Category: News
Goldman Turns “Incrementally Cautious” On Nike As China Sales Plunge
Goldman Turns “Incrementally Cautious” On Nike As China Sales Plunge
Nike shares tumbled the most in eight months in premarket trading in New York after a mixed third quarter, reigniting concerns that turnaround efforts are being slowed by soft demand trends in China and ongoing problems at Converse.
North America was a bright spot in second-quarter earnings. Citi analyst Paul Lejuez noted that product liquidations contributed to the growth. As those actions expired, underlying sell-through trends softened.
China remained the most challenging sales market for the world’s largest sportswear company in the quarter. This prompted Piper Sandler analysts to cut their price target on the stock due to a lackluster recovery in the world’s second-largest economy.
Sales in China last quarter plunged 17%, while Converse sales imploded by 30%.
Key earnings in the quarter:
Top line: Revenue of $12.43 billion rose .6% year over year, beating consensus. Nike brand revenue increased 1.5%, also ahead of expectations.
Channel mix: Direct revenue declined 8%, missing estimates, while wholesale revenue rose 8.7% and exceeded consensus, underscoring the ongoing shift toward wholesale.
Here’s a snapshot of regional performance in the second quarter:
North America was the standout, with revenue up 8.8% and EBIT slightly ahead of estimates.
EMEA delivered modest growth but was roughly in line with expectations, with margins under pressure.
China remained the largest drag, with revenue down 17% and EBIT nearly halved versus last year.
Asia Pacific and Latin America also declined modestly and missed estimates.
Overall results in the second quarter at the headline level were driven by North America, wholesale, and apparel strength, but the weakness in China, direct-to-consumer, and Converse weighed heavily on the turnaround narrative.
Nike has yet to issue longer-term guidance, which merely reflects its attempts to regain control of its turnaround plan and rebuild ties with retailers and sports teams.
Further Wall Street commentary on the earnings came from Goldman analysts led by Brooke Roach. She penned a note to clients outlining the good, the bad, her initial take on the results, and the key takeaways.
A mixed quarter amidst low expectations: NKE shares underperformed in the after-market session on Thursday, where a 2Q beat was offset by a weaker 3Q guide, softer China commentary, mixed channel trends in North America, and promotions in EMEA.
The good: NKE remained upbeat regarding progress made against its Win Now Strategy and its Sport Offense repositioning, highlighting strong results in Performance product. Running grew >20% for the second consecutive quarter (strength across wholesale, NIKE Direct, and owned stores). Training, Basketball, and Kids also contributed to growth. Order books into spring and summer are improving. Importantly, as the company looks to extend success in Running to other sports, we were encouraged to hear that NKE is seeing stronger growth in Global Football preorders ahead of the World Cup (+40% higher units vs. WC 2022). Franchise management actions are still set to moderate into F2H. On margins, gross margins came in at the high end of the company’s prior guidance range despite incremental obsolescence charges on Nike China inventory, meaning that underlying results were stronger, and SG&A was well-controlled as a result of operational efficiencies.
The bad: We believe this quarter’s results will fuel several key long-term bear concerns regarding the business. The most notable incremental is the significant outperformance in North America wholesale, with the gap vs. DTC widening meaningfully this quarter. While this is technically driven by NKE’s core strategy of putting product in front of the consumer, the magnitude of this outperformance will likely drive investor concerns that NKE could be oversupplying the channel ahead of brand momentum inflection and/or that NKE’s growth next year will need to step back as the company digests this year’s outperformance. In a backdrop where many turnarounds seek to limit distribution to build brand heat, NKE’s strategy is notably different for the total brand. Looking further across the world, Greater China remains the most challenged geography (-16% ex-FX), and management’s commentary here suggests that significant actions will be needed to improve long-term brand health in the region. Timing here is uncertain, though the company did guide F3Q similar to F2Q, and highlighted that they have cut both sell-in for spring and summer orders as a result, with further shifts ahead. EMEA and APAC were also mixed, with EMEA missing Factset consensus and management highlighting elevated promotional activity in Western Europe, while APLA is still undergoing pockets of inventory cleanup. Near-term, we highlight that F3Q was guided below consensus.
Our take: We step away from the quarter incrementally cautious on the timeline and cadence of recovery at NKE. We remain optimistic on the company’s Win Now actions and Sport Offense strategy, and continue to be upbeat on the strength emerging in NKE’s product assortment where actions have had more time to cure (particularly running, but also emerging signs of greenshoots in Global Football). That said, we acknowledge the updates today regarding Greater China are disappointing, and limited disclosure regarding the core drivers of North America wholesale outperformance provides fodder for debate. We believe that trends will remain choppy as the company executes its strategic plan, and thus patience will be needed, but that improvement is ahead. Additionally, we believe the underlying message of an uneven path to revenue and margin improvement is well-appreciated by investors.
The rest of the note is available in full in the usual place.
In markets, Nike shares fell sharply, down about 11% in premarket trading in New York. If those losses carry into the cash session and the stock closes near the lows, it would mark the worst decline since early April. Year to date, shares are down 13.3% as of Thursday’s close. The last time the stock traded in the low $60s was during the Covid crash.
How long until an activist investor leaks a headline to a major financial outlet? A headline yesterday in the WSJ said Elliott Investment Management had built a $1 billion position in another struggling clothing brand, Lululemon.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/19/2025 – 08:00
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/goldman-turns-incrementally-cautious-nike-china-sales-plunge
El Louvre reabre completamente tras voto del personal para suspender la huelga
PARÍS (AP) — El Louvre en París reabrió completamente el viernes después de que el personal votara para suspender una huelga que había interrumpido el acceso al museo más visitado del mundo, informaron la dirección y los sindicatos.
La decisión se tomó durante una asamblea general de los trabajadores del museo, quienes votaron unánimemente para pausar la huelga y permitir que el museo reciba visitantes, señalaron los sindicatos en un comunicado. La huelga había llevado a un cierre total a principios de la semana y a una reapertura parcial el miércoles.
Los sindicatos indicaron que la suspensión siguió a cinco reuniones con funcionarios del Ministerio de Cultura, pero manifestaron que el progreso sigue siendo insuficiente, especialmente en cuanto a los niveles de personal, los salarios y los planes de seguridad a largo plazo. También mencionaron preocupaciones sobre el deterioro del edificio y las condiciones laborales.
Los representantes sindicales criticaron lo que describieron como una falta de compromiso por parte de la presidenta del Louvre, Laurence des Cars, durante la huelga, afirmando que no se reunió con el personal ni se dirigió a ellos durante la movilización.
Los trabajadores celebrarán otra asamblea general el 5 de enero para decidir si reanudan la huelga.
___________________________________
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Nueve heridos en ataque con cuchillo en Taiwán
TAIPEI, Taiwán (AP) — Al menos nueve personas resultaron heridas en un ataque con cuchillo en la capital de Taiwán, Taipéi, informaron el viernes las emisoras locales.
Un sospechoso lanzó granadas de humo en la estación principal de metro de Taipéi, cerca de la estación principal de tren de la ciudad, según los informes.
El sospechoso luego tomó el metro una parada, salió de la estación y lanzó más granadas de humo en la calle antes de sacar un cuchillo y apuñalar a transeúntes, de acuerdo con las imágenes transmitidas por la emisora EBC.
Las imágenes muestran al sospechoso corriendo dentro de una tienda departamental. Una persona fue encontrada sin respuesta en el lugar, informaron los medios locales.
La policía aún no ha hecho declaraciones públicas sobre el ataque.
___________________________________
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/nueve-heridos-en-ataque-con-cuchillo-en-taiwn/
All The Dominant Models Are Collapsing
All The Dominant Models Are Collapsing
Authored by Charles Hugh Smith via OfTwoMinds blog,
Every nation is operating on models that are collapsing without those at the controls being aware that the implicit assumptions of their models no longer map reality.
A recent article lays out the collapse of the dominant geopolitical model of “rising powers generate conflict”: The Stagnant Order And the End of Rising Powers (Foreign Affairs, paywalled). The basic idea is that the foundations of “rising powers”–demographics and productivity gains–no longer support grandiose planetary dominance.
Rather, demographics is already baked in as a crushing liability to all existing powers, and despite endless claims that technology will jumpstart productivity, the reality is productivity gains have flatlined for decades. “Growth” is a function of expanding debt, not productivity gains.
This dynamic extends beyond geopolitical models: all the models being used to explain and control the world are all collapsing: economic, social, political, they’re all collapsing because they are all constructs assembled in eras that no longer map the present.
As I explained in The Entire Bubble Economy Is a Hallucination, models collapse because of two limitations that define all models:
1. All models are self-referential, as they “train” (i.e. generate current analysis) on a limited spectrum of metrics that are presumed to summarize the immensely complex “real world.” The model is blind to its own self-referential feedback loop and the limits of the metrics it bases its output on.
Over time, this self-referential “training” degrades the output–the analysis and the decisions based on that analysis–to the point of hallucination: the model is generating output of how the world works that has drifted to far from authentic understanding that it is a hallucination, one that is taken to be “real” by those controlling the model.
2. The metrics being measured leave out enormous fields of the real world, but what’s been left out isn’t explicit, as it’s all based on what is considered “knowable” and “known,” as I explained in What We “Know” Is More Dangerous Than the Unknown: these assumptions are hidden limitations of the model, as we only manage what we measure.
I break this down in my book Investing In Revolution.
The collapse of the dominant models is visible everywhere, but perhaps most painfully in economics, which has become the dominant model of how the world works due to the dominance of statistical models of finance and the policies those models generate.
I addressed this failure of economics to accurately predict outcomes back in 2013: Why Isn’t There a Demonstrably Correct Economic Theory? (August 16, 2013)
“This system is intrinsically unstable, as the financial claims of credit and fiat money on limited real-world resources and wealth eventually far exceed real-world resources, and the system of claims collapses in a heap.
Although economics doesn’t recognize it, the operative phrase here is systemic injustice.”
Why Economics Will Never Be a Legitimate Science (December 24, 2013)
All the extant economic models are artifacts of bygone eras. The economic models of the 19th century–all based on the implicit assumption that resources were endless–were modified in the 1930s into Keynesian hallucinations still based on endless resources: let’s just pay people with freshly printed “money” to dig holes and fill them. This presumes endless resources to squander on digging holes and filling them, as if that is a productive use of labor and resources.
This hallucination continues to be the dominant paradigm: resources are endless because we’re clever and there will always be a substitute for whatever is depleted, so the “solution” is just print “money” to pay people to dig holes and fill them.
The “problem” is “growth” of consumption, and so if we “solve” that problem by goosing consumption by any means available, we enter “Mouse Utopia,” an artificial world of never-ending abundance.
The book Money, Blood and Revolution: How Darwin and the Doctor of King Charles I Could Turn Economics into a Science takes a stab at turning economics into “science,” but that’s not actually “the problem.” The real problem is all models have intrinsic limits and end up hallucinating, but those controlling the gearing of the model depend on it to maintain their own power, so they are blind to the failure of their precious model to track the real world and generate authentic understanding.
So we’re told that all is well because GDP and the stock market are rising, and since we have lots of natural gas to power AI data centers, we’re entering a “Mouse Utopia” of endless abundance. That these are all hallucinations is lost on those clinging to collapsing models as the means of maintaining their power.
That the hallucinations are sustainable is itself a hallucination:
That the inhabitants of “Mouse Utopia” are not focused on how natty gas and AI are going to make Utopia even more utopian is lost in the current model collapse: antisocial behaviors are accelerating due to the the artificial nature and exploitive structure of our “Mouse Utopia,” but these realities aren’t measured and so they don’t exist in the current model’s self-referential hallucinations:
All the dominant models are collapsing at once, and no nation is immune to the consequences, as every nation is operating on models that are collapsing without those at the controls being aware that the implicit assumptions of their models no longer map reality.
* * *
My new book Investing In Revolution is available at a 10% discount ($18 for the paperback, $24 for the hardcover and $8.95 for the ebook edition). Introduction (free). Check out my updated Books and Films. Become a $3/month patron of my work via patreon.com. Subscribe to my Substack for free
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/19/2025 – 07:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/all-dominant-models-are-collapsing
Daywatch: CTA to add more officers after Feds threaten funding
Good morning, Chicago.
The Chicago Transit Authority will increase the number of police officers patrolling city’s public transit system Friday following a threat from President Donald Trump’s administration that the mass transit agency could lose federal funding if it did not take certain steps to address violent crime.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Talia Soglin.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including why Illinois has been sued over refusing to turn over sensitive state voter data, what Illinois lawmakers said about the Bears possibly moving to Indiana and why a British baker’s criticism of Mexican bread triggered outrage.
Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History
Law enforcement officers are seen outside a storage facility where a suspect in the shooting at Brown University was found dead, Dec. 18, 2025, in Salem, N.H. (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha)
Man suspected in Brown University shooting and MIT professor’s killing is found dead, officials say
A frantic search for the suspect in last weekend’s mass shooting at Brown University ended at a New Hampshire storage facility where authorities discovered the man dead inside and then revealed he also was suspected of killing a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor.
A voter receives a ballot on April 1, 2025, in the suburban Cook County Consolidated Election at Yates Elementary School in Matteson. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
President Donald Trump’s Justice Department sues Illinois over sensitive state voter data
President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice sued the executive director of the Illinois State Board of Elections, alleging the board’s refusal to release sensitive information on the state’s roughly 8.3 million registered voters violated federal civil rights law.
Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, stands with alternative budget coalition members and speaks following a City Council meeting at City Hall on Dec. 18, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Mayor Brandon Johnson calls aldermen’s debt sale plan a ‘red line,’ yet mum on budget veto
Mayor Brandon Johnson singled out a debt collection measure as his latest nonstarter in the budget proposal crafted by his aldermanic antagonists, who showed no signs of slowing their march toward an imminent final vote.
During the first meeting of the Illinois Accountability Commission at Arturo Velasquez Institute at Richard J. Daley College on Dec. 18, 2025, Dalia Radecki, of the Resurrection Project, reacts after watching a video of the aftermath of an incident where a family was sprayed by chemical agents in November. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
State commission highlights ‘unjustified’ uses of tear gas, pepper spray by federal immigration agents
After Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino and scores of his federal agents left Chicago last month, and immigration enforcement wound down, Matt DeMateo said daily life slowly but surely returned to normal.
Broadview to consider zoning requirements for detention facilities following uproar around ICE processing center
Chicago remains alert, even as Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino and his agents sweep in and out of town
Lawrence Reed, 50, faces a federal charge after he allegedly poured gasoline on a 26-year-old woman riding a CTA Blue Line train and set her on fire, authorities said. (U.S. District Court)
Man accused of lighting woman on fire on CTA train faces new charge in arson outside City Hall
A man accused of lighting a woman on fire on the CTA Blue Line last month has been indicted on additional federal charges alleging he lit a fire outside City Hall three days earlier.
The-Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau addresses a crowd during a dedication event at the Orland Park police station Oct. 23, 2023. (John Smierciak/for the Daily Southtown)
2 claims dismissed in Orland Park lawsuit against former Mayor Keith Pekau
A Cook County judge granted former Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau a partial win in an ongoing lawsuit brought by the village against him.
Traffic moves along I-80/I-94 on Dec. 17, 2025, near the Indiana border in Lansing. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois lawmakers skeptical about Chicago Bears possibly moving to Indiana, while Hoosier leaders tee up the football
Illinois lawmakers appeared unmoved by the Bears’ decision to consider building a new stadium in Indiana, expressing skepticism about the move and downplaying it as the organization’s latest attempt to gain leverage in tense negotiations.
Indiana officials excited by Chicago Bears’ interest
Column: Can the Bears owners find true happiness in an enclosed stadium off the Skyway?
Greg Biffle speaks during the season-ending NASCAR awards ceremony while accepting the award for his fifth-place finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup title race Nov. 30, 2012, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
NASCAR’s Greg Biffle remembered for humanitarian efforts: ‘His tireless work saved lives’
NASCAR picked Greg Biffle as one of the top 75 drivers in its history. He was a Hall of Fame nominee for the stock car series and drove for 18 years at the top of the sport.
Yet for all the races and the handful of memorable wins, he is perhaps best remembered for his selfless and tireless work helping others as a helicopter pilot supplying aid a year ago in the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene.
Bolillos, a traditional Mexican bread, sit for sale at a street stand in Mexico City, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
British baker’s criticism of Mexican ‘ugly’ bread triggers outrage
A blunt critique of Mexican bread by a British baker sparked a cascade of social media outrage, ultimately leading to a public apology.
Millie Hefner Gunn, left, with daughter Christie Hefner, the former CEO of Playboy Enterprises. (Provided by Christie Hefner)
Millie Hefner Gunn, first wife of Hugh Hefner and mother to Christie, dies at 99
Married for more than a decade to a man who defined and shaped the sexual landscape of this nation, Millie Hefner Gunn led a rewarding and active life, raising two children and remaining curious and active until her death on Dec. 13. She died at The Clare, the Near North Side senior living facility, where she had moved in 2021. She was 99 years old.
“My mom was my biggest cheerleader and inspiration, and a joy to be with,” said her daughter Christie Hefner, a strategic advisor and board member of several companies and non-profit organizations. “She was smart and funny and full of life until the very end.”
The best home theater seating
Home theater seating to make watching movies more exciting at home
Have you ever wished you could enjoy the comfort of theater seating at home? This seating style is ideal for anyone who likes to watch a film, read a book or just relax in the evening. Home theater seating often comes with features that you wouldn’t typically see in traditional home furniture, including storage for your phone and built-in USB ports.
If you are thinking about investing in home theater seating, you may have some questions about what to consider when shopping around. Whether you want to invest in home theater seating for your home or commercial space, you can find the information you need here.
This handy buying guide covers everything you need to know about home theater seating. The top choice is the Seatcraft Julius Leather Multimedia Sofa, which features swivel tray tables and USB ports.
What to know about home theater seating
How home theater seating works
Home theater seating replicates the style of seats that you would find at a movie theater. This furniture is designed with comfort in mind, so you can sit down and enjoy your film in style. Unlike traditional seating, home theater seating features additional features like cup holders and storage solutions, just like you would have in a cinema.
Advantages of home theater seating
Home theater seating brings with it added features and comfort. You can choose a model that meets your needs, whether you’re someone who watches one episode of Netflix or binges a series in one go. Most home theater seating options include a cup holder and attachable side trays, similar to what you’d have to hold your popcorn in a cinema.
This style of seating often features reclining capabilities and body massage options for ultimate comfort. If you can’t be without your phone, home theater seating usually incorporates a built-in USB port or power outlet to keep your phone with you while it’s charging.
Key considerations when choosing home theater seating
Number of seats
The space you have for your home theater seating will usually dictate how many seats you can have. You’ll also want to make sure you have enough space between the home theater seating and your screen to replicate the cinema experience. The most common seating options include single-seaters, love seats or large combined couches. If you want to maximize your space, you could purchase two sets of home theater seating and position them behind one another.
Material
While leather is the most popular material option for home theater seating, there are cheaper alternatives available. Although leather is more expensive, it looks better over time as it starts to age, but you will need to clean the seats to help maintain their condition regularly. Synthetic leather is a cheaper alternative that gives you a similar look to genuine leather.
Lighting
If you’re looking at the higher end of the market, you’ll usually find that home theater seating includes strip lighting. It’s similar to the lighting you’ll see on the seats in a cinema that helps you find your way while the lights are off.
Food and drink storage
Just like the seats in a cinema, home theater seating typically has at least a cup holder for you to place your drinks. Some of the more expensive options will include foldaway tables so you can enjoy your popcorn and snacks while watching your film.
How much can you expect to spend on home theater seating?
You can find basic home theater seating for just under $200. If you have a bigger budget, you can look at home theater seating that retails for over $2,000. At the higher price point, you’ll usually see multiseat reclining configurations and extra storage.
Home theater seating FAQ
What is the difference between a regular recliner and single-home theater seating?
A. Most of the regular recliners you see on the market are upholstered with fabric, whereas home theater seating has a more luxurious appearance. These seats feature leather or faux leather, giving you the sleek appearance of cinema seating. You’ll also get the bonus of cup holders, foldaway trays and built-in USB plugs.
How far away should my home theater seating be from my screen?
A. For the best experience, you want to find a medium distance to place your home theater seating so you can see the screen without being on top of it. Your maximum distance should be no more than 2.5 times the length of your screen.
What is the best home theater seating to buy?
Top home theater seating
Seatcraft Julius Leather Multimedia Sofa
What you need to know: This three-row home theater seating can support up to double the weight of a standard recliner. It’s made using hand-selected top grain leather for a luxurious finish.
What you’ll love: Along with the recliner function, this home theater seating has a memory function and an adjustable powered headrest for extra comfort. You can enjoy everything from the USB charging port to ambient lighting.
What you should consider: Along with being at a higher price point, this home theater seating is heavy, making it challenging to move around your home.
Top home theater seating for the money
Seatcraft Equinox Home Theater Seating
What you need to know: If you’re in the market for a single-seater, look no further than this model by Seatcraft. It’s made using top grain leather and has a power-adjustable headrest and lumbar support.
What you’ll love: This seat has everything you’ll need, from ambient base lights to lighted cupholders and hidden in-arm storage.
What you should consider: As it’s made using high-quality leather, you’ll have to regularly clean the seat to keep the leather in top condition.
Worth checking out
Octane Seating Bolt XS400 Motorized Leather Home Theater Recliner Set
What you need to know: This model is designed with comfort and body wellness in mind. The seat has three bolsters that provide you with lower and mid lumbar, spine and neck support.
What you’ll love: The Bolt XS400 features the brand’s exclusive accessory dock, which houses everything from a wineglass holder to a dual USB charger.
What you should consider: It is made using bonded leather instead of genuine leather, but it maintains a similar appearance.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/the-best-home-theater-seating/
Trump Halts Diversity Green Card Lottery After Brown, MIT Shootings Trace To Non-Citizen
Trump Halts Diversity Green Card Lottery After Brown, MIT Shootings Trace To Non-Citizen
President Trump ordered the suspension of the U.S. green card diversity lottery after federal investigators said the suspect in the Brown University shooting and the killing of an MIT nuclear scientist was a non-citizen who entered the country through the program.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in an X post late Thursday that, at Trump’s direction, she had ordered U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to pause the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program.
“At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing USCIS to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program,” Noem said.
She continued, “The Brown University shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente entered the United States through the diversity lottery immigrant visa program (DV1) in 2017 and was granted a green card. This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country.”
“In 2017, President Trump fought to end this program, following the devastating NYC truck ramming by an ISIS terrorist, who entered under the DV1 program, and murdered eight people,” Noem noted.
The Brown University shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente entered the United States through the diversity lottery immigrant visa program (DV1) in 2017 and was granted a green card. This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country.
In 2017, President Trump…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) December 19, 2025
Court documents show Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, first entered the U.S. on a student visa to attend Brown University in 2000. After leaving the school, his whereabouts were unclear until 2017, when he received a DV and later permanent residency.
Neves Valente was found dead in a New Hampshire storage facility late Thursday, Providence Chief of Police Oscar Perez told reporters at a press conference.
The U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts released a complaint affidavit on X regarding Neves Valente that detailed his immigration status and connected him as the suspect in the MIT shooting of the nuclear scientist.
🚨 NEW 🚨 U.S. Attorney releases photo and complaint affidavit for suspect in Brown University and MIT professor shootings, Claudio Neves-Valente.
READ CHARGING DOCUMENT HERE: https://t.co/YHYcatbj8Z pic.twitter.com/EsM14iGuXs
— U.S. Attorney Massachusetts (@DMAnews1) December 19, 2025
The diversity visa program permits up to 50,000 green cards per year through a random lottery. Prioritizing randomness over skills appears to be a national security threat – time for reforms.
Why did this Brown shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, kill Ella Cook, my College Republicans VP, Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman foreign student, and Nuno Loureiro, a MIT professor working on cutting edge nuclear tech? None of this makes sense. When will we get a motive? pic.twitter.com/TdwCRCIchR
— William Branson Donahue (@realwilldonahue) December 19, 2025
There is still no official motive from authorities, nor any confirmation on whether either shooting was targeted. Israeli news outlets have suggested the shootings could have been part of an overseas plot.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/19/2025 – 07:20
The best trading card sleeves to protect your collection
The best sleeves for trading cards
There is plenty of variety when it comes to trading card sleeves. Of course, not all sleeves are the same quality and do not all serve the same purpose. Before purchasing any trading card sleeves, be sure that they would fit your cards and suit the purpose you have in mind.
Quiver Time Artemis Sleeves are efficient protective sleeves with a solid matte finish and features that make them easy to shuffle and play with while preventing any bent corners or damage.
What to know before you buy trading card sleeves
Do you need sleeves for protection or play?
While all trading card sleeves offer varying degrees of protection, you should first determine if you will be handling the sleeved cards to play a game or not. If your goal is to protect valuable collectibles adequately, you could opt for rigid, clear sleeves. If you need sleeves for play, they have to have a certain degree of flexibility so you can carefully shuffle your deck.
The back surface of play sleeves also needs a certain amount of friction so that you can handle the cards easily, and they can stack without sliding. Also, keep in mind that some tournaments will have rules about the types of sleeves you can use. It is generally best to use plain, single-colored sleeves that do not have a clear back to be safe. The purpose of this is to prevent players from cheating by marking cards or sleeves.
What size trading card sleeves do you need?
Different trading cards produced by different companies have differences in size. Larger sleeves that could fit standard cards and smaller ones too are fine for the sake of protecting a valuable collectible from bumps or scratches. However, you should fit your sleeves for active play and your cards’ actual sizes. Trading card games like “Magic: The Gathering” and “Pokémon” are standard-size cards, while many Japanese trading card games have smaller cards like “Yu-Gi-Oh!” or “Cardfight! Vanguard.”
How many different types of sleeves will you need?
Depending on the trading card game, you may need more than a singular set of sleeves. For example, your extra deck in “Yu-Gi-Oh!” should have visibly different sleeves than your main deck. The relatively new “Cardfight! Vanguard OverDress” format features a separate “Ride Deck” of a few cards that cannot have the same type of sleeves that you use for your main deck, either. Depending on what types of trading cards you plan to sleeve, you may need to have multiple varieties of card sleeves.
What to look for in quality trading card sleeves
This section should detail the primary features available in different models of this product, both fundamental features and optional features (upgrades). On average, expect to have three to six features. If a few key players are synonymous with the product type, cover their key points of differentiation.
Durability
All sleeves will increase the durability of your cards to some degree, but you should consider the durability of the sleeves themselves. Not all sleeves hold up to the same level of force, nor will they all stay in top condition for the same amount of time. Some materials, such as PVC, can cause chemical damage to your cards if left in the sleeve for extended periods. Be sure that your sleeves are non-PVC and can stand the test of time.
Functionality
Top-quality trading card sleeves should protect your cards and allow them to hold up to shuffling and use. It is best for oils and dirt from hands not to come in contact with trading cards, but good card sleeves do not compromise the functionality of a trading card for the sake of protecting it. Sleeving a card to store in a binder or elsewhere safely does not require functionality in the card sleeves, but you will need playable card sleeves if you intend to play with your trading cards.
Style
Your trading card sleeves can reflect something about you or the cards you collect. Sometimes that is as simple as picking sleeves of your favorite color. Some sleeves have unique designs that are even more personalized. Just remember that trading card sleeves may be regulated for tournament play to ensure a fair experience for all participants. That should not prevent you from finding sleeves that you enjoy for non-tournament use, though.
How much you can expect to spend on trading card sleeves
For decent trading card sleeves, you can expect to spend at least a couple of cents on individual sleeves. For sets of a few hundred sleeves, you can expect to spend around $10-$20.
Trading Card Sleeves FAQ
What are Penny Sleeves?
A. That term is just used to describe trading card sleeves in general and refers to the inexpensive cost of such protective gear for trading cards. Whether they are cards you plan to play with often or cards that are valuable collectibles, providing them with some protection for a couple of cents is usually worth the small investment.
What type of sleeves do I need for a tournament?
A. If you are looking for protective trading card sleeves to use at a local or regional event, you will need to check the official rules on the subject since it varies from one tournament to another. If your card sleeves are the same color, from the same brand, and in the same condition overall, it should be acceptable for tournament use. Some tournaments will have specific requirements regarding sleeve regulations, so check any official trading card game rules first.
What’s the best trading card sleeve to buy?
Top trading card sleeves
What you need to know: These standard-size card sleeves with plain matte backs are perfect for personal or tournament use to protect your cards.
What you’ll love: The sleeves come in multiple different colors. They measure 66 by 91 mm to fit any standard size trading card like “Magic: The Gathering,” “Pokémon” and more. A portion of the profits goes to charity, providing for kids in need.
What you should consider: These sleeves are only available in reasonably large quantities. You certainly get your money’s worth, but if you do not have a large or growing collection, it may be way more individual sleeves than you need to protect the decks you currently use.
Top trading card sleeves for the money
Ultra Pro Silver Series 9 Pocket Pages (25 count pack)
What you need to know: These archival-quality trading card sleeves will help keep your collection safe at a great price.
What you’ll love: These sleeves have high clarity, are lightweight and have UV protection.
What you should consider: Some users complained about a lack of consistency between the sleeves.
Trading card sleeves worth checking out
TitanShield Small Card Protection Sleeves
What you need to know: These smaller card sleeves with thick backs are great for trading cards that use smaller sizes than the standard.
What you’ll love: They come in multiple colors, and the sleeves are sized for Japanese trading cards, so they are perfect for “Yu-Gi-Oh!,” “Cardfight! Vanguard” and more. They have a non-slip finish that makes them easy to handle, and the sleeves have 140 microns of thickness, which is 40% thicker than most sleeves available.
What you should consider: These will only fit small-sized cards, so if you collect various trading cards, you may need different sleeves for cards in your collection of a standard size.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/the-best-trading-card-sleeves-to-protect-your-collection/
Trump suspends green card lottery program that let Brown University and MIT shootings suspect into US
President Donald Trump suspended the green card lottery program on Thursday that allowed the suspect in the Brown University and MIT shootings to come to the United States.
Man suspected in Brown University shooting and MIT professor’s killing is found dead, officials say
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on the social platform X that, at Trump’s direction, she is ordering the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to pause the program.
“This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country,” she said of the suspect, Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente.
Neves Valente, 48, is suspected in the shootings at Brown University that killed two students and wounded nine others, and the killing of an MIT professor. He was found dead Thursday evening from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said.
Neves Valente had studied at Brown on a student visa beginning in 2000, according to an affidavit from a Providence police detective. In 2017, he was issued a diversity immigrant visa and months later obtained legal permanent residence status, according to the affidavit. It was not immediately clear where he was between taking a leave of absence from the school in 2001 and getting the visa in 2017.
The diversity visa program makes up to 50,000 green cards available each year by lottery to people from countries that are little represented in the U.S., many of them in Africa. The lottery was created by Congress, and the move is almost certain to invite legal challenges.
Nearly 20 million people applied for the 2025 visa lottery, with more than 131,000 selected when including spouses with the winners. After winning, they must undergo vetting to win admission to the United States. Portuguese citizens won only 38 slots.
Lottery winners are invited to apply for a green card. They are interviewed at consulates and subject to the same requirements and vetting as other green-card applicants.
Trump has long opposed the diversity visa lottery. Noem’s announcement is the latest example of using tragedy to advance immigration policy goals. After an Afghan man was identified as the gunman in a fatal attack on National Guard members in November, Trump’s administration imposed sweeping rules against immigration from Afghanistan and other counties.
While pursuing mass deportation, Trump has sought to limit or eliminate avenues to legal immigration. He has not been deterred if they are enshrined in law, like the diversity visa lottery, or the Constitution, as with a right to citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil. The Supreme Court recently agreed to hear his challenge to birthright citizenship.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/green-card-lottery-program-suspended/
Man suspected in Brown University shooting and MIT professor’s killing is found dead, officials say
A frantic search for the suspect in last weekend’s mass shooting at Brown University ended at a New Hampshire storage facility where authorities discovered the man dead inside and then revealed he also was suspected of killing a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor.
Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a former Brown student and Portuguese national, was found dead Thursday night from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Col. Oscar Perez, the Providence police chief.
Investigators believe he is responsible for fatally shooting two students and wounding nine other people in a Brown lecture hall last Saturday, then killing MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro two days later at his home in the Boston suburbs, nearly 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Providence. Perez said as far as investigators know, Neves Valente acted alone.
Brown University President Christina Paxson said Neves Valente was enrolled there as a graduate student studying physics from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2001.
“He has no current affiliation with the university,” she said.
Neves Valente and Loureiro previously attended the same academic program at a university in Portugal between 1995 and 2000, U.S. attorney for Massachusetts Leah B. Foley said. Loureiro graduated from the physics program at Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal’s premier engineering school, in 2000, according to his MIT faculty page. The same year, Neves Valente was let go from a position at the Lisbon university, according to an archive of a termination notice from the school’s then-president in February 2000.
Neves Valente had come to Brown on a student visa. He eventually obtained legal permanent residence status in September 2017, Foley said. It was not immediately clear where he was between taking a leave of absence from the school in 2001 and getting the visa in 2017. His last known residence was in Miami.
After officials revealed the suspect’s identity, President Donald Trump suspended the green card lottery program that allowed Neves Valente to stay in the United States.
There are still “a lot of unknowns” in regard to motive, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said. “We don’t know why now, why Brown, why these students and why this classroom,” he said.
Tip helps investigators connect the dots
The FBI previously said it knew of no links between the Rhode Island and Massachusetts shootings.
Police credited a person who had several encounters with Neves Valente for providing a crucial tip that led authorities to him.
After police shared security video of a person of interest, the witness — known only as “John” in a Providence police affidavit — recognized him and posted his suspicions on the social media forum Reddit. Reddit users urged him to tell the FBI, and John said he did.
John said he had encountered Neves Valente hours earlier in the bathroom of the engineering building where the shooting occurred and noticed he was wearing inappropriate clothing for the weather, according to the affidavit. He again bumped into Neves Valente a couple blocks away and saw him suddenly turn away from a Nissan sedan when he saw John.
“When you do crack it, you crack it. And that person led us to the car, which led us to the name,” Neronha said.
His tip pointed investigators to a Nissan Sentra with Florida plates. That enabled Providence police to tap into a network of more than 70 street cameras operated around the city by surveillance company Flock Safety. Those cameras track license plates and other vehicle details.
After leaving Rhode Island, Providence officials said Neves Valente stuck a Maine license plate over his rental car’s plate to help conceal his identity.
Investigators found footage of Neves Valente entering an apartment building near Loureiro’s in a Boston suburb. About an hour later, Neves Valente was seen entering the Salem, New Hampshire, storage facility where he was found dead, Foley said. He had with him a satchel and two firearms, Neronha said.
Victims include renowned physicist, political organizer and aspiring doctor
Loureiro, a 47-year-old physicist and fusion scientist, had joined MIT in 2016 and was named last year to lead the school’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, one of its largest laboratories. The scientist from Viseu, Portugal, had been working to explain the physics behind astronomical phenomena such as solar flares.
The two Brown students killed during a study session for final exams were 19-year-old sophomore Ella Cook and 18-year-old freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. Cook was active in her Alabama church and served as vice president of the Brown College Republicans. Umurzokov’s family immigrated to the U.S. from Uzbekistan when he was a child, and he aspired to be a doctor.
As for the wounded, three had been discharged and six were in stable condition Thursday, officials said.
Although Brown officials say there are 1,200 cameras on campus, the attack happened in an older part of the engineering building that has few, if any, cameras. And investigators believe the shooter entered and left through a door that faces a residential street bordering campus, which might explain why the cameras Brown does have didn’t capture footage of the person.
Associated Press reporters Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu, Hallie Golden in Seattle and Matt O’Brien in Providence contributed.
