Diane Keaton’s exes Woody Allen and Al Pacino pay tribute

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Diane Keaton, the beloved star of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” and “The First Wives Club,” wooed audiences as much as she did her multiple Hollywood boyfriends. It seems that much remains true for ex-lovers Woody Allen and Al Pacino, whose high-profile romances with the Los Angeles native are back in the spotlight in the wake of her death over the weekend.

“Her face and laugh illuminated any space she entered,” Allen, Keaton’s “Annie Hall” director and co-star, wrote Sunday.

The acclaimed and controversial filmmaker reminisced on his dating relationship with Keaton for the Free Press, recalling how they first met in Manhattan in the late 1960s for his stage production of “Play It Again, Sam.” Allen’s first impression of the eventual Oscar winner was, he explained, as “if Huckleberry Finn was a gorgeous young woman.”

“The upshot is that she was so charming, so beautiful, so magical, that I questioned my sanity. I thought: Could I be in love so quickly?” he wrote, later describing their evolution from collaborators to romantic partners.

Keaton and Allen collaborated on eight movies, also including “Stardust Memories,” “Sleeper” and “Love and Death.” The 89-year-old director wrote that he “made movies for an audience of one, Diane Keaton,” and heavily valued her opinions on his work. As Allen praised Keaton’s radiating personality (“She was a million laughs to be around”) he recalled learning about her struggles with bulimia and spending Thanksgiving with her family in Orange County.

“Why we parted only God and Freud might be able to figure out,” Allen wrote.

Pacino, who shared the screen with Keaton in three “Godfather” films and dated Keaton throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, is also thinking about what could have been. “Looking back, Al admits the love of his life was Diane who he’s always called an ‘amazing woman,’ ” a source close to the 85-year-old actor told the Daily Mail.

“I know he will forever regret he didn’t make his move when he had the chance,” the source added. “For years after he and Diane split, Al used to say, ‘If it’s meant to be, it’s never too late for a do-over. But sadly, now it is.’ ”

After news of Keaton’s death spread Saturday, stars including Bette Midler, Steve Martin, Viola Davis and Kate Hudson paid tribute on social media. “What you saw was who she was,” Midler said of her “First Wives Club” co-star. Keaton never married and is survived by two adopted children, Duke and Dexter Keaton.

Allen closed his essay emphasizing the significance of Keaton’s death: “A few days ago the world was a place that included Diane Keaton. Now it’s a world that does not. Hence it’s a drearier world.”

“Still there are her movies,” he wrote. “And her great laugh still echoes in my head.”

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Bartlett Sells $2.5 Million in TJX Companies—Here’s What That Means for the Retail Stock

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On Thursday, Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management LLC disclosed that it reduced its position in TJX Companies (TJX 0.67%), selling shares for an estimated $2.5 million based on the average price for the quarter ended September 30.

What Happened

Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management reported in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing released on Thursday, that it reduced its holdings in TJX Companies (TJX 0.67%) by 19,095 shares. The estimated value of the shares sold was approximately $2.5 million based on the average price for the quarter ended September 30.

What Else to Know

This was a sell, leaving Bartlett’s TJX stake at 2% of the fund’s 13F reportable assets under management.

Top holdings after the filing:

  • NASDAQ:MSFT: $508.1 million (6.4% of AUM)
  • NASDAQ:GOOGL: $442.8 million (5.6% of AUM)
  • NASDAQ:AAPL: $434.3 million (5.5% of AUM)
  • NYSE:BRK-B: $399.9 million (5.1% of AUM)
  • NYSE:PG: $332.4 million (4.2% of AUM)

As of Monday afternoon, shares were priced at $141.77, up 23% over the past year and well outperforming the S&P 500’s nearly 14% gain.

Company Overview

Metric Value
Price (as of Monday afternoon) $141.77
Market capitalization $158 billion
Revenue (TTM) $57.9 billion
Net income (TTM) $5 billion

Company Snapshot

  • TJX Companies offers off-price apparel, footwear, accessories, and home fashions through brands including T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Sierra, and Homesense.
  • It operates a high-volume, value-driven retail model focused on sourcing branded merchandise at significant discounts and selling through a broad store network and e-commerce platforms.
  • The company serves value-conscious consumers in North America, Europe, and Australia, with a diversified portfolio and substantial e-commerce presence.

TJX Companies is a leading global off-price retailer with a broad geographic reach and a focus on delivering branded merchandise at value prices, supporting consistent revenue growth and profitability.

Foolish Take

Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management’s $2.5 million trim of its TJX Companies position might reflect a modest rebalancing rather than a loss of conviction in one of retail’s most resilient players. Even after the sale, TJX remains one of Bartlett’s top consumer holdings, backed by a track record of consistent growth and a loyal value-oriented customer base.

TJX has outperformed much of the retail sector this year, with shares up more than 20% year-over-year following strong fiscal second-quarter results. The off-price retailer reported 7% revenue growth to $14.4 billion and earnings per share up 15% to $1.10. Comparable store sales rose 4%, led by strength at HomeGoods and international banners. The company also raised full-year guidance for profit margin and EPS, projecting continued growth through the holiday season.

With a global footprint exceeding 5,100 stores, TJX’s mix of flexibility, scale, and customer loyalty continues to drive performance. For Bartlett, the reduction likely reflects profit-taking after a sustained run rather than a bearish view on the retailer’s fundamentals.

Glossary

13F reportable assets under management (AUM): The total value of securities a fund must report quarterly to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 13F.

Position: The amount of a particular security or asset held by an investor or fund.

Top holdings: The largest investments in a fund’s portfolio, usually by market value or percentage of assets.

Outperformed: Delivered a higher return compared to a specific benchmark or index over a given period.

Off-price retailer: A retailer selling branded goods at prices lower than traditional retail stores, often through discount sourcing.

Stake: The ownership interest or investment a person or entity holds in a company.

Value-driven retail model: A business approach focused on offering products at lower prices to attract cost-conscious consumers.

TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.

Fund: A pooled investment vehicle managed by professionals, investing in various assets on behalf of clients.

Trade: The act of buying or selling a security or asset in the financial markets.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Microsoft, and TJX Companies. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Education Department layoffs hit special ed, civil rights offices

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A new round of layoffs at the Education Department is depleting an agency that was hit hard in the Trump administration’s previous mass firings, threatening new disruption to the nation’s students and schools in areas including special education, civil rights enforcement and after-school programs.

The Trump administration started laying off 466 Education Department staffers on Friday amid mass firings across the government meant to pressure Democratic lawmakers over the federal shutdown. The layoffs would cut the agency’s workforce by nearly a fifth and leave it reduced by more than half its size when President Trump took office Jan. 20.

The cuts play into Trump’s broader plan to shut down the Education Department and parcel its operations to other agencies. Over the summer, the department started handing off its adult education and workforce programs to the Department of Labor, and it previously said it was negotiating an agreement to pass its $1.6-trillion student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department.

Department officials have not released details on the layoffs and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AFGE Local 252, a union that represents more than 2,700 department workers, said information from employees indicates cuts will decimate several offices within the agency.

All workers except a small number of top officials are being fired at the office that implements the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law that ensures millions of students with disabilities get support from their schools, the union said. Unknown numbers are being fired at the Office for Civil Rights, which investigates complaints of discrimination at the nation’s schools and universities.

The layoffs would eliminate or heavily deplete teams that oversee the flow of grant funding to schools across the nation, the union said. They affect the office that oversees Title I funding for the country’s low-income schools, along with the team that manages 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the primary federal funding source for after-school and summer learning programs.

It will also hit an office that oversees TRIO, a set of programs that help low-income students pursue college, and another that oversees federal funding for historically Black colleges and universities.

In a statement, union President Rachel Gittleman said the new reductions, on top of previous layoffs, will “double down on the harm to K-12 students, students with disabilities, first generation college students, low-income students, teachers and local education boards.”

The Education Department had about 4,100 employees when Trump took office. After the new layoffs, it would be down to fewer than 2,000. Earlier layoffs in March had roughly halved the department, but some employees were hired back after officials decided they had cut too deep.

The new layoffs drew condemnation from various education organizations.

Although states design their own competitions to distribute federal funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the small team of federal officials provided guidance and support “that is absolutely essential,” said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance.

“Firing that team is shocking, devastating, utterly without any basis, and it threatens to cause lasting harm,” Grant said in a statement.

The government’s latest layoffs are being challenged in court by the American Federation of Government Employees and other national labor unions. Their suit, filed in San Francisco, said the government’s budgeting and personnel offices overstepped their authority by ordering agencies to carry out layoffs in response to the shutdown.

In a court filing, the Trump administration said the executive branch has wide discretion to reduce the federal workforce. It said the unions could not prove they were harmed by the layoffs because employees would not actually be separated for an additional 30 to 60 days after receiving notice.

Binkley writes for the Associated Press.

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Luke Littler: World champion suffers shock defeat to Beau Greaves in World Youth Championship

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Beau Greaves emerged victorious from a 6-5 thriller against Luke Littler as she became the first woman to reach the final of the World Youth Championship.

Littler came into the tournament on the back of his 6-1 demolition of world number one Luke Humphries in the World Grand Prix final on Sunday.

The 18-year-old had breezed through his three matches in the round-robin phase of the event, with wins over Dutchman Jeffrey Keen, Iceland’s Alexander Thorvaldsson and Belgium’s Matthias Moors.

However, the world champion put in a below-par last-16 display against fellow Englishman Charlie Manby.

Littler was on the brink of defeat at 5-3 down to the 20-year-old, before winning the next three legs, then rediscovered his touch in the quarter-finals with a 6-1 victory over Jamai van den Herik of the Netherlands.

Warrington teenager Littler found himself 2-1 down in the semi-final against Greaves but responded by winning three consecutive legs to seize the upper hand.

But three-time WDF women’s world champion Greaves – who is set to accept a PDC Tour card for 2026-27 – rallied to level the match at 4-4 and 5-5.

Greaves then blew Littler away in the decider as she threw an 11-dart leg – the 21-year-old from Doncaster sealing victory with a checkout of 80.

She will meet defending champion Gian van Veen in next month’s final after the Dutchman, 23, clinched a 6-4 win over Sebastian Bialecki of Poland in the other semi-final.

The World Youth Championship final will be played on 23 November in Minehead, before the Players Championship final on the same day.

Littler, who averaged 107.4 to Greaves’ 105, posted on Instagram after his defeat: “Fair play to Beau. All the best in Minehead. Some talent.”

Players aged between 16 and 24 are eligible to compete in the World Youth Championship.

Littler won the youth title in 2023 aged 16, a few weeks before he burst into the spotlight by finishing runner-up at the 2024 World Championship.

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What’s the US planning for the Middle East? | Israel-Palestine conflict

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President Donald Trump is in the region Monday to cement his plan for peace in Gaza.

US President Donald Trump has made a last-minute trip to the Middle East in the wake of the Gaza ceasefire deal. 

He landed in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh late on Monday after flying in from Israel, where he addressed the Israeli Knesset.

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The first phase of Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan has now been completed, with Hamas releasing all 20 living Israeli captives in Gaza and Israel freeing Palestinian prisoners in the occupied West Bank.

So will this deal finally bring peace to the region?

And what does Trump’s plan mean for the broader Middle East?

Presenter: Neave Barker

Guests:

Sarah Eltantawi – Professor at Fordham University in New York City; political analyst and writer

Yezid Sayigh – Senior fellow at the Malcolm H Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut

Kenneth Katzman – Senior fellow at The Soufan Center and former senior analyst with the US Congressional Research Service

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Government shutdown could be the longest ever, Speaker Johnson warns

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Republican Speaker Mike Johnson predicted Monday the federal government shutdown may become the longest in history, saying he “won’t negotiate” with Democrats until they hit pause on their health care demands and reopen.

Standing alone at the Capitol on the 13th day of the shutdown, the speaker said he was unaware of the details of the thousands of federal workers being fired by the Trump administration. It’s a highly unusual mass layoff widely seen as way to seize on the shutdown to reduce the scope of government. Vice President JD Vance has warned of “painful” cuts ahead, even as employee unions sue.

“We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history,” Johnson of Louisiana said.

With no endgame in sight, the shutdown is expected to roll on for the unforeseeable future. The closure has halted routine government operations, shuttered Smithsonian museums and other landmark cultural institutions and left airports scrambling with flight disruptions, all injecting more uncertainty into an already precarious economy.

The House is out of legislative session, with Johnson refusing to recall lawmakers back to Washington, while the Senate, closed Monday for the federal holiday, will return to work Tuesday. But senators are stuck in a cul-de-sac of failed votes as Democrats refuse to relent on their health care demands.

Johnson thanked President Trump for ensuring military personnel are paid this week, which removed one main pressure point that may have pushed the parties to the negotiating table.

At its core, the shutdown is a debate over health care policy — and particularly the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are expiring for millions of Americans who rely on government aid to purchase their own health insurance policies on the Obamacare exchanges. Democrats demand the subsidies be extended, Republicans argue the issue can be dealt with later.

With Congress and the White House stalemated, some are eyeing the end of the month as the next potential deadline to reopen government.

That’s when open enrollment begins, Nov. 1, for the health program at issue, and Americans will face the prospect of skyrocketing insurance premiums. The Kaiser Family Foundation has estimated that monthly costs would double if Congress fails to renew the subsidy payments that expire Dec. 31.

It’s also when government workers on monthly pay schedules, including thousands of House aides, will go without paychecks.

The health care debate has dogged Congress ever since the Affordable Care Act became law under then-President Barak Obama in 2010.

The country went through a 16-day government shutdown during the Obama presidency when Republicans tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act 2013.

Trump tried to “repeal and replace” the law, commonly known as Obamacare, during his first term, in 2017, with a Republican majority in the House and Senate. That effort failed when then-Sen. John McCain memorably voted a thumbs down on the plan.

With 24 million now enrolled in Obamacare, a record, Johnson said Monday that Republicans are unlikely to go that route again, noting he still has “PTSD” from that botched moment.

“Can we completely repeal and replace Obamacare? Many of us are skeptical about that now because the roots are so deep,” Johnson said.

The Republican speaker insists his party has been willing to discuss the health care issue with Democrats this fall, before the subsidies expire at the end of the year. But first, he said, Democrats have to agree to reopen the government.

The longest shutdown, during Trump’s first term over his demands for funds to build the U.S.-Mexico border wall, ended in 2019 after 35 days.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is exercising vast leeway both to fire workers — drawing complaints from fellow Republicans and lawsuits from employee unions — and to determine who is paid.

That means not only military troops but other Trump administration priorities don’t necessarily have to go without pay, thanks to the various other funding sources as well as the billions made available in what’s commonly called Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act that’s now law.

The Pentagon said over the weekend it was able to tap $8 billion in unused research and development funds to pay the military personnel. They had risked missed paychecks on Wednesday. But the Education Department is among those being hard hit, disrupting special education, after-school programs and others.

“The Administration also could decide to use mandatory funding provided in the 2025 reconciliation act or other sources of mandatory funding to continue activities financed by those direct appropriations at various agencies,” according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The CBO had cited the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of Management and Budget as among those that received specific funds under the law.

“Some of the funds in DoD’s direct appropriation under the 2025 reconciliation act could be used to pay active-duty personnel during a shutdown, thus reducing the number of excepted workers who would receive delayed compensation,” CBO wrote in a letter responding to questions raised by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.

Mascaro writes for the Associated Press.

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Amanda Holden, 54, wows at BGT auditions in same daring top that almost saw her FLASH the audience

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BRAVE Amanda Holden takes to the Britain’s Got Talent red carpet wearing the top that almost saw her flash the show’s audience at auditions.

But an onlooker said the 54-year-old “was being much more careful this time round.”

Amanda Holden attends the "Britain's Got Talent" Blackpool Auditions.

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Amanda Holden takes to the Britain’s Got Talent red carpet wearing the top that almost saw her flash the show’s audience at auditionsCredit: Getty
Four BGT judges taking a selfie in Blackpool.

4

BGT judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and KSI pose for a selfieCredit: X
Ant McPartlin, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell, KSI and Declan Donnelly attending the "Britain's Got Talent" Blackpool Auditions.

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From left: Ant McPartlin, Alesha, Amanda, Simon, KSI and Declan DonnellyCredit: Getty

Show judge Amanda — in a lop-sided strapless top — nearly exposed herself by lifting her left arm to wave at the crowd as she strutted on stage at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday.

After adjusting her clothes to preserve her modesty she sat down.

Then, gesturing to her boob, she admitted: “This keeps slipping out every time I raise my arms.”

Yesterday The Sun revealed a small production team were quickly put on “nipple watch” to ensure there were no surprise appearances during filming of the ITV ­talent contest.

Undeterred, Amanda wore the strapless top again.

Our observer reported: “She waved with her left hand, where her top had more coverage than on the right-hand side, and kept her other hand firmly in her pocket most of the time.

“Amanda didn’t want any wardrobe malfunctions again. She was probably already feeling the chill in blustery Blackpool.”

Also dressed for sunnier climes was head judge Simon Cowell in shades, and fellow panellist Alesha Dixon wearing sunglasses and a crop-top.

Only hosts Ant and Dec and new judge KSI — taking over from Bruno Tonioli — looked ready for Lancashire weather.

Auditions for the 19th series of BGT, due to air next year, continue in the seaside town until the end of this week.

The Watch List with Rod McPhee
Amanda Holden on a red carpet, waving to spectators during the "Britain's Got Talent" Blackpool Auditions.

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Amanda nearly exposed herself by lifting her left arm to wave at the crowdCredit: Getty

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Lions’ Brian Branch faces possible suspension for postgame hit

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Detroit defensive back Brian Branch thought he had been blocked in the back illegally without the officials calling a penalty during the Lions’ 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.

So as soon as the game ended, Branch took matters into his own hands — or, rather, his own hand.

After the final play, Branch approached the player he later said was responsible for the illegal block, Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, and hit him hard on the left side of his face mask with an open hand.

Smith-Schuster fell to a knee but immediately popped up and went after Branch. The two players scuffled briefly, with Smith-Schuster losing his helmet and ending up back on the ground, as other players and coaches tried to intervene.

Talking to reporters after the game, Branch apologized and took responsibility for his actions while also attempting to explain what had set him off.

“I did a little childish thing,” the third-year player said. “But I’m tired of people doing stuff in between the play and refs don’t catch it. Like, they were trying to bully me out there and I don’t think — I shouldn’t have did it. It was childish.”

Asked to elaborate on what had happened during the game, Branch said: “I got blocked in the back illegally, and it was front of the ref. The ref didn’t do anything, and just stuff like that. And I could have got hurt off of that, but I still shouldn’t have done that.”

Branch said later in the interview that he should have taken out his frustrations within the rules of the game “between the whistles, not after the game, and I apologize for that.”

Lions coach Dan Campbell faces Brian Branch in a crowd of players during a postgame scuffle.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell, right, approaches Lions defensive back Brian Branch, left, in a crowd of players after a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 12.

(Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

Branch was fined $23,186 earlier this season for face-masking and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during a game against the Green Bay Packers. He could face another fine and possibly a suspension for his actions Sunday night, an NFL spokesperson told The Times. There is no timetable for a decision to be made on the matter.

The Chiefs offense and Lions defense were on the field for the final play. As soon as the final whistle blew, Branch appeared to walk right past Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who had extended his hand for a postgame handshake, to confront Smith-Schuster.

“After the game, I was expecting to shake his hand and say, ‘Good game’ and move away, but he threw a punch,” Smith-Schuster told reporters in the locker room. “At the end of the day, it’s a team sport. We came out here, we did our job, we won, and that’s all that matters.”

Smith-Schuster was asked what might have led up to the incident.

“I mean, just me blocking him,” the ninth-year receiver said. “I mean, I’m just doing my job. I play between the whistles and after the game he just took advantage of what he did.”

Smith-Schuster reportedly received a bloody nose from the hit. There were no signs of blood by the time he gave his postgame interview, but Smith-Schuster confirmed that he had been bleeding.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell — who famously declared during his introductory press conference in 2021 that his team would bite off opponents’ kneecaps — told reporters that Branch’s actions were unacceptable.

“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and it’s not going to be accepted here,” Campbell said. “It’s not what we do. It’s not what we’re about. I apologized to Coach [Andy] Reid and the Chiefs, and Schuster. That’s not OK. That’s not what we do here. It’s not going to be OK. He knows it. Our team knows it. That’s not what we do.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Train crash injures as many as 80 in Slovakia

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On Monday, nearly 80 passengers were injured in Slovakia when a train en route from Kosice to Bratislava collided with a stationary freight train. Photo by EPA

Oct. 13 (UPI) — Scores of injuries were reported Monday after a train collision in Slovakia in central Europe.

Between 60 to 80 passengers were injured when a train en route from Kosice to Bratislava collide with a stationary freight train during morning rush hour on one of Slovakia’s primary transpiration corridors.

“A thorough investigation must clarify the causes of this tragedy,” Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said as he called for a full investigation.

It occurred at about 8 a.m. local time just outside the nation’s capital in Ljubljana.

Around 10 people sustained serious injuries, according to officials. Rescue crews and paramedics were on site within minutes.

Officials added injuries were primarily a result of force impact related to the subsequent derailment, but others were sedated due to shock.

Reports suggested the passenger train, traveling at a moderate speed, failed to receive a warning signal prior to the crash.

Afterward, one of the trains was seen suspended over a ravine as rescuers worked the scene.

The incident points a spotlight on Slovakia’s rail safety standards.

On Monday, Slovakian Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said a preliminary look indicated that a breach of protocol resulted in the disaster.

Nine people died in 2009 when a train and tourist bus collided in central Slovakia.

According to Estok, one of the trains did not give way to the other and further pointed to human error.

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Zelenskyy to meet Trump in DC as Ukraine seeks defence, energy support | Russia-Ukraine war News

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Kyiv has announced that it is sending a delegation to Washington for talks on strengthening its defence and energy resilience as Russian forces continue targeting Ukraine’s power infrastructure ahead of the cold winter months.

The departure of a senior delegation, led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, was announced on Monday, just as Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said it had imposed power outages across the country in a bid to reduce pressure on the grid in the wake of damaging Russian attacks.

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Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that he would meet with his US counterpart, President Donald Trump, in Washington on Friday to discuss Ukraine’s air defence and long-range strike capabilities.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said that he had shared with Trump a “vision” of how many US Tomahawk missiles Ukraine needs for its war effort against Russia and that the two leaders would further discuss the matter on Friday.

The comments came after recent remarks by Trump that he might consider giving Ukraine long-range precision strike Tomahawk missiles if Russia did not end the war soon, and as Zelenskyy has urged Trump to turn his attention to ending his country’s war with Russia, after having brokered a deal in Gaza.

Attacks on energy grid

The renewed talk of escalating pressure on Moscow comes in the wake of intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities, prompting Ukraine’s Energy Ministry to announce that it was introducing restrictions across seven regions in an effort to reduce pressure on the damaged grid and preserve supply.

For the past three years, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in a bid to demoralise the population, leaving millions without power amid brutally cold conditions.

“Due to the complicated situation in Ukraine’s Unified Energy System caused by previous Russian strikes, emergency power outages were implemented” across seven regions, the energy ministry said in a post on Telegram.

It listed territories mainly in the centre and east of the country, including the Donetsk region, where officials have encouraged civilians to leave due to the targeted attacks on power facilities.

“The emergency power cuts will be cancelled once the situation in the power grid has stabilised,” the statement said.

The escalating attacks left more than a million households and businesses temporarily without power in nine regions on Friday, while overnight attacks on Saturday night left two employees of Ukraine’s largest private energy company wounded.

“Russia has … made its attacks on our energy more vicious – to compensate for their failure on the ground,” Zelenskyy said on Sunday.

Delegation to Washington

In response to the attacks, Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said on Monday that a delegation, including Svyrydenko and National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, had left for talks in Washington.

“We’re heading for high-level talks to strengthen Ukraine’s defence, secure our energy resilience, and intensify sanctions pressure on the aggressor,” he posted on X.

“The ultimate goal remains unchanged – a just and lasting peace.”

The delegation came after Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he had spoken to Trump for the second time in two days, in discussions that covered “defence of life in our country” and  “strengthening our capabilities – in air defence, resilience, and long-range capabilities”.

“We also discussed many details related to the energy sector. President Trump is well informed about everything that is happening,” he said, adding that their respective teams were preparing for the talks.

Tomahawks on the table

Following the conversation, Trump told reporters on board his flight to Israel that he might consider giving Ukraine long-range precision strike Tomahawk missiles if Russia did not end the war soon.

“They’d like to have Tomahawks. That’s a step up,” Trump said, referring to the Ukrainians.

“The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon. And honestly, Russia does not need that,” Trump added.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to the suggestion that Washington could provide the missiles to Kyiv by saying such a move could have serious consequences.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev went even further, warning Trump on Monday that supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine could “end badly” for him.

Moscow has long expressed its concern over the prospect of advanced weapons transfers to Ukraine, saying such deliveries would entail direct US involvement in the conflict.

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FA Cup first round draw LIVE: Latest updates as Wilshere’s Luton face lower league side while Bolton play Huddersfield

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THE FA Cup first round draw has CONCLUDED – and Jack Wilshere’s Luton face a potential banana skin tie!

Luton are set to play the winners of Worthing or Forest Green Rovers.

While four-time winners Bolton take on League One side Huddersfield.

Clubs in the Premier League and Championship don’t enter the FA Cup until the third round.

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Louisbourg Investments Boosts ATS Stake With $3.3 Million Buy Amid Leadership Change

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Louisbourg Investments increased its stake in ATS Corporation (ATS 2.97%), buying 113,773 shares in the third quarter for an estimated $3.3 million.

What Happened

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission released on Thursday, Louisbourg Investments added 113,773 shares of ATS Corporation (ATS 2.97%)in the third quarter. The estimated transaction value was $3.3 million based on the average price during the period. The fund held 215,295 shares, with a position value of $5.6 million, at the end of the quarter.

What Else to Know

The ATS Corporation stake is now 1.2% of Louisbourg Investments’ 13F reportable AUM.

Top holdings after the filing:

  • NYSE:CNI: $28.5 million (6.2% of AUM)
  • NASDAQ:SHOP: $15.1 million (3.3% of AUM)
  • NASDAQ:MSFT: $13.3 million (2.9% of AUM)
  • NYSE:WPM: $12.7 million (2.8% of AUM)
  • NYSEMKT:IVV: $12.3 million (2.7% of AUM)

As of Monday afternoon, ATS Corporation shares were priced at $26.09, down 13% over the past year and well underperforming the S&P 500’s 13% gain in the same period.

Company Overview

Metric Value
Revenue (TTM) $2.6 billion
Net Income (TTM) ($39.2 million)
Market Capitalization $2.5 billion
Price (as of Monday afternoon) $26.09

Company Snapshot

  • ATS provides automation solutions, including planning, design, build, commissioning, and servicing of automated manufacturing and assembly systems, as well as software and digital factory management tools.
  • It generates revenue through turnkey automation projects, pre- and post-automation services, contract manufacturing, and value-added engineering and integration services across multiple industries.
  • The company serves clients in life sciences, transportation, consumer products, food and beverage, electronics, nuclear, packaging, warehousing, distribution, and energy sectors worldwide.

ATS Corporation provides automation solutions to a broad range of industries worldwide. The company leverages advanced engineering and digital solutions to deliver end-to-end automation systems for complex manufacturing environments. Its focus on innovation, service, and integration enables customers to drive operational efficiency and sustainable production improvements.

Foolish Take

Louisbourg Investments’ $3.3 million purchase of 113,773 shares of ATS Corporation signals growing confidence in the Canadian automation company despite a rocky year for the stock. The new stake lifted ATS to about 1.2% of Louisbourg’s portfolio—a smaller weight than core holdings like Canadian National Railway and Shopify but one that adds industrial diversification to an otherwise tech-heavy mix.

ATS shares have fallen roughly 13% over the past year as margin pressures and leadership changes weighed on sentiment. In its latest quarter, the company reported 6% revenue growth to $736.7 million, driven by acquisitions and a strong backlog in life sciences and food automation. However, net income slipped to $24 million from $35 million a year ago, and adjusted EBITDA margin narrowed to 13.8% from 15.3%. Still, a $2.1 billion order backlog suggests solid demand and visibility ahead.

For Louisbourg, the position may represent a long-term bet on automation as manufacturers invest in efficiency and reshoring capacity. Compared to its larger tech holdings like Microsoft and Shopify, ATS adds a cyclical but strategic growth complement with exposure to high-value industrial innovation.

Glossary

13F reportable AUM: The portion of a fund’s assets under management disclosed in quarterly SEC Form 13F filings.
AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of investments managed by a fund or investment firm.
Turnkey automation projects: Complete automation solutions delivered ready for immediate use by the client.
Contract manufacturing: Outsourcing production to a third-party company that manufactures products on behalf of another firm.
Value-added engineering: Engineering services that enhance a product’s functionality, efficiency, or performance beyond basic requirements.
Integration services: Services that combine different systems or components into a unified, functioning whole.
Commissioning: The process of testing and verifying that a new system or equipment operates as intended before full operation.
Digital factory management tools: Software solutions designed to monitor, control, and optimize manufacturing operations digitally.
TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Microsoft and Shopify. The Motley Fool recommends ATS Corp. and Canadian National Railway and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Feeling hopeless in custody, many drop claims to remain in the US, leave voluntarily

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Ramón Rodriguez Vazquez was a farmworker for 16 years in southeast Washington state, where he and his wife of 40 years raised four children and 10 grandchildren. The 62-year-old was a part of a tight-knit community and never committed a crime.

On Feb. 5, immigration officers who came to his house looking for someone else took him into custody. He was denied bond, despite letters of support from friends, family, his employer and a physician who said the family needed him.

He was sent to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Tacoma, Wash., where his health rapidly declined in part because he was not always provided with his prescription medication for several medical conditions, including high blood pressure. Then there was the emotional toll of being unable to care for his family or sick granddaughter. Overwhelmed by it all, he finally gave up.

At an appearance with an immigration judge, he asked to leave without a formal deportation mark on his record. The judge granted his request and he moved back to Mexico, alone.

His case is an exemplar of the impact of the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to deport millions of migrants on an accelerated timetable, casting aside years of procedure and legal process in favor of expedient results.

Similar dramas are playing out at immigration courts across the country, accelerating since early July, when ICE began opposing bond for anyone detained regardless of their circumstances.

“He was the head of the house, everything — the one who took care of everything,” said Gloria Guizar, 58, Rodriguez’s wife. “Being separated from the family has been so hard. Even though our kids are grown, and we’ve got grandkids, everybody misses him.”

Leaving the country was unthinkable before he was held in a jail cell. The deportation process broke him.

‘Self deport or we will deport you’

It is impossible to know how many people left the U.S. voluntarily since President Trump took office in January because many leave without telling authorities. But Trump and his allies are counting on “self-deportation,” the idea that life can be made unbearable enough to make people leave voluntarily.

The Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees immigration courts, said judges granted “voluntary departure” in 15,241 cases in the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, allowing them to leave without a formal deportation mark on their record or bar to re-entry. That compares with 8,663 voluntary departures for the previous fiscal year.

ICE said it carried out 319,980 deportations from Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 20. Customs and Border Protection declined to disclose its number and directed the question to the Department of Homeland Security.

Secretary Kristi Noem said in August that 1.6 million people have left the country voluntarily or involuntarily since Trump took office. The department cited a study by the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for immigration restrictions.

Michelle Mittelstadt, spokesperson for the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, said 1.6 million is an over-inflated number that misuses the Census Bureau data.

The administration is offering $1,000 to people who leave voluntarily using the CBP Home app. For those who don’t, there is a looming threat of being sent to a third country like Eswatini, Rwanda, South Sudan or Uganda,.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the voluntary departures show that the administration’s strategy is working, and is keeping the country safe.

“Ramped-up immigration enforcement targeting the worst of the worst is removing more and more criminal illegal aliens off our streets every day and is sending a clear message to anyone else in this country illegally: Self-deport or we will arrest and deport you,” she said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

“They treat her like a criminal”

A Colombian woman dropped her asylum claim at a June appearance in a Seattle immigration court, even though she was not in custody.

“Your lawyer says you no longer wish to proceed with your asylum application,” the judge said. “Has anyone offered you money to do this?” he asked. “No, sir,” she replied. Her request was granted.

Her U.S. citizen girlfriend of two years, Arleene Adrono, said she planned to leave the country as well.

“They treat her like a criminal. She’s not a criminal,” Adrono said. “I don’t want to live in a country that does this to people.”

At an immigration court inside the Tacoma detention center, where posters encourage migrants to leave voluntarily or be forcibly deported, a Venezuelan man told Judge Theresa Scala in August that he wanted to leave. The judge granted voluntary departure.

The judge asked another man if he wanted more time to find a lawyer and if he was afraid to return to Mexico. “I want to leave the country,” the man responded.

“The court finds you’ve given up all forms of relief,” Scala said. “You must comply with the government efforts to remove you.”

“His absence has been deeply felt”

Ramón Rodriguez crossed the U.S. border in 2009. His eight siblings who are U.S. citizens lived in California, but he settled Washington state. Grandview, population 11,000, is an agricultural town that grows apples, cherries, wine grapes, asparagus and other fruit and vegetables.

Rodriguez began working for AG Management in 2014. His tax records show he made $13,406 that first year and by 2024, earned $46,599 and paid $4,447 in taxes.

“During his time with us, he has been an essential part of our team, demonstrating dedication, reliability, and a strong work ethic,” his boss wrote in a letter urging a judge to release him from custody. “His skills in harvesting, planting, irrigation, and equipment operation have contributed significantly to our operations, and his absence has been deeply felt.”

His granddaughter suffers from a heart problem, has undergone two surgeries and needs a third. Her mother doesn’t drive so Rodriguez transported the girl to Spokane for care. The child’s pediatrician wrote a letter to the immigration judge encouraging his release, saying without his help, the girl might not get the medical care she needs.

The judge denied his bond request in March. Rodriguez appealed and became the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit that sought to allow detained immigrants to request and receive bond.

On September 30, a federal judge ruled that denying bond hearings for migrants is unlawful. But Rodriguez won’t benefit from the ruling. He’s gone now and is unlikely to come back.

Bellisle writes for the Associated Press. AP reporter Cedar Attanasio contributed to this story.

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Jack Wilshere: From Arsenal wonderkid to League One dugout with Luton

Occasional Digest - a story for you

Wilshere briefly returned to Luton in 2021, being invited to train at the club by then boss Nathan Jones after he had left West Ham.

He says it was around this time that he started considering a move into coaching.

And Wilshere took advice from current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta before taking a managerial job.

“About a year ago I asked Mikel when he knew he was ready,” Wilshere said at his news conference on Monday.

“He laughed and said ‘you just have to jump in and swim as hard as you can’.

“He’s done that really well and this feels a little similar. It’s a different level but Arsenal wasn’t a nice place when Mikel went in.

“The fans weren’t sure what was happening and he built complete unity and trust in what he was doing.”

Yet it was clear to some Wilshere was going to become a manager much earlier in his career.

“You could see the way his brain works, what he sees on the football pitch, how he wants to play the game and change things,” said Paul Robinson, who played with Wilshere when he was on loan at Bolton in 2010.

“You could always see that he would go into [management] and the coaching side eventually.”

Robinson added: “You [can see the] players who could go on and be good coaches, they understand the game, and they can change the game quickly with a different formation or moving players to a different position…

“With Jack, he was always that type of guy. He understood it. He always wanted to talk about different things.

“He was a young player and he always demanded things of you, like he was a senior player. He would always dictate things on a football pitch and make me see the game differently as well.”

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Trump urges Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu of corruption charges | Donald Trump

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NewsFeed

“Cigars and champagne, who cares about that?” US President Donald Trump urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial in three corruption cases. In one case, Netanyahu’s accused of accepting gifts including cigars, jewellery and champagne from businessmen.

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My 73-year-old mom is visiting me in L.A. Where should I take her?

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Looking for things to do in L.A.? Ask us your questions and our expert guides will share highly specific recommendations in our new series, L.A. Times Concierge.

My 73-year-old mother is coming to visit from the East Coast. She recently had hip surgery and it’s painful for her to walk too far. She likes quirky experiences like sushi on conveyor belts. I live in Sawtelle. Other times she has come we have gone to the Getty Villa, a couple studio tours, live taping of “Jeopardy!” and a local ramen place. She likes places with a backstory. For example in Boulder, she wanted to drive past the house where JonBenét Ramsey had lived because she is obsessed with true crime. One thing she did say she wanted to do was try to see “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” — CJ Schellack

Here’s what we suggest:

First off, your mom sounds like a good time. And I agree with her: The best places to visit often have an interesting backstory. Let’s start with the food. Given that your mom likes sushi experiences, make a stop at Yama Sushi Marketplace, conveniently located in your neighborhood. The family-owned Japanese seafood shop sells restaurant-quality sushi at takeout prices, writes Tiffany Tse in our guide to Sawtelle. “Just point to what catches your eye, and the staff will slice it fresh, sashimi-style, right in front of you,” she adds. Or if you’d prefer to check out another revolving sushi spot, check out Kura, which has a Sawtelle location.

To satisfy your mom’s appetite for one-of-a-kind, quirky experiences, head to Galco’s Soda Pop Stop in Highland Park. Yes, it’s a bit of a push from your hood — don’t go during rush hour — but it’s worth the trek, especially if you have a sweet tooth. The 100-year-old family-owned shop is stacked with aisles of rare sodas from around the globe, nostalgic candies and retro toys that its 82-year-old owner John Nese tells me “you can’t find anywhere else.” In the back of the shop, next to the make-your-own-soda station, there’s a deli stand that sells “blockbuster” sandwiches — a name that was inspired by boxing legend Rocky Marciano who, after tasting one, declared “This is a real blockbuster!” (Pro tip: If Nese is there when you visit — and the likelihood is high because he “practically lives there,” he says — be sure to ask him for a rec.)

Once you’ve secured your snacks, grab a picnic blanket or low chair and head over to Hollywood Forever Cemetery to watch a movie — a favorite L.A. experience for many of my colleagues. Through Halloween, Cinespia is hosting movie nights at the cemetery where stars like Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney and Johnny Ramone are laid to rest. Films are projected onto a mausoleum wall and moviegoers sit on the lawn (an open area with no graves). There’s a designated wheelchair user and companion area with restrooms close by, and accessible parking is available with a placard (though you’ll still need to buy a parking pass in advance).

But if you think your mom would be more comfortable indoors, check out the Quentin Tarantino-owned New Beverly Cinema, known for screening double features of classic, indie, cult and foreign flicks the old-fashioned way — on 35mm film. As Michael Ordoña writes in our guide to the best movie theaters in Los Angeles, “the New Bev is just what a rep cinema should be. It’s cozy, with a mellow, enthusiastic vibe. Surprises sometimes occur.”

To tap into your mom’s inner true crime fascination, make a visit to some of L.A.’s darker landmarks. “I like to take friends visiting from the East Coast on a drive along the Sunset Strip to show them where famous people died, like Belushi at Chateau Marmont and River Phoenix outside the Viper Room,” senior audience editor Vanessa Franko tells me. (Bonus: You don’t even need to get out of your car.) But if you prefer an actual tour, visit the Greystone Mansion and Gardens, where oil heir and homeowner Ned Doheny and his secretary, Hugh Plunkett, were found dead in 1929. Times travel writer Christopher Reynolds recommends it, saying that at this destination, you get “a crime scene, filming location and L.A. oil history, all in one.” We’ve also curated a list of 12 iconic L.A. film and TV horror homes that’s worth checking out (the filming location for the WB series “Charmed” is featured in the photo illustration above). I hope that you and your very cool mom have the best time. Please send us pictures if you hit up any of these spots.

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Thousands of UK customers report broadband issues

Occasional Digest - a story for you

Liv McMahonTechnology reporter

Getty Images A man wearing a suit and holding his phone stands in front of a Vodafone sign.Getty Images

Thousands of Vodafone customers across the UK have reported its services are down.

Downdetector, which monitors web outages, showed more than 130,000 people had flagged problems affecting their Vodafone broadband or mobile network on Monday afternoon.

According to its website, the firm has more than 18 million customers in the UK, including nearly 700,000 home broadband customers.

In an updated statement on Monday evening, Vodafone apologised to customers and said its network was “recovering”.

“This afternoon the Vodafone network had an issue affecting broadband, 4G and 5G services,” a company spokesperson said.

“2G voice calls and SMS messaging were unaffected and the network is now recovering.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this caused our customers.”

It comes after people on social media said they were struggling to access Vodafone customer service operators, amid ongoing issues affecting mobile data and broadband.

Many also said they have had difficulty accessing the company’s website and app, which typically allow people to view the status of its network services.

Customers have also taken to social media to complain of “complete outages” in their area.

The issues appear to have begun for customers shortly after 15:00 BST.

Internet monitor Netblocks said in a post on X that live network data showed Vodafone was experiencing “a national outage” impacting both broadband and mobile data.

Some customers expressed being doubly frustrated by not being able to access their Wi-Fi or mobile data.

“Sort it out soon please,” wrote one frustrated X user – who said they were having to use a coffee shop’s Wi-Fi to access online services, without the means to do so using their mobile data or broadband.

Another said they were self-employed and could not work because of the outage, adding: “Never regretted more having my mobile and broadband on the same network.”

The issues are also understood to have impacted some Vodafone shops.

BBC News A piece of A4 paper stuck to the inside of a window of a Vodafone shop states: "YES Vodafone Network is currently down. NO there isn't anything we can do. NO we DON'T KNOW when it is back up. Hopefully 1-2h"BBC News

A Vodafone store in Clapham, south-west London, was seen by BBC News to have information signs on its windows, with multiple customers waiting outside asking staff what was going on with their signal.

‘Dropped off the internet’

The issues affecting Vodafone services have also impacted customers of other telecoms firms that use its network.

Downdetector saw a similar spike in reports on Monday afternoon from users of the mobile network Voxi, which is owned by Vodafone.

Lebara, which piggy-backs off Vodafone’s network, has also been affected by the company’s outage.

“Outages have been reported across multiple networks across broadband and mobile services,” said Sabrina Hoque, telecoms expert at Uswitch.

These, she added, can be “a really frustrating experience for customers, especially when it’s not clear how long it could last”.

Vodafone has not yet said how long it expects its outage to last – though its website since appears to have come back online.

Cloudflare Radar, which tracks and displays patterns in global internet traffic, said in a post on Bluesky earlier it had “effectively dropped off the internet, with traffic dropping to zero”.

The company has also not said what caused the issue affecting its networks.

“Incidents like this are often caused by a technical fault or configuration error rather than a major cyber-attack, so until more details are confirmed it’s best not to speculate,” said Daniel Card, a cyber expert with BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

“Having teams capable of diagnosing and responding rapidly to network failures is key to maintaining public trust and keeping the UK’s digital infrastructure running smoothly.”

Additional reporting by Ewan Somerville.

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