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Black Friday TV deals are still available on sets from Samsung, LG, Sony and more at all-time-low prices

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Black Friday is traditionally one of the best times to buy a new TV, and this year is no different. If you’re hoping to make a living room upgrade, we’ve scoured the web and picked out the best Black Friday TV deals we could find. The discounts include well-reviewed OLED TVs and budget sets alike from Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL and Hisense. For those happy with their current TV, there are also several deals on media streamers and streaming services we like.

Best Black Friday TV deals: Under $500

TCL

The QM6K is widely regarded as one of this year’s better TV bargains. As a more budget-friendly model, it won’t get you top-notch contrast, color volume, brightness or HDR performance, but its quantum-dot color, mini-LED backlighting and full-array local dimming help it more than hold its own for the money. It’s a nice buy for gaming on a budget as well, since its input lag is relatively low and it has a fast 144Hz refresh rate that can reach as high at 288Hz if you play in 1080p. This deal marks a new all-time low. The 65-inch and 75-inch models are also at their best prices to date at $498 and $698, respectively. Also at Best Buy and Walmart.

$398 at Amazon

Hisense U65QF (55-inch) for $398 at Amazon ($402 off MSRP): The U65QF is another entry-level LED TV with generally positive reviews. Most feedback around the web suggests that it can’t match the QM6K in terms of contrast, gaming features and overall accuracy, so TCL’s model should be a better buy for most. This iteration also uses Amazon’s Fire TV platform instead of the cleaner Google TV. It can achieve a higher peak brightness, however, so it’s worth considering if you get particularly bad glare in your living room. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 55-inch model, but the 65-inch ($548), 75-inch ($748) and 85-inch ($900) models are also at all-time lows. Also at Best Buy.

Best Black Friday TV deals: Between $500 and $1,000

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TCL

The TCL QM7K is a fairly sizable step up over the QM6K, with noticeably improved contrast, brightness and color volume. It has a 144Hz refresh rate with 288Hz@1080p support as well, though like the budget model it’s limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports. And like most LED TVs, it can’t compete with a good OLED set when it comes to colors and viewing angles. This deal matches the all-time low for the 65-inch model. The 55-inch version is $30 above its previous best at $598. Also at Best Buy and Walmart.

$798 at Amazon

LG B5 (48-inch) for $530 at Best Buy ($770 off): The B5 is LG’s entry-level OLED TV for 2025. It gets you the core benefits of any OLED TV — excellent contrast, wide viewing angles, smooth motion and so on — but it can’t get as bright as the higher-end LG C5, nor does it look quite as colorful. It’s technically limited to a 120Hz refresh rate instead of 144Hz, too, though that isn’t a big deal unless you plan to play PC games on your TV. This deal matches the best price we’ve seen for the 48-inch version. The 55-inch model is on sale for a low of $897 as well. Also at LG.

Hisense U75QG (55-inch) for $498 at Amazon ($416 off): The Hisense U75QG is a close competitor to the QM7K. Its main advantage is that it can get much brighter than TCL’s model, which can make HDR content look more dynamic. This set also comes with four HDMI 2.1 ports instead of two, which is nice for those with multiple game consoles and a soundbar. That said, some reviews say its contrast falls short of the QM7K and that it can make HDR content too bright to be fully accurate. It also suffers from more noticeable motion blur, which means it’s not the best choice for fast-paced games. So you may only want to grab it if you’re determined to stay in this price range and have your TV in an especially bright room. Nevertheless, this is a new low for the 55-inch set. The same goes for the 65-inch ($748) and 75-inch ($998) models. Also at Best Buy.

Samsung The Frame TV (2024) 55-inch LED TV for $798 at Amazon ($100 off): You shouldn’t buy a Samsung’s Frame TV if you want the best picture quality for your dollar: They lack local dimming and Dolby Vision HDR, and some cheaper alternatives lap them when it comes to brightness and contrast. Instead, you’d buy one if care about your TV’s aesthetic above all else, since they’re designed to look like a framed piece of wall art. This set also has a matte screen finish, so it holds up well against glare and direct reflections. This discount brings the 55-inch version within $20 of the best price we’ve tracked. Just note that we’re highlighting the 2024 model; this year’s edition is also on sale for $100 more, but its panel still isn’t great the price, so we recommend saving as much cash as possible if you’re dead-set on buying one of these things. Also at Best Buy and Samsung.

Best Black Friday TV deals: $1,000 and up

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Samsung

The S90F is notable for using a QD-OLED panel, which mixes the usual perks of OLED TVs with a layer of quantum dots. That helps it produce a wider gamut of more vivid colors compared to traditional WOLED TVs. It also has a fast 144Hz refresh rate and four HDMI 2.1 ports. No Samsung TV supports Dolby Vision HDR, and some reviews we trust say that LG’s C5 — a competing WOLED TV — can retain darker black tones in a bright room. Still, this set should provide a more colorful image in most conditions.

This 65-inch model very briefly fell to $1,248 earlier this month, but this is its lowest price to date otherwise. The 77-inch version is also down to a low of $1,998. Just make sure you only grab the 55-, 65- or 77-inch model, as those are the only ones sold with the superior QD-OLED panel in the US. Also at Samsung and Best Buy.

$1,398 at Amazon

LG C5 (65-inch) for $1,247 at Amazon ($200 off): The LG C5 can’t produce the same bold colors as a QD-OLED display like the Samsung S90F, but reviews almost universally agree that it’s an exceptional OLED TV otherwise. It should get brighter with non-HDR content, and as noted above it should produce deeper blacks in a well-lit room. It also has all the essential gaming features, plus it supports Dolby Vision HDR (but not HDR10+). If you need that, or if you want an OLED set in this price range for a bright-ish room, it’s well worth a look. This ties the best price we’ve tracked for the 65-inch model; other sizes are also on sale, but note that the 42- and 48-inch sets can’t get as bright as the larger versions.

Samsung S95F (65-inch) for $2,298 at Amazon ($700 off): The S95F is a premium model that’s received almost universally stellar reviews for being especially bright among OLED TVs while keeping the bold colors and contrast expected from a QD-OLED panel. That brightness, combined with the display’s matte finish, means it’s uniquely adept at fending off glare. It also has four HDMI 2.1 ports and a native 165Hz refresh rate for gaming. That said, there’s still no Dolby Vision HDR, and the matte coating means that black tones won’t look as deep in a bright room. It’s not cheap, but this is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 65-inch model. Also at Samsung and Best Buy.

LG G5 (65-inch) for $1,997 at Amazon ($400 off): The LG G5 is the S95F’s chief rival at the top of the OLED TV market. Most reviews say it can get even brighter, it does support Dolby Vision and its glossy finish means it won’t lose those inky blacks under ambient light. It’s more susceptible to glare, however, and while its picture is a level above most WOLED TVs, it’s still a step behind QD-OLED sets like the S95F when it comes to color volume. But if you’re mostly going to watch things away from direct light, this might be the better buy. This deal has technically been live for a few weeks, but it matches the lowest price we’ve seen for the 65-inch model. Also at Best Buy and LG.

Sony Bravia A95L (55-inch) for $1,600 at Best Buy ($1,200 off): The A95L is an older QD-OLED TV from Sony released in 2023, but many reviews conclude that it isn’t far off its 2025 successor, the Bravia 8 II, which currently costs $400 extra. Like many premium Sony TVs, it’s earned praise for its excellent image processing, upscaling of lower-quality video and overall accuracy, so it should appeal to those who want movies and shows to look closer to their creators’ original intent. As a QD-OLED TV, it can display more vivid colors than lower-priced WOLED panels, plus it supports Dolby Vision HDR.

Still-great competitors like the Samsung S90F and LG C5 cost hundreds less, however, while top-end models like the Samsung S95F and LG G5 can get noticeably brighter. The A95L also isn’t the best for gamers at this price, as it’s limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports — one of which is an eARC port for soundbars — and its input lag is slightly higher than those rivals. But if you’re fine with all of that, this deal ties the all-time low for the 55-inch model. Also at Sony.

TCL QM8K (75-inch) for $1,398 at Amazon ($602 off): If you’re willing to pay an OLED-level price but want the increased brightness of a high-end LED TV, the TCL QM8K is worth a look. It won’t be as good in a dark room as something like the Samsung S90F or LG C5, as its contrast isn’t as deep and black tones aren’t as uniformly dark. Its viewing angles are clearly worse, too. But reviews say it still performs excellently compared to other LED sets, and since it gets way brighter than most OLED alternatives (especially with non-HDR content), it can better withstand glare. It also has a 144Hz refresh rate with support for 288Hz at 1080p, though it only comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports, and it’s not available in a size smaller than 65 inches. This is the best price we’ve seen for the 75-inch variant. Also at Best Buy.

Best Black Friday streaming device deals

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Google

The Google TV Streamer 4K is the top pick in our guide to the , blending speedy hardware with a helpful UI that pulls together shows across streaming services and makes it easier to find things you might actually want to watch. It’s technically limited to the older Wi-Fi 5 standard, however. This deal ties the lowest price we’ve seen. Also at and .

$75 at Amazon

Roku Streaming Stick 4K for $25 at Amazon ($25 off): The Streaming Stick 4K is worth considering if you want a cheaper stick-style streamer that plugs directly into your TV, or if you just prefer Roku’s app-based UI, which many find simpler to navigate than the alternatives from Google and Amazon. Performance is fine, if not super-fast, and the device supports Apple AirPlay as well. Just expect to see some ads and know there’s no Twitch app. This deal matches the stick’s all-time low. Also at Best Buy and B&H.

Roku Streaming Stick Plus for $19 at Amazon ($21 off): The Streaming Stick Plus is a cheaper version of the Streaming Stick 4K with no Dolby Vision support and no long-range Wi-Fi extender included. It may be less reliable with choppier internet connections as a result, but it can typically be powered straight from a TV’s USB port, it can still stream up to 4K, and the software experience is identical. Most people should probably just spend the extra $5 for the Streaming Stick 4K, but if you’re really looking to save, the Plus is a decent value. This deal is a new all-time low. Also at Best Buy and Walmart.

Roku Ultra for $69 at Amazon ($31 off): The Ultra might be worth it if you want the Roku experience in a set-top box design with built-in Ethernet and USB ports. Unlike the streaming sticks, it comes bundled with a rechargeable remote that supports voice controls, a lost remote finding tool and backlit buttons. (Though you can buy that separately.) This latest model also has a faster processor and Wi-Fi 6 support, though it’s not as snappy as other boxes like the Google TV Streamer 4K or Apple TV 4K. This deal ties the best price we’ve tracked. Also at Best Buy and Walmart.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus for $25 at Amazon ($25 off): If you’d prefer one of Amazon’s media streamers, the newly rebranded Fire TV Stick 4K Plus offers the same core experience as the pricier Fire TV Stick 4K Max, only it has a slightly slower processor, half the storage space (8GB) and Wi-Fi 6 support instead of Wi-Fi 6E. For most people who just want to stream casually, those shouldn’t be huge losses. Just keep in mind that its Fire OS interface is still fairly ad-heavy and prioritizes Amazon’s own apps over everything else. This deal is $3 more than the device’s all-time low but ties the best price we’ve seen in the past year. Also at Best Buy.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 at Amazon ($25 off): If you want the best Amazon streaming stick possible, the 4K Max gets you faster hardware than the Plus model and may be worthwhile if you have a Wi-Fi 6E router at home. This deal isn’t an all-time low, but it matches the best price we’ve seen over the past year. Also at Best Buy and Target.

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for $18 at Amazon ($17 off): The Fire TV Stick HD is the budget pick in our guide to the best streaming devices. It only streams up to 1080p and runs a bit choppier than Amazon’s 4K models since it has a slower chip and a meager 1GB of RAM. The usual complaints with Fire OS still apply, too. But if you want to stick with Amazon and just need to add streaming apps to an old TV for as little as possible, it’ll work well enough. This discount matches the best price we’ve tracked. Also at Best Buy and Target.

Best Black Friday streaming service deals

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Disney

An annual subscription to the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle is on sale for $5 per month (or $60 total) through December 1. New and eligible returning subscribers can take advantage. Considering the bundle typically costs $13 per month, this deal represents more than a 50 percent discount on the service’s standard going rate.

$60 at Disney+

Apple TV 6-month subscription for $36 at Apple ($42 off): Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for $36, which comes out to $6 per month for the discounted period. The deal is live for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Slow Horses, The Morning Show or Pluribus for less. The big caveat here is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not a third-party service.

HBO Max 1-year subscription for $36 at HBO ($96 off): HBO Max’s Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year of its ad-supported tier for $3 per month, or $36 total, through December 1. Normally, this would cost $11 per month. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re already a Prime Video subscriber, via that service as an add-on.

Paramount+ 2-month Premium subscription for $6 at Paramount ($20 off): If you’re looking to stream CBS shows or Champions League soccer, this Black Friday deal brings the monthly price of either Paramount+ tier down to $6 total for two months. The obvious better deal is for the ad-free Premium plan, which typically costs $13 per month, but be warned your subscription will be set to auto-renew by default.

Sling TV Orange Day Pass for $1 at Sling ($4 off): Sling TV launched Day Passes earlier this year, giving users one-day access to a variety of its packages. This deal cuts $4 off the normal price of a pass for Sling Orange. With that, you get unlimited access for 24 hours to Orange’s 30-plus channels, including ESPN, CNN, TBS and others.



This story originally appeared on Engadget

How much passive income can you earn with £20,000?

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Image source: Getty Images

A Stocks and Shares ISA is a valuable asset for investors looking to earn passive income. In fact, it’s become even more so after the Autumn Budget. 

The contribution limit stays at £20,000, but dividend taxes are going higher for investors in the basic and additional rate brackets. And the difference might be more than you might think. 

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.

A £20,000 investment

From April, basic-rate taxpayers are set to pay 10.75% on dividends above £500. So someone who invests £20,000 in a portfolio yielding 5.5% wil pay £64.50 on £1,100 in annual dividends.

That doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up to £1,935 over the life of a 30-year investment. And the situation is worse for someone who wants to grow their income by reinvesting.

The £500 dividend allowance stays fixed as a portfolio grows, so investors don’t just pay more tax. They actually end up losing a higher percentage of their passive income.

As a result, a basic-rate taxpayer who starts with £20,000 and reinvests at 5.5% for 30 years ultimately ends up paying £5,493. But this isn’t the only cost. 

Investors who use Stocks and Shares ISAs don’t just save that tax. They also get to reinvest it, to give their dividends an additional boost with the cash they save in taxes.

The difference over 30 years is huge. Instead of £3,776 a year from a taxable account, an investor who uses a Stocks and Shares ISA can earn up to £4,668 in annual passive income.

A 5.5% yield

I’ve been focusing on a 5.5% return in the calculations above. And that’s because there’s a dividend stock with that yield that I think is worth considering right now. 

The stock is Admiral (LSE:ADM). It has a lower dividend yield than some other UK insurers, such as Aviva or Legal & General, but I think the corresponding risks are also much lower.

Car insurance is a good industry and a bad industry. It’s good because it’s non-negotiable – anyone who wants to drive has to buy insurance from somewhere. 

It’s bad because it’s mostly a commodity. Customers just go wherever the cheapest price for the cover they need is on offer and there isn’t much companies can do about this.

Admiral, though, has a unique advantage. Its telematics products give it better data about drivers, allowing it to assess risk more accurately and maintain higher margins.

In any given year, premiums can fall if competitors price contracts too low. But this isn’t sustainable and Admiral’s better data gives it a key long-term advantage.

Dividend investing

Admiral is the kind of stock I think income investors should consider in the portfolios. But there are other companies that also have strong positions in important industries. 

The ultimate ambition has to be to build a diversified portfolio. And I think UK investors can do this while maintaining a 5.5% overall dividend yield. 

An important part of the process, though, is taking advantage of opportunities like Stocks and Shares ISAs. There’s no point earning a big return if you have to give it away in tax.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

Russia is paying a nearly 90% markup on sanctioned goods from China — compared to 9% from elsewhere

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In early 2022, Russia and China famously declared their friendship had “no limits,” right before Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

More than three years later, that relationship is looking increasingly lopsided, and apparently doesn’t include friendly discounts, as Moscow relies heavily on Beijing to cushion the blow of Western sanctions.

A recent report from the Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies found that the median price Russia paid for Chinese exports of sanctioned products soared 87% between 2021 and 2024. For exports from other countries, however, prices of sanctioned goods rose just 9% during that time.

Researchers highlighted ball bearings, which is on the European Union’s list of high-priority items. While the value of Chinese ball-bearing exports to Russia jumped by 76% from 2021 to 2024, the quantity of exports actually dropped by 13%, indicating that the unit price doubled.

And for tapered roller bearings, the unit price nearly quadrupled. Both types of products are critical industrial inputs that could also be used in Russia’s weapons sector.

“Our general results, illustrated here with two simple examples, lead us to conclude that trade sanctions have been successful in their aim of limiting Russia’s access to critical goods,” the Bank of Finland said.

To be sure, China wasn’t the only country that was able to squeeze higher prices from Russia. The report said Turkish export prices of sanctioned goods to Russia were up 25%–55% compared to other exports.

Overall, prices of sanctioned products were 40% higher than prices of non-sanctioned products.

A separate note from Capital Economics said total bilateral trade between Russia and China fell 9% during the first nine months of 2025 compared to a year ago. That’s after trade more than doubled between 2020 and 2024.  

China now accounts for 30% of Russia’s goods exports and 50% of its imports. On the flip side, Russia accounts for just 3% of China’s goods exports and 5% of its imports.

As Chinese firms fear potential fallout from Western sanctions on Moscow, there’s little sign that China is expanding supply chains in Russia, while foreign direct investment remains limited.

“Overall, the Russia-China relationship is—and will remain—asymmetric,” Capital Economics said. “China is more important for Russia economically than Russia is for China. And Russia wants and needs more from the relationship than China is willing to provide.”

The reports come amid signs that the Kremlin has proposed business deals with the U.S. as part of talks to the end the Ukraine war and lift sanctions.

Meanwhile, Putin’s wartime economy is hitting a wall as production bottlenecks, labor shortages, tighter government spending, and the lack of Western technology are increasingly causing strains.

“To produce substantially more equipment or recruit and train far more soldiers, Moscow would have to shift to a more comprehensive war footing by directing all available resources toward military needs, as it did during World War II, or commandeering civilian production lines for military purposes,” Alexandra Prokopenko, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and former Russian central bank advisor, wrote in Foreign Affairs last month.



This story originally appeared on Fortune

Democrats Are On The Cusp Of An Earthquake House Win In Tennessee

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Republicans are hanging on to their majority in the House by a thread. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s abrupt resignation means that a reliable red House seat will remain unfilled for months.

However, it is what is happening in a special House election in Tennessee that should be terrifying Republicans. Tennessee’s Seventh US House district is not a race that, in a normal year, anyone would consider to be ripe for flipping.

PoliticusUSA is 100% independent. We are not beholden to any political party or special interest. Support us by becoming a subscriber.

Republicans have heavily gerrymandered the district. Trump carried it in 2024 by 22 points.

Hakeem Jeffries and House Democrats have been consistently widening their map of potential 2026 pickups. The Democrats have been telling anyone who would listen for months that districts Republicans carried by 20 points or more are in play for 2026.

Experts and Republicans scoffed because if seats that Republicans carried by more than twenty points were in play, it could result in a historic midterm election win for Democrats.

What is happening in the Tennessee special election is making it look like Democrats are right.

The special election is on Tuesday, and what happens in Tennessee could be a strong indicator of where the 2026 midterm election is heading.

Keep reading below



This story originally appeared on Politicususa

Best MacBook Pro Cyber Monday deals start at just $1,299, save up to $500

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Steeper price cuts have hit Apple’s MacBook Pro range, with 16-inch models starting at $2,099 and 14-inch configs as low as $1,299.

Better-than-Black Friday pricing hits MacBook Pros for Cyber Monday.

Amazon and B&H Photo have each slashed prices on Apple’s line of MacBook Pro laptops, with B&H stocking both retail and configure-to-order (CTO) models.

The 16-inch range, in particular, has better-than-Black Friday pricing on several configurations, and the new M5 14-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,349 for the holidays. You can also get an M4 Pro 14-inch for $1,599 ($300 off).

Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums


This story originally appeared on Appleinsider

Chad Michael Murray Celebrates Son’s Football Championship With Heartfelt Coaching Tribute

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Instagram/@chadmichaelmurray

Chad Michael Murray was ecstatic about overcoming a major family milestone when his son’s soccer team was declared the provincial champion. After an unbeaten season, the actor paid tribute to the son, coaches, and the team all at once, sharing how much his coaching experience had brought him closer to his son.

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On his social media, Chad Michael Murray mentioned that he was not just celebrating the victory of his son’s football team but also of his little champ as the whole team won two championships this season. In the long and very personal post, the ‘One Tree Hill’ actor nostalgic about the very momentous event of being a coach of his son’s team, the Destroyers, calling it “the thrill of a lifetime.”

The feeling of paternal pride was very much evident in Murray’s message as he alone praised the moments during the huddles and the action on the field when his son was growing up. He highlighted the special bond that had been built through sports and mainly that it was a privilege to be “in the huddle and look those kids in the eyes before they go to action.” The actor’s words allowed one to imagine a father who was absolutely involved in his child’s athletic journey and thus making memories that were surely beyond the normal parents watching from the sidelines experiences.

Murray’s post also referred to the team’s remarkable defensive achievement of conceding only 36 points for the whole ten games, and at the same time, he mentioned some of the coaching staff who supported their good work. Coach @henderson881022 was pointed out by Murray as the one who was leading “with grace” and exhibited “the tenacity a football coach needs yet a deep love for the kids.” He mentioned @jazzyskydancer as the defense coach who had “built the defense from scratch” and @shakywhite for the offensive line that “makes way for Sonic and Knuckles,” probably players with such nicknames who are the most important for the team’s scoring.

Murray also thought back on the team that “won more through defeat” and “grit to get up off the floor and get back to work” as he remarked how the team woke victoriously. He was in awe of the “effort the players put in and fought for all season,” calling it “indeed a team effort from the top down.” The actor concluded by recognizing parents as “the real heroes” and looking forward to “rolling it back next season.”

The heartfelt post attracted a lot of enthusiasm from the follower’s side as well as from the fellow parents who had faced similar situations. Brian Presley, actor, who was quick to comment, said, “That’s awesome Chad! Best times!” thus sharing the understanding of those times of youth sports as the most precious moments.

A different person emphasized the family aspect of the accomplishment saying, “And Lucas is officially a coach now” with heart emojis, thus suggesting that Murray’s son might have taken on some leadership responsibilities over and above his role as a player.

Murray’s post was in harmony with the football parents. A memory came back to someone, “My son was at that age (he is 20 now!) had 2 championships in one he was undefeated and no one could score on them! It’s a blast and goes way too fast!” This feeling is the same as to what most parents feel when their children are playing in youth sports—that these seasons are over in a blink.

The most poignant response may have come from a mother who revealed the personal nature of the bond many still have with Murray dating back to the ‘One Tree Hill’ era. She wrote, “My son is named Lucas and he is a 10-year-old badass lineman from Battle Creek, Michigan. You can bet that I took my inspiration for his name from the character played by Murray! #onetreehill.” This remark is an indication of how the character played by Murray continues to influence real lives even long after the show has ended.

The emotional impact of Murray’s words was not lost on the followers either. One of them confessed, “Crying into my pre-Thanksgiving meal prep in my kitchen reading this wasn’t on my bingo card,” with a crying face emoji accompanying the statement, demonstrating how raw and genuine Murray’s reflection resonated with people and how it reached beyond sports contexts.

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What impressed me most in the Murray’s post was not only the championship win, but also the genuine depiction of a father who was fully present in the life of his child, using sports as a means to deeper connection and valuable life lessons. Moreover, his well-detailed acknowledgments of fellow coaches not only reveal the extent of his appreciation for teamwork and mentorship but also his commitment to it beyond the spotlight of Hollywood. Jamie Lee Curtis recently shared a fun interaction with Murray, and his wife Sarah Roemer also celebrated him publicly.




This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider

Brooks Nader Poses With Two Men in Mini-Dress

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Brooks Nader wowed her fans by uploading her Thanksgiving photos on Instagram, where she wore a black corset-style mini dress. She hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for her friends and family, and her stylish outfit quickly grabbed attention.

Brooks Nader poses between two men in mini dress

Brooks​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Nader shared on Instagram a carousel of her Thanksgiving dinner party in a mini black dress. She was in a black corset-style mini dress, lace thigh-high stockings, black heels, and a brown fur shawl. She playfully posed with staff members dressed as servers. She also helped set up a chic Thanksgiving table decorated with candles, wine, and flowers.

Nader, in her stylish black dress, is seen raising a glass in a fun toast with the guests at ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌the dinner table. At the Thanksgiving dinner party, she​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ poses next to the stunningly decorated table placed in the celebration room, adorned with Christmas garlands. Nader is also seen drinking cocktails with friends while laughing and celebrating.

The photos also showed a large Thanksgiving food spread, a mini alcohol bottle, a cigarette, and a dessert platter labeled “Nader Thankgiving.” Fans in the comments section loved Brooks’ stylish black mini dress, writing, “Legit perfection,” “Stunning!!!?,” and “NADER NATION.”

Originally reported by Ojas Kulkarni on Mandatory




This story originally appeared on Realitytea

Billionaire Bill Ackman is hunting for bargains for his FTSE 100 trust

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Image source: Getty Images

Pershing Square is a FTSE 100 investment trust that offers exposure to the successful stock-picking strategies of Bill Ackman’s New York-based hedge fund. This makes it a very rare Footsie stock.

Outspoken billionaire Ackman went viral recently after telling younger men to use the line “May I meet you?” to initiate conversations with women. This spawned a digital avalanche of memes (many not as polite as the question itself).

While the quality of Ackman’s dating advice is up for debate, his investing record certainly isn’t. You don’t build a net worth of $9.3bn without skill.

For example, his big bet on Alphabet stock made throughout the first half of 2023 has paid off handsomely. Shares of the AI tech giant have rocketed 130% in the past two years. Other timely purchases include Uber in January and Amazon in April.

This outperformance is reflected in the Pershing Square share price, which is up nearly 400% since the start of 2019.

Therefore, it was interesting to see Ackman talking to Fox Business last week. Asked whether he’s got his eye on anything for 2026, he said it’s currently a very good market for stock-pickers.

We’re seeing some very high-quality businesses showing up at very attractive prices…We’ll absolutely be putting money to workWe’ve actually got approaching 15% cash, and we’re looking at a number of very interesting things. Bill Ackman.

What might this star hedge fund manager have his eye on?

Putting money to work

Ackman is known for buying high-quality, cash-rich compounders with strong brands — usually businesses that are temporarily out of favour.  

One that I think might fit the bill right now is Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META). As the parent of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, it’s obviously a high-quality business that owns rock-solid brands. It has some of the highest cash flows on the planet.

Moreover, the share price is down 20% since August, putting the stock on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 21. That makes it the cheapest stock in the ‘Magnificent Seven’, at least on this metric.

Eye-watering sums

Of course, I could be totally wrong, and it’s worth noting that Ackman has previously criticised the divisive nature of social media algorithms. So he might want nothing to do with a social media giant that has 3.54bn daily active users globally.

Moreover, Meta is investing massive sums building out AI infrastructure. In Q3, free cash flow fell 32% year on year to $10.6bn. In fact, the sums are so eye-watering that Meta has turned to debt to fund its spending plans. Again, this might put Pershing off the stock.

Another potential stock

A second option might be Salesforce, the enterprise software leader that also generates tonnes of cash. The stock’s down 31% year to date because investors are worried about the company’s competitive position in the AI age.

While there’s some risk here, as a world of AI agents might mean less software licences, Salesforce moved quickly to build the first enterprise AI agent platform in late 2024. By July, it had already signed over 12,500 deals.  

The stock’s forward P/E is just 18, which might be enough to tempt Ackman. Personally, I think both Meta and Salesforce are worth considering right now, especially if the billionaire investor starts scooping either up.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

Four dead after shooting at family event in Stockton

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Four people were killed and at least 10 injured Saturday evening after a gunman entered a family event at a banquet hall in Stockton.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the San Joaquin County sheriff’s office was flooded with 911 calls reporting a shooting, and reporting children as young as 9 who were bleeding, including a 15-year-old boy who was not breathing.

Deputies responded to the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue near a Dairy Queen and found shooting victims in the parking lot, and a large number of people panicked and screaming.

The sheriff’s preliminary investigation suggests the incident was a targeted attack, said public information officer Heather Brent. Investigators are still considering all possibilities, she said.

While ambulances were called to take victims to a hospital, others arrived there on their own, including two men who walked into St. Joseph’s Medical Center with gunshot wounds.

“Tonight, my heart is heavy in a way that’s hard to put into words,” said Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee in a statement posted on Facebook. “I am in contact with staff and public safety officials to understand exactly what happened, and I will be pushing for answers.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office noted on social media that the state Office of Emergency Services was monitoring the “evolving situation and coordinating with local law enforcement.”



This story originally appeared on LA Times

Cheating in lightning chess – how unproven allegations ended in tragedy | World News

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The death of a young grandmaster accused of cheating by one of his childhood heroes has once again raised the spectre of fraud in the so-called Game of Kings.

Daniel Naroditsky, 29, was a pioneer in the world of competitive speed chess, which surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and amassed hundreds of thousands of online followers.

But the chess world was rocked when allegations of cheating – never substantiated – were levelled against him by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik.

The explosion of online chess has brought with it a surge in cheating claims – false and otherwise – that has often put the ancient board game in the headlines.

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The cause of Naroditsky’s death has not been publicly disclosed. Pic: AP

In his haunting final livestream, Naroditsky talked about the toll it had on him, saying it felt like “people assume the worst” when he won games.

Naroditsky – known to many as Danya – was found unresponsive at his home in North Carolina in October.

The cause of his death has not been made public and police are investigating it as a possible suicide, overdose or from natural causes.

Leader of the blazing fast world of online speed chess

A prodigy, Naroditsky was just 18 when he became a grandmaster (the highest title in chess apart from world champion).

The son of Jewish immigrants to the US from Ukraine and Azerbaijan, he was born in San Mateo County, California, and showed an impressive attention span and memory as a child.

Naroditsky was consistently ranked in the top 200 for traditional chess, but it was in the fast-paced world of blitz chess where he truly excelled.

Naroditsky had a big following on YouTube and Twitch. Pic: AP
Image:
Naroditsky had a big following on YouTube and Twitch. Pic: AP

In the format where players have just fractions of a second to make decisions, Naroditsky maintained a spot in the top 25 players in the world.

He became one of the most influential voices in the sport and drew hundreds of thousands of followers online as he played a fundamental role in popularising speed chess.

Naroditsky, like many prominent chess players, would regularly livestream his games and provide live commentary on his moves.

Russia's Vladimir Kramnik during the world championship in 2008. Pic: AP
Image:
Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik during the world championship in 2008. Pic: AP

‘People assume the worst’

Comments by Russian grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik, a former world champion and well-known figure in the chess world, were seen as unsubstantiated claims of cheating levelled against Naroditsky.

He had been one of Naroditsky’s childhood heroes. Naroditsky denied the claims and they were never proven.

But the allegations – which Kramnik denies ever making – appear to have taken a toll on the young chess star.

In the last livestream he filmed before his death, Naroditsky said it was “absolutely terrifying” seeing some people believe the cheating accusations. “You’re like, this cannot be happening.”

He added: “Ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I start doing well, people assume the worst of intentions.”

“The issue is just the lingering effect of it.”

Daniel Naroditsky was a child prodigy and became a grandmaster aged 18. Pic: AP
Image:
Daniel Naroditsky was a child prodigy and became a grandmaster aged 18. Pic: AP

Grandmasters criticise Kramnik

Members of the chess world paid tribute to Naroditsky in the days after his death, praising his prodigious skill and his impact on the community.

“Let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for the game of chess, and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day,” his family said.

But as well as tributes to Naroditsky, fellow grandmasters have also heavily criticised Kramnik on social media.

American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura went on an expletive-laden rant on a livestream, while Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin accused the Russian pro of trying to destroy Naroditsky’s life.

Others called for an end to the constant finger-pointing that seems to have followed players like Naroditsky who excelled specifically at speed chess,

Chess.com – the hugely popular website where people from all over the world, including the game’s elite, come together to play – shut down Kramnik’s blog in 2023.

It said he had used the platform to spread baseless cheating allegations about “many dozens of players”.

Read more from Sky News:
Could the next king of English chess be a Russian?
Carlsen plays chess match against 14,000 people

Vladimir Kramnik at the world championships in 2008. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Vladimir Kramnik at the world championships in 2008. Pic: Reuters

Who is Vladimir Kramnik and who has he accused?

Born in the Soviet Union, in what is now Russia, Kramnik, 50, is a former world champion and one of the top-ranked players of his generation.

But his outspoken nature has seen him in the headlines for his words rather than his chessboard talent.

Starting in October 2024, he made comments about Naroditsky, suggesting his near-perfect play was “statistically impossible”.

Kramnik continued to post about Naroditsky on the day his death was announced, calling it a tragedy and speculating about the cause.

Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik in 2018. Pic: AP
Image:
Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik in 2018. Pic: AP

He said Naroditsky’s death “has deeply shaken me personally” but also went on to criticise what he called “an unprecedentedly cynical and unlawful campaign of harassment against me and my family”.

Kramnik denied making any personal attacks or insults towards Naroditsky.

It’s not the first time Kramnik has gotten caught up in discussions of alleged irregularities in the game.

His comments about Nakamura – a hugely popular chess streamer and one of the highest-ranked players in the world – attracted a lot of attention.

In a post on his now-shuttered blog in November 2023, he said: “Having checked Hikaru’s statistics carefully, I have found NUMEROUS low probabilities performances both of him and some of his opponents.”

Hikaru Nakamura is a grandmaster and popular livestreamer. Pic: AP
Image:
Hikaru Nakamura is a grandmaster and popular livestreamer. Pic: AP

Nakamura said that Kramnik was “cherry picking” statistics and criticised “false accusations”.

In a statement, Chess.com said it had analysed almost 2,000 reports on Hikaru’s games in its Fair Play system and “found no incidents of cheating”.

Kramnik responded by claiming that he never accused Hikaru of cheating and threatened to sue Chess.com.

Cheating in chess – how common is it?

While bending the rules in traditional “over the board chess” is difficult (but not impossible), the surge in popularity of online chess has seen more instances of cheating.

According to Professor Kenneth Regan, an expert in computer science and a chess international master, there are between five and 10 cases of cheating each year for in-person chess.

“The rate of cheating online is 100 to 200 times higher than the rate over the board,” he added.

There are ways to police the game online, he says, but these are intrusive.

Magnus Carlsen moves his queen. Pic: AP
Image:
Magnus Carlsen moves his queen. Pic: AP

“The thing that often gets forgotten is that in statistics, lightning does, sometimes, strike twice,” Erik Allebest, CEO of Chess.com, told Sky News’ sister outlet NBC News.

“When you have 20 million games being played every day, a one-in-a-million chance thing happens every day.

“Some players, especially old-guard players who didn’t grow up playing online chess, often find that hard to understand.”

Hans Niemann studies the board in 2022. Pic: AP
Image:
Hans Niemann studies the board in 2022. Pic: AP

In 2022, Magnus Carlsen – considered by many to be the greatest player of all time – accused American Hans Niemann of cheating.

The explosive allegations followed a shock upset victory for Niemann over Carlsen at an in-person match as well as an online game between the pair in which Carlsen resigned after just one move.

It sparked a furore that brought huge attention to the sport – not always considered a bad thing – and ended with the players agreeing to move forward and an end to legal proceedings.

Carlsen v Nakamura earlier this year. Pic: AP
Image:
Carlsen v Nakamura earlier this year. Pic: AP

Complaint against Kramnik – and an award in Naroditsky’s memory

Chess’s international governing body FIDE (the chess version of FIFA) has filed a complaint against Kramnik following his conduct towards Naroditsky.

It said: “The complaint outlines a pattern of conduct over roughly two years and cites several public statements and materials that FIDE considers relevant to potential violations related to harassment and the insulting of an individual’s dignity.”

If the complaint is found proven, Kramnik could face sanctions including a fine or a ban from competitions.

Kramnik again denied wrongdoing after the complaint was filed, telling Reuters news agency: “What public statement after the death of Daniel was incorrect? … I have not bullied Daniel Naroditsky, nor ever made personal insults towards him.”

Daniel Naroditsky. Pic: Charlotte Chess Center
Image:
Daniel Naroditsky. Pic: Charlotte Chess Center

A petition calling on FIDE to ban Kramnik and revoke his grandmaster title has attracted more than 54,000 signatures.

Meanwhile, FIDE has said it will establish a special prize in memory of Naroditsky and his contribution to chess.

“It is painful for players like Danya (Naroditsky) to be accused of cheating, because since they were young they put in hours and hours and hours of work,” Allebast, the chief executive of Chess.com said.

“For some, that all gets thrown into the garbage by an accusation. For players who view chess as sacred, it hurts them in the soul.”

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK



This story originally appeared on Skynews