a starter. “We are playing three quarterbacks right now which tells you we don’t have one,” Lamb said. “We’re not going to do musical chairs. We’re going to give it to one guy and let him go play.” VMI has also played multiple quarterbacks this season with four of them attempting 20 or more passes this season. JoJo Crump came in to hit 9-of-14 passes for 138 yards after replacing starter Chandler Wilson in last Saturday’s loss to Western Carolina. Hunter Rice, a hard-nosed 235-pound senior running back, has been the most productive offensive player with 713 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Still, the Keydets have been nowhere near as effective as the Bucs running the football. ETSU is averaging 194.1 yards rushing per game, led by Bryson Irby with 722 yards on 130 carries and Devontae Houston with 544 yards on 101 rushes. VMI has a legitimate star on the defensive side of the ball with linebacker Eric Rankin, who leads the Southern Conference with 103 tackles. He was named the FCS National Player of the Week with 18 tackles in VMI’s game against The Citadel. He is a disruptive force with 11 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. Defensive back Kouri Crump is next on the team with 85 tackles. ETSU has defensive standouts as well with linebackers Ray Coney with 89 tackles and William McRainey with 82 tackles. Zach West has 8.5 tackles, including 2.5 in the Bucs’ 24-21 win over Western Carolina two weeks ago. Among the defensive backs, Cam Sims has been responsible for 17 pass breakups, while Jaden Woods ranks fourth on the team in tackles. “I’m super proud of our guys for their effort this year,” Lamb said. “We could be sitting here realistically at 9-2 and 10-1 is not too far out of our reach if the ball bounces our way a couple of times.” To reach the goal in front of them, Lamb knows a game at VMI’s Alumni Memorial Stadium in late November provides a different challenge than a lot of other venues. Part of that is due to the Keydets and part of that is the environment. “They’re very chaotic defensively and do a good job of creating negative plays,” Lamb said. “It’s a really hard place to play. The grass is dormant this time of year, a slow track, typically overcast with gray skies, 35-40 degrees. They have a lot of tough military kids who are giving their best effort every week. We can’t let our circumstances of weather and location affect the way we prepare.”Predators play the Devils following Josi's 2-goal gameNo. 4 Penn State tries to keep playoff picture out of focus in prep for tough trip to Minnesota

Philadelphia takes on Vegas after overtime winTexans foiled by mistake after mistake in 32-27 loss to Titans

Detroit Red Wings (8-10-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. New York Islanders (8-8-5, in the Metropolitan Division) Elmont, New York; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The New York Islanders host the Detroit Red Wings after Kyle Palmieri scored two goals in the Islanders' 3-1 win against the St. Louis Blues. New York has an 8-8-5 record overall and a 3-3-2 record in home games. The Islanders have a 2-3-1 record when they commit more penalties than their opponent. Detroit is 8-10-2 overall and 4-5-1 on the road. The Red Wings have gone 3-3-2 in games their opponents serve fewer penalty minutes. The teams meet Monday for the third time this season. The Red Wings won the last meeting 2-1. TOP PERFORMERS: Bo Horvat has five goals and nine assists for the Islanders. Maxim Tsyplakov has over the last 10 games. Alex DeBrincat has eight goals and nine assists for the Red Wings. Albert Johansson has over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Islanders: 4-3-3, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.7 assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game. Red Wings: 4-5-1, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.5 assists, 2.2 penalties and 4.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game. INJURIES: Islanders: None listed. Red Wings: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .NEW YORK — U.S. stocks tiptoed to more records during a mixed Tuesday of trading, tacking a touch more onto what’s already been a stellar year. The S&P 500 edged up 2 points, or less than 0.1%, to set an all-time high for the 55th time this year. It’s climbed in 10 of the past 11 days and is on track for one of its best years since the turn of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 76 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record set a day earlier. AT&T rose 4.6% after it boosted its profit forecast for the year. It also announced a $10 billion plan to send cash to its investors by buying back its own stock, while saying it expects to authorize another $10 billion of repurchases in 2027. On the losing end of Wall Street was U.S. Steel, which fell 8%. President-elect Donald Trump reiterated on social media that he would not let Japan’s Nippon Steel take over the iconic Pennsylvania steelmaker. Nippon Steel announced plans in December 2023 to buy the Pittsburgh-based steel producer for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden also came out against the acquisition. Tesla sank 1.6% after a judge in Delaware reaffirmed a previous ruling that the electric car maker must revoke Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package. The judge denied a request by attorneys for Musk and Tesla’s corporate directors to vacate her ruling earlier this year requiring the company to rescind the unprecedented pay package. All told, the S&P 500 rose 2.73 points to 6,049.88. The Dow fell 76.47 to 44,705.53, and the Nasdaq composite gained 76.96 to 19,480.91. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. Continued strength there would raise optimism that the economy could remain out of a recession that many investors had earlier worried was inevitable. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.23% from 4.20% from late Monday. Yields have seesawed since Election Day amid worries that Trump’s preferences for lower tax rates and bigger tariffs could spur higher inflation along with economic growth. But traders remain confident the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate again at its next meeting in two weeks. They’re betting on a nearly 3-in-4 chance of that, according to data from CME Group. Lower rates can give the economy more juice, but they can also give inflation more fuel. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

President Tinubu reveals major reason he won't reduce his cabinet size

SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025. Net revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 was $1.516 billion , $66 .0 million above the mid-point of the Company's guidance provided on August 29, 2024 . GAAP net loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 was $(676.3) million, or $(0.78) per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 was $373 .0 million, or $0.43 per diluted share. Cash flow from operations for the third quarter was $536.3 million . "Marvell's fiscal third quarter 2025 revenue grew 19% sequentially, well above the mid-point of our guidance, driven by strong demand from AI. For the fourth quarter, we are forecasting another 19% sequential revenue growth at the midpoint of guidance, while year-over-year, we expect revenue growth to accelerate significantly to 26%, marking the beginning of a new era of growth for Marvell," said Matt Murphy , Marvell's Chairman and CEO. "The exceptional performance in the third quarter, and our strong forecast for the fourth quarter, are primarily driven by our custom AI silicon programs, which are now in volume production, further augmented by robust ongoing demand from cloud customers for our market-leading interconnect products. We look forward to a strong finish to this fiscal year and expect substantial momentum to continue in fiscal 2026." Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2025 Financial Outlook GAAP diluted EPS is calculated using basic weighted-average shares outstanding when there is a GAAP net loss, and calculated using diluted weighted-average shares outstanding when there is a GAAP net income. Non-GAAP diluted EPS is calculated using diluted weighted-average shares outstanding. Conference Call Marvell will conduct a conference call on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 1:45 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025. Interested parties may join the conference call without operator assistance by registering and entering their phone number at https://emportal.ink/4fngg8m to receive an instant automated call back. To join the call with operator assistance, please dial 1-800-836-8184 or 1-646-357-8785. The call will be webcast and can be accessed at the Marvell Investor Relations website at http://investor.marvell.com/ . A replay of the call can be accessed by dialing 1-888-660-6345 or 1-646-517-4150, passcode 47973# until Tuesday, December 10, 2024 . Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, acquisition and divestiture-related costs, restructuring and other related charges (including, but not limited to, asset impairment charges, recognition of future contractual obligations, employee severance costs, and facilities related charges), resolution of legal matters, and certain expenses and benefits that are driven primarily by discrete events that management does not consider to be directly related to Marvell's core business. Although Marvell excludes the amortization of all acquired intangible assets from these non-GAAP financial measures, management believes that it is important for investors to understand that such intangible assets were recorded as part of purchase price accounting arising from acquisitions, and that such amortization of intangible assets that relate to past acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. Investors should note that the use of intangible assets contributed to Marvell's revenues earned during the periods presented and are expected to contribute to Marvell's future period revenues as well. Marvell uses a non-GAAP tax rate to compute the non-GAAP tax provision. This non-GAAP tax rate is based on Marvell's estimated annual GAAP income tax forecast, adjusted to account for items excluded from Marvell's non-GAAP income, as well as the effects of significant non-recurring and period specific tax items which vary in size and frequency, and excludes tax deductions and benefits from acquired tax loss and credit carryforwards and changes in valuation allowance on acquired deferred tax assets. Marvell's non-GAAP tax rate is determined on an annual basis and may be adjusted during the year to take into account events that may materially affect the non-GAAP tax rate such as tax law changes; acquisitions; significant changes in Marvell's geographic mix of revenue and expenses; or changes to Marvell's corporate structure. For the third quarter of fiscal 2025, a non-GAAP tax rate of 7.0% has been applied to the non-GAAP financial results. Marvell believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides important supplemental information to management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to Marvell's financial condition and results of operations. While Marvell uses non-GAAP financial measures as a tool to enhance its understanding of certain aspects of its financial performance, Marvell does not consider these measures to be a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Consistent with this approach, Marvell believes that disclosing non-GAAP financial measures to the readers of its financial statements provides such readers with useful supplemental data that, while not a substitute for GAAP financial measures, allows for greater transparency in the review of its financial and operational performance. Externally, management believes that investors may find Marvell's non-GAAP financial measures useful in their assessment of Marvell's operating performance and the valuation of Marvell. Internally, Marvell's non-GAAP financial measures are used in the following areas: Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the costs associated with the operations of Marvell's business as determined in accordance with GAAP. As a result, you should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of Marvell's results as reported under GAAP. The exclusion of the above items from our GAAP financial metrics does not necessarily mean that these costs are unusual or infrequent. Forward-Looking Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "forecasts," "targets," "may," "can," "will," "would" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, the statements describing our financial outlook and future period revenues. These statements are not guarantees of results and should not be considered as an indication of future activity or future performance. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: risks related to changes in general macroeconomic conditions, or expectations of such conditions, such as high or rising interest rates, macroeconomic slowdowns, recessions, inflation, and stagflation; risks related to our ability to estimate customer demand and future sales accurately; our ability to define, design, develop and market products for the Cloud, 5G markets, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) markets; risks related to our dependence on a few customers for a significant portion of our revenue, particularly as our major customers comprise an increasing percentage of our revenue, as well as risks related to a significant portion of our sales being concentrated in the data center end market; risks related to higher inventory levels; risks related to cancellations, rescheduling or deferrals of significant customer orders or shipments, as well as the ability of our customers to manage inventory; our ability to realize the expected benefits from restructuring activities; the risk of downturns in the semiconductor industry or our customer end markets; the impact of international conflict (such as the current armed conflicts in the Ukraine and in Israel and the Gaza Strip ) and economic volatility in either domestic or foreign markets including risks related to trade conflicts or tensions, regulations, and tariffs, including but not limited to, trade restrictions imposed on our Chinese customers; our ability to retain and hire key personnel; our ability to limit costs related to defective products; risks related to our debt obligations; risks related to the rapid growth of the Company; delays or increased costs related to completing the design, development, production and introduction of our new products due to a variety of issues, including supply chain cross-dependencies, dependencies on EDA and similar tools, dependencies on the use of third-party, business partner or customer intellectual property, collaboration and synchronization requirements with business partners and customers, requirements to establish new manufacturing, testing, assembly and packing processes, and other issues; our reliance on our manufacturing partners for the manufacture, assembly, testing and packaging of our products; risks related to the ASIC business model which requires us to use third-party IP including the risk that we may lose business or experience reputational harm if third parties, including customers, lose confidence in our ability to protect their IP rights; the risks associated with manufacturing and selling products and customers' products outside of the United States ; our ability to secure design wins from our customers and prospective customers; our ability to complete and realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions, divestitures and investments; decreases in gross margin and results of operations in the future due to a number of factors, including high or increasing interest rates and volatility in foreign exchange rates; severe financial hardship or bankruptcy of one or more of our major customers; the effects of transitioning to smaller geometry process technologies; risks related to use of a hybrid work model; the impact of any change in the income tax laws in jurisdictions where we operate and the loss of any beneficial tax treatment that we currently enjoy; the outcome of pending or future litigation and legal and regulatory proceedings; risk related to our Sustainability program; the impact and costs associated with changes in international financial and regulatory conditions; our ability and the ability of our customers to successfully compete in the markets in which we serve; our ability and our customers' ability to develop new and enhanced products and the adoption of those products in the market; supply chain disruptions or component shortages that may impact the production of our products including our kitting process or may impact the price of components which in turn may impact our margins on any impacted products and any constrained availability from other electronic suppliers impacting our customers' ability to ship their products, which in turn may adversely impact our sales to those customers; our ability to scale our operations in response to changes in demand for existing or new products and services; risks associated with acquisition and consolidation activity in the semiconductor industry, including any consolidation of our manufacturing partners; our ability to protect our intellectual property; risks related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (or future pandemics) which have impacted, and for which lingering effects may continue to impact our business, employees and operations, the transportation and manufacturing of our products, and the operations of our customers, distributors, vendors, suppliers, and partners; our maintenance of an effective system of internal controls; financial institution instability; and other risks detailed in our SEC filings from time to time. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that affect our business described in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by us from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Marvell To deliver the data infrastructure technology that connects the world, we're building solutions on the most powerful foundation: our partnerships with our customers. Trusted by the world's leading technology companies for over 25 years, we move, store, process and secure the world's data with semiconductor solutions designed for our customers' current needs and future ambitions. Through a process of deep collaboration and transparency, we're ultimately changing the way tomorrow's enterprise, cloud, automotive, and carrier architectures transform—for the better. Marvell ® and the Marvell logo are registered trademarks of Marvell and/or its affiliates. Marvell Technology, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (In millions, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended November 2, 2024 August 3, 2024 October 28, 2023 November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net revenue $ 1,516.1 $ 1,272.9 $ 1,418.6 $ 3,949.9 $ 4,081.2 Cost of goods sold 1,166.7 685.3 867.4 2,485.1 2,451.7 Gross profit 349.4 587.6 551.2 1,464.8 1,629.5 Operating expenses: Research and development 488.6 486.7 481.1 1,451.4 1,436.6 Selling, general and administrative 205.3 197.3 213.0 602.5 622.0 Restructuring related charges 358.3 4.0 3.4 366.4 105.3 Total operating expenses 1,052.2 688.0 697.5 2,420.3 2,163.9 Operating loss (702.8) (100.4) (146.3) (955.5) (534.4) Interest expense (47.2) (48.4) (52.6) (144.4) (159.1) Interest income and other, net (0.5) 2.6 11.4 5.4 22.1 Interest and other loss, net (47.7) (45.8) (41.2) (139.0) (137.0) Loss before income taxes (750.5) (146.2) (187.5) (1,094.5) (671.4) Provision (benefit) for income taxes (74.2) 47.1 (23.2) (9.3) (130.7) Net loss $ (676.3) $ (193.3) $ (164.3) $ (1,085.2) $ (540.7) Net loss per share — basic $ (0.78) $ (0.22) $ (0.19) $ (1.25) $ (0.63) Net loss per share — diluted $ (0.78) $ (0.22) $ (0.19) $ (1.25) $ (0.63) Weighted-average shares: Basic 865.7 865.7 862.6 865.5 860.1 Diluted 865.7 865.7 862.6 865.5 860.1 Marvell Technology, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In millions) November 2, 2024 February 3, 2024 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 868.1 $ 950.8 Accounts receivable, net 997.9 1,121.6 Inventories 859.4 864.4 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 91.4 125.9 Total current assets 2,816.8 3,062.7 Property and equipment, net 781.9 756.0 Goodwill 11,586.9 11,586.9 Acquired intangible assets, net 2,957.7 4,004.1 Deferred tax assets 406.5 311.9 Other non-current assets 1,165.8 1,506.9 Total assets $ 19,715.6 $ 21,228.5 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 538.1 $ 411.3 Accrued liabilities 825.2 1,032.9 Accrued employee compensation 270.9 262.7 Short-term debt 129.4 107.3 Total current liabilities 1,763.6 1,814.2 Long-term debt 3,965.5 4,058.6 Other non-current liabilities 613.6 524.3 Total liabilities 6,342.7 6,397.1 Stockholders' equity: Common stock 1.7 1.7 Additional paid-in capital 14,629.0 14,845.3 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (0.3) 1.1 Accumulated deficit (1,257.5) (16.7) Total stockholders' equity 13,372.9 14,831.4 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 19,715.6 $ 21,228.5 Marvell Technology, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (In millions) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended November 2, 2024 Best trending stories from the week. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. You may occasionally receive promotions exclusive discounted subscription offers from the Roswell Daily Record. Feel free to cancel any time via the unsubscribe link in the newsletter you received. You can also control your newsletter options via your user dashboard by signing in.