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Louisville player scores first points as mother calls game for ESPN

With just under two minutes remaining, and with his team leading Indiana by 33 points, Louisville men’s basketball walk-on Patrick Antonelli checked into the game.

Twenty-four seconds of game time later, the 5-foot-11 guard calmly sank a pair of free throws to give him his first-ever points as a Division I player.

What was already a notable accomplishment for Antonelli was made that much sweeter not because of something on the court, but something just to the side of it — his mother, Debbie Antonelli, was calling the game for ESPN and was sitting only about 30 feet away from him when he made the free throws.

Louisville’s 89-61 rout Wednesday of No. 15 Indiana in the quarterfinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas elicited a slew of warm, positive and euphoric emotions for Cardinals fans who watched their proud and storied program become a punchline for the better part of a decade, initially for off-court scandals and then because of shockingly awful on-court results during Kenny Payne’s disastrous two-year tenure.

A cathartic afternoon was capped off with a heartwarming moment, with Antonelli not only playing, but also scoring while his mother, a former standout player at NC State, had the opportunity to narrate the action.

BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS 2024: Bracket, teams, schedule for college basketball tournament

Though Antonelli is from South Carolina, he grew up a Louisville fan, according to his biography on the Cardinals’ official roster. He joined the team as a walk-on ahead of coach Pat Kelsey’s first season after playing the previous four seasons at Emory & Henry, a Division II school in Virginia, where he started 56 of his 63 career games.

During the win against the Hoosiers, Debbie Antonelli described playing for Louisville as “a dream come true” for her son, who’s pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration.

The elder Antonelli played at NC State from 1982-86, helping lead the Wolfpack to two Sweet 16s and an ACC regular-season and tournament championship in 1985. She has worked as a television and radio broadcaster for various networks for 36 years. She had ties to the commonwealth of Kentucky long before her son arrived at Louisville’s campus, as she served as Kentucky’s first director of marketing and broadcast the first women’s basketball games on television for the Wildcats.

She has won two Emmy Awards for her work and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.

On Wednesday, though, she got to enjoy being a proud mother.

“All I care about is him being around good guys and being around a good coaching staff and that’s what he’s got,” she said of her son as he checked into the game.

And, now, he got an unforgettable memory, too.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Longtime San Francisco Giants star announces retirement

Three-time All-Star shortstop Brandon Crawford announced his retirement on Wednesday via his Instagram account.

Crawford played 13 of his 14 major league seasons with the San Francisco Giants and won World Series rings in 2012 and 2014. He won four Gold Glove Awards during his career.

Crawford’s best season was 2021 when he finished fourth in National League MVP voting after batting .298 with 24 homers and 90 RBIs in 138 games.

Crawford, 37, spent 2024 with the St. Louis Cardinals but will long be remembered as one of the top shortstops in Giants’ history. He played a franchise record 1,617 games at the position, breaking the mark of Hall of Famer Travis Jackson (1,326 from 1922-36).

‘Growing up in the Bay Area and going to games at Candlestick, I always dreamed of playing for the San Francisco Giants,’ Crawford wrote. ‘Being drafted by my hometown team and spending most of my career with them far surpassed any dream I had as a kid. I definitely pretended to win a World Series in my backyard — but winning two? That was beyond my wildest dreams.

All things Giants: Latest San Francisco Giants news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

‘I always dreamed of being the shortstop for the Giants, but never could I have imagined breaking the team record for the most games played at the position.’

Crawford first reached the majors in 2011 and was a key player on the title teams of 2012 and 2014. He was an NL All-Star for the first time in 2015. He also made the team in 2018 and 2021.

‘Watching Brandon play was an absolute privilege for not only me but for Giants’ fans everywhere,’ Giants CEO Larry Baer said in a news release. ‘He was an All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, a two-time World Series champion that always carried himself with class, honor and respect.’

Last season, Crawford played in just 28 games for St. Louis and batted .169 with one homer and four RBIs in 28 games before the team released him in August.

‘It’s been an unforgettable journey,’ Crawford said. ‘Thank you Giants for allowing me to live out my dream and be a part of so much throughout my career in San Francisco.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Brock Purdy injury latest: Week 13 update on 49ers QB

The San Francisco 49ers suffered their biggest loss of the season in Week 12 on the road against the Green Bay Packers. The 38-10 setback marked the 49ers’ biggest margin of defeat since Week 9 of the 2018 season, a 39-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

San Francisco had a season-low 241 yards of offense against the Packers and committed three turnovers for the third time this season. They were operating without Brock Purdy at quarterback for the first time in two years as Brandon Allen started in his place.

Purdy missed his first NFL game due to injury because of a shoulder issue that developed during the 49ers’ Week 11 loss to the Seahawks.

This week, the 49ers take on one of the top teams in the NFL in prime time. The Buffalo Bills, winners of their last six games and fresh off a bye week, will host the 49ers on ‘Sunday Night Football.’

Here’s the latest on whether Purdy will suit up in the freezing temperatures.

All things 49ers: Latest San Francisco 49ers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Will Brock Purdy play this week?

Purdy is listed as questionable this week with a shoulder injury. He was limited in practice Wednesday in a similar fashion to a week ago and he ended up missing last Sunday’s game.

Purdy did some ‘light throwing’ on Monday, per coach Kyle Shanahan, and rested on Tuesday. He threw on Monday without any reported shoulder issue.

Week 12 marked the first time Purdy missed a start with injury since he took over in Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season. His most recent significant injury came in the NFC championship game in January 2023, when he tore the UCL in his throwing arm and left the game after throwing four passes.

Allen had a tough game against the Packers in his first start since Week 18 of the 2021 NFL season. He completed 17 of 29 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He had two carries for 5 yards and two fumbles (one lost) as well.

Brock Purdy injury

Purdy took a hard hit to his shoulder area at some point during the 49ers’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He finished that day 21-for-28 passing but averaged a season-low 5.7 yards per attempt. Shanahan denied limiting downfield passing in the game due to an injury, saying instead that Seattle’s coverages changed the game plan.

Brock Purdy stats

In 10 games this season, Purdy has completed 202 of 306 passes for 2,613 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions with a 95.9 passer rating. He’s also rushed 51 times for 267 yards and four touchdowns.

49ers QB depth chart

With Purdy’s status up in the air, Allen may be the starter in Buffalo again. Here’s how the depth chart looks if Purdy can’t go:

  • Brandon Allen
  • Joshua Dobbs

The 49ers also have quarterback Tanner Mordecai signed to the practice squad.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Rua Gold Acquires Siren Gold’s Reefton Assets for AU$22 Million

Siren Gold (ASX:SNG) announced on Tuesday (November 26) that it has completed the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary, Reefton Resources, to Rua Gold’s (TSXV:RUA,OTCQQB:NZAUF)wholly owned subsidiary Reefton Acquisition.

Reefton Resources is the owner of the Reefton project in New Zealand.

The sale will establish Rua Gold as a dominant landholder in the Reefton region, with approximately 1,196 square kilometers of tenements in the historical and past-producing Reefton Goldfields, which produced over 2 million ounces at 15.8 grams per tonne gold.

According to Siren’s resource update for its Reefton project on September 17, the project’s deposits host a combined inferred JORC compliant mineral resource of 483,000 ounces of gold from ore grading 3.86 grams per tonne gold, as well as 14,500 tonnes of antimony at a grade of 1.7 percent.

Rua will also be positioned as the preeminent gold explorer in New Zealand, with a market capitalisation of approximately AU$41.9 million.

In exchange for Reefton Resources, Rua will pay Siren AU$18 million in shares and a further AU$4 million cash. The cash payments include: forgiving an AU$1 million promissory note upon signing the agreement, an AU$1 million cash payment at completion and the issue of 10,000,000 Siren shares to Rua (or its nominee) at AU$0.20 per share around the completion date.

Once the sale is complete, Siren will have a 26.1 percent stake in Rua, and Rua will hold a 7.51 percent stake in Siren. Rua will also transfer the Langdons antimony-gold project back to Siren.

“Since we listed Siren on the ASX in 2020, the vision has been to consolidate the historical Reefton belt to give it the best chance of bringing the multiple high-grade projects into a central processing hub model,” Siren Managing Director and CEO Victor Rajasooriar said.

Following this transaction, Siren will concentrate on the Sams Creek gold project and the Langdons and Queen Charlotte antimony-gold projects.

For its part, Rua will focus on the exploration and development of the combined Reefton belt. The company completed a C$8 million capital raising in July.

Siren first publicised this transaction on July 15, and the deal was approved by its shareholders on October 28.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Biden Admin Awards Intel US$7.9 Billion for Semiconductor Sector Growth

The Biden administration has announced a US$7.87 billion funding agreement with Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) under the CHIPS Incentives Program as part of its efforts to bolster the US semiconductor manufacturing industry.

The award represents one of the most substantial semiconductor manufacturing investments facilitated by the CHIPS for America program.

Intel plans to invest over US$90 billion in the United States by the end of the decade, enhancing the US capacity for manufacturing leading-edge semiconductors. These advanced chips are integral to crucial industries such as artificial intelligence and defense systems.

The company’s expansion plan spans facilities in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and Oregon. The expansion is expected to generate approximately 10,000 permanent manufacturing jobs and 20,000 construction jobs across the four states involved.

The Department of Commerce’s direct funding will support Intel’s fabrication and packaging of these chips, addressing vulnerabilities in the global semiconductor supply chain.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo hailed the partnership as pivotal for revitalizing the domestic semiconductor industry and securing US technological leadership.

“The CHIPS for America program will supercharge American innovation and technology and make our country more secure,” she stated in the announcement.

Meanwhile, Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger reiterated the company’s commitment to advancing semiconductor manufacturing on American soil, citing bipartisan support as a driving force behind the company’s investment strategy.

Intel’s semiconductor manufacturing process technologies, including Intel 3 and Intel 18A , are poised to contribute significantly to the US domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

CHIPS for America, part of the broader CHIPS and Science Act, is a cornerstone of the current administration’s economic agenda.

The initiative aims to re-shore critical manufacturing capabilities and stimulate economic growth, enhancing US competitiveness and addressing economic vulnerabilities.

Overall, CHIPS for America has allocated approximately US$19 billion in incentives to date, supporting projects across 20 states and facilitating the creation of an estimated 125,000 jobs.

Public investments in the semiconductor and electronics industries have played a large role in catalyzing over US$450 billion in private sector commitments in these industries since the beginning of the Biden-Harris administration.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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NOVONIX Signs Synthetic Graphite Offtake Deal with Volkswagen’s PowerCo

Battery materials and technology company NOVONIX (ASX:NVX,NASDAQ:NVX) has signed a binding offtake agreement for synthetic graphite material, the company said in a Monday (November 25) press release.

The agreement is with PowerCo, a battery company set up by Volkswagen (OTC Pink:VLKAF,FWB:VOW). The company is looking to boost its battery cell output, and has identified three gigafactory locations.

The first is in Salzgitter, Germany, the second is Valencia, Spain, and the third is in St. Thomas, Canada.

NOVONIX and PowerCo signed a non-exclusive testing and development agreement in March of this year.

Under the newly announced offtake agreement, NOVONIX will supply a minimum of 32,000 tonnes of synthetic graphite material to PowerCo over a five year term that is set to begin in 2027.

This arrangement comes after NOVONIX penned a binding offtake deal with automotive company Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) earlier this month. It is for a minimum of 86,250 tonnes of synthetic graphite material over a period of six years.

‘Offtake agreements with high-quality partners such as Stellantis solidify NOVONIX’s position as a leader in onshoring the supply chain of synthetic graphite and accelerating the adoption of clean energy,’ said CEO Dr. Chris Burns.

NOVONIX’s Riverside facility, located in Tennessee, US, is reportedly slated to become the first large-scale production site for high-performance synthetic graphite in North America. The company has been awarded a US$100 million grant from an office of the US Department of Energy, and also received a US$103 million investment tax credit.

The facility plans to grow output to 20,000 tonnes per year. Commercial production is set to begin in 2025.

NOVONIX is due to start commercial supply to PowerCo in 2027, but will have to achieve agreed-upon milestones first. These include mass production qualification and the satisfaction of certain compliance criteria.

The company will also have to secure financing commitments for production facilities.

Should NOVONIX fail to satisfy these requirements, PowerCo has the right to terminate the agreement.

Shares of NOVONIX were on the rise following the news, reaching as high as AU$0.98 on Monday.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Supply Chains in Question as Trump Threatens Tariffs on North American Neighbors

Incoming US President Donald Trump has proposed the application of a 25 percent tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico on his first day in office, sparking concerns over possible economic implications.

“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, adding that the move was spurred by worries over illegal drug imports and immigration.

Canada and Mexico are America’s closest trading partners, with both being integral to the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). They account for significant portions of US imports in critical sectors, from energy to automobiles.

Analysts are already predicting widespread economic disruption if the tariffs are implemented, with Canadian and Mexican leaders raising concerns about the implications for trade relations and resource exports.

Canada and Mexico’s close ties to the US

Canada exported US$587 billion in goods globally in 2022, relying heavily on the US as its primary trading partner. In total, 74.5 percent of the country’s exports are destined for the US market.

Overall, the country’s top exports for that year included crude petroleum (US$123 billion), cars (US$29.4 billion), petroleum gas (US$24.3 billion) and refined petroleum (US$17.2 billion).

Canadian crude oil alone accounts 62 percent of US crude imports. Canadian officials argue that tariffs on such goods could disrupt supply chains and inflate costs for businesses and consumers across North America.

Mexico also has a strong trade relationship with the US, exporting US$421 billion worth of goods to the country. Its overall top exports include cars (US$48.4 billion), computers (US$39.3 billion) and crude petroleum (US$38.2 billion).

Lose-lose situation for all countries involved

Canadian responses to Trump’s comments focus on the economic losses for all parties involved.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc issued a joint statement on X, formerly Twitter, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of cross-border trade.

‘Canada and the United States have one of the strongest and closest relationships — particularly when it comes to trade and border security. Canada places the highest priority on border security and the integrity of our shared border,” they said in a post issued on Monday (November 25).

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also addressed the issue, revealing that he had spoken with Trump to stress the significance of the USMCA in fostering stable trade relations.

‘This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on, and that’s what we’ll do,’ he said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum echoed this cautionary sentiment, saying, ‘To one tariff will follow another in response and so on, until we put our common businesses at risk.’

Tariffs to impact inflation, currencies

The automotive sector in particular stands out as a critical area of concern. The US imports the majority of its cars and car parts from Canada and Mexico, with Mexico surpassing China as the top exporter to the US in 2023.

The tariffs could lead to increased vehicle prices and production delays, impacting automakers and consumers alike.

The proposed tariffs come at a time when US businesses are already grappling with inflationary pressures and labor shortages. Analysts warn that additional tariffs could exacerbate these challenges by driving up costs.

The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates that Trump’s broader tariff proposals could cost the average US household over US$2,600 annually, a figure that may rise further with the inclusion of Canada and Mexico.

The potential impact on currency markets has also been noted.

Following Trump’s announcement, the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso both experienced immediate declines against the US dollar, although partial recoveries were observed in subsequent trading sessions.

As the US’ trade partners seek to establish a compromise, analysts are warning that the economic costs of such tariffs could extend beyond North America, impacting further global supply chains and consumer markets.

The coming months are likely to see intensified discussions between US, Canadian and Mexican officials as they seek to establish a middle ground to avoid an all-out breakdown in their relationship.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Amazon workers worldwide set to protest on Black Friday weekend, union federation says

Amazon workers in more than 20 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, plan to hold protests or go on strike between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, two of the marquee shopping promotions of the year, according to organizers.

The planned “Make Amazon Pay” demonstrations are intended to “hold Amazon accountable for labor abuses, environmental degradation and threats to democracy,” according to the initiative’s organizers, the Switzerland-based labor federation UNI Global Union and the grassroots activist group Progressive International.

“We stand united in demanding that Amazon treat its workers fairly, respect fundamental rights, and stop undermining the systems meant to protect us all. ‘Make Amazon Pay Day’ is becoming a global act of resistance against Amazon’s abuse of power,” said Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union.

In a statement, Amazon spokeswoman Eileen Hards said: “These groups represent a variety of interests, and while we’re always listening and looking at ways to improve, we remain proud of the competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and engaging, safe work experience we provide our teams.”

The two strike organizers said unions and allied groups are planning to hold demonstrations in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Turkey and other nations. In at least six German towns, thousands of Amazon workers are set to strike. In New Delhi, hundreds of Amazon workers are expected to rally to demand fair treatment.

The planned “global day of resistance” comes as labor leaders around the world feel increasingly emboldened to take on large corporations in an era of income inequality. The International Labour Organization, an arm of the United Nations, found that post-pandemic inflation and the rising cost of living have been eroding the real value of minimum wages in many countries.

In recent years, American labor activists have increasingly trained their ire on Amazon and the shopping behemoth’s billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos. The results have been mixed. In early 2022, an Amazon facility in Staten Island, New York, became the first company warehouse to vote to form a union. But similar union drives in Alabama and at least two others in New York failed.

It was not immediately clear how many Amazon workers in the U.S. would participate in the announced demonstrations against the Seattle-based company, one of the leading e-commerce and digital technology firms in the world.

“Amazon is everywhere, but so are we,” said Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, co-general coordinator of Progressive International. “By uniting our movements across borders, we can not only force Amazon to change its ways, but lay the foundations of a world that prioritizes human dignity, not Jeff Bezos’ bank balance.”

UNI Global Union and Progressive International said that this is the fifth year of “Make Amazon Pay” activities. In previous years, according to the groups, thousands of workers went on strike at company facilities in Germany, France, Spain, the U.K. and Italy.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Retailers saw a dismal fall quarter. The election seems to be turning things around.

Many U.S. retailers are hoping to put the fall quarter behind them. The decisive outcome of this month’s presidential election, which showed a GOP sweep, seems to be giving them the fuel to do so.

On Tuesday, Best Buy reported one of its worst three-month stretches of the past decade, something CEO Corie Barry blamed in part on the ‘distraction’ of the presidential contest, alongside an overall more uncertain macroeconomic environment.

But she said the company has begun to see holiday sales momentum now that the vote is over — with particular demand for computers, tablets and sales in its services department.

“We continue to see a consumer who is seeking value and sales events, and one who is also willing to spend on high price-point products when they need to or when there is new, compelling technology,” Barry said in a release.

Best Buy’s latest results — representing its worst quarterly profit ‘miss’ of estimates in more than a decade — capture the uncertain environment most retailers are experiencing.

While consumers are still grappling with higher prices on everyday items and groceries, surveys and commentary suggest any uncertainty brought about by the election has lifted over the past couple of weeks.

Gallup’s monthly Economic Confidence Index survey saw a nine-point jump this month compared with October. Although the report still shows most Americans believe economic conditions are ‘getting worse’ overall, the current reading of -17 is the best since a -12 reading in August 2021.

The improvement was driven by a six-percentage-point drop in ‘poor’ ratings, while 36% of survey respondents said the economy is getting better, compared with 32%% in October. Overall, 55% said it’s getting worse — down from 62% last month.

Gallup’s survey was conducted between Nov. 6 and Nov. 20.

The index’s improvements were heavily partisan: Republicans’ scoring of the economy soared 29 points during the survey period, while Democrats’ dropped 10 points — though notably, Democrats still hold a net positive rating of the economy compared with both Republicans and independents.

A separate monthly consumer-confidence report released Tuesday also surged to its highest level in nearly 18 months, with optimism about family finances over the next six months hitting a new all-time high.

The widely followed survey from The Conference Board, a business nonprofit, also saw the lowest proportion of consumers anticipating a recession in more than two years, while inflation expectations fell to the lowest measure since March 2020. Job availability expectations, meanwhile, reached their highest level in almost three years.

Among those expecting stronger holiday sales Tuesday was Abercrombie & Fitch, which continues to see a sales renaissance. The trendy apparel chain now expects holiday quarter sales growth of 5% to 7%, ahead of the 4.8% growth that analysts had expected, CNBC reported. It also lifted its sales growth guidance for the full year.

Burlington likewise noted a strong start to holiday sales in a Tuesday earnings release, with the outerwear retailer stating it was ‘optimistic’ about its prospects for the upcoming quarter, while maintaining a ‘cautious’ outlook overall.

The sunnier if still cautious outlook is resonating on Wall Street: According to CNBC, a retail-focused stock-tracker traded on the New York Stock Exchange is up 10% month to date and is heading for its best month since February.

Last week, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve announced its quarterly survey of dozens of economic forecasters now showed the U.S. economy expanding at an annual rate of 2.2% in the coming three months, and 1.9% in the first quarter of 2025. That’s up from the predictions of 1.7 percent in the last survey.

‘The near-term outlook for the U.S. economy looks better now than it did three months ago,’ it said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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