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club 777 casino NoneNEW YORK — Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare shot and killed by a masked gunman in Manhattan on Wednesday morning outside a Hilton Hotel, had been at the helm of the insurance giant since April 2021, according to the company’s website. Thompson, 50, was on his way to hosting an investors conference at the hotel when a masked gunman in a hoodie snuck up behind him and shot him in the back in what NYPD officials said was a targeted attack. The suspect remains at large. The rise of a CEO Long before his rise to the top of UnitedHealthcare, the Minnesota-based medical insurance giant with current assets valued at $284 billion , Thompson began at the company in 2004, working on mergers and acquisitions. He went on to become chief financial officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, Community & State and Medicare & Retirement, then chief executive officer of the Medicare & Retirement division. Just before becoming CEO, Thompson was chief executive officer of the company’s government programs. That division included Medicare and state programs designed to provide care to the uninsured. Legal challenges as CEO Thompson’s stint as head of UnitedHealthcare has not been without controversy, however. Last month, the Justice Department, along with the attorneys general of Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to prevent the insurance company’s acquisition of Louisiana-based home health and hospice services company Amedisys Inc. The proposed takeover, with an offer of $3.3 billion, would have destroyed competition between the two companies, according to the Justice Department. “We are challenging this merger because home health and hospice patients and their families experiencing some of the most difficult moments of their lives deserve affordable, high quality care options,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will not hesitate to check unlawful consolidation and monopolization in the healthcare market that threatens to harm vulnerable patients, their families, and health care workers.” Last year, a class action lawsuit was filed against UnitedHealthcare in United States District Court alleging “illegal deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in place of real medical professionals to wrongfully deny elderly patients care,” according to the complaint. The suit claims the technology was used as an overriding second opinion, and has a 90% error rate. Before and Beyond UnitedHealthcare Thompson, 50, lived with his family in Minnesota, close to UnitedHealthcare’s headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn. According to his LinkedIn profile, Thompson graduated as valedictorian from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Accounting, and worked at accounting firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers from 1997-2004. When reached by phone, his mother-in-law, Paulette Reveiz, told the Daily News his family was stunned. “The only thing I can say is he’s a good man. I can’t say anything else,” said Reveiz. “We’re still in shock.” Thompson’s brother declined to comment. Antonio Toft, Vice President of HR and DEI at UnitedHealth Group, wrote a heartfelt post about Thompson on LinkedIn Wednesday afternoon, describing the CEO’s dedication to and passion for his job. “He was not only a remarkable leader but also a cherished friend and mentor to many of us,” wrote Toft, remembering Thompson’s love for the Minnesota Twins and “a moment of joy” the two shared at a recent gala. “This devastating news has sent shockwaves through my body and undoubtedly through the entire community, leaving us with so many unanswered questions,” Toft wrote. UnitedHealth Group issued a statement about Thompson’s murder Wednesday morning. “We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.” (Emma Seiwell contributed to this story.) ©2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday to cap off a winning week, as the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average ended at a new record. For the week, the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite each gained about 1.7%, while the Dow climbed roughly 2%. Source: Investing.com With the Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner, Wall Street will have a shortened week of trading ahead. The stock market will remain shut on Thanksgiving Day Thursday and will close early at 1:00PM ET on Friday. There will, however, be a full slate of economic data releases coming out in the days prior as investors continue to weigh the Fed’s rate plans for the months ahead. Source: Investing.com On the economic calendar, most important will be the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, which is the Fed’s preferred inflation measure. That will be accompanied by the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s November FOMC meeting. Expectations for a December rate cut have diminished lately, with the likelihood now at 54%, a sharp drop from 85% just a week earlier. Meanwhile, the reporting season’s last big week sees earnings roll in from several retailers such as Best Buy (NYSE:BBY), Macy’s (NYSE:M), Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN), Burlington Stores (NYSE:BURL), Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS), Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE:DKS), and Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF). Other notable companies include CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD), Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL), HP (NYSE:HPQ), Zoom Video (NASDAQ:ZM), Workday (NASDAQ:WDAY), and Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK). Regardless of which direction the market goes, below I highlight one stock likely to be in demand and another which could see fresh downside. Remember though, my timeframe is just for the week ahead, Monday, November 25 - Friday, November 29. Burlington Stores stands out as a top buy this week, as the off-price department store retailer’s third quarter earnings report will likely beat estimates thanks to favorable consumer demand trends and an improving fundamental outlook. Burlington, the third-largest off-price retailer in the U.S. behind TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) and Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST), is set to report its Q3 results on Tuesday at 6:45 AM ET. Market participants expect a sizable swing in BURL shares following the print, as per the options market, with a possible implied move of 8.4% in either direction. Source: InvestingPro Optimism surrounding Burlington’s performance is underscored by 18 upward profit revisions in the past three months, compared to just two downward adjustments. This reflects growing confidence in its ability to navigate macroeconomic challenges, aided by a robust supply chain strategy and expanded inventory. Analysts expect strong numbers, with adjusted profit forecasted to jump 58% year-over-year to $1.55 per share and revenue projected to grow 12% to $2.55 billion. Burlington has firmly positioned itself as a leader in the off-price retail sector, leveraging its ability to offer value-driven products to price-conscious shoppers. As the retailer continues to attract budget-conscious consumers, it remains a compelling investment ahead of the critical holiday shopping season. BURL stock ended Friday’s session at a fresh 52-week high of $286.17, the strongest level since January 2022. At current levels, Burlington has a market cap of $18 billion. Year-to-date, BURL stock has surged 47.2%, reflecting its ability to navigate the challenging retail environment. Source: Investing.com It is worth mentioning that InvestingPro's AI-powered quantitative model rates Burlington with a solid ‘Financial Health Score’ of 2.7 out of 5.0, supported by strong earnings growth, an agile business model, and a rising stock price. Be sure to check out InvestingPro to stay in sync with the market trend and what it means for your trading. Subscribe now and get up to 55% off and position your portfolio one step ahead of everyone else! Kohl’s, on the other hand, is grappling with a tougher retail environment as it struggles with operational inefficiencies and poor consumer demand. The department store chain’s heavy reliance on discounting has eroded profitability, while weak demand for discretionary items underscores broader challenges. Kohl’s, which operates over 1,100 stores across the U.S., is scheduled to release its third quarter earnings report ahead of the opening bell on Tuesday at 7:00AM ET. According to the options market, traders are pricing in a swing of 12.7% in either direction for KSS stock following the print. Source: InvestingPro Wall Street projects earnings of $0.28 per share, marking a sharp decline of 47.2% from EPS of $0.53 a year earlier. Revenue is anticipated to fall 3.6% to $3.70 billion. Despite efforts to revamp its product offerings with categories like home décor, gifts, and pet goods, Kohl’s has struggled to offset higher costs and shrinking margins. Given these challenges, CEO Tom Kingsbury, who previously led Burlington, may strike a cautious tone on the outlook for the crucial holiday season, further dampening sentiment. KSS stock closed at $17.03 on Friday after falling to $16.12 the day before, which was the lowest closing price since March 2020. At its current valuation, the Wisconsin-based department store retailer has a market cap of $1.9 billion. Source: Investing.com Shares have plummeted 40.6% year-to-date, reflecting mounting investor concerns about Kohl’s long-term prospects as it struggles to adapt to the evolving retail landscape. It should be noted that Kohl’s currently has a below average InvestingPro ‘Financial Health Score’ of 2.1 out of 5.0 due to accelerating concerns over weakening profit margins and spotty sales growth. Whether you're a novice investor or a seasoned trader, leveraging InvestingPro can unlock a world of investment opportunities while minimizing risks amid the challenging market backdrop. Subscribe now to get up to 55% off all Pro plans and instantly unlock access to several market-beating features, including: • ProPicks AI: AI-selected stock winners with proven track record. • InvestingPro Fair Value: Instantly find out if a stock is underpriced or overvalued. • Advanced Stock Screener : Search for the best stocks based on hundreds of selected filters, and criteria. • Top Ideas : See what stocks billionaire investors such as Warren Buffett, Michael Burry, and George Soros are buying. Disclosure : At the time of writing, I am long on the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq 100 via the SPDR® S&P 500 ETF, and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF. I am also long on the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:XLK). I regularly rebalance my portfolio of individual stocks and ETFs based on ongoing risk assessment of both the macroeconomic environment and companies' financials. The views discussed in this article are solely the opinion of the author and should not be taken as investment advice. Follow Jesse Cohen on X/Twitter @JesseCohenInv for more stock market analysis and insight. Related Articles 1 Stock to Buy, 1 Stock to Sell This Week: Burlington Stores, Kohl’s Is Magnificent 7 Still a Good Bet for 2025? Top 3 Financial Stocks Set to Gain From Looser RegulationsThe trial in a Virginia federal court is Google's second US antitrust case now under way as the US government tries to rein in the power of big tech. In a separate trial, a Washington judge ruled that Google's search business is an illegal monopoly, and the US Justice Department is asking that Google sell its Chrome browser business to resolve the case. The latest case, also brought by the Justice Department, focuses on ad technology for the open web -- the complex system determining which online ads people see when they surf the internet. The vast majority of websites use a trio of Google ad software products that together, leave no way for publishers to escape Google's advertising technology, the plaintiffs allege. Publishers -- including News Corp and Gannett publishing -- complain that they are locked into Google's advertising technology in order to run ads on their websites. "Google is once, twice, three times a monopolist," DOJ lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum told the court in closing arguments. Presiding judge Leonie Brinkema has said that she would deliver her opinion swiftly, as early as next month. Whatever Brinkema's judgment, the outcome will almost certainly be appealed, prolonging a process that could go all the way to the US Supreme Court. The government alleges that Google controls the auction-style system that advertisers use to purchase advertising space online. The US lawyers argue that this approach allows Google to charge higher prices to advertisers while sending less revenue to publishers such as news websites, many of which are struggling to stay in business. The US argues that Google used its financial power to acquire potential rivals and corner the ad tech market, leaving advertisers and publishers with no choice but to use its technology. The government wants Google to divest parts of its ad tech business. Google dismissed the allegations as an attempt by the government to pick "winners and losers" in a diverse market. The company argues that the display ads at issue are just a small share of today's ad tech business. Google says the plaintiffs' definition of the market ignores ads that are also placed in search results, apps and social media platforms and where, taken as a whole, Google does not dominate. "The law simply does not support what the plaintiffs are arguing in this case," said Google's lawyer Karen Dunn. She warned that if Google were to lose the case, the winners would be rival tech giants such as Microsoft, Meta or Amazon, whose market share in online advertising is ascendant as Google's share is falling. The DOJ countered that it simply "does not matter" that Google is competing in the broader market for online ads. "That is a different question" than the market for ads on websites that is the target of the case, said Teitelbaum. Google also points to US legal precedent, saying arguments similar to the government's have been refuted in previous antitrust cases. Dunn also warned that forcing Google to work with rivals in its ad products would amount to government central planning that the court should reject. If the judge finds Google to be at fault, a new phase of the trial would decide how the company should comply with that conclusion. And all that could be moot if the incoming Trump administration decides to drop the case. The president-elect has been a critic of Google's, but he warned earlier this month that breaking it up could be "a very dangerous thing." arp/dw

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BATESVILLE, Ind. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Hillenbrand, Inc. HI has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.225 per share on the company's common stock. On an annualized basis, this is an increase of $0.01 per share to a total rate of $0.90 per share in fiscal 2025. The dividend is payable December 31, 2024 , to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 16, 2024 . About Hillenbrand Hillenbrand HI is a global industrial company that provides highly-engineered, mission-critical processing equipment and solutions to customers in over 100 countries around the world. Our portfolio is composed of leading industrial brands that serve large, attractive end markets, including durable plastics, food, and recycling. Guided by our Purpose — Shape What Matters For TomorrowTM — we pursue excellence, collaboration, and innovation to consistently shape solutions that best serve our associates, customers, communities, and other stakeholders. To learn more, visit: www.Hillenbrand.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hillenbrand-declares-first-quarter-dividend-of-0-225-per-share-302324305.html SOURCE Hillenbrand © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Google and the US government faced off in a federal court on Monday, as each side delivered closing arguments in a case revolving around the technology giant's alleged unfair domination of online advertising. The trial in a Virginia federal court is Google's second US antitrust case now under way as the US government tries to rein in the power of big tech. In a separate trial, a Washington judge ruled that Google's search business is an illegal monopoly, and the US Justice Department is asking that Google sell its Chrome browser business to resolve the case. The latest case, also brought by the Justice Department, focuses on ad technology for the open web -- the complex system determining which online ads people see when they surf the internet. The vast majority of websites use a trio of Google ad software products that together, leave no way for publishers to escape Google's advertising technology, the plaintiffs allege. Publishers -- including News Corp and Gannett publishing -- complain that they are locked into Google's advertising technology in order to run ads on their websites. "Google is once, twice, three times a monopolist," DOJ lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum told the court in closing arguments. Presiding judge Leonie Brinkema has said that she would deliver her opinion swiftly, as early as next month. Whatever Brinkema's judgment, the outcome will almost certainly be appealed, prolonging a process that could go all the way to the US Supreme Court. The government alleges that Google controls the auction-style system that advertisers use to purchase advertising space online. The US lawyers argue that this approach allows Google to charge higher prices to advertisers while sending less revenue to publishers such as news websites, many of which are struggling to stay in business. The US argues that Google used its financial power to acquire potential rivals and corner the ad tech market, leaving advertisers and publishers with no choice but to use its technology. The government wants Google to divest parts of its ad tech business. Google dismissed the allegations as an attempt by the government to pick "winners and losers" in a diverse market. The company argues that the display ads at issue are just a small share of today's ad tech business. Google says the plaintiffs' definition of the market ignores ads that are also placed in search results, apps and social media platforms and where, taken as a whole, Google does not dominate. "The law simply does not support what the plaintiffs are arguing in this case," said Google's lawyer Karen Dunn. She warned that if Google were to lose the case, the winners would be rival tech giants such as Microsoft, Meta or Amazon, whose market share in online advertising is ascendant as Google's share is falling. The DOJ countered that it simply "does not matter" that Google is competing in the broader market for online ads. "That is a different question" than the market for ads on websites that is the target of the case, said Teitelbaum. Google also points to US legal precedent, saying arguments similar to the government's have been refuted in previous antitrust cases. Dunn also warned that forcing Google to work with rivals in its ad products would amount to government central planning that the court should reject. If the judge finds Google to be at fault, a new phase of the trial would decide how the company should comply with that conclusion. And all that could be moot if the incoming Trump administration decides to drop the case. The president-elect has been a critic of Google's, but he warned earlier this month that breaking it up could be "a very dangerous thing." arp/dwLions rush for 3 scores and use stingy defense to beat Colts 24-6 for 9th straight win

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Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status toteThe world stands at the dawn of a “third nuclear age” in which Britain is threatened by multiple dilemmas, the head of the armed forces has warned. But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” The first nuclear age was the Cold War, while the second was “governed by disarmament efforts and counter proliferation”, the armed forces chief said. He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.” We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate. Last Updated: Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

Advertisement Spotify's year-end feature has something new: an AI-generated "podcast" about your Wrapped. It uses Google's NotebookLM technology. It's neat? But WEIRD!! Very weird!!! No thank you! One of the indignities inflicted on parents of young children is Spotify Wrapped . Each December, thousands of adults open up their year-end treat to discover the sad fact that they listened to "Baby Shark" more times than anything else. As a parent, this has been my fate for the last few years. (My Spotify account is connected to our Amazon Echo, which means that in some years, my kids' requests for songs about potty words have ended up on my Wrapped.) Advertisement I take very little pleasure in Spotify Wrapped, although I know it's a massively popular thing that many people —presumably those who don't listen to Raffi on repeat — really look forward to. However, this year, there's a new feature. And I struggle to imagine how anyone won't feel mildly weirded out by it: Spotify uses Google's new NotebookLM AI-powered feature to create an individualized AI-generated podcast with two talking heads discussing your listening habits in a conversational, podcast-y tone. Yikes! I received a 3-minute podcast with a man and woman chatting about how impressive it was that I had listened to "Cruel Summer" by Taylor Swift — my 4-year-old's current favorite tune, narrowly edging out "Let It Go" this year — so many times that I was in the Top 0.02% of listeners. (I should note here that the podcast said I was in the Top 0.02%, while the main Wrapped said it was 0.05%. Possibly the podcast version hallucinated?) Advertisement I can understand why people like sharing screenshots from their Wrapped. It's normal to want to share what music you like — and what those lists say about you and your personality. But listening to an AI podcast about it? Voiced by robots? I'm not sure anyone wants that. Google's NotebookLM is a fascinating product — I've played around with it a little, and it is very cool, if not uncanny. You can add in text or a PDF or other kinds of data, and it will create a conversational podcast episode with two hosts — "likes" and "ums" and all. Advertisement It's got that factor about GenAI that makes you go "whoa," like trying ChatGPT for the first time to have it write a poem. It's got the dog-walking-on-its-hind-legs element: It's impressive because the dog can do it at all, not because it's doing it particularly well. The idea that AI could generate a chatty podcast that sounds almost real is, admittedly, mindblowing. But would you want to actually listen to it? I'm not really so sure. I've wondered what this would be used for — I assume some people find listening to something makes it easier to engage with than simply reading it. You could take the Wikipedia page for "The War of 1812," plug it into AI, and generate an engaging history podcast instead of slogging through dry text. Advertisement And in a business setting, perhaps a busy exec could upload an accounting report and listen to it while on the putting green instead of reading a stale PDF. (I tried uploading my tax return and created what may be the most boring podcast in human history.) But NotebookLM is a pretty niche product so far — and Spotify Wrapped is a massively popular feature on a massively popular app. It's likely that this will be many people's first exposure to NotebookLM's abilities. I imagine it will be mindblowing for many people! But I urge restraint and moderation. Although seeing a screenshot of your friends' top artists might be fun, no one wants to hear a podcast about it.

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12. Soto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced. Soto is the top player available among this year's free agents . A four-time All-Star, Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons. Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, where the Yankees lost to the Dodgers . In his pitch to teams, Boras highlighted that Soto joined Mickey Mantle as the only players with seven RBIs in a World Series at age 21 or younger when he was with Washington, and at 20 became the youngest player with five postseason homers. Soto's .906 postseason OPS through age 25 topped Mantle (.900) and Derek Jeter (.852). How much money will Soto get? Soto is likely to seek a record contract, topping Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. That might not mean Soto gets more than $700 million, though. Because Ohtani's deal included $680 million in deferred money payable through 2043, it can be valued by different methods. For instance, Ohtani's contract is valued at $46.1 million per season ($461 million total) under MLB's luxury tax system, which used a 4.43% discount rate. The players' association uses a 5% rate, which puts Ohtani's contract at $43.8 million per year. For MLB's regular payroll calculations, a 10% discount rates values Ohtani's deal at just $28.2 million. Which means if Soto gets even $462 million without deferred payments, there's an argument that his deal is the most valuable in MLB history. By average annual value, pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are tied for second in baseball history at $43.33 million as part of contracts they signed with the New York Mets, deals that expired at the end of the 2024 season. In terms of total value, Ohtani surpassed outfielder Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels through 2030. MLB’s longest contract is outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year deal with the San Diego Padres through 2034. How could MLB's luxury tax factor into team's bids on Soto? The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies all are likely to enter 2025 having paid luxury tax for three straight years, putting them at the highest rate: a 50% surcharge on payroll between $241 million and $261 million, 62% from $261 million to $281 million, 95% from $281 million to $301 million and 110% for each dollar above $301 million. Toronto may have dropped below the initial tax threshold this year, pending final figures next month. If the Blue Jays did fall under, their rates next year would reset to 20%, 32%, 62.5% and 80% for the four thresholds. The winter meetings would be a fitting place for Boras to announce a record deal If Soto reaches or announces an agreement at the winter meetings in Dallas' Hilton Anatole, it would be a familiar location for a big Boras deal. Alex Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was announced in December 2000 at what then was called the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. A-Rod's deal more than doubled MLB's previous high, a $121 million, eight-year contract between pitcher Mike Hampton and Colorado that was announced just two days earlier. “In two days, we’ve doubled a new highest salary,′′ said Sandy Alderson, then an executive vice president in the commissioner’s office. ”I don’t like the exponentiality of that." Rodriguez was 25 at the time of the agreement with Texas, a free agent before entering his likely prime, like Soto. Besides Soto, which free agent hitters are available? Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, and outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are among the significant bats available to pursue and likely would interest some of the teams who fail to sign Soto. Bregman and Alonso, like Soto, are represented by Boras. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

ROY KEANE was caught up a heated confrontation with an Ipswich supporter moments after Ruben Amorim's first Manchester United match. The incident happened at Portman Road following Sunday's 1-1 draw between the Red Devils and the Tractor Boys. The game marked Ruben Amorim's debut in England after replacing Erik ten Hag. But despite taking an early lead through Marcus Rashford, United were unable to clinch victory after being pegged back through Omari Hutchinson's wonder strike. And with both teams sharing the points, things got heated at full-time between pundit Keane and a home supporter. The Irish United legend spent two years as Ipswich manager between 2009 and 2011. He won just 28 of his 81 matches and was sacked midway through the 2010/11 campaign with Ipswich in 21st place in the Championship. Video from the Mail showed Keane leaving his Sky Sports desk before walking over to the sideline where a fan was waiting. Keane could be see leaning in and speaking to the man while gesturing with his hand. The fan looked equally animated as Keane continued to deliver a tongue-lashing. FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS At the same time, other Ipswich supporters poured forward to confront their former boss. And one could be heard shouting: "F**k you Keane." MANCHESTER UNITED began the Ruben Amorim era with a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich. Marcus Rashford needed just 81 seconds to put the Red Devils in front at Portman Road, tapping home an Amad Diallo cross. But Ipswich hit back when Omari Hutchinson's strike flew in via a deflection off Noussair Mazraoui. And it was the newly-promoted side who looked likelier to get a winner in the second half. Here is how SunSport's Charlie Wyett saw the performances of the Man Utd players... ANDRE ONANA - 7/10 United’s best player. Two key stops to deny Liam Delap but no chance for the deflected Omari Hutchinson goal. Then delivered an 87th minute save to keep out an effort from Conor Chaplin. NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI - 5 Slotted in on the right of the three-man defence but unfortunate with the deflection for the goal. MATTHIJS DE LIGT - 5 Has been suspect this season and will probably be better suited to a back three although still given a tough time by Delap. JONNY EVANS - 5 The 36-year-old was targeted by Ipswich for his lack of pace and no surprise he was replaced. AMAD DIALLO - 6 Did incredibly well to bomb past Jens Cajuste and deliver the cross for Rashford’s early goal but offered little else. CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN - 5 Some nice touches going forward but too lightweight in this position in front of the back three. CASEMIRO - 4 Lucky to start ahead of Manuel Ugarte and was really poor. Struggled throughout before being subbed and could maybe have got a block to the Hutchinson shot. DIOGO DALOT - 5 Not suited to left wing-back although stayed there when Luke Shaw arrived because the English international replaced Evans in the back three. BRUNO FERNANDES - 5 Some of his link-up play was fine but United need a captain who can inspire this team and Fernandes is not the man. Sent a free-kick flashing past the post with 12 minutes left. ALEJANDRO GARNACHO - 5 Twice called over by Ruben Amorim in the first half for instructions. Denied by a decent save from Aro Muric 50 seconds into the second half. MARCUS RASHFORD - 6 Criticised for his basketball trip to New York so to score after 80 seconds was two fingers up at his critics - but did not offer much after that. Subs Ugarte (for Casemiro 56 mins) - 6 Shaw (for Evans 56 mins) - 6 Hojlund (for Rashford 67 mins) - 5 Zirkzee ( for Eriksen 67 mins) - 5 Mount (for Garnacho 87 mins) - 5 Fans responded with mixed feelings to the clip on social media, with one saying: “Worst manager in Town’s history. He set us back a lot of years.” Another declared: “The fan needs to grow up.” THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball .Palo Alto's Rebound Leads to a Stock Split Announcement. Can the Stock Keep Its Momentum Going?The Duckhorn Portfolio Announces Fiscal First Quarter 2025 Financial Results