WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2024-- The Chemours Company (Chemours) (NYSE: CC) today announced the successful repricing of its Tranche B-3 Euro denominated Term Loan under its senior secured term loan facility due in August 2028. The Second Amendment reduces the applicable margin in respect of the Company’s €415,000,000 Euro denominated term loan facility, the “Tranche B-3 Euro Term Loan Facility,” from adjusted EURIBOR + 4.00% to adjusted EURIBOR + 3.25%. There are no changes to the maturity of the Term B-3 Euro Term Loan Facility following this repricing, and all other terms are substantially unchanged. About The Chemours Company The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) is a global leader in providing industrial and specialty chemicals products for markets, including coatings, plastics, refrigeration and air conditioning, transportation, semiconductor and advanced electronics, general industrial, and oil and gas. Through our three businesses – Thermal & Specialized Solutions, Titanium Technologies, and Advanced Performance Materials – we deliver application expertise and chemistry-based innovations that solve customers’ biggest challenges. Our flagship products are sold under prominent brands such as OpteonTM, FreonTM, Ti-PureTM, NafionTM, TeflonTM, VitonTM, and KrytoxTM. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and listed on the NYSE under the symbol CC, Chemours has approximately 6,100 employees and 28 manufacturing sites and serves approximately 2,700 customers in approximately 110 countries. For more information, we invite you to visit chemours.com or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Chemours or LinkedIn . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical or current fact. The words “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify “forward-looking statements,” which speak only as of the date such statements were made. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that may not be accurate or realized. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Chemours’ control. Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that Chemours is unable to identify at this time or that Chemours does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in Chemours’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in Chemours’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and in Chemours’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Chemours assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213987089/en/ CONTACT: INVESTORS Brandon Ontjes VP, Head of Strategy & Investor Relations +1.302.773.3300 investor@chemours.com NEWS MEDIA Cassie Olszewski Media Relations & Reputation Leader +1.302.219.7140 media@chemours.com KEYWORD: DELAWARE UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CHEMICALS/PLASTICS MANUFACTURING SOURCE: The Chemours Company Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/13/2024 04:30 PM/DISC: 12/13/2024 04:30 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213987089/en
A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and prevent an artificial intelligence “dictatorship” is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing shift into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging it had betrayed its founding aims as a nonprofit research lab benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. The world’s richest man, whose companies include Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, last year started his own rival AI company, xAI. Musk says it faces unfair competition from OpenAI and its close business partner Microsoft, which has supplied the huge computing resources needed to build AI systems such as ChatGPT. “OpenAI and Microsoft together exploiting Musk’s donations so they can build a for-profit monopoly, one now specifically targeting xAI, is just too much,” says Musk’s filing that alleges the companies are violating the terms of Musk’s foundational contributions to the charity. OpenAI is filing a response Friday opposing Musk’s requested order, saying it would cripple OpenAI’s business and mission to the advantage of Musk and his own AI company. A hearing is set for January before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. At the heart of the dispute is a 2017 internal power struggle at the fledgling startup that led to Altman becoming OpenAI’s CEO. Musk also sought to be CEO and in an email outlined a plan where he would “unequivocally have initial control of the company” but said that would be temporary. He grew frustrated after two other OpenAI co-founders said he would hold too much power as a major shareholder and chief executive if the startup succeeded in its goal to achieve better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence, or AGI. Musk has long voiced concerns about how advanced forms of AI could threaten humanity. “The current structure provides you with a path where you end up with unilateral absolute control over the AGI,” said a 2017 email to Musk from co-founders Ilya Sutskever and Greg Brockman. “You stated that you don’t want to control the final AGI, but during this negotiation, you’ve shown to us that absolute control is extremely important to you.” In the same email, titled “Honest Thoughts,” Sutskever and Brockman also voiced concerns about Altman’s desire to be CEO and whether he was motivated by “political goals.” Altman eventually succeeded in becoming CEO, and has remained so except for a period last year when he was fired and then reinstated days later after the board that ousted him was replaced. OpenAI published the messages Friday in a blog post meant to show its side of the story, particularly Musk’s early support for the idea of making OpenAI a for-profit business so it could raise money for the hardware and computer power that AI needs. It was Musk, through his wealth manager Jared Birchall, who first registered “Open Artificial Technologies Technologies, Inc.”, a public benefit corporation, in September 2017. Then came the “Honest Thoughts” email that Musk described as the “final straw.” “Either go do something on your own or continue with OpenAI as a nonprofit,” Musk wrote back. OpenAI said Musk later proposed merging the startup into Tesla before resigning as the co-chair of OpenAI’s board in early 2018. Musk didn’t immediately respond to emailed requests for comment sent to his companies Friday. Asked about his frayed relationship with Musk at a New York Times conference last week, Altman said he felt “tremendously sad” but also characterized Musk’s legal fight as one about business competition. “He’s a competitor and we’re doing well,” Altman said. He also said at the conference that he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence with President-elect Donald Trump. OpenAI said Friday that Altman plans to make a $1 million personal donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships with the incoming administration.
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DAMASCUS (AP) — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad , gathering in the capital's historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The newly installed interim prime minister delivered the sermon at the Umayyad Mosque, declaring that a new era of “freedom, dignity and justice” was dawning for Syria. The gatherings illustrated the dramatic changes that have swept over Syria less than a week after insurgents marched into Damascus and toppled Assad. Amid the jubilation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with allies around the region and called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian” interim government. Blinken arrived in Iraq on a previously unannounced stop after talks in Jordan and Turkey, which backs some of the Syrian insurgent factions. So far, U.S. officials have not talked of direct meetings with Syria's new rulers. The main insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has worked to establish security and start a political transition after seizing Damascus early Sunday. The group has tried to reassure a public both stunned by Assad's fall and concerned about extremist jihadis among the rebels. Insurgent leaders say the group has broken with its extremist past, though HTS is still labeled a terrorist group by the United States and European countries. HTS's leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, appeared in a video message Friday congratulating “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” “I invite them to head to the squares to show their happiness without shooting bullets and scaring people,” he said. “And then after, we will work to build this country, and as I said in the beginning, we will be victorious by the help of God.” Huge crowds, including some insurgents, packed the historic Umayyad Mosque in the capital's old city, many waving the rebel opposition flag — with its three red stars — which has swiftly replaced the Assad-era flag with with its two green stars. Syrian state television reported that the sermon was delivered by Mohammed al-Bashir, the interim prime minister installed by HTS this week. The scene resonated on multiple levels. The mosque, one of the world's oldest dating back some 1,200 years, is a beloved symbol of Syria, and sermons there like all mosque sermons across Syria were tightly controlled under Assad's rule. Also, in the early days of the anti-government uprising in 2011, protesters would leave Friday prayers to march in rallies against Assad before he launched a brutal crackdown that turned the uprising into a long and bloody civil war. “I didn’t step foot in Umayyad Mosque since 2011," because of the tight security controls around it, said one worshipper, Ibrahim al-Araby. “Since 11 or 12 years, I haven’t been this happy.” Another worshipper, Khair Taha, said there was “fear and trepidation for what’s to come. But there is also a lot of hope that now we have a say and we can try to build.” Blocks away in Damascus' biggest roundabout, named Umayyad Square, thousands gathered, including many families with small children — a sign of how, so far at least, the country's transformation has not caused violent instability. “Unified Syria to build Syria,” the crowd chanted. Some shouted slurs against Assad and his late father, calling them pigs, an insult that would have previously led to offenders being hauled off to one of the feared detention centers of Assad’s security forces. One man in the crowd, 51-year-old Khaled Abu Chahine — originally from the southern province of Daraa, where the 2011 uprising first erupted — said he hoped for “freedom and coexistence between all Syrians, Alawites, Sunnis, Shiites and Druze.” The interim prime minister, al-Bashir, had been the head of a de facto administration created by HTS in Idlib, the opposition's enclave in northwest Syria. The rebels were bottled up in Idlib for years before fighters broke out in a shock offensive and marched across Syria in 10 days. Similar scenes of joy unfolded in other major cities, including in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Raqqa. Al-Sharaa, HTS' leader, has promised to bring a pluralistic government to Syria, seeking to dispel fears among many Syrians — especially its many minority communities — that the insurgents will impose a hard-line, extremist rule. Another key factor will be winning international recognition for a new government in a country where multiple foreign powers have their hands in the mix. The Sunni Arab insurgents who overthrew Assad did so with vital help from Turkey, a longtime foe of the U.S.-backed Kurds . Turkey controls a strip of Syrian territory along the shared border and backs an insurgent faction uneasily allied to HTS — and is deeply opposed to any gains by Syria's Kurds. In other developments, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey’s Embassy in Damascus would reopen Saturday for the first time since 2012, when it closed due to the Syrian civil war. The U.S. has troops in eastern Syria to combat remnants of the Islamic State group and supports Kurdish-led fighters who rule most of the east. Since Assad's fall, Israel has bombed sites all over Syria, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. It has also seized a swath of southern Syria along the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, calling it a buffer zone. After talks with Fidan, Blinken said there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the U.S. on what they would like to see in Syria. That starts with an "interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,” Blinken said. Fidan said the priority was “establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant” — referring to the Islamic State group and the Kurdistan Workers Party. Ankara considers the PKK within Turkey's borders a terrorist group, as it does the Kurdish-backed forces in Syria backed by the U.S. A U.S. official said that in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fidan both told Blinken that Kurdish attacks on Turkish positions would require a response. The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic talks. The U.S. has been trying to limit such incidents in recent days and had helped organize an agreement to prevent confrontations around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, which was taken by Turkey-backed opposition fighters from the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces earlier this week. In Baghdad, Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, saying both countries wanted to ensure the Islamic State group — also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh — doesn't exploit Syria's transition to re-emerge. “Having put Daesh back in its box, we can’t let it out, and we’re determined to make sure that that doesn’t happen," Blinken said. The U.S. official who briefed reporters said that Blinken had impressed upon al-Sudani the importance of Iraq exercising its full sovereignty over its territory and airspace to stop Iran from transporting weapons and equipment to Syria, either for Assad supporters or onward to the militant Hezbollah group in Lebanon. Lee reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.
Major Shake-Up May Be Looming For Toronto Maple Leafs Coverage In Canada, Per SourceDaniel Penny stands to make millions after not guilty verdict in Jordan Neely's death By BRITTANY CHAIN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 23:07 GMT, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 23:07 GMT, 9 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Daniel Penny stands to make millions as a martyr of the BLM movement after being found not guilty following a blockbuster trial in Manhattan. The 26-year-old Marine veteran was facing charges of second degree manslaughter and negligent homicide following the subway death of mentally ill homeless street performer Jordan Neely . But after more than 20 hours of deliberations over four days, jurors told the court they were unable to reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge and the state sensationally withdrew the charge in a desperate, last ditch effort to avoid a mistrial. By Monday, jurors returned a verdict of not guilty to negligent homicide to Justice Maxwell Wiley. They quickly found him not guilty - paving the way for his bright future full of book deals, TV appearances and even a career in politics. Since the very beginning, Penny won sympathy from conservatives who said he was right to step in when Neely acted out on the subway. Now, with the trial behind him and renewed support from the likes of the Trump family, Penny's future is brighter than ever. Daniel Penny leaves Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday after being found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide. The manslaughter charge was dropped last week Industry experts believe Penny could be in for a windfall in excess of $1million after the criminal case against him concludes. 'He could become a symbolic figure for a certain segment of society, opening doors to mainstream and conservative media alike,' James Pipe is a legal expert and advocate at freegrantsforfelons.org, told Daily Mail. Pipe noted a conviction would 'necessarily preclude offers' because publishers and producers are notoriously 'drawn to controversial figures.' He said a 'compelling memoir or exclusive first interview' could be worth up to $500,000, while a documentary or film deal could exceed $1million. 'A significant factor will be how Penny and his team handle public relations after the trial. 'If he can frame his story in a way that resonates with the public or aligns with ongoing social conversations, the financial opportunities could be transformative,' Pipe said. 'However, backlash or boycotts from opposition groups could dampen prospects.' Pipe said Penny would also need to consider civil lawsuits against him, and how any 'post-trial earnings' could be impacted by those suits. 'Public scrutiny will likely follow him for years, which could affect the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals long-term,' he said. Before the subway incident, Penny was a mild-mannered 24-year-old who'd left the Marines and spent time traveling the world Penny celebrated the court victory at the Stone Street Tavern on Monday afternoon Valerie Zucker said she envisions a 'one hour special or documentary' in the future. She said there could be hurdles to face 'from Neely's' camp, but that immediately after the trial would be a great time for Penny to 'clear the air and change public perception on his vision of what took place that day.' And while Penny is still a divisive figure amongst the public, Zucker said there could be a pathway into politics for Penny down the track. 'I don't think [it happens] right away,' she said. 'There's some backlash. 'Maybe something in the future.' Penny's acquittal enraged BLM activists, who instantly called for revenge in the form of black vigilantes. The 26-year-old quickly dashed to a downtown bar to celebrate his win with his lawyers and ponder his next move. Even before the verdict came back, there were calls from Republicans for him to be heralded a hero. Rep. Eli Crane, R-Arizona has been so impressed by Penny and his swift action against Neely that, according to Fox, he wants to award him Congress ’ highest civilian honor - a Congressional Gold Medal. ‘Daniel Penny’s actions exemplify what it means to stand against the grain to do right in a world that rewards moral cowardice,’ he said. He went on to describe the justice system as ‘corrupt’ and one which ‘allows degenerates to steamroll our laws and our sense of security, while punishing the righteous. ‘Mr. Penny bravely stood in the gap to defy this corrupt system and protect his fellow Americans. I’m immensely proud to introduce this resolution to award him with the Congressional Gold Medal to recognize his heroism,’ he said. The Marine veteran has kept a dignified silence since he was charged in May 2023 Penny with his mother, Gina Flaim, on November 19 Penny intervened when Neely jumped on the train and began threatening other commuters, including mothers, children and students. Neely was shouting that somebody would ‘die’ and that he was willing to ‘go back to Rikers.’ He placed Neely in a chokehold which the state argued lasted six minutes. His defense told jurors that he was not applying consistent pressure for the length of that time, and that he was simply restraining Neely until police arrived. And while New York’s ‘Son of Sam’ laws prevent convicted criminals from selling their stories to publishers, Penny is innocent and has been convicted of no crime . He could theoretically sell his sensational life story to the highest bidder, or write a book himself about the ordeal. Legal expert and advocate at freegrantsforfelons.org James Pipe told DailyMail.com Penny could be in for a windfall in excess of $1million. 'He could become a symbolic figure for a certain segment of society, opening doors to mainstream and conservative media alike,' he said. Pipe noted a conviction would 'necessarily preclude offers' because publishers and producers are notoriously 'drawn to controversial figures.' He said a 'compelling memoir or exclusive first interview' could be worth up to $500,000, while a documentary or film deal could exceed $1million. 'A significant factor will be how Penny and his team handle public relations after the trial. If he can frame his story in a way that resonates with the public or aligns with ongoing social conversations, the financial opportunities could be transformative,' Pipe said. 'However, backlash or boycotts from opposition groups could dampen prospects.' Similarly, Valerie Zucker of Zucker Media Group said she envisions a 'one hour special or documentary' in the future. She said there could be hurdles to face 'from Neely's' camp, but that immediately after the trial would be a great time for Penny to 'clear the air and change public perception on his vision of what took place that day.' And while Penny is still a divisive figure amongst the public, Zucker said there could be a pathway into politics for Penny down the track. 'I don't think [it happens] right away,' she said. 'There's some backlash. 'Maybe something in the future.' The case has already attracted interest from several writers who have been present daily in the courtroom and are working on books about the outcome. With true-crime documentaries on the rise, there is also a strong possibility that Penny will find himself back in the spotlight via a streaming special about the case. Conservatives have long offered support for Penny since the case gained widespread national attention and became a lightning rod for racial debate. Vivek Ramaswamy donated $10,000 to Daniel Penny's staggering legal fund, which has now reached $3million. He has also repeatedly spoken out about Neely’s lengthy rap sheet, accusing the Manhattan District Attorney’s office of sharing ‘responsibility for his death for creating an anti law enforcement culture.’ ‘Habitual felons like Neely should not roam freely to terrorize and prey on innocent members of our communities,’ he said. Penny also has the strong backing of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis , sparking questions about if Penny would consider a tilt in politics himself, given he has access to two recent presidential candidates. The May 2023 incident sparked uproar in America - BLM says it was the racist killing of a mentally ill black man by an overzealous white military faithful. With the trial out of the way, Penny is also free to return his attention to his studies. When he was charged, he was studying architecture at the New York City College of Technology. He was also working two jobs – one as a swim teacher and also at a restaurant in Brooklyn – which he gave up to focus on the trial. He is also not completely out of the woods after Neely’s family filed a civil lawsuit against Penny last week. Penny’s legal team, Thomas Kenniff and Steven Raiser, released a statement Friday afternoon revealing they will immediately set their sights on the lawsuit. The duo said the conclusion of the criminal trial would ‘allow us to focus on the civil lawsuit, filed two days ago, for the same allegations contained in the criminal indictment.’ Pipe said Penny would also need to consider civil lawsuits against him when he considers what his next step will be, because any 'post-trial earnings' could be impacted by those suits. 'Public scrutiny will likely follow him for years, which could affect the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals long-term,' he said. Jordan Neely Daniel Penny Share or comment on this article: Daniel Penny stands to make millions after not guilty verdict in Jordan Neely's death e-mail Add commentIn a significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will take the witness stand for the first time in his long-standing corruption trial. Scheduled to testify starting Tuesday, Netanyahu faces the arduous task of balancing courtroom obligations with the ongoing conflict against Hamas in Gaza. Having been postponed due to the Gaza conflict, the judges have now mandated that Netanyahu begin his testimony, connecting thrice a week. The charges against him include bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, stemming from accusations involving gifts and regulatory favors for media allies in exchange for positive coverage. While Netanyahu denies all allegations and characterizes the investigations as politically motivated, his legal challenges continue to stir Israeli society deeply. Despite gaining a temporary respite from public scrutiny due to wartime unity, Netanyahu's trial now returns to the forefront of Israeli politics, challenging the country's judicial principles. (With inputs from agencies.)
It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country’s swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete’s system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. “The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more,” Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China’s conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. RELATED COVERAGE Ex-Colorado football player dedicates time to fulfilling wishes for older adults Stephen Silas coaching USA Basketball in AmeriCup qualifying games this weekend Simone Biles to join Snoop Dogg as a guest mentor for an episode on NBC’s ‘The Voice’ Critics of the way the China case was handled can’t help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier’s conclusions. “There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie,” said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. “And all of it is complete fiction.” Something in the kitchen was contaminated In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China’s anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation , did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the “no-fault findings,” as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report , Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA’s chief scientist “saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities.” But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA’s “decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable.” But how did the drugs get into the kitchen? A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China’s agency, Li Zhiquan. Li’s presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug “then entered the market through illegal channels,” he said. The alcohol “was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles,” Li said. “The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. “The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice.” New information sent to WADA ... eventually This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li’s report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li’s request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier’s report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. “Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated,” he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. “It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away,” Koehler said. “Which clearly it has not.” ___ AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-gamesBusiness leaders plan to increase both the number of days employees are required to be in the office, and their monitoring of this, according to Grant Thornton UK LLP. The business and financial adviser's Business Outlook Tracker, which surveyed 603 UK businesses in October, found that 86 per cent were already mandating time in the office for employees. Of these, 26 per cent require two and 25 per cent want three days a week in the office. Five days a week was required by 29 per cent. Of the businesses (367) which currently require employees to come into the office four days a week or fewer, 83 per cent expect to increase the number of days employees are in the office in the next couple of years. Alistair Wardell, partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP and head of its restructuring team in the South of England and Wales, said: "This shift reflects a growing recognition among business leaders of the value of in-person collaboration. "Wales' economy is experiencing some significant transformations right now, particularly in sectors such as business support services, technology, media and telecom, and healthcare, while private equity activity remains strong and there are many corporate acquirers eager to expand here. "Shohei Ohtani wins 3rd AP Male Athlete of the Year award, tying Michael Jordan for 1 shy of record LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has been named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time. That ties the two-way superstar with Michael Jordan, an athlete Ohtani followed while growing up in Japan. He trails only Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James, who each won the award four times. Ohtani received 48 votes in balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members. He earned his third National League Most Valuable Player award after helping the Dodgers win their eighth World Series title. Ohtani hit 54 home runs and stole 59 bases as the first player with a 50-50 season. His dog, Decoy, became a celebrity, too, helping Ohtani deliver a ceremonial first pitch at a game. On Football: Falcons and Buccaneers flip spots atop the NFC South and playoff races tighten up The 49ers, Cowboys and Cardinals are out of the playoff race. The Falcons took control of their hopes and the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals kept slim chances alive. The NFL’s playoff picture became clearer Sunday. With two weeks remaining, three of eight division titles are secured, eight teams have wrapped up playoff berths and 11 more are competing for the six remaining spots. The biggest change in the standings occurred in the NFC South with Atlanta reclaiming the top spot from Tampa Bay. The Chiefs have the inside track for the AFC's No. 1 seed and the NFC's top spot could likely come down to the Vikings-Lions matchup in Week 18. Tennessee and Auburn remain 1-2 in AP Top 25 poll featuring 10 SEC teams Tennessee and Auburn remained Nos. 1-2 atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. They were the headliners among the Southeastern Conference's haul of 10 ranked teams. Iowa State, Duke and Alabama rounded out the top five. Kentucky had the week's biggest fall, sliding six spots to No. 10 after a loss to Ohio State. Mississippi State, Arkansas, Illinois and Baylor rejoined the poll after stints in the rankings earlier this season. They replaced Memphis, Dayton, Michigan and Clemson. The Big 12 and Big Ten were tied for second with five teams each in the AP Top 25. USC up to No. 4 in women's AP Top 25 after win over UConn. UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame stay 1-3 Southern California jumped to No. 4 in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll on Monday after edging UConn. The Trojans moved up three spots after beating the then-No. 4 Huskies 72-70 in a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight game that UConn won. UCLA, South Carolina and Notre Dame remained the top three teams. The Bruins received 30 of the 32 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Gamecocks and the Fighting Irish each got one first-place vote. UConn fell to seventh behind Texas and LSU. Maryland, Oklahoma and Ohio State rounded out the top 10 teams. Former NFL great Michael Vick introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Michael Vick has been introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach, a homecoming for the former NFL star and a splashy, attention-grabbing hire for a program that has struggled in recent years. Vick donned a Norfolk State letterman’s jacket and cap in front of a crowd of supporters that included fellow Hampton Roads, Virginia, sports greats Allen Iverson and Bruce Smith. Vick led Virginia Tech to the national championship game as a redshirt freshman and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. His career was derailed by his conviction in 2007 for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State gear up for rematch of thriller won by Ducks Oregon and Ohio State have already produced one heck of a game this season. Now, the top-seeded Ducks and eighth-seeded Buckeyes are gearing up for a rematch more than 10 weeks later in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. Of course, both teams have had ample time for evolution since that 32-31 Oregon win on Oct. 12. But they also have that game and players’ familiarity with each other, not to mention common opponents in the Big Ten. Penn State preparing for hard-charging Jeanty and Boise State in CFP quarterfinals STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State players have watched Ashton Jeanty make opponents look silly all season. They don’t want to be the next defenders Boise State’s star posterizes with jukes, spin moves, stiff arms and heavy shoulders. But they also know that slowing down Jeanty, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, will be their toughest task yet when the two teams meet in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. Texas sues NCAA in latest push to block transgender athletes in women's sports AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the NCAA to block the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, arguing that it tricks and misleads fans. The lawsuit filed in state district court argues the NCAA violates the Texas Trade Practices Act. The law is designed to protect consumers from deceptive business practices. The lawsuit is the latest attempt by conservative politicians to target transgender athletes and push the NCAA into banning them from competition. NCAA President Charlie Baker recently told Congress he was aware of fewer than 10 active transgender athletes. Sabrina Ionescu is joining Unrivaled as the new 3-on-3 league's final player Sabrina Ionescu is joining Unrivaled as the new league’s final player for this season. The Liberty star guard who helped New York win the first championship in franchise history earlier this year signed a historic agreement on Monday. She’ll join the Phantom BC that made a trade Saturday night to acquire Natasha Cloud. Ionescu will also be playing with Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally and Katie Lou Samuelson. The 27-year-old Ionescu is recovering from a procedure she had earlier this month on her right thumb to stabilize the ulnar collateral ligament. Sean Manaea to re-sign with Mets for $75 million over 3 years, AP source says NEW YORK (AP) — Sean Manaea is set to return to the New York Mets on a $75 million, three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the agreement. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical. Manaea blossomed into New York’s top starting pitcher this year during his first season with the team, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts. Then he became a free agent for the third straight offseason. The reunion with Manaea, who turns 33 on Feb. 1, gives New York a much-needed frontline starter to help complete its reconstructed rotation. Mets owner Steve Cohen has committed $916.25 million to five free agents this offseason — four of them starting pitchers.
Michail Antonio had video call with West Ham team before their win over WolvesNone
Will the Sukhna lake, a treasure of Chandigarh’s heritage and a beauty spot of global renown, be finally rid of proliferating weed at the regulator-end and the birding area (rowing canal)? A statement released by the UT administration on November 26 claimed that the annual de-weeding exercise had been upgraded with the induction of a machine (an “aquatic plant harvester”) hired from a New Delhi-based firm, Cleantec Infra. The stated purpose of the mechanical de-weeding was described thus by the Administration: “To maintain ecological balance and enhance scenic beauty” and to remove the obstruction to recreational activities such as ‘boating and water sports’.” So far, the UT engineering department hired de-weeding labourers. The weed shrivels in winter and the manual removal in the cold season works to lift the leaves and part of the stem. However, the roots of the weed run deep, estimated as embedded 3-4 feet in the silt deposits under the water. Since the weed is not uprooted by manual removal, it blooms and eats up the water surface with summer’s advent. As reported by this writer in these columns, the weed infiltrated the birding area canal in 2018 from the proliferation at the regulator-end. Unseen to most visitors and officials to the lake, the weed in the canal has currently covered more than 60% of the stretch, which used to host migratory birds in winter. Currently, the forests and wildlife department has employed five paddle boats with workers to remove the weed tops from the canal, which unfortunately also constitutes a disturbance to the paltry number of birds visiting the Sukhna this winter. Though the harvester promises much to the public, the fact is that its cutting depth has been set to a metre. It does not attack the roots but merely lengthens the “pruning” exercise undertaken by manual de-weeding. Cleantec Infra officials suggested to this writer that the administration could deploy more specialised machines in standing water, such as the “amphibious excavator”, to remove the silt in which roots are entrenched. Ideally, the drying up of the lake would afford a thorough de-silting but high precipitation levels have not been conducive to the exercise, the last being in 2010. Chief engineer CB Ojha told this writer: “The department will consider the use of excavators. We will consult the forest department on this issue.” On wings of a lovely surprise Small migratory birds, such as warblers, chiffchaffs and thrushes, can be quite bewildering to budding photographers. Their plumages change with the seasons and the sexes often look alike; not that the couple tends to confuse a spouse with a specimen from another species! Navjot Singh, an employee with the Chandigarh Housing Board, has taken to nature photography since 2021. He was out birding with Gagan Gyan at Chakki Modh (Himachal Pradesh) on November 3. As luck would have it, an agile bird with long wings and a particularly upright stance, when perched, came into their view. Both took its photos but mistook it as a common species, and hence did not post its photos on social media. They let matters rest there till Singh made a trip to Narkanda two weeks later. There, as he was casually showing his photographs to an accomplished bird guide, Himanshu Chaudhary, a startling revelation came his way. “Chaudhary identified the supposedly-common bird as a “rufous-tailed rock thrush”. It is a very rare bird in India, as it migrates in autumn and has been observed in some states such as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Sikkim,” Singh told this writer. Though Singh does not have many years of experience in avian photography, his photographic record of a female thrush is part of an encouraging, emergent phenomenon. Such records from enthusiasts have led ornithologists to review the thrush as not a vagrant or a chance stray bird to India but a species which regularly passes through in small numbers. “Significant increase in number of thrush sightings outside Ladakh could be due to the increased number of birders covering suitable habitat of the species, and taking photographs during passage migration,” wrote C Abhinav and Piyush Dogra in the journal, “Indian Birds”. vjswild2@gmail.com'Mocha is the moment': How to get a free mocha from Peet's Coffee on New Year's Day
Shohei Ohtani wins 3rd AP Male Athlete of the Year award, tying Michael Jordan for 1 shy of record LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has been named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time. That ties the two-way superstar with Michael Jordan, an athlete Ohtani followed while growing up in Japan. He trails only Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James, who each won the award four times. Ohtani received 48 votes in balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members. He earned his third National League Most Valuable Player award after helping the Dodgers win their eighth World Series title. Ohtani hit 54 home runs and stole 59 bases as the first player with a 50-50 season. His dog, Decoy, became a celebrity, too, helping Ohtani deliver a ceremonial first pitch at a game. On Football: Falcons and Buccaneers flip spots atop the NFC South and playoff races tighten up The 49ers, Cowboys and Cardinals are out of the playoff race. The Falcons took control of their hopes and the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals kept slim chances alive. The NFL’s playoff picture became clearer Sunday. With two weeks remaining, three of eight division titles are secured, eight teams have wrapped up playoff berths and 11 more are competing for the six remaining spots. The biggest change in the standings occurred in the NFC South with Atlanta reclaiming the top spot from Tampa Bay. The Chiefs have the inside track for the AFC's No. 1 seed and the NFC's top spot could likely come down to the Vikings-Lions matchup in Week 18. Tennessee and Auburn remain 1-2 in AP Top 25 poll featuring 10 SEC teams Tennessee and Auburn remained Nos. 1-2 atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. They were the headliners among the Southeastern Conference's haul of 10 ranked teams. Iowa State, Duke and Alabama rounded out the top five. Kentucky had the week's biggest fall, sliding six spots to No. 10 after a loss to Ohio State. Mississippi State, Arkansas, Illinois and Baylor rejoined the poll after stints in the rankings earlier this season. They replaced Memphis, Dayton, Michigan and Clemson. The Big 12 and Big Ten were tied for second with five teams each in the AP Top 25. USC up to No. 4 in women's AP Top 25 after win over UConn. UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame stay 1-3 Southern California jumped to No. 4 in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll on Monday after edging UConn. The Trojans moved up three spots after beating the then-No. 4 Huskies 72-70 in a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight game that UConn won. UCLA, South Carolina and Notre Dame remained the top three teams. The Bruins received 30 of the 32 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Gamecocks and the Fighting Irish each got one first-place vote. UConn fell to seventh behind Texas and LSU. Maryland, Oklahoma and Ohio State rounded out the top 10 teams. Former NFL great Michael Vick introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Michael Vick has been introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach, a homecoming for the former NFL star and a splashy, attention-grabbing hire for a program that has struggled in recent years. Vick donned a Norfolk State letterman’s jacket and cap in front of a crowd of supporters that included fellow Hampton Roads, Virginia, sports greats Allen Iverson and Bruce Smith. Vick led Virginia Tech to the national championship game as a redshirt freshman and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. His career was derailed by his conviction in 2007 for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State gear up for rematch of thriller won by Ducks Oregon and Ohio State have already produced one heck of a game this season. Now, the top-seeded Ducks and eighth-seeded Buckeyes are gearing up for a rematch more than 10 weeks later in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. Of course, both teams have had ample time for evolution since that 32-31 Oregon win on Oct. 12. But they also have that game and players’ familiarity with each other, not to mention common opponents in the Big Ten. Penn State preparing for hard-charging Jeanty and Boise State in CFP quarterfinals STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State players have watched Ashton Jeanty make opponents look silly all season. They don’t want to be the next defenders Boise State’s star posterizes with jukes, spin moves, stiff arms and heavy shoulders. But they also know that slowing down Jeanty, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, will be their toughest task yet when the two teams meet in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. Texas sues NCAA in latest push to block transgender athletes in women's sports AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the NCAA to block the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, arguing that it tricks and misleads fans. The lawsuit filed in state district court argues the NCAA violates the Texas Trade Practices Act. The law is designed to protect consumers from deceptive business practices. The lawsuit is the latest attempt by conservative politicians to target transgender athletes and push the NCAA into banning them from competition. NCAA President Charlie Baker recently told Congress he was aware of fewer than 10 active transgender athletes. Sabrina Ionescu is joining Unrivaled as the new 3-on-3 league's final player Sabrina Ionescu is joining Unrivaled as the new league’s final player for this season. The Liberty star guard who helped New York win the first championship in franchise history earlier this year signed a historic agreement on Monday. She’ll join the Phantom BC that made a trade Saturday night to acquire Natasha Cloud. Ionescu will also be playing with Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally and Katie Lou Samuelson. The 27-year-old Ionescu is recovering from a procedure she had earlier this month on her right thumb to stabilize the ulnar collateral ligament. Sean Manaea to re-sign with Mets for $75 million over 3 years, AP source says NEW YORK (AP) — Sean Manaea is set to return to the New York Mets on a $75 million, three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the agreement. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical. Manaea blossomed into New York’s top starting pitcher this year during his first season with the team, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts. Then he became a free agent for the third straight offseason. The reunion with Manaea, who turns 33 on Feb. 1, gives New York a much-needed frontline starter to help complete its reconstructed rotation. Mets owner Steve Cohen has committed $916.25 million to five free agents this offseason — four of them starting pitchers.