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Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Aramco reports $30B in Q2 profits, down nearly 40% from last year

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:35:21 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s state-run oil giant Aramcobrought in $30 billion in revenues in the second quarter, a nearly 40% decline from the same period the previous year, which it attributed to lower crude oil prices.Total sales stood at just over 400 billion riyals (about $106 billion), down from 562 billion riyals ($150 billion in the second quarter of 2022.Aramco is one of the biggest companies in the world, and Saudi Arabia is looking to oil revenues to fund ambitious plans to overhaul its economy.The company reported a profit of over $160 billion in 2022, the largest ever recorded by a publicly traded firm.Source

Dallas faces Las Vegas after Sabally’s 25-point showing

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:35:21 GMT

Las Vegas Aces (24-3, 14-1 Western Conference) at Dallas Wings (15-13, 9-6 Western Conference)Arlington, Texas; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Dallas hosts the Las Vegas Aces after Satou Sabally scored 25 points in the Dallas Wings’ 104-96 loss to the Chicago Sky.The Wings have gone 9-6 against Western Conference teams. Dallas ranks ninth in the WNBA averaging 6.6 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 30.2% from deep. Arike Ogunbowale leads the team averaging 2.8 makes while shooting 32.4% from 3-point range.The Aces have gone 14-1 against Western Conference opponents. Las Vegas has an 18-2 record in games decided by 10 points or more.The two teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Aces defeated the Wings 104-91 in their last matchup on July 30. Kelsey Plum led the Aces with 28 points, and Teaira McCowan led the Wings with 25 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Ogunbowale is averaging 21.1 points, 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals for the Wings. Natasha Howard is averaging 17.8 p...

Indiana takes on Los Angeles following Boston’s 25-point game

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:35:21 GMT

Los Angeles Sparks (10-18, 6-10 Western Conference) at Indiana Fever (7-21, 4-11 Eastern Conference)Indianapolis; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Indiana plays the Los Angeles Sparks after Aliyah Boston scored 25 points in the Indiana Fever’s 82-73 loss to the Atlanta Dream.The Fever are 2-9 in home games. Indiana is sixth in the Eastern Conference scoring 79.8 points while shooting 43.8% from the field.The Sparks are 3-10 on the road. Los Angeles is fifth in the Western Conference scoring 78.6 points per game and is shooting 42.2%.The teams square off for the third time this season. The Sparks won 81-68 in the last matchup on July 27. Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks with 25 points, and Erica Wheeler led the Fever with 17 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Boston is scoring 14.6 points per game with 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Fever. Kelsey Mitchell is averaging 15.8 points and 3.3 assists over the last 10 games for Indiana.Ogwumike is averaging 19.8 points, nine rebounds and 1.6 s...

Minnesota visits Chicago following Mabrey’s 32-point game

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:35:21 GMT

Minnesota Lynx (13-15, 8-7 Western Conference) at Chicago Sky (12-15, 3-10 Eastern Conference)Chicago; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Chicago hosts the Minnesota Lynx after Marina Mabrey scored 32 points in the Chicago Sky’s 104-96 victory against the Dallas Wings.The Sky have gone 5-9 in home games. Chicago ranks sixth in the WNBA giving up 83.4 points per game while holding opponents to 45.4% shooting.The Lynx are 7-6 in road games. Minnesota is fourth in the Western Conference scoring 36.2 points per game in the paint led by Napheesa Collier averaging 11.4.The two teams play for the second time this season. The Sky defeated the Lynx 77-66 in their last meeting on May 20. Kahleah Copper led the Sky with 20 points, and Collier led the Lynx with 17 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Courtney Williams is scoring 9.9 points per game with 6.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists for the Sky. Copper is averaging 23.8 points over the last 10 games for Chicago.Collier is averaging 21.6 points, 7.9 rebound...

Connecticut visits Seattle after Loyd’s 32-point performance

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:35:21 GMT

Connecticut Sun (20-7, 11-3 Eastern Conference) at Seattle Storm (7-20, 5-8 Western Conference)Seattle; Tuesday, 3 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Seattle hosts the Connecticut Sun after Jewell Loyd scored 32 points in the Seattle Storm’s 97-91 win against the Phoenix Mercury.The Storm have gone 2-12 in home games. Seattle ranks seventh in the WNBA with 7.9 offensive rebounds per game led by Ezi Magbegor averaging 1.6 offensive boards.The Sun are 11-3 on the road. Connecticut is the top team in the Eastern Conference with 39.9 points per game in the paint led by Brionna Jones averaging 10.8.The teams square off for the third time this season. In the last matchup on July 6 the Sun won 93-73 led by 16 points from DeWanna Bonner, while Loyd scored 22 points for the Storm.TOP PERFORMERS: Loyd is averaging 24.9 points and 3.6 assists for the Storm. Magbegor is averaging 12.6 points over the last 10 games for Seattle.Tiffany Hayes is averaging 11.8 points for the Sun. Bonner is averaging 20.9 ...

Zuckerberg and Musk trade zingers over cage fight plans

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:35:21 GMT

Billionaire-entrepreneur Elon Musk wants to livestream a cage fight with Mark Zuckerberg on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter — but the Meta chief isn’t having it.After Musk said the proposed fight would be broadcast on his platform with proceeds going to “charity for veterans,” Zuckerberg mocked the claim on Meta’s own Threads platform. “Shouldn’t we use a more reliable platform that can actually raise money for charity?” Zuckerberg said, above a screenshot of Musk’s post.The two social media moguls seemingly agreed in late June to participate in a (physical) cage fight.“Am lifting weights throughout the day, preparing for the fight,” Musk said on Sunday, adding: “Don’t have time to work out, so I just bring them to work.”Zuckerberg replied: “I’m ready today. I suggested Aug 26 when he first challenged, but he hasn’t confirmed. Not holding my breath.”Now rivals as he...

2 Southern California firefighters and a pilot were killed after a mid-air collision, officials say

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:35:21 GMT

CABAZON, Calif. (AP) — Three people were killed after two firefighting helicopters collided in Southern California on Sunday while fighting a blaze in Riverside County, emergency officials said.One of the helicopters landed safely. “Unfortunately, the second helicopter crashed and tragically all three members perished which included one Cal Fire Division chief, one Cal Fire captain and one contract client pilot,” Cal Fire Southern Region Chief David Fulcher said during a news conference early Monday. Fulcher did not identify the victims.Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department resources were dispatched to a reported structure fire near the intersection of Broadway Street and South Ronda Avenue in the community of Cabazon, Fulcher said.Shortly after the arrival of the first engine company, the fire was reported to have extended into the vegetation and a full wildland fire dispatch was initiated, which included fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.While battling the blaze, the two...

Ethiopia’s government says it lost control of some areas in the Amhara region to militia fighters

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:35:21 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Ethiopia’s federal government says it lost control of some districts and towns to militia fighters in the country’s Amhara region during the latest conflict emerging in Africa’s second most populous nation. Residents reported heavy gunfire and military aircraft overhead in some areas.Ethiopia’s Cabinet declared a six-month state of emergency last week in the region as clashes and mass protests intensify over a plan to absorb regional forces into the military. The federal government has tried to centralize security powers after the end of a devastating two-year conflict in the country’s Tigray region, where Amhara regional forces and militia were key allies of the federal military.Now, however, Amhara residents who were badly affected in that conflict accuse the federal government of trying to undermine their region. Authorities reject the accusation but see the regional fighters as a threat to constitutional order.Ethiopia’s intelligence chief and the official ...

Trucking giant Yellow Corp. declares bankruptcy after years of financial struggles

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:35:21 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Trucking company Yellow Corp. has declared bankruptcy after years of financial struggles and growing debt, marking a significant shift for the U.S. transportation industry and shippers nationwide.The Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which was filed Sunday, comes just three years after Yellow received $700 million in pandemic-era loans from the federal government. But the company was in financial trouble long before that — with industry analysts pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back decades.Former Yellow customers and shippers will face higher prices as they take their business to competitors, including FedEx or ABF Freight, experts say — noting Yellow historically offered the cheapest price points in the industry.“It is with profound disappointment that Yellow announces that it is closing after nearly 100 years in business,” CEO Darren Hawkins said in a news release late Sunday. “For generations, Yellow provided hundreds of thousands of Americans with...

Lecturers in the UK refuse to mark exams in labor dispute, leaving thousands unable to graduate

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:35:21 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Hafsa Yusuf was supposed to graduate last week. The 21-year-old English literature major had spent 200 pounds ($255) on graduation gown rental, photography and tickets for her family to attend the ceremony. But just two weeks before the big day, Queen Mary University of London sent her an email saying she couldn’t graduate because of industrial action taken by academic staff across the U.K. Lecturers at some 140 universities have refused to mark exam papers and coursework, in an escalation of a simmering dispute over pay and working conditions. “Because of the marking boycott, they didn’t have enough grades to confirm that I was able to graduate,” Yusuf said. “We all paid as normal, just to get an email two weeks beforehand saying you can’t come.”She said that while most of her family live in the U.K., other students are international and have paid for flights for their families to come from abroad. “It’s really devastating,” she said.Yusuf and the cl...