On Saturday, Louisville And SMU will compete at 12:00 p.m. ET. After a week on the road, the Cardinals return home to host the Mustangs at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.

Despite a 31:24 defeat against Notre Dame This past weekend, Louisville is a 6.5-point favorite against SMU. according to FanDuel. The sportsbook also set the game’s over/under at 56.5 points.

History is not on Louisville’s side. The two programs have only met twice before, with SMU emerging victorious in both meetings. The Mustangs last defeated the Cardinals 41-7 in 1984. Now Louisville will look to start a new trend by welcoming SMU to the ACC.

How to watch Louisville vs. SMU

Time: Saturday | Noon ET
Channel: ESPN, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: Louisville, Ky. – L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium

On Saturday, Louisville lost 31-24 to No. 16 Notre Dame. For the Cardinals, mistakes were the story of the day. Louisville outgained Notre Dame by 154 yards but committed its first three turnovers of the season.

Additionally, the Cardinals committed six penalties for a total of 50 yards. Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm knows his team cannot afford to make the same mistakes in the future.

“The message was simple. We were beaten. We didn’t play well enough. “We didn’t play cleanly enough,” said Brohm after the defeat. “There were some critical mistakes we made in certain situations. I liked their efforts.

“We played until the end. We had a few chances, but sometimes you can’t be so sloppy against good teams. We were sloppy. So I have to make sure we find a way to deal with this sloppiness, be sharper and be more efficient.”

SMU had a much more rewarding weekend with the win State of Florida in a dominant 42-16 manner. In victory, SMU QB Kevin Jennings completed 16 of his 23 pass attempts for 254 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Not to be outdone, SMU’s backfield racked up 226 rushing yards in the win. Brashard Smith Led the ground game with a team-high 129 yards and a touchdown.

The win was more than just a simple hit in the win column for SMU. It was the program’s first conference game as a member of the ACC. SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee is excited to see where his team’s dynamic will take them.

“That’s how you build confidence,” Lashlee said after the win. “We have built up confidence over the last few weeks and together as a group they play like that, with confidence and confidence. That’s why we definitely don’t want to pour cold water on it. We want to build on this and help the company continue to grow.”

The theatrical release “It Ends with Us,” scheduled for 2024, has attracted a lot of attention – but not just because of its content. Meanwhile, a feud is reportedly brewing between the film’s lead actress and producer Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni. Neither of them have publicly confirmed that there was any conflict between them, although the rumor mill has been churning in the meantime. Overall, Lively has remained a mother despite the personal backlash she has faced. Now she has shared her first full Instagram post since the BTS drama.

Blake Lively’s IG update was a plug for her Blake Brown beauty line and specifically promoted the brand’s All-In-wONEder potion. The post included several photos of the actress herself, wearing only blue jeans and a brown jacket while holding the potion. She also made a trademark joke in her caption, making fun of her own clothing and messy hairstyle. You can check out her post below:

A long-standing feud between Google (GOOG, GOOGL) and Microsoft (MSFT) is once again becoming public.

Google’s latest push came in a complaint filed with the European Commission on Wednesday accusing Microsoft of violating European Union antitrust laws.

Google said in a document shared with Yahoo Finance that Microsoft illegally exploited the licenses of its dominant enterprise server software “Windows Server” to force customers to stick with Microsoft for cloud computing.

Microsoft predicted that Google would “fail” in this case and said it had already addressed similar concerns from European cloud providers.

“As we have not succeeded in convincing European companies, we assume that Google will also not be able to convince the European Commission,” said a Microsoft spokesman.

The new dispute shows “this is a Cold War that has gotten hot,” Adam Kovacevich, CEO and founder of the tech policy advocacy group Chamber of Progress, told Yahoo Finance.

‘Scribbled’

The two tech giants have spent the past two decades battling for dominance in technologies ranging from online search and cloud computing to the markets for operating systems, gaming software, online advertising – and now artificial intelligence, or AI.

The feud began in the first decade after Microsoft settled a landmark U.S. Justice Department antitrust case that claimed the company had eliminated its competitors by making its browser free and defaulting its dominant Windows operating system.

A deal in 2002 opened the door to broader competition in the Internet browser software market and offered Google, then a startup founded by Stanford students Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the opportunity to enjoy a period of meteoric growth in the 2000s start.

Microsoft defended its regained territory in a series of videos, first published in 2011, in which Microsoft skewered Google with parodies that suggested it was inferior in quality and to Google’s rival Gmail service, Chrome browser and related software Data protection is lacking.

A video titled “Gmail Man” questioned Google’s ethics by accusing the company of mining every word in its Gmail customers’ private emails to target them with advertising.

In other videos titled “Scroogled” and “Googlighting” – a parody of the hit 1980s television series “Moonlighting” – Microsoft questioned whether consumers should trust Google to handle their private data.

In 2016, the companies reached a truce, agreeing to end each other’s regulatory lawsuits worldwide, as two new CEOs – Google’s Sundar Pichai and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella – took over.

The pact ended in 2021 as regulators in the US and EU increased pressure on both companies and Microsoft complained that Google was using unfair tactics to compete in online search and advertising.

“You brush your teeth and search on Google.”

Things got really uncomfortable last year during a high-profile antitrust case that pitted Google against the U.S. Department of Justice – a case that alleged Google illegally monopolized the online search market and had echoes of the case the DOJ brought in filed against Microsoft in the 1990s.

The most prominent witness to testify against Google was Nadella, who did not hesitate to take shots at his rival on the witness stand.

“You get up in the morning, brush your teeth and search Google,” said Nadella, emphasizing Google’s overwhelming dominance in the search engine market.

Nadella said Microsoft’s own search engine, Bing, failed to gain traction because Google negotiated for Google Search to have standard placement in browsers, desktops and mobile devices such as Apple’s iPhones and iPads, as well as Android-based smartphones from Samsung and others.

Nadella further described the imbalance as a “vicious circle” that he feared would worsen as AI developed.

Google lost the case after a judge ruled that its search business was an illegal monopoly. The decision now awaits a period of remedial action that could lead to the collapse of the Google empire.

Microsoft certainly could have benefited a lot from a Google defeat, Kovacevich said.

“You were probably the main instigator of the US Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Google,” Kovacevich said. “And the guilty verdict against Google probably benefits Microsoft’s Bing in particular.”

Microsoft is pursuing a similar approach in another antitrust lawsuit against Google, which is still in the first phase of negotiations. It argues that Google’s control over online advertising technologies has hurt the success of its Bing browser.

New dispute before the EU

It is unknown whether the EU will take up Google’s latest attack on Microsoft’s cloud computing rules.

Google argues that Microsoft charged customers a 400% surcharge to migrate their Windows Server licenses to a competing cloud service, while customers who chose Microsoft’s Azure cloud service could migrate for “essentially nothing.” .

Google is using the same type of “bundling” or “tying” claims as in the 1998 DOJ v. Microsoft case.

At the time, U.S. prosecutors alleged that Microsoft illegally monopolized the market for personal computing operating systems by using its Windows operating system to make its browser, Internet Explorer, available for free.

This move bundled the browser together with Windows, ultimately driving rival browser Netscape Navigator out of business.

Microsoft eventually had to open Windows to third-party software, paving the way for companies like Google to “interoperate” or run their browser and search software on Microsoft-operated computers.

Now, in the cloud computing market, Google argues that Microsoft “exploited dominance in one market to prevent performance competition in a separate, independent market,” according to the document shared with Yahoo Finance.

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on X @alexiskweed.

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Parallels Desktop is by far the most powerful and effective tool for accessing a Windows or Linux instance on your Mac. It’s fast, enables mostly seamless workflows between systems, and gets frequent updates that keep it compatible with the latest operating system versions. The most recent Parallels release (Version 20) costs more than before, but Mac users simply won’t find a more capable solution for running apps that work better on Windows or aren’t available on macOS at all. For all those reasons, Parallels Desktop earns our Editors’ Choice award among .

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How Much Does Parallels Desktop Cost?

Parallels Desktop offers Standard, Pro, and Business editions. The Standard edition, which home users should get, costs $129.99 for a perpetual license that doesn’t include upgrades or $99.99 per year for a subscription that does. Because future macOS versions might not work with the current version of Parallels Desktop, I strongly recommend the subscription option. Meanwhile, the Pro and Business editions respectively cost $119.99 and $149.99 per year. Students can get the Standard or Pro subscription versions at a discounted price of $69.99 or $79.99 per year. A free, 14-day trial is available for any version.

The Standard version supports virtual machines (VMs) with 8GB of RAM and four virtual CPUs; the Pro version ups those to 128GB of RAM and 32 CPUs. If you’re using graphics- or math-intensive Windows software, you need the Pro version. The Business version, which matches the Pro tier in terms of VM specs, offers centralized management and a single-volume license for multiple machines. The Pro and Business versions both include a kiosk-like Rollback Mode that makes it easy to run an emulated system that doesn’t save any changes when it shuts down. All versions support a snapshot feature that lets you manually roll back to an earlier version, but the Rollback Model is very useful for corporate and educational setups.

, once a costly commercial app, is now free for personal use. If you’ve used Parallels Desktop in the past, you may remember it as slightly less stable and enterprise-friendly than VMware Fusion. But the latest Parallels Desktop version seems thoroughly reliable and runs refreshingly faster than its already fast predecessor. Fusion performs far more slowly and not as seamlessly.

The free and open-source is slow and buggy on Intel Macs, and its Apple silicon version still isn’t usable in any practical way. The free, experimental , based on the open-source QEMU emulation software (like VirtualBox), can run Windows on Apple silicon, but it’s frustrating to set up and lacks all the conveniences built into Parallels. You’re better off spending paying for Parallels than struggling with the free apps.

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What Platforms and Systems Does Parallels Desktop Support?

Parallels Desktop is available only for macOS. (It once offered Windows and Linux versions of its app under the name Parallels Workstation but discontinued them a dozen years ago.) Unless you’re a developer using virtual systems to develop and test on multiple platforms, this shouldn’t be an issue.

On an Apple silicon Mac, Parallels lets you run the ARM-based version of Windows 11, which is what most users will want to use. Developers and other advanced users can run (including ARM-based versions) or another copy of macOS. A menu within Parallels lets you download and install those. If you’re willing to download the installers yourself, you can also install different versions of macOS from the one you’re running on your host machine.

For the best results with a macOS virtual machine via Parallels, you should be running macOS Sequoia and let Parallels download a virtual Sequoia machine. That’s the only way you will be able to sign in to your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID) from your Parallels-based virtual system. Not even upgrading a virtual Sonoma system to Sequioa will work. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t log in to your Apple Account when you first create a Sequoia virtual machine; I had to restart my VM before I could log in.

On a Mac with an Intel CPU, you can create virtual systems that run any Intel-based Windows or Linux versions, as well as any recent Intel-based versions of macOS from your recovery partition. None of the Apple-silicon-related restrictions on logging in to your Apple Account apply here. I used the menu to download and install Ubuntu Linux in testing, and it was the easiest Linux installation experience I’ve ever had. Instead of working my way through a dozen menus, Parallels did all the setup for me, and the Linux virtual machine was up and running in a couple of minutes.

You can also install any supported virtual system that uses the same architecture as your host system via a disk image or DVD. For Intel machines, you can even import an existing Windows system over a network after installing Parallels’ transfer software on the original computer. Keep in mind that you need to buy a license for any virtual Windows systems, except for developer betas.

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What Apps Work With Parallels Desktop?

For gaming and graphics-intensive apps, Parallels Desktop (like VMware Fusion and the latest version of VirtualBox) supports DirectX 11 graphics but not DirectX 12, which brings ray-tracing and machine-learning capabilities. Unless you’re a serious Windows gamer or run high-powered Windows scientific and graphic apps, DirectX 11 support is likely sufficient.

Recent versions of macOS won’t let you run older 32-bit apps. However, if you have an Intel Mac, Parallels and VMware Fusion allow you to install older macOS versions (Mojave and earlier) that support them. Our story on has all the details.

As mentioned, Parallels is handy for apps like ABBYY FineReader, Microsoft Excel, Nitro PDF, and others, which offer more features via their Windows versions. Virtualization software also helps you run apps like WordPerfect that aren’t available on Macs at all.

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Getting Started With Parallels Desktop

After you download and install Parallels Desktop, you might not be sure what to do next. If you want to install a Windows VM, go to the app’s File menu > New > “Get Windows 11 from Microsoft.” The app will then download and install Windows without asking for any input. You won’t need to set up a user account because Parallels configures the system with the same account name that you use on your Mac. You won’t even need to type a password to log into Windows unless you enable that security setting.

When Windows is done installing, you can follow the prompts to buy a Windows product key (if you don’t already have one) and activate it. Just make sure you have enough disk space. For reference, a Windows 11 setup typically takes up 15GB before you start installing software.

Your Windows VM will then start up in a window. Parallels offers endless options for customizing your Windows VM, including a default option that cleans up unused disk space when you shut down the emulated system. Like with a real Windows system’s hardware setup, you can even set the boot order of the system if you want to start up from a CD or a disk image.

The same Create New option where Parallels lets you download and install Windows also gives you the option to install Windows, Linux, or macOS from an image file or macOS from an installer package. Again, you can install ARM-based systems only on an Apple silicon Mac and Intel-based systems only on an Intel-based Mac. A row of small icons at the foot of the Create New dialog lets you download and install popular Linux versions or the current macOS version.

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Host and Guest Integrations

Like VMware Fusion and VirtualBox, Parallels facilitates a tight connection between the macOS host and the virtual guest systems that it manages. For instance, you can drag and drop files between your Mac host and your VM. You can also share the clipboard between the two systems and, optionally, launch applications on your Windows system to open files on your host Mac and vice versa.

When Windows starts up under Parallels, the folders on your Mac’s desktop appear on your Windows desktop. The same behavior is now the default in VMware Fusion. I think this is a bad idea because I keep some Mac apps on my Mac desktop. Mac apps are technically folders (called application bundles) that the Mac displays as if they were individual files. Windows can’t handle application bundles correctly and simply displays them as folders on your desktop. You can easily mess up your Mac apps if you start exploring these folders on your Windows instance.

I always turn off the option to share the desktop between my Mac and any guest system. Even if you do this, Parallels still has a convenient Mac Files shortcut on the Windows desktop that lets you access any of your Mac folders. An option under Parallels’ Security tab lets you completely isolate your virtual machine from the host macOS system, but you probably won’t want that unless you’re running dangerous software.

Parallels, like VMware Fusion and VirtualBox, lets you run a VM in three ways: in a window on your macOS desktop, in full-screen mode, or via what Parallels calls Coherence mode. In Coherence Mode, Parallels shows a single Windows app on your Mac desktop in its own window and hides the rest of the virtual desktop. Parallels Desktop switches in and out of these modes quickly and seamlessly.

Other aspects of day-to-day computing work as expected. For example, the same printers installed on your Mac appear in the print dialog in your Windows apps. When you attach a USB peripheral, a clear menu pops up and lets you choose whether the device will be accessible in your Windows or Mac systems. You can send Windows-only keystrokes like Break or PrintScreen via a menu on your Mac. All these features are also available in VMware Fusion, but Parallels does a better job of implementing them with more lucid dialogs and better-organized menus.

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Additional Features and Customizations

One major advantage of the Pro or Business versions of Parallels Desktop is the aforementioned Rollback Mode. In this mode, you can run a guest Windows, Mac, or Linux system like a kiosk. In other words, every time you reboot the machine, it returns to its original state. It’s a useful capability for those who like to experiment with software without making permanent changes to a system. All the other emulation apps support snapshots, but those aren’t quite as useful. You can find the Rollback Mode in the Security > Configuration menu for your VM. Here, you can choose between automatically returning the system to its original state or asking the user whether to incorporate or ignore any changes from the session.

Parallels Desktop outclasses the competition with its range of integration options. By default, your Windows guest system and your Mac host use the same Documents and Downloads folders, but you can disable or customize this feature from an Options tab in the Configuration menu. Your home folder on your Mac also gets a drive letter in your Windows system by default. Cloud storage folders on your Mac, like Dropbox and iCloud, also get drive letters in your Windows system, though you can always disable this functionality.

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Speed and Performance

The most impressive aspect of Parallels Desktop is its speed. On an M2-based MacBook Air, Windows 11 booted to the desktop in 4 seconds and needed only 1 second to resume after I suspended it. That’s spectacularly fast. The freeware UTM, on the same machine, booted Windows 11 in 12 seconds.

What impressed me even more was how quickly Parallels Desktop ran apps. Practically every Windows app that you’ll want to use is Intel-based, and ARM-based Windows uses translation software to run it on ARM hardware. Microsoft’s translation software is extremely fast, and every Windows app I ran in Parallels felt snappier than it does on my four-year-old Intel-based Windows desktop. Now that ARM-based Windows laptops and desktops are starting to become available, most major vendors are working on ARM-based versions of their software, which presumably will run even faster in Parallels than the Intel-based versions. Forthcoming ARM-based Windows apps include Adobe Illustrator, LibreOffice, and Opera browser.

On an older Intel-based MacBook Pro, Windows 11 booted to the desktop in 34 seconds and needed 4 seconds to resume. On the same Intel machine, VMware Fusion took 43 seconds to boot Windows 11 to the desktop and 15 seconds to resume from a suspended state. VirtualBox started Windows 11 in 38 seconds, but I found its performance unusably slow once I reached the desktop.

Parallels’ various display modes also worked more quickly and fluidly than competitors’ equivalents. For example, when I ran a Windows app in Coherence Mode, I moved its window around my Mac desktop without the choppiness that I experienced with rival emulators. When I switched in and out of Coherence Mode, Parallels got the job done smoothly and without visual distractions.

One point to keep in mind when running ARM-based Windows is that Microsoft’s translation software isn’t perfect. Every mainstream Windows app will run as expected, but some special-purpose apps might need tweaks. I use the superb to run ancient MS-DOS programs, and some of those programs produced odd results in ARM-based Windows in Parallels initially. I had to select Properties > Compatibility > Change Emulation Settings > Strict Emulation to get them to work properly. The dialog above this drop-down list warns that this change might slow down emulation, but I couldn’t detect any difference.

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Verdict: Seamless Virtualization Software for Mac Users

Parallels Desktop is the obvious choice for home and small office users who want to run Windows, Linux, or even another instance of macOS on an Apple silicon- or Intel-based Mac. It’s terrifically fast, smooth, and reliable. Some of the default settings could change to prevent confusion between the host and virtual desktops, but Parallels Desktop still takes our Editors’ Choice award for emulation software. Just keep in mind that VMware Fusion might be a better choice for large corporations and educational sites that need to run virtual machines on Windows and Linux systems in addition to macOS.

Another solar eclipse is just around the corner and will shake up the signs of the zodiac.

Immediately after the partial lunar eclipse on September 17th, which caused all the emotions, the annular solar eclipse will take place on October 2nd.

According to NASA, an annular solar eclipse occurs “when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while at its furthest point from Earth.” Because the Moon is farther from Earth than usual, it appears smaller than the Sun during the eclipse and does not completely cover it, creating a spectacular “ring of fire” in the sky.

What energy can you expect for the annular solar eclipse? Astrologer Kyle Thomas tells PEOPLE that this time, “relationships will be put more in the spotlight, often sparking significant hookups or breakups.”

“This is the final solar eclipse in Libra on the Aries-Libra axis,” he explains. “We have been experiencing eclipses on this axis since 2023, so you could see a lot of development since then. Since the solar eclipse is conjunct Mercury, it will allow us to find a strong balance between our mind and our emotions, and we will have that.” There is a lot of activity taking place, both personal and professional.

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Thomas also shares that since this eclipse is square to Mars, it can “ignite emotions and tempers.”

“We can get upset about what we’re feeling and face some challenges,” Thomas says. “We will feel an insatiable need to fulfill our desires, which may cause us to be impulsive, aggressive, or spontaneous.” It is best to curb this energy to avoid accidents or problems.”

However, Thomas also points out that this time is perfect for achieving all sorts of personal and professional goals “if we want to build for the long term,” as Venus trines Mars and Saturn.

“Plans initiated now, especially those on a romantic or platonic level, could succeed wonderfully with a perfect combination of passion, attraction, chemistry, intimacy and longevity,” Thomas continues. “The outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto will continue to engage in a beautiful dance, showing that we can make a real difference as we strive to build better lives and a better world.”

Read on for Kyle Thomas’ predictions about what exactly the annular solar eclipse has in store for your zodiac sign.

Aries

The annular eclipse energy will bring focus to your relationships, Aries! Thomas says that “a certain new era is upon you in terms of your relationships,” which could usher in new milestones for you, such as “moving in, getting engaged, or getting married.”

If you’re single, Thomas says, this could be the time you meet your soulmate now or in the coming months, or you could be “moved on to someone better” if you break up with a significant other. On the professional side, Thomas explains that “you may find the perfect company at this point or make plans with an agent, assistant, lawyer or accountant.”

bull

It’s time for a fresh start, Taurus! Thomas says this solar eclipse will bring a new beginning to your “health, productivity and employment.” At work, you may start a new routine or project, or be “pushed to find a better place where you will be more valued.” Thomas also says: “If you’re looking for the perfect staff for your job – or even a pet! – then the universe can help you.”

This time is also perfect to “pursue a new physical health endeavor, such as fitness, diet, or exercise plan,” if you want to build healthier habits long-term.

Gemini

Maybe love is in the air for you, Gemini. Thomas says that “a preordained new beginning has come around matters of the heart” and this eclipse will bring “a burst of passion for romance, true love, hobbies, fertility or creativity.”

For the single Gemini out there, this energy could bring about a soulmate connection and for those in committed relationships, “If you have or want children, exciting news awaits.”

And for the artistic twins out there, “Prepare to channel the muse or present a masterpiece of art.”

Cancer

Cancer, the solar eclipse will bring news to your “domestic life, home and family.” Thomas says this time can bring “a breath of fresh air that might make you want to move, renovate, relocate or redecorate.”

“Another way this could impact you is by spreading news around the real estate industry,” he continues. “However, this may instead focus your attention on family matters that you need to intervene and help with.”

Lion

Leo, this eclipse season will bring “a flood of new ideas and activities.” Thomas tells PEOPLE that this eclipse will invigorate “your communication and intellect” and “you may now embark on a significant writing, speaking or advertising initiative, or complete a major contract venture.”

Thomas also says, “This might instead encourage you to get out of town and travel, visit nearby destinations, or even decide it’s time to meet up with a sibling.”

Virgo

Virgo, a big change in your finances is coming your way! Thomas says, “You may be able to suddenly make more money through a raise, a side hustle, or a new job offer.” However, if you’re nearing the end of a “job or income stream,” Thomas recommends you “use this as an opportunity to improve your business.” to assess assets and find a better employer.”

Scale

Libra, you will enter a new era in your life during this solar eclipse. Thomas says that “sudden new beginnings, fresh starts and opportunities lie ahead of you” and you should be “encouraged to take advantage of them.”

“This is one of the most important points in your life to be clear about what you want and to shape the next chapter in your destiny.”

Scorpio

This is the time to relax, Scorpio. Thomas says, “You will feel the need to rest and recharge due to the solar eclipse” and this is the perfect time to “get in touch with a therapist, counselor or specialist to give you advice on how to live your life “Be able to streamline and be happier.” more efficiently.”

“This gives you the chance to make a fresh start when it comes to your mental health.”

Protect

This is the time to celebrate, Sagittarius! Thomas explains that “a glorious new beginning awaits you” and that this time “could open the door to one of your heart’s hopes and dreams.”

“In addition, you may be able to expand your network, join communities that love and support you, or even meet a platonic soulmate,” he continues. “Know what fills you with joy and pursue it.”

Capricorn

Capricorn, a new phase of your career is beginning for you! Thomas explains that “the eclipse will open a door to your career, ambitions and public recognition” and “a great opportunity to move up the career ladder could arise, particularly in the form of an award, promotion, new job offer or advertising. “.”

This is the time for you to reach for the stars.

Aquarius

Aquarius, this solar eclipse is the time for “a new beginning and new horizons.” Thomas says this time will “help you get out of your comfort zone and see what else is out there” and “you can go on long-distance trips or even immigrate.”

Some Aquarians may use this time to “go back to school – or, if they are already in school, have a big moment with their studies” and “If you are involved in the media, publishing or international business something new awaits you.”

Fish

Pisces, Thomas says this solar eclipse will bring “a new beginning in the way you share, give and receive.”

“If you’re on solid ground, you’ll probably discuss deepening your relationship,” he continues. “You will be magnetically drawn to each other.”

This time there could also be “news of a big severance pay, payout, scholarship or inheritance,” and this would be the perfect time to “get further involved in stocks and investments – you could make big gains.”

Two AFC contenders face off in exciting action this week in Baltimore as Lamar Jackson and the Ravens host the undefeated Buffalo Bills. The Bills are on a short week after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 47-10 on Monday night. For the Ravens, Jackson and Derrick Henry led Baltimore to a 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Things got tight late, however, as Dak Prescott’s offense scored 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to get within three points. It was a challenge for the Ravens to get a double-digit lead.

In fact, the last time Josh Allen and Jackson faced off was in Week 4 of 2022. The Ravens blew a 10-point lead in the second half as Buffalo scored 13 unanswered points – including a game-winning 21-yard field- Goal – win 23-20.

This will be a litmus test for both teams and a possible preview of this year’s AFC Championship Game. It is the highest scoring offense compared to the highest total offense. Let’s break down what promises to be an entertaining match, but first, here’s how to watch the game on Sunday night.

All NFL odds come from SportsLine Consensus.

Where to see

Date: Sunday September 29th | Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore)
Channel: NBC | Electricity: fubo
Consequences: CBS Sports App
Opportunities: Ravens -2.5 O/U 46.5

Trends

• The Ravens have a 6-1 lead at home against the Bills
• The Under has scored in seven of the last eight prime-time games in which Buffalo plays on the road
• The Ravens are 14-7 ATS in primetime games started by Jackson

When the Bills have the ball

Some believed Allen would regress without Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. It turns out he’s fine. So far, he has completed 75% of his passes for 634 yards, 7 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Allen now has the most passing touchdowns without an interception through three games in Bills franchise history and has made two consecutive starts without a turnover for the first time since 2020.

While we don’t know exactly who the new “WR1” is, Allen leads the league with a passer rating of 133.7. Whether he’s throwing the ball to Keon Coleman or Khalil Shakir, Allen is a dangerous playmaker. He prepares for long drives, takes care of the football and still plays with his legs. That’s why Allen is currently the MVP favorite. With a win against the Ravens, he can equal the longest winning streak by a quarterback in franchise history. The record is nine consecutive yards, set by Jack Kemp in 1964. The Ravens have statistically had the worst pass defense in the NFL for three weeks, allowing 291.7 pass yards per game, so Allen will have his chances.

While the Ravens are vulnerable through the air, they currently have the No. 1 rush defense in the NFL with 50 yards allowed per game. Still, Allen’s No. 1 weapon could be running back James Cook. His 285 yards from scrimmage rank 14th in the NFL and his 4 total touchdowns rank fourth. He has become one of those dual-threat backs to be reckoned with, ranking second on the Bills in receiving yards with 97.

When the Ravens have the ball

Death, taxes and the Ravens playing football well. Baltimore has outscored teams by 460 yards this season and outscored the Cowboys 274-51 last week! In this win, Henry recorded his 12th game with 150 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, which ranks second all-time.

Jackson has 254 rushing yards this season, more than any quarterback in the first three games of a season in NFL history. Entering Week 4, he ranks eighth among all rushing players. While Henry had a slow start with his new team, he is clearly starting to find his rhythm. This new version of Thunder and Lightning is the first duo to record 250 rushing yards and average five yards per rush in three games since 1960. The last duo to do this was Jim Brown and Bobby Mitchell for the Cleveland Browns.

The Bills beat the Miami Dolphins in Week 2, but running back De’Vachane had a day with 96 rushing yards and an average of 4.4 yards per carry. The Bills will need to keep Jackson and Henry in check if they want to win on Sunday night.

Another point the Ravens should keep an eye on is their inconsistency on offense. It will obviously be a challenge to build a lead over the Bills, but it’s worth noting that since 2020, Baltimore has lost 11 times by a touchdown lead in the fourth quarter. That’s the most of any team in at least five years, since 1991. Just last week, the Ravens nearly blew a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter.

forecast

The plus money bills will be tempting for everyone. After all, Buffalo has looked like the best team in the NFL over the past three weeks. That being said, the Bills needed a double-digit comeback to beat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, destroyed the Dolphins – who have yet to lead a game with time on the clock this season – in Week 2 and then took care of it on “Monday Night Football.” “ about business against the Jaguars – who look like the worst team in the NFL.

Give me the Ravens in prime time at home, because they are easily the toughest test the Bills have faced this season. Justin Tucker is 0-2 on 50-yard field goals this season, but I predict he hits a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter to win.

Expected score: Ravens (-2.5) 24-21 over Bills

Bonus: SportsLine’s NFL expert Mike Tierney is 48-22-2 in his last 72 picks with the Ravens, and we can tell you he has the edge in this primetime showdown against the Bills. Check out who he’s facing against the spread at SportsLine.

(This article is being updated. Read our previous coverage here.)

Relief efforts continue in Asheville and western North Carolina, where a major disaster caused by Tropical Storm Helene has devastated communities, left roads impassable and thousands without power.

Check back for live updates arriving throughout the day on Sunday.

11:10 a.m.: Travel in western North Carolina nearly impossible

At least 200 roads have been closed in North Carolina since Sunday morning, including Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 on the Tennessee-North Carolina border, according to the state’s road closure map. The closure of I-40 near the state line is described as long-term. I-40 is also closed at Old Fort Mountain. NCDOT estimates it will reopen there on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at noon.

Two AFC contenders face off in exciting action this week in Baltimore as Lamar Jackson and the Ravens host the undefeated Buffalo Bills. The Bills are on a short week after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 47-10 on Monday night. For the Ravens, Jackson and Derrick Henry led Baltimore to a 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Things got tight late, however, as Dak Prescott’s offense scored 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to get within three points. It was a challenge for the Ravens to get a double-digit lead.

In fact, the last time Josh Allen and Jackson faced off was in Week 4 of 2022. The Ravens blew a 10-point lead in the second half as Buffalo scored 13 unanswered points – including a game-winning 21-yard field- Goal – win 23-20.

This will be a litmus test for both teams and a possible preview of this year’s AFC Championship Game. It is the highest scoring offense compared to the highest total offense. Let’s break down what promises to be an entertaining match, but first, here’s how to watch the game on Sunday night.

All NFL odds come from SportsLine Consensus.

Where to see

Date: Sunday September 29th | Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore)
Channel: NBC | Electricity: fubo
Consequences: CBS Sports App
Opportunities: Ravens -2.5 O/U 46.5

Trends

• The Ravens have a 6-1 lead at home against the Bills
• The Under has scored in seven of the last eight prime-time games in which Buffalo plays on the road
• The Ravens are 14-7 ATS in primetime games started by Jackson

When the Bills have the ball

Some believed Allen would regress without Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. It turns out he’s fine. So far, he has completed 75% of his passes for 634 yards, 7 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Allen now has the most passing touchdowns without an interception through three games in Bills franchise history and has made two consecutive starts without a turnover for the first time since 2020.

While we don’t know exactly who the new “WR1” is, Allen leads the league with a passer rating of 133.7. Whether he’s throwing the ball to Keon Coleman or Khalil Shakir, Allen is a dangerous playmaker. He prepares for long drives, takes care of the football and still plays with his legs. That’s why Allen is currently the MVP favorite. With a win against the Ravens, he can equal the longest winning streak by a quarterback in franchise history. The record is nine consecutive yards, set by Jack Kemp in 1964. The Ravens have statistically had the worst pass defense in the NFL for three weeks, allowing 291.7 pass yards per game, so Allen will have his chances.

While the Ravens are vulnerable through the air, they currently have the No. 1 rush defense in the NFL with 50 yards allowed per game. Still, Allen’s No. 1 weapon could be running back James Cook. His 285 yards from scrimmage rank 14th in the NFL and his 4 total touchdowns rank fourth. He has become one of those dual-threat backs to be reckoned with, ranking second on the Bills in receiving yards with 97.

When the Ravens have the ball

Death, taxes and the Ravens playing football well. Baltimore has outscored teams by 460 yards this season and outscored the Cowboys 274-51 last week! In this win, Henry recorded his 12th game with 150 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, which ranks second all-time.

Jackson has 254 rushing yards this season, more than any quarterback in the first three games of a season in NFL history. Entering Week 4, he ranks eighth among all rushing players. While Henry had a slow start with his new team, he is clearly starting to find his rhythm. This new version of Thunder and Lightning is the first duo to record 250 rushing yards and average five yards per rush in three games since 1960. The last duo to do this was Jim Brown and Bobby Mitchell for the Cleveland Browns.

The Bills beat the Miami Dolphins in Week 2, but running back De’Vachane had a day with 96 rushing yards and an average of 4.4 yards per carry. The Bills will need to keep Jackson and Henry in check if they want to win on Sunday night.

Another point the Ravens should keep an eye on is their inconsistency on offense. It will obviously be a challenge to build a lead over the Bills, but it’s worth noting that since 2020, Baltimore has lost 11 times by a touchdown lead in the fourth quarter. That’s the most of any team in at least five years, since 1991. Just last week, the Ravens nearly blew a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter.

forecast

The plus money bills will be tempting for everyone. After all, Buffalo has looked like the best team in the NFL over the past three weeks. That being said, the Bills needed a double-digit comeback to beat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, destroyed the Dolphins – who have yet to lead a game with time on the clock this season – in Week 2 and then took care of it on “Monday Night Football.” “ about business against the Jaguars – who look like the worst team in the NFL.

Give me the Ravens in prime time at home, because they are easily the toughest test the Bills have faced this season. Justin Tucker is 0-2 on 50-yard field goals this season, but I predict he hits a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter to win.

Expected score: Ravens (-2.5) 24-21 over Bills

Bonus: SportsLine’s NFL expert Mike Tierney is 48-22-2 in his last 72 picks with the Ravens, and we can tell you he has the edge in this primetime showdown against the Bills. Check out who he’s facing against the spread at SportsLine.

Smart investors will always be on the lookout for the next breakout stock, and venture capital trusts (VCTs) offer a way to support small UK businesses with high growth potential.

However, with the prospect of high returns comes high risk, so VCTs also offer generous tax benefits as an additional incentive – as long as you stick to the rules.

Here Telegraph Money explains what you need to know about VCTs and the risks involved.

Venture capital trusts (VCTs) are a type of investment that supports small UK businesses and offers investors the opportunity to back potentially high-growth companies.

VCTs typically invest in a basket of 50 to 80 private companies, which are often difficult to access on listed markets.
These range from technology companies to consumer brands, including non-alcoholic beer maker Lucky Saint, fashion retailer ME&EM, skincare technology company Lyma Life and cycling clothing brand Le Col.

Many VCT-backed companies have become household names or are on their way to becoming household names.

To encourage support for growing start-ups in need of next funding, VCTs offer generous tax benefits for investors.

They allow you to offset 30% of your investment against income tax, plus you receive tax-free dividends and don’t have to pay capital gains tax (CGT).

The success stories include the 10 companies that have achieved “unicorn” status – private companies with valuations of $1 billion or more. These include the online car retailer Cazoo, the meal kit company Gousto, which is backed by Joe Wicks, and most recently Quantexa, the AI ​​start-up.

According to the Wealth Club, a total of £118 million has been invested in VCTs so far this tax year (ending September 22, 2024), up 59 per cent on the previous year.

The VCT itself is a fund in which you buy shares. The VCT manager selects companies to invest in based on where he believes opportunities lie.

Most VCTs target an annual dividend (sometimes around 5 percent) and may pay a special dividend if they have good exits – in other words, if they are sold or listed on the stock exchange.

Starting in September each year, VCTs raise funds by issuing new shares, allowing investors to pledge their savings. VCT shares are purchased on the stock market but can trade at a discount to the underlying value of the fund’s investments.

For long-term investors – who get most of their returns from tax-free dividends and underlying growth – this shouldn’t be a problem. But it’s another reason why these should be viewed as a long-term commitment.

To qualify for the tax breaks offered, you must hold the investment for at least five years.

Investing in VCTs can be risky but offers many benefits:

Tax benefits

The tax advantages are convincing. VCTs offer income tax relief of 30 percent – so for every pound you invest in a VCT you can get up to 30 percent tax relief back. They also offer tax-free capital gains and tax-free dividends.

The dividends can therefore serve as a useful source of income. However, if you do not need the income for the time being, reinvested dividends can also receive tax relief.

Generous thresholds

You can invest up to £200,000 in a VCT each year and get up to £60,000 back in tax – but you can’t claim back more tax than you owe.

Suitable for wealthy investors

VCTs, with their grant of £200,000 per year – compared to £20,000 for Isas and £60,000 for pensions – are a compelling option for wealthier investors. They are a tax efficient option if you have already maxed out your ISA and pension.

Potentially higher returns

You may be able to achieve higher returns with VCTs – especially when tax relief is taken into account. If a company held in the VCT is very successful and exits the VCT, either by being sold or listed on a stock exchange, special dividends will be paid.

Opportunity for diversification

Exposure to high-growth, smaller companies also offers the opportunity to diversify a traditional portfolio.

Support for start-ups

By investing, you will help support the next generation of British start-ups, drive innovation and create jobs.

Nicholas Hyett, investment manager at Wealth Club, said: “For experienced investors, particularly those who have already drawn down their ISA and pension allowances, VCTs offer an excellent next port of call.”

“The possibility of a 30% upfront income tax break and tax-free dividends is becoming increasingly attractive to tens of thousands of people drawn into higher tax brackets by frozen annual allowances.”

Of course, there are risks that you have to weigh against the benefits. VCTs invest in early stage companies that are much more likely to fail, and the companies they invest in can be harder to sell.

Most VCTs offer a buyback facility where they will want to buy your shares from you, but at a discount to their value. However, there is no guarantee that shares will always be sold upon request.

Additionally, dividend targets, while attractive, are not guaranteed.

Another disadvantage is the high fees. According to data provider Morningstar, average annual fees are 2.6%, and most also charge performance fees.

There are three types of VCTs that you should be aware of:

Generalist venture capital funds

Investing in a generalist VCT gives you access to a wide range of companies in different sectors of all shapes and sizes. The goal is to maintain a balanced portfolio so that you don’t invest all of your money in one area.

Popular generalist VCTs include Mobeus VCTs and Pembroke VCT.

Specialized venture capital trusts

This term is not used as much anymore. However, it referred to VCTs where the manager focuses on finding and investing in companies operating in a particular sector or industry, such as technology or healthcare. One example is Octopus Future Generations VCT, which focuses on sustainability.

Target of venture capital funds

Some VCT managers focus on companies listed on the London Alternative Investment Market (Aim), sometimes referred to as the UK’s “junior” exchange.

Aim is home to thousands of innovative, fast-growing companies led by entrepreneurs in industries such as technology and healthcare. Octopus AIM VCT is an example. Its largest listed holding is the building materials group Breedon plc, which the company backed in 2010 and which recently expanded into the USA for the first time with a $300 million acquisition.

If you are still interested in investing in VCTs, you need to follow the following steps:

1. Find a broker

First you need to find a VCT broker and register or create an account. There are a number of online VCT brokers including Wealth Club, Chelsea Financial Services and Bestinvest.

2. Make a choice

Find out about the VCTs offered at the time. A prospectus is usually available a few weeks before the VCT opens for applications. As soon as the required amount is reached, the time window closes.

In some cases you have to be quick as the most popular offers sell out quickly. For example, Unicorn AIM VCT’s £20m fundraise in February 2024 was only available for a week before it was oversubscribed.

3. Dial again

You may want to select more than one VCT to support. Since they represent high risk, it is better to spread your investments across multiple managers.

4. Make sure you understand the risks

Take the time to read the information and research what is being invested. Information is provided to help you assess risk. You may be required to answer a series of online questions to ensure you understand the riskier nature of VCTs.

There are similarities between VCTs and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), but also some key differences.

Like a VCT, an EIS provides 30% income tax relief and the tax return is capital tax free. SEISs allow you to offset 50 percent. VCTs and SEIS have a lower annual limit of £200,000 compared to up to £2m for EIS.

The tax treatment varies. VCTs provide tax-free income from dividends – this is not the case with EISs and SEISs. VCTs (and SEISs) do not allow you to offset losses against capital gains made elsewhere, as is the case with EISs.

The way they invest is different. Whilst a VCT may hold up to 80 companies, an EIS or SEIS fund may only hold 10 to 12 companies, representing a smaller pool.

EIS and SEIS target much smaller and younger companies, which tend to be riskier.

VCTs must be held for five years to benefit from the tax benefits, unlike EIS and SEIS which require you to hold them for three years.

There is no inheritance tax benefit with VCTs. EIS and SEIS investments can be exempt from inheritance tax if they have been owned for at least two years.

What is the average return of a venture capital fund?

According to Wealth Club, the average generalist VCT returned 22.2 percent over the five-year period ending December 2023 (based on 36 individual VCTs managed by the top 10 VCT managers). Meanwhile, the average AIM VCT lost 14.7 percent over the five-year period ending December 2023.

Most VCTs target an annual dividend, which can be around 5 percent, although some may pay significantly more and others less.

What is the 5 year rule for VCT?

To qualify for the tax relief offered for investing in a VCT, you must hold the investment for at least five years.

What are the disadvantages of VCTs?

VCTs are considered high-risk investments and therefore it is important to look beyond the tax benefits. VCTs invest in early-stage companies, which are more likely to fail than larger companies, and the companies they invest in can be harder to sell when you need access to your money.

Unlike most traditional funds and stocks, the minimum amount you can invest is comparatively high – often £3,000 or more.

If you cash in your investment before the end of five years, you will lose the tax benefits.

It is also worth noting that investments in VCT schemes are not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the industry’s safety net.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference in Pasco County on Sunday morning to provide an update on Hurricane Helene response efforts.

Click play above to watch the press conference live

Eleven people died in Florida when Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region late Thursday evening as a powerful Category 4 storm, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday morning during a news conference in Taylor County.

RELATED | Gov. DeSantis: Helene, Florida death toll rises to 11; More than 400,000 are still without power

The fatalities included traffic fatalities and people directly affected by the storm surge.

Helene made landfall at Dekle Beach in Taylor County with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. There were no storm-related fatalities in this county.

“If you look around here, we see some houses that are now just rubble,” DeSantis said Saturday. “We see a lot of damage here.”

DeSantis said storm surges were “historic,” exceeding those of Hurricane Idalia, particularly in Tampa Bay and the Big Bend region.

On Saturday, Governor and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced the activation of the Florida Disaster Fund to help communities affected by the hurricane.

This fund is the state’s official private fund established to assist communities in responding and recovering during times of emergency and disaster.

Donations to the fund are tax deductible.

MORE | The Florida Disaster Fund supports communities affected by Ian

Donations can be made at FloridaDisasterFund.org or by mail. Checks should be made payable to Volunteer Florida Foundation and include “Florida Disaster Fund” in the memo line.

Donations by mail should be written as follows:

Florida Voluntary Foundation

Attention: Florida Disaster Fund

1545 Raymond Diehl Road Suite 250

Tallahassee, FL 32308