Justin Sullivan Performance Assessment It's been a while since my last update on Alphabet/Google ( NASDAQ: GOOGL ) ( NASDAQ: GOOG ). Perhaps a bit too long, so this update is long due. It is good to see that my 'Neutral/Hold' stance, expressing a view of Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of VOO either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Genesis Bryant scores 27 and No. 19 Illinois women beat UMES 75-55 in Music City Classic
LAHORE: In order to increase the export of pink salt, Punjab government has decided to establish special economic zones. The provincial government would request the federal government to impose a ban on the export of raw salt produced in Punjab. All resources would be utilized to enhance the export of pink salt. Minister for Mines and Minerals Sher Ali Gorchani disclosed this during a meeting held on Thursday. He further mentioned that the draft of the Pink Rock Salt Policy 2024 would soon be presented to the Chief Minister of Punjab for approval. In collaboration with the Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC), a processing zone for salt will be established within the salt range. The Minister also highlighted that in line with the Chief Minister Punjab’s vision, pink salt exporters would be equipped with modern technology. Protecting pink salt from wastage is a priority for the Chief Minister. In this regard, the planning, branding, marketing, and international certification of pink salt will be given special attention. He added that land would be provided to exporters at discounted rates, and the Punjab government would bear the infrastructure costs. Discounted loans would be provided through the Bank of Punjab. The option of adopting a profit-sharing model was also considered. The meeting was attended by Secretary for Mines and Minerals Pervez Iqbal, DG Mines and Minerals, Mansoor Ahmad, MD PSIC, Sarah Umar, and other officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024Home | EFF confident of winning Phala Phala case in ConCourt Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says that he is confident that the party will win the Phala Phala farm theft case against President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. The EFF is challenging Parliament’s decision to forego an impeachment investigation into President Ramaphosa. Malema told scores of supporters outside the apex court that it must take a legitimate decision on the Phala-Phala matter. “There is no decision that Parliament must take if it is not constitutional. As long as it is not constitutional, this Constitutional Court has got jurisdiction to decide on this matter. It is not political interference; it is the Constitutional Court making sure that Parliament complies with the requirement of the Constitution.” VIDEO | Other matters that Malema raised during his address outside ConCourt include the role of the party in SA politics: ‘Situation of mootness’ Meanwhile, in court, Advocate Andrew Breitenbach for the National Assembly and the Speaker argued that the legal challenge launched by the EFF is moot due to the time that has elapsed since the Section 89 report on Phala Phala was not adopted by the National Assembly. In 2022, the national legislature voted not to adopt the independent panel report led by retired Chief Justice, Sandile Ngcbobo that found that there is a prima facie case for which President Cyril Ramaphosa must answer for the events that took place on his Phala Phala farm. Breitanbach explained what he sees as the difficulty with the challenge by the red berets. “Our basic problem with the lateness is that the 6th Parliament came to an end, with it all the business of the 6th Parliament, the composition of the 7th Parliament elected on the 29th of May is wholly different to the 6th Parliament and there can therefore be no resuscitation of this motion without doing violence to that very fundamental part of our democracy. Every five years we have an election, and a new National Assembly is elected. It’s very differently constituted, so we are in a situation of impossibility, mootness.” Supporters also weighed in on the matter: ‘Matter fundamentally flawed’ Legal counsel for President Cyril Ramaphosa argued that the National Assembly was correct not to adopt the Section 89 independent panel report in the Phala Phala matter as it was fundamentally flawed. Advocate Geoff Budlender argued that Ramaphosa did not have the intention of breaking the law. “But even if one assumes, for the sake of argument, that this interpretation is the correct one, that doesn’t answer the question of whether the President deliberately and in bad faith adopted the wrong interpretation of the term ‘paid work’. The president’s farming activities have never been a secret. He’s published a book of photographs of the particular breed of cattle in which he has a particular interest. It seems very unlikely that he deliberately and in bad faith ignored the law and then published his activities. Perhaps more likely is that he genuinely thought that he was entitled to act as he did, and he lacked dolus and bad faith. Again, the question is not whether the president’s interpretation was right or wrong, it is whether his interpretation was in bad faith.” SABC © 2024Bryce Young has added key element to his game in Year 2, showing an ability to scramble, make plays CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Perhaps the biggest improvement in Bryce Young’s game in Year 2 has been his ability to improvise and use his legs to create plays. Steve Reed, The Associated Press Dec 23, 2024 12:57 PM Dec 23, 2024 1:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young runs for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Perhaps the biggest improvement in Bryce Young’s game in Year 2 has been his ability to improvise and use his legs to create plays. On Sunday, Young ran five times for a career-high 68 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown on a scramble in Carolina’s 36-30 overtime win over Arizona , which eliminated the Cardinals from playoff contention . It was Young’s fourth rushing touchdown of the season after failing to score on the ground in 2023 as a rookie. Aside from the touchdowns, his rushing numbers are similar to 2023, but it’s clear Young is making better decisions and getting out of the pocket quicker when his protection begins to breaks down. “I'm trying to take what the defense gives me,” Young said. “As a passer, I always try to remain a passer as long as possible. We talk about all the time just extending above the 2.7 (seconds) and starting the second play, and doing whatever it takes. For me, it's just being more comfortable in the system and playing with the guys. I want to do everything I can to continue to be efficient by moving the chains and doing what’s best for the team. The last couple of weeks have been a little more than that." Young played one of his better games against the Cardinals, finishing 17 of 26 passing for 158 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions one week after turning the ball over four times in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Carolina scored TDs on its first three possessions, the first time that has happened in six years. Panthers coach Dave Canales said Young played “fast” and was “really decisive." “You saw some of the scrambles early in the first half where he was able to pick up some critical third downs for us there and run one in for a touchdown,” Canales said. “It was about just being decisive, knowing where all the bones are buried in his concepts and being able to get to the scramble when those windows opened up for him. Again, just making some really nice throws when we needed him to.” What’s working Carolina's offensive line was outstanding on Sunday in the run-blocking game as the Panthers racked up 243 yards with Chuba Hubbard running for 152 yards and two TDs. Hubbard has 1,195 yards rushing, which ranks as the fourth most in a season in team history behind DeAngelo Williams (1,515) in 2008, Stephen Davis (1,444) in 2003 and Christian McCaffrey (1,387) in 2019. His 10 touchdowns on the ground are tied for the fifth most in franchise history. What needs help The Panthers run defense. It's the same old refrain and it isn't going to get any better until next season. Carolina allowed James Conner to run for 117 yards and a touchdown as Arizona put up 206 yards on the ground. The Panthers have now allowed an average of nearly 200 yards rushing over the past seven weeks under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Injuries have played a major role in that as the team lost defensive lineman Derrick Brown and linebacker Shaq Thompson early in the season, but it's obvious that adding help on the front seven will be a major priority for general manager Dan Morgan in the offseason. Stock up Hubbard got the redemption he sought on Sunday when he ran 21 yards for the winning touchdown in overtime to knock the Cardinals out of playoff contention. Three weeks earlier, Hubbard fumbled in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while the Panthers were driving for the winning field goal, costing his team the game. The left Hubbard sitting on the team's bench on the sideline in disbelief. But Hubbard told himself at the time he would get another shot — and make the most of it. Hubbard had all 49 yards on the team's winning drive in OT and finished with 152 yards — 1 shy of a career high — and two touchdowns. Stock down Getting plays in on time to the huddle and getting them off before the play clock expires has been a challenge at times this season, and it crept up again against the Cardinals. On third-and-goal at the Arizona 3, the Panthers were flagged for delay of game after spending too much time reviewing whether Jalen Coker had hauled in a TD catch on the previous play. Replays showed Coker made the catch, but was out of bounds. The play call got in late to Young and he didn't get it off in time and no timeout was called. The penalty moved the Panthers back 5 yards, but the Cardinals bailed them out when they were flagged for roughing the passer. That gave the Panthers a new set of downs at the 4, and Hubbard scored on the next play. Injuries The Panthers came out of Sunday's game relatively injury-free. There had been an illness running through the team's locker room last week and it forced center Cade Mays to sit out the game. Brady Christensen stepped in and played well, helping aid in Hubbard's big day. Key number 1 — The NFL wanted to emphasize taking hip-drop tackles out of the game. Well, for the first time this season a flag was thrown on Sunday, coming against Panthers rookie linebacker Jacoby Windmon with just under eight minutes remaining in the second quarter when he brought down Conner. Conner was not injured on that play, but later left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. Next steps The Panthers play their final two games on the road at Tampa Bay and Atlanta, so they'll play a factor in who wins the NFC South. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Steve Reed, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Titans keep losing as coach Brian Callahan tries to show some progress Dec 23, 2024 1:31 PM Heavy ground game gives Anthony Richardson a chance to shine in Colts' latest victory Dec 23, 2024 1:29 PM Garrett Wilson is frustrated and his future will be a major decision for the next Jets GM, coach Dec 23, 2024 1:24 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee's long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations , including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican's bid to lead the Justice Department . Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report's release on Monday, slammed the committee's findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” Gaetz wrote in one post on Monday. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Here's a look at some of the committee's key findings: ‘Sex-for-money arrangements,' drug-fueled parties and trips The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women "likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the “transactional nature” of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman’s request that he send her money, “claiming she only gave him a ‘drive by.’” Women interviewed by the committee said there was a “general expectation of sex,” the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that “99 percent of the time” that when she hung out with Gaetz “there was sex involved.” However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature," the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their “rendezvous,” the report said. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled “on several occasions” with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she has a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does “$400 per meet.” Greenberg replied: “He understands the deal,” along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asks if they are old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him “really cute.” “Well, he's down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard," Greenberg replied. ‘Substantial evidence’ indicates that Gaetz had sex with underage girl, the committee said The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with “multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid.” The committee pointed to “credible testimony” from the now-woman herself as well as “multiple individuals" who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, “which she understood to be payment for sex,” according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was “certain” of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There's no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn't tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he didn't how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Gaetz said evidence would ‘exonerate’ him but provided none of it In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. "Gaetz pointed to evidence that would ‘exonerate’ him yet failed to produce any such materials," the committee said. Gaetz “continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed.” The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as “nosey” and a “weaponization” of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 get-away with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt “to” the destination, but declined to share his return “from” the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would “welcome” the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would “no longer” voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation “frivolous,” adding: “Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.” The report said that while Gaetz’s obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress “act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.” Justice Department didn't cooperate with the committee The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn’t disclose information about investigations that don’t result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, but after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the report. “To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses,” the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn't want to “relive their experience,” the committee said. “They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ’s lack of action on their prior testimony,” the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women's statements. The agency's lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee's probe, lawmakers said. Lisa Mascaro And Alanna Durkin Richer, The Associated Press
The Dolphins' improbable path to the playoffs isn't in their hands, but they must do their part